Sgt. Nicole Dykstra with Moe Lauzier

Hey good morning feel welcome to our Saturday morning get together the 7 O'Clock powerful with the -- lost -- thought -- AM six AB WRKO will be together until 9 O'Clock and -- they could in my -- will be our guest and -- the movement about it Windmills. I eat -- thing you can hear it will be interesting stuff. Very interesting stuff coming up right now market this identical -- there was a member of the Massachusetts National Guard has.

Been for five years and she is now deployed in the public relations in Iraq and senator pesticides and -- good morning. I'm well thank you we have been debating how we pronounce your name my thinking is just like Lenny dykstra the former -- fielder of the New York Mets is that right.

Yes that's right a -- doesn't by the way I wish I could say that but now unfortunately I'm not related

let it looks like you have light here and he was kind of blind -- must must be the case what what happened that. What do you do in Iraq.

and I worked in public affairs we're gonna press that ask for an inside though we handled the media queries from news agencies anywhere from CNN fox ABC everywhere we try to reach 13 answers for them and help the politics story.

Is that businesses in this exciting

it is because it's it's it's kind of funny to see you know your your words in. An article or you know information either porter and upon TV -- pretty neat now would you do of the actually our work fulltime to the National Guard in Massachusetts and it seat in occupational health -- right track accident that it's not quite exciting being here but it's it's fun. Now how long you've been in Baghdad we got here. -- summer though not picket line at the couple months but just enough to get at least that he and -- an out cooling down a bit. -- becoming -- spring summer -- next year.

Spring summer -- I'd like that Canon camera -- yellow would be on summer -- Ethnic sergeant told actors I guess -- National Guard whose deployed in in Baghdad now. I I I know guys have a different attitude to a things in -- than women that I recognize the difference I learned that treatment. We had four daughters and one son on the there isn't written in personalities in the way you approach things. What was your reaction when you finally get to Baghdad after all the things you've heard from home. What was your reaction when you got there

honestly. The bit of relief traveling is is very -- let you know living -- your bags sitting not really knowing when to an extent. In -- pick up and run off again -- getting here. There was nothing I think that anyone -- told me to prepare -- her you know what it really is like here I like it it. It's interesting it's different every day -- and -- myself here is you know crazy that found.

I was watching a report on fox not -- day or two ago where the reporter was literally walking around the streets and -- it in bad in Baghdad in areas that were obviously civilian areas I don't know if that's necessarily within the green zone but Natalie he was they were filming street vendors and so on and so forth and you know life is going on in what appeared to be. Rather normal condition you get a chance to to travel around mincing any of that.

Compact eight I don't teach you much not well at least outside the green zone but about a month ago I did I was able to go out on that. A photo mission to do that story on the I -- boy scout program that they're they're trying to it up and running again. No -- really nice that like that that was inside the green zone they get it thank you see you know. Children laughing and appreciative -- are our efforts over here.

Gavin Grant. You yeah. -- kidding me that but that would be a rhetorical statement that that's fascinating boys know what they mean it isn't. Similar to boy scouts year I mean they have the little cub -- we blows and knowledge that the minister and they how does it work over there

this structured is it similar on -- employee and dropped out they have you know that the same kind of leadership. Event that they they try to set up for them and they stress you know responsibility of loyalty and you know he's being a good citizen same kind of things how to code of conduct that went -- are affected America -- and for awhile program that kind of -- disrepair they're trying to get that it trying to build back up again. They had a boat in a 120 children at state that department event -- covered about a month ago this really great.

To this so Brusca cookies and now I don't I don't think act but a girls' tennis players stilts element -- the great cookies. Yeah I I think I believe the girl scout ahead. Like the earth but in the US that donated some cookies on to the program I don't know whether they sold over the -- them let it happen. The all the props it's my happening privately that I didn't let him

Q would you eight have US. Do you ever -- back in there in regret making the move that you did to join the the guard.

You know now not ever one. It is that that the -- at it from me from myself it's kind of funny it was originally going to be my plan BI am I really wanted to be what the professional photographer civilian targets for but a tenth of that kind of an expensive hobby so. You know army can explaining it pretty and it's been very good to me in that time I've been in which if they've got him. See and do a lot of you know creepy thing that I wouldn't have normally the I love -- if they hammer. And I and I kind of -- I am they -- that army was kidnapped and that over here I have. E 80 and it DTH at the very nice of them.

Long lenses used film or indeed do everything. On a chip.

I think it's all digital out much it's much easier that way and you know -- unit in the field it's kind of hard to have a darker himself that everything digital.

Is that fantastic though it is I suspect if fury is deeply enmeshed in photography as you seem to be you probably -- enough developing film

actually it went to school the army authority there already starting you know jump on the digital bandwagon -- If you you know what I went to school if you're going to be combat cameramen they were still developing but I don't I don't really think anyone is now.

