Letters From The Frontline
This entry was posted on April 17, 2007 11:00 AM and is filed under the troops.
I received an email from Ryan Jazak the other day. It appears that our hero, Ryan's kid brother Eric Jazak, USMC, has reached his final destination on his second deployment. Ryan asked Eric if it would be alright for me to print the letter Eric emailed home a few days ago. Both brothers believe that it is so important for the American people to get the "real stories" of what are troops are going through from the troops view point, and not by a media group who will decide what is important and what is not, ... or what the American people should hear and what they should not hear, ... or what is a "sensational, attention-grabbing" news story and what is really going on in Iraq, as far as our great troops are concerned.
Eric, like Capt. Aaron Angell, USMC and Sgt. Darrin Domko; ARMY did when they were deployed, will keep us updated with the "real story" from the troops point of view.
Eric writes;
I'm here.
Just wanted to drop you all a line and let you know I made it to TQ the other night. Internet and phones have been down for the last three days and it is expected often, as usual. Paul tried to send an email to you letting you know that I made it in, but do to the outage, it probably did not come through.
Regardless, things here are good. I spent almost 3-days in Kuwait getting rained on in "tent city." No complaints because the rain kept it cool. From the time we left Miramar, CA ... it took us roughly 100+ hours to get into country ... Go Air Force, it's good to know they keep things moving fast in their world ... hehehe LOL!
Anyways, the trip was quite rough. Lots of moving parts to get almost 300 Marines into country. We were split up in many ways once we arrived in Kuwait so we did not all make it into country at one time. Since I am one of the senior GySgt's in the squadron, I was put in charge of making sure all of our Marines were moved, when and where they were supposed too. With that said, I was the last one into Iraq and only slept 7 hours in the five days it took us to get here. No complaints here though, just a long hard road to get here.
Paul was on the other side to greet me when I got into TQ. Currently, we are in transient huts ... small wooden shacks surrounded by concrete barriers. We will not move in to the "cans" until the other squadron leaves in a week or so. The base has changed a lot with many good things to keep the time going by. Once we start flying, we will be really busy, but for now it is slow until we take full control. I am in the Internet Building right now and that is kind of nice. A bunch of computers with really long lines for people to keep in touch via email. Once I get into the groove in the squadron it will be much easier to keep in touch ... until then, you probably won't hear from me much ... sorry. I don't have the patience or safety mindset to stand in a line where I am right now, if you know what I mean.
Tell all of your taxpayers back there that the money is well spent as we are taken care of over here. Improvements are unbelievable and the security and shelters are the best I have ever seen in my years. Not so safe outside the wire, but that is expected. From here, when I am not flying, I expect life to be really good. I can tell you that the Marine Corps and our government are doing great things to make sure we are taken care of when we are not on patrols in the streets and the air. I couldn't ask for better living conditions in a place like this.
So, that is what is going on in my world. I don't expect to fly (in my helicopter) until maybe Saturday. I will get my warm-ups in and then it's off to the fight I go. Things are really slow over here right now for us. With that said, it may be boring, but we know progress in this war is going our way. Don't listen to the press. I can tell you we are light-years ahead of where I was two years ago. All the forces are doing amazing things ... it's a long hard road with many years ahead, but we are winning the fight and you can see it in the eyes and hear it in the stories of those who are here.
I miss you all. I wish I could say you are going to hear from me again soon, but it depends on if I get time to get over here to the Internet Building again to log on. You can email me. I may try and get back tonight to see if you wrote back or not, but we will see what happens. I promise to keep in touch.
I have to go so others may use the computer ... I hope all is well back home.
I love you all and miss you much,
I love you all and miss you much,
Eric
Please write this brave American. Eric's Iraqi email address is; eric.jazak@tq.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
For those of you who would like to mail Eric a care package or just send some magazines and hard candy, write him at;
GySgt. Eric Jazak
HMLA 369 DOSS
UNIT 42070
FPO AP 96426-2070
Let's take care of this brave Marine and let him know how loved he and his fellow troops really are.
Let's take care of this brave Marine and let him know how loved he and his fellow troops really are.
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April 18, 2007 7:41 AM
Ryan Jazak wrote:
Thanks again for all your support Joe. And thank you again for all of the nice things you say about my family. I truely feel like you are my big brother. Through this blog and letters from the frontlines, hopefully we can all spread the good things and good news about our brave warriors overseas.
To everyone who takes a little time out of their daily lives to write to my brother, or any service member overseas, you have my eternal gratitude. As I have said before, all they are asking of Americans is their support. Stand behind them... because you sure as hell don't want to be standing in front of them.
To my brother GySgt. Jazak, you have always been an inspiration to me. Your courage and commitment to our homeland, need not be explained. You and your Marines have my everlasting thanks for all that you do, in war time, and peace time. I miss you already bro, and I love you. God protect you on your mission.
Semper Fi,
Ryan Jazak
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