Army officer speaks to St. Mary's students

Thanks them

for their

wartime

support

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- A U.S. Army medical officer home after a year of duty in Iraq spoke to students about his wartime experiences Friday at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's School.

First Lieutenant Terry Hoffmann a St. Mary's graduate, now a U.S. Army medical officer with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., thanked students for their support of prayers, letters and care packages.

Speaking to Mrs. Gangelhoff's third-graders, Hoffmann said Iraq was a land of camels, sheep and lots of sand. Baghdad was a city of contrasts with government and Baath Party buildings made of marble and gold -- while much of the city featured narrow, dusty streets and colorful outdoor markets selling shoes, clothing and brass pots, among many other things.

Hoffmann spent much of his time near Mosul, in the northern part of Iraq, near the Turkish border. He described it as like parts of South Dakota. He also spent time near Sinjar, a place he described as "the middle of no where" near the Syrian border, 120 kilometers west of Mosul.

Often eating with Arabs, Hoffmann usually had chicken, which he preferred to lamb. Rice and vegetables were also common. Goat's milk, the consistency of liquid yogurt, was sometimes consumed at meals.

Black, brown or green tea was sometimes provided and became his favorite drink. Coffee, Coke and Pepsi were rare luxuries found only in Baghdad. Lamb brain on flat bread was considered a delicacy. Soft drinks were often consumed at the end of meetings.

With his own interpreter for use in the medical platoon, Hoffmann learned some Arabic and became very good friends with many Iraqi doctors.

Destitute children often came up the American troops in humvees, asking for MREs (meals ready to eat). Soldiers were told not to give them to kids but rather to provide them to the very needy at Iraqi hospitals.

His desert companions included non-poisonous camel spiders that got as large as his hand, snakes, lizards and scorpions that got up to several inches long. Scorpions were strong enough to hold two chopsticks. Sand fleas were more hazardous. Their bites could transmit infectious viruses that could last for months if they were untreated.

At first, Hoffmann spent lots of time looking for Iraqis that spoke English so they could find warehouses where many supplies were stored.

"We haven't done that lately, it's much too dangerous now," Hoffmann said.

Among the breakthroughs of Hoffmann's unit was making private shower stalls and boardwalks from packing crates. Eight-foot high dirt berms and concrete provided protection for his living space which he described as "very safe."

He learned to sleep on a rubber mat in his room that had no other furniture. His free time was often spent listening to Pearl Jam and music video CDs on his laptop. A satellite radio receiver picked up the British Broadcast Corp. (BBC) radio broadcasts. Games of volleyball, flag football and softball, and non-alcoholic beer were enjoyed at times.

Highlights included massive celebrations after Saddam Hussein was captured. Most of the Iraqi hoopla consisted of firing Russian AK-47 assault rifles into the air.

For more information, visit www.campbell.army.mil