Stryker Brigade News

"Although we're thousands of miles apart," Jason smiled, "we're absolutely inseparable. We're heart and soul mates."
Naples resident Jason returned from Iraq, his first leave since Oct. 9, 2004, for a two-week visit. He attended a welcome home party given by his mom Janet Miller at the Ministry Center of St. Williams Catholic Church. His mom, director of Social Ministry, wanted him to meet people who sent him e-mails, letters and packages. Comic books sent by Bigkatts owners Bob and Chris Kobzina kept Jason and his squad entertained.
"The party was overwhelming," Jason said. "I met vets and many people who sent packages. It was a system shock, but it was really nice." [...]

On July 8, Jason returns to Iraq for three more months. There he leads a squad of soldiers who patrol in a Striker, a 22-ton wheeled armored vehicle. They search through what's left of Mosul's streets and buildings for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).
"We've gotten good at finding them," Jason said. "It's the enemy that's hard to spot. With 2.3 million Arabs in Mosul, anyone could be an insurgent or a business person. There's no way to tell."
There is no safe place in Mosul. Jason and his squad were blown up while riding in a vehicle but survived because they wore protective gear. At FOB (Forward Operating Base) soldiers are so used to having mortars fired at them that many deal with danger from a fatalistic perspective. Humor helps lighten the heavy war-torn curtain around life in Iraq. Jason takes his job seriously, but if a mortar wakes him and he sees he is not injured, he goes back to sleep.
"Our soldiers feel supported in Iraq," Jason said. "It's great for morale to know that Americans haven't forgotten about us." [...]