Jake Raines talks about his first impressions of Iraq

Story by JAKE RAINES

A half-hour after we landed at the airport in Baghdad, Iraq, we could hear and see mortar rounds landing not to far from where we were. That set the stage for what kind of year this is going to be.

I'm 22 and a soldier in the U.S. Army.

I don't know what to think about the war anymore. It would be different if we went to war directly in response to 9-11. The general opinion of a lot of people over here is that we're in a war over oil.

In 2003, I graduated from Central High School. I joined the Army in late 2004. I joined because it was something I had wanted to do since I was a child, and I couldn't really see myself doing the 9-to-5 kind of thing.

Going to school wasn't really for me either -- which I kind of hate to say because I don't want anyone to think that one politician is right.

You know, the politician who "jokingly" told a bunch of college students: "either stay in college or you'll be stuck in Iraq." Well, I guess that one applies to me.

I went to basic training in Fort Knox, Ky., from January to May 2005 to become a tanker, which I usually drive. I graduated among the top five and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, for several months until I left for Iraq. I also went to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina for a couple of months to help out with victims there.

We were stationed in Kuwait for a few days before we left for Iraq. For three days we were told we were going to Iraq, but it kept getting put off. We were in the routine of going from our camp in Kuwait to the airport; we would get on the plane, sit in it for a few hours and then they would cancel our flight. So we'd go back to our camp in Kuwait.

Since I just got to Iraq, I'm not sure what it will be like. From what I hear, Iraq is a lot different than Kuwait. Kuwait is a typical desert with sandstorms every other day.

I miss home. When I'm home, I like to hang out with my family and friends, since I hardly see them. I play pretty much any sport or do anything outside as long as it keeps me busy. I like to hunt and fish -- basically the same things any average 22-year-old likes to do.

I'm not sure what it's going to be like -- Saddam Hussein was sentenced the other day, so I'm sure it's going to be a little crazy here.

Jake Raines will be stationed in the Middle East for at least a year.