US Navy Corpsman

[Phil_USN]

I'm a photographer with the US Navy in Iraq right now. I haven't been here in the forums for nearly a year. Only rarely do I stop by or have the chance to. Here's a photo I took the night after a friend of mine died from hostile fire. These are the boots of one of the Corpsmen here.
Phil

[mtbbrian]

Welcome Phil!
I hope you are doing as best as you can considering where you are and what is going on around you. I hope that you are able to post any of your photographs here, be it your personal ones or the ones you take for the Navy.
Thanks for sharring your photo, it makes those faces on TV real.
From one service member to another HOO AHH!
God Bless you and all the Soldiers, Saliors, Airmen and Marines "over there"!
Brian

[Phil_USN]

Thanks Brian. Army? Your HooAhh is a little different than the Marines' & Sailors' Hoorah. I'm attached to a Seabee Battalion located in one of those places that's always in the news because of intense fighting. Thanks though for the praise & support. I just wanted to show a different side to what is going on here by taking the boot photo. I hope it makes people think.

[Todd Patten]

I'm a grown man. I don't know if those boots belong to the friend, but damn it you made my eyes whell up and forced me to choke them back. The photo itself does not tell much. The story with the image does.

I've been saying this a lot lately: I simply don't get it. Be safe. Get home as soon as you can. Most importantly, thank you.

[mtbbrian]

Yes, I am in the Army, but in the better part of it, the National Guard, from Utah. ;)
I nearly went over there last year. I have been VERY FORTUNATE!
Hang in there and Keep your head down when you aren't taking photographs.
I am certain your photo has accomplished what you set out to.
Brian

[Liz]

And a big thank you for serving in the US Navy. I am more than proud of all of our soldiers right now, especially ones like yourself who are on the front lines. God bless you - and I will say a special prayer for you every day. A good friend of mine just returned from Bagdad. He too was on the front lines - somewhere in the Green Zone. I prayed for him every day too. He just got married 2 weeks ago and will be stationed in North Carolina after his honeymoon. His name is Lieutenant Jim Soule. (I think he's a lieutenant). I kept track of him these past 2 years through his family.

Your image is breathtaking. It made me shed some tears. Actually I'm a Catholic Religious Sister (Sister Maria Elizabeth) and I will not forget to pray for you and your buddies. And I will ask more Sisters and others to pray for you.

Thank you for taking the pictures. Thank you for your courage. Thanks for coming around and sharing with all of us from your heart. I hope you will continue to come here - pictures or not. Just keep us updated as to how you are doing.

Liz

I'm a photographer with the US Navy in Iraq right now. I haven't been here in the forums for nearly a year. Only rarely do I stop by or have the chance to. Here's a photo I took the night after a friend of mine died from hostile fire. These are the boots of one of the Corpsmen here.
Phil

[Chunk]

I'm a photographer with the US Navy in Iraq right now. I haven't been here in the forums for nearly a year. Only rarely do I stop by or have the chance to. Here's a photo I took the night after a friend of mine died from hostile fire. These are the boots of one of the Corpsmen here.
Phil

Sorry to hear about your friend's death Phil. This is a rather poignant shot once the story is known. I never lost a crewmate while in the Nav but I can imagine how tough it must be. I've always had a great deal of respect for those doing the tough jobs in the construction battalions and the corpmen who cover them and the grunts. You are a brave man and I thank you for your service.
Are the seabees working on civilian stuff as well as military installations?
Keep posting as you can, I'd like to hear how you are doing.

[Todd Patten]

Yes, I am in the Army, but in the better part of it, the National Guard, from Utah. ;)

I hope this does not effect you...

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm

[schrackman]

I hope this does not effect you...

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm

Indeed, war is never convenient, which is why I appreciate so much all those who are sacrificing their own convenience to serve in our military. These men are sent to do an unimaginably difficult task, and they deserve every ounce of support and encouragement we can give them.

Phil, our church has been constantly praying for all our soldiers, praying that you all will find strength and comfort in God during these difficult times away from your family, friends, and country, and that as many as possibly can will be brought back home safe and soon. I will add your name to our church prayer list. We safely brought one soldier home with our prayers, and we can safely bring home another with God's help!

Ray

[Cowgirl]

Your right Phil! Those boots will 'make us think'!


My family and I would like to say 'Thank You' to you and the rest of the US Military for your sacrifices. May God bless all of our servicemen and women - past, present, & future!



Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!


Kathy

[Phil_USN]

The best support we can get out here is to be having dinner with our families right now. This is a photo forum, so I don't want to get into politics, but this is all just a waste. Sorry for my pessimism. I'll send more photos when I can!
Phil

[Phil_USN]

To All,
I sincerely apologize for the remarks I made in my prior posting. I was rude, thoughtless, and selfish by making the statements that I did. We had a long day here and I was a little frustrated, but that was no cause to voice my feelings to you all who are very nice supportive people and had absolutely no reason to be on that end of my frustration. I thought it wasn't much, but when I re-read it, I realized that it was incendiary and polarizing in nature. I am sorry about voicing my opinion here in such a great discussion forum that should bring people together in common interest, not divide them with angered remarks. I hope you will all accept my apologies.
Sincerely,
Philip

[Peter_AUS]

Philip,

Don't missread anything in the postings that you have put up and others have as well.

We live in a difficult world at present and probably will for most of our life times and the next.

Some are in places, like you, not of thier own free will but at the bidding of those that seem to think what is going on is in the best interests of the free world. Whether it is or isn't, isn't for any of us to really know, we really don't have a full understanding of all the information that governments supposedly have and we don't.

You have nothing to appologise for, nor should anyone expect it from you, nor others, be they past, present or future service personnel.

I'm ex Australian Air Force, and when I was serving (voluntarily), it scared the heck out of me, thinking about what I would have to do, in your situation. After listening to the memories of service personnel from past wars, be they, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War or other deployments around the world.

I think what people would like, me included, is to see this total stupidity finnish as quickly as possible and everyone return home as safely as possible, but hey, we all live in Dream World don't we. I think, we all realise this is going to be a protracted encounter and may not be finalised for several years to come as things stand at the present, with the current resurgence of fighters.

Again, Philip, remain safe, check in and don't think you need to explain you thoughts at all.

[Chunk]

To All,
I sincerely apologize for the remarks I made in my prior posting. I was rude, thoughtless, and selfish by making the statements that I did. We had a long day here and I was a little frustrated, but that was no cause to voice my feelings to you all who are very nice supportive people and had absolutely no reason to be on that end of my frustration. I thought it wasn't much, but when I re-read it, I realized that it was incendiary and polarizing in nature. I am sorry about voicing my opinion here in such a great discussion forum that should bring people together in common interest, not divide them with angered remarks. I hope you will all accept my apologies.
Sincerely,
Philip

I didn't see anything needing an apology. You and those around you are doing a tough job.

[Todd Patten]

Phil -- Your comments were not incendiary or polarizing. There is no need for apology. Believe me, back home, the language is FAR MORE polarizing. Moreover, you've earned the place to say anything you want regarding the current situation you are in. You are more of a man than I will ever be.

Please, post as often as you can, if not only to put our minds at ease that you are OK, but to also share some of what you are experiencing.

By the way, if you were concerned about the thread dying because of your comments, I think it was only a matter of being at a loss for words.It's not easy to see someone else struggle. I know that for me, I may not know you personally, but I want your @ss home as soon as possible. Keep safe.