e-mail from Iraq (serious)

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Got this from my neighbor:

This email is from a friend of mine who is in Iraq. I don't know what all of your feelings are about the war, but I hope that at least you support our troops. They are over there in what sounds like misery fighting for our safety. Please keep them in your prayers.

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 6:36 AM
To:
Subject: Message from LT David Quy USMC

Last night was the worst night here so far. The weather was unreal. 75
mph winds all night. It was pitch black outside at 3 in the afternoon.
Then the rains came in with the same amount of wind. Our position is
one big mud hole. All our gear is muddy and wet. The lighter side (or
concerning) was that a Camel Herder broke through our lines with a herd
of 15 camels and no one saw him until he ran them into the a tent. It
woke me up and I saw them yelling at him.

We are on the eastern side of Iraq and have had a little more success
getting up to our attack position on Baghdad. We crossed the Euphrates
on the 24th and went through Nasariyah the same day. Currently we are
stuck somewhere south of the Tigris waiting for 5th Mar Reg to defeat
the Iraqi Division in there way. They have been fighting for almost 2
days now so I am sure they are tired. The storm didn't help their
morale any either.

As far as the guys who got hit by an RPG I knew them real well. Both
were officers and 1 I have known since TBS. They should be ok. I have
no idea were they are now or their condition.

We have seen a number of dead bodies on the side of the road. We have
seen many more people surrender. It is funny because their way of
surrendering is taking off their combat boots and walking back home.
Most of them are limping after a day of walking because there feet hurt.
I think this whole country is full of idiots. All we do is take their
weapons and send them on their way. There are too many to keep as POWs.
I have been taking pictures but they haven't turned out so well because
we are driving. We used to hand out Humanitarian Rations but since we
have moved further north some people have handed them out and then been
shot at. We have heard of a number of cases where people try to
surrender and then whip out an AK47 from under their robe and start
shooting.

Too much stuff to write about and not enough time. I have many more
stories I just cant think of them off hand. I will try and write later.
I hope this email makes since - my brain is half fried.

Dave

impulse · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 807 City: Snyder,TX

thanks for sharing

Dees · Posted: Mar 27, 2003 8:07 am Post subject:

interesting

forwaken · Addict Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 635 City: Turlock, CA

interesting take on the whole issue, something from the soldiers.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Are you sure that's real?

B-rad · Posted: Mar 27, 2003 9:16 am Post subject:

Way to question anything at all about the war effort cameraboy. If anyone does not belive something or would question anything that were truth or positive about the war it would be you.

Jello John · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1936

J_DOGG · Posted: Mar 27, 2003 9:26 am Post subject:

I don't think it is real either, very general all stuff I know about from watching the news......but it doesn't matter, I support the troops.....

Everything has a price, even FREEDOM!

PEACE

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Yes, it is real you schmucks. I wouldn't include "this is from my neighbor" and lie to you. I have known her for over 10 years and trust that if she sends me something she says is from a Marine she knows then I trust her.

David Quy worked at Tejas Securities in Austin with my friend and then joined the Marines. His email is QuyDC@1mardivdm.usmc.mil should any of you care to call him out personally. Make sure you mention that you would like him to be more specific in his emails to his friends, so that when they are passed on, the jackasses of the world know it isn't fake. Mind you, he is FIGHTING A FREAKING WAR at the moment, so he may not have time to promptly respond to your queries.

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Mar 27, 2003 1:54 pm Post subject:

thats awesome. Thanks for sharing

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Back off everyone...

JT09 post a letter he says is from a friend and you guys doubt it??? I understand being skeptical but F%$# you!!! None of the information in that letter is unbelievable. I trust JT wouldn't pass along false letters and he's proven this by giving you the Marines e-mail.

I have a copy of my Uncles journal who flew 50 missions in WW2. You should see how general those entries are.

BillJ · Posted: Mar 27, 2003 7:14 pm Post subject:

I think it's pretty funny that people automatically assume it's a fraud, yet they'll quickly pass on email saying "Bill Gates will pay you $5 for each person you forward this message to".

There is nothing in this message that would make me question it. Read it and it sounds very real. No bragging or wild claims, just someone reporting what they've seen and experienced.

So when you go to bed tonite just be thankful that it's not you trying to get an hour of sleep wearing your chemical suit in 80 degree nights and snipers out to kill you. Whether you agree with the war or not, you really should at least appreciate the sacrifice these guys are making.

Josh R · Posted: Mar 28, 2003 12:28 am Post subject:

I don't see any problem in epeople questioning the validity. There is so much s#!t floating around the net these days, its stupid not to be skeptical.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Hey, all I asked was "are you sure that's real" and all you rednecks went off on me and anyone else that questioned it's validity. I didn't say anything about our troops or the war in general. That goes to show you what a bunch of emotional bunch of blind followers some of you are, especially people who fealt the need to personally insult me.

