EMAIL from a LT. COL in Iraq ~ to a Marine's mother awaiting word on her son

E-mail to Freeper sns5151 | Received - evening (in America), 4/08/04, posted 4/09/04 | Marine LT COL in Iraq

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

EMAIL to a Marine's mother, awaiting word on her son, from a LT. COL in Iraq - evening (in America), 4/08/04:

Dear Ladies,

 

the last two days have been the hardest two days this battalion has faced in over 30 years. Within the blink of an eye the situation went form relatively calm to a raging storm. You've known that since arriving there has been violence; attacks have been sporadic and mostly limited to roadside bombs. Your husbands have become experts at recognizing those threats and neutralizing them before we are injured. Up to this point the war has been the purview of corporals and sergeants, and the squad they lead.

Yesterday the enemy upped the ante.

Early in the morning we exchanged gunfire with a group of insurgents without significant loss. As morning progressed, the enemy fed more men into the fight and we responded with stronger force. Unfortunately, this led to injuries as our Marines and sailors started clearing the city block by block. The enemy did not run; they fought us like soldiers. And we destroyed the enemy like only Marines can. By the end of the evening the local hospital was so full of their dead and wounded that they ran out of space to put them. Your husbands were awesome all night they stayed at the job of securing the streets and nobody challenged them as the hours wore on. They did not surrender an inch nor did flinch from the next potential threat. Previous to yesterday the terrorist thought that we were soft enough to challenge. As of tonight the message is loud and clear that the Marines will not be beaten.

Today the enemy started all over again, although with far fewer numbers, only now the rest of the battalion joined the fight. Without elaborating to much, weapons company and Golf crushed their attackers with the vengeance of the righteous. They filled up the hospitals again and we suffered only a few injuries. Echo company dominated the previous day's battlefield. Fox company patrolled with confidence and authority; nobody challenged them. Even Headquarters Company manned their stations and counted far fewer people openly watching us with disdain. If the enemy is foolish enough to try to take your men again they will not survive contact. We are here to win.

The news looks grim from back in the States. We did take losses that, in our hearts, we will always live with. The men we lost were taken within the very opening minutes of the violence. They could not have foreseen the treachery of the enemy and they did not suffer. We can never replace these Marines and Sailors but they will fight on with us in spirit. We are not feeling sorry for ourselves nor do we fear what tomorrow will bring. The battalion has lived up to its reputation as Magnificent Bastards.

Yesterday made everyone here stronger and wiser; it will be a cold day in Hell before we are taken for granted again.

(names removed until permission granted / enemies thwarted)

[kimmie7]

IMO, a man cannot look to be more of a man than when bowed before God.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[wingnutx]

BTTT

[jokar]

BTTT

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

But is it too much to ask for a happy soldier?

  "...don't overlook the fact that some of these young Marines have trained for this moment for years, and now that they have the chance to show the world what UNITED STATES MARINE really means, they're loving their opportunity and literally having the time of their lives." ~ archy

(Check out the whole post. Ooh rah!)

[jokar]

BTTT to track.

[DefCon]

I wish I was in Iraq.
I missed my chance to 'do' anything that mattered in this life.
Your loved ones have my ultimate respect and appreciation.
I envy them.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You have Freepmail.

[Valin]

Previous to yesterday the terrorist thought that we were soft enough to challenge. As of tonight the message is loud and clear that the Marines will not be beaten.

If I may,

The Dogs of War
Lessons of the 20th century.
November 6, 2001
(snip)
"I would not wish to fight the United States — either militarily, politically, or culturally. For every threat, our history teaches us that Americans offer not just a rejoinder, but the specter of a devastating answer of a magnitude almost inconceivable to those now chanting and threatening in the streets of the Middle East. Do they have any idea of what sort of dangerous people we really are? Do they understand the history of the names of those ships now off their coasts, like the USS Peleliu or Enterprise, or the pedigree of the 82nd or 101st Airborne?"
Victor Davis Hanson

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Bump!

Related, for all who love and support our mighty - and good - military:

If Freepers want to send a card or note of thanks to the troops at Walter Reed, TruthNtegrity will deliver them in person when she visits tomorrow (so the Red Cross isn't overwhelmed by our love and support - again. *g*)

If Freepers want to send a card or note of thanks to the troops at Walter Reed, TruthNtegrity will deliver them in person when she visits tomorrow (so the Red Cross isn't overwhelmed by our love and support - again. *g*)

[SandRat]

To the waiting mothers from a vet.

[GrandEagle]

tag - reference

[LisaFab]

Thanks RC. Easter Prayer for our heroes.

[firewalk]

Thank you

[JOE43270]

Thank you Ragtime Cowgirl. Your right I do have Freepmail but computers aren't my strong point. Sometimes I need to be slapped on the side of my head, but with your help I figured it out. I did go easy as you said and Joe and Terri sent MOM, sns5151, a good message. God Bless all the Marines and Sailors in this fight. The Prayers are continuing.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

FROM FALLUJAH: A Marine writes home
AndrewSullivan.com ^ | Thursday, April 08, 2004 | unknown

Posted on 04/08/2004 4:26:05 PM EDT by stylin_geek

Things have been busy here. You know I can't say much about it. However, I do know two things. One, POTUS has given us the green light to do whatever we needed to do to win this thing so we have that going for us. Two, and my opinion only, this battle is going to have far reaching effects on not only the war here in Iraq but in the overall war on terrorism. We have to be very precise in our application of combat power. We cannot kill a lot of innocent folks (though they are few and far between in Fallujah). There will be no shock and awe. There will be plenty of bloodshed at the lowest levels. This battle is the Marine Corps' Belleau Wood for this war. 2/1 and 1/5 will be leading the way. We have to find a way to kill the bad guys only. The Fallujahans are fired up and ready for a fight (or so they think). A lot of terrorists and foreign fighters are holed up in Fallujah. It has been a sanctuary for them. If they have not left town they are going to die. I'm hoping they stay and fight.

This way we won't have to track them down one by one.

This battle is going to be talked about for a long time. The Marine Corps will either reaffirm its place in history as one of the greatest fighting organizations in the world or we will die trying. The Marines are fired up. I'm nervous for them though because I know how much is riding on this fight (the war in Iraq, the view of the war at home, the length of the war on terror and the reputation of the Marine Corps to name a few). However, every time I've been nervous during my career about the outcome of events when young Marines were involved they have ALWAYS exceeded my expectations. I'm praying this is one of those times.

(Ooh rah! Happy Easter, JVb. God bless our troops!)

[Feiny]

This was the end of an email I received from a friend over there.....he also included the email you posted on this thread.

"I hope all recognize the attitude, confidence, courage and love of the modern day warrior. Get the word out, those magnificent soldiers are to be held in high regard and to be spoken of with the highest respect, they are nothing short of Magnificent, they are with out a doubt the finest fighting organization this world has and will ever see. The United States Marine Corps."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Get the word out, those magnificent soldiers are to be held in high regard and to be spoken of with the highest respect, they are nothing short of Magnificent

Thank you for sharing your Marine friend's e-mail.

Please send him love and gratitude from a small army of FReepers who have been busy carrying out his above orders for months - and who plan to outlast our enemies!

[Horatio Gates]

bookmarked