November 9th, 2006 ... Letters From The Frontline

I have learned that some of you have been "hooked' on this very special part of this blog. I love it to. I just received another letter from everybody's favorite Marine; Captain, Aaron Angell. Some of you may recall in his last letter he was asking for books for his Marine's in Baghdad. I want to thank my friend Laurie Reed and everyone at Wybel Publishing in Barrington, Illinois for stepping up "BIG TIME" and putting in requests for books from all of their fellow publishers across America. As you'll read at the bottom of his letter, book are starting to arrive.

Aaron writes;

Hello, everyone!

Tomorrow is the 231^st Marine Corps Birthday.  Those of you who have been around Marines know how big of an occasion this is.  No matter where a Marine unit is, there is quite an effort to make this day special.  We celebrate our proud traditions by reminiscing the battles and wars that our Marine Corps has fought in since 1776, and we listen to the speeches of Commandants of the Marine Corps, past and present.  No matter where we are we will make every effort to get a cake and go through the ceremony of formally presenting that cake and presenting the first piece from the oldest Marine present to the youngest.  And every year we all guffaw over the birth date of that youngest Marine.  I expect this year it will be 1988, perhaps even 1989.  Every birthday those Marines who are at home (and not deployed) get dressed up in their finest uniforms with their dressed-up spouses at their sides and gather as one huge family to feast and celebrate.   Over the years Megan and I have been very happy to have been able to bring some family with us, to include Megan's Grandfather who landed with the first wave of Marines on Iwo Jima during WWII.  That was a sight to see... Megan's Grandfather being introduced personally by a 3-star Marine Corps General and then standing for recognition by the over 1,000 Marines present.  In Iraq this year we are lucky enough to even get (2) beers a person for those who are of the age to drink, and for those who are not on duty performing their missions around the airfield and performing security missions.  Those who miss the chance to drink during the ceremony, will get that chance through rotation over the next few days, though.  

Unfortunately, I will not be celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday with my unit tomorrow, as I will be heading to Al Asad to catch a follow-on flight to Bahrain for a conference.  As proof that Megan knows me real well, yesterday she wrote to ask me if I was all right with not being with my unit for the birthday.  I'll admit that I do get real sentimental about things and I am sad that I will not be with MWSS-373 to celebrate the birthday tomorrow.  I have made a few phone calls to ensure that I do have a family to meet up with in Al Asad to celebrate. 

Today during noon meal at the dining facility I saw that the traditional single table set empty in the middle of the facility to symbolize those Marines missing in action and our fallen comrades who were unable to join us.  Just the thought of that actually fills my eyes with tears.  Yep, I'm a sentimental guy.  I don't mind saying that I am sentimental about Marine Corps, though.  Sure, a tear may not be manly, but a tear for our pride and tradition can't be all that bad.

To those of you who may be writing me over the next week, I will be in Al Asad and then Bahrain until 15 NOV. 

To those who have been sending out books already, THANK YOU.  We have already received several books, to include (10) copies of a particular book donated by a book publisher from Scranton, PA (Thank you, Laurie, for your work on this). 

Lastly, to those of you who are Marines - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Semper Fidelis!

Respectfully,

Capt Aaron Angell

Again, I just love the fact that we get the "real story" from the real people who are serving our country.

To Aaron, ... brother you are one of the most "manly men" I know and now I am teary eyed thinking of the empty table at the dining facility in Iraq. USMC, Ryan Cantafio who was paid the ultimate price in Baghdad on Thanksgiving 2004 comes to mind.

All of us who read this blog have been given a great opportunity to respond and reach out to these fine Americans. Don't hesitate, drop Aaron a line and say "thanks." It doesn't cost you anything but a few minutes. Click on his email address and you are in business.

Laurie, I am so excited at the fact you stepped up, got publishers from all over the nation to help ship free books to our Marines. Please write to Aaron at Aaron.Angell@tq.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

God bless America!

 

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