Sgt. Nicole Dykstra with Moe Lauzier

" Okay good morning welcome -- Saturday morning get together beloved you with -- Limbaugh and fox station. AM six AB WRKO WR KON dot com. Click on listen live follow the directions and you have looked definitely on your computer you think you're computer was on the -- but. After awhile you realize some bombs on your computer."

" Issues of the day -- Thomas were weak. Meet to discuss things on a daily basis and I'll give you our phone numbers a little bit later. In the program joining us right now. If sergeant Nicole dykstra she's back on ash Joshi was with us a few weeks ago maybe a couple of months ago I -- A little while back anyway and cash she took it. Trip to Fallujah while there if you work with the provincial reconstruction teams sat in on the meeting with the mayor coordinated -- satellite interviews. And most interestingly get a bit of a feel for what the place is really liked. Fallujah as you recall was -- I guess the best description of it -- as a it was a hell hole of activity at one time the Marines that worked like crazy to. To open that city up in my understanding is that things are trying to round of the good morning found conduct Dexter welcome back."

" Hank and now -- I'm well when you that's the important one. -- don't don't there how here it would but our first of well where you where US apprehensive when you found that you were going to Fallujah."

" A little bit. At any time you know it any that we travel at all it it's always I get a little bit nervous but."

" What was elected pollution -- what but let's put it this way I'm London and going to guess it Q helicoptered over there at five we knew when you came in over the city ballistic missile which -- first impression."

" Well we know at night and down isolated and delayed because a weather delay that sleep -- end -- getting there it was it was in the middle of the night and everything pitch black. What they're really sure what to expect that the airport and you know to -- run so I really didn't see anything until the next morning."

" Now normally when we come into a city at least here in the United States we're accustomed to seeing lots of lights on and so on and so forth. Was or any activity any indication of life and activity and so on when you arrived in the middle of the night."

" In one out in the city were around where at that airport was there's no light."

" this -- kind of dark and foreboding and a little bit -- now when you get up in the morning had a chance to be able look at a window or anything yet they had a -- I'm mentally curious is that. I like to get your first and prejudices that this is would you for it time to Fallujah today. So I'm just trying to get your first impression of the place where I'm sure you you read all of the same car stirs -- that we read back home about what. Took place there and these the the incredible Natalie enormous battle that went on it was probably the bloodiest fight that many specific place in the entire Iraqi experience -- Rico have yet. So -- what we what was your first impression when you view when you pull openly the curtains and looked out the -- what was your what was your reaction to what you saw."

" Well out. I guess not without Bob that about their camp Fallujah skillet add that -- that secure locations or we stayed overnight so initially it. And and trailers you know permanent structures that they had you know put up for offices and we. It's a little but the little camp."

" So you weren't at the hologram in downtown Fallujah now now in the hands knotted up. At the end of that really don't have about habitats they have to. You know go to that that a different trailer to take a shower and instantly felt bad about Thurmond got a place else to eat and it's happened."

" Sounds like frontier oh yeah well I western Bolivia the -- outs and nobody here -- So as to what else happened he will with -- I went to went Q. It is self at least mentally organize the next morning in year and you in this time I would get a few of the people we're finally made it into the city of -- what was your reaction as you drove -- on the streets."

" It'll it'll that is not going to lie even know we had -- a security -- I was assigned the last thing you know we're in the armored vehicles it was we were very eight. But a little bit overwhelming at the same time because like you're saying that very violent history that the solution -- Once we got there ago and got out of the vehicles and started meeting with the council members. -- completely react relaxed but I felt much better."

" You weren't looking over your shoulder every thirty seconds."

" Now now it. This city is really come a long way they're they're making great strides over there aren't not just. The security situation but you know restoring this city infrastructure -- more levels -- it we're not. Our bulletin to make it perfect can make it even the US standards but just said that became -- to be backed away it was before. Before the war."

" Then now what kind of a city was Fallujah before the war the only thing that I recall saying anything at all about pollution it was you know that that was a hotbed of -- terrible activity and not not much more the only pictures I have -- of the city were of the view bombed out bullet ridden buildings and so on and so forth. What what kind of -- city was it before before all of that occurred."

