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Freedom Rest

Jan-15-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

NYT reporter Eric Schmitt makes a visit to Freedom Rest, the Army's R&R depot in Baghdad. Excerpts:

Called Freedom Rest, it offers a sauna, outdoor swimming pool, 100-seat movie theater, weight rooms and 24-hour food service, including T-bone steaks and lobster. In the renovated marble lobby with glass chandeliers glistening overhead, uniformed attendants sweep up cigarette butts and serve cold drinks...

The Army has long provided rest and relaxation escapes to improve morale for troops on extended assignments. With virtually all soldiers in Iraq now pulling yearlong tours, the Army — sensitive to potential recruiting and retention problems — has one of its most ambitious programs ever to keep soldiers' spirits high...

Still, after nights of rocket and mortar attacks, some soldiers say it is hard to break old habits of scanning the hotel rooftop for snipers or momentarily panicking when they don't find their weapons by their sides at bedtime.

"Last night," said Sgt. William Schramm, 25, of Lancaster, Wis., "it was so quiet I could barely sleep."

Let's hope there's one up north.


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