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Dear Family and Friends,
Hello! How is everyone? Happy Belated Birthday to Linda and Bob! I hope their days were good ones. What kind of cake did Linda request for mom to bake or did you all just go out? I’m not sure what I will do to celebrate my Bday next week…probably go on a patrol! Some people may think that is rather odd, but it would mean a lot to me personally…to be out, to be as far forward as possible, on the most hostile ground in Iraq, humping my load with the men, standing between those who wish to kill us and you my family and friends. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday. There’s nothing I would rather do right now. I don’t have many chances to do things just for myself here. Dave and I spend our days and nights taking care of others, pouring ourselves into them, comforting them, counseling them and challenging them. I haven’t had a day off in more than four months. Maybe I should do something for myself on my birthday and if I get my choice, it will be, being out in sector with the men, the American soldiers who are helping to secure Iraq’s safety and freedom.
Unfortunately, that security does not come with out a price. While most of the country was relatively quiet during yesterday’s historic vote, we lost five soldiers in our Brigade battle space. You probably saw it on the news. These soldiers are from an active duty unit which is working for us. Their loss is sad but it does not diminish our resolve. We remain firm and committed. In fact, while I certainly do not want to be premature about this, I am beginning to think things are even starting to shift ever so slightly or slowly in our favor in this AO (area of operations). You see, many people back home don’t understand what’s happening here. They don’t understand Iraq. There are many places in Iraq where people can move about with relative safety and freedom. Their public services are improving. Their utilities are up and running. Their schools are following a regular schedule. Their economy is trudging forward…but then, there is Al Anbar, the province where we are located. Al Anbar is home to the largest Sunni population. The charter vote is not expected to pass here. The Sunnis, although a minority in Iraq, are the majority in this province. They were in power when Saddam was running the country. Now as the country moves toward democracy, they fear two things: being left behind economically since the oil reserves are in the north and south and we are in the west. Secondly, they fear losing more political power than they have already lost. Consequently, some of them, perhaps many of them are aligning themselves with the terrorists. They see this alliance as the only hope they have of preventing their two fears from becoming a reality. Yet, personally, as I say, I see a shift beginning. Internationally, I see the shift in Zawahiri’s (bin Laden’s top deputy) admonition to Zarqawi (al Queda’s leader in Iraq) about all the killing. Nationally, I see it in top level Sunni clerics telling their congregations to participate in the vote and locally, I see the shift taking place in how the people are interacting with us. Please do not think they are friendly toward us. They are not, but they are at least now assisting us from time to time (which happens consistently in other places in Iraq) and they are more receptive to receiving goods and services from us, especially for their children. So we’ll see where things go, please just keep us and the good people of Iraq in your prayers. There is still a long road ahead, but we are American soldiers. We are used to marching down long roads when others say it is impossible.
Once again, we have been overwhelmed by your kindness and thoughtfulness this week. We received a variety of goodies from the Horchlers, the Gargasz family, Steve Dixon, Matt Rafkin, Janet and Merle Shaw, Deborah Shaw, Terri and Jerry Ferilla, Uncle Dale and Aunt Bev, Richard and Jane Brill, Todd and Gabrielle Gillenwater, Doug, Tiffany and Dyaln Kappel, Sue and Wayne Stratos, Lynne Armstrong, Lillian Frey (who made and collected beautiful church banners for the chapel), Joy Bearley and her friends Pat and Bob and Dotty and Steve, Sue Rice and The Pennsylvania State Education Association – Retired, my favorite anthropologist Dr. Maria Czuzak (who incidentally, is donating her time to assist in New Orleans – way to go Doc!), Patty Phillippi and the Yellow Ribbon Girls, Marie Thomas, my best buddy here Patrick’s hockey pals – the DeAugustine, Freeman, Irwin, Jackson, Machi and Quigley families (I’ve got a picture attached to this for you all), the sisters of Gamma Phi Beta at
Washington University, Karen DeAlessandro and VFW Post 477, Leatha Weese, Peg Fisher, the Postman’s Pet Judy Volpatti, the AFSCME union of Slippery Rock State University, Elly Freeder, Amy Quigley, Victoria Cluck, Pearl Cassatt, the employees of CTMT Indianapolis (that’s right Daniel and Dorothy, even people in Indiana support us!), Sam Lombardo and LTC Roberta Luba.
Dave tells me our needs this week include body wash, luffas, deodorant, q-tips, shampoo, AA batteries, Frebeze, Hand sanitizers, razors and replacement blades, shaving cream, OTC meds like pain killers, cold, flu and cough medicine, Benadryl, Neosporin and Hydrocortisone, snacks like jerky, tuna, ramen noodles, Kraft Mac and Cheese packets, Campbell’s Soup Select in the small plastic bowels, Frito’s Stacked Chips, Pringles, granola bars, Twizzlers, M&Ms in the small packets, and Roman Catholic saint medals. And here’s one more thing, something you can do help us continue to push this small shift forward…the children here are starting to respond to us. If you would like to send school supplies like paper, pencils, pens, chalk, soccer balls and stuffed animals that would be great.
I am attaching three pictures to this. The first is some children out in one of our towns. The second is Pat’s new Russian jeep some of the fellas fixed up for him (you’re goin’ love it Vick! Pat said you’ll be able to save money on gas if he can figure out a way to ship it home!) and the last is me in my tanker’s uniform. Have a great day. My love to you, one and all. Thank you for all you do for us. May God bless you and our American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. You’re in my heart America, and I shall always be,
Faithfully Yours,
Chaplain(Major)Douglas A. Etter
HHC 1-110 IN, 2/28 BCT
Camp Habbaniyah
APO, AE 09381 |