" One time it was that it you know how much safer place to live that the predominately Sunni city however there they are starting to bring action that he -- in the area on the -- would be a very -- look at. -- good -- for business. There's a lot of international business that was going on in that area and they're they're trying to bring them about back trying to get people. And I -- international businessmen to invest in the city you know bring up the economy over the --"

" What kind of things I mean was of the manufacturing city was in the and agricultural city blue book but what type of the city what's Fallujah. I mean Arab -- locals put the foot is there a city here in Massachusetts that would compare at least in terms of the on the economy its economy and its scale that would compare to."

" At first sight goes I I get -- couldn't really say because we didn't eat too much traveling with in the city however it was. I get sick maybe compared like what there it intent that they -- you know office buildings all over the place and it's not really agricultural city how much of --"

" Primarily industrial manufacturing and so on so and so it's -- kind of a -- Collison -- that we you know I guess in the sense on the notes essentially what twister is is say -- fairly. The predominantly blue collar people who live there and is that means that pretty much which you -- in Fallujah in terms of did you get to to meet any of the people."

" there's some people that came and meet anyone can attend City Council meetings so aside from the actual council members there were some other people that that attended and it talked to. A couple of them through it after translators but it's very difficult I don't know any Arabic. Many of -- to speak English -- I mean I had limited conversations with the people that went on the council."

" And I've used interpreted before and what can that be a pain in the next that -- apparently -- sergeant Dexter is I guess -- actor director you want -- that's what about eight weeks ago I guess at least that. A few weeks anyway act -- and you know what was the purpose of the trip to pollution."

" On it actually -- killing their four dual purpose for one they just want Andy to cover what the I that there are enough for. Provincial reconstruction team revealing they don't gonna get a lot of a lot of practically have their own public affairs -- so and second my second mission I -- mentioned he did use satellite interviews over David's with the trying to do is. Get it that that. Little more local smaller -- can't interview with people that are out here one on one. Rather than relying on pulling your story -- AP or Reuters that you know the wire services that way a local newspaper that he had. Afford to send a journalist appear to want to it kept asking now they can. Create their own stories their own features you know human interest type without having to rely -- it."

" outgoing port know what to do that you mentioned in the twice now on. -- trying to you know that would give that I knows when my creative on the golf course."

" It it -- give it did sound of the tub that you know daddy daddy daddy activists have ducks on and it dot net. And it is it's a web site he can go on -- down. The photos that. Members of the military have taken. And -- that video that that we have that are journal -- taken. And you know it it felt like resource stuff so any any news agency take it and you know he's -- how they like the year old Catholic bat and they also are. Are starting to do you you can log onto it watch -- interviews rather well."

" Unless interest now that's WWW DI VI DS did it."

" DV DID yet they're not they're now the site easy Nike ad."

" And probably. When did not -- and I can I'm -- one of these curia he cared to have a funny feeling their few people typing up right now as we speak."

" So you you you know at first she felt uncomfortable how did you feel when you left how long were you at -- by the way."

" I live in. The -- for a total of three days but we're only only let out into the city for that -- that one day."

" for the rest of the time you're back down on the basin in essence. Was there any type of activity going on that that concern you while you were there."

" You know what I want I'm not trying to -- questions and I don't know like I. I don't know but it just that you know again the image Fallujah Tuesday pollution and the red flags go up bombed a law pleases the story about the marine. You know being shot by someone he thought was dead you know things of this Zambia awful awful stories. And these -- the only images I have as a person you know as an individual. Of pollution and I'm going to guess I'm not -- and I can imagine and eaten your apprehension going there. Indicates that you hit a lot of the same feelings you do have a lot. A lot of the same information."

" Me and know of we and they were let out like that they took up up armored vehicle that there we had security detail but. Once we got that council meeting we're speaking of our body armor -- And that you know like normal people and that and other meat on it -- disgusting issues that they're having the city and it was eight you know it it reliance."

" Now you've got to meet a lot of the people who are stationed there and who deal with pollution on the in Fallujah on a daily basis what is there attitude have what do what is. But it I guess I should use the world we're in the deadly military uses what was the morale of the people who are stationed in pollution."

