TinyUFB
10-19-2005, 03:06 PM
I have quite a few friends who are currently serving in Iraq. Regardless of your opinion on our involvement, you have to give these young people credit. I received this email a couple of days ago from one of the not so young soldiers out there. I thought you might find his insights worth reading:
Many of you have probably thought of me and asked that old line from "Dances With Wolves", "NOW, why don't he write?".
It's not that all of you haven't been on my mind, quite the opposite. I've been watching, and being a small participant in, a birth of sorts. The Iraqi Constitution Ratification vote has been taking place here and for the first time in their lives people here have had the chance to tell the Govenment what THEY want for representation.
I know this seems so trivial to all of us...we have been doing that very thing for hundreds of years now. But it is so different here. People literally risk their lives to be able to do what we take for granted in our country. I know this first hand because I have been providing security for many of the people who manned the polls so others might be able to exercise the privilege of voting in a free election to change their country.
This was not without cost to these people. Some of them lost their lives, as did five of our Marines helping protect them in the cities and villages of Western Iraq. But to see the looks on their faces when the process was over and most were safely back under our protection was amazing. The worried looks were gone for the most part, replaced by looks of accomplishment...they knew they had just made history, but were not sure what the next move would be.
Many are back with their families as you read this, looking forward to a new life, but knowing that in December of this year they will be returned to our care to protect them as they once again elect a representative form of government for their country.
Nothing really changes for the service men and women stationed here; we still have our jobs to do, but I can tell you with certainty that what I have seen over the last few weeks gives new meaning to what that is for me.
The people living in our country, America, do not truly realize how good they have it. Even the poorest of our kind have something no one can ever take from them...the freedom to disagree with our government. The very liberty they live under, protected by our laws and judicial system, assures them of their rights without fear of being killed because they are of the wrong religion, or sect.
We have it good my friends...never forget that. And always remember that like those before us there will always be people willing to go where asked, and do what is necessary to make that so. God bless you all and know you are in my thoughts even if I don't get the opportunity to write as much as I would like.
MSG Mike Lagueux
67th Area Support Group
Al Asad Air Base
Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Many of you have probably thought of me and asked that old line from "Dances With Wolves", "NOW, why don't he write?".
It's not that all of you haven't been on my mind, quite the opposite. I've been watching, and being a small participant in, a birth of sorts. The Iraqi Constitution Ratification vote has been taking place here and for the first time in their lives people here have had the chance to tell the Govenment what THEY want for representation.
I know this seems so trivial to all of us...we have been doing that very thing for hundreds of years now. But it is so different here. People literally risk their lives to be able to do what we take for granted in our country. I know this first hand because I have been providing security for many of the people who manned the polls so others might be able to exercise the privilege of voting in a free election to change their country.
This was not without cost to these people. Some of them lost their lives, as did five of our Marines helping protect them in the cities and villages of Western Iraq. But to see the looks on their faces when the process was over and most were safely back under our protection was amazing. The worried looks were gone for the most part, replaced by looks of accomplishment...they knew they had just made history, but were not sure what the next move would be.
Many are back with their families as you read this, looking forward to a new life, but knowing that in December of this year they will be returned to our care to protect them as they once again elect a representative form of government for their country.
Nothing really changes for the service men and women stationed here; we still have our jobs to do, but I can tell you with certainty that what I have seen over the last few weeks gives new meaning to what that is for me.
The people living in our country, America, do not truly realize how good they have it. Even the poorest of our kind have something no one can ever take from them...the freedom to disagree with our government. The very liberty they live under, protected by our laws and judicial system, assures them of their rights without fear of being killed because they are of the wrong religion, or sect.
We have it good my friends...never forget that. And always remember that like those before us there will always be people willing to go where asked, and do what is necessary to make that so. God bless you all and know you are in my thoughts even if I don't get the opportunity to write as much as I would like.
MSG Mike Lagueux
67th Area Support Group
Al Asad Air Base
Al Anbar Province, Iraq