jinelson
10-22-04, 01:37 PM
It is with the deepest sadness and most profound grief that I must
report to you the loss of Daniel Wyatt, LCpl, Fox Co, 2nd Bn, 24th
Marines, USMC. Daniel was killed in the line of duty, while conducting
foot patrolling operations in Yusufiyah Iraq. Daniel was killed by a
command detonated improvised explosive device. He died instantly,
suffered no pain and was immediately recovered by his fellow Marines.
My command security element and myself personally recovered Daniel's
body and escorted him back to the forward operating base, and then onto
the helicopter for the beginning of his final ride home. I cannot even
begin to express to you the soul touching sight of combat hardened
Marines, encrusted with weeks of sweat and dust, who have daily been
engaged in combat, coming to complete and utter solemnity and respect
in the handling of the body of one of their own. It puts on display a
level of brotherly love you just cannot see anywhere else. We conducted
a memorial service for Daniel in the battle space owned by his fellow
Marines, as well as one the following day at the Bn forward operating
base. I have spoken with his fiancée and expressed the sorrow and
sympathy of the entire Battalion. If I might for a moment, I hear and
see some of the media coverage. I hear the accusations and charges. I
hear what could almost be labeled as hysteria over the situation in
Iraq. Let me tell you something from ground level. The town of
Yusufiyah that Daniel and his fellow Marines seized, had not seen
government structure or security forces for over 8 months. FOREIGN
FIGHTERS, TERRORIST AND THUGS have had free reign and have routinely
murdered people in the market for no reason other than one day they
MIGHT support a democratic process and speak for themselves. For
nothing more than they MIGHT choose a version of religion even slightly
different than the terrorists and foreign fighters. They live in
squalor and fear. The Marines of Daniel's unit have not had a shower
since seizing the town. They have eaten MREs day on stay on. They
live a Spartan existence that few can imagine. And, on all my trips to
their position for planning, coordination and command visits, I ask
them if they want to be relieved. To a man, they look me in the eye
and tell me NO WAY. Why? Well, I am not going to soften it for
anyone, the primary reason why is to kill terrorists. Please remember,
that is what they are trained and paid to do. But, they also tell me,
they want to help the people of Yusufiyah. They want to show all of
Iraq that they can stand on their own feet, push back against
extremism, and with our help live the life of freedom that all men
yearn for. Yes, from the mouths of these young and hardened warriors,
this is what they tell me. And then...and then...they ask me how I am
doing! Unfreakingbeliveable! They worry about everyone else but
themselves. So believe what you want. That is your right as Americans.
But I am telling you, there are no heroes on any football fields,
basketball courts or halls of government. There are honorable and
decent people all over America. However, the heroes are on the
battlefields of Iraq. Suffering, killing and DYING that others might
live, and live in FREEDOM. Americans free from terror, Iraqis free
from oppression and tyranny.
I am an under-educated gun toter from Indiana who is just lucky there is
an organization like the USMC where a half-wit like myself with some
rudimentary combat skills can succeed. But I do know heroes! I am
surrounded by over a thousand of them. And I am not the least bit
ashamed to tell you I have wept like a baby for Daniel Wyatt. Because
when one of these heroes falls, it is as if an angel of God himself has
fallen from heaven! I will not profess glory of battle or any other
such hype. I will profess duty and sacrifice. Daniel showed us all
true duty and ultimate sacrifice. I have no doubt that the instant he
died, he was whisked to heaven on the wings of angels and placed before
the unapproachable light of Jesus, who Himself said: "greater love hath
no man, than a man lay down his life for his friends." God bless and keep
Daneil Wyatt, his family and fiancee and God bless and keep all families
of 2/24.
Yours in profound sadness
Mark A. Smith, LtCol TF
2/24 Cmdr Mahmudiyah, Iraq
report to you the loss of Daniel Wyatt, LCpl, Fox Co, 2nd Bn, 24th
Marines, USMC. Daniel was killed in the line of duty, while conducting
foot patrolling operations in Yusufiyah Iraq. Daniel was killed by a
command detonated improvised explosive device. He died instantly,
suffered no pain and was immediately recovered by his fellow Marines.
My command security element and myself personally recovered Daniel's
body and escorted him back to the forward operating base, and then onto
the helicopter for the beginning of his final ride home. I cannot even
begin to express to you the soul touching sight of combat hardened
Marines, encrusted with weeks of sweat and dust, who have daily been
engaged in combat, coming to complete and utter solemnity and respect
in the handling of the body of one of their own. It puts on display a
level of brotherly love you just cannot see anywhere else. We conducted
a memorial service for Daniel in the battle space owned by his fellow
Marines, as well as one the following day at the Bn forward operating
base. I have spoken with his fiancée and expressed the sorrow and
sympathy of the entire Battalion. If I might for a moment, I hear and
see some of the media coverage. I hear the accusations and charges. I
hear what could almost be labeled as hysteria over the situation in
Iraq. Let me tell you something from ground level. The town of
Yusufiyah that Daniel and his fellow Marines seized, had not seen
government structure or security forces for over 8 months. FOREIGN
FIGHTERS, TERRORIST AND THUGS have had free reign and have routinely
murdered people in the market for no reason other than one day they
MIGHT support a democratic process and speak for themselves. For
nothing more than they MIGHT choose a version of religion even slightly
different than the terrorists and foreign fighters. They live in
squalor and fear. The Marines of Daniel's unit have not had a shower
since seizing the town. They have eaten MREs day on stay on. They
live a Spartan existence that few can imagine. And, on all my trips to
their position for planning, coordination and command visits, I ask
them if they want to be relieved. To a man, they look me in the eye
and tell me NO WAY. Why? Well, I am not going to soften it for
anyone, the primary reason why is to kill terrorists. Please remember,
that is what they are trained and paid to do. But, they also tell me,
they want to help the people of Yusufiyah. They want to show all of
Iraq that they can stand on their own feet, push back against
extremism, and with our help live the life of freedom that all men
yearn for. Yes, from the mouths of these young and hardened warriors,
this is what they tell me. And then...and then...they ask me how I am
doing! Unfreakingbeliveable! They worry about everyone else but
themselves. So believe what you want. That is your right as Americans.
But I am telling you, there are no heroes on any football fields,
basketball courts or halls of government. There are honorable and
decent people all over America. However, the heroes are on the
battlefields of Iraq. Suffering, killing and DYING that others might
live, and live in FREEDOM. Americans free from terror, Iraqis free
from oppression and tyranny.
I am an under-educated gun toter from Indiana who is just lucky there is
an organization like the USMC where a half-wit like myself with some
rudimentary combat skills can succeed. But I do know heroes! I am
surrounded by over a thousand of them. And I am not the least bit
ashamed to tell you I have wept like a baby for Daniel Wyatt. Because
when one of these heroes falls, it is as if an angel of God himself has
fallen from heaven! I will not profess glory of battle or any other
such hype. I will profess duty and sacrifice. Daniel showed us all
true duty and ultimate sacrifice. I have no doubt that the instant he
died, he was whisked to heaven on the wings of angels and placed before
the unapproachable light of Jesus, who Himself said: "greater love hath
no man, than a man lay down his life for his friends." God bless and keep
Daneil Wyatt, his family and fiancee and God bless and keep all families
of 2/24.
Yours in profound sadness
Mark A. Smith, LtCol TF
2/24 Cmdr Mahmudiyah, Iraq