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June 26, 2005A letter to any American soldier, anywhere, but esp. in IraqDear Soldier, Dear Sailor, Dear Marine, Dear Airman; When I am ready to go to bed, I close the lights - lights which work so well, I don’t even think about the fact that in some parts of the world electricity is a sometime thing. I take out my prayerbook and look at the names of all the people for whom I have promised to pray…so many people dealing with illnesses, family troubles, job-woes, tragedies and fears, and I bring them all to the Lord. I say, “Lord, the one you love is sick…Lord, this family is in pain…Lord, Lord..” My bookmark is a simple note to myself: Remember to pray for our troops and their CIC. And then I pray for you. I think of men and women in uniform, away from home. Some are afraid. Some are bored. Some are wishing they had a dog to pet and warn off the couch, some perhaps are wishing they had clean sheets. Some are injured only a little, some are injured gravely. Some write letters home wondering if we think of them, if we even remember that they are out there, doing hazardous or lonely duty. They see images and read articles and hear stupid, politically motivated rhetoric and wonder…will I be spit on when I go home? Is the left back at that point, again? Will I have to worry, when I am finally home, that I will leave behind the smiles and kisses of the Iraqi children, here, children who have lived under tyranny and are only just beginning to taste freedom - who have no conception of all the world has to offer…in order to endure the sneers and taunts of over-privileged trust fund babies who have been fed on freedom all their lives, who find romance in something other than liberty and who have no conception of what the world is like outside their painted doors and comfortable beds and their narrowly-lived lives? They too, have no idea what the world has to offer. They also have no idea how delicate a thing is freedom, how precariously it must be balanced upon principles of self-lessness and values that go beyond trendiness and mindless chattering. In their Che Guevera tee shirts, they assume that “something else” is better than the astonishing comfort and opportunity into which they have been born. Clean sheets. The people Che Guevera murdered did not have them. Sometimes we soldiers do not have them. But the detainees at Gitmo, committed to our destruction, do. They DO have clean sheets. Does America understand that? Does America care? Does America get the very great thing that it is doing in the Middle East? Does America remember that her sons and daughters are here, and that we believe in this mission because we can already see the difference we are making…because we know that by promoting freedom here, we are possibly sparing our own nation from additional decades of terrorism, terrorism as a daily threat? Does America GET IT? And when I think of a soldier who is thinking this way, this is my prayer: Dear Lord, our troops are scattered throughout the world, please bless and protect them. Please bless those soldiers who are injured, with skilled medics and doctors and nurses…bless those who are lonely with a sense of your nearness and consolation. Bless those who are afraid with the presence of your most excellent angels. Give them worthy chaplains, companionship, decent food, restful sleep, and most importantly a sense of satisfaction in duty and clear evidence of the differences they are making for the better, in the lives of those whom they currently train and protect in Iraq, and throughout the world. Guide their jeeps and convoys and ships and planes away from mines and enemy fire. And Lord, please, let them know, somehow, that while they are far away, and may often feel alone, they have the prayers and thanks of so many millions of us here at home, here in America, where life has more or less gone back to “normal” since 2001, thanks in huge measure to the troops I pray for tonight, and their CIC. Bless them all and keep them, Lord, and bless and comfort their families who miss them daily. We know that our troops have volunteered to put themselves in harms way for the benefit of all in this nation - even those who do not understand, do not wish to understand, will never understand - and we know that all they ask in return is that America keep the faith with them, and hang in there ’til the end, that America will not cut and run and render all of the work our troops have done, all of their sacrifices, meaningless. Pour out your blessings upon our troops, their families and our President, I ask in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen. And when I close my prayerbook, finally, I lay back on my fluffy pillow, and I make the sign of the cross and thank the Lord for all of his blessings, and when I do that, I DO count you soldiers, you sailors, you marines, you airmen among those blessings. God be with you, in all you do. Dear Readers: Parents of some of our servicemen and women are reporting that their children, and husbands and wives - who are out there putting their lives on the line to save the likes of you and me the trouble of having to deal with decades of terrorism on our shore, are watching the antics of the left, and the media’s determined efforts to portray them as savages, or torturers or baby-killers, to under-report their heroic and effective work and over-report the very wrong behavior of a few, and they are beginning to lose heart. They’re wondering if anyone in America cares about what they are doing. Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler has set up an email address where you can send the troops your encouragement and thanks. I know that I have some of the greatest, big-hearted blog readers on the ‘net. I hope many of you will take a few moments to write a simple line or two and send it along, to let our troops know they are appreciated and not forgotten. At times like this, I really miss the late Michael Kelly. He would never have stood for the press slanting their reportage as they do. If nothing else, he would have filed stories that did right by our servicepeople. H/T Beth. http://theanchoressonline.com/2005/06/26/a-letter-to-any-american-soldier-anywhere-but-esp-in-iraq/trackback/ 41 Responses to “A letter to any American soldier, anywhere, but esp. in Iraq” |
June 26th, 2005 at 1:10 am
A Message To The Troops
Amen to this.
