Posted on 10/23/2004 7:53:28 AM PDT by Coop
Hey there everyone,
...Today we woke up with a few mortar blasts that made our teeth rattle and then a incoming rocket to top things off. Most people would think that we would get our gear on and jump into a bunker........but not us. When things get bad here, we BBQ! We found some meat and grilled the afternoon away playing football between burgers. The bombs kept falling but the fun never stoped. It almost felt like home for a bit. Then we topped off the evening firing up the hukka on the roof and watched the flashes in the distance as coalition forces got some payback. Fortunatly our buddies in the sky took care of it for us this time.
My injuries are doing fine. The corpsmen have taken good care of me and I think I might even get out of this with a very minor scar. I was not that good looking to begin with so some shrapnel to the face really was not going to help the situation. This afternoon, people from all over the camp came to meet "The Luckiest Marine in Fallujah". The bad news is that this does not get me an early ticket home. I feel that I am very fortunate that I had such a close call and that I can still continue to work. We are still doing good things here and we will continue to help the people of Iraq until our last day in country.
Many of you have asked if I had a chance to vote. I mailed my absentee ballot three days ago. The Marines have done an excellent job in allowing us to have our say in the upcoming election. I have missed many of the debates and from what I understand, this may be a very close election. Only time will tell.
I explained the voting process to many of my Iraqii counterparts. They were fascinated that in America every individual has a voice. Regardless of race, religion, wealth or power. Many of them told me that they can only dream of the day when Iraq will have the same type of democracy. I hope that what we are doing here will help in the process. Sooooo, make sure you all get out and vote! Regardless of who you choose, just remember that the simple act of checking the little box is something that many would die for. We really are a great nation.
Well, I have rambled on enough. Thank you for all your responses and letters. They mean so much to us here. I hope everyone is good and I look forward to hearing from you. Take care. Peace in the Middle East.
-Todd
PS-I lost all the hair on my hands today. Could someone send some BBQ tools;-)
Bump for Todd.
Really nice tribute. Thanks
BTT
Todd, know that the average American respects and honors the job you are doing over there. Don't believe what you see on TV...we don't. We appreciate your sacrifices and know that although you'd rather be doing your BBQ in your own backyard that you will stay until the job is done and the Iraqi people have a good taste of freedom. Thank you from all of us.
I started a little Yahoo group The Hugs Project in June because I wanted to do more to convey our grateful thanks. We have a mission and that is to provide love and support to all Americans over in the Middle East. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehugsproject/ We can provide you with cooling ties, crocheted and knitted hats, slippers, neck warmers, care packages, letters, etc. If you know someone who is in need of a little TLC, please send me their address so that we can get a package out to them ASAP.
If any of the rest of you would like more info about joining us in our mission or helping us keep it going by sendind us some postage money (our biggest expense) please email me at thehugsproject@cox.net Thank you, K@ren
Very nice. Thanks for your post and for your excellent work supporting all the troos!
Coop, thanks for posting this letter. I sent it to my daughter who will send it out to her officemates. They all have adopted soldiers in Iraq.
Please give Todd (my son's name too) our regards. We hope he and others there stay low and come home safe.
I love that they try to keep the American traditions...bar BQing and all that. Send him and his fellow soldiers my thanks and appreciation. If the soldiers are smart enough to not want Kerry as their Commander In Chief, that's good enough for me.
Omaha Steaks?
These sound like your kind of people...
Can't say it any better than you just did.
We have Burger Kings and Pizza Huts on bases in Iraq, though.
These sound like your kind of people...
HAHA...we'd get in trouble for that, though. When we get hit, they make us gear up and go in the bunkers. Most of us mill around outside the bunker door, talking and having "Quarter 'til Mortar parties" until they bark at us to GET INSIDE NOW! LOL
Stay safe over there, Allegra. And I hope you're finding some time to get in an occasional barbecue!
Thank you, Todd.
Omaha steaks was my first thought, too. They have great stuff, and they ship it everywhere.
It would be terrific if someone set up an account with them so that we could just contribute some money and the steaks and burgers would flow.
Bump!
Thank you for your service, Todd. We are all very proud of you!
Thank you Todd, for your bravery and service.
Hopefully, this will convey how many grateful Americans stand behind you.
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