Thanks for the hugs SeptemberMorn...it means so much, even these many years after combat.

You can't imagine how many times soldiers need hugs in combat, and there is no relief from the agony and anguish of what they are going through.

Sometimes, our culture permits another soldier to hug one who is hurting *tears ... but usulally the soldier weeps silently in the dark and wonders whether they'll ever recover fromwhat they've seen or whattheyve done.

And when the sun comes up, the tear tracks are wiped away and the day starts again. The thoughts are buried by the ongoing vigilance and continuing violence. And sometime along the way, the memories become a part of who they are instead of brain waves. We don't even know that some of the memories are there until some word of kindness or a hug opens the door...and what happened that day comes flooding out in tears.

And the media portrays soldiers as war mongers, ruthless killers. Maybe they've carried a camera and notebook into battle, but somehow they never experienced what it's like for that teenager carrying the rifle and the responsibility. It should be required that every combat journalist be a combat veteran.

Thanks for the hugs and understanding.