June 26th, 2005 at 1:29 am
You’re so right about Michael Kelly. And about the rest, too.
June 26th, 2005 at 3:33 am
Bless you.
June 26th, 2005 at 3:34 am
Another wonderful post, Anchoress!
Thank you.
June 26th, 2005 at 7:10 am
I have tears in my eyes. This is wonderful - and you are spot on about Michael Kelly
June 26th, 2005 at 8:50 am
Never doubt for a moment that you have found your ministry. I’ve sent me email–thanks so much for sharing this info.
June 26th, 2005 at 9:32 am
Although my orders for Viet Nam were changed at the last minute and I went to Germany, the situation had similarities. There was the Munich Massacre, bombings of American hangouts, direct bomb threats on our post, the devaluation of the dollar, and the oil embargo with subsequent long gas station waits. It appeared that the U.S. was going down the drain by the news that I was getting. The bad news was magnified.
It is so today for those troops in Afganistan and Iraq. They do need the continued honor and support by the ’silent majority’ to counteract the loud and well reported remarks of the ‘vociferous minority’ of pessimists, Bush detracters, and God haters.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:07 pm
Sunday Thoughts and Prayers
Here are two posts that will give you a lot to think about today: The Anchoress offers a letter and…
June 26th, 2005 at 4:47 pm
Dear Anchoress:
Thanks for the link to this site. I thought you & your readers would want to see this f/u message posted on the site this afternoon”
“GREETINGS FROM MOSUL, IRAQ! YES, I AM THE SOLDIER WHO IS THE LUCKY RECIPIENT ALL OF THESE GREAT, AND REALLY UPLIFTING E-MAILS. I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN? MY MOM (SHE’S THE BEST) SENDS ME AN E-MAIL TELLING ME THAT SHE “STUCK UP FOR ME” ON THE TERI O’BRIEN (A WONDEFULL WOMEN AS WELL) SHOW, AND THEN I GET AN E-MAIL FROM LC MOPE TELLING ME TO CHECK OUT THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS, AS WELL AS THIS WEB SITE. I CAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW UTTERLY SHOCKED, AND TOUCHED I WAS WHEN I SAW 126 E-MAILS FROM PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS! LC MOPE, THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, AND HAS TOUCHED ME IN A WAY THAT WORDS COULD NOT DO JUSTICE! THANK YOU!!! TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS SENT ME AN E-MAIL, THANK YOU AS WELL!! I HAVEN’T EVEN BEGUN TO MAKE A DENT IN THE E-MAILS, BUT I PROMISE I WILL READ ALL OF THEM, AND TRY TO SEND A RESPONSE BACK TO ALL OF THEM. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUST ONE OF THE REASONS I ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE. TO HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVLEDGE TO SERVE AMERICA, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CALL IT HOME! IT TRULY IS MY PLEASURE TO PROTECT THE LIBERTIES WE HAVE. THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY! GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF MY FELLOW SERVICE MEN! TAKE CARE. WITH GREATEST THANKS, TROOPER”
June 26th, 2005 at 6:39 pm
The national security strategy was published and widely discussed one year after 9-11. I don’t remember a democratic alternative to the problems identified and the steps to be taken. Best we got was a “secret plan” in the 2004 presidential debates. Which was defeated on the merits. I’d be more likely to accept criticism of the administration if it were directed at them and came with believable alternatives, rather than the military (which is still recovering from the effects of being treated like a political constituency in the 90s, largely free of civilians taking responsibility and being in control).
