From left, Jason Dunlap, Plymouth Mayor Bonnie Yeazel, Chris Dunlap, and Brandon Dunlap. The borthers stopped in to see the mayor while they were in town Thursday.

Pilot Photo/Tim Robertson

By Stacey Creasy Pilot News

PLYMOUTH - Brandon, Chris and Jason Dunlap enlisted in the military for one reason - they wanted to serve their country, the way their father Gary did, the way Gary's father did.

However, the past eight to 10 months have been a nightmare for the Dunlap family.

Gary, who is now a sergeant with the Marshall County Police Department, and his wife Barb, have watched each of the boys end up in Iraq.

Jason is a specialist with the 101st Airborne. He was the first to go 10 months ago. Brandon and Chris are both sergeants with the 4th Infantry. They were sent to Iraq eight months ago.

Gary and Barb feared their sons would end up in the war-torn country. Their fears materialized.

The only thing Gary and Barb can do is wait, and hope their boys return from the Middle East in March and April, safe and sound.

The three sons are in Plymouth for the funeral of their brother Jeff, who died last week in his home in Mishawaka. It is rare for the three men to be together in one place. The Pilot News interviewed them about their experiences, and feelings about the ongoing war in Iraq.

The Dunlaps are eager to come home this spring.

"My unit is scheduled to be out of there March 1," Jason said.

Chris said he and Brandon, who are in the same spot in Iraq, should be headed home some time in April when reinforcements come in and take over for the 4th Infantry.

Jason, Brandon and Chris all agree on one thing when it comes to Iraq: The United States military should not be there.

No matter how hard they try the Dunlap brothers could not paint an optimistic picture on the situation in Iraq. In their eyes the war is not over. They have seen more Americans killed since the end of the "major fighting."

"They have a nickname for the place," Brandon said "Desertnam. This is a guerilla warfare. It's a war that is never going to end. Whenever we leave there, they will go right back to fighting and killing each other. They have a saying over there: Who are the heroes that will save us from the invaders?"

Chris said most of the soldiers in Iraq were not prepared to fight an urban, guerilla war once Operation Iraqi Freedom ended.

"We do not have the right kind of equipment for a guerilla war," he added. "We do not know who we are fighting if we did."

Brandon added: "We are fighting ghosts. We never know who they are, when they are coming or where they are coming from."

The Dunlaps agree with the approach President George W. Bush took in Afghanistan, the war on terrorism. However, somewhere along the way, the focus became Iraq." Now they find themselves in a country filled will tribal wars, a county where half the population is anti-American.

"Depending on their religion they like us or they hate us," Brandon added. "That the hard part, you do not know who you are fighting."

Chris has had one close call when an explosive device detonated just 10-15 feet away.

"I lost my hearing for awhile," Chris said. "I could not hear anything for a day."

Chris said the impact of the blast blew their Humvee across the road and cracked the bullet-proof glass in the vehicle.

"I did not know if I was still alive at first," he added. "It was so loud."

The Dunlaps said the new Iraq police are formed, but they are afraid to arrest anyone associated with certain groups. Chris said they are also afraid to be seen in certain parts of the country out of fear hard core Iraqis will kill them or their families.

Brandon said there is no rebuilding Iraq.

"We are building a country, there was nothing there to rebuild," Brandon said. "The people there are not used to having anything."

Brandon and Chris said Americans will build playgrounds only to have the equipment stolen the next day.

"We put things like air conditioners or heaters in schools or hospitals," Chris said. "They turn around and steal them."

The brothers said valuable goods are stolen. Anything that comes from Americans is destroyed.

Brandon, Chris and Jason said they will continue to do their duty in Iraq, even though they do not feel wanted in the country, and are even less appreciated there. Brandon is convinced there is only one way the war will end.

"We (U.S.) will be there until they bring the soldiers home," he added. "I do not think the fighting will ever stop."

This story is copyrighted by the Plymouth Pilot. You can find the Plymouth Pilot online at http://www.thepilotnews.com/

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