Our Troops At War Part 3

New attacks on what was thought to be the most secure part of Iraq the green zone in Baghdad. Mortars and rockets hit close to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government headquarters seriously wounding three Americans. Evansvilles 163rd and Jaspers 151st are in the middle east getting ready for the fight. Local soldiers stationed in the Udari dessert are pretty safe, but concrete bunkers set up around base to protect our troops from incoming mortar attacks leave no doubt their now in a war zone. Stationed at a transient base on the Iraqi border, Indiana soldiers say they are ready for war."The sooner I get over there, the sooner I get to come home." Sgt. First Class Darrel Edwards fought this battle before and is back again for round two of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hes part of Evansvilles 163rd convoy security team and his job is gunner on top of a Humvee. Edwards says he hopes this tour of duty will end the war. "Id like to think that, I would , that way I dont have to keep leaving my family, but Im going to keep coming as long as they need our help here." Edwards says he got married right before his first tour in Iraq. His wifes name is Allison, and theyve been married almost three years. "I miss her to death, but luckily shes strong enough to help both her and I through it." Edwards says while she helps him with coping with the deployment, hes able to help fellow soldiers who have never been to the middle east. "Its almost an everyday occurrence, one of my soldiers will come up to me and say [hey Gunny what can I expect] I basically tell them the down and dirty." Its been five years since the war in Iraq began. Edwards says this time around he hopes they establish a little more security, and that Iraqi forces take more control over their country themselves.