Ron Rosenberg This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Back Home From Iraq - News - McLean Connection - Connection Newspapers

   www.arlingtonconnection.com/ar - [Cached]

   Published on: 11/17/2004   Last Visited: 11/28/2004

   "I was immensely upset that they sent the guys in like that," said Ron Rosenberg, Mark's father, "and that the Congress voted down extra funding for the war."
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   "It was just terrific relief to be able to see him," said Ron Rosenberg.
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   On July 31 Rosenberg stepped onto Iraqi soil for the first time, to embark on a journey that would take him and his battalion through nights that would reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and nights in bunkers in 20-degree weather. They worked on four bases, traveled the length of the country and interacted with local Iraqis. The best part of the deployment, according to Rosenberg, is the time spent in Scandia. The battalion spent four months in this area of Iraq, building a compound for a thousand soldiers, and when there was no work to be done on the compound, the battalion was sent out to help the local population, usually running water pipes to the local houses and fields. Rosenberg's platoon pitched in money to buy their 15-year-old translator a bicycle, to make his commute to the base easier and quicker. It is in Scandia that Rosenberg found the Cuban cigars he would smoke with his friends while talking about home. The local Haji mart, a flea market, is where they would buy cases of soda, and even pizza from Baghdad if ordered a day ahead. "You could find anything you wanted at the Haji mart, "he said.
   
   THE HAJI MART would not be his only encounter with Iraqi people off the base. While working on an Air Force Base outside of Nasiriyah, in the southern part of Iraq and under British control, Rosenberg and Dewdney spent most of their nights sleeping outside.
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   "It was the best buying decision I made in Iraq," said Rosenberg. Dec. 21 was a special night for the soldiers. They were stationed at Camp Pacesetter, outside of Samarra, when they were attacked for the first time during their deployment. "I was the only one awake in the tent when I noticed it was shaking," said Rosenberg. He said that the battalion was used to hearing outgoing artillery fire, but this time the shaking was different. The attackers leaned a bunch of rockets against an embankment near the base, then lit them and ran away. The explosions were closing in on the base, and even though the soldiers had practiced getting into the bunker repeatedly, the confusion was overwhelming and everyone scattered. "It is too cold for this to be happening" was Rosenberg's first thought when he began shouting into the tent for everyone to wake up. It was 20 degrees Fahrenheit on the base. Samarra, north of Baghdad, was the most dangerous part of the deployment, according to Rosenberg. His stay there lasted a month, and then he moved on to Mosul in the northern part of the country.
   
   THE STAY IN MOSUL was the easier part of the deployment, as it was nearing its end. However, Rosenberg's deployment came to an end early, as he required medical attention due to a kidney problem. He was transported by helicopter to a tent hospital in Iraq, before being flown out to Germany. "I didn't want to leave early," he said. Rosenberg landed at Andrew's Air Force Base on Feb. 29, 2004, once again not notifying his family that he was coming home. After 10 months and 17 days in Iraq, Rosenberg was ready to get back to his life in McLean. Nowadays Rosenberg is a student at George Mason University in Fairfax. He keeps in touch with the soldiers and nurses in Iraq, but he has reservations about watching the news. He said that the media coverage of the war in Iraq deals a crushing blow to the morale of the soldiers, making them feel like their work there is pointless. The media rarely report on the good deeds done by the military, such as the water-pipe installation, or sponsorship of youth soccer teams in Iraq by individual platoons and battalions. However, every day it reports on the number of soldiers killed over there. "Whether the war is just or not," said Rosenberg, "we do what we are supposed to do." He added that he would not be surprised to be reactivated, because the numbers are getting stretched. "I would answer the call in a heartbeat," he said, "I wouldn't go out of the way to get sent over but wouldn't shy away." Ron and Nancy Rosenberg are both very proud of their son's service to the country.
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   Ron Rosenberg added that Mark's experience was a turning point in his life, because he appreciated what the United States was doing over there. He said that he learned a lot from his son's experience, comparing the Iraq war to Vietnam, this war being a reversal for him, as he was a child during Vietnam. He considers this war to be a lot lighter than what happened in Vietnam, and he cannot imagine what the parents of that time period went through after what he went through during his son's deployment in Iraq. James Dewdney feels that his experience in Iraq made him grow up a considerable amount. Before the deployment he was not sure whether he wanted to attend college, but now he is a full-time student at West Virginia University. He also values the small things in life a lot more, after being away from them for a year. He has no regrets about volunteering to go to Iraq. "It is probably one of the best things that happened to me," he said.