NAVY Corpsman convinces mom not to join peace protest

Las Vegas Review-Journal & snopes.com ^ | 3/29/03 | Lonnie J. Smith, USN

[ppaul]

Letter to Mom

Claim:   Navy corpsman's e-mail dissuades his mother from attending anti-war demonstration.

Status:   True.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2003]

Dear Mom,

It's really your decision to march if you want to or not. You are the one who has to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not. My opinion is not yours.

I do, however, have things I would like for you and Grandma and everyone else at home to know.

I am a United States soldier. I was sworn to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. People may not agree with the things we are ordered to do. I would like to address those people by telling them that terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to many other innocent people in the world.

What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and freedoms of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just because they're human?

We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives. They do business like usual and don't worry about the thought of terrorism actually happening to them.

The people of 9-11 thought the same thing. We now know that it can happen to anyone at any time.

Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our security. I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy expense to ensure that my family and friends can live in peace.

I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see for yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard this ship are feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of something so strong and so meaningful to the safety of our loved ones. Then you would know what this potential war is about.

We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers are not afraid of what may happen. We are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand why we are here.

I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us; I ask for your understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support in what we are sworn to do: defend our country and the life of all.

We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism in our back yard. We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'.

We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life, liberty and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have to stop the threat of terrorism.

I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love.

My family is first. My country is where they live. I will defend it.

Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
UIC 39726
FPO AP 966139726


P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time understanding why we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that others will know why we are here and what we are here for.

I love you all and will be home soon. I left my address so that if anyone feels like writing to let me know how they feel, they can.

Origins:   The letter quoted above was sent via e-mail by Lonnie J. Lewis, a Navy corpsman deployed in Kuwait attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, in response to his mother's query about how he would feel if she joined other relatives in participating in a Hollywood anti-war demonstration. His letter was published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on 8 March 2003, and the newspaper also ran an article about Lewis' mother and grandfather the same day.

Lewis' mother, Karen Perez, said in a telephone interview that "she decided not to join the antiwar protest after reading her son's e-mail."

Last updated:   19 March 2003

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  Sources:

    Rogers, Keith.   "Letter to Home."

    Las Vegas Review-Journal.   8 March 2003.

    Smith, Lonnie J.   "Letter to Mom."

    Las Vegas Review-Journal.   8 March 2003.

[ppaul]

Let's send a letter, or a care package, to Corpsman Lewis:

Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
UIC 39726
FPO AP 966139726

[judicial meanz]

Great words from a great American. God bless Lonnie.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

A Navy Corpsman bump, from the daughter of one. (Thank you for your service, Lonnie. Your selflessness is an inspiration.)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Never heard a corpsman, or any other squid for that matter, refer to himself or the Marines he was serving with as soldiers.

[P-Marlowe]

Anyone who is TRULY interested in PEACE would be protesting in front of the Iraqi embassy and calling for Saddam to surrrender!

America's so called Peace protesters are rooting for the enemy. Period! They don't give a rip about peace. They want the US to be defeated. They want Americans to die. Nothing would make them happier than for America to surrender to the Iraqis.

[Illbay]

This is a true story, but it has been posted here numerous times already. Please do a search before duplicating a post.

If you find it, then simply bump it. A bunch of times if you'd like.

It's good to keep the duplicates down.

[cateizgr8]

ping

[ppaul]

Thanks.
I did search, but didn't find it.
You know from experience that I do not post bogus stuff, or duplicates if I can help it.
But, I do not believe the snopes article was posted, and it has all the info in one convenient place, with links.
If you haven't already, send a supportive letter to Lonnie.
Adios amigo.

[Texas_Jarhead]

first I've seen of this. thanks for posting

[b4its2late]

First I've see it too. Copying to email to friends.... Thanks.

[GLDNGUN]

I did search, but didn't find it. You know from experience that I do not post bogus stuff, or duplicates if I can help it. But, I do not believe the snopes article was posted, and it has all the info in one convenient place, with links. If you haven't already, send a supportive letter to Lonnie. Adios amigo.

Illbay is usually too busy harping on other posters to do something useful like that.

[dwilli]

First thing that caught my eye. Great letter but think it is from an internet author.

[MN_Rightside]

As an ex-corpsman with the Marines, I used many different titles to describe those that I cared for. "Soldier" was never one of them.

[dwilli]

I would not advise walking into one of the bars outside the gate at Lejune and addressing the customers as "soldiers"

[MN_Rightside]

So right, it would not go over well. That is why this letter does not seem right. Before even being placed with a unit a corpsman knows that you do not refer to a Marine as soldier (unless too much time has passed and I am out of touch).

[ppaul]

Alls I can say is click on the links and read the newspaper articles.
Then, write a letter to Corpsman Lewis and ask him why.

[joesnuffy]

Corpsman UP