Kern soldier writes from Iraq battlefield
I am a soldier in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. My home of record address is in Lamont. I graduated from Arvin High School in 1996.
I have been in Iraq for the past 10 months. I have been receiving The Bakersfield Californianthrough my mother. I have read some articles that really got me burning inside regarding the situation here in Iraq.
A lot of people criticize us for what we are doing. They are completely wrong. First of all, they are not walking in our shoes. They are not getting shot at or getting attacked every day. They are not waking up with mortar bombs blasting every five minutes.
If your readers only knew what we go through, they would think differently. I wish all the people who criticize us would volunteer and come to Iraq to help us out. But all they do is talk.
I am proudly serving my country. I am doing it with honor. These people who criticize us should stop talking about what we are doing and focus on how we are making a difference.
When I get back, I will be able to hold my head high and say I served my country. A lot of your readers who are writing critical letters can only imagine what that is like.
I was in Fallujah when my fellow brothers in arms were fighting for our country. A lot of your readers who criticized the Marine who shot the Iraqi insurgent say the Marine should be punished. They say he committed a crime.
I would be damned if most people wouldn't have done the same thing as the Marine did. You only have one second to react. How many lives you will save depends on how quickly you act.
I will be honest. I would have done the same thing without hesitation. Remember, the people of Fallujah were given notice to move out of the city. Those who decided to remain stayed for a reason. That reason was to try and hurt us.
The people who doubt that U.S. soldiers are fighting for America are a disgrace to our country. Don't forget what these people did to us on Sept. 11, 2001. How many thousands of people did we lose on that day?
The Marine now being criticized did what was right. We all back him up. If critics knew what it feels like to be 500 meters away from a car and all of a sudden it blows up, sending body parts all over, they would not criticize. Critics have nothing falling from the sky and landing on them to hurt them. They don't go days hungry and without sleep. Try going 45 hours with no sleep. Likely they would not be able to handle it. Imagine your family worried when soldiers get killed, hoping it's not you.
To those of you who have brothers and sisters in harm's way in Iraq, I thank you for your patience. I have a family of my own waiting for me to get home.
I will be damned if one of these insurgents will stop me from doing that. I will get home. Please let us do our job without criticizing everything we do. If you want to write to me, send your e-mails to sgtcastellon@yahoo.com.
SGT. IVAN CASTELLON
Iraq
Sgt. Ivan Castellon is the son of Guadalupe Castellon of Arvin. His wife, Kenya Castellon, and their three children live in Shafter. His sister Karina Castellon lives in Lamont and his sister Amelia Mello lives in Santa Clarita.
