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Soldier willingly sacrifices for convictions

Mar-21-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

A Colorado soldier with the Stryker Brigade enjoys R&R.

[Link to Full Article]
By SARA REED

Michelle Malone misses the simple things in life -- her family, running water, hot showers, trips to the store.

A member of a Stryker brigade attached to the 3rd Brigade out of Fort Lewis in Washington, the 23-year-old sergeant has lacked such amenities for the past four months while stationed in Iraq. Now home in Windsor for a two-week leave, she's reveling in such conveniences.

Malone's duties in Iraq included force protection and operation security, ensuring the safety of the troops stationed in Mosul.

The first thing she did when she got home was take a hot shower, something she hadn't been able to do since her deployment.

But before she could take that shower and see her family, Malone had to get home -- no simple task. She flew from Mosul to Baghdad, then made stops in Kuwait, Amsterdam and Detroit, before landing Wednesday at Denver International Airport.

Although she slept most of the trip home, she said those 48 hours went very slowly.

"I just wanted to get home," she said.

The joy of being home doesn't come from a lack of conviction in her mission in Iraq, though.


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