I am a college student in Tucson, Arizona. I serve in the Army reserves where I was afforded the privilege to serve 15 months in Iraq. This gave me the funds to do what I always wanted to do, which is travel. I have accrued many stories and lessons from my experiences, which somehow I am able to capture vividly in text, but for some reason never in spoken word.

My passion is ...

Music and everything about it.

I know too much about ...

Is that even possible?

My parents always told me ...

Get me another beer.

My childhood ambition ...

Leave Oklahoma!

My favorite memory ...

Leaving Oklahoma!

Why I write ...

To cover up the pain inside.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

The Templars/My band's DVD/The Bled

My first job ...

Rolling astro turf for the Tulsa Talons... Yessssss.

My best moment ...

Everyday of my life.

My inspiration ...

Henry Rollins and the folks who wrote Zeitgeist the movie.

Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Iraq war: The troops' testimonies

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Fallujah, Iraq: Memory in flames

"Groetken, you ready to roll?" asked my squad leader Sergeant Macias. "Remember, you're rolling through Fallujah, so bring a few extra mags, and make sure that Fifty is cleaner than a virgin." "I'm always ready Sergeant, Fallujah is my hometown, they love me there!" I replied with a hint of sarcasm. These were the standard words exchanged before any given mission. Even if I made sure the fifty caliber had no dirt whatsoever and I brought along a whole rucksack full of M-16 magazines, I still would not be prepared for the scene that would be p...

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