Deployments

“This is not a recipe for war.

It is our cookbook Semper Fidelis”

“My husband's boss got the call and is leaving for at least a year to join in this fight against terrorism. He is married with two small children.

Lookingglass and I will do our part by keeping in touch with his bosses wife, and make sure she is okay, and help her out when needed.”

“This is an email from my girlfriends nephew dated on the 17th of Sept. from a navy ship.
Since this, all email has been shut off.

Well, ive heard what's happening in NYC and DC. We were on our last night
in Darwin, Australia when it happened. Once we found out we were
immediately recalled to the ship. We were supposed to go to East Timor from
here, but now nobody really knows what's happening or where we're going from
here. The only thing I know is that if anything does happen, any conflict
etc...my unit, the 15th MEU, will be one of the first to go into action. We
are forward deployed, a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)....this is exactly
why we exist, these situations. We can respond to any crisis in the Pacific
and Indian Oceans and Middle East in 72 hours, and are self-sustainable for
14 days. Being a West Coast MEU, our main Area of Operational
Responsibility (AOR) is the Middle East which basically makes up the US
Central Command (CENTCOM) and is covered by the 7th Fleet. What all this
means is that at the moment my unit is "the tip of the spear".

I really don't know what to say. This is what we are all here for, and we
may be called forth to make great sacrifices. Every Marine here is
basically screaming for blood, and I don't see us just walking away from
this. If anything, these next 5 months (or possibly longer now) will
definitely be misery. My greatest fear is that we will just go sit on our
asses off the coast of some sh*thole country for 5 months on this floating
coffin sweating to death from the damn heat in the middle east and going
insane with boredom. Every Marine here, including myself, wants to get off
this damn ship wherever we go and do our Duty, not sit around like worthless
sardines "waiting for something to happen". We've been waiting and look
what's going on now. This is the time for action, and I think the country
as whole realizes that, so we'll see what happens. Hell, that could last
even longer than 5 months depending on what America decides to do. At any
rate, this is definitely going to have a direct effect on my life for the
remainder of my time in the Marines.

Due to OpSec (Operational Security) we are under the strictest orders not to
discuss our position or where we are going, etc. We are not even allowed to
speculate, otherwise they will shut down the email. Ive been thinking about
everyone back home, and I know how emotional and worried you all must be.
I'm doing fine and I have no fear. I just want to achieve a swift victory
and come home. We are living through History right now, and I am proud to
say that I am on the front and get to participate.”