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Extended duty
By WASHINGTON POST
Published February 12, 2007
AL ASAD, Iraq Army Spc. Jesse Espinosa figured he was down to six more missions off this base west of Baghdad. Six more missions in the turret of his armored vehicle, performing a duty that soldiers liken to Russian roulette: providing convoy security along supply routes in deadly Anbar province. Six more missions, then home to his wife, three children and civilian job as a cook in Bricelyn, Minn. But all that has to wait. The deployment of his unit, the Iowa National Guard's 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, was recently extended for up to 125 days because of President Bush's decision to temporarily increase troop levels in Iraq. Like many fellow soldiers, Espinosa, 24, was upset because "almost every mission we see at least one" roadside bomb, he said. Now, instead of getting back by March, his homecoming will likely be July or August. And instead of six, Espinosa has about 40 more missions to go.
[Last modified February 12, 2007, 01:34:38]
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