Date:

May 30, 2008 2:34:26 PM CDT

Subject:

Updates from 1st Sgt Wells & The 3/4

Greetings to all the friends and family of Weapons Company 3/4. I would like to take a moment to update you on what your Marines have been doing in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  This year, the way in Iraq has proven to be a very different challenge than what we have historically seen.  Now, the fight here has shifted from a high intensity fight to a low intensity campaign. now are Marines are fully engaged in assisting the locals in establishing safe  neighborhoods and restoring infrastructure and building a strong government. By helping our Iraqi neighbors to build strong stable communities, the Marines of Weapons Company are ensuring that the insurgency will not regain a foothold once we leave.

 

One of the missions that Weapons Company routinely carries out is finding and destroying IED's and weapons caches. It takes a lot of manpower, time and money to get a lot of the sophisticated explosives into Iraq that some of the insurgents are using now. Anytime we find a destroy a cache, it makes it harder on the insurgency to carry out their fight against Coalition Forces. I get a great satisfaction in seeing the big, beautiful plume of smoke as it climbs skyward after a big weapons cache is demolished. Of course, the Marine side of me just likes seeing things go "BOOM". This week, Weapons Company was actively engaged in assisting EOD in detonating several large weapons caches. Weapons company has a symbiotic relationship with EOD. We provide security for them while they blow up the caches that we find. Our travels with EOD take us to new and exciting places. Each of these EOD Marines have been in the Marine Corps for less than 8 years but they have the lives of 15 young men in their care. A mistake on their part could cost lives.

 

Your Marines have truly represented their country well. Please take a moment to drop these marines a post card or just a few kind words from home. It makes their day to see that someone back home is thinking about them. I post your letters and cards in a place where all the Marines can see them. I can't count the amount of times that I have caught a young Marine just staring at the letters. For some of these young patriots, you are their only link to home. Some of them have very little family if any at all. Some of these Marines have received no packages in the nearly 3 months that we have been in Iraq. Thanks to you and the wonderful packages that have begun to arrive here, these Marines are seeing how much you all back home really appreciate their service.

Thank  you and God Bless You
 
R/s 1st Sgt Wells
 
"Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share"  -

Ned Dola

n

Dear Sgt. Grit,

I wrote this last week, thinking of mother's day and having one of my children in a strange and faraway land. I had a delivery person come in and ask me who was in the picture on my counter, when I said my son, he asked where he was, when I said Iraq, he said (I kid you not), "That's no place to be, that's not good. We shouldn't even be there."

I then said to him, "Well, HE thinks it is and THAT'S what counts."

 The guy stayed in my lobby waiting for a ride for another 20 minutes and never said one more word. I just began seething. THIS is what became of my anger. To all the Sgt. Grit readers, please feel free to pass it around to anyone you think might need to read it. It is my creation, I can only hope someone who is feeling like I was that day can gain some strength from the words. Anyone who wishes to use it or pass it on, is more than welcome to. 

I

am a Marine's Mom 



I proudly display my son's picture for all to see it is on the counter where I work, it is the most conspicuous on the wall at home. 

I am the woman you see in line at the store who has an American Flag pin, a "My Son is a Marine pin", and a red, white & blue ribbon with the blue service star in the middle. 

I am the person driving the car that is in front of you with the magnets that say "Support Our Troops", Proud Parent of a Marine, and a blue service star, a yellow ribbon attached to the top of my antenna. 

I am the one with the grocery cart full of cereal bars, beef jerky, flavorings and additives for water, Twizzlers, Jolly Ranchers, and Skittles so my son and his fellow Marine brothers can have a little piece of home while in a strange and far away country. 

I am the person you see carrying boxes to the Post Office so my son and his fellow Marine brothers know there are people in the states that support them. 

I am the one you see with tears in my eyes whenever "The Star Spangled Banner" is played or sung before a ball game. 

I am the one that has tears in my eyes when the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag is said. 



When you see my son's picture when you come into my place of business and ask me who it is and where he is, please understand, this is MY SON

. 



Please do not tell me we shouldn't be there. We are.  Please do not tell me the latest injury reports, the casualties, bombings and shootings. I know this, it is always in the back of my mind Please do not tell me the war is because of the President. This is my son's boss. I will not speak ill of him for whatever reason Please do not say that's no place to be, my son is there, he's serving our country, he would rather be home safe with his family, but he has a duty

Please do not say "I'm sorry", I'M NOT, my son volunteered to protect his country. You should say, "You must be very proud of him." 



Please do not tell me you know how I feel, unless you are a military parent, spouse, child, or fiancée, you have NO clue what I feel

Please just tell me "Your son is in my prayers."

