NATE LEWIS

From Booze Attack In Iraq by Nate Lewis

I joined the Army straight out of high school. September 11, 2001, was my second day of boot camp.  The towers fell and we knew the Drill Sergeants were right; war was just around the corner.  The small town of Barker, New York, where I grew up, hung yellow ribbons on all the trees to honor the many young service members from the area.  My picture hung in the center of the school, surrounded by flags.  I was proud to be a soldier.  I felt I was doing good things for my country - until I deployed to Iraq in the initial invasion of 2003.  My short tour changed me forever.  All through the war I had a small rat of doubt gnawing at my gut.  I doubted that the war was about freedom, democracy or national security.  That unmistakable look of fear and helplessness on the Iraqis' faces told me differently.  My commander begged me to re-enlist like a child begging for a cookie, but I refused and left the military.  I joined Iraq Veterans Against the War after I got out.  I'm close to graduating from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in History and Secondary Social Studies Education.  Recently I played a role as a U.S soldier in a movie about the Iraq war called Green Zone.  Often I look at my photos from Iraq and wonder, is that me?  Did I really do that?  I am both horrified and shocked at the wars we find ourselves fighting.  When I read about a Battle of Fallujah video game coming out soon, I know it's time to write.  When I have memories that bubble up and give me the feeling that I have been a participant in something profoundly foul, then it's time to write.  Maybe you know the feeling.  This is what happened.

NATE LEWIS