Pitts files a story

Editor and Publisher reprints the infamous Edward Pitts' first report from Iraq. Pitts writes about the convoy into Iraq. He tries to make it sound really scary, driving through some of the most dangerous parts of Iraq, guns at the ready, sweating every mile of the way.

Vehicles in a rear element of the 278th Regimental Combat Team's convoy into Iraq ground to a halt just outside one of the country's most dangerous towns.

"Everybody on your weapons, and look mean and ugly," said Capt. Todd Woodruff, company commander of Service Battery, First Squadron, over the radio. "If you see [a U.S. soldier] smoking, joking or sleeping, tell them to get back on their guns and act like they are going to shoot somebody."

He even throws in a gratuitous reference to his self-induced armor flap.

The convoy with Woodruff's unit had one roadside bomb go off between two vehicles with no injuries. Troops also found another improvised explosive device and disposed of it.

Adams said the homemade armor the soldiers put on their vehicle probably prevented serious injuries for the riders in the truck nearest the homemade bomb.

But in the end, the trip was uneventful and real danger was never encountered.

"Not one single round fired -- you can't beat that trip," said Sgt. Doug Carroll, 40, of Madisonville, Tenn........
........Frequent highway signs warning the troops to be aware of children in the roads hinted at what would be one of the convoy's biggest challenges: dodging young Iraqis eager to catch a glimpse at the uniformed soldiers riding in the huge vehicles. Barefooted children by the hundreds jumped up and down, waved and gave the thumbs-up sign.

Some children cried out, "Give me food," but most simply motioned their hands to their mouths while pleading eyes stared directly at the nearest soldiers.

"There is a little public relations for you," said Hunter as he tossed out candy.

When the convoy halted, children rushed right up to the doors of the military vehicles, holding up gold-colored bracelets and old Iraqi money with pictures of Saddam Hussein.

"Five dollars. Buy it. Buy it. OK," shouted the children while they banged on the vehicle doors.

As the convoy reached its final leg some Iraqis shouted, "Welcome." Their words were encouraging to soldiers wary about what the next 12 months might bring.

"Home sweet home for a year," said Halcomb as he drove into the gates of Camp Caldwell.

A few more weeks of this and Pitts will have conquered his fear.