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A soldier's story: Iraqi elections a high point

Mar-10-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

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BY STEVE GRAZIER, Journal Staff Writer

Army 1st Lt. Garrett Berry, of Cortez, has been deployed to Tal-Afar, Iraq, located east of Mosul, since October 2004. This week he was able to correspond from his base with the Journal via e-mail about the recent Iraqi elections and his thoughts on the overall mission of the war.

Berry, 25, is an executive officer for the C/2-14 CAV, a reconnaissance surveillance and target acquisition squadron. His primary duty is to act as second in command, but he also helps patrol the Iraq-Syrian border. In addition, the lieutenant maintains his commander's property and commands dismounted troops.

"I only want people to understand that we are here for the (Iraqi) people," Berry explained. "They want the U.S. to stay, and the general public greets us with open arms. Our cause is our freedom and theirs."

More than 26 million people are estimated to live in Iraq - most of them in cities within the eastern half of the country.

Approximately 8.46 million votes were cast Jan. 30. And close to 58 percent of Iraq's registered voters turned out for the elections, despite violence that killed more than 40 people.

Election day in Iraq was crazy, said Berry, who added that spirits were high among his fellow troops during the much anticipated vote.

"Moral is high... the elections put a face on our job," he said. "When you see men and women, young and old, braving gunfire (even getting wounded) you have a tendency to realize why you're here."


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