thedrifter
06-29-04, 09:58 AM
From the
Regimental Combat Team 7
(RCT-7)
Date written: 11 June 2004
Elizabeth (my wife) has counseled me on my use of swear words in these newsletters. It was one of those sweetly spoken, nice, loving "subtle-but-you-better-get-the-message" kinds of counseling, and I've been around long enough to know I ignore those at my peril. So. For the time required to write these things I will remove myself from the nether regions inhabited by 4500 males alone in a combat zone and ascend to the lofty heights of Wives and Moms who have spent the best years of their lives training their men and by-god have certain expectations that the training will hold. Or else.
There is, of course, a regression that takes place when you send your sons and husbands off into this all-male world of Marine Infantry. It's probably the thing about deployment that frustrates Elizabeth the most, because the regression is not linear…its exponential. You don't send him away for, say, 7 months, and know he is going to come back having forgotten only 7 months of lessons. Nope…doesn't work that way. Elizabeth and I have been married 20 years, and when I left I was just starting the 100-level doctoral classes (Lesson 23,456: "Why it is ok for your 15 yr old daughter to go on a date without you"). But she knows when I come home she is going to be right back at the year 14 lessons, having to explain---once again---why it matters which side of the flat sheet is facing up on the bed.
First weeks of June saw a spike in IED activity in the AO. Still not a very successful tactic for the enemy in these times, and we have had some great successes capturing or killing the ones making or planting the IEDs. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) continue to make great strides forward and we are seeing more cooperation, professionalism and competence in the Iraqi Police, ICDC, and Border Guards as equipment comes on line, training continues, and their leaders look towards the challenges assumed when Iraq becomes responsible for itself on 30 Jun.
Pretty heartening to watch the ISF and Marines working together. Brothers-in-arms attitudes and perspective forms, they begin to assume responsibility for each other, and cultural barriers disintegrate. Spent (once again) 6 hours or so at a Sheiks house waiting for them to kill and cook the goat last week…and the guys in my Detachment spent that entire time engaged with a group of ICDC soldiers speaking the common language of infantrymen with a group of men they couldn't talk to. Mostly they show each other pictures of girlfriends, wives and kids or take turns showing off weapons systems. But they leave friends. And when they come back they are remembered and welcomed.
The RCT executed a very successful operation in the central part of the AO in early June…captured a couple of the terrorist cell leaders we have targeted for 4 months and 3d ACR targeted for 7 months previous. Amazing to see the communities open up when those who intimidate and torture are taken away.
Ok…picture time.
Clicl Link to View Pictures..........
http://www.29palms.usmc-mccs.org/OEF%202/CO%20RCT-7%20letters/June%2011%20CO%20RCT-7%20letter.htm
Ellie
Regimental Combat Team 7
(RCT-7)
Date written: 11 June 2004
Elizabeth (my wife) has counseled me on my use of swear words in these newsletters. It was one of those sweetly spoken, nice, loving "subtle-but-you-better-get-the-message" kinds of counseling, and I've been around long enough to know I ignore those at my peril. So. For the time required to write these things I will remove myself from the nether regions inhabited by 4500 males alone in a combat zone and ascend to the lofty heights of Wives and Moms who have spent the best years of their lives training their men and by-god have certain expectations that the training will hold. Or else.
There is, of course, a regression that takes place when you send your sons and husbands off into this all-male world of Marine Infantry. It's probably the thing about deployment that frustrates Elizabeth the most, because the regression is not linear…its exponential. You don't send him away for, say, 7 months, and know he is going to come back having forgotten only 7 months of lessons. Nope…doesn't work that way. Elizabeth and I have been married 20 years, and when I left I was just starting the 100-level doctoral classes (Lesson 23,456: "Why it is ok for your 15 yr old daughter to go on a date without you"). But she knows when I come home she is going to be right back at the year 14 lessons, having to explain---once again---why it matters which side of the flat sheet is facing up on the bed.
First weeks of June saw a spike in IED activity in the AO. Still not a very successful tactic for the enemy in these times, and we have had some great successes capturing or killing the ones making or planting the IEDs. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) continue to make great strides forward and we are seeing more cooperation, professionalism and competence in the Iraqi Police, ICDC, and Border Guards as equipment comes on line, training continues, and their leaders look towards the challenges assumed when Iraq becomes responsible for itself on 30 Jun.
Pretty heartening to watch the ISF and Marines working together. Brothers-in-arms attitudes and perspective forms, they begin to assume responsibility for each other, and cultural barriers disintegrate. Spent (once again) 6 hours or so at a Sheiks house waiting for them to kill and cook the goat last week…and the guys in my Detachment spent that entire time engaged with a group of ICDC soldiers speaking the common language of infantrymen with a group of men they couldn't talk to. Mostly they show each other pictures of girlfriends, wives and kids or take turns showing off weapons systems. But they leave friends. And when they come back they are remembered and welcomed.
The RCT executed a very successful operation in the central part of the AO in early June…captured a couple of the terrorist cell leaders we have targeted for 4 months and 3d ACR targeted for 7 months previous. Amazing to see the communities open up when those who intimidate and torture are taken away.
Ok…picture time.
Clicl Link to View Pictures..........
http://www.29palms.usmc-mccs.org/OEF%202/CO%20RCT-7%20letters/June%2011%20CO%20RCT-7%20letter.htm
Ellie