If you have watched the news recently, you have probably seenthe photos of American prisoners of war being held by Iraqisoldiers.
They look scared and nervous, and some even look like they arein pain.
Imagine knowing someone you care about might be vulnerable tosuch treatment.
For University of Memphis members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, theconflict in Iraq has definitely hit home.
One of their members, 20-year-old Scottie Hayes, left for theMiddle East at the beginning of March.
"At first, the war didn't really affect me that much, but whenit was time for Scottie to go, it really put things in perspectivefor me," said freshman Sam Scott, 19, a close friend of Hayes.
Scott said he stepped back and was able to look at things in adifferent light because someone he knew would be involved.
Hayes, a freshman criminal justice major from Union City, Tenn.,is a member of the Army National Guard.
"Once he got the call, he was gone in two days. He left reallyquickly," Scott said.
His friends and fellow SAE members said he had mixed emotionswhen he was told he was going overseas.
They said at first, he was scared somewhat but also excited.
Military action is something Hayes has been training to do for along time, and he was happy to go, said SAE President TaylorSargent, who also expressed concern for his friend's welfare.
"It is definitely not cool to have a friend over there rightnow," said Sargent, a 21-year-old junior accounting major.
Hayes fraternity brothers said they are doing all they can toremain optimistic, despite their concerns.
"We are trying to be very supportive of the effort in general,but we also we feel the soldiers need to know that America supportswhat they are doing over there," Sargent said.
