Ground Truth








 

Resources

¶ For an index of Stripes staff and wire service stories on the Iraq war between the outbreak of hostilities in March through the cessation of major combat activities at the beginning of May,
click here.

¶ For a map of Iraq (pre-war),
click here.

¶ For Stripes' map of Baghdad (pre-war),
click here.

Series staff

Coordinating Editors
Scott Burgess, Sharon Olson, Sid Acker, Pat Dickson

Reporters:
Marni McEntee, Steve Liewer, David Josar, Scott Schonauer, Jon Anderson, Lisa Burgess, Terry Boyd, Sandra Jontz, Ward Sanderson

Layout editors:
Heather Benit, Debra Hoffman, Priscilla Rowe, Derek Turner

Graphic artists:
Peter Photikoe, Sigfried Bruner

Online:
Joe Gromelski

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About the series:

Between June and September, 2003, Stars and Stripes printed 200 letters from troops in the deserts of Iraq and Kuwait and other remote outposts that have led the fight against terrorism. Roughly 60 percent complained about various things, ranging from living conditions and problems with mail to redeployment dates back home. The remaining 40 percent urged the others to get on with their duty.

With so many voices clamoring for attention, Stripes decided to try to find out what the ground truth was in Iraq. Three teams of reporters were dispatched there to see for themselves what it was like — to talk to as many servicemembers as possible, and have them fill out a questionnaire.

In this series, we present those servicemembers’ stories, covering an array of topics ranging from troops’ morale and changing mission to hidden benefits to deployments and suggestions on how to improve future rotations.

(In addition to accessing the stories through the links below, you can also download the original pages in PDF format. Click here for more details.)

Day 1: The troops speak

¶ Voices on the ground: Responses to Stripes' questionnaire of nearly 2,000 troops in Iraq indicate that morale varies as servicemembers face vastly different experiences (Click here)

¶ Reporters visited nearly 50 camps to gauge servicemembers' sentiment. (Click here)

¶ Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, says troops are focused and back mission. (Click here)

¶ Full text of the interview with Gen. Sanchez. (Click here)

¶ Results of questions 1-16 on the questionnaire, available in html text, Macromedia Flash or Adobe PDF format.

¶ The questionnaire that the servicemembers filled out, in Adobe PDF format (Click here)

Day 2: What defines morale

¶ Many servicemembers filling out questionnaire call morale low, but leaders say the job is getting done.
(Click here)

¶ The many definitions of troop morale.
(Click here)

¶ Esprit de corps is higher when the mission is defined.
(Click here)

¶ Latest war in sharp contrast to past efforts.
(Click here)

¶ Inventing ways to keep spirits up.
(Click here)

¶ Getting by with what's available.
(Click here)

Day 3: Living in Iraq

¶ From palace to "dust bowl:" Some troops live like princes, while others sleep in the sand. The many disparaties of life in Iraq.
(Click here)

¶ Military camps can be broken down into three categories.
(Click here)

¶ A collection of Stripes photos of servicemembers' life in Iraq.
(Click here)

¶ Servicemembers rate camp conditions and services in Iraq. Results of Stripes' questionnaire, in table form.
(Click here)

Day 4: Big contrasts in conditions

¶ In Iraq, quality-of-life features differ greatly between Army and Air Force camps.
(Click here)

¶ It's a whole new world for reservists and guardsmen, once "weekend warriors" but now key players in Iraq.
(Click here)

Day 5: The evolving mission

¶ Is the mission clear: Evolving goals mean unusual roles for servicemembers in Iraq.
(Click here)

¶ In Iraq, fear is a constant companion.
(Click here)

¶ Grieving is "a function of the profession."
(Click here)

¶ Great demand, short supplies: Equipment system lulls blamed on geography, logistics.
(Click here)

Day 6: Retention and benefits

¶ Servicemembers in Iraq weigh many factors in making decision on whether to re-enlist.
(Click here)

¶ 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade, the Rakkasans, seeing record re-enlistment numbers.
(Click here)

¶ Silver lining: Servicemembers in Iraq see extra cash in their paychecks.
(Click here)

Day 7: A better outlook

What will spell success? Leadership, rotations seen as ultimately more important than comforts.
(Click here)

Troops' wish list: Straight talk from commanders, better phone and e-mail access.
(Click here)

Troops in Iraq find comfort in keeping mind occupied, body strong.
(Click here)

More related stories ...

October 29: Health woes in Iraq run the gamut from "Saddam's Revenge" to severe stress.
(Click here)

October 30: Servicemembers are baffled and angry over military's rules on time off.
(Click here)

A note about methodology

The findings on which much of this series was based came from a questionnaire that assisted reporters as they interviewed troops. It was not a scientific survey and was conducted independently from the Department of Defense.

The series in PDF format

Click on the links below to read or download the series as it appeared in the pages of Stripes' print edition. (Adobe PDF format)

Entire series (28 pages, 7.1 MB)

Day 1 only
Day 2 only
Day 3 only
Day 4 only
Day 5 only
Day 6 only
Day 7 only