Wake up. Never accept anything anyone tells you without question, especially when it involves people dying, on either side.

You should be ahsmed of yourself for not questioning this or ANY war.

Notice I didn't make a judgement about the war. I never have said anything about my feelings definitively. All I have done on any of these boards is questioned things. Apparently that's not acceptable in the USA anymore.

I question any email or story that is from a friend of a friend. And I never said I didn't believe it. I just asked if they were sure it was real.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Sorry about the "rednecks" comment. I shouldn't assume that just because you seem to be very pro war and down with questioning the war that you are "rednecks" I appologize.

craiger · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 498 City: Plano

Cameraboy, you are an insensitive jacka$$, I feel sorry for you that you view the world in the way you do, (or should I say, to the extreme that you do). You have my pity.

jt09, thanks for sharing, and you did not need to justify yourself to the likes of cameraboy. He's not worth it.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

I question the war every single minute - I hate the war. I come from a very long line of military - my mom was an Army nurse in Vietnam and retired a Lt. Col after 20 yrs, my dad served 2 tours in Vietnam, where he met my mother, and retired a full Colonel after 30 years, my grandfather served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired a full Col after 30 yrs, my fathers uncle was a 3 Star (featured prominently in "Patton" as Patton's right hand man, his son was a 1 Star who is now the spokesman for the Thomas Jefferson family - yes, my lines go all the way to the top. I also have a brother (Navy) and 2 uncles (Army -Major and Lt. Col) who served. I went to the Vietnam Memorial 2 years ago and found several family members on that long black wall - 2 cousins of my father. That is my family that died. Just looking at all of those names and realizing that every single one had dozens of people affected by their sacrifice was an incredibly powerful moment in my life.

War is the worst F*ing thing ever - people die, not nameless faceless people, but brothers, sisters, fathers, etc. I have to turn the channel every time I see them reporting from Ft. Hood and are showing the kids crying as their father or mother leaves.

I question the war and my answer is - It needs to be done. Because my answer to the question is different than yours does not make me pro war and I am damn sure not ashamed. War is terrible, but it is a necessity at times. I support the war, not for killing sake, but because I believe the US is the only true superpower and it is our responsibility to police the world. I support our president because he does not bend to the will of foreign countries - he sticks to his beliefs and carries them out. Mostly I support our troops who, for the most part, are very young men and women (like most of you on this board) who want nothing more than to come home in one piece.

If you pay attention to what I post, you will know I don't post ANYTHING I think is fraudulent and I back up EVERYTHING with fact or solid reasoning.

Appreciate the support Nor*Cal, craiger and the rest.

Jello John · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1936

craiger · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 498 City: Plano

No Jello John, I don't believe everything I hear and follow it, no need to throw your pity my way.

I just thought camerboy posing the question of whether or not the letter was authentic was insensitive. If he wants to question EVERYTHING in this world, good for him, but I don't need him telling me I should do the same. I will come to my own conclusions, thank you very much.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Jello John - You question people who are first time posters and put outrageous stuff on the boards, not regular contributors who are fairly serious. Cameraboy and I have had several long, detailed debates on this topic, a bit heated but fairly mature. So when he spouts off about the validity of the letter, I do take it personally. I vouched for it's validity by putting it up here.

I have been on message boards for a LONG time - mostly college football boards where those fanantics take everything WAY too seriously and you better back up what you say with proof.

Also - I think Craiger said "to the extreme" because Cameraboy is such a frequent poster in regards to his anti-war/Bush feelings.

Jello John · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1936

I've seen regular contributers post inaccurate or misleading stuff before. While I am more likely to question a new poster, I still don't see anything wrong with questioning someone that has been around for a while. Also, he just asked a simple question and you blew up at him. He didn't say it was fake, but yet you called him a schmuck and a jackass, and you called me one too I guess.

Anyway, good letter. Smile

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

First off, I am not anti-Bush. And I am not against the War in Iraq. I don't know enough about either of those things to take a definitive stand, so I haven't taken one.

The only definitive stand I've taken, and will ALWAYS take, is that people should never follow without seriously questioning everything, especially something as serious as war. If that's insensitive, than so be it.

I really hate this attitude that is dividing our country, this attitude that anything but blind obediance and support for the President makes you a bad American. The very fact that all you have to do is question the authenticity of an email that starts with "I got this from a friend, who knows someone" or whatever, and people start rallying against you. Doesn't anyone else see how dangerous this is?

Leggester · Posted: Mar 28, 2003 9:58 am Post subject:

CB, from your prior posts in other threads, that is the only logical conclusion.

When faced with facts about Bush's grades, work and diplomas, you kept insisting he was stupid. You seemed to have an irrational concept of the person.

