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'I just had to go' says 72-year-old Lena
Haddix | |
A 72-year-old Oklahoma grandmother is preparing to
become one of the oldest US military staff to go to Iraq.
Lena Haddix, from Lawton, a military wife for nearly 30 years, says she
volunteered for the Iraq mission.
"I wanted to do something for the country, because I was always left
behind taking care of the children," Ms Haddix said.
Her five children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
all discouraged her but to no avail.
"I just see so many of the boys. They're like little kids. They keep
telling me, 'I'm going over. I
would just like to go over and be with them."
Ms Haddix will be working for the Department of Defense's Army and Air
Force Exchange (AAFE) which operates shops selling goods to US military
personnel on army bases.
The Exchange opened its first store in Iraq in April 2003 and Ms Haddix
has already worked for them elsewhere.
Judd Anstey of the AAFE said Ms Haddix was an extraordinary character.
"She is a vibrant
individual, one-of-a-kind. She has a commitment that runs
from Oklahoma to Baghdad," he said.
Ms Haddix has just one medical test to pass before she is mobilised.
She is expected to arrive in Iraq, where AAFE have 30 shops, within a
month.
"I'm sure there will be times when I'll be scared, but
I'm not now," she said.
(Agencies) |
美國(guó)俄克拉荷馬州的一位72歲的老祖母即將成為赴伊美軍中最年長(zhǎng)的人之一。
來(lái)自勞頓市的莉娜·哈迪克絲已經(jīng)當(dāng)了將近30年的“軍嫂”，她說(shuō)她是自愿參加伊拉克軍事行動(dòng)的。
哈迪克絲夫人說(shuō)：“我想為我的國(guó)家做點(diǎn)事情，因?yàn)槲铱偸潜涣粼诤蠓秸樟虾⒆印！?
她有五個(gè)孩子，八個(gè)孫子和三個(gè)曾孫，他們都試圖阻止她（去伊拉克），但都沒(méi)用。
“我不過(guò)是看到很多的年輕男孩，他們就像小孩子一樣，不住地對(duì)我說(shuō)‘我會(huì)成功的’，我只是想和他們一起獲得成功。”
哈迪克絲夫人將為美國(guó)國(guó)防部下屬的陸軍和空軍交易服務(wù)處工作，該機(jī)構(gòu)負(fù)責(zé)經(jīng)營(yíng)商店，向美國(guó)軍事基地的軍事人員出售日用品。
2003年4月，美國(guó)陸軍和空軍交易服務(wù)處在伊拉克開(kāi)設(shè)了第一家店鋪，哈迪克絲夫人已經(jīng)在別處為該服務(wù)處工作過(guò)。
交易服務(wù)處的賈德·安斯提說(shuō)，哈迪克絲夫人是一位非凡人物。
他說(shuō)：“她是一個(gè)充滿(mǎn)活力，與眾不同的人。她的任務(wù)是從俄克拉荷馬州調(diào)到巴格達(dá)。”
哈迪克絲夫人在調(diào)動(dòng)之前僅需通過(guò)一項(xiàng)身體檢查。
預(yù)計(jì)她將在一個(gè)月內(nèi)到達(dá)伊拉克，美國(guó)陸軍和空軍交易服務(wù)處已經(jīng)在伊拉克開(kāi)設(shè)了30家商店。
“我確信將來(lái)的某些時(shí)刻我會(huì)感到害怕，但現(xiàn)在我并不畏懼。”她這樣說(shuō)。
（中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)站譯） |
Updated: 2004-11-29 10:59