Sen. Joni Ernst earned her status

To the editor:

Being on just one convoy in theaters of operation make you a combat veteran. With that out of the way, I will explain.

As soon as you cross the border from Kuwait into Iraq the amount of danger just went from 100 to 200 on a scale of 1-100. You never who or what was going to attack you. They would bury IEDs or even hide explosives in dead animals. They also would have rockets on donkey carts and walk the donkey close and set them off. Sounds crazy? It all happened. Kids throwing grenades at you out of your realm of thought? Oh, wait, that happened also.

Just about every convoy we had something happen. Mostly it was a potshot from someone who you could not see. So, with our ROE (rules of engagement) we could not do anything. Was it every single time out? No. But how would you know? You never did. I challenge anyone who wants to question the fact that Sen. Joni Ernst is a combat veteran to sign up and become an 88M. Set out on convoy after convoy in a country where an attack could come from anyone and from anywhere. You won't, so I will save you the embarrassment of declining. Oh, and to top it off, we did that in 2003-04 when our vehicles had no armor. So, in a sense, you doubters are right. Her status should be known as a Combat Commander.

Will Jacoby

Urbandale