THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Comrades Tackle First Month of Combat

Spc. Daniel Liles of Tehachapi, Calif., an infantryman with Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, covers a comrade as he maneuvers across the street during a clearing mission in Baghdad’s East Rashid district, Sept. 21. The young trooper recently celebrated his 22nd birthday in the Iraqi capital, Sept. 19. Photographer: Spc. Jeff Ledesma, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

Pfc. Reuben Gonzales of Modesto, Calif., an infantryman with Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, keeps his sight on an area his unit received heavy machine-gun fire from the day prior during a clearing mission in Baghdad’s east Rashid District, Sept. 21. The 21-year-old and his wife, Erin, have a son, Gabriel, who is going to be celebrating his first birthday in November. Photographer: Spc. Jeff Ledesma, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

Spc. Daniel Liles of Tehachapi, Calif., an infantryman with Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, pulls overwatch on the second story of an abandoned church during a clearing mission in Baghdad’s East Rashid District, Sept. 21. The young trooper recently celebrated his 22nd birthday in the Iraqi capital, Sept. 19. Photographer: Spc. Jeff Ledesma, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Sept. 28, 2007 -- Two comrades with Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stationed out of Vilseck, Germany, experiences the first of 15 months in their unit’s deployment as the Iraqi capital’s quick-reaction force.

Pfc. Reuben Gonzales and Spc. Daniel Liles’ first month on the ground was not exactly what they expected. For Gonzales, training back at home station was helpful, but a little different.

“We might get into direct contact every other day which is a lot different than what we trained for. We trained everyday, it was a constant ‘Go, go, go,’” Gonzales said of Modesto, Calif.

The 21-year-old infantryman described his first month as being “Tiring and hard.” He explained that everyone expected everyday to be big and crazy – firefight after firefight.

“I don’t think (combat here is) as ruthless as it was before because now it’s more focused on the people,” Gonzales said. “During the training it was kicking in doors and running in. There were no people.”

However, clearing homes in the East Rashid district the young troopers have already had plenty of interaction with the Iraqi people in their own neighborhoods.

“We’ve mingled with some of the Iraqis and most of them are great people that are willing to work with us,” said Liles of Tehachapi, Calif.

Prior to deploying they received words of wisdom for the Soldiers that led them into combat.

“Our squad leaders, who were over here the first time, told us their personal views on the situation here. They said to gain your own perspective of what Iraq is about and what the culture is like,” Liles said. “[But,] the only way to know what it’s really like is to actually be over here first hand.”

Liles said he has seen so many things in this first month that he won’t see anywhere else.

“(So far,) we’ve had our fair share of firefights. I’ve seen (improvised explosive devices) go off. I know what to expect now,” said the 22-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Sept 19.

Something Soldiers prepare for is the separation from their families during deployments and it’s one of the toughest things to go through, Gonzales said.

“You don’t get to talk to them as much so you talk to everyone else here. That’s all you got. You just talk to each other,” Gonzales said. “All of us bring our own little unique blend to the squad.”

Although the camaraderie between the Soldiers in his platoon has grown throughout his time in the service, Gonzales said the upcoming months without his wife, Erin, and his 10-month-old son Gabriel are going to be rough.

Both Soldiers try to maintain as much contact with their families back home as possible.

Liles said he tries to communicate just enough information that people back home can take it and gather from news channels to piece it all together so they have a concept of what is happening here and what he is facing on today’s battlefield.

The infantryman added that everyone should know that their sons and daughters are in a dangerous place because they are, but also that they are bravely doing their jobs and playing their part on a grand scheme to keep Iraq a safer place.

With one month down, the two Soldiers have 14 months until they redeploy to Germany. Liles said he thinks the best way to tackle the rest of the deployment is to concentrate on doing his job and doing it well.

“Going out and coming back alive, making sure all these homes are cleared (and) all the weapons caches are found,” Liles said.

Gonzales or “Gonzo” as known by his platoon, said that he will try to keep his mind off things by playing video games and hanging out with his brothers in arms.

“You can’t really have a set plan because 15 months is 15 months no matter how you look at it,” Gonzales said. “But, plenty of packages from my wife and pictures of my family will hopefully help me through the days.”