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July 13, 2004
Latest news from RCT-7
Col Tucker updates us again in this letter to families and friends of the RCT-7:
Dated 13 July 2004It has been too long since my last letter. Thanks for being patient. Much has happened in the last month, most of it good.
I was sitting in my office on 28 June when word rolled in about 1000 that the transfer of sovereignty was moved forward two days and would occur at noon. That resulted in about two hours of hectic activity, but as 1200 approached everything I could do was done, and I sat quietly in my office waiting to see what the future would bring. I remember sitting back quietly in my chair at 1159, thinking how privileged and rare a moment it is to be present at, and contributed to, the rebirth of a nation.
And almost at that exact moment….as we collectively held our breath waiting for the nay-sayers and doom and gloom crowd to be proven right…the Iraqi people quietly assumed responsibility for themselves and their communities. There is much to be done here…more terrorists to kill, more schools to build, more training of Iraqi Security Forces to accomplish, more children to provide with water and food…but the nation is reborn. And the Iraqi people and ISF are working to give meaning and security to their history, their culture, and their communities. We are going to win this by exercising patience and tenacity in equal measure, and applying our intellect and common sense to the vastness of the complexity of our efforts. We will make progress inch by inch, but if you hold true to the cause that has brought us this far, we will win.
3d Battalion 4th Marines is home to 29 Palms. They are replaced by 1st Bn 8th Marines out of 2d Marine Division in Camp Lejeune. 1/8 has assimilated well, and is performing with competent professionalism.
Ok..picture time.
This first picture has a story as old as time itself. 4 men in their 40s holding a conference on the Syrian border when approached by a young, cocky 20-something with volleyball in hand and a gauntlet in his tone: "Hey Sir…want to play SOME volleyball.." Well…male ego of course kicks in, and so the 4 old guys trundle out to the volleyball court to meet the tanned, muscled, cocky 20-somethings that make up the rest of the "team" A conspiracy at work here..,young men going to show the old men what's up. First, of course, the "pity" offer: "hey Sir, we'll split up…two of you guys and two of us on a team so we can at least get a good game out of it." No deal…4 old against 4 young. First match. Best of 3. Old Guys 15, Young Guys 6 or something. But they had the wind in their face…so we switch sides. Game 2. Old Guys 15, young guys 12. But now they had the sun in their eyes. Switch sides. And the rules have changed. Now we're playing best of 5. Game 3….Well…we only played 3 games. And the losers don't get their pictures on the website:
| Four "old guys" who have still got it.. |  |
 | This is a picture I promised to get on here for about two months. These are the cooks assigned to Camp Korean Village. Their superb efforts under very challenging conditions account for about 80% of the morale at this far edge of the empire. Names ( not in order, but am sure mom and wives will recognize them): GySgt J. Harper, Sgt E. M. Limbak, Sgt C.E. Cason, Cpl M.A. Moore, LCpl A.J. Roske, Cpl A.J. Campbell. |
| TF 3/7 and members of the 504th Iraqi National Guard Battalion conducting pre-combat inspections before a joint patrol. |  |
 | 1st LAR Bn, on patrol near the Syrian Border. |
We routinely receive letters and cards from organizations and schools in the U.S. We make a strong effort to answer most of them, especially the ones from kids. Usually the "answering takes the form of an announcement at the end of a shift for everyone to write a letter back and to bring it in the next day. We also have Iraqis who work with us as translators and contractors, and construction workers. One of the sections made the "write a letter" announcement at the end of a shift. The next day, three Iraqis, unbidden-but who had observed previous efforts and knew what we were doing---brought in their own letters and asked if they could include them in the package sent back to the kids. I am including two of the letters typed verbatim from the handwritten ones mailed:"Dear friends and children,
Accept my greetings, and I would like to pass on the regards of the Iraqi people and their children. Our friend, I wish I could that the American soldiers will back their country soon to be among their families and children. I am interprator and working with them now they have a hard job. They try to rebuild Iraq, restore the natural life to Iraqis, provide hospitals with medicine, provide security and safety for all the people of Iraq as well as chasing terrorists and Saddams loyal. Dear friends, before the 9th of April 2003 we were living with our children in poverty and deprivation. We cannot live peacefully or look forward to the future, no one can achieve his dreams or study abroad but those of Saddams relatives. So we have in Iraq two big rivers but we have no pure water and some people still depend on well water. Now I think that Iraq looks better, most of Iraqis getting a good payment, they can provide for their families and buy candy for their children. People in villages begun to send their children to school, hospitals begun to provide people with good medicine and the Americans have achieved many many thing that may serve Iraqis. So how can we pay back America its favor to Iraq. Me and my 3 kids as well as my wife would like to thank all honest people in America and we wish them progress and prosperity so we also thank the American soldiers to liberate Iraq from Saddam and his loyalist. I wish that my children will be successful fruits in society and work to fulfill peace and passion among people all over the world.
Sincerely,
Mustafa H. Ali
Baghdad, Iraq"
"Dear Americans,
Accept my best wishes. We lived with Saddam for a long time. We did not know anything about life except wars, executions and killing. Iraqis good people but Saddam made many criminals and terrorist and paid for them the riches of Iraq to kill the innocents mere they do not like Saddam and his party. When I was in primary school Bath Party taught me to hate America because it is the only enemy for freedom in the whole world but when I became adult I asked myself why many many people fleed to America a freedom enemy and a big satan as named by Saddam. But now we know everything about America. In Iraq now we see African American, Thai, Scottish, Polish, Asian and many others have American citizenship. Why because they found real freedom in America and want to build their future and achieve their dreams by having home, good family, and provide them with passion and security. In short, I have two daughters and wife and we all grateful the all Americans and all troops which participated in liberating Iraq.
Sincerely,
Hashim Mohammed"Easy to forget sometimes, in the midst of politics and media blitzes and the normal concourse of American political dialogue, easy to forget where we came from and what we stand for. If not now, when? If not us, who?
RCT-7 remembers the sacrifices of SSgt M.L. Best, 2d Bn 7th Marines killed in action 19 June 2004 vic Hit, Iraq and Cpl. D.L. Kerns, LCpl J.J. Vangyzen IV, LCpl M.S. Torres, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, killed in action 5 July 2004 vic Husaybah, Iraq.
Please remember their families and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Share your Courage.
C.A. Tucker
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
CO, RCT-7.
Posted by Deb at July 13, 2004 11:19 AM
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Comments
Awesome! Just wanted to thank the Colonel for the motivating letters. I often wonder if the Iraqi people truly understand the opportunity that has been given to them. We have lost too many americans in this war and I want the Iraqi people to understand that we do it for freedom. I want them to know that our brave men and women are sacrificing everything for their freedom. That should never be looked at as trivial. These letters are truly great to read. I hope he plans to send more to get posted. Thanks Colonel.
Semper Fi
Gods speed and following seas
KC
PS- great job on the Vollyball games
Posted by: KC at July 13, 2004 07:13 PM