Jim

ok--So here we go--If you're a peacenik type or someone wanting to save the whales, I'm sorry this is not the blog for you. This blog is about me, Jim and my mission. I will explain later but I've decided to set up this blog so that my friends, my loving family and my children can track my life over the next year. Like many have done, I am preparing to deploy to Iraq. I am not with the military because I am a 'specialist' and a contractor.

Now I know that contractor's are being beheaded (as my wife, mother and mother-in-law remind me on a daily basis) but, while I admit causes me alarm, I am not an innocent as I understand what I am putting myself into---

Because I am a contractor, I am going to be under some restriction for security reasons. My wife, has requested that she not be named and for my own security (for the obvious reason that civilian contractors are a target) I will not give out my last name. If you are a friend or family, you are here because I invited you and you know who I am--if you just wandered in, I am just Jim and I am representative of many who have decided to do this (insane?) thing that I am doing. Some background first, then on to my crazy blog name later.

I am a US citizen age 38. I have 3 children and am married. I am a military veteran of the US Marines from 1985-1992. I am a Gulf War (the first one) Vet but did not see any fighting. I own a business (Internet Related) that is more or less successful (I am not a bazillionaire). I am a licensed pilot, I love baseball and taking my kids to amusement parks.

I am due to leave after the US elections to go to Iraq. I am obviously very nervous but I will go (barring any outside problems) because of several reasons.

You may ask 'why someone with a family, would do such a thing? Put themselves in danger, in a warzone where it appears that utter chaos reigns. That is a fair question. Many may think it is the money. While the money is pretty good--no one who does not believe in the mission of the US in the middle east would go--no matter how much money is offered. That is my main reason (fault?). I beleive that a free and democratic Iraq, would only benefit the world. I understand that the terrorists want us to say 'no way, not me, I'm not going', so I am going to go-just to be defiant!

More later---time now to organize my thoughts and send off a copy of my passport to my employer--