[SandRat]

Seaman Bryan W. Stocks, a Kenai, Ak., native and platoon corpsman, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, investigates an Iraqi child's complaint of a sore throat during a security sweep in Al Tamal, Iraq. In addition to providing first-tier medical care to injured Marines, he also helps the Iraqi civilians they encounter during their operations. Photo by: Sgt. Stephen M. DeBoard

[SandRat]

Marine "doc"

[SevenofNine]

OHH KATHY somebody in your hood close to it LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Sand, for the great read. Seaman Stocks' home town is right now gathering ash from Augustine's eruption yesterday. Thank you, Seaman, for your service to our country.

[Chena]

BTTT!!!!!

[RavenATB]

I used to be of the opinion that today's generation of young adults was a complete waste, and that the nation's future was being left in unfit hands. This has all changed in the last few years.

Nothing in my life has given me more hope for the future of our nation than the selflessness, dedication, and heroism I've seen from our troops in Afghanistan and especially Iraq.

[hershey]

What can you say about the US armed forces? Amazing, brave, kind, fantastic... I suspect the genie's out of the bottle for the Middle East in terms of freedom and what it means to ordinary people. That grandmother a few weeks ago who brought the baby girl with spinal bifida to soldiers leaving the village. She knew it was the one chance the child had for help. Frankly, that's what the US is doing for the entire Middle East.