A Letter From a Mother of a Marine in Iraq

email | 9/21/04

[reformed_dem]

First of all let me say I am sorry if this letter will offend any of you but it is heavy on my heart and has been for quite a while so please forgive me if my opinion offends any of you.

As the Mother of a Marine now fighting DAILY in Iraq I have to tell you how I feel and why the thought of Kerry getting elected frightens me beyond anyone's imagination. I am a Mother, and President Bush is our son's Commander in Chief. Some of you may disagree but I for one believe President Bush is doing a good job. How many of you could make the decisions he's made yet some of you judge him for those tough decisions. Do not believe for one minute that he enjoys putting any of our military in harms way.

Senator Kerry has taken away many things from our military and in my opinion has not been very supportive of them and it is those decisions Kerry has made in the past that makes it worse for our military. When I hear someone, ANYONE, say, "we just need to bring them all home" it feels like a knife in my heart. It feels that way because Larry and I both believe our son and all the others there are fighting for a good cause and a reason. We believe in what they do and what they are there for.

You can come up with all the reasons you want about why they shouldn't be there but that's really beside the point. The point is they ARE there and they need our support and prayers. I already know Mom's who have lost their sons in this war and to tell them that they died for no reason or that our son and my many friend's son put their life on the line each day for nothing is ridiculous. When I hear Senator Kerry speak this is what I hear. I am afraid if he was to get elected my son as well as all our military that is already over there will be in much more danger then they already are.

Also I would like to share a good point a Marine in the same unit as my son, 2/5 said during a news interview shortly before leaving for Iraq. They asked him about the upcoming election. He said well I feel if Bush wins we pretty much already know what our future holds. But, if Kerry wins who knows what might happen. He said, I'm scheduled to be in Iraq for seven months, if Kerry wins he has already talked about not sending anymore troops to Iraq. So does that mean I will end up having to stay even longer then my usual tour?

When I as A Mother heard this on the news my heart sank because that thought never came to me. Our son Luke will be in Iraq until April so does this mean OUR son will NOT get to come home for who knows how long if Kerry should get elected if his plan is to NOT send any new troops. Who will take the place of the Marines and other military already there? I have to say I pray daily that President Bush will win this upcoming election and I will admit I'm not an extremely political person but I just know that as a Mother the thought of Senator Kerry being our son's Commander in Chief makes me cringe. I have to say I do NOT feel he is the right man for the job. I do feel I have some right to speak my mind since our son is in the Marines and he is after all one of many fighting for OUR freedom.

Before you even think it, do not believe that this war has NOTHING to do with OUR freedom because it does. How would any of you feel if this war was happening on our own soil here in the USA? Can any of you honestly say or believe you do not feel these people are terrorists? If given the chance these terrorists have and will do as much harm as they possibly can. Let's not forget 9-11.

Please, as the Mother of a Marine I cannot recommend strongly enough that you vote for President BUSH. Feel free to pass along this letter to anyone you wish. Thank you, and please continue to pray for our troops.

Sincerely, xxxxxxx

[ASOC]

And at the risk of being flamed

If you do nothing else, get on your knees tonight and say a paryer for a Marine (or airman, or soldier).

Our sons Marine unit is near the end of thier tour and not hearing from them is the worst, and multiple extentions in country come in second....

I now feel bad about my not writing home while I was in - but I did call mom and apoligize.....

[Carriesfirst1]

I would like to thank ALL of you for your support and my friend for passing my letter on to all of you.

I wrote the letter because it helped me to get out all my feelings I have about these issues.

I have sent my letter along with all of your comments to the 1st.Sgt. of our son's company. Golf 2/5.

Thank you again and VOTE BUSH.

[reformed_dem]

No flames coming from me. I pray every night for all our servicemen and women in Afghanistan and Iraq especially.

[shield]

bmp for others to read!!!

[Carriesfirst1]

What a small world Larry and I met you and your wife in S.D. when we went to say our goodbyes. I wrote you on the other board.

Carrie

[reformed_dem]

Carrie, you joined! Welcome aboard!

[is_is]

Carrie,

Did you post or email me?

My email has been down so ihaven't been able to check it since yesterday.

[PigRigger]

For every death I hear of in Iraq I feel a profound sense of loss. Our troops and their families have sacrificed an enormous amount over these past three years; I suspect that will not change going forward.

We as a nation should never lose site of why we have asked them to put their lives on the line. We are at war, the next few years will dictate how brutal the next half century will be for all of us.

All of us should be prepared for some very long days; victory never comes without a terrible cost being had. We should also be prepared to assist our soldiers and their families while they serve at home or abroad.

The debt of gratitude we owe them can never be measured solely in dollars and cents. It must be returned in kind by not wavering during the harshest of times, by having a steadfast commitment to supporting them through words, deeds and prayer.

Regardless who is our President, we should hold them to highest ideals of never putting our troops, America's children, in unnecessary danger. We should demand that not one is injured, no one false in battle in vain.

I am humbled by those who voluntarily serve to keep this great nation safe. I also take great pride in knowing they not only represent my country, but my family and I as well.

Godspeed and God Bless to all of them and their families.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

This might be a good place to link another story concerning a marine in Iraq.

The staff sergeant named in the editorial is my son-in-law.

Mind you this article, albeit a small newspaper, appeared in Massachusetts.

Read HERE. This ran recently in the Blackstone Valley Tribune.

[Carriesfirst1]

I actually e-mailed you.

Carrie

[Carriesfirst1]

Thank you for sharing it with me. :)

[Carriesfirst1]

I don't think this went through before so I will try again. THANK YOU for sharing this with me and sending me the link so I could join. I cannot begin to express how much ALL of you have lifted my spirits with your support. Please continue to pray for all the troops.

Thank you again. Carrie

[reformed_dem]

My pleasure. Stick around. Whenever you're feeling particularly stressed or down, there's always FReepers who will support you, or share similar stories, or even just let you "rant". You may even find that you'll move from the "not so political" category to the "extremely political" category without even realizing the transition. Where do you think I've gotten some of the material I send you? ;^)

[Carriesfirst1]

Thank you and I do plan to stick around I've even shared the site with some friends so we will more then likely be hearing from them as well.

[mrsjohnson690]

great letter ....we are all praying for Luke.

[mrsjohnson690]

Thanks for posting that great letter.

[Carriesfirst1]

Why thank you Mrs. Johnson. ;) WElCOME.

[LakeLady]

Dear Marine Mama,
We are ever grateful to your son and to you and your family for the sacrifices you are making to help keep the world free from terror's madmen.

Please tell your brave son that there are so many of us who support and appreciate him and his co-patriots. We will never forget all they have gone through for us.

Bless y'all,
LakeLady

[Carriesfirst1]

Thank you I will. :)

[Carriesfirst1]

Thank you and I pray that you are right about Bush.