By Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae Bruns
39th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
TAJI, Iraq -- The world witnessed a major historical event with the Iraqi elections. Iraqi's raised their ink stained fingers to terrorists in defiance and they showed their determined faces at polls despite looming threats of bloodshed. Citizens walked over body parts of others in order to vote and an Iraqi policeman tackled a suicide bomber giving his life to protect those in line.
In Baghdad alone, there were eight suicide bombers, two car bombers, small arms fire, roadside bombs, and rocket-propelled grenades. Nearly 30 citizens died, but over 8 million ushered in the birth of a new democracy.
It was the first time since 1944 - over half a century - Iraq held free elections and citizens were able to give an honest voice to their future through an open ballot.
Their determination to vote spoke to the world and nations around the globe heard a fierce people, emerging from 30 years of tyranny and war, who wanted the same freedoms as others.
But the Iraqi people were not the only heroes in the historic elections of Iraq. In the background the Multi-National Forces worked untiringly and doggedly over the past year to help bring the country to a place where they could decide their own future.
The elections were the fruit and pinnacle of their efforts in Iraq.
The Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli recently expressed his insight on the elections in a letter to the Soldiers in his command.
"Your blood and sweat have given birth to a new nation. Make no mistake -- without your efforts and without the sacrifice of all the Soldiers of Task Force Baghdad --the opportunity for Iraq to choose would not have been possible."
He went on to write, "We are guests of a new democracy."
For many Soldiers, it was the light at the end of the tunnel for what sometimes felt bleak and exhausting. It was the answer to the "why" many had asked throughout their deployment.
The Iraqi people going to the polls, to freely choose their future seemed to finally validate their losses weren't for nothing.
The following is a candid look at how Soldiers from the Oregon based 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, which is deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad, felt about the elections and the events that ensued.
Guarding Election Material
Sgt. David Duble, 34, of Coquille, Ore., thought for sure that since his unit was positioned in Taji, the elections would be something happening some place else. But as fate would have it, his platoon was chosen to move to the heart of Baghdad to guard a warehouse where Iraqi election workers prepared ballots for polling sites around the city.
"We went from thinking we weren't going to do anything for the elections to being right in the middle of it," said Duble. "We were talking to some of the guys and it was surprising. These guys were pretty blatant that they were happy we were here and this was happening."
Iraqi election workers came in and out to pick up ballots for their districts. Iraqi National Guard Soldiers escorted truckloads of election materials from the warehouse to the polling sites. People were loading and unloading, separating materials and getting ready for one of the biggest events in their history.
As citizens moved to and fro throughout the compound that held the warehouse, they stopped to talk with the Oregon Soldiers.
They talked of how they knew their economy was going to go up years down the road, when things were more stabilized. They even brought Soldiers at the gate bread and coffee to show their appreciation.
One elderly Iraqi man stopped to see if they needed gloves for their hands.
"He was feeling our hands and then he disappeared for a while," said Spc. James Walker, 26, of Lakeside, Ore. "He came back later with gloves for us."
Combat Taxi
The mortar platoon, headquartered stateside in Cottage Grove, Ore., often refers to themselves as the "Combat Taxi" of Baghdad. They act as security escort for civil affairs, and command elements driving them around the city so they can do their job.
"We could do the job in New York," said Spc. David Jenkins, 37, of Moses Lake, Wash., jokingly. "We're highly qualified."
Their job for the day of elections was no different. They were charged with driving the battalion's operations officer around Baghdad to observe the city's activity and make sure everyone was in place, just in case the police or Iraqi National Guard needed them.
There were no cars allowed on the streets unless they were elections officials, Iraqi or American security forces. This made their task of driving much simpler than usual and seemed to bring a calmer, more pleasant environment. There was almost a feeling of euphoria in the air, a lighthearted atmosphere that struck Soldiers with smiles.
"It was different seeing kids out flying kites," said Cpl. Mat Smith, 23, of Coos Bay, Ore. "I hadn't seen that before."
There were kids playing soccer in the fields, adults sitting in their yards talking, people waving and giving thumbs up to Soldiers as they passed by in their vehicles.
Spc. Nate Huff, 24, of Silverton, Ore., saw an elderly woman smiling largely on the side of the street, revealing her lack of teeth. As they passed by in their armored humvee, she held her ink-stained finger up pridefully showing Soldiers she voted. It was a defining moment for Huff, as he realized something bigger was happening that he hadn't quite understood before.
"When you are just one piece of the puzzle, it's hard to see the big picture," said Huff truthfully. "There were times I wanted to run away and bang my head against the wall. We've been here a year now and that moment made it all worth while."
There were a lot of determined Iraqi faces that day and Sgt. Robert Andrade, 39, of Amity, Ore., said that determination and pride is what helped him gain understanding.
"It was the first time I felt me being here was just," he said. "Seeing the pride in their faces made it understandable."
Andrade left behind children back in the States when he was mobilized for Iraq. It was difficult for him to miss out on a year of his kids" lives. The grueling monotony of day in and day out on the streets of Baghdad made his ability to comprehend the purpose when he thought of having to be away from his kids.
"We're constantly asking the why," said Andrade. "But that day answered the why. It answered the question."
Roadside Bombs & Relaxation
The Eugene, Ore. based Company A started their election day with a roadside bomb. In the early morning hours, while patrolling the streets of Baghdad, a remote detonated bomb blew up in the median.
It made for quite a good show and it broke the monotony," said Staff Sgt. William Salter, 40, of Hermiston, Ore.
The blast went straight up in the air causing Soldiers to catch some of the dirt from where it was buried, but no one was injured.
The rest of their day was relaxing. They saw families walking in their best clothing and people actually enjoying the day. The company was actually meant to be back up if the Iraqi Army or police needed it, but they never did. So they set up a control point, where they sat and waited, played with kids and enjoyed a lazy day with the rest of the Iraqi people in their area.
"It was rewarding to see to the Iraqi people finally be able to make decisions about what's going to happen to their own country," said Salter. "It was a final blow to what's left of the terrorists."
Salter has a unique interest in Iraq. His father's family was traced back to Baghdad and the exiled royal Jewish king in the days of the Caliphate 900 years ago.
"I'm only miffed because I didn't run for office," said Salter jokingly.