Posted on 03/31/2003 11:26:35 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
L.T. SMASH
LIVE FROM THE SANDBOX
01 April 2003
A New Day Got a care package from my parents yesterday. Thanks Mom & Dad!
It was mailed on the 19th, and from the various stamps and labels it looks like it arrived in country on the 22nd. It took eight days to get from the central postal facility to my camp.
It was a very large package. Several boxes of Girl Scout cookies were included, along with some snack packs of trail mix, chips, and a huge bottle of Pace's Picante Sauce. But the most precious goodies were several bottles of mixed spices, which should serve to make those MREs more palatable. I'm almost looking forward to my next meal.
Almost.
I'm doing a telephone interview later today with Peter Arnett.
You might remember Arnett from the First Gulf War, reporting live from Baghdad on CNN. He is working on an in-depth feature for National Geographic. He's in Baghdad now, and is trying to secure interviews with various Iraqi leaders, before it's too late.
It will be very strange, talking on the phone to someone in the enemy capital.
He wants to talk to me for some perspective from the US side. I think it will be a very interesting article, and I'm looking forward to reading it in the comfort of my own home, long after the war is over.
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31 March 2003
International Mailbag Took a little time to read some of your e-mails last night.
Can't read every letter -- there are simply too many of them and I have too little time. Still, I appreciate each expression of concern and support.
Simply amazed at the audience this journal has attracted. I'd like to say hello to all of my readers around the globe, including Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Mexico (¡Hola!), Italy (Ciao!), Poland, Russia, Germany (Hallo!), Japan, and yes, even France (believe it or not).
UPDATE: Got some more email today from Canada, South Africa, England, Austalia, Denmark, and, por supuesto, Espana (¡Hola, Jaime!).
One letter in particular caught my attention. Perhaps it is because the writer is not too far away from me, as the crow flies -- but he lives in a very different world.
I am an Iranian citizen watching the current events with attention. I'd like to send you the sympathy and blessing of many Iranian citizens who believe that the intervention in Iraq was necessary and just. We hope that this intervention will help us to pressure our evil government and help us in our stuggle for democracy.
Indeed our government is frightened. Saddam is our common enemy and many Iranian soldiers died during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's. However, the Iranian regime is showing signs of sympathy toward the Iraqi governement and its army. They have no shame. Many of our fellow citizens were killed by Saddam's WMD. Hence, they support him indirectly in their speeches and infamous television programs. But the overwhelming majority of Iranians won't forget Saddam's crimes and support you and your troops in your combat for his removal from power.
May God bless you all. May God bless a free Iran and may God bless America.
To the author, whose name I will not print here, I salute your bravery. I share your dream that one day soon your country will be free from the shadow of tyranny and oppression. I hope that you will find a peaceful means to accomplish this goal, but I fear that your transition may be painful.
As President Bush said in his State of the Union address, the American people are with you, in spirit.
Keep the faith.
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29 March 2003
Eternal Father, Strong to Save Earlier this week LT posted a memorial tribute to a shipmate of his younger brother, LT Tom Adams, who died in a helo accident in the war against Iraq. LT included the first verse of the "Navy Hynm" in his tribute. I thought some of you might like to know a little more about the "Navy Hymn.".
The first four verses of are from a poem written in 1860 by the Rev. William Whiting, an English schoolmaster and clergyman. He wrote the ode, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save”, for a student of his about to depart for America. Whiting's inspiration came from once experiencing a furious storm in the Mediterranean Sea.
The following year another English clergyman, the Rev. John B. Dykes, a composer of over 300 hymns, penned a tune for the poem. He named the tune “Melita” after an island associated with a Biblical shipwreck. Today the island is known as Malta, the island the Apostle Paul reached after his ship went down (Acts 28:1).
Rev. Whiting’s first verse didn’t quite fit Rev. Dykes’ melody, so some lines and words were rearranged:
Whiting’s original first verse:
O thou who bidd’st the ocean deep Its own appointment limits keep, Thou Who dost bind the restless wave, Eternal Father, strong to save; O hear us when we cry to Thee For all in peril on the sea.
Was changed to fit Dykes’ melody:
Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who biddest the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
The next three verses were:
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard And hushed their raging at Thy word, Who walked'st on the foaming deep, And calm amidst its rage didst sleep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood Upon the chaos dark and rude, And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe'er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
In 1879 Lieutenant Commander (later to become Rear Admiral) Charles Train was the conductor of the Midshipman Choir at the Naval Academy. He concluded each Sunday's Divine Service with the singing of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” a tradition which continues to this day.
On the evening of April 14, 1912 Rev. Ernest Carter conducted a worship service on board the passenger ship Titanic on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. Among the hymns sung was "Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” After the service the Rev. said “It is the first time that there have been hymns sung on this boat . . . but we trust and pray it won't be the last.” More recently the "Eternal Father, Strong to Save” was a part of the musical score of the motion picture, “Titanic.”
