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May 13, 2004
Report from the front lines
In contrast to wars in the past, the internet has kept our troops in contact with family and friends at home. We live for those messages, and pictures are the icing on the cake. This is an update from Col. Tucker who is deployed with RCT-7 (includes 3/11 and 3/4 Marines) in Iraq.
When the Swan Island ESB opened their doors last fall for Marine Family Day, we saw models of the latrines - plywood seats, albeit painted and as pretty as they could make them. Check out the picture below - perhaps we should include toilet seats in our care packages from now on.
The best part of this letter is the first paragraph, "These have been quiet days. There are no sacrifices to remember at the end of this letter." Quiet is good.
From the Commanding Officer, Col. C.A.Tucker, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT-7)12 May 2004
These have been quiet days. There are no sacrifices to remember at the end of this letter.
April and the early days of May were busy for the RCT. As mid-April approached 3d Bn 4th Marines transited from the RCT-7 area of operations to the vicinity of Fallujah, followed on April 15 by the RCT-7 Forward Headquarters, 2d Bn 7th Marines, and 1st LAR Bn. 3d Bn 7th Marines remained in Al Qaim/Husaybah, and we entered a 2-3 week period of combat operations designed to destroy this scum. Don't know if he has gone to ground, or if he is soundly defeated…the next few weeks will tell…but he is most certainly thrashed. And now resorting to the tactics of the cowardly. If any of you ever doubted there were terrorists here, the images of the young American beheaded by these bastards should remove all doubt.
But these have been quiet days. The RCT Forward, 2/7, 1st LAR are back at Al Asad or Al Qaim, 3/ 4 returns to us tomorrow, and following their victory in the Battle of Husaybah 17-19 April 2004, 3/7 has enjoyed relative quiet in their area of operations.
I'm getting beat up about the picture thing…I failed in the expectation management arena the first time I ever sent a picture out; I should never have let on I knew how to use a digital camera. So, lots of pictures today, but don't get greedy.
I spent about 4 days with 3/7 in Husaybah this week. During my time there the battalion conducted a battalion level patrol across the ground they fought on 17-19 April. This time, however, they were distributing soccer balls, school supplies, and candy: an active reminder to the people of Husaybah that we realize they are victimized by the terrorists and mostly mean us no harm. This first series of pictures was taken that day:
To see the pictures and Col. Tucker's commentary, click on the Continue Reading link below.
This photo was taken from the roof of a company patrol base and shows a great deal of the ground fought over on 17-19 April. View is to the northwest. 
This house--- known as "the crack house" during the battle and the scene fierce fighting--- is thought to have been the terrorists headquarters. The large white house in the background-nicknamed "the white house" during the fight, anchored the southern line of the enemy. 
And just down the road on the day I was there, Marines handing out soccer balls and school supplies…. The Marine in the right foreground is PFC Schmidt, K 3/7. That's "Art" in the truck. Art is a bit agitated at the moment: he is a military working dog and, in the absence of any other specific instructions, Art has decided his current "work" is to guard the soccer balls in the HMMWV. He's not too happy that Marines keep removing his charges and giving them to the kids, and is currently and quite intently keeping an eye on some of his strayed "sheep." 
Marines from K Company 3/7 preparing for a patrol. The true outer edges of the empire: F Company 2/7 at home on the Syrian Border. "Dear Mom, Please send a seat. And a door. Oh..and some tweezers. Love,
Your Son
Ok…one picture of me. Now quit asking.
That is all for now. If things stay quiet, maybe I can get back on my promised weekly timeline.For the first time in almost 8 weeks, "Nothing further to report."
Share your courage.
Col. Tucker, thank you for sharing yours.
Posted by Deb at May 13, 2004 08:13 AM
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Comments
Oh YES, Thank you Col Tucker!
Posted by: Terry Brooks at May 14, 2004 06:56 AM
Col Tucker
keep up the good work and many thanks to your superb marines.Posted by: terry at May 14, 2004 11:42 AM
Wow! Very nice work for a supposed "amateur" photographer.
More! More!
Many thanks. :)
Posted by: Steve at May 14, 2004 07:53 PM
From the left coast: thank you, Colonel. So tough to get the truth of what's happening where you are. Thanks for being a journalist, along with all of the other freedom-preserving work you're doing. My thanks to you and your men for keeping my family safe.
Posted by: Tim at May 15, 2004 06:23 AM
From a x-marine,I could not be prouder of your men.I was a airline capt from 1965 to 1996 and hauled the troops into and out of war zones.Vietnam,saudi,I saw these wonderful people and they are the finest,we are blessed to have people like these.God Bless you all. ce griffith
Posted by: charles griffith at May 15, 2004 08:36 AM
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