Below is another in the long line of "letters from the frontline," written by GySgt Eric Jazak, USMC. It took me a while to read this letter through my tears, ... tears of pride I feel just knowing this outstanding American.

I know a lot of you write to this great American, ... please don't stop writing, even if it's just a few lines to let him and the men and women serving with him that we are thinking about them.

Eric writes;

Todays update is going to be a little different. I apologize that I couldn't get this out last night while it was still my birthday. I have been sitting down for the past few nights typing away, ... deleting, ... and typing away some more, trying to find the right words to write so all of you readers can form an opinion of my words and learn a little bit of what daily life, progress or no progress, has been like for us in the past few weeks.

I have about a million things to say, but just no real sense of how to express it, so I cut and paste, move it, change this and that, and so on. Today was a new day for me and for once a big light came on and I now know exactly what I want to say. These moments of brilliance do not happen often, so mark it on your calendars! (that was humor!!!! I think I get that from Joe Cantafio.)

So, I guess that "the cat is out of the bag." It's true, I have racked up another year and I have celebrated my birthday here in Iraq. I have never been a big "birthday" kind of guy, not since my Mom and Dad stopped buying my favorite toys. I usually make the best attempt to celebrate low key with those individuals I keep close to my heart. I mean, let's get real, ... who likes getting old right? What's the celebration about? I keep telling my Father and my brother Ryan that I may be getting older, but the best news is I will never catch up to them.

I heckle Ryan quite a bit in regards to sending "monster email attachments" because they usually lock-up my in-box on the computer and it takes hours to get sorted out to a normal state. It's kind of a running joke between us. Last night he warned me that when I open my emails, I could potentially have some problems. Well, to my surprise, when I finally sat down to read my emails, my in-box was full of birthday letters from all over, ... friends, family, and letters from those I have not had the privilege to meet before coming here to Iraq. I received one from England ... a British firefighter friend of Vinny Forras! I must say, I think the email count topped-out at around 100 emails, and I just could not keep up!

Most of the emails offered me happy wishes and a safe day. The rest offered me a beer when I get back home to the states. You know who you are and trust me, I am gonna hold you to it! For the most part, my day was pretty easy, unless of course, you count the verbal harassment from the young Marines in the shop who kept telling me how old I am getting! NO fret though, I can still run most of these young bucks into the dirt.

Now, to get to the point ... today my update is going to be about all of you readers! I must send out a special "THANK YOU," to each and every one of you for taking the time out of your lives to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. My only request is that you read this letter and believe that these words come with great emotion for the great service you have provided me and my Marines. I really don't know how to express my feelings for the support that I have received though all of this. My last deployment to Iraq in 2005, was an eye opener. Not only for "the cause," but for how many great Americans stand behind "the mission" we have been tasked with. Two years and some changes later, and the support is ten-fold! The emails, letters, care-packages and most of all, your support for me and the Marines I serve with during this deployment, has really been hard to soak up. The support just keeps coming in from all over ... from places you would not even imagine.

We have letters and cards from schools all over ... Colorado, California, Wisconsin and Maryland to name a few places. Church Groups and Prayers Groups from every neck of the woods are sending their prayers and their best wishes to us.

Some of my favorite things are the posters and banners from the kids. It is so neat to see some of the things they write. The imagination of the youth is something really amazing. Then, I think of all the money being spent on care-packages and shipping costs and I know that all of you have come way out of pocket to show you care for us, ... it is amazing and it will not be forgotten. What really matters is that all of you have taken time out of your lives to sit down and write an email, send an e-card or mail a letter just to let me know you are thinking of me. A little taste of normal life from back home really keeps us going. I keep telling my brother how guilty I feel.

I cannot get caught up with all these emails. Ryan keeps telling me, " ... it's understood, ... people understand that sometimes you cannot get back to them." There is no doubt in my mind that we are supported in this great mission. I am just one Marine in this fight, and if the support is this good for me, I cannot even fathom the bigger picture of those who stand behind us. I pray that each and every one of you feels special for what you have done and continue to do. Thank you all for the support you have shown to this day, and now, you have made my birthday in Iraq something memorable.

My greatest supporters have always been my family. My Mother and Father must have super-powers to have raised me. I have been out of their home now since I was 18 and never looked back because I know they were right behind me. I surely have not made all the right decisions in life but they were always there to help when I needed it. I could have never made it this far in this line of work without the blanket of security they have provided me. From the day I was born and to this very minute, they are always there to steer me in the right direction when I need guidance. I've given my Mom many sleepless nights, but she is always with me in the end. If I become half the man my father is, I will surely be alright. I love these two more than life itself, for everything they have given me in this world. For that, I will forever be grateful to have been blessed to be their son.

My brother Ryan, I am proud to say, is my biggest fan! It is a safe bet that those of you who know him would agree. I am honored, and it really chokes me up, when he tells me that, and when I hear from others, "You know Eric, your brother is your biggest fan!" That is a lot to live up to for me. I have never been good at expressing my gratitude, and love to my brother, for everything he has done for me in my life. Even the ass-kickings I took as his "the little brother" means so much to me today. Although I think I can take him now, he really helped me become the man I am today. Ryan was there for me in the toughest years of my life and he still stands beside me as my brother and my best friend. I give most of the credit for the great support base I have to him, he really deserves it.

Ryan's beautiful wife Karla keeps him in-line when nobody else can. Karla has been my big sister since the day we met, and ever since my 31-year old brain can remember. She has been the best addition to our family. Ryan and Karla now have a beautiful baby boy that I can proudly say, is named after me; Eric Vincent Jazak, aka "Lil' -E." This little guy has no idea how spoiled he's gonna be from Uncle Eric (that's me.) Normally, we don't carry pictures when we go outside the wire, but I have a picture of Lil'-E with me all the time ... it reminds me that he is going to have a better future, hopefully one without this war and this hate for America and our freedoms.

My birthday present to myself this year is a brand new, 2007 Harley Davidson Road King. It will be shipped to the West Bend Harley Davidson dealer, where my brother will sign for it until I come home. If all goes well, New York and Ground Zero firefighter, Vincent Forras, will be putting the first miles on it during the Wisconsin Firefighters Ride in late July. I can't tell you how honored I am to have met this man. Vinny fought the great battles on September th 2001, as a New York State firefighter. The sacrifices he made and the sacrifices his brothers-in-arms made during those horrific times will never be forgotten.

Through my brother, I have  met some of the greatest Americans to date; Vincent Forras and Joe Cantafio. You haven't lived until you have shared a drink with these guys.

~~~~Vinny, ... I fly with your arm patches everyday, the colors of the fallen brothers! Rest assured, your wishes in the video you sent me are being taken care of here daily ~~~~

Semper Fi Brotha!

~~~~ Joe, ... Keep spreading the word in memory of Ryan Cantafio, KIA Al Anbar, Iraq. We keep up the good fight in the memories of OUR fallen brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice so others may live free~~~~

Semper Fi Brotha!

Thank you, ... to all of you, and those you know who are putting out so much support for our efforts here.

Eric Jazak
GySgt USMC

GySgt Eric "Jimmy" Jazak
HMLA-369, Al Taqaddum, Iraq

Eric.jazak@tq.mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

Gunfighters Rule!  Ooooo Rahhhhh