aka....leapoffaith

>

................cowboys,can make great marines, training camp starts early.

latest news or comments


**************************************************** HERE IS THE EMAIL I RECEIVED LAST NIGHT:


As I checked my email one last time before heading to bed,
I noticed I had a new message from Melissa (our daughter in-law).

Although,
as of 7:45 am on the 9th of April, I still have not heard my son's voice since Feb. 16th. when he called to let me know he was leaving for Iraqi in a day or two.
At this point in time,
NO NEWS is Good News for some of us.

Each day is the same struggles,
I fight back tears with prayers, nevertheless,
knowing
God Never Fails,
Keeps my spirits up.

Please keep not just my son LT. Robert Scott in your prayers, but all those that
keep the peace for others around the world and this country safe and free.

Semper Fi.
marine wife/mom in Chicago




***************Boys with Big Toys********><******************in the Philippines******what a smile! sorry you missed Christmas at home



***********************Now in Iraq 2004*******
<*Bo’ Rob’s Celebrity Hair cuts Now in Iraq**

****************Morgan's first birthday, I am so happy they came home here to have a party.

************Pappa and Lou share Birthday cake
Pappa is a proud retired Marine, a Viet Nam Vet. He makes the difference in my world for sure. Thank you for your service, I will be forever grateful.***********He also plays a kick ass lead guitar.>

******* The message from LT. CO. Paul Kennedy:

Dear Ladies, the last two days have been the hardest two days this battalion has faced in over 30 years. Within the blink of an eye the situation went form relatively calm to a raging storm. You've known that since arriving there has been violence; attacks have been sporadic and mostly limited to roadside bombs. Your husbands have become experts at recognizing those threats and neutralizing them before we are injured. Up to this point the war has been the purview of corporals and sergeants, and the squad they lead.

Yesterday the enemy upped the ante.

Early in the morning we exchanged gunfire with a group of insurgents without significant loss. As morning progressed, the enemy fed more men into the fight and we responded with stronger force. Unfortunately, this led to injuries as our Marines and sailors started clearing the city block by block. The enemy did not run; they fought us like soldiers. And we destroyed the enemy like only Marines can. By the end of the evening the local hospital was so full of their dead and wounded that they ran out of space to put them. Your husbands were awesome all night they stayed at the job of securing the streets and nobody challenged them as the hours wore on. They did not surrender an inch nor did flinch from the next potential threat. Previous to yesterday the terrorist thought that we were soft enough to challenge. As of tonight the message is loud and clear that the Marines will not be beaten.

Today the enemy started all over again, although with far fewer numbers, only now the rest of the battalion joined the fight. Without elaborating to much, weapons company and Golf crushed their attackers with the vengeance of the righteous. They filled up the hospitals again and we suffered only a few injuries. Echo company dominated the previous day's battlefield. Fox company patrolled with confidence and authority; nobody challenged them. Even Headquarters Company manned their stations and counted far fewer people openly watching us with disdain. If the enemy is foolish enough to try to take your men again they will not survive contact. We are here to win.

The news looks grim from back in the States. We did take losses that, in our hearts, we will always live with. The men we lost were taken within the very opening minutes of the violence. They could not have foreseen the treachery of the enemy and they did not suffer. We can never replace these Marines and Sailors but they will fight on with us in spirit. We are not feeling sorry for ourselves nor do we fear what tomorrow will bring. The battalion has lived up to its reputation as Magnificent Bastards.

Yesterday made everyone here stronger and wiser; it will be a cold day in Hell before we are taken for granted again.

Paul Kennedy and Jim Booker..........

***************************************************** Web Sites on Prepaid Calling Cards from Iraq:



- Telecom*USA offers a card with a Global Service Access number that can be used to call the United States from Iraq The rate for MinutePass is $0.53 per minute from Iraq to the United States. For more
information, please call 1-800-325-0754 or 1-800-777-5000 (to order a card). - AT&T offers global calling cards that allow deployed service members to call from Iraq from land or sea. For family members and friends that do not have access to the AAFES, the AT&T prepaid calling card may be a good bet. This card will work from Iraq, and can be purchased online or from a variety of retail stores such as Sam's Club. Unfortunately, the rates are not as low as the Global Prepaid Card. - AT&T offers a Global Military Saver Plus Calling Card for deployed service members to call from Iraq to the United States. This is not a prepaid card. The rate is about $0.50 per minute from Kuwait to the United States. A direct-billed calling card can be ordered online, or the card can be added to an existing AT&T home phone bill by calling 1-800-551-3131 extension 11406. - Callback services bypass the local telephone networks and allow you to call to any country from any country at discounted US prices and calling card convenience. - Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about. Okay MSgt Bonney here is the deal. Not everyone out here has phones right now as we set things up. Depending on the area, the MWR has phone centers/internet cafes were the Marine can purchase a phone card that gives good rates.13 hours for $25.00 roughly. That web address is given to Marines on their first visit to the center. www.cjtf7-mwr.net Again not everyone has it. As far as I know and have researched the AT&T or other cards will still work with the designated dsn to the rear with a 10 minute time limit. Why Marines are not calling home is depending on the Marine and his/her situation. Mail is taking 2-3 weeks to make the trip. At the internet cafes if folks have yahoo accounts it is a blessing. I showed Gy how to use the web cam. The technology out here is great. If people are not using it they either don't know they have it or don't have it in which case it is only a matter of time. I have found that people don't look for it unless they need it. Today was my first trip to a phone center since being in country to get the info for you because I do instant messenger at the cafe. Unfortunately not every Marine has the same set up as we do here. It will continue to get better. Subject: Military Phone Card Donation Program Military Phone Card Donation Program Goes Public The Department of Defense announced that any American can now help troops in contingency operations call home. The Defense Department has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed. The "Help Our Troops Call Home" program is designed to help servicemembers call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: - The Army and Air Force Exchange Service at: http://www.aafes.com/ - The Navy Exchange Service Command: http://www.navy-nex.com/ - The Marine Corps Exchange: http://www.usmc-mccs.org/ Click the "Help Our Troops Call Home" (or "Help Our Sailors Call Home") link. For more information, see: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040423-0646.html. For more ways to support our troops, go to: http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent1/0,,support_troops,00.html

God Bless

Semper Fi

marine mom/wife Nanna to 11