Posted on 12/18/2004 11:56:16 AM PST by ASA Vet
Just wanted to write to you and tell you another story
about an experience we had over here.
As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here and several
people (Americans that support us) sent them over by the box.
On each patrol we take through the city, we take as many toys as will
fit in our pockets and hand them out as we can.
The kids take the toys and run to show them off as if they were worth a million bucks.
We are as friendly as we can be to everyone we see,
but especially so with the kids.
Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are completely innocent in all of this.
On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street.
This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles
began to inquire over the radio.
The lead vehicle reported a little girl sitting in the road
and said she just would not budge.
The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did.
The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver
and so they waved to her as they drove around.
As the vehicles went around her, I soon saw her sitting there and in her
arms she was clutching a little bear that we had handed her a few patrols back.
Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop.
The rest of the convoy paused and I got out the make sure she was OK.
The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me.
As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed to a mine in the road.
Immediately a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive posture around the site.
The mine was destroyed in place.
It was the heart of an American that sent that toy.
It was the heart of an American that gave that toy to that little girl.
It was the heart of an American that protected that convoy from that mine.
Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains.
It was a heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace and grace,
even through the inconveniences of conflict that saved that convoy from hitting that mine.
Those attributes are what keep Americans hearts beating.
She may have no affiliation at all with the United States,
but she knows what it is to be brave and if we can continue to support her
and her new government, she will know what it is to be free.
Isn't that what Americans are, the free and the brave?
If you sent over a toy or a Marine (US Service member) you took part in this.
You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future.
Thank you so much for supporting us and for supporting our cause over here.
Semper Fi,
Mark
GySgt / USMC
I have a favor to ask...could you please send this to my home email. I think it is important to pass on. Thanx...Mar
May God Bless this little angel with the truth of what true freedom is............and also our Warriors.
Great report!
Touching story. Hate to be a Grinch this close to Christmas and especially with such a neat story, but why do so many of the "emails" never have a persons last name or never have a person who can be found? Always makes me wonder if they aren't fabricated. I hope that's not the case with this story.
5.56mm
Great story!
I have no idea if it's fabricated.
One of my old First Sgt's emailed it to me with no further info.
He didn't say if it was emailed directly to him, or was a forward of a forward of a forward.
"Hearts and Minds" works if you find the right people.
Oh, Maaan! Talk about tears in the eyes!
I guess this little girl doesn't think the terrorist who are fighting our soldiers are the Iraqi version of the Minutemen as one fat American slob does.One of the most important things our men are doing over there is planting the seeds of freedom and compassion among the children of Iraq.Keep up the good work.
GREAT....LOVE IT..
They can not give you a last name,location, or unit because of security reasons.
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.
Oh? I've seen some on the web with exactly those items you mentioned that should be missing.
OPSEC seems to be even better than in past operations.
bttt
Thank you for reporting this!
I'm sure anyone in Hollywood could have just as easily found and disarmed that mine, it doesn't take a convoy of Marines. Don't you guys watch any good war movies?
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