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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
JOHN J. KOLDUS III FACULTY/STAFF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Recognizes an outstanding faculty/staff member for his or her interest in student growth, education and unity through student organization work. Any student, student organization, faculty, or staff member may nominate. For more information or an application, contact Patty Kelley, Office of VP for Student Affairs, 845-4728. Nominations due Friday, February 27. 2004. MS 1256 or delivered to Patty Kelley, 10th Floor Rudder Tower Sandia Day February 20, 2004 MSC 206 9:00 ci.m. Welcome Richard Ewing, Vice President for Research, Texas A&M 9:15 a.m. Keynote Alton Romig, Jr., Vice President for National Security, Sandia "From Systems Engineering to Nanotechnology, Impacting National Security “ 10:30 a.m. Panel Session "Research at Sandia National Laboratories" Student Opportunities at Sandia National laboratories February 20, 2004 Richardson 101, 2-3 p.m. A special presentation by representatives from Sandia National Laboratories highlighting internship, co-op and fellowship opportunities for engineering and physical science majors. http://sandiaday.taimi.edu Greyhound is the easy, affordable way to travel for Spring Break. |nP\ And with your Student Advantage® Discount Card, you can save 15%* off regular Greyhound fares. Buses are rolling 24/7 to hundreds of popular Spring Break destinations so make your plans today. Visit greyhound.com or call 1-800-231-2222 GREYHOUND •Soma restrictions and limitations may apply. Student Advantage® Discount Card is a registered trademark and product of Student Advantage, Inc. Discounts based on current offers and are subject to change. Tap O’Briens 1 B w Jo with Hippfflour prices 9:00pm - Midnight *1.00 bar drinks • *1.00 pints *2.00 Hurricanes *1.00 Tap Cherry Bombs ALL NIGHT then SSWXILLliiM? Live music w/ FEEDING 5000 and special guest WIDEAWAKE 696'5570 Party Safe and Designate a Driver NEW Friday, February 20, 2004 FISH W R.FEUINA noise f pouiiTioii 89 josh Mono Tbcy f 1 Toup Voo THE GanP Doe^fWT JNIEED TO CHANae IT’S LOOK < UmAT ARE Sou TALKING A8oirr7 I'm Gotr-JO. to a© see the" ROCKW HORROR PlC-TuRC -SHOIO. COME ON, lev* Do THe time ljArp aim * by Will Uoy<A U.S. troops going home after nearly a year in Iraq By Jim Krane THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON A C-130 OVER IRAQ — The throb of the engines of the C-130 Hercules is deafen ing, but the soldiers laugh and joke. A few nap. One soldier totes her unit’s banner, a sure sign this is more than a tempo rary jaunt. After almost a year in Iraq, these members of the Army’s 32nd Signal Battalion are going home. More than 100,000 other weary Americans and their bat tered equipment are doing the same, being replaced by fresh forces in a massive rotation — the biggest since World War II — playing out until May. “I’m floating on cloud nine,” said 25-year-old Staff Sgt. Joe Luna of Visalia, Calif. The moment a U.S. soldier pines for is saying goodbye to Iraq, where a brutal insurgency has confounded troops who thought they’d be hailed as lib erators. On bases across Iraq, stores cater to that longing by selling coffee mugs emblazoned with the words “Happiness is seeing Iraq in my rearview mir ror.” they wanted to hug parents and children, sleep without being woken by explosions, or stroll without a rifle. “I want to get drunk,” blurt ed out 26-year-old Spc. Yvette Inocencio of Miami, waiting with friends from her unit, the 864th Engineer Battalion, for their flight. The weeks before departure are rife with fears, especially about being killed. A lot of civilians don't understand. It's not us we're doing it for, it's them (the Iraqis). Charles Guess U.S. soldier The units trickling out of the country are many of those who joined the March invasion. Some have seen combat and lost members. All faced tough living conditions. The Darmstadt, Germany- based 32nd Signal Battalion hit the ground in Kuwait on March 5, setting up communications networks as the invasion force rolled into Iraq, Luna said. The group was sent south when mor tar fire killed a soldier. “It was rough. It seemed like a race to get to Baghdad, then we ended up going backward,” Luna said as his Unit piled green duffel bags near a tent at the Army’s Camp Anaconda near Balad, Iraq. Now, Luna said, going back ward — to home base in Germany — sounds just fine. It’s been a long wait. Soldiers spoke of the frustration of counting the days to an expected departure only to be told they would have to stay on. All said Camp Anaconda is regularly pounded by rebel mortars. Since June, dozens of U.S. soldiers on the base have been wounded and a few have been killed by the shrapnel-spewing blasts. Overall in Iraq, 545 U.S. troops have been killed and 2,700 injured since combat began March 20. “We’re always sitting here worried about mortars, since we’re so close to going home,” Inocencio said. Another soldier, Spc. Charles Guess, 21, of Springdale, Ark., said he was driving a bulldozer last month when a mortar blast sent him six feet into the air, dis locating his shoulder and tearing a rotator