A Soldiers Blog

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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
too 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

I'm wishing you all the joy
that Easter can bring,
a day when you'll find
happiness in everything.
May it be a day of warm
memories to share,
with enough sunshine
to make you forget your cares.
On Easter Day,
I'll say a prayer for you,
in hopes that your fondest
dream will come true.


Have a fabulous Easter!