| From a friend and brother in Iraq.
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 1:10 PM
Subject: The End of a Remarkable and Historic Day
Today was truly remarkable. We're hearing some amazing stories of bravery from today. We saw truth winning over lies. We witnessed life winning over death. We watched people who have been yearning to have the freedom of a choice make that choice. We experienced good victorious over evil. We witnessed answers to many prayers and God's hand in control. The day did not go without incident mind you. There were mortars, bombs, machine gun fire and suicide bombers to deal with. Can you imagine going to vote and having mortars reign down on you?Unbelievable courage was abundant today. The people of Mahmudiyah and the Iraqi Army soldiers were seen waving Iraqi flags and shouting, "We won! We won!" Tears flooded up in the local Iraqi commander's eyes as I talked with him tonight and congratulated him and his soldiers on their bravery and courage to stand up to the terrorists over the last 6 months. They made this happen just as much as the Marines did.
When we first arrived in country we couldn't get these guys out the front gate of their base. For the past 2 months they have been conducting operations along side of Marines and independently. They have lost over 35 soldiers and over 130 have been wounded. They have certainly paid the price for all Iraqis to have the choice of freedom.
Nearly 15,000 people turned out to vote from the 3 small towns we were responsible for. The polls opened at 7:00am and the first to arrive was a man in his 60's who arrived at 7:01am and said that he couldn't sleep last night because of the chance to vote. The percentage of eligible Iraqis to vote was astonishing - 72%! We all predicted that it would be more than the US. It's both humbling and amazing.
Not a single Marine in the Battalion was injured. A few Iraqi soldiers were injured when a mortar landed in the courtyard of a school that was serving as a polling center. One Iraqi election official was injured when glass broke as a result of the explosion of the rounds. The corpsman insisted that he should go to the hospital to get stiched up. However, this gentlemen insisted that he carry out his duties and stayed throughout.
His will and resolve would not be broken. He said that he would not let the terrorists win by him going to the hospital.
This day is so satisfying for the Marines of the Battalion. We're ony 2/3 of the way done though. We have to get the election workers home safely and clean up the polling sites. Tomorrow will be as dangerous if not more than today as vehicle traffic will be back in full swing. With that brings the cars that are loaded with explosives looking for a convoy or patrol. Our job is not done here. There are many tasks that remain for us to finish.
There are plenty of terrorists and insurgents that lurk in the shadows seeking a time and place to strike.
I want to thank each and every one of you who prayed for the efforts, safety and vigilance of the Marines today. Thank you for asking God to protect us -He did. Thank you for supporting us with your will and resolve. The enemy knows that as soon as the American public starts pressuring its politicians to bring home the military, he has won. The enemy's target is your will and resolve and his battlefield is the media. Thanks for standing with us and making us stronger. I look forward to shaking your hands and thanking you in person for the outstanding support throughout this time. We go on the offensive this next week. We will not let the terrorists and insurgents rest. Pray that we find them and deal with them swiftly.
Semper Fidelis,
Major W (Name withheld by Snipet)
Psalm 18:29-42
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Hand of God! That's what I was saying all day. How anyone couldn't see it, well, I just don't know. God's hand is what kept the whole of Iraq from turning into a fire pot.
I have much faith that Iraq will turn around and the savages will be destroyed.
Hen