cuff. Inocencio voiced another universal worry. Even though the soldiers have loaded their bags onto pallets to be hoisted onto a C-130 transport plane, and even though their names have been called and their rede ployment orders checked and reconfirmed, the Army could still reverse course. “This is the worst part,” Inocencio said as her group waited to fly out of Camp Anaconda, headed to Spain and then to Fort Lewis. Wash. “Things always seem to hap pen just as you’re getting ready to leave.” Many soldiers heading home, like Luna, say they’ve had enough of the military. “I’m going to transition to civilian life in three months,” Luna said, rubbing his hand over his shaven head. “You get a lot better picture of the military when you’re deployed. It’s been an enlightening experience.” Few regret leaving. Some will miss friends. Luna is sorry he won’t get a chance to see firsthand the results of America’s effort to reshape the Middle East. “It’s like we’re leaving before the job gets done,” Luna said. Others say they’re ready for civilian life, even if it means dealing with those who don’t appreciate the work they've done in Iraq — or those who opposed the war to oust Saddam Hussein. “No matter what was said, we’re all going to be heroes,” Guess said confidently. “A lot of civilians don’t understand. It’s not us we’re doing it for, it’s them (the Iraqis).” Before boarding the plane, the 35 soldiers made their way through the Army’s version of customs: an “amnesty booth” where they are ordered to dis card pornography, alcohol or unauthorized weapons. In the discard bin were a few belts of machine gun rounds. In a short while, the soldiers were strapping themselves into the cargo plane’s red mesh seats. The Georgia Air National Guard C-130 roared skyward, then banked hard and dipped — maneuvers aimed at evading any shoulder-fired missiles. In an hour and a half, the soldiers stepped out into the Kuwaiti sunshine. “Happy? I’m ecstatic,” said Capt. Will Stanley, 33, of Fresno, Calif. “But the excite ment won’t quite hit until I’m on U.S. soil.” THE BATTAIN} NEWS IN BRIEF Memorial being held for Lawler A memorial service I Christopher Anthony Lawler, sophomore petroleum enj neering major who Tuesday morning, will be heidj 7 p.m. Friday at St. Maty Catholic Center. Friends of Lawler and res dents of Appelt Hall, 1 Lawler lived, will be meetingi the Appelt Hall TV lounge j 6:15 p.m. to walk to St. Mar together, said Daniel Jonfl$ sophomore business majoran Appelt resident. “We know it’s been a time for his family,” Jones sal. “Anyone who knew Chris, m anyone who wants to celebiat the life of a fellow Aggie encouraged to attend.” The service is scheduled t last one to two hours. ‘The service will be dedicated to celebrating (Lawler’s) life ant the contributions he made toward each of (his friends] lives,” Jones said. Marriage Continued from page l this amendment, and means to them.” Lucas Kramm, traditioiul family values chair of A® Young Conservatives of I® said he believes the rally i being held in response i recent events in Massachuseit and San Fransisco involvi the legalization of same-sei marriages. “Marriage is an institute between a man and a woman.' Kramm said. “Everyone hastk equal right to marry (somen of the opposite sex).” David Fisher, a senior elec trical engineering technolog major, said he believes same sex marriages should be legal ized. He believes the constini tion grants the right, and al doesn’t believe that marriage sacred anymore. “If marriage (betweenama/i and a woman) is so sawedtta explain the high divorce tales,'' Fisher said. Jennings said if an ment to the U.S. Constitutioa does occur, that it will time before society acceptstk concept. As the ongoing debate con tinues on whether or not la legalize same-sex marriages, people such as Kramm steadfast to the belief issue is unconstitutional. P Patrick Kee coat. This s conkroyfx Cadets Continued from page l speech “Conflict in Iraq: A War fighting Perspective, Caudle said. “Moseley told about experience with the war in I Brown said. “He talked a what the mission was, howi was implemented and results.” On Friday, Gates will spei about the intelligence comma ty in Iraq, and Meigs willdis cuss the Iraq conflict fromi geopolitical perspective. A&M also sends cadets leadership conferences at otl schools, including Tech, but Caudle said holds one of the best in tk nation. Cadets are attracted to event by the issues disaissfll and A&M’s reputation for col- ducting a good conferee Caudle said. They also friendly Aggie community# 1 the Corps’ military leaders!# he said. “The reputation is growini among the the schools,” Joseph “Doc” Mills, mediareli- tions for the office of the mandant. “This thing is get#! bigger every year.” The Battalion Elizabeth N. Webb, Editor in Chief The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and springse** tens and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods|> Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send add® changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division Media, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 014 Reed McDonald Building. 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