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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
Posted on 04/09/2004 9:33:20 AM PDT by 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)
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: fallujah; freedom; gnfi; goodguys; honor; marines; personalaccount; sacrifice; warriors
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks Rag.
To: sns5151; archy; Eagle Eye; Cannoneer No. 4; SandRat; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; ...
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.
~
~
3
posted on
04/09/2004 9:35:10 AM PDT
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("We are winning every firefight we engage in." ~ Marine Maj. Gen. Keith Stalder, 4/08/04)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
The gates of heaven..guarded by US Marines! Semper FI
To: All
Viking Kitten Dispatcher, Molly asks
please support Viking Kittens. Click the pic
5
posted on
04/09/2004 9:37:57 AM PDT
by
Support Free Republic
(I'd rather be sleeping. Let's get this over with so I can go back to sleep!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump for freedom and brave soldiers!
6
posted on
04/09/2004 9:37:58 AM PDT
by
F14 Pilot
(John Fedayeen Kerry - the Mullahs' regime candidate)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Excellent post RC!!! Our heroes...are they incredible or WHAT?????
God bless the families of the fallen ones and their comrades in arms...
7
posted on
04/09/2004 9:39:17 AM PDT
by
StarCMC
(Kalen is home!!! Kalen is home!!! Thank you for all your prayers and support!!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for the ping. My screen is a little blurry right now.
8
posted on
04/09/2004 9:41:17 AM PDT
by
Sacajaweau
(God Bless Our Troops!!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Marine and Sailor bump - God bless them
9
posted on
04/09/2004 9:41:24 AM PDT
by
conservcalgal
((I've been here since 1967 and I'm not leaving!!!!!!!))
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Marines ~ Bump!
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~
10
posted on
04/09/2004 9:42:45 AM PDT
by
blackie
(Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
11
posted on
04/09/2004 9:43:27 AM PDT
by
TomGuy
(Clintonites have such good hind-sight because they had their heads up their hind-ends 8 years.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
USMC Bump
12
posted on
04/09/2004 9:45:20 AM PDT
by
SAMWolf
(Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.)
To: threat matrix
"The gates of heaven..guarded by US Marines! Semper FI"
13
posted on
04/09/2004 9:52:22 AM PDT
by
hoot2
To: StarCMC
"Excellent post RC!!! Our heroes...are they incredible or WHAT????? God bless the families of the fallen ones and their comrades in arms... "
amen.
14
posted on
04/09/2004 9:54:10 AM PDT
by
hoot2
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks for your help R.C., Coop and others ...
I will check back after I get a grip. things are just get'n to me.
God be with you all,
marine mom/wife
semper fi
15
posted on
04/09/2004 9:57:21 AM PDT
by
sns5151
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thanks RC, that was great to hear this officer's confidence. We cannot allow the course of history to be dictated by terrorists. Let them die the death they so rightully deserve.
16
posted on
04/09/2004 9:58:02 AM PDT
by
man of Yosemite
("When a man decides to do something everyday, that's about when he stops doing it.")
To: hoot2
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040408/capt.msr10104081417.topix_iraq_msr101.jpg)
US Marines pray over the body of a dead brother in Fallujah, Iraq.
We should all thank God for sending us men both bold enough to slay the wicked and openly kneel in humble prayer.
17
posted on
04/09/2004 10:03:28 AM PDT
by
SENTINEL
(USMC GWI (MY GOD IS GOD, ROCKCHUCKER !!))
To: sns5151; BeforeISleep; bert; LisaFab; CyberAnt; WOSG; Southack; NormsRevenge
((Hugs))
We have our Marine moms covered on two fronts.
Coop just beat me, but I'm sure our kind Admin Mods will let both posts stand, two different headlines / potential audiences, fighting our powerful mainstream press.
8 Cold Day in Hell (E-mail from Fallujah)
18
posted on
04/09/2004 10:04:35 AM PDT
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("We are winning every firefight we engage in." ~ Marine Maj. Gen. Keith Stalder, 4/08/04)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thank you. Passing it around via email...
19
posted on
04/09/2004 10:11:05 AM PDT
by
b4its2late
(Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
![](http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040408/capt.msr10104081422.topix_iraq_msr101.jpg)
Marines pray over a comrade at a first-aid point after he died from woonds suffered in fighting Thursday in Fallujah, Iraq
I would like to submi that this photo be the basis for a new Marine Menorial dedicated to those who gave all in Iraq. God bless and keep our boys.
20
posted on
04/09/2004 10:16:51 AM PDT
by
Robe
(Rome did not create a great empire with meetings, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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