Governor Rounds Visits Troops

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  • Gov. Rounds Visits Iraq

Governor Rounds is in Iraq to visit with South Dakota soldiers and other troops.

It may be thousands of miles from home, but many South Dakota families have loved ones fighting for our freedom in the war zone Iraq and now Governor Rounds is there to show his support to them.

"They're very excited about the mission, about the job very well done, and they love to tell their story about them and their teammates, and what they have been able to do," says Rounds.

Rounds says soldiers tell him getting the job done in a foreign country is something they're proud of.

"A very successful part of the day has been listening and learning about what their operations are," says Rounds.

For him getting the job done is simply listening to service members.  One of the challenges soldiers face is the heat.  While it's in the 90's in South Dakota, Iraq is at 117 degrees.

Rounds also says, "I know some people talk about it being a dry heat, but believe me it's more appropriate to call it a blast furnace.'    

Rounds says soldiers don't let that get them down and he's proud of how they seem to be upbeat. 

While deployed soldiers wear full body armor everyday when they are outside the safe zone.

Rounds says, "They are still in a war zone.  It's very evident it's a war zone.  There are lots of bunkers and placed very close to each other."

Because Rounds says when soldiers are overseas being close to each other is something that helps them get the job done one day at a time, until it's time to come home.

The mission for Rounds began Tuesday at the Pentagon with briefings by top-level government officials.  Rounds also visited wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.