IslamOnline hosted a live dialogue session with a US soldier, Nathanial K. Hoge, who was deployed in Iraq from March 21 to August 11, 2003.

Nathanial Hoge is a Private First Class in the US Army’s Third Infantry Division (Mechanized), Second Brigade Combat Team, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor, headquarters, Headquarters Company, Mortar Platoon. An 11C mortarman (Indirect Fire Infantry), Hoge entered into service in May 22, 2002.

He was born and raised in Princeton, West Virginia, USA. At the age of 19, he joined the Army as an infantryman. He left for One Station Unit Training (OSUT) on May 22, 2002 at Fort Benning, GA. He spent 14 weeks there and graduated September 6, 2002. From there, he did a recruiting program for 2 weeks and then reported to Fort Stewart, GA. Then, he deployed on November 22, 2002 for an intrinsic action in Kuwait (a training rotation). On March 17, 2003, Hoge was given the call to war. He crossed the border into Iraq on March 21, 2003. He saw combat in many parts of Iraq including Al-Najaf, Al-Nassiriyah, Karbala, Baghdad, Fallujah, Habbaniyah, and Tharthar. He returned to the United States on August 11, 2003.

Click here to read the live dialogue.