'An exercise in futility'
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Our company just took over a new OP. This place is way the hell out in the middle of nowhere. The building itself looks straight out of the 14th century. The building is not only huge, but like so many buildings in this country seems as if it was built for warfare."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Our company just took over a new OP. This place is way the hell out in the middle of nowhere. The building itself looks straight out of the 14th century. The building is not only huge, but like so many buildings in this country seems as if it was built for warfare."
Pictures of Ar Ramadi
See images of Pfc. Jason Henderson – photographs of his time on the home front and other pictures he sent home from Ramadi, Iraq.
See images of Pfc. Jason Henderson – photographs of his time on the home front and other pictures he sent home from Ramadi, Iraq.
Enjoying time off while it lasts
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "We are back at Eagles Nest and what a change. Things used to be pretty terrible here, as in 8 on 8 off. Now we show up and its 4 on 18 off, or so I'm told."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "We are back at Eagles Nest and what a change. Things used to be pretty terrible here, as in 8 on 8 off. Now we show up and its 4 on 18 off, or so I'm told."
Rarely is it 'everything according to plan'
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It is not that this road is particularly dangerous by Ramadi standards, but it certainly isn't someplace that I would recommend for tailgating."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It is not that this road is particularly dangerous by Ramadi standards, but it certainly isn't someplace that I would recommend for tailgating."
Not an ordinary drive
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "We jumped onto the median of the 4 lane divided highway as usual. The median, aside from having slightly fewer potholes than the road, also is a much more difficult reach for the IED layers."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "We jumped onto the median of the 4 lane divided highway as usual. The median, aside from having slightly fewer potholes than the road, also is a much more difficult reach for the IED layers."
Extension means missing holidays at home
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It isn't that I agree or disagree with the decision (to extend the tours of all active duty Army units). My politics and theories on the world carry no weight here, but it is quite disappointing."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It isn't that I agree or disagree with the decision (to extend the tours of all active duty Army units). My politics and theories on the world carry no weight here, but it is quite disappointing."
A country in capable hands
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "... the Infantry is the Infantry. For those who understand no other explanation is needed, for those who don't, no words of mine can explain it. The Infantry aside, every man who is in my platoon signed up for a post September 11th Army."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "... the Infantry is the Infantry. For those who understand no other explanation is needed, for those who don't, no words of mine can explain it. The Infantry aside, every man who is in my platoon signed up for a post September 11th Army."
The song of a soldier's sister
A poem composed by McCall Henderson, a Naperville Central student whose brother, Jason, is serving in Iraq.
A poem composed by McCall Henderson, a Naperville Central student whose brother, Jason, is serving in Iraq.
Little things help mom stay connected with son in Iraq
Last week, Cathy Henderson received a call from her son Jason, who is serving in Iraq, saying that his military stay was being extended. "Three more months of worrying," Henderson said. "... It's an ongoing thing. It never really leaves my mind or my heart.
Last week, Cathy Henderson received a call from her son Jason, who is serving in Iraq, saying that his military stay was being extended. "Three more months of worrying," Henderson said. "... It's an ongoing thing. It never really leaves my mind or my heart.
Emotional overload
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "I remember watching that tracer bounce off the column and move all the way across my field of vision. ... I am still trying to sort it out exactly in my mind. ... It was probably the single most intense moment of my life."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "I remember watching that tracer bounce off the column and move all the way across my field of vision. ... I am still trying to sort it out exactly in my mind. ... It was probably the single most intense moment of my life."
A new kind of fear
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Got shot at for the first time in my life. I don't mean that the rounds came in my general direction, or that they shot at the group I was with. I mean that I personally got shot at."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Got shot at for the first time in my life. I don't mean that the rounds came in my general direction, or that they shot at the group I was with. I mean that I personally got shot at."
Friend's injury reinforces seriousness of the war
Pfc. Henderson writes: "Silence descends upon the room. One of our guys is down. Shrapnel to the throat. That can't help but be serious. ... Lord I hope he is okay."
Pfc. Henderson writes: "Silence descends upon the room. One of our guys is down. Shrapnel to the throat. That can't help but be serious. ... Lord I hope he is okay."
Battling the elements - and giant rats
Pfc. Henderson writes: "So i got attacked by a rat last night. ... In the middle of the night i heard a scratching noise above me, and when I turned on my light i was looking at a rat that was probably half the size of buckwheat."
Pfc. Henderson writes: "So i got attacked by a rat last night. ... In the middle of the night i heard a scratching noise above me, and when I turned on my light i was looking at a rat that was probably half the size of buckwheat."
Birthday felicitations and celebrations in Ramadi
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Tonight was only my 2nd interaction with the enemy on a face to face basis, and I was yet again disappointed. I suppose that my own view of guerilla warfare is rather romantic, but these guys were just embarrassing."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Tonight was only my 2nd interaction with the enemy on a face to face basis, and I was yet again disappointed. I suppose that my own view of guerilla warfare is rather romantic, but these guys were just embarrassing."
Treasured tresses and military standards
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: I celebrated a highly coveted award last week. I was designated as the individual in the platoon with the best hair."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: I celebrated a highly coveted award last week. I was designated as the individual in the platoon with the best hair."
Soldier's mom: Support 'overwhelming'
Jason Henderson's mother, Cathy, said the response from Jason's e-mails being published in The Sun has been "overwhelming." "It just really means a lot to have people express that kind of support," Cathy Henderson said.
Jason Henderson's mother, Cathy, said the response from Jason's e-mails being published in The Sun has been "overwhelming." "It just really means a lot to have people express that kind of support," Cathy Henderson said.
Lessons in trust from both sides
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It feels like the ultimate betrayal. A man who you are supposed to trust your life too just up and abandoned all of us. Now he returns months later and expects us to welcome him back. Can I really be expected to trust him completely?"
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "It feels like the ultimate betrayal. A man who you are supposed to trust your life too just up and abandoned all of us. Now he returns months later and expects us to welcome him back. Can I really be expected to trust him completely?"
The kindness of strangers
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Within minutes of dropping our gear in their "sitting room" a feast was set before us. I cant even begin to name everything that was laid out ... We did our best to clear the spread, as it is rude to leave food uneaten in Arab culture ..."
Pfc. Jason Henderson writes: "Within minutes of dropping our gear in their "sitting room" a feast was set before us. I cant even begin to name everything that was laid out ... We did our best to clear the spread, as it is rude to leave food uneaten in Arab culture ..."
Mom wants to share son's story
Cathy Henderson always knew her 23-year-old son, Jason, was going to be a soldier. And now he is, serving in Iraq. "It wasn't a surprise for me," Henderson said. "But I don't like watching the news."
Cathy Henderson always knew her 23-year-old son, Jason, was going to be a soldier. And now he is, serving in Iraq. "It wasn't a surprise for me," Henderson said. "But I don't like watching the news."
