"I don't support Americans cowering behind the wall of freedom that we provide and then criticize the way we provide it."
God Bless our troops and their families!
Least we forget...
Posted on 07/18/2006 5:54:22 AM PDT by NEMDF
Edited on 07/18/2006 2:58:19 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
This is from the parent (then letter from son) of a Marine in Iraq who is with my son's unit in Al Anbar. *****************************************************
I mentioned earlier that my son, CPL Steve F., was going to send an essay/letter/article just expressing his feelings about the war, and I received it a couple of days ago. He has asked me to distribute it to as many people as I can. So here it is. My only request is that it not be forwarded to any of the guys in the [unit]--you know how that goes--"What goes around..." and he may not be comfortable knowing guys in his unit have seen his letter; I figure, if he wants them to see it, he'll let them read it. It's not really for them, anyway. Okay, well, here it is, folks:
"As I come closer to the halfway point in my second combat tour, I have been reflecting on the events dating from 9/11 to today. Watching the nation's perspective change from an incredible level of patriotism to the lackluster, complacent attitude I see now, is sickening. I ask myself what has changed since 9/11. Does it take a horrific tragedy to open the eyes of the public and motivate them to stand behind our nation's principles? "
For those who have forgotten, we were sent here to defeat tyranny and fight terrorism. Tyranny has been abolished and we are now in the process of ridding this country from terror. Our fight is not over, we still have a mission to accomplish, and we still need the support of our country: not support for the troops but support for the war on terror.
"Hearing people say, 'I support the troops, but I don't support the war,' is hypocrisy that astounds and annoys me every time I hear it. Saying you don't support the war is telling me that you don't support my beliefs, my right to fight for freedom, and my choice to be over here away from my family to be a part of something I believe in.
I'll tell you what I don't support: I don't support Americans cowering behind the wall of freedom that we provide and then criticize the way we provide it. Stand behind us. Stand behind what we've volunteered to do.
"Over the past month we have made incredible progress in our war effort. We are working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi army, and with their help we have successfully broken apart several terrorist cells in our area. We have seen more success at this point in the war than eight months of fighting in OIF I and II. And yet our nation supports us less now than before . . . what is the explanation?
"Don't let the events in Abu Ghraib and Haditha alter your perspective of the Marine Corps. A week ago today two Iraqi children were brought to our traffic control point. The children were sheep herders, and as they were walking, one of their sheep stepped on a pressure-plated IED. The IED was not meant for coalition forces. It was placed by an insurgent whose intent was to harm any Iraqi civilian. The IED blew one of the children's lower mandible off and left severe shrapnel wounds in the upper leg of the second child.
Both of these children survived the IED because their parents brought them to us. They knew that the Marines would care for them. The Marines would save their children when a terrorist attacked his own people. The Marines and Navy corpsmen of Alpha Company of the 3rd LAR have saved the lives of numerous innocent Iraqi civilians and have developed a relationship with the Iraqi Army to the point that I can call them brothers-in-arms. A language, religion, and culture barrier separates us, and yet one common factor allows us to unite and fight side by side. The fight for freedom—to liberate a country.
"I will spend my Independence Day fighting for the freedom of a country that has been oppressed for over 54 years. For those of you who say, "Let them fight their own war," or "Pull the troops out now—it's not our fight," remember how our country came to be and the sacrifices that have been made to build our nation.
"For those of you who remain supportive, I thank you with all my heart. I wish I could portray to you the joy and exhilaration I experience every time we help the Iraqi people. Your support keeps us driving, and without it this fight would be unwinnable. To the families of all the military personnel overseas, you are heroes to us . . . your ability to support our being away for months at a time requires more courage than any situation we encounter. The support of my wife, family, and friends has taken me through almost two combat deployments. Realize that our families have it harder than us. Respect and support them as you do the Marines and sailors. Semper Fi"
God bless you and your son! Prayers for your family and for all the families who have people in the war. This man is a true patriot. We stand with you all the way!
May God bless you for posting this. You may want to add a tissue alert for those of us who melt when reading about true patriotism.
PONG
Ouch! Eye strain alert ... no paragraphs.
Big bump.
THANKS!
Thanks for cleaning it up. Sorry I had not done that before posting.
