POSTED: 5:00 p.m. PDT August 14, 2003

Chris Legeros
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News

Sweltering heat, a shortage of good food and water, and constant danger. Those are the complaints we're hearing from a local soldier stationed in Iraq who now questions why American troops are still there.

HOW TO HELP See DefendAmerica.mil for ways to help troops

Private First Class Mary Yahne doesn't often get access to a phone in Iraq. But sometimes she does get her hands on a computer, and she's been firing off e-mails to us and to her family in Bonney Lake.

There's pride in a sign outside Treva Yahne's home and patriotism reflected with flags. But the Bonney Lake mother has had a change of heart over the past few months.

"I was [for the war] at the beginning," she said. "I support the troops, but like I said, I don't support the war, if that's what they call it."

Her daughter, Private First Class Mary Yahne is in Iraq, somewhere, hauling cargo for the Fourth Infantry Division and struggling to stay alive.

"They need help, they need help badly," Treva said.

Like other troops, Mary is sweltering in 120-degree heat, with no air conditioning, eating packaged meals for months and drinking only two bottles of water a day.

She's written us here at KIRO 7 Eyewitness News saying, "the military expects us to be happy out here. I'm very happy serving my country, but not when the government fails to take care of you."

"We volunteered our lives to be out here and we get treated worse that people in prison."

Private Yahne also writes, "There is no real reason for us to be out here!!!!, We're protecting the oil is all, and as far as the supposed war ending, it hasn't. Not when everyday soldiers are still getting mines placed in front of convoys. Rocket propelled grenades thrown at us."

"She just wishes it was all over. Like I said, they want to come home," said Treva.

Private Yahne is also begging for some help, asking Northwesterners to send soldiers supplies they don't have like, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, and snack foods that aren't perishable.

See DefendAmerica.mil for ways to help troops