Hidden Baghdad: Paratroopers Find City

[unhappycamper]

Hidden Baghdad: Paratroopers Find City
Army News Service | SSgt Mike Pryor | December 31, 2007

BAGHDAD - Sgt. Nicholas Hardebeck's platoon was about midway through their afternoon patrol when the sound of explosions began echoing from a nearby street.

Sgt. Hardebeck cocked his head to listen for a moment. "Fire crackers. Just people celebrating," he said casually.

At the beginning of their deployment, the sergeant and the other paratroopers from his unit, Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, might not have reacted as calmly. But after almost a year on the ground, the paratroopers are accustomed to the sights and sounds of Baghdad. What was once alien and strange - and liable to cause overreactions - now seems commonplace.

"We know when something's not right. We know when we need to react and when it's just an everyday occurrence," Sgt. Hardebeck said.

"This is almost like a second home in some ways," said Staff Sgt. Eduardo Ojeda, a squad leader with A Co. "You learn how to operate in your sector just like your city back home."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,159164,00.html

[thunder rising]

1. Army News Service is full of happy talk today

[unhappycamper]

2. Yea - it's happy Tuesday at ANS. n/t