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LETTER FROM A FALLUJAH MARINE
Newsmax ^ | 11/19/04

Posted on 11/19/2004 8:50:04 AM PST by areafiftyone

Once again the blogger world has stepped up to the plate to do job the mainstream media is supposed to do - but seldom bothers anymore.

While U.S. and Arab media went-pedal-to-the-metal with the NBC video of a Marine in Fallujah committing the "atrocity" of defending himself and his platoon against a wounded terrorist, PowerlineBlog.com has helped put the incident in perspective, by publishing a letter from a brother Marine who describes just what our guys are up against.

The moving account is beginning to make the rounds on talk radio, with WABC host Mark Levin sharing it with his audience Thursday night.

We thought it was worth doing the same:

Letter From a Fallujah Marine:

This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does.

This is one most don't hear:

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!"

He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles.

The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary-eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.

But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded.

Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fallujahmarine; slanderngprivateryan
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To: areafiftyone
Okay, it's time to parade my Cafepress T-shirt through the local liberal media coffee grounds: Hoooah!!

MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Bashing Veterans
since 1969

41 posted on 11/19/2004 3:49:11 PM PST by CIBvet (It's about preserving OUR Borders, OUR Language and OUR American Culture)
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To: Doug Loss
"Actually son, the do represent those of very many of us."

Amen--it certainly represents how I feel and I'll bet of nearly all the Marines he is a part of! The POOP (pathetic old obsolete media) can just stuff it--we rule now!

42 posted on 11/19/2004 3:52:46 PM PST by luvie (WE DID NOT WAVER; WE DID NOT TIRE; WE DID NOT FALTER; AND WE DID NOT FAIL!! GWB ROCKS!!!!!!!!)
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To: McGavin999
The MSM is dead.

What is the problem with calling the MSM the Main Stream Mess or convert it to LSM:
Lame Stream Mess
or Lethal Stream Mess

After all, LSM is one upmanship on MSM.

The movie 2001: A Space Odyssey used that to generate HAL -- it was computer that one up on I-B-M, ie, the letters before I-B-M are H-A-L, and that is how HAL got his name.

43 posted on 11/19/2004 3:54:58 PM PST by topher
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To: sanchmo

67,986 now and counting. God Bless our Military!


44 posted on 11/19/2004 4:27:50 PM PST by maxwellp (q)
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To: areafiftyone
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?as123

Presently 68346 Total Signatures

45 posted on 11/19/2004 4:43:01 PM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: TexKat; areafiftyone; appalachian_dweller; broadsword; doug from upland; Forgiven_Sinner; JLO; ...

Another petition from Patriot Petitions

http://patriotpetitions.us/USMIL/


46 posted on 11/19/2004 5:07:03 PM PST by sanchmo
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To: areafiftyone

When our enemies in Iraq abide by the rules of the Geneva convention, like wearing uniforms and not hiding weapons and ammo in mosques and cutting off the heads of innocent non-combatants, then we will dot all our "I's" and cross all our "T's".


47 posted on 11/19/2004 6:07:49 PM PST by Tfran
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To: sanchmo
I think the young marine made a terrible mistake in judgement. The danger he faces every day is real and right around the corner. Sometimes right next to him. But there is NO EXCUSE for what he didn't do. After that shot to the head of a dying piece of slime, he should have turned his rifle onto that photographer. I wonder if that a@@hole is still embedded? Anyone have the answer?
48 posted on 11/19/2004 6:14:59 PM PST by hophead
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To: areafiftyone

Both wonderful and painful to read at the same time. God save us from lawyers and political correctness. Help make out hearts right so we SUPPORT these fine, brave men and women.


49 posted on 11/19/2004 8:51:20 PM PST by Libertina (We praise You Lord, You have granted America a Christian leader!)
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To: Cyber Liberty

"This is about the third posting of this letter...."

And it obviously needs to be posted 3 times more until the MSM decide who's side they are on. They just don't get it.


50 posted on 11/19/2004 9:56:55 PM PST by kiwi_hawk (Religion of Peace)
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To: Cyber Liberty

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!"

He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles.

The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary-eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.

But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded.

Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.


51 posted on 11/19/2004 10:02:26 PM PST by kiwi_hawk (Religion of Peace)
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To: areafiftyone

God bless you and the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. Yes we are band of brothers and we will always stick together. this MARINE did nothing wrong but kill the enemy. from A former MARINE and Desert Storm Veteran.


52 posted on 11/19/2004 10:12:01 PM PST by TedReed
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To: areafiftyone

I am proud to have read this. Thank God for this man and those like him!


53 posted on 11/19/2004 11:35:10 PM PST by ermmt
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To: nutmeg

read later bump


54 posted on 11/19/2004 11:36:06 PM PST by nutmeg (Thank you Red States!!!)
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To: areafiftyone

BUMP


55 posted on 11/20/2004 12:36:39 AM PST by AnimalLover ((Are there special rules and regulations for the big guys?))
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To: areafiftyone

Let the guys doing the fighting tell the "news"....I think they have a better perspective. I would trust a guy who's got bullets and rockets flying by his head to tell the truth rather than a bloated, overpaid liberal working for major media making millions in New York.


56 posted on 11/20/2004 2:44:26 AM PST by Route101
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To: sanchmo


Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"U.S. Marine kills wounded insurgent"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/as123/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and
consider
signing yourself.

Best wishes,

Rocky Dippel


57 posted on 11/20/2004 4:35:01 PM PST by Issaquahking ( Bush won, Arafat is dead! Life is good!)
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To: areafiftyone

... and Chris Matthews drones on.


58 posted on 11/20/2004 8:12:44 PM PST by Another Thought
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