By LUKE ALO
BYU student Doug Steffy remembers the life-changing call he received a year ago that sent his company of U.S. Marines Corps to Iraq.
'I was prepared for it,' Steffy said. 'There's a fear of the unknown, not a fear of 'I'm going to die.' You don't think about that.'
President George W. Bush ordered the first missile strikes on Iraq on March 19, 2003, beginning a conflict that appeared to end relatively quickly.
The strikes came 48 hours after Bush gave the ultimatum to Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq.
Those first attacks, which some debated would start a long, difficult confrontation, led to the deployment of thousands of American troops to Iraq.
The attacks marked the beginning of a campaign that would remove Saddam Hussein from power and kill his two infamously cruel sons.
The initial conflict was shorter than anticipated by some. Bush announced May 1, 2003, on the USS Lincoln that the conflict was over. However, the situation in Iraq has continued to smolder dangerously amidst suicide bombers and Iraqi rebels who continue to threaten the lives of U.S. troops.
Many people question when U.S. involvement in Iraq will end, and if weapons of mass destruction will ever be found.
Debate about the war has occurred all over the country-even at BYU.
In the weeks following the U.S. conflict in Iraq, BYU students were divided about the issue. A panel discussion held on campus in March 2003 showed the diverse opinions of BYU students, some of whom protested vocally and some who protested quietly by wearing black armbands to show disapproval of the war.
Steffy said America's presence in Iraq has been necessary, even if only to remove Hussein from power.
'Regardless of whether or not the weapons are found, the world is a better place now that he's gone,' Steffy said.
In his speech on the USS Lincoln, Bush praised U.S. troops for their diligent effort, and said major conflict had ceased.
'Because of you, our nation is secure,' Bush said, referring to the troops. 'Because of you, the tyrant has fallen and Iraq is free.'
Steffy aided in freeing Iraq by patrolling the Iraqi cities in light armored vehicles to keep the peace. He said he often felt unsure of what would happen when he drove his vehicle down streets crowded with people on either side.
'You just hope and pray you make it down the street,' Steffy said.
He said although the patrolling was dangerous, the American public has a misconception of the Iraqi people as American-haters. However, Steffy said the majority of Iraqis appreciate American help.
'Old people loved us and little kids loved us,' Steffy said. 'The little kids would chant in English 'We love America,' and 'We love Bush.''
Steffy said a small portion of the Iraqi population disapproves of U.S. troops in Iraq, leading to the violence Americans see on the news.
The Department of Defense announced Wednesday that 564 U.S. soldiers have been killed in the Iraq conflict; most died after Bush's May 1 declaration. In addition 3,254 U.S. soldiers have been wounded.
After Bush's speech, the United States experienced measurable success in dealing with the Hussein family.
The two Hussein sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in battle July 22, 2003. Their deaths symbolized American success and the beginning of hope for oppressed Iraqis.
'Over the period of many years, these two individuals were responsible for countless atrocities committed against the Iraqi people, and they can no longer cast a shadow of hate on Iraq,' said White House representatives in a statement released at the time.
In January 2003, Bush detailed the reasons why Hussein was a threat, and vowed to remove him from power.
'A brutal dictator, with a history of reckless aggression, with ties to terrorism, with great potential wealth, will not be permitted to dominate a vital region and threaten the United States,' Bush said in the 2003 State of the Union Address.
Saddam's capture was not far away. U.S. troops captured the ragged former Iraqi dictator Dec. 13, 2003. The once proud dictator barely resembled the aristocratic presence he exuded earlier. He was found hiding in a camouflaged hole in the ground. Not one shot was fired during his capture.
Now, Steffy and his new bride await another possible call that would send the Marine back to Iraq for the summer of 2005.
'You never know,' Steffy said. 'The military changes everyday.'