They Serve Too

A lot of people think that war is all about the soldiers. Those men and women in uniform who make up our military. That's what the media shows...the uniform. But in reality, we are just a one part of what makes up the group of people currently working with the coalition to rebuild Iraq. Here at Camp Anaconda we have thousands of civilians who work for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. Like us, they too experience the same kinds of struggles and difficulties we go through. They miss their families, live in some what primitive conditions, and work long hours with little time off. Then there are the contractors. Although some contractors do really well (some making in excess of $100,000 per year) most are from places like the Philippines, India, Ghana, or one of dozens of other countries. KBR, which is a subsidiary of Halliburton has the big contracts for things like billeting, dining facility, transportation, and the recreation centers. As a rule, KBR employees are paid pretty well, but KBR also sub-contracts to smaller companies that do things like cleaning the latrines, food service, or some other "low" skill job. I am not sure how much money they make but I hear that some of these people live in tents or rooms with 15 to 20 other people and work everyday for very low pay. Mind you, when you talk to them they are grateful that they have any kind of job. They tell you they left their own country to come here in order to save enough money to help their family. I can't imagine what their families must be going through. We are fortunate because we get tons of stuff from home. Lots of things from people we don't even know. We get tons of food...whatever we want from dining facility. We get paid well. We are truly fortunate. But for that Indian, or Iraqi or Filipino what do they have besides the job? Not much. Not by our standards anyway. They work and work and work. They deal with soldiers (who can be pretty rude sometimes) and with some Americans who look at them as if they didn't exist. I myself believe that we have more in common with these folks then we care to admit. Many of us are here not by choice but because we were compelled to come. Most of our soldiers want to make better lives for themselves and their families just like that foreign national. We all feel the pain of distance from those we love. But we got it pretty good...truth be told. We know what is waiting for us at home. We are told that the nation "supports the troops". We will go home to our families and friends and our way of life. This is certain for most of us. But for those who toil at jobs that most Americans would find demeaning, there is less certainty about what their future holds. Today someone told me about a person from the Philippines who was in the 9th year of a 10 year commitment with a contractor. He has been away from his family for TEN YEARS. Damn. But he is happy because he has saved enough to build a life for his family back home. I hope that he gets the chance to make that dream a reality. But who knows? I guess we can just hope. So in addition to those who wear our uniform, lets not forget those who serve to make our lives more livable while we are deployed. To those who serve our food, clean our toilets, wash our laundry and put up with our bullshit...this Non-alcoholic Bud is for you! Thanks for doing your part.