Subject: [SpecialOperationsWar] from a Marine Gunnery Sergeant in Iraq.
from a Marine Gunnery Sergeant in Iraq. It was sent two days ago:
Just wanted to write to you and tell you another story about an
experience we had over here.
As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here and
several people (Americans that support us) sent them over by the box. On
each patrol we take through the city, we take as many toys as will fit
in our pockets and hand them out as we can. The kids take the toys and
run to show them off as if they were worth a million bucks. We are as
friendly as we can be to everyone we see, but especially so with the
kids. Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are
completely innocent in all of this.
On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of
the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following
vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported a
little girl sitting in the road and said she just would not budge. The
command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as
they did. The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and so they
waved to her as they drove around.
As the vehicles went around her, I soon saw her sitting there and in her
arms she was clutching a little bear that we had handed her a few
patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed
that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused and I got out
the make sure she was OK. The little girl looked scared and concerned,
but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to
her, she moved over and pointed to a mine in the road.
Immediately a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive
posture around the site. The mine was destroyed in place.
It was the heart of an American that sent that toy. It was the heart of
an American that gave that toy to that little girl. It was the heart of
an American that protected that convoy from that mine. Sure, she was a
little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty
or fruited plains. It was a heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace
and grace, even through the inconveniences of conflict that saved that
convoy from hitting that mine. Those attributes are what keep Americans
hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United
States, but she knows what it is to be brave and if we can continue to
support her and her new government, she will know what it is to be free.
Isn't that what Americans are, the free and the brave?
If you sent over a toy or a Marine (US Service member) you took part in
this. You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future.
Thank you so much for supporting us and for supporting our cause over
here.
Semper Fi,
Mark
GySgt / USMC
Topic: Here is a cool story from Iraq. Keep those toys coming! (Read 1149 times)