/Ari
June 26th, 2005 at 7:14 pm
Carnival of The Chillin #2
I did not receive very many responses for inputs to this Carnival - so I went hunting for them! Also, last time out I focused solely on issues on judicial appointment, ect. So the 2nd part of this Carnival shows off posts from Coalition of The Chil…
June 26th, 2005 at 8:10 pm
I’m new to your site, but wow, am very impressed.
I will be forwarding this post for my boyfriend, who’s currently serving in Iraq. I think he needs to read it and know just how much support is out there for him. Sometimes, it’s hard for them to see being so far away in the hot and dusty desert.
June 26th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
[...] ople Do Want to Forget A Message To and a Prayer For Our Troops The Anchoress speaks eloquently again. [...]
June 26th, 2005 at 10:12 pm
I am angry that they are over there I am scared of and for them when they return. BUT I want them to return with all my heart. I respect what they have sacrificed and the honor in which they serve. I wish I thought that our goverment was worthy of it. So much more will this be true if/when the draft is reinstated.
June 26th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
To Ghost Dansing: Is there anything else you can be doing other than interjecting your politics into a prayer for our troops?
I doubt it.
There is so much wrong with your statements that correcting you would take years, and I have doubts that you would listen to me in any case. Please, take your utter crap and your failed ideology and stuff it where the sun doesn’t shine, right next to your head.
To the Anchoress: Thank you
June 26th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
When I became a civilian again after leaving the service, I knew in my heart that a large part of the rest of my life would be spent thanking our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines (Ooh-rah!)
May I crib from your prayer?
June 27th, 2005 at 9:18 am
The Other Iraq
From the news, you’d assume that everyone in Iraq who isn’t already dead will be, and soon. And not just from reporters standing safely in front of the White House, but from opportunistic politicians (a redundant phrase, I know) like…
June 27th, 2005 at 9:38 am
Thank you for this beautiful post.
June 27th, 2005 at 10:08 am
GD - you post here with some freedom as long as you don’t put up the 2000 word screeds that I have to pay for…but when you come here to my place and tell me not to “hide behind prayer and religion” (suggesting that my faith is fake) and then presume to tell me about my religion, then you have outworn your welcome.
June 27th, 2005 at 12:40 pm
Ever notice how Lefist “truth” always seems to be the exact opposite?
The absolute truth?
We fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here. Our exit strategy is victory. Always was, always will be, when we have good leadership.
I’d like to remind everybody that GD and about six other posters spent quite a lot of time trying to take Terri’s life from her. Not “allow” her to die–kill her by starving and dehydrating her. I will never forget. And any poster using that handle better have Native American blood running through his veins, or don’t you respect that, either?
June 27th, 2005 at 7:56 pm
GD, have the good grace please to leave when you have been univited. To do else puts you in a very bad light to lecture me or anyone else. You’ve worn out your welcome here.
June 27th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
Beautiful post, Anchoress.
The snarling wolves of the left, who wear self-loathing and defeatism as proof of intellectual depth, have no idea the force that they are up against. A silent thundering of prayer that they cannot — will not — hear, spoken by a million hearts.
June 27th, 2005 at 8:33 pm
Great post!
It hits home more because my newphew, who just graduated from West Point, will be going to Iraq in January after more training.
I pray for him and all the troops who are over there fighting for us, and that peace will come soon.
June 27th, 2005 at 11:04 pm
Hey, don’t worry about us Brits. We’re good at this.
