"Hey, What's Happening- I received your thanksgiving box the other day, thanx for that. Sorry i haven't e-mailed lately but there's a division passing through camp right now, and since they don't have anything better to do they stand in the internet line for like 3-4 hours. On top of that the phones have been down for over a week now, so the internet is the only means of communication. I'm actually not even using our connection- part of my mission is to drive around to other camps so I'm actually writing from camp ******* right now. I just sent a letter to you explaining this in better detail.
I got a care package from one of your freeper friends the other day, but i don't have the name handy. I'll prolly send her a note myself anyway though. I'll get you the names of everybody who's sent something soon. Hopefully we'll have the wireless network up and running within the next couple of weeks..
Things are going really well here. The schedule is hard to get used to, but I do get enough time to sleep, which is more than i can say for most of the infantry guys. I would go on and on but I'd just be repeating what i wrote to you.. So, thanx for all the stuff.... oh yeah, that reminds me.... I wonder if you could mail me my coffee maker.. should be on my nightstand. The ones they sell in the PX are huge and really expensive. You can take money out of my checking account to pay for the shipping for all my packages. That would be much appreciated though, lots of cold long nights in the desert. One more thing.. if you could give me an update of how much cash i have. It's hard to keep track of, and i don't know how much the phone bill was.. Thanks alot, can't wait to see y'all back home....
Oh yeah, another thing, I finally got pinned with my Specialist rank.. at the formation the first sergeant laughed when he read "date of rank August 11th". Anyway, see you later, take care- Evan"
Thanks for sharing Ev's email, Mozie. I really look forward to it.
Have you recovered from your long day yesterday?
Nice...very nice.
T'was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sobering thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, it was dark and dreary;
I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my Country, my Corps.”
The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
and we both shivered from the cold night's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, “Carry on Santa, It's Christmas, and all is secure.”
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
“Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!”
A Marine wrote this poem. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable... PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
Hi Mozie - thanks for sharing that email from "our soldier". I love hearing what's happening over there from him. Glad he's getting enough sleep. Hope you're getting some sleep too and that your concerts are going well.
He sounds fine Mozie. He's busy and sounds happy, that's a good thing.
Thanks for sharing Ev's email with us.
Lyse, why don't you call them bright and early Monday and explain to them that if they don't straignten out their mess immediately, if not before, that you will switch over your internet service to the directTV dish which is sitting on your roof right now. DirectTV would be only too happy to do that. You already have the service and would not then be dependent on any cables or landlines. The signal goes straight from your roof to the satellite. I bet with that threat RR gets corrected post haste. Maybe.