We had an incredibly rough start. We lost four men before we began to feel more settled and secure in our assigned sector. We learned the enemy's tactics and became familiar with the area. As violent conflicts and non-battle related incidents decreased, our spirits began to rise.
In Ad-Dawr, Iraq, where there had been heavy insurgent activity in the last month, Soldiers on patrol observed an adult male walking by himself after curfew near the center of town. Though an interpreter, the platoon leader ordered the man to halt, but he continued to walk away.
"Our values, our ethics, and our honor separate us from the insurgents and make us different from them? If you don't want to be treated like an insurgent, then don't act like one."