thedrifter
12-28-06, 06:38 PM
Letter From Iraq at Christmas...
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 12:57 PM CST
Editor's Note: Tom Cook, Navy chaplain, is the son of Thomas and Vida Cook of Phoenix, Arizona. His dad graduated from the Du Quoin High School in 1962. He also is the nephew of Jerry Cook, Nellie Vancil and Ann Genesio of Du Quoin.
In a holiday eMail, he writes to family members at home:
“Sorry I have not written, between illness and work it has been a very busy month. We have been on one convoy a week, traveling as far west as Al Asad and as far east as Fallujah. Your Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve with professionalism and integrity.
Despite what you might hear in the news, your sons and daughters are motivated for the mission--eager to see the Iraqi people stand on ther own as a democratic nation. The words of discouragement that come from our congressional leaders do not dissuade us from our appointed task, nor have we lost faith in the countrywe serve. We march on, some of these precious warriors for their fourth deployment.
The family is doing well, though very busy. It turns out that they will have to move once before we make the big move East. They are demolishing the homes we are presently in, so the family must vacate. This is actually a nice preparation for the big move, since we will not have much time once I return from deployment.
The baby is still undergoing tests for her speech, to figure out why her development is so slow. We do appreciate your thoughts and prayers toward her. The kids are all doing well otherwise. The military is a nice environment for the children, as they are able to play sports and outside as often as the weather permits.
We celebrated Thanksgiving by baptizing five people. Two other Chaplains joined me in the service and it was cold. The regiment put together this new baptismal for us, which can be heated for the winter months. Sergeant Major Lamar, the regimental sergeant thinks I had it built so the chapel can host hot tub nights at Lakeside. I assure him that if we did have any such parties, he would be invited--which ended the conversation.
Seriously, things are going very well here; busy, but well. I did a phone interview with a reporter a couple days ago who was doing a story on diversity in the Marine Corps. An intersting interview, but she asked me how I felt about serving the Marines during this time of year. I responded that this was my second time serving with the Marines in Iraq during the Christmas holiday, and I feel proud to be with them. This is how I feel--proud.
Please be proud of us. We believe in this war, not for war's sake, but because we believe in the principles upon which we engaged it. Do't feel sorry for us or bad that we are here. Don't worry that our families are suffering in our absence. Families across history have made greater sacrifices than we for the cause of freedom. Be proud, because we are proud to do it. And, we love you. I got this poem from one of my Marines and I think it conveys our sentiments:
A Different Kind of Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed around the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near.
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A long figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Along in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear.
“Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home one a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift.
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said “It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December.
Then he sighed, “That's a Christmas Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam,
And, now it is my turn and so here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white and blue--an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my pst through the rain and the sleet,
‘I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright.
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.”
“But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”
God bless you all, please remember us by boldly devending the values and the constitutional principles you hold dear.
Semper Fidelis, Tom
Ellie
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 12:57 PM CST
Editor's Note: Tom Cook, Navy chaplain, is the son of Thomas and Vida Cook of Phoenix, Arizona. His dad graduated from the Du Quoin High School in 1962. He also is the nephew of Jerry Cook, Nellie Vancil and Ann Genesio of Du Quoin.
In a holiday eMail, he writes to family members at home:
“Sorry I have not written, between illness and work it has been a very busy month. We have been on one convoy a week, traveling as far west as Al Asad and as far east as Fallujah. Your Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen continue to serve with professionalism and integrity.
Despite what you might hear in the news, your sons and daughters are motivated for the mission--eager to see the Iraqi people stand on ther own as a democratic nation. The words of discouragement that come from our congressional leaders do not dissuade us from our appointed task, nor have we lost faith in the countrywe serve. We march on, some of these precious warriors for their fourth deployment.
The family is doing well, though very busy. It turns out that they will have to move once before we make the big move East. They are demolishing the homes we are presently in, so the family must vacate. This is actually a nice preparation for the big move, since we will not have much time once I return from deployment.
The baby is still undergoing tests for her speech, to figure out why her development is so slow. We do appreciate your thoughts and prayers toward her. The kids are all doing well otherwise. The military is a nice environment for the children, as they are able to play sports and outside as often as the weather permits.
We celebrated Thanksgiving by baptizing five people. Two other Chaplains joined me in the service and it was cold. The regiment put together this new baptismal for us, which can be heated for the winter months. Sergeant Major Lamar, the regimental sergeant thinks I had it built so the chapel can host hot tub nights at Lakeside. I assure him that if we did have any such parties, he would be invited--which ended the conversation.
Seriously, things are going very well here; busy, but well. I did a phone interview with a reporter a couple days ago who was doing a story on diversity in the Marine Corps. An intersting interview, but she asked me how I felt about serving the Marines during this time of year. I responded that this was my second time serving with the Marines in Iraq during the Christmas holiday, and I feel proud to be with them. This is how I feel--proud.
Please be proud of us. We believe in this war, not for war's sake, but because we believe in the principles upon which we engaged it. Do't feel sorry for us or bad that we are here. Don't worry that our families are suffering in our absence. Families across history have made greater sacrifices than we for the cause of freedom. Be proud, because we are proud to do it. And, we love you. I got this poem from one of my Marines and I think it conveys our sentiments:
A Different Kind of Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed around the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near.
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A long figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Along in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear.
“Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home one a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift.
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said “It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December.
Then he sighed, “That's a Christmas Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam,
And, now it is my turn and so here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white and blue--an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my pst through the rain and the sleet,
‘I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright.
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.”
“But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”
God bless you all, please remember us by boldly devending the values and the constitutional principles you hold dear.
Semper Fidelis, Tom
Ellie