Most recent email from Seth

Dear Family and Friends,

Just a few random thoughts from Al Anbar:

Today Eli and I both received combat patches for serving in a combat zone for
over thirty days. It is my second combat patch, but it is still meaningful. Our
Battalion Commander and Battalion Sergeant Major came to talk with us about the
importance of this day and our service. They also wanted to wish up a happy
veteran’s day, a holiday that will carry significance for us for the rest of our
lives.

Yesterday was the Marine Corps Birthday, they were founded in 1775. Every year
they have a big to do when their birthday comes around. They had steak, lobster
tails, Cornish hen, and all kinds of other treats in the chow hall. Not to
mention music being played, a huge display of carved fruits, and the statue of
the flag raising at Iwo Jima. But to top it all off they had beer at dinner for
everyone… except for us. Our group Battalion Commander (who is a Muslim) did not
believe that we should be drinking alcohol, so forbade us to do it. Some of the senior leadership here really knows how to crash a party and stomp
out morale.

I enjoy talking politics with random people in our unit because it is nice to
hear the opinions of other people. Some times I say things just to hear what
kind of response I get. I recently asked one of my fellow soldiers from the
101st airborne what he thought about the possibility of Hillary Clinton and
Barrack Obama being president and vice president, his exact response was, “I
don’t think a woman and a black Muslim should be allowed to rule the United
States of America.” I hope this soldier does not represent the majority of
Americans, especially since Obama is a Christian. A little disturbing to think
about how uninformed some voters truly are.

Our last patrol was the longest that I have had to drive an ASV in one day. We
spent eleven hours straight driving. By the end of the trip I was extremely sore
and tired. After eleven hours you would think that we would of ended up in some
distant region near Iraq’s border. The truth is eleven hours of driving took us approximately ten miles from
Al Asad. Where we were sleeping we could see the lights of the base. We had to
cross the Euphrates, and the only accessible route that wasn’t damaged was all
the way up north at the Haditha damn. The bridge that should have given us
access to the outpost we were heading to had been destroyed sometime last year.
There is no doubt when driving around Iraq that this is a country at war.

I miss home everyday, but some days are worse then others. Days with
significance make me think of home the most, days such as birthdays, holidays,
anniversaries, and other special occasions. This past Friday was mine and
Brittany’s five-year anniversary since our first date. I would of loved to have
been at home taking my beautiful wife out for a celebration of our time
together, instead I just sent her flowers. Five years ago, when I was seventeen
and Brittany was fifteen, we went out to Scotto’s for a pizza, and what would be
the start of a wonderful relationship. We were joking on the phone about how the next five years
will be so much better, because I will actually be home for more than half of
them. I’m a lucky man to have such a wonderful wife.

I hope this e-mail finds you all doing well and enjoying your weekend. Take care
and I look forward to talking to you all soon,

Lots of Love from Iraq,
Seth