Letter From a Marine In Baghdad
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
Posted on 11/17/2004 10:57:20 AM PST by GrandmaPatriot
If you have a means of getting messages back to him I hope you will send him our messages of support.
"Hey - I wrote this once and sent it out to several people because - I'm short on time - so sorry for the bulk mail on such a serious topic - but computer time is short. Here goes: Sorry it's been so long - we've had down internet for so long due to the Fallujah Operational security. Had some rough times fighting in the city. We (1/8 Marines) were the main effort that assaulted the city at the jump of operations, and then pushed straight down the middle, fighting house to house nonstop for four straight days - heat rash - busted backs from 100 lbs of gear - dehydration. I can't count the number of firefights we were in, including several that lasted over four hours. I can hardly hear from the danger close artillery - some which landed in the buildings next to us. We dropped countless 500 lb bombs and air strikes that debris and metal was almost always raining from the air. RPG's have been blowing up all around our positions and mortars almost took us out two days ago. I'm so f#$%ing deaf. We would move 100 yards; take sniper fire from a building - get pinned down - and call in to have it destroyed. I dropped about three four story buildings on my own calls. On the second day - we killed eight guys trying to sneak up on us in a truck - totally f@#$ing destroyed the truck they were in which was filled with RPG's and AK's - one was wearing a suicide vest which detonated when we hit the flaming wreck with frags. That same day - we tried to cross a wide street and four Marines were taken out by snipers. On our fourth day - we were pushing hard - almost through the city when our platoon took heavy casualties. We got ambushed on a 3 am patrol and had a Marine killed instantly - two others shot. The tanks instantly started lighting up the place - shaking the ground and tracers were flying everywhere. I was firing the SAW from the hip - must have gone through 1000 rounds. We scrambled to find a safe house with elevation and a roof - pushed about 50 yards and stacked up on a good structure. When we rushed in to clear the house - two grenades rolled down the stairs and before I knew what was going on - seven of us went down. One guy got it bad - the shit ripped half his face off. It all happened in slow motion. Me - and most of the others took it in the legs - some worse than others. We got evacuated last night and returned to the base hospital. I ended up with shrapnel in my left leg - not bad, it's small - I can limp around and should be 100% in about a week. Probably not coming home early - most likely going to return to active duty. Hope this is all wrapped up by then in Fallujah - that place really is hell on earth. Sorry for the dreary news - but from the nasty shit I've seen - it could be much worse. Other than that - I'm counting the days on that rapidly approaching return date. Don't worry - I haven't gone crazy - and am maintaining as much a sense of humor as is tasteful out here - whatever the hell that means. Take care - and I'll do the same out here. Regards."
These are real words from a Marine in Fallujah. Please keep him, and all our service men and women in your prayers.
God bless our soldiers and God bless America.
May the Lord truly bless your friend and the poor Iraqi people who truly do want a better life. May the Lord help them to find it and HIM.
GrandmaPatriot...thanks for posting this. It's good to know that the word is getting out of Iraq thanks to people like you and this LtCol.
Tonk and Meek, I think this deserves a ping...what say you?
God Bless, and Godspeed to all our men and women in harm's way.
My son has volunteered to go back into the Army, and is standing up and volunteering for Iraq.
When I asked him why, he said "because someone with kids can be home if I go over there. And my country needs me where I can do the most good."
Guess we did something right.
PING!
i am grateful and humbled by these brave patriots..
God bless our armed forces and the loved ones who wait for them at home.
Letter From a Marine In Baghdad
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
There you go. Thanks. :^)
I would guess that this was not widely know in the states...TV reporting and newspapers across the US did not feel it necessary to report it
Didn't feel it necessary? That is SOOO generous. Our men over there are so good hearted even while they are being actively undermined. The media ought to be prostrate and weeping in shame.
My God, we are so blessed.
Great letter ~ Bump!
Semper Fi!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Thank you so much for this.. and meeky thanks for ping...
"Fallujah - that place really is hell on earth."
Wow, what a chilling letter. May he and the others serving over there come home safely.
And the message in that first post, GrandmaPatriot--that needs to be spread far and wide. Obviously, if Iraqi villagers prayed for the President to be re-elected, they must think he's doing something right.
Thank you for the ping, Tonk.
BTTT!!!!!!!
God bless him and all our military. I hope they know and feel the prayers that are said for them everyday.
God bless the Iraqi people and their fight for their freedom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
