The insurgents lost honour because they killed so
many innocent people
Iraq, April 2007
Don't worry! Yes, almost everyday I drive the same road that the car bomb
exploded. One week before incident happened I noticed the drivers in their
cars on this stretch of road were acting differently so I changed my tactics.
Instead of driving in a regular column I would send three vehicles ahead to
do some blocking moves. We also flash our head lights and we have a flag in
the lead truck to wave at the vehicles. We do this when they are 400 meters
away. Good Iraqi drivers know to pull over to the side of the road. Once it
happen when the driver didn't so I thought he was car bomb - I had my gunner
shoots at him just next to his car with a red tracer bullet. This scared the
crap out of him and he pulled over.
Also, what paper didn't tell you is that everyone Marines, Army, and Iraqi
police knew car bomb was coming. People are so tired of war here so they
tell authorities about bad guys a lot in Ramadi area (not all the time but,
maybe 70%) So we were actively searching for this vehicle. Bad guys have
tried to blow up this police station three times because police are doing
such a good job. So this was the fourth time. The police saw the car coming
to their base and shot it and it exploded about 500 meters away from the
Police Station - it was a very big bomb. Unfortunately there were apartment
buildings with many families of the police men nearby. The explosion hit
those apartment buildings. So Iraqi people mostly Sunni are very mad - many
Police had their families wounded or hurt with chlorine gas.
On base they put a call out for all medical personnel to come to hospital
for mass casualty: we actually saved many lives that day. IT was a sad but,
good day because our security forces worked and our medical personal worked
hard to save people.
The insurgents lost honour because they killed so many innocent people. This
is the only significant attack in my AO since I have left - very different
from last time I was here. They are calling it the Al Anbar Awakening. Many
Shieks have united. They realized that Americans are not leaving. At first
the Sheiks supported the terrorists - this was when I was here last time and
it was all out gun battles and IED's and suicide bombings. Now Sheik
realizes Americans have money and power and are not leaving. So half of them
Sunni have decided to work with US to get rid of Terrorist. The other sheiks
still feel like their friends sheiks have sold out to Americans to they
fight each other. The good thing is the Sheik who work with Americans
receives lots of support to make strong police force and army. The Iraqi
police have better humvees with armour and guns then I did the last time I
was here!!!
They have found numerous IED's and stopped assassinations and arrested
terrorist who murder and intimidate families. I have see this with my own
eyes : half of my job is taking my boss to meet with four or five Police
captains and an Iraqi Army general to support them it is very rewarding to
see school open, hospital open, business open. OF course, half city is still
war zone but, so much progress has happened! My friends who died here did
not die in vain it moves me deeply I feel tear welling up in me as I type
this!
Please send this email out to as many people: church, Dad, Jason and Iona:
the media are a bunch of blood suckers who are too scared and too interested
in ratings to put their candy asses on the ground and actually see what is
happening in Ramadi. And I can only speak for this small part of Al Anbar. I
haven't shot my personal weapon once!
So I got care package! And I have Maxwell's drawing by my bed! And wondering
if you have received cameras or my post cards yet.
Please know I love you and pray for you each night for about 10 minutes. The
other 23 hour and 50 minutes are total dedication to my marines and our
mission and accomplishing job - total focus, absolute focus, ONE MInd and
Heart focus at studying my enemy and the terrain and using my Marines to
prevent them from attacking. And if they do attack us to use overwhelming
actions against them. I am committed 100% why - my love for you and family
and my Heavenly Father who must be happy at the „Al Anbar Awakening" because
these poor families are finally getting a small taste of normal life. How
much has Iraqi people suffered under Saddam and now insurgents, and their
unorganized sheiks and tribal elders. Now slowly these issues are being
resolves.
I have no reason to lie about these things. If it looks like a duck and
walks like a duck it is a duck. The worse thing to happen to me is crushing
my finger in the winch and dirt darting my rifle in mud water and having to
clean it 100 times a day!
Please pass on my biggest hellos and hugs to all and make sure this email is
passed around so people can know reality at least in Ramadi - Al Anbar and
not the "if it bleeds it reads" - " bash the war because its popular"
reporting mentality of this newspapers and TV stations.
With all of my Heart Mansay to you all.
Love, Justin
PS tell Dad that I am waiting for that Hoagie Haven trip when I return!
-----Original Message-----
From: YuriFFWPU@aol.com
To: YuriFFWPU@aol.com
Sent: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 2:10 AM
Subject: To Justin
Justin,
I know you are safe since you sent me an e-mail after I read the article
about Ramadi on North County Times. On Saturday paper, it said that 27
killed by truck bomb loaded with chlorine. I still worry for the chemical
effects that come later slowly.
I know that you can't tell me the detail, but I want to make sure that you
are OK. How is your left hand finger?
I sent another care package with pictures today. I hope you enjoy it. Did
you get letters from Maxwell and Reyna yet?
Love,
Yuriko