" On the -- but they're really great they're given a great job providing security out there you know they understand that it is getting better but at the same tiny can't let your guard down that. That's potentially when something could happen. Debate because it got very feared being an 800% professional couple -- out there you know it's it's. You know picking up it you know they're potentially acting like bodyguards kind of we're just totally different about it they were great leader --"

" The must make you feel you know like -- rock stuff. Okay the heavily big guys -- around in this island. Based on the commercials I've seen him Marines and good looking guys are accurate and no -- you know ethnic. Yet and they didn't really great they're great so any regrets now that you've been out there how long you've been -- while in. Not that so you in this six months and months and regrets."

" You know well maybe -- I wish. They'd been able to I guess but I. I wish that it pushed to allow more in the beginning. The -- was -- was money. I've only got out three times and today actually but what you basra and then Lucia tailpipe look Karbala but I wish that they'd. Had an opportunity to feel that more turning out of China hasn't."

" Anyway you can compare basra with the pollution as a basra also has a ring of a foreboding to and from past experiences there."

" Well in the past couple days there -- then. -- little bit of violence erupting in about that I went over there last month for the turnover the British troops that are out there basically turned over security responsibility to direct security forces and Iraqi government. It went after the ceremony I didn't leave the airport I kept secret much Bosnia -- but it it almost seemed like it in my Huard then solution now and that really quite something to say you know again it was it was. But a horrible click --"

" There slowly but surely the worm is turning -- yeah do you fear did you feel any sense of optimism on the part of the the troops and actually out there in the in the trenches so to speak on a daily basis today do they have a different attitude than they did a few months ago when you first got there."

" I would take -- and I and I'm in the international zone the attack like everyone else does and it dropped off your -- everyone kind of you know feeling a little bit better about it you know we're certainly not done by any means have a long way to go but. It's getting better here and I think everyone feels."

" By Italy can tell lieutenant venture if you would on my behalf that at the connection that he arranged for today is the best one we've had since we -- these interviews this seriously I don't think there's a delay is there. Have is anyone here can -- like him have you detected easily I haven't either. Now there's a --"

" anything you want to say to the folks back home."

" Well again I angle Miami played antley and I have been listening in and that he guide them. Only -- little bit of time left and I'll be back mechanic theater but they."

" I can imagine I can imagine that you have children now don't know all the hype and cat -- oh whether the Catholic cats names. -- if -- Monty and Gypsy I guarantee an accident will be happy to see you by the would we have a frog in the studio here. Yeah LA yeah and doing a New England patriot. -- to get that for christmas I Taylor -- with her until the boy for an. At -- by the way our interview will be available on the WRKO audio vault archive what you have to do is go to WRK dot com it'll be a little bit later. Either today or some sometime early tomorrow on that your depends on on the producers work schedule but we will have -- it'll stay there forever for an eternity so I -- who didn't have a chance to hear it does now does that someone in in Baghdad would like to hear they can do -- over the computer. I'd again as in the past thank you very much -- side here nice person appreciate what you're doing -- lot of people back on -- praying for you. -- today -- think much. Douglas in my best to lieutenant venture all and by the way -- the two is preparing to run. In that great to Baghdad this is that marathon -- if you -- that."

" He is hoping to eventually be able to run by the time -- here be able to do that when it what 26. And a half -- idea roughly 26 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. And he's not even working up to it the eye and know I think about two weeks ago he did half of it right and and said he was pleased with this time hopefully by the time we leave -- at work at the 26."

" Bogle developed anyway he runs the Boston marathon I can't run and I'll go sit and watch it. I and the color the way for him at the finish line and we'll have a little bit down opponents club for a Sam Adams -- something -- that. At a I don't know I'd."

" Sergeant Dexter god bless you good luck to you thank you very much for your service again it's identical Baxter she's with the Massachusetts National Guard she's serving in the in the international zone in Baghdad she just came back from Fallujah and drifting observations of course she was surrounded by -- Marines all over the place on the -- and makes the triples -- them take as well. I -- laws a year. On Boston's talk station eight and six AD WRKO"