I am very happy that they are Marines because the Army
units here are done, sir done!

26 September 2007

Dear Robert & Sydelle,

Mansay! Very inspiring - yet Japanese style leadership which scares me - from North Virginia Church! I will be heading that way in July of 2008 so am trying to figure out who to connect with out there to carry on the spiritual heritage.

Anyway almost done here. My replacements are here and I am taking them out each day trying to get them schooled up on the atmosphere, key terrain, important local sheiks, and all the routes. I am very happy that they are Marines because the Army units here are done sir done!

The Army unit helping to secure the city of Ar Ramadi has been extended twice first at their 12 month mark then at the 15 month to a 16 month tour. They were the unit responsible for guarding Sheik Sattar - anyway I have stopped putting down the Army and started feeling for compassion for them as they don't get the training or have the aggressive spirit d'ecorps we have. (Also we only hit it for 7 months and then rotate, as opposed to their double that plus a month on top of it all!) It really is just too much for an 18 year old kid to digest - that's my opinion anyway: they just shut down and stop caring, that leads to complacency which leads to casualties and a break down of trust between the Iraqi people.

The city here has changed dramatically and our battalion knock on wood has not suffered a KIA to date. We have three more days of operations outside the wire so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

So is it possible to find out the pastor from NOVA church? And perhaps send that to Yuriko? I am limited on e-mail access currently.

Please give a big hello to Walter and Suyappa and Everyone!!! Thank you so much for your prayers and God Willing as the Iraqis say "IN SHALLAH" will be home maybe the first week of October!

Look forward to seeing you upon RTB (return to base) that is Base America, California Sector!

Love,

Justin