On June 31st 2007 I began a long trek that took me from Bangor, Maine, to Camp Taji in Iraq. Once there, I embedded with Bonecrusher Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 7th US Cavalry Regiment. Six hours after arriving with the unit I became part of their 2nd Platoon. For the next month I lived, ate, slept, patrolled, laughed and cursed with the men of Bonecrusher.

Why would a middle-aged writer endure months of Army paperwork and red tape just for the chance to travel to the most dangerous place in the world for journalists? Simply to give you, the reader, an unbiased look and small taste of what the men and women serving our great country are accomplishing and enduring in Iraq. It seems the only thing the mainstream media wishes to cover is the body count. They say nothing of the positive accomplishments the sons and daughters of America are making in this distant land, nor telling their stories.

Call me an idealist, but long ago I became fed up with their propaganda and so began the long process of embedding in 2006. At the invitation of Lt. Col. Jeffery Broadwater, commanding officer of the 3/7th US Cav, I decided to go to Iraq and see for myself what was going on.

The 7th US Cavalry Regiment is perhaps the most famous of all the units in the United States Army. Constituted on July 28, 1866, and posted to Fort Riley, Kansas, the 7th Cavalry rode, to the Irish drinking tune Garryowen, into history under the command of none other than Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

But Little Bighorn is just one of many battle streamers that hang from their guidon. The regiment survived Little Bighorn and served until the end of the Indian Wars, did two tours in the Philippines and was part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916-17. During World War II the unit fought in both theaters, finally giving up its horses in 1943. It went on to fight with distinction in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War.

Perhaps their greatest glory though came during the liberation of Iraq in 2003. During the invasion, the 3rd Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry undertook what has been called the longest cavalry charge in history. Acting as the spearhead for the 3rd Infantry Division, the 3rd Squadron punched through everything the Iraqis could throw at them, including the Republican Guard and Fedayeen.

In doing so, the 3rd Squadron was engaged with enemy forces earlier, more often and over a longer distance than any other unit. Seven Silver Stars were earned by men of the 3/7th on their way to Baghdad. In 2005 the 3/7th Cav returned to Iraq and again showed its mettle during combat operations against the insurgents.

After a year's rest and training, the 3/7th Cav once again headed to Iraq in the spring of 2007. Made up of 19-Delta Cavalry Scouts, the unit normally performs reconnaissance missions--acting as the eyes of a larger unit--or performs screening operations.