A midwest organization has put together ads featuring U.S. servicemen and families of slain troops who support the war in Iraq. They want to point out that the mainstream media has a message about the war in Iraq that perhaps isn't shared by a lot of people involved in the military. Check out their first video commercial, and look for their other commercials at their web site.

A report from Mosul by Michael Yon: "Gates of Fire" dated Aug 25, 2005. It relates the details of a operation and the gives a glimpse of one of our commanders, LTC Erik Kurilla, and his efforts to protect his men and "get the job done". Well worth the read! This article also tells about some of the difficulties keeping terrorist that our troops catch from returning to the battlefield.

A message from the troops to Ms. Fonda. Got this one in an email, I don't know the unit it's from (or why they have AA in Iraq) but the desert heat has not dampened these guys humor.

A letter from a MajGen in the USMC on July 4th 2005
Greetings to all from Iraq, I’ve been over here for 10 weeks so I thought I would provide a short update from Baghdad on what is going on from my perspective. I appreciate the emails and notes that I have received since I’ve been over here. Despite what you see on TV, Iraq is not a living hell and this is not a lost cause by any means. I remain very optimistic that we will succeed in accomplishing our strategic goals.

While it may appear that the whole nation is under siege on TV, most of the violence is in Baghdad and the four Sunni provinces North and West of Baghdad. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are conducting full scale operations to defeat the on-going insurgency in Baghdad and the four provinces. Iraqi security forces have regained control of much of Baghdad in the last month.

The Southeast third of Shia Iraqi and the Kurdish Northeast areas are relatively peaceful and steadily progressing in economic development. Since I’ve been here, I see more people on the streets, commerce in the shopping areas, and traffic on the roads.

The insurgency, for the most part, generally attacks Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Security Forces using car bombs or suicide car bombs. Iraqi Security Forces are become more formidable and they are taking on more security responsibilities everyday that passes. The terrorists are cowards or criminals ? it’s hard to distinguish. The suicide car bombers are foreign terrorists who indiscriminately drive into groups of civilians or police. They would really rather do theses things in the United States. I remain very impressed with the Iraqi Security Forces, those soldiers and police, who go out there every day doing the fighting and dying for freedom. Americans will never understand the lingering affect of the 35 years of brutal rule on the Iraqi people.

Everything is not rosy here ? Iraqi is still a very dangerous place. Our service members go in harms way everyday. Yes, we have our losses. The compound that I’m in has taken rocket and mortar fire with casualties. You don’t drive through Baghdad, you maneuver through it. You can not let your guard down. Our service members know what their mission is and are performing superbly. We couldn’t be more proud of what they do each day for our nation. We are fortunate to have such men and women who voluntarily place service to this nation ahead of their personal desires and welfare. They just want the support of the American people.

I appreciate all the ‘offers’ to send me stuff. I do not need anything ? we have plenty of ammo and the other classes of supply. I wish you all a great upcoming 4th of July Holiday Weekend.

Semper Fi
Tim Donovan
MajGen USMC
COS MNFI
Baghdad, Iraq

A soldier's website that he maintains from Iraq. SSgt Frank Selden provides up to date news in "email updates" on activities in Iraq as well as well as weekly essays. He also has some photos and archives of his own email updates and essays. He is an accomplished writer and his stuff is easy to read and informative.

A letter from a Marine officer to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi about fellow Marine, Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun.

An article which just appeared in the March 04 edition of VFW magazine. It contains information regarding "Apache" troop, 3-17th Cav in Afghanistan. It is refreshing to get information on the success of operations in Afghanistan, right from the horse's mouth, versus the major media.

The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do something to pay tribute To our fallen comrades. So since we are part of the only Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq the one way that we could think of doing that is by taking a picture of Baker Company saying the way we feel. It would be awesome if you could find a way to share this with our fellow countrymen. I was wondering if there was any way to get this into your papers to let the world know that "WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN" and are proud to serve our country."

Semper Fi

1stSgt Dave Jobe.

View the Picture

Another letter that accompanied another copy of that picture.

From: Mindy Schoenmaker
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 8:54 AM
To: =ALL OFFICE STAFF
Subject: Personal: "We remember" from Iraq

Good morning everyone. I wanted to share this email and photograph with you all. My brother sent this to me from Iraq. The email below explains the photograph. Feel free to pass this along to anyone you like. It is such a good way today to remember all those who paid the ulitmate sacrifice on September 11th as well as those who continue to sacrifice daily to protect our freedom. Thank you for your continued support! -- Mindy

Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 04:50:15

All,

I hate mass emails. However, I wanted to share this photograph with all of you at once. The CO and I were talking the other day about taking a picture on September 11th so we could put it in the cruise book when we got home. It was just supposed to signify that we were still in Iraq. I told him I thought it was a great idea but that I thought we should spell out a message and send it to the press. I had a couple of suggestions but this is the one he liked the most. We took the picture on the 9th of September and have sent it via email to every major publisher in the United States. I mean everyone...the NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Time....they all have so maybe someone will print it.

It is in remembrance of those that gave the ultimate sacrafice on September 11th, and the reason that no matter how long we are here we will continue to push and never forget why we serve.

I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to share this with anyone you want. The picture is of my company, Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. It contains every member of my unit in country...over 160 personnel. The 9-11 is spelled out in a symbolic tribute to our fallen comrades. The symbolic tribute is an M16 rifle with fixed bayonet inverted into the ground with the Kevlar Helmet resting on top. Old Glory is held by four Marines in the company that lost friends and family from NY on 9-11. The words speak for themselves. Enjoy......

I love and miss you all, and we will be home soon.
Drew

An Email from a Captain in Iraq about the special thanksgiving visit they got. This is a true story!

Click here to read the letter.

When the press was saying moral was low over in Iraq, the 101st Airborne had a different take. On July 4th, 2003 159 troopers re-enlist on the steps of Saddam's Mosul Palace.

View the Picture

Mostly we hear the bad news from the front. A radio station (620 WTMJ) in Milwaukee has an "informal" correspondent over in Iraq. He emailed this to the station.

Click here to read the letter.

This letter is from a soldier who is still in Iraq. It will show you that despite sacrifices that the soldiers make daily, they can still be thankful. It will give you an idea of what some of our troops were thankful for, while away from thier families in a hostile land.

Click here to read the letter.

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Last Updated: Feb. 20, 2006