The 2d Cavalry Assn News Center

Stryker Cavalry Regiment troops on patrol in Baghdad. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini

David Smith talks to US soldiers about their motivation and experiences in Iraq

Sergeant Tonio Childress, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Age 36, from Peoria, Illinois

When I joined the army, in 1993, I never thought I’d be in Baghdad. You’re aware of the dangers, and there’s always the thought that I could leave my daughters and son without a father, and my wife without a husband.

But it means, hopefully, in 10 or 20 years, my daughters and son won’t have to come out and do the same thing.

This is my third tour of Iraq. I do a lot of humanitarian aid: basic sustenance, like water, food, road repairs, infrastructure - anything we can do to give the Iraqis support. The people are most definitely grateful. It cuts down on violence when they can take care of their own economic system.

I’ve not seen any terrorist activity. I’m in a pretty secure area. We deal with a lot of children, so we’re not going to see a lot of violence.

I would tend to agree that it’s getting better. I’m not sure why. I would suppose they are getting a better infrastructure, so the need for bad things isn’t there.

It’s probably the most important fight out here: if they can support themselves, it will ease up on the streets.

Sgt Quentin Leon, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Age 23, from St Louis, Missouri

This is my second tour. In between, I got married and had kids. So it’s different. I definitely won’t be re-enlisting, I can tell you that.

It’s been in the family: my great-grandfather fought in world war one, my grandfather in world war two, my uncle in Vietnam and my cousin in the first Gulf war. So I figured it was the thing to do.

You get nervous at first, but you get into a routine. I knew some of our guys who died last month, and it’s rough. It made me wish I was back with that company. But you’ve got to carry on. We all know the risks. The US army are all volunteers, and we know where we’re going when we sign up.

I don’t think there will be a draft. There are too many rich parents crying “I won’t let my kid go and fight!” They won’t fight for the freedom they’re so righteous about. That’s why I joined in the first place.

I don’t have any regrets. I joined at a time of war, and knew what I was getting into. I’m proud to serve my country. But I’d much rather go home.

Staff Sgt Jason Redick, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Age 29, from Lapeer, Michigan

I got blown up 14, 15 times on Humvees last year. The vehicles were often destroyed but I wasn’t injured.

You’re always fearful, but you get kind of comfortable. There’s no reason to reflect on it because you know you’re going to go out anyway, so you just do it. You don’t really dwell on the people you lost until you get home. Before, we were looking for bad guys on our own, but now the Iraqis are very happy to help. Ninety per cent of the improvement here is due to people’s cooperation. The tip line is always ringing with information. Walk around the neighbourhood and they’ll tell you: they’re tired of the violence.

It’s getting better on the ground. A few weeks ago, compared to now, there’s a definite difference. The markets used to be empty but now they’re busy and getting busier.

I give the kids candy and ask them if bad guys have spoken to them. The people are the key to getting everything. The colonel calls me “the mayor” because every neighborhood I go into, I have a following of people who want to tell me the problems they’re having, such as propane or electricity.

Every person says the same to us: “Now you’re here, we feel safe. Please don’t leave. We don’t see the bad guys any more.”

The terrorists are always adapting to our tactics so we have to adapt to theirs. They bust down concrete walls between houses so we can’t see them moving.

We saw this in about five houses connected together. But this is my third tour here and I’ve seen just about everything they can do, so nothing really surprises me.