It's been a week since we heard from American hero, Eric Jazak, USMC. I love to go on and on about this great American, but he gets very uncomfortable whenever I toot his horn, something he's just gonna have to get used to.

As I am reading this email, I am just blown away at the fact that he just wrote it a few minutes ago. I love the way the gunny writes; ... I feel as if I am reading some lost WWII journal or something found in Saigon after the Vietnam War. But it's real time, ... these things are happening in the here and now.

His letters are more interesting to me now because I now know of two Marines serving on Eric's flight line. One I only know as "Gregory from Missouri" and the other is Aric Hackler, USMC from Indiana. It's like a war movie with more characters being introduced a little bit at time. I also know the name, Paul, Jazak's roommate and close friend.

Eric writes;

To All,

It has been a few days now since I last wrote.  Since then, our operational tempo has doubled as the temperatures continue to climb as we approach the summer months.  The weather guy keeps reporting a Green Flag Condition which means it's around 90 degrees or so, but I'm not sure where the hell he his is getting his information from. It must be from the pool-side thermometers inside the Green Zone.  
   
Temps over here are well inside the 100's by late morning and are expected to climb and average of 1-2 degrees per day from here on out.  Yesterday, the temps on the flight line here at TQ averaged about 105+ and inside the aircraft topped about 110 degrees or so.  Along with the Marines, our aircrafts are getting tired as the sand and temperatures take their toll on the engines and components.  As usual, we continue to push forward and suck up the A/C when we can.
   
We continue to secure the areas outside Baghdad in the Al Anbar Province and the progress the Marines and Soldiers are making is truly amazing.  These guys maintain their professionalism against a faceless enemy in the most grueling conditions.  To some it seems like a peace keeping mission, to others it is still an all out war.  I guess that depends on where you are in the country.  In the Light Attack community, we get to see the best and worst of our Area of Operation (AO), Al Anbar Province.  We move from area to area working with those who need us....some missions are quite boring, but still serve their purpose. Then there are missions that will make you question your choice in occupations!...It gets a little sporty up there sometimes!  (That was sarcasm, because I love this job.)
   
Last week, the Iraqi Air Force flew their newly bought Huey Helicopters into TQ for some on hands training and lessons learned from us.  They are not exactly new, but Vietnam era Hueys pushed through rework and modifications to get them stood up.  I met an Iraqi Officer...Major Muhammad (Go Figure) who was freed from jail during post invasion investigations years ago.  Maj Muhammad was in jail for approximately 12 years for refusing orders to kill civilians in northern Iraq after our liberation of Kuwait.  These civilians were suspected of providing information to the Kurds for an attempted over throw of Saddam's government.  Maj Muhammad is now the senior pilot for the Iraqi Air Force's newest helicopter squadron of just a few Vietnam era Huey helicopters....it's a damn good start.  
   
Two Years ago, Iraqi Police and Security Forces were almost unheard of in Anbar.  Joint operations with Iraqi Police, Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi Army and US Forces are of the norm now.  We work hand in hand with them securing the cities and country sides to allow the civilians to live normal lives and the local governments to thrive.  Al Qaeda (AQ) forces continue to disrupt progress in certain areas, but now are forced to fight coalition and Iraqi militia groups.  For the most part, AQ forces have worn out their welcome in Iraq and are running out of places to hide. 

There are still a large number of AQ forces operating freely in Iraq, but we are doing a good job of flushing them out.  Those who have once sympathized and supported them have now come to realize they offer no benefit to the nation.  Militias have formed all over the country to root out AQ forces and have begun cooperate with coalition forces.  Thousands are in line for police and security jobs for the Iraqi Nation.  In some areas, too many people volunteer and are forced to train in other parts of the nation because the academies are
now full.  Civilians are coming out daily with reports of anti-coalition activity and giving direction to some of the largest weapon caches we have seen to date.  At times it is extremely hard to tell who is who, but we are doing what we can to rectify this.  Some do not support the government entirely, but want the terrorist groups out...it is a happy medium we are willing to negotiate on...the rest will come later under their own political leadership.
   
It is not an over night thing for us.  With all the news and political games being played back stateside, it is no wonder the American public is questioning our progress over here.  It is no secret that our media/press can sway the minds of many others outside of our nation. We watch the news with a whole new perspective here and if I didn't know any better, I would think we have zero support from our nation or government.  We know better than that, but this perception is an evil enemy we fight daily.
   
We know that during our 6-7 months here we are not going to end this war with our efforts alone.  This will probably go on for many years to come.  Some days we feel like we made no change at all, but we do understand that we are making huge progress everyday, we just may not see it at our level.  With all governments, there will be set-backs and we will continue to take our blows from the enemy.  But like every other day, we will keep our chin up and push through it.  Our will to sustain in the last years has brought this nation from nothing to something. Other nations are seeing the progress here in Iraq and now support its parliament.  Debts are being wiped clean for this nation to allow Iraq to have a new beginning.  Banks, colleges, markets, malls, churches, mosques and vacation areas are now here, police and military academies are thriving.  The rebuilding effort is strong and small towns and cities are beginning to expand.  Civilians here are seeing the efforts and sacrifices of others to make their lives different for them and their children. The new Iraqi government has many problems, just as we have our own.  But it's main focus is now is a free nation self governed by elected officials to stand next to other free nations in the world. Its main goal is no longer military power and destruction or rule by the iron fist.  These people now have rights and a government to defend their rights.  It is our moral obligation to stay the course.....
   
That is all for now.  I send my love to you all from the sunny paradise we call Iraq.  Thank you all for the strong support base you have provided me and so many others.

Eric   

GySgt Eric "Jimmy" Jazak
HMLA-369 DOSS

Please write to this kick-ass American at; eric.jazak@tq.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

Write to Aric Hackler at; aric.hackler@tq.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

Please note the effect House Majority Leader Harry Reid's Anti-Troops comments are having on our troops in action. Harry Reid is so full of shit, and his head is so far up his own ass, that it appears he has a tan and is wearing sunglasses!

105+ degrees, ... WOW, ... How's the weather where you are reading this?

God bless our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. God bless America.