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save” was a favorite of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had served as Secretary of the Navy. It was sung at his funeral in Hyde Park, New York, in April 1945. It was also played by the Navy Band in 1963 as the body of President John F. Kennedy, a PT boat commander in World War II, was carried up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to lie in state.
Since the original work of Revs. Whiting and Dykes, many verses have been added to "Eternal Father, Strong to Save” including ones for aviation, submarines, and the Seabees. There are also verses for the United States Marine Corps and the Coast Guard and even verses that have nothing to do with the military.
Now commonly known as the “Navy Hymn” in most hymnals, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save” is part of religious services, retirement ceremonies and funerals in the US Navy, the Navies of the British Commonwealth and the French Navy.
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Separation I never expected it to affect me this way.
It’s only been a couple of days since I’ve turned over my team, but I’m still feeling a profound sense of loss.
When you spend most of your waking hours in close proximity with the same people for several months, they become a part of you. But this is more than just changing jobs and missing your former co-workers.
7000 miles from home, these people were my family.
I still see them every day, but only for a few minutes, in passing. They greet my warmly, like an old friend. “Hey LT! How’s it going, Sir?”
I smile and say “Great! How are you guys doing?”
“Outstanding!”
Then I walk off and do my work. It’s not bad work, but it’s missing something.
Every once in a while, I feel desperately lonely.
I see my former team gathered around their new leader. He’s briefing them, and they’re listening intently. There’s a War on, and they have Important Work to do.
“Make me proud, guys,” I whisper, knowing that they can’t hear me, but that they will do it anyway. “Take good care of them.” This is silently addressed to their new LT.
It’s difficult to watch. They still respect me, but they have a new leader now. They’re still feeling him out, and learning how to relate to him. But the bond between them will grow, while I fade into a memory.
If you’ve never experienced the bond of small unit leadership before, you can’t appreciate the comparison ? but more than anything else, it feels like separating from a loved one. You miss the interaction, the inside jokes, and the personal foibles of each member of your team.
You never realize how much a part of you they were until they aren’t anymore.
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28 March 2003
Joker "Sir, I'd lahk to request special leave," announced Henry, in his thick Louisiana accent.
"Why's that?" This ought to be good.
"Ya see, Sir, mah wife is fixin' to get preg-nut, an I wanna be there for it."
"I understand. Request denied."
"Thank you, Sir."
"No problem."
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Just Passing Through I'm briefing a civilian contractor on security measures. "If you hear an air raid siren, put on your gas mask and head to one of the shelters."
"Gas mask?" There is fear in his voice.
"You don't have one?"
"No. Do I need one?"
"I hope not."
He's not reassured. "I'm only going to be here for a few hours."
"We've had a missile alert every day since the war started. You need to be ready at any time."
"Missiles, here? Can they hit us?"
Oh, dear. "They haven't hit anything yet. You'll be fine, Sir. Just follow the procedures and call me if you have any questions."
"I'm only going to be here a few hours..." He's repeating himself.
"Very good, Sir. Have a pleasant stay."
He gets his work done and leaves the area as quickly as he can.
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Tom Adams Tribute We received the following letter from Thomas Adams' aunt today:
Sir -
I really appreciate what you're doing in the weblog, and was touched and astounded at the response to your memorial to Tom Adams, who was my sister's son.
A buddy of Tom's asked us what we thought would be most appropriate to do - flowers, contributions, or what. They had some good ideas about a youth soccer league and so on, and those are wonderful things.
But the best gift anyone who knew Tom could possible give the family would be their memories of him: how they knew him, stuff they did with him, what they most liked and will miss about him. The good stuff, the funny stuff that we could put together into a book and give to my sister and her family.
Is there any chance you could put this request on your website? If you could, I'd be incredibly grateful. Notes should be sent to amm@bossys.com, which is a special mailbox I have set up for the purpose.
Thanks so much, and you all are certainly in our thoughts and prayers, all the time. Stay safe -
Aimee Masquelier Moran
With pleasure, Aimee.
The Management
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Moving On Ran into a member of my (now former) team today.
"How's it going?" I asked.
"Good, Sir," he replied. "Wish you weren't leaving the team."
"Thanks." I had to walk away. My eyes were watering.
Probably just the sand in the air.
TRANSMISSION FROM LT Smash 0056Z |
Indeed our government is frightened. Saddam is our common enemy and many Iranian soldiers died during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's. However, the Iranian regime is showing signs of sympathy toward the Iraqi governement and its army. They have no shame. Many of our fellow citizens were killed by Saddam's WMD. Hence, they support him indirectly in their speeches and infamous television programs. But the overwhelming majority of Iranians won't forget Saddam's crimes and support you and your troops in your combat for his removal from power.
May God bless you all. May God bless a free Iran and may God bless America.
May God free him from tyranny soon.
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