So you never had the joy of the Aaron fingernails. Now know. -- let -- and that that my one great memory and work in the -- as a you know -- ballistic -- figures in the chemical of course they're keeping fingers in the chemicals and you wind up with. Aren't thing an. It always says -- the have been done in the darkroom and no -- and had yet. So so now you Europe for what is -- looking to photograph. We -- to photograph and I suspect after you've been there for a little while -- much a little while longer you're running -- more more opportunities to venture away from the nest a few well. And get a chance to do more photography what what what other types of things that a military photographer will shoot

well anything from -- a change of command ceremony -- awards ceremony anything up do you know that that convex camera people that you know see -- I'll beat you more historical documentation but. They they they go out with. You know units that are going on convoys and doom patrol this stuff so mean you know you can get anything. On either end of the spectrum anywhere in between.

Now if you had an opportunity to be didn't say and travel a high school group. He had a napkin in his talk to young people about what their plans were four of new with the intended to do after they graduated what would you -- would you recommend to them

I would recommend not. You know discounting the military immediately and other a lot of people that would collect that I was crazy effort for doing this you know particularly in the state of the world now. But you know what it there's some great great benefit being a member of the military they take care you for college. You know laid down the road for at city hall -- it it is there's so -- many great program. That that you would not have access to if you are not a military. But she gets -- you know feel little bit of the world and meet and greet people everywhere you go you can often things and -- that you know kept at a helicopter that you want to do that you wouldn't normally. You know -- to do is. You know regulate civilians.

I haven't I don't know I don't know -- it. You're you're judging and a few things -- we had to you'll personally what what's what's the socialite like serving in the place like Baghdad.

I'm well and -- our program they do -- a great job trying to set up. You know different aspects to do they have you know karaoke yoga classes didn't that set up you know basketball game -- everything so they've really. Try to do a good job at you do them. Is up when your -- Time you know -- you're not constantly working.

Meg actually working or doing nothing near as -- as the opposition and the by the way did you get to photograph sergeant breach in the Turkey trying to thanksgiving day we -- the month.

No no no -- me is that another soldier or unit haven't. I was sleeping that -- he could tell my.

I think he's ready for the olympics well for for those who another wears size of reaches another member of the Massachusetts National Guard who's serving in in Baghdad by the way how many. How many people from from this area that a serving with you right now and I don't mean in the exact count but and general number

like all the -- unit there here you know the the National Guard units in particular the change well added.

And maybe exterior are so that that -- that it Noah that are in the area I couldn't even give you an exact number I'm not an issuer. So you do -- couple different units that are here.

So -- Q did transfer over there with a lot of people that you knew or at least people that she had. Common interest --

Oh yes idea I mean our unit you know by November for a long time.

So no surprises when you got there. Oh what is the morale like of the people that you meet who who crossover beat you in an out of the greens down. Who go out in the combat areas to get to meet any of these and these these folks

everyone in the wild but where we're at. We don't we don't teach you much I don't at least in -- embassy compound too much but. They you know -- the lifestyle that we choose and everyone was happy to you know be doing their part to make things better here.

In the Republican debate the of the day -- and John McCain and Senator McCain had just returned from from Iraq at the believe he's made eight or nine trips over there in a line he used in the debate I thought may well summarize the attitude of most of our soldiers who are in Iraq at the present time. He said let's give us a chance to win. It is is that a legitimate attitude is that does that portray the attitude of the of the typical soldier in Iraq at the present time

well it certainly can't speak for everyone but I will say that you know. Where we are happy to be hearing be doing our part. You know finish finish what you know -- started.

Yeah that's that's that's. I.

That's all right I've -- mean to be put units but the new political plot but I just thought it looked at when he when he used that -- to my goodness is that ever you know touch touch a nerve by the way we -- someone who from the match national god would like to say melodious is that okay with GO. All right Patrick here on WR Calif Sargent direct dykstra.

I certain dykstra. How many how layout on I hope we never got by note a couple of people you are in Baghdad where. And I just want to hear us say a load up -- to Betancourt -- I know quite well -- also tell Dan Moriarty to stops focus solely through our media that -- I will leave this is my name is Patrick Jennings I was in Iraq -- it -- 2000 agree

you DPQ now yeah yeah. Okay -- am -- right I don't know and that it they fought a good regular I.

A little touch of -- by the -- really -- where you from in Massachusetts and actually it let it at my parents that -- what yup. And that word is if you have -- Cathy right now as anything you like to say to them. How well

and my parents I think and my husband there listening I am -- mr. Cazalot and you know I appreciate the support they've given me it'll say that as a lubricant.

Is there anything special that you need that they should be mailing to you.

Don't sit well I'm. I mean making -- directory and love getting you know got a homemade cookies but they've been doing a great just anything I want you know they've they've been really really great.

I'm specifically which kind of cookies do you want right now.

Pump anything from home you know it's it's. It make a difference when they're not come out of a package you know that Andy thank heaven.

Grandma's old oatmeal cookies with raisins yeah yes. Sergeant -- you somewhat to very nice person -- am prepared to thank you -- what you're doing I think all of us here thank you for your service first of all secondly wish you godspeed in two to be safe and look forward to you coming home. All god bless -- Sargent. Nicole dykstra who's serving in blue whose with a master's National Guard inactive duty. In Iraq in Baghdad Iraq we'll get to your calls just they had -- laws a year with you on Boston's talk station AM 680 WRKO