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Sgt. Maj. Benny Hubbard, from the Army Corps of Engineers, greets an Iraqi child prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new elementary school in Afak. This photo appeared on www.army.mil.

John Kerry, eat your heart out.

Soldiers with the Arkansas National Guard are in Baghdad, patrolling roads and looking for enemy activity — and 40/29’s Doug Grindle recently spent time with them in Iraq.

Insurgents often put bombs alongside a road near a highway just west of Baghdad. They also fire at passing convoys. Soldiers from Northwest Arkansas are trying to put a stop to that, and it’s a job they said they enjoy.

“We are hardcore. We dont mind going out … I get a kick out of going out. I’d rather go out than stay on this place — I’d get bored,” said PFC Daniel Wilkerson of Pea Ridge.

“It’s an adrenaline rush. People might think I’m crazy, but I think it’s fun. I have fun doing it,” said Pvt. Johnny Mitchell of Greenwood.

Soldiers told Grindle that most roadside bombs are found and that the engineering units patrolling Baghdad roads are well protected in their vehicles. The attacks are intermittent, and the unit from Northwest Arkansas has spent more than a month patrolling these roads.

However, the work is dangerous, and the local soldiers will be here for a year. Soldiers said the daily routine associated with patrolling these roads makes the task less frightening.

“I get worried. I pray for the Lord to keep me safe. You get used to it. Before you get here, you’re scared. But, when you get here, it’s a routine,” Wilkerson said.

May God bless and protect these troops. And like President Bush said, We’ll succeed, unless we quit.

Hat tip: sisu

The Democrats and the Syrians seem to be in agreement in calling for a timetable for withdrawal. They do our troops no good service.