Marine Corps Moms: More news from the front

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May 23, 2004

More news from the front

Here's another update from Col. Tucker who commands the RCT-7 in Iraq.

Dated 22 May 2004
The enemy has returned to the tactics of the weak�.primarily coming after us with IEDs. And not with very much success. The Marines are very competent at finding the things now and, more importantly, local Iraqis, Iraqi Police, and Iraqi militia are telling us where they are or destroying them on their own. That is a significant step towards our ultimate goal. Much of our effort has turned to training Iraqi Security Forces (ISF); both on joint patrols and in training centers we have built over the last months. Result is a quantum improvement in ISF confidence and capabilities and the development of trust and camaraderie between ISF and the Marines conducting the training.. This training combines with our efforts to improve the quality of the average Iraqi life�hard to shoot at someone who is building you a school. The RCT has put almost $5M against schools, clinics, water projects, sewage projects, and ISF infrastructure. We are starting to see the fruits of our efforts This is a mission requiring patient persistence and it is working. Please keep that in the back of your mind when the nay-sayers start screaming.

Have some more pictures today. Good feedback on the last set, but some very nice complaining that it was all 3/7 and why can't my _______ (son, husband�fill in the blank) unit get his picture in the newsletter blah, blah, blah�.Ok..well, I listened to the first part before turning off. Ergo, more pictures. None of 3/7 though�so all of you 3/7 wives and Moms can skip to the bottom.

	The top of Haditha Dam, looking east over the Euphrates. Probably the prettiest (and coolest) location in our AO. 2/7, 3/4 , E 2/11 and Small Craft Company have all lived and operated here. Currently occupied by 3/4 and Small Craft Company.
Final moments of relaxation before patrol. Marines from 3/4 about 20 minutes before departing friendly lines. Top of Haditha Dam.
	RCT-7 Headquarters, Al Asad Air Base.
Life in Iraq, Scene I: When you come into a village and 3 minutes later see a teenage boy hauling ass to the sheep pen with a knife, you know you are going to be there for awhile. CWO3 Eby, RCT Gunner, enjoying lamb off the grill with cucumbers, tomatoes, and flat bread. Iraqi in cammies behind him is a Lt. in the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.
	Life in Iraq, Scene II: Trailer camp at Al Asad. HQCO and elements of 3/4, 1st LAR and Force Recon Co live here. Affectionately nicknamed "the tins" "the box" . All have beds and a locker. Comes complete with trailer showers and heads.

Read today that the New York Times has decided we've lost the war. Amazing to me how so much intelligence can contain so little intellect. Our mission here is to provide a foundation of security---through our actions and our training of ISF---so that the rule of law and a functioning civil administration can take root. That mission is being executed with success across the 1st Marine Division AO. We see that success in the emerging professionalism and competence of the ISF, in the willingness of the Iraqi people to begin to provide for their own security, and in the daily improvements to Iraqi quality of life and economy. Not sure what war the NYT is writing about, but its not the one I'm in.
Speaking of the media: for those of you, who have heard or read of the "wedding" incident, remember this: Iraqis get married on Mondays and Thursdays. They do not get married on Wednesday mornings. They don't get married at 3 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. They don't get married in the middle of a wadi in the middle of a bleak desert 6 miles from the Syrian border at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. We do not target civilians. We do kill terrorists and terrorist leadership. And we make very damned certain they are terrorists before we kill them.

RCT-7 remembers the sacrifices of LCpl B. W. Roberts, Company C, 1st CEB and Cpl R. Salas, 1st LAR, killed in the line of duty vicinity Al Asad, Iraq. Please remember their families and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Share your courage.

C.A. Tucker
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
CO, RCT-7.

Thank you, Col Tucker for sharing your courage with us. We will attend LCpl Robert's funeral on Wednesday and will print out and take any notes of condolence that are left in comments or e-mailed to us.

Posted by Deb at May 23, 2004 04:51 PM

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» Iraqi Wedding from ~Neophyte Pundit~
Found a great blog via Sunnyblog, Marine Corps Moms. It had the following information regarding the Iraqi Wedding from a Marine: Speaking of the media: for those of you, who have heard or read of the "wedding" incident, remember this:... [Read More]

Tracked on May 24, 2004 08:01 PM

» Military Roundup from I love Jet Noise
I love jet noise... Military Appreciation Day at Andrews AFB. Weapons Co., 3/24 finds and destroys large stockpiles of conventional weapons near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. Get out the hankies - you'll need 'em. Something you don't think of in a [Read More]

Tracked on May 25, 2004 05:45 AM

» The Internet routes around obstacles... from Random Jottings
Says a pompous idiot: ..The press isn't reporting bad news from Iraq because they hate America, they're reporting bad news from Iraq because there's lots of bad news in Iraq... Says someone who actually knows: ...The enemy has returned to... [Read More]

Tracked on May 25, 2004 06:15 PM

Comments

I like getting real news from you. Keep up the good work; my family supports you.

Posted by: Gail Hoffman at June 24, 2004 07:01 AM

I was so glad that I found your web site, My son just deployed 2 weeks ago to Iraq. Did me good to read your web site. and see the pictures.

Posted by: Gloria Smith at July 5, 2004 08:11 PM

i would l;ike to receive more pictures of al asad and haditha dam

Posted by: yara at July 10, 2004 11:32 AM

Thank you for the pictures.My son is there at the dam right now,I would like info and any pictures you could send of the area he is around.thank you,celeste

Posted by: CELESTE at August 12, 2004 11:29 AM

My son has been in Iraq 2 months today, he was too at the Haditha dam . I feel very happy that you provide us all with this info that you post.
Keep up the good work and bless all of our Marines. Thank you,Hilda

Posted by: Hilda Godoy at August 23, 2004 11:54 PM

My son is currently at Haditha the pictures are great would like to see more thank you for sharing the pictures

My Marine has been over in the sandbox for 2months would like to learn more about the dam and AL ASAD

Thank You
Susan
very proud Marine Mom
God Our Marines and God Bless the USA

Posted by: Susan at September 7, 2004 04:11 PM

Do you have any current/recent info or pictures from the dam? Thanks, Dana Small Craft Wife

Posted by: Dana at September 25, 2004 05:15 AM

MY SON LEFT FOR IRAQ SEPT. 14 WITH THE SMALL CRAFT COMPANY. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE COMPANY. DOES A FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP WHICH EXCHANGES INFO EXIST? I WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION.

Posted by: VICKIE at October 5, 2004 05:25 PM

Thanks for the photos I will watch for new ones every day. Keep your spirits up we don't read the papers we just put them in the bird cage.

Posted by: Joe Glass at October 25, 2004 02:18 PM

Thank you for the pictures of Al Asad very nice. My son it with weapons Plt. in Camp Fallujah. Any new?

Mom & Dad
Proud LCPL Hector Orrantia
1/8 Bravo Co.

Posted by: Yolanda & Leonardo at November 13, 2004 10:26 AM

my son cpl harrison william "grant" has been at the dan sence march. now he is in najaf province . i'm so proud of all of our boys and girl. my prays is with each one.

Posted by: nancy harrison at August 5, 2006 06:06 AM

My son just called, he has made it safe to the damn. This is his 2nd deployment.....would love to hear from all of you as well.

Thanks

Cindy

Posted by: CyntShia Shaw at April 17, 2007 06:44 PM

CORPORAL MYERS....PLEASE CONTACT YOUR MOTHER....I LOVE AND MISS YOU!

Posted by: donna hofbauer at September 4, 2007 05:00 PM