18 Dec 2007:
(From his alternate):

As I click this out I do so loaded with some emotion that I’m wondering how to sort out. So I’ve been over here for almost three and a half months. Today is the first time I saw Iraq. Okay, I’ve flown over it at night and during the day. I’ve seen the vast landscape of desert Iraq looking out the tail end of a CH-46. I’ve gazed down at the absolute blackness of the desert in the very, very dark of night from the tail-end of a V-22 Osprey. Today, however was the first time I haven’t travelled from base to base but rather went into the heart of Fallujah. It is ugly in a depressing way. The city is bombed out and the people, by their finger nails, are trying desperately to climb their way out of the biggest dump/landfill I’ve ever scene in my life. The faces on the children wore smiles as we drove by, some waved. It was a beautiful day to be in the ugliest site I’ve seen in some time.

I sat in the first seat behind the driver and A-driver. While I heard the customary f-enheimers, I know them too well. In this environment they can easily slip from one’s mouth. If it didn’t start with a ‘f’ there it was sh… A combat weary soldier must use one or the other every other word. Four letter words. I kept thinking of one… I want to give those people H-O-P-E.

Ah-h-h-h, but there were signs of hope. I saw them with my own eyes. Bear with me for a couple of them. I went in with a convoy of dignitaries who attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new business center which has been established to develop business opportunities in the province. That means growth, jobs, dinner on the table and all that. Surrounding that center were very secure t-walls of concrete and there were sentries posted on top of the building. I didn’t attend that event. The other was project was one some of my Seabees worked on. They totally remodeled a building holding the Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (EPRT). They will oversee the re-building of the infrastructure. That is assuming there is one, barely. The other half of that building will belong to the Iraqi Police. I’m hearing good things about the development of that group. That implies that they’re growing in power, authority, and ability. Recall that means the more they take hold of controlling the thugs in this country the less we have to be involved in it. Both of those structure, both organizationally and physically are small signs of growing hope.

Hope. As I said this is possibly one of the most depressing places I’ve seen, perhaps ever. Bombed out buildings, destroyed homes, piles of garbage, burning trash within the city, city buses with broken windows being driven yet loaded with people with blank looks on their faces. It was a challenging to see all the faces and places looking so empty of life. As you may experience yourself art can be a powerful form of expression. The canvas for the painting can come in many forms. How about t-walls, concrete barriers for a painting surface, it works. As we drove our seven armored vehicles through that main thoroughfare there were sections of t-wall murals painted with hope. Against the depressing landscape of bombed out, burned out autos and buildings were t-walls painted with beautiful desert scenes with bright colors of the sky, rich green palm trees, a golden sun, but no sign of war or desolation. It was a vision of some artist that peace would reign in the land of war. It wasn’t subtle; you couldn’t help but notice a few artistic scenes of natural splendor along a route of shambles. They were obviously done by someone longing for lasting peace.

My source of delight in the middle of my day, besides listening to stories of Marines and Seabees, was playing ping-pong with a fourteen year old boy in the government building. He was playing his dad when my entourage entered to go to the office spaces in the basement. I could hear people playing the game on the second floor near the staircase. Later he and his father dressed in a quasi-military uniform came down stairs. I said hello to them as no one else did. I motioned to the boy and his father about the game upstairs. A moment later the small, young teen and I went upstairs away from the crowd and we were volleying back and forth. Within twenty volleys I said, “Zero-zero.” He didn’t know English and I knew even less Arabic. He knew how to keep score. He defeated me handily. We took pictures. Then Noo and I played again. Once again Noo took me to school. Noo and I smacked fists and smiled. I assured him my son beats me in ping-pong, too.

By the way, the Marines I talked to will be some of the gang taking your stuff to the streets and schools. They love doing it. They hand out the candy to the throngs of children who follow them on patrol.   Thank you for bearing with me this has been helpful to get it down via the keyboard.

CDR Bradley J.H. Thom, CHC, USNR

29 Nov 2007

Thanks for the support that has been given to the Seabees serving in Iraq. You have put a lot of smiles on the faces of the men and women in Iraq. I pray that you will continue your support; because of you the morale is very high around here. Thanks for everything

RP1 (FMF) Alan Grow

08 Nov 2007
Thanks to everyone for their support. As I walk around the base I have seen packages being delivered that are address to Any Sailor, Marine, Solider and Airman. You have brought a lot of smiles and lifted a lot spirits around the base.

The following has been requested from several personnel: Cigars, peanuts, gum, and blank Mini DVD-R (used for United Through Reading). The United Through Reading is a program where a service member can read a book to their children or any other kids they might know and record it on a DVD and send it home. This is one way to keep our service members in touch with their families during this time of separation. Thank you for your support to YOUR Seabees.

V/R
RP1 (FMF) Alan B. Grow

29 Oct 2007

Thank you for all the continued support. All is going well. The Seabees have enjoyed the care packages that have came in. because of your support you have made this deployment a lot more enjoyable.

V/R
RP1 (FMF) Alan B. Grow

04 Oct 2007
Can you add to the want list:
            Protein bars, candy, tooth paste, tooth brush, dental floss (the ones that are on a toothpick), soap, deodorant, hand warmers, potato chips.

V/R
RP1 (FMF) Alan B. Grow

01 Oct 2007

18 Sep 2007
I am with the 30th Naval Construction Regiment stationed in Port Hueneme, CA. I am originally from Bogalusa, LA. Our living conditions are getting a lot better. Thanks for all the support.
Most people are wanting:
phone cards, letters, trail mix, popcorn, coffee, hot chocolate, magazines, batteries, ankle white socks, solid black calf high socks.
We do have have 110-220 electricty with microwaves and refrigators.