If you REALLY want disinformation, go to google groups, rec.boats and learn from Harry Krause.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I don't think I ever insisted GW was anything. I only posed the possibility that he might be, and I said that things like his educational background don't necessarily mean he is more intelligent than you or I. Did you read the entire thread?

Leggester · Posted: Mar 28, 2003 1:39 pm Post subject:

Yes, I did.

If you don't feel that way, then you were just out to get a rise from everyone else. If that's the case, yuo should review morals and dogma.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Hold on... Lets get to the point at hand. This post had little to with the political causation of the conflict in Iraq. The purpose was not to bring up a pro or con stance on the issue. I belief we have 2-3 other post that are debating this issue in a more mature and educated fashion. My point in my first post was that there was no reason to attack the credibility of this post. That letter is not a fallacious statement of things occuring. Had there been detailed stories of close conflict I might be ok with questioning the post.

Second issue at hand. To make a statement that those of us who chose to take JT09's word and accept this letter are synchrofinic followers who never critically analyze the situation is ridiculous. I have probably researched this war more in the past 2 monthes than most people. I am a political science major and this is a predominant topic in most of my classes. My support is very educated and well researched. I question most things the media presents to me. When people post something that has no pressing implications on us, such as that letter, there is no need to question it. The statements in the letter are similar to what Ive been reading in the news.

As Stated · Criminal Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 89

They need to give them 48 hours for whoever they want to get out than they need to nuke Iraq. Everyone that stayed behind can grow arms out of their head for all I care. When they talk about civilian deaths in the war, they are the sick ones strapping bombs to themselves and cars and blowing up our own troops. They can get it as well... Ya I know I said the same thing in another topic, just to lazy to retype it.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

You don't think that letter has any pressing implications on us? I do.

Yea, lets drop a nuclear bomb on Iraq. Then maybe Iran and even N. Korea. That'll teach 'em! Kill kill kill! Every Iraqi is bad anyway! Kill everyone! Then hunt down any survivors who might have been out of Iraq at the time and kill them too! (don't want any loose ends). Then kill all Muslims or anyone who thinks that killing all the other people was a bad idea. Only after killing millions can we truly have peace.

And if any other countries think that using Nukes is setting a horrible, dangerous precedent, and might potentially set the apocalypse in motion, let's just Nuke them too. As the worlds wealthiest and most powerful nation, we should set the tone of world politics as being violent with the goal of total genocide of all who oppose us!

And then any surviving nations, we'll nuke them unless they pay us.........ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

Jello John · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 1936

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

In this day and age, with all the fraudulent emails goin' around about "email tracking system" or "child missing from Boston" or "a troop's diary", it's understandable for cameraboy to pose the question, "Is it real?" to jt09. The topics I listed, are topics of emails I've received. Now, I'm not saying what jt09 posted is a fraud. I just want you guys to understand cameraboy's question. Now, I'm sure some of you guys are going to rip on me. That's fine, if it'll make you feel better.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Thanks jumalian. That's why I posed the question.

tyybo · Soul Rider Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 340 City: Fargo

I think its pretty cool that we have someone out there on the lines who is givin up some info from the soldiers perspective, if this marine or whomever it is sends another email, you should post it

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

These aren't from a serviceman, but from a friend of mine who does camera work. I'll just get this out of the way now....The guy is Rob Davis, he works for a film crew called, oddly enough "The Texas Crew." They are contract film (don't know if it actually film, video, whatever medium, but you get the idea) guys who do the actual filming/taping/audio recording for whatever event...example, when ABC is going to have the Longhorn football game on Saturday and they go in to interview Mack Brown on Wednesday, they call the Texas Crew and Rob and the rest of the guys go down and set up the cameras, mikes, etc, do the taping and then hand off the tape to the ABC guys to do the editing. Rob and I were bartenders at The Bitter End in Austin for 2 years together.

Anyway, Rob was snowboarding in Wolf Creek a couple of weeks ago when he got a call about going to Kuwait to cover the war. Here are a couple of his emails...as you can see, he certainly has kept his sense of humor about some of the things over there!

Subject: horray for gas masks
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 14:58:35 +0000

