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Fort Richardson soldier fights war of ideas from Iraq

Oct-21-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article (Opinion)
By Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News

His wife, his family and his friends surely would prefer that Brian Patton was safe at home right now.

But lucky me. Patton is a Fort Richardson soldier stationed in Iraq, so an interview with him this week was conducted via e-mail. And Patton -- 30-year-old sergeant, husband and one-time pre-law student -- is nothing if not a writer. A talented, compelling writer.

Patton is gaining attention for his blog, americancitizensoldier.blogspot.com. This is not a journal filled with what he did yesterday or what kind of food he misses but rather a series of essays that would be right at home on the op-ed page of a newspaper.

Filled with commentary, observation, atmosphere and attitude, the blog will irk those who oppose the war and please those who favor it. Patton writes under the name "Buck Sargent,'' because that's his rank. And yes, he knows how to spell sergeant. "I thought the shorter spelling looked more streamlined,'' he writes, "and it seems to have been effective, as I routinely get e-mails from admirers who genuinely seem to think that is my real name.'' [...]


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