There can never be enough prayers going up for our military or my son or me 



I am the Mother of a Marine, this is my daily routine



Mentally calculating the time difference half way around the world. Accepting that my son is now MY protector Reaching across the ocean with my love, hoping my son feels the extra boost In the dead of night, waking up and saying a prayer for his safety and peace of mind - Never letting my son see the tears in my eyes or hear the catch in my voice whenever he leaves home or ends a phone call Enduring those moments when I am not as strong as I think I should be 

Making it through each day by the grace of God - Opting to work extra hours or volunteer more than I used to trying to keep my mind occupied - Trying to smile even when I haven't heard from my son for days or weeks on end Holding onto the Marine Corps motto of "Semper Fi", hoping I can keep the faith - Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, praying God is with my son and will bring him home to me safely -  Rejoicing and shouting so all my coworkers know it is my son who is on the telephone. 

written by Rhonda Elliott - 05/09/08
PROUD Marine Mom
LCpl Kristopher Hill USMC-deployed

Dianne is a Personal Trainer in Tampa, FL who connected me with the Unit of Marines in Iraq that I 'adopted' and am sending the Support Boxes to.... Jodi

We have cracked the code to all of your unwanted weight gains. Combat Out Post Hades! Aka Club Hades. Yes, that's right for only a short duration (7 months) in Hades you can loose unthinkable amounts of undesirable weight. We won't have to thrash you in true Marine Corps fashion to get you to loose those unwanted pounds, NOOOOO will simply let you hang out with us.

 

Sorry, no TV or many social events scheduled in Hades just long days and plentiful sunshine and heat. So all of you Salsa dancers are out of luck because you're going on patrol.  Perfect form fitting body armor (not) and fashionable Kevlar helmets are the rage, all the cool kids are wearing them.  You will begin your weigh loss program feeling the cool 95 degree sun rays beating down on you around 5 AM. By 0800 it will be over 110. Don't fret that silly hot air blowing in your face, it helps with the skin cleansing sand paper factor.  Here at Hades we encourage large amounts of water consumption otherwise, you will die. Frankly our fist aide and mouth to mouth isn't all what its cracked up to be so when you go vertical from your kidneys shutting down, you are on your own.

 

 Eating isn't a real problem, oh we have plenty of chow, T-Rats and MREs are the rage and for fine cuisine we will BBQ spiced with the nature dirt that adds minerals to your system (as if you haven't already been eating enough dirt). Don't worry about fist size proportions because of the heat you really wont feel like eating and you gut will be full of water.  

 

To ensure you get your minimal exercise, a couple brisk laps around COP Hades will ensure those hard to lose sections will be burnt off. Just about the time the sun crazy dog decides to chase you from the local village your heart rate will automatically shoot up and the pounds will slip away……….or you get bit. Rabies isn't that bad (snicker) . To add to your basic beginner workout we wouldn't want to cheat you out of your experience so not if, but when, the sand fleas begin feasting on your flesh, your continuous scratching of your skin until it's raw will tone and shape your already slim body enhancing that "Hey I'm super thin, I must have a parasite" physique look.  You will be the envy at every cocktail party!

 

Sleep is for the cub scouts so as you are burning the midnight hours, our scientifically M&M coffee brewed combination will escalate your sugar levels through the ceiling. Now that's a supplement to experience at Club Hades AND its free. But remember, you kill the "joe" YOU make some MO! We don't require you to purchase a membership or spend your money on high priced "required" supplements, oh no, eat that snicker bar before it melts, your life may depend on it!! Just in case you have that extra hard to lose weight loss problem our genetically cultured poop flies will most likely land on your chow, face, mouth and try to fly up your nose on several occasions throughout the day and they bring that special punch that will keep you running to the restroom a couple times a day. See you're already losing your appetite and weight reading this! Your welcome! That's the least we can do for you at Club Hades, so join now!

 

Time for a Cigar, M&Ms and coffee!!!

Friends and family of Weapons Company, this has been a great week! Today we received our first round of packages from some of you. The Marines poured through the contents immediately and, I am happy to say that there was not a single item untouched. The boys loved the pictures and notes that some of you included in your boxes. It was like a big adventure for some of them to get to open a box. Some of these Marines haven't received a box from anyone yet and we have been here nearly 3 months. Thank you all so much for your support of these patriots. It is truly an honor to serve with each and every one of them.

Weapons company was had a pretty busy week. The Marines are spread out over a large area, so they stay busy. This week the Marines were engaged in conducting a census of a local town. This is always a good opportunity to engage with the locals and speak with them about current issues. If we are in an area long enough, the locals will often slaughter some lambs for us and fix dinner for the Marines. Since coming to Iraq, I have eaten so much lamb that I believe my hair is beginning to curl. The Iraqis love having us here because we provide security for their communities. Security is a commodity that Iraqis never had a lot of under Sadaam. They now see the value of having Marines in their neighborhood and they're quick to show us gratitude. We truly are welcomed here.

 

One common site on patrol is hordes of small children. They know that Marines like giving them candy and other goodies so they always flock to the patrols when they see us coming. Though these kids are poor, they are very rich in spirit. They gather around any Marine that will give them some attention. They often come up to us and try to trade little items (like home made slingshots) with the Marines for some of the Marines' equipment.  We also enjoy giving them small toys, so, feel free to send one or two each time you send a package.

Our boys really appreciate the support that each of you provide.  We realize how much of your tim

e is dedicated to supporting the troops and you make a HUGE difference. Receiving packages from you reminds the Marines that home is still right where they left it. You give them some stability in an area where there is very little to be had - Thank you so much  

R/S 1sgt Wells