As Marines go home, Bulgarians keep city secure [Karbala, Iraq]

Marine Link thru Defend America ^ | August 26, 2003 | Army Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Spc. Kibbey, let me first say THANK YOU. You do good work.

I especially enjoyed this Christmas "gift":

8 Toppled Saddam statues reborn as memorial for U.S. soldiers ~ Killeen Daily Herald  | 12/23/03 | Spc. Benjamin R. Kibbey

Thank you for sharing your observations, as well. We hear little from the Multi-national forces down south ~ except for an occassional piece from CJTF7 or CENTCOM.

I'm just a civilian who is fortunate enough to have the time to find and share the good stuff ~ like yours ~ with others, show a few other naive civilians what our troops are made of, and what they're accomplishing.

You will find many kindred spirits at FR...including a few Marines... though heaven knows why you would choose to abandon the Fourth Infantry Division ~ miss all the action around Saddam's hometown ~ just to join the Marines. (^:

[NormsRevenge]

Bless these young men and women that serve their country so proudly.

Happy New Year!

[SandRat]

But, ... but, ... how can this be? Sens. Clinton, Kerry, Gephart, Kennedy, Cong Rangle, Pelosi, et. al tell us that the troop[s are demoralized and we are losing. </sarcasm

Great EMail!

[SandRat]

Welcome to FR and welcome home. Keep working to get those GOOD Stories out there so that we be over with this action and bring the rest of the troops home for a BIG CELEBRATION for all of them.

Again Welcome Home!

[jslade]

Tell me again why we need UN troops in Iraq?

Tell me, what exactly are "UN" troops? Cameron, Zaire, Haiti. The UN has NO troops.

[Spc. Kibbey]

Well, not quite home yet. I'm actually up North with 4ID, but that's alright because it seems those wonderful guys in I MEF will be back here about the time I'm heading home. I will celebrate when I get home, but I will always remember (and I am sure you and many others here most likely share this sentiment) that it will be a very long time before the last American soldier comes home. Even if there is a day when we are no longer needed here, I have no illusions that there will most likely be other places where the men and women of the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force will be called on to serve their nation and freedom. If there is a day in my lifetime then the last of our heroes comes home, a day when there is no more war to fight, no more threat to ourselves and to the freedom of any, when that day comes I will celebrate as no one has before. I will cry until I have no more tears, and I will cheer until I have no more voice. I can dream of no better day than when the last soldier comes marching home.

[Spc. Kibbey]

Well, it's hard to put into words why I like the Marines; you have to serve beside them to know why.
I want to say, I first came across Free Republic when I did a google search to see where all my stories were ending up. You have no idea how awsome it is for someone in my shoes to see my work getting not only read but discussed. I am a journalism student, and hope to work as a civilian reporter someday. I view the job of a journalist as that of the light-operater on the stage of life. In the scope of journalism there are some with spotlights, and mine is not much more than a small flashlight, but I have considered myself fortunate to be able to point my little light onto the people and events I have been able to while here. It's nice to know that someone is seeing them. I am an Army journalist, and so I ultimately have to do some stories because I am directed to, but most of what I have written about is things that touched me, and I wanted them to touch others.
People today will go so far looking for heroes, and here I have met more than I imagined I would in a lifetime.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

People today will go so far looking for heroes, and here I have met more than I imagined I would in a lifetime.

I can very much relate, even from afar. Watching our troops in action on the way to Baghdad was a revelation for this civilian. So was the post-911 politicization of the war by our free press.

The troops need you to be with them in Iraq at this time, Spc. Kibbey, to represent them accurately, honorably (imho).

I am an Army journalist, and so I ultimately have to do some stories because I am directed to, but most of what I have written about is things that touched me, and I wanted them to touch others.

You do. Thank you.
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We'd be glad to add your name to the FR troop prayer thread ...along with the names of any fellow Soldiers - or Marines - any time. For private messages on FR ("Freepmail"),  just click the "Private Reply"  next to "Post Reply."

[SandRat]

Well, when you get the chance to have an adult beverage why not adopt an old Greek custom and after raising your glass to toast fallen brothers pour a little bit out onto the ground to quench their thirst. A brother's love never dies and we are all brothers in arms. Stay safe!