I’m glad you liked the flag and certificate…somehow we knew you’d like that best of all. I remember the first time I read the certificate and felt my throat close up and tears watering in my eyes. It’s dramatic but touching, and very real. It’s sometimes hard to remember what we’re here for and how it came to be our responsibility to fight this war for the Iraqi people. That’s on a bad day when there’s dust in the air and home seems a million miles away. On most days I think back to what someone said in a speech as they were leaving here and it’s this: What may look like chaos now will be a world of difference ten years from now, and he referred to his time here before, during the Gulf War. He saw nothing but destructive people, destitute, and fighting a battle that even they didn’t believe in or understand. It was bloody and awful, as this one has been, but then again he said that when he returned this time to that same place it was as if a whole new peace had arrived for the people there. Women were walking about freely and people seemed happy, the city rebuilt and lives started over. He said for us to try and remember that one day the people here will live free lives, and I truly believe that.
So David, on a good day I think of that, plus all of you back there supporting us through thick and thin, doing what you can to make our days a little brighter. You will never know how much that means to all of us. Sending a dusty flag flown over Iraq is the least we can do to show all of you how important your work is to everyone here and how thankful we are.
God bless you.
Ali
PS…I’m attaching a couple of pictures we took today in the middle of a sand storm. And in answer to your last question, you can post any and all pictures we send to you.
Sgt Kellam, A.K.
Maint Mgt Analyst
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