hey y'all,
no scuds fell near us today, but we have had the pleasure of wearing
our gas masks three times already. the first alarm caught me by supprise as
i was getting out of the shower. so, i grabbed my mask and headed to the
basement of the hotel with chris. after the all clear siren we made our way
back to cbs headquarters. the streets were filled with kuwaitis chatting it
up about the attacks. one man approached us saying "no worry. no problem."
everyone is prettty relaxed around here.
we carry our nasty stuff gear around with us everywhere we go. during
the second alarm chris and i got caught outside, between hotels. we
promptly donned our masks, and high tailed it to the marriott to enjoy the
comforts of their bomb shelter. on the way we passed a man who chuckled at
our silly looking protective gear. my first thought was that i don't mind
looking silly as long as i'm safe. as it turns out all of the scuds had
conventional warheads, so the masks were simply a formality. it was a good
opportunity to get used to putting them on in a hurry.
yesterday we went to the airport to shoot for the evening news. there
was a sea of people trying to get out of the country. it seemed that
everyone had four pieces of luggage too many, and the porters were
scrambling all over the place. plenty of families saying good-bye to their
loved ones. it was extremely chaotic.
now we're just sitting at HQ, waiting for another assignment, which is
proving to be quite illusive. we're the last guys to arrive, and they just
don't seem to know what to do with us yet. i'm sure that'll change soon.
i'll keep y'all posted.
-rob-

Subject: military rank and file
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 23:53:28 +0000

ok kids,
here's the latest in news from the media front lines. in all the
running around with, and interviewing of military types here we've begun to
compile a list of names that probably didn't go ove too well on the junior
high playground, but coupling them with military rank classifications makes
them even worse. mind you these are real names.
---major strokes.
---major cox.
---and finally...captain jacoff. imagine if this guy makes it to general.
how about when he was a private. even worse, imagine if he had joined the
navy. he would have started out as seaman jacoff. just lovely.
you know, i've been trying to come up with a good vacation destination,
and i'm starting to realize that just about nowhere in the world are they as
glad to see americans as here in kuwait. i think i've developed a great
campaign for the kuwaiti board of tourism that should draw scores of yankees
to it's sand-stormy,
gas-mask friendly shores.

---tossed out of turkey? maligned in morocco? try kuwait.
---cold shoulder in canada? nudged out of norway? how 'bout kuwait?
---jeered in jakarta? pitch-forked in pakistan? kuwait awaits!
---ah yes, sunny kuwait. where you can sup on a buffet of global delights
like seal-flipper soup, monarch butterfly-wing salad, carrier pigeon egg
omlette, silver back gorilla shoulder supprise, and for desert...
chilled monkey brain.
---and ladies, don't forget to leave that sunblock at home, 'cause you'll be
wearing a stifilingly hot,
head-to-toe black burkha. plus there's a complementary beat-down if you so
much as show an ankle or wrist.
---so, pack up the kiddies and get yourself on over to the gulf. your
paradise awaits.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

another one from Rob...just got it this morning...

howdy y'all,
Well, we're three weeks into "operation: I thought the war would be
over by now", and some of the troops have been mumbling, "the recruiter told
me this was going to be a week of camping, some killer fire works, and a
parade.”
We were recently "in the field" with an entire battalion stationed at
the Hilton resort here in Kuwait (no kidding, the Hilton). While it is a
five-star facility, complete with drinks by the pool, and a fruit juice
mini-bar in every room, please don't think your 100 billion dollars are
going to waste. Sure, their brethren are digging in each night to get some
shut-eye. Yes, there are troops right now who are under fire in the name of
freedom. No doubt, there are soldiers throughout the Iraqi countryside who
are running low on cigarettes. But, the troops stationed at camp Hilton are
by no means pampered.
Yes, there's fluffy white towels, and daily, 400 thread-count, Egyptian
cotton sheet-change service. But lets face it; these troops have to deal
with the MEDIA every single day. You can only imagine the dumb-assed,
civilian questions: "Can I ride into Baghdad in a tank?" "Do I have to dig
my own fox hole if I take the embedded assignment with the marines?"
"What’s the difference between a lance corporal and a second lieutenant?"
"Is that thing loaded?" "Are y'all gonna give me a gas mask?" "What does
this button do?" “Where’s the bathroom?” "Can I have a pony?" ...plus, a
whole host of other requests that make you wonder if the media's mommies
didn't write their book reports for them when they were in grade-school.
In other news, there have been some recent changes in the line-up of
Iraqi state television programming. In addition to the daily psy-ops
transmissions of “Matlock” re-runs, the Iraqis have managed to squeeze in a
few broadcasts of their own, from remote clandestine locations. Some of the
gems are as follows:
-my 33 sons
-sadam knows best
-let’s mecca deal
-husseinfield
-mad about everything
-allah mc beal
-beat the press
-fatima loves chachi
-veronica’s closet of long, black, shapeless dresses
-eye for an eye witness news
-sponge bob squareturban
-camel 54 where are you
-suddenly sanctions

ah yes, the joy continues. I’ll keep y’all posted as things develop
hear in the rear eschelon. –rob-

Leggester · Posted: Apr 08, 2003 8:18 am Post subject:

I'd have to question this one. I do not believe ANY of the troops over there were told by a recruiter anything.

Even if they signed up at the beginning of the war in Iraq talk, they'd still be in boot or just out of it.

I think Rob may be pulling some legs around about now Rolling Eyes