JUSTIN SHARRATT- MY SON

The Heart | 2/12/2007 | Darryl Sharratt

[darrylsharratt]

I am the father of L/Cpl Justin Sharratt. On August16th, 2003 the dreams of a little boy became reality. My son Justin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school graduation. Since the age of six, Justin dreamed of a military career. The combat boots, camouflage fatigues and helmet he wore as a child would soon become his uniform of the day as a United States Marine. To serve and protect the United States of America from all enemies both domestic and foreign; a duty he did not take lightly.

Justin’s first combat tour of duty was the city of Fallujah, Iraq. It was here, in the heat of the Iraqi desert, a boy became a man. Sharratt, Stone, Mitchell, Stevens and Wolf soon became ‘brothers by different mothers.’ In a battle known as “Hell House” they fought toe to toe with Iraqi insurgents bent on the destruction of U. S. Marines. They formed a bond forged in the furnace of combat; a bond that will last a lifetime. Semper Fidelis.

Upon his return from Iraq Justin joined us while on leave. He was transformed into the man all fathers dream and hope they will be. While on leave, Justin broke his ankle and was put on medical leave. It was at this time I realized what it meant to him to be an infantry rifleman, a grunt. He stared me in the eyes and said “Dad, all I want to do is get my ankle healed. I have to return to Iraq with 3-1 Kilo Company. The guys are counting on me to cover their six and I will never let them down.” Discussion ended—my son the warrior.

The city of Haditha, Iraq was the destination of 3-1 Kilo Company on Justin’s second deployment. Known to be a hot bed of Iraqi insurgency, the Marines of 3-1 Kilo Company could only envision what to expect. Seasoned from their tour in Fallujah, most of the Marines were on their second Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, many their third. They were experienced combat veterans, drilled on the Rules of Engagement yet sensitive to their alien environment and the Iraqi populace.

On November 19, 2005, a convoy of four Marine humvees was ambushed on a city street in Haditha. A massive IED explosion ripped the fourth humvee in the column apart. One Marine was killed and two were seriously wounded. 3rd platoon, 3-1 Kilo Company, my son’s unit, was now in a firefight for their lives. There was no time for rage or revenge. Justin needed to apply his Marine Corps training and experience to preserve the lives of his fellow Marines. All the Marines in 3rd platoon responded in like manner- to preserve the lives of fellow Marines. Reinforcements were called in and an ambulance was needed to attend the wounded. Marines were positioned to defend their precarious position and a comm link was established to FOB Sparta. All done in the best of Marine Corps tradition and training while taking enemy fire.

In the aftermath of this engagement, 24 Iraqis were killed. A U.S. Congressman has called these Marines murderers. Time magazine has enlisted the propaganda of foreign journalists to sell its political agenda. Iraqi civilians have been schooled in making false statements. An Iraqi girl missed a day of school because she was afraid the bomb blast would injure her. Interesting reading, but I truly believe the American people can see through this barrage of media conjecture. I ask you not to prejudge my son, not to prejudge these Marines. They have served this country with honor, truth and diligence. I say unto you. the Few, the Proud, the Marines………..

War is a tragic thing. The enemy we are fighting has had centuries to prepare. They wear no uniforms, fight by no Rules of Engagement or follow the Geneva Convention. Using civilians as human shields is a common practice and their hatred for non-Islamic cultures is endemic.

The United States government has taken 12 months and spent millions of dollars and countless man-hours investigating the Haditha engagement. On December 21st, 2006, four NCOs and four officers were charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. My son, LCpl Justin Sharratt faces three counts of unpremeditated murder. This is not the forum to discuss these charges but my son stands strong in the fact he followed the Rules of Engagement, protected his fellow Marines and did nothing wrong. All of these men are innocent of these charges. In the aftermath of 9-11, these men have risen to honorably serve their country. Some have given a lifetime of dedicated service, others were just beginning. They have demonstrated to the world there is “No better friend, No worse enemy” than a U.S. Marine.

