Letter from a soldier in Iraq

For my first diary, I thought I would share this letter I got the other day from a soldier in Iraq. It seems to me to be very important to express the fact that opposition to Bush and to the war in Iraq does not mean lack of respect for the individuals who are stuck in Iraq, fighting Bush's war. Also, the media isn't showing us nearly enough of what's happening on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps this little missive from the other side of the world can help shed a small amount of light on the matter.

Dear ----,

I want to thank you for the book "Band of Brothers." When we first arrived here, we saw some MPs pull in our first camp we were at. We saw how close they were. Their vehicles had bullet and shrapnel wounds. They seemed to be very careful about not getting too far from one another and they were always touching one another.

We find ourselves doing the same thing. We hug before and after missions and never pass one another without at least a handshake. We found out the hard way just how fragile life can be. I lost two men in al Fallujah. I try to go on as many missions with my men as I can. I have been truly blessed with the men I have in my company and I am very proud of them.

With what we are going through, it is great knowing we haven't been forgotten by the people back home. It is good to know that people like yourself will go out of their way to help us.

Right now in my spare time I either sit and read, draw, watch a movie with the men, or I sit with some of the locals and they try to teach me Arabic.

Some have stores on our buses.

One of their greatest fears is that we will leave too soon and their country will be unstable. They also fear someone like Saddam ever getting back in power.

It is really hot here. We have seen days at 130°. One day it was 142°. In about two months, it will be raining and that should bring down the temperature. I hope.

Once again, thank you.

(name withheld)