An Email from Iraq....

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - An Email from Iraq....

Posted: 10/31/2004 4:16:47 AM EDT

One of my Marines left the unit to go over with another unit. He is also an Infantry Officer, and here is what he has to say....

Hey sir,
How's it going back in Jersey? Things are pretty good here. We've been
keeping busy so time is flying by. The cowards we're fighting avoid direct
confrontations so most of the trouble comes from IEDs, what a pain in the
ass. I don't know if you've been following any of the action here, but 2/24
is making a name for it's self, and a pretty good one too. Intell reports
show that the bad guys think we have an Israeli army unit with us cause we
seem to be everywhere.
They didn't give me a gig as a platoon commander (I'm never surprised by
that kind of stuff) cause they needed an MTO. Most of the time I run
convoys all over the place so it's not a bad job. My section is doing
really well and the staff is very pleased, so much so that no one gets angry
with me when I yell at one of the four hundred Majors we have here for
making my job more difficult, which happens less and less.
Morale is pretty high and, at least for us, it's been more fun than
problematic. We work hard but we get so much done that the satisfaction
level is high.
There are some rumors about 2/25 getting back in the fight. If it's true,
I only have one piece of advice, vehicles vehicles vehicles. The companies
need licensed 7-ton drivers, good motor-t reps who do PMs and training with
vehicle at night. We barely have the assets to handle the ops tempo. If we
take a few casualties, we'll be behind the power curve and never get ahead.
That would greatly reduce the ops capabilities of the whole battalion. This
is a road war and the Marine Corps as a whole wasn't prepared (most of the
truck company guys are on their second pump and many will see a third,
there's a mass exodus out of the MOS because of it, at least that's what my
Staff NCOs are telling me) so any work up for this theater has to be vehicle
intensive so you don't learn this lesson in country like we did.
By the way. I've run into a lot of truck guys who were attached to 2/25
during OIF I and they say nothing but good things. Maj ****** has a
particularly good reputation. Jersey Rules!!! woooo! (New York too I
guess).
Well, I gotta get going. I'll see you in a few months. I'm sure I'll
have plenty of tales of high adventure.

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:26:59 AM EDT

[#1]

btt

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:31:33 AM EDT

[#2]

prayers are with him, hope he and the rest make it back home safe!!!

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:32:51 AM EDT

[#3]

Happy to hear the morale is high and everyone is motivated. Thanks for the info.

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:35:42 AM EDT

[#4]

A big thanks to him and all of our troops!

God bless, and come home safe.

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:40:18 AM EDT

[#5]

I always enjoy reading about these guys. I have a buddy who is a company commander with the 1st Marines and he got back from Fallujah in October. He said that his guys morale was "over the top" .

Keep up the good work guys.

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:42:45 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:

There are some rumors about 2/25 getting back in the fight.

Yikes!!

Not again! Twice is enough for me!

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:57:11 AM EDT

[#7]

How come I'm not reading stories like this on CNN, LATimes, NYTimes etc?

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:00:59 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
How come I'm not reading stories like this on CNN, LATimes, NYTimes etc?

Silly - it's because Bush lied.

Get with the program - okay?

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:03:05 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Quoted:

There are some rumors about 2/25 getting back in the fight.

Yikes!! Not again! Twice is enough for me!

Oh c'mon now.

Well, IF you have the option of getting out... you have about a year to decide.
Or less.

It'll be fun.
Better than a Year in LeJeune

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:05:19 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

There are some rumors about 2/25 getting back in the fight.

Yikes!! Not again! Twice is enough for me!

Oh c'mon now.

It'll be fun.
Better than a Year in LeJeune.

LOL. Can't argue that. Even an enema would be preferable to a year at CLNC..

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:11:41 AM EDT

[#11]

Another post that is going to piss Cavvet off.

Every time he hears about a shortage of truck drivers in theater he starts to shake violently

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:27:07 AM EDT

[#12]

Keep up the good work! Thanks for your service!

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:34:53 AM EDT

[#13]

thanks for sharing that with us! good info!

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:42:33 AM EDT

[#14]

Thats a good Man right there !!

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:46:54 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:

There are some rumors about 2/25 getting back in the fight.

Yikes!! Not again! Twice is enough for me!

Oh c'mon now.

It'll be fun.
Better than a Year in LeJeune.

LOL. Can't argue that. Even an enema would be preferable to a year at CLNC..

What would be worse, would be to substitute for a UDP unit, and go to Oki for a year.
THAT would be worse.

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:50:21 AM EDT

[#16]

This is a road war and the Marine Corps as a whole wasn't prepared (most of the
truck company guys are on their second pump and many will see a third,
there's a mass exodus out of the MOS because of it, at least that's what my
Staff NCOs are telling me) so any work up for this theater has to be vehicle
intensive so you don't learn this lesson in country like we did.

See? John Kerry was right. President Bush sent our men into harm's way without adequate equipment.

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:51:33 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

What would be worse, would be to substitute for a UDP unit, and go to Oki for a year.
THAT would be worse.

Ouch! That will hurt even worse. Hopefully, if we go back to the sandbox, we get the winter 'package'. Two summer tours over there is definitely enough for me. I'm in need of a change (in ambient temp)...

Posted: 10/31/2004 11:14:17 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Quoted:
How come I'm not reading stories like this on CNN, LATimes, NYTimes etc?

Silly - it's because Bush lied.

Get with the program - okay?

Oh! Silly me!

Posted: 10/31/2004 11:18:34 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:

What would be worse, would be to substitute for a UDP unit, and go to Oki for a year.
THAT would be worse.

Ouch! That will hurt even worse. Hopefully, if we go back to the sandbox, we get the winter 'package'. Two summer tours over there is definitely enough for me. I'm in need of a change (in ambient temp)...

I hate to bring you down, but it'll become Summer eventually during the deployment

, no matter WHERE it is...

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - An Email from Iraq....

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