USU soldier says U.S. is improving lives of Iraqis
Most soldiers in Iraq support the war and are improving the quality of life for the people in Iraq, said Army soldier and USU student Thomas Brecheisen.
He said the people in Iraq are being helped by the presence of the U.S. military and there is a sense of safety and relief in the people of Iraq.
“You hear about how we take a lot of things for granted, but you don’t realize how much,” Brecheisen said. “It’s a very humbling experience to see a family of eight living in a hut no bigger than a living room. And maybe they share a goat for milk with their neighbor, who lives three miles away.”
Brecheisen, a sophomore in music composition, served as active duty for the Army for five years as a counterintelligence agent in Kuwait and Iraq from November 2002 to August 2003, and has been in the National Guard band for one year.
“Regardless of if we’re there for the reasons the government said, we’re doing good, but CNN doesn’t show you that,” he said.
Brecheisen said he understands why people hold peace rallies, but their demonstrations mean something different to veterans.
“When a soldier is over there, we feel relatively good about that. The pride a soldier has is because he or she knows their job is important and can change the world,” he said. “So when we come home, it’s frustrating. What [the rallies] say to me is, ‘What you’re doing is not important; come home.’ And to me, it’s the most important thing I’ve ever done.”
He said the problem is the reality of war is different than what civilians want it to be, but “it’s not a movie.”
“The biggest thing is that you basically only see those protesting who haven’t been there,” Brecheisen said.
“You see those that have been there protesting the protesters. That should give you an idea about what American soldiers feel,” he also said.
The people in Iraq who meet the soldiers had a sense of relief and safety, he said, and that they “don’t really agree” with their old government. Brecheisen said, “Little kids blow us kisses, the families are very ecstatic, but you don’t see that.”
“Don’t get me wrong, deploying was the worst thing on my mind. My mom and brother were almost sick at the time,” he said. “But the more time you spend in the military, the more you realize how much you do care about the Constitution and the world.”
Brecheisen said there is more religious freedom in Iraq and the people have more rights since the U.S. military has been there.
“We’re doing good for the people,” he said.
-dilewis@cc.usu.edu