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| The majority of Iraqi people have continued to welcome the services of U.S. soldiers who are Oshkosh students and many Iraqis remain appreciative of the freedom that has been gained through their efforts, Blando said. |
Local soldiers still in Iraq
by Amie Schaenzer, of the Advance Titan Submitted: 10/30/2003 6:51:53 PM
Military deployment of UW-Oshkosh students is down from last year’s 68 students to 44, with 29 students returning to the university from various locations around the world.
Many more students will be returning this spring, but as units rotate out of Iraq, other students will have to be deployed, said Lt. Col. Anthony Blando, head of the UW-Oshkosh ROTC program.
“This will have an effect on college students for several years,” he said.
Five additional students were deployed this semester.
“Any deployment is hard, but it gives a young person the opportunity to serve the nation,” Blando said.
“You really don’t have a long time on this planet, and it’s important to do something to make a difference.”
Student Bryan Nagorny was one of the 29 to return to school this semester and said he found it difficult at first to adjust to life at home.
“It’s like getting used to a whole new group of friends, but it’s getting easier,” Nagorny said.
Nagorny returned in August from a four-month tour in Iraq. He was unable to comment on the details of his work in Iraq since it was mostly “behind the scenes stuff.”
Students who remain overseas have reported that the biggest threat lately in Iraq is improvised explosive devices (IED), which have been hidden in a variety of different locations. One student reported driving over an IED that had been hidden in a dead dog, Blando said.
Other students report a variety of different experiences ranging from policing in Baghdad to air raids in Mosul, Iraq.
“They sacrifice a whole lot,” Blando said.
The majority of Iraqi people have continued to welcome the services of U.S. soldiers who are Oshkosh students and many Iraqis remain appreciative of the freedom that has been gained through their efforts, Blando said.
The university spent two weeks preparing care packages to send to the 44 deployed Oshkosh students, which were sent Oct. 20. The packages included pictures drawn by children from the university’s children center, copies of the Advance-Titan and letters from Chancellor Wells and various faculty and staff.
On campus you get two extremes concerning the war, Blando said, with some students continuing to oppose it.
“Students are fighting the war for Bush and Bush’s damn family,” sophomore Luke Miller said.
Other students are for involvement in Iraq.
“I think it’s a good idea that we’re involved, and the reason that kids our age think it’s negative is because they don’t pay attention to politics,” junior Catherine Montonati said. “People make statements without getting all the information.”
Others remain uncertain.
“Is it working?” said Blando. “Hell I don’t know. History will determine that.”
