Oct 21, 2004
Happy and well wishing greetings from Mahmudiyah, Iraq. Another week down in the struggle to exterminate terrorists from the face of the earth and bring peace and stability to the people of Iraq.
Well, I guess the easiest thing to do would be to make my weekly updates into a song and then just type, "return to refrain," because I know I sound like a broken record just repeating the refrain, but the Marines continue to perform extremely well. Every single Marine in this Battalion is engaged 16-18 or 20 hours a day doing their part either in direct combat and stability operations, or in the support thereof. They do so without complaint and with a happy soul. I know their biggest source of discontent is the fuzzy picture portrayed by much of the media. However, on that front, they brought the perfection with which they do everything to bear.
We have had 5-10 reporters through our various positions the past couple of weeks, and the Marines have routinely showed them nothing but a positive face and a "can do" spirit. Now, having said that, there are no misperceptions on our part. This place ain't DisneyWorld, and there is no Mickey Mouse. This place is incredibly dangerous and we deal with the most evil and sinister enemy that this planet has ever known. BUT, nothing is a match for these Marines, armed, armored to the teeth and itching for a fight with any force that wants to pick one. I can assure you on those rare occassions that the enemy has tried to conventionally go toe to toe with your beloved loved ones, he has ended up needing a tag for his toe!
I have attached a couple of photos.
| One is a few members of the Staff during a recent Bn operation with some captured enemy weaponry. It is included first and foremost because of their dashing good looks, but also because I hope you take note of their smiles. These are warriors who were living some incredibly Spartan conditions, however the smiles are deeper than saying "cheese" for a photograph. These are smiles of deep conviction and satisfaction with a job well done!!! |
The second photo is of ONE of our mail deliveries. Please note the mountain of packages and letters. I know the pace of mail and packages is a source of frustration for you. Believe me, it is for us as well. I am a month behind on pictures of my HOT wife, but, ours is a world where the pick-up and delivery of mail is A COMBAT OPERATION WITH INHERENT RISK! Therefore, it has to be planned, it has to armed and it has to go on our timeline, not the USPS or any other concern. It works, it just does not work like it does in the good ole' US.
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Another thing I would like to address this week is the unbelievable amount of positive emails, probably 200 plus, that I received in response to last week's update on LCpl Wyatt. I also know that some have complained about too much information. Folks, bottom line, some of you have gotten to know me pretty well. My only motivation is these FANTASTIC Marines charged to my care, their families, and our cause. I will be nothing but brutally frank and honest. I worry not about political ramifications. My updates are meant for my target audience, the friends and families of 2/24. Where or how they end up after that I do not care. You do not have to read them and you are under no restrictions if you want to send them out. But rest assured, I am not going to write them with a "cautious tone" for fear they might end up outside the network.
As I know you are all probably aware based on vast media reporting, there are two things I must say publically in this forum:
1. Congratulations to Sgt and Mrs. Horton on the "Horton 5." Who among us still thinks we have challenges with what the Hortons are facing. All the Marines and Sailors of 2/24 send congrats to Mrs. Horton and GODSPEED AND A QUICK AND FULL RECOVERY TO OUR BELOVED BROTHER, SGT HORTON ON HIS RECOVERY!
2. God Bless and Keep and Jesus' peace be with the Wyatt family as they laid to final rest the body of OUR HEROIC BROTHER, LCPL WYATT. THAT HE BE LOOKING DOWN UPON US FROM THE BOSOM OF HIS MOTHER AND IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IS OUR PRAYER, HOPE AND PEACE!
With all of that, all I can do at this point is bid you adieu for another week and ask for your continued prayers, as we continue to pray for our safety, our STRENGTH and YOUR SAFETY AND WELL BEING!
Mark A. Smith, LtCol USMCR
TF 2/24 Commanding Officer, 24 MEU
Mahmudiyah, Iraq
Mayhem from the Heartland
One quick PS: I consider the Sailors that serve as part of 2/24, our medical and religious departments, as just that, PART of 2/24. So when I say Marines, it automatically includes the Sailors of this Battalion whose work and efforts to this point have been legendary!
