Do any of you think you would one day want to return to Iraq or Afghanistan?

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 10:29:14 -0500

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Mar 8 at 2018 10:33 AM

MSgt Stephen Council — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 10:33:20 -0500

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter Not for any amount of money. There are places I was stationed that I would like to visit with my wife: Turkey and Korea are among my favorites.

Response by SPC Joseph Wojcik made Mar 8 at 2018 10:47 AM

SPC Joseph Wojcik — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 10:47:43 -0500

I'm a huge history buff, so I wouldn't mind checking out Babylonian ruins and other historical sites if Iraq ever cools down.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 11:01 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:01:03 -0500

It would be nice to think there will be a day when I could...but for now, seems implausible.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 8 at 2018 11:03 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:03:58 -0500

A fair question. Many Vietnam Vets have returned to the place where they fought as have WWII Vets. So, why not?

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 8 at 2018 11:06 AM

SPC David Willis — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:06:31 -0500

I would love to go back to Iraq and show my family where I patrolled and sights I saw, but I don't think it will ever be a viable option for my generation. Maybe when we are in out 80s or 90s but who knows.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 8 at 2018 11:15 AM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:15:43 -0500

To be very truthful and fair I wouldn't go to either Iraq or A-Stan no matter how well the places cleaned up. While I saw some really nice terrain and met some good folks my memory is of the smell of crap a decay everywhere. In all honesty I can't see any sane person visiting as a tourist unless you want to disappear into a shallow grave out in the desert. While I am sure there are many good people in these places the number of folks who would kill you just form being you outnumbers them. I would feel safer walking down a street in Chicago in the summer than walking in the mountains in A-Stan.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Mar 8 at 2018 11:21 AM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:21:15 -0500

Absolutely not. I cannot imagine going back to Afghanistan for any reason other than business. I took hundreds of pictures if I ever feel like I am missing the scenery.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Mar 8 at 2018 11:43 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:43:35 -0500

Heck to the no...left it and don't ever care to return. I haven't lost a dang thing over there that I have to go back for.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 11:57 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 11:57:10 -0500

Yes I’ll be going back in a few months

Response by PO2 Kevin Parker made Mar 8 at 2018 12:14 PM

PO2 Kevin Parker — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:14:16 -0500

I guess I kinda went back by choice because of my job as a DOD contractor. I would never go back again! I’ve already told them I will not go back there. So no I wouldn’t go back

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 12:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:41:56 -0500

Lol, negative....

Response by SSG Alan Pelletier made Mar 8 at 2018 12:52 PM

SSG Alan Pelletier — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:52:50 -0500

I've thought and considered future interest level. Iraq is a possibility, not so much Afghanistan.
I remember watching an old movie at my babysitter's house on vhs called, "The Thief of Baghdad." As a child I wanted to go to Baghdad! Ha ha ha. Irony, yes?

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Mar 8 at 2018 1:15 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 13:15:21 -0500

I have NO desire to go back to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. I was in and out of all of them both numerous times as a GS-15 from 2003-2014. Afghanistan struck me as a place stuck in time. I remember visiting a Battalion Aid Station in North East Afghanistan in 2009 and thinking that it reminded me of the movie Fort Apache as outside the FOB was nothing but Indian country. What really bothered me though in both Iraq and Afghanistan were the kids - it just seemed to me that while our kids had a shot at a future - they did not.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 2:08 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:08:31 -0500

In what capacity?

Military? Contractor? Civilian? Tourist?

I would gladly go back to either place in any of the above capacities.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 2:15 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:15:18 -0500

I have already several times, and not by choice.
I think that I have seen enough.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 2:35 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:35:47 -0500

Oh hell no

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 2:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:39:53 -0500

I'm retired now and have no desire ever to return to Iraq, ever!.
I was a peacekeeper in Bosnia and did 2 tours in Germany. With all the changes happening in Germany and all for the worse, I really can't see myself returning.
I would like to return to Bosnia and visit some of the old Warsaw pact countries like Poland, Czech Republic.

Response by SGT Cody Skinner made Mar 8 at 2018 3:28 PM

SGT Cody Skinner — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:28:44 -0500

I was lucky enough to travel all over Iraq during my first Deployment. It did have some beautiful Areas to see. I would not mind returning for that. I don't think it would ever be safe enough to return as a Tourist for a very long time.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 8 at 2018 3:59 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:59:03 -0500

Hell no.

Response by SGT Matthew Sesar made Mar 8 at 2018 4:24 PM

SGT Matthew Sesar — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:24:54 -0500

No.

Response by Jenn Moynihan made Mar 8 at 2018 4:29 PM

Jenn Moynihan — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:29:19 -0500

Thank you all for your candid responses. Be they one word or many.

Jenn / USO New England

Response by 1SG Jeremy Evans made Mar 8 at 2018 5:42 PM

1SG Jeremy Evans — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:42:53 -0500

I wouldn't trade the experience for any amount of money, and I wouldn't pay one cent to do it again.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 8 at 2018 5:44 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:44:43 -0500

Have never been to either one, if I go any where it will be where my grandfather came from, the former Prussia.

Response by SFC Jim Mergott made Mar 9 at 2018 8:00 AM

SFC Jim Mergott — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 08:00:19 -0500

I think the war is to fresh in my mind to consider returning. However, 30 years from now I might feel differently. Especially if the country is peaceful.

Response by SPC Akeaster Searcy made Mar 9 at 2018 8:53 AM

SPC Akeaster Searcy — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 08:53:53 -0500

No I went through hell on earth.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 9 at 2018 9:40 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 09:40:43 -0500

only in a B-52. I hated that country, saw nor reason to ever want to return to that place.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2018 8:01 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 08:01:51 -0500

What for? Like a tourist? I don’t think so I will probably go crazy and lost my mind if I had to drive down MSR Tampa I can only imagine what the flash back will be like. Maybe 50 years after I retire from the Army.

Response by Cpl Christopher Snarski Sr. made Mar 19 at 2018 8:53 AM

Cpl Christopher Snarski Sr. — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 08:53:54 -0400

Maybe Leatherneck..

Response by SSG Juan Valdez made Jun 30 at 2018 9:08 PM

SSG Juan Valdez — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 21:08:41 -0400

Ues I would like to come back, maybe i can find old Iraqis friend, who were loyal to us

Response by SPC John Messenger made Feb 16 at 2019 10:19 AM

SPC John Messenger — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 10:19:09 -0500

It has been a few years since we got home 04 and 05, I still talk to my family I made over there while deployed, and everyday we agree it seems like yesterday, so um a No haha, but we would go back to keep the fight there not here

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2020 7:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:01:23 -0400

Absolutely