For now, the handshakes will be tighter, the hugs will be longer and the tears sliding down my face are not a sign of weakness- they affirm a father’s love for his Marine son.

Darryl Sharratt Canonsburg, Pa.

www.justinsharratt.com

[Shelayne]

Mr. Sharratt, thank you for your letter. Your son and your family are in my prayers. I pray that this nightmare will be over soon and the brave Marines will be vindicated.

Your son is a hero to my family. Thank you and God's richest blessings to all of you.

Thanks for the PING, Jaz!

[Paved Paradise]

"Beautiful Boy" (with one minor change)
by John Lennon

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But i guess we'll both just have to be patient
'cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling [Justin]

[manic4organic]

God bless.

[Sam Hill]

Thanks.

[Velveeta]

My pleasure.

[philetus]

The terrorists are not the only enemy we are fighting.
There will be many, standing naked and silent, before the Great White Throne.

[upsdriver]

Dear Mr. Sharratt;

My heart goes out to you and your family. This must be a very difficult time for you. I can't even imagine. I pray that The LORD will give you strength to perservere and His Peace that surpasses all understanding.

Are you doing alright? Is there anything that we can do for you and Justin? Thank you for son and his service to our country. God Bless You!!

[Salem]

This is a story you might want to send mail to your Congressman on. Repeatedly. The Republican Party need to show some spine and put and end to these witch hunts. What in the heck kind of war is this?

---

AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
Free Republic's News From the Long War
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links...  by backhoe
Translated Pre-War IRAQ Documents  by jveritas
Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....  by PsyOp
"PLAES DO NOT TOCH THE WAR"  by AnnaZ
One FReeper On The Line  by SNOWFLAKE
The Clash of Ideologies - A Review

"...It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world." [FReeper Retief]

"...That the totalitarian force pitted against freedom wears a religious makes this civil war among mankind all the more difficult to engage. Loving freedom as we do, it seems reprehensible to deliberate against a religion. But this is no ordinary religion as it demands absolute obedience of all to their religion at the cost of freedom itself." [FReeper Backtothestreets]

[Purrcival]

I believe your son, and I support him. You can tell him that our prayers are with him.

[SevenofNine]

COOL rack Salem sonnn rack your son miltary service

[Nachum]

Your son is a hero. He will be in our prayers.

[PGalt]

Thanks for being here, sir. I'm at a loss for words.

Love

America's finest BUMP!

[doug from upland]

It is an honor to have you join us. We will be praying for your son.

[txroadkill]

I ask you not to prejudge my son, not to prejudge these Marines.

Too late, I have already judged them. I based my judgment of these Marines on the courage and commitment that it took to take that oath to defend me and my children and by the actions they took to carry out that oath. I stand ready to defend them in prayer and in action if so called, it is the very least I could do for these heroes who placed their lives and bodies in the line of fire to protect me. God protect these Marines as they have so honorably protected us.

Please let us know what we can do to help.

[Constantine XIII]

prayer bump

[exit82]

Darryl,

I support your son, his fellow Marines, and you. Welcome to FreeRepublic.

I've been here awhile and I can tell you that you are among friends.

Please tell your son not to lose hope--there are many who are with him. He is a hero, who has put his life on the line for me and my family more times than I will ever know.

And for that, I am in his debt. And yours, for raising a son like yours.

[TigersEye]

Heartfelt prayers for your son and his fellow Marines.

[Valin]

This is not the forum to discuss these charges but my son stands strong in the fact he followed the Rules of Engagement, protected his fellow Marines and did nothing wrong. All of these men are innocent of these charges. In the aftermath of 9-11, these men have risen to honorably serve their country. Some have given a lifetime of dedicated service, others were just beginning. They have demonstrated to the world there is “No better friend, No worse enemy” than a U.S. Marine.


Darryl, you're preaching to the choir. Tell your son that their are 1,000's praying for him, and that the truth will come out.

[TigersEye]

ping

[george76]

welcome to FR and thanks for your son's service.