Posted on Mar 23, 2014
Would you ever go back to where you were deployed to visit or live?
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Whether Vietnam, Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or Afghanistan, would you return? With family and/or friends, or alone? Why or why not?
Posted in these groups: 
Deployment
Deployment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 70
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Visit, Yes. Iraq and Afghanistan, to me if one day its safe enough for me to return, then all the scarfices my brothers and sister have made with Blood, and all the hard work we have all put into those countries, Was not in Vain, and would tell me that we were truly sucessfull.
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG Blum, thanks for the great sentiment. A willingness to return certainly demonstrates that you think the sacrifices were worthwhile.
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SSG Robert Blum
Sir, I had the unique opportunity on my 3rd Iraq(2008-2009) Deployment to return to and work in some of the same neighborhoods in Baghdad that I patrolled on my first deployment (2004-2005). Seeing the post surge Baghdad and the increased security gave me a since of pride in what was accomplished. We were far more hands on with the locals, being an MP, working with the IPs day in and day out, compared to my first deployment, conducting route security patrols, convoy escorts, and asset recovery. Rarely did we have contact with locals. I saw some positive progress in security and infrastructure. So maybe 20 or 30 years down the road, when the dust finally settles.
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Absolutely and I fully intend to if at all possible. Iraq has a rich cultural history that I would love to be able to calmly walk through and take the time to explore. Afghanistan I more want to go back to for healing reasons and the area is remote so it would be difficult but if at all possible I hope to return some day
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