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I was born and raised in South Korea and came to the States in 1984. I am
single again with three children. My home base is San Antonio, Texas.
We have taken care of numerous American casualties, Iraqi Enemy Prisoners of
War, and host nation civilians in a tent hospital under the most unfavorable
conditions. It was a heartbreaking experience to see many wounded Iraqi
children without proper treatment. Some died in spite of our best efforts to
save them.
In the midst of our pain and difficulty of being in an austere environment, we
found a hiding place to worship God and thank Him for His grace and mercy
toward us all. We shared joy, laughter, tears, sorrow, and fears as we traveled
along. We prayed for our soldiers, their families, and their safety as we sent
them back to their units or for further treatment in Germany. On one particular
peaceful Sunday evening service, a barrage of mortar fire hit us on three
different occasions. We could not remember anything about the sermon or what
songs we sang together, but we did learn life's greatest lesson: God will
protect us from evil, and He gives His love to see us through.
The high points have been whenever my wounded young soldiers said to me,
"Ma'am, I really appreciated everything you have done for me. I never had this
kind of treatment before. Thanks for keeping a sense of humor." The low points
have been when the leaders were so focused on petty things that didn't
correspond to the big picture and overall mission of being in Iraq. And being
told that we would spend one year in Iraq instead of six months as originally
planned.
It has been challenging to work with fellow CSH personnel. Many are highly
frustrated and angry at times due to the length of this deployment, the
separation from their loved ones, and just the sheer loneliness of being
isolated. Conflict, tension, and disagreement between the leaders and
subordinates has occurred constantly. Due to the unfair treatment by some of my
superiors at times, I have lost respect for some of them. I would also like to
note that some of my superiors left a permanent mark in my heart through their
encouragement, positive attitude, and kindness toward their fellow soldiers in
this hostile environment.
I feel so honored and privileged to serve this great country. It has been an
extremely difficult journey but also rewarding. I have learned so much about
people, their emotions, and their pain. I have witnessed a place of nothingness
and loneliness. I have lived and survived in the most unfavorable conditions
with unbearable heat. Many times I was faced with hopeless and helpless
situations. But every event provides opportunity to learn the deepest lesson
anyone can learn on Earth: love, acceptance of the painful process, patience,
and hope. I have also learned to appreciate the small things in life such as a
flushing toilet, hot shower, and running water. I'll never take life, peace,
joy, and happiness for granted.
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