"Hearing people say, 'I support the troops, but I don't support the war,' is hypocrisy that astounds and annoys me every time I hear it.
For what it's worth, he's not the only one that has problems with this.
I'm forced to admit it I really am pretty great! :-)
Marine Bump
Our troops are always in my prayers and I thank them for their courage and commitment to continue to fight for what's right.
The Marines and Navy corpsmen of Alpha Company of the 3rd LAR have saved the lives of numerous innocent Iraqi civilians and have developed a relationship with the Iraqi Army to the point that I can call them brothers-in-arms. A language, religion, and culture barrier separates us, and yet one common factor allows us to unite and fight side by side. The fight for freedom—to liberate a country.
I got choked up reading this.
God Bless Our Troops.
Let your son know that patriotism is not dead in average Americans and never was alive in the dino media.
Ping
To: CPL Steve F....Thank you for your service to our country and for your willingness to sacrifice your life so we may have a better life. Thanks to your mother for bringing up such a wonderful son, and to your wife and family for supporting you in this most trying time. We do appreciate and support what you are doing, and thank you for writing this letter. Please know you and all our military men and women are in our prayers. God bless you and keep you and yours safe.
OOH RAH!!
Thanks for the ping. What can one add. This young Marine says it all. May the good Lord keep HIS almighty Hand over them as they duty bound perform each day what lesser men could not endure.
Keep up the great job, were behind you!
Bumperoo!
Very well said, Devil Dog. Thank you for so nobly defending our freedom.
Lump-in-throat ping.
At the core, it's STILL the Corps..
May the Almighyt be his shield and strengthen his sword arm..
Semper Fi
God Bless all of our brave troops.
Sounds like Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men":
"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna guard 'em? You? (to Tom Cruise) You, Lt. Weinberg? (to Kevin Pollak) I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know...that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, no matter how grotesque, or incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth, because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you WANT me on that wall. You NEED me on that wall!
"We use words like 'honor', 'code', 'loyalty'. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. YOU use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, then questions the manner...in which I provide it! I would just assume you'd say 'thank you', and went on your way. Otherwise, I'd suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post! Either way, I don't give a DAMN...WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE 'ENTITLED' TO!"
NEMDF, thank you for providing your son's letter.
I salute him and the other fellow Americans in the Armed forces. Keep up the great work fellow soldiers and stay safe!
Ping
"Both of these children survived the IED because their parents brought them to us. They knew that the Marines would care for them."
I can only imagine how proud of him you must be. You raised such a great guy. Brought tears!
This has been repeated thousands of times in Iraq over the past two years. The United States Marine Corps., and Army have been the angels of mercy to many an arab. And they know damn well that is the case.
Bump
Bumping straight to the top!! Thanks for the ping Coop. I got a letter yesterday from a depolyed AF Captain -- I'm telling you -- we may send them geedunk, but the return is soooo much more! God bless the heroes who guard and defend our freedoms!!
Amen to that! I need to get out shopping for Operation Crayon!
and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna guard 'em?
bttt
...have developed a relationship with the Iraqi Army to the point that I can call them brothers-in-arms.
A language, religion, and culture barrier separates us, and yet one common factor allows us to unite and fight side by side.
The fight for freedom—to liberate a country.
Please thank the parent of this fine Marine for me. I am so grateful to have men like him defending freedom for the world. What an awesome example of what our military represents. May God bless him and keep him safe!
Bump for later read,
Bump.
"I don't support Americans cowering behind the wall of freedom that we provide and then criticize the way we provide it."
God Bless our troops and their families!
Least we forget...
I have never seen that bottom photo...excellent!
BUMP!!
God Bless this Marine and all our troops. They make me proud to be an American.
Really? Hmmm... I have posted it several times...although it has been quite a while. Thanks again for pinging me to this outstanding letter. It has made my day!
God bless you and your son, and THANK YOU BOTH!
"For those who have forgotten, we were sent here to defeat tyranny and fight terrorism. Tyranny has been abolished and we are now in the process of ridding this country from terror. Our fight is not over, we still have a mission to accomplish, and we still need the support of our country: not support for the troops but support for the war on terror."
Did I forget why you are there? Did I forget this?
Never!
Thank you, Marine.
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