And remember, faith does not see country, race or colour. It’s sees you as an individual irrespective of where you from.
June 28th, 2005 at 12:46 am
GD you’ve shown yourself to be exactly what the rest of us have always known you are. Rude and full of yourself.
The Anchoress has asked you to go, but you haven’t the manners.
Unsurprising.
June 28th, 2005 at 12:53 am
Dear Anchoress,
May God always bless you and your loved ones. This includes all the loved ones you talk about here. Ad Jesu per Mariam.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:29 am
Dawn Patrol
Iraq Walking the Line III [Micheal Yon] The Feathers -North Arabian Gulf A strange white helicopter landed on the ship to fly us to Kuwait. It was a Puma, with “04″ painted on the nose. A few sailors and soldiers…
June 28th, 2005 at 10:55 am
GD would know the truth if it hit him in the face. But that’s a pleasant thought! Not Lefists? And Ward Churchill and GD are great Native American warriors….
Look up the quotes as to what all the principal Dems were saying about WMDs in Iraq during the Clinton years…Same as Bush. Listen to them on tape. Did they lie? Oh no, but Bush did! Give me a break! Or somebody please explain it to me!
A Socialist/Communist recommending a Christian view…must be why religion flourishes so in Europe. Jesus said Satan would have a Church…
June 28th, 2005 at 11:47 am
Actually GD, I’ve welcomed your partisan “challenges” for a long time.
But I won’t stand for your suggesting that my faith is insincere.
Keep posting all you want, I’ll keep deleting.
June 28th, 2005 at 3:39 pm
THE POST EXCHANGE: I’ve asked my fellow MilBloggers to submit “notable posts” they’ve written in the recent past for inclusion here, with a quick summary in their own words. I’ve taken the liberty of linking to some of their stuff…
June 28th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
He crossed the line, didn’t he, A? I’m thankful you are strong and even more so that you wear your heart and faith on your sleeve. Thank you. And I’m very glad for Darrell’s mind, too
Esp when his cage is rattled!! Go Troops!!!
June 29th, 2005 at 11:24 am
Know that our prayers are with everyone who has sons and daughters and loved ones in harm’s way! You have always had the harder part, waiting and feeling powerless to do anything to help. May God Bless you and those you love and keep them safe until they’re in your arms again!
July 1st, 2005 at 1:59 pm
Should we intentionally soil the sheets we give the prisoners at Gitmo? Would that satisfy people? I don’t understand why religious people seem to be so happy to support the maltreatment of people in our custody. Aren’t we America? Shouldn’t we be the ones who treat the ones who hate us well? Why are we all in such a rage to give in to petty vengence? Doesn’t vengence belong to the Lord?
July 1st, 2005 at 3:50 pm
Who said we should soil the sheets of prisoners at Gitmo. My point was not that we should “mistreat” but that perhaps it would be well to remember that our soldiers have (many times) much tougher conditions than our prisoners. Which is quite true.
People wring their hands over how prisoners may or may not be treated, but seem to not appreciate at all the deprivations of our troops.
It’s not that fine a distinction. You can make it if you try!
July 2nd, 2005 at 12:34 am
I have truly enjoyed reading this poem. It is wonderful, and fits right in with my family. My son was deployed to Iraq in January 2005. Thanks for sharing this post with us.
July 2nd, 2005 at 6:55 am
I don’t think the soldiers need to worry about being spit on. The anti-mil sentiment is nothing but (excuse the crudity) an MSM circle-jerk, with almost zero traction in the public. Anyone spitting on troops in public is likely to end up as a grease spot where he stands, in pretty short order.
GWB’s speech, BTW, had a dramatic effect: unreported surge in Gallup numbers.
July 6th, 2005 at 6:44 pm
Not this Blue Star Mom… I’m positive we are doing the right thing. I don’t listen to main stream media, nor the left.
Wonderful blog, one of the best I’ve ever read. I wish I could communicate in such a way, you are gifted.
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