Friday, October 3, 2003
Friday, October 3, 2003 |
| Another
perspective from a family member of an American soldier
By DAVID EPPS Someone sent me a photograph the other day. Attached with the photo was this letter from a soldier on duty in Iraq: "How are you all doing? The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do something to pay tribute to our fallen comrades. So since we are part of the only Infantry Battalion left in Iraq, the one way that we could think of doing that is by taking a picture of Baker Company saying the way we feel... I was wondering if there was any way to let the world know that "WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN" and are proud to serve our country." In the aerial photo, the phrase "9-11" was spelled out with M-16 rifles, bayonets attached, driven, barrel-down, into the sand. On the butt of each rifle stock rested the helmet of a soldier. To the right, four soldiers, at attention, held an American Flag. The remaining 155 soldiers arranged themselves so that, from the air, it was clear that a message was being spelled out. The entire message in the photo from these brave men and women in Iraq was "9-11...WE REMEMBER." This week, Specialist Anthony Thomson of Morrow came home from Iraq. He has been gone most of the year. A National Guardsman with the 190th Military Police Company, Anthony worked at Emory Hospital before his unit was activated. He wife is a nurse and the Thomson's have two young children. Anthony, however, is only home for a few days. Sadly, his mother unexpectedly died and, after the funeral in New York, he will likely rejoin his unit in Southern Iraq. Even without the grief of losing a mother, life is hard in Camp Bucca where the temperatures rise to 125 degrees, the only air conditioning is in the mess hall, and showers are taken only once every four days. But Anthony is one of those men of the 190th who, like the soldiers of Baker Company, remember 9-11. There are no shortage of heroes in our nation today. While rock stars engage in same-sex kisses for fame and profit, while Hollywood actors and actresses flaunt their immorality before millions, and while professional athletes go to trial for drug charges or for rape, tens of thousands of young Americans are demonstrating the true meaning of courage and heroism. A proud mother wrote recently: My mother, who lives in Peachtree City, sent me the article you wrote in the paper (about a young Marine). It stirred up some emotions inside me. I share your pride in the Marine Corps, since I am one of The Few, The Proud, Marine Corps Moms. My own son graduated from Parris Island in September of 2002. He shipped out to Iraq from Camp Pendleton in January 2003. I just got off the phone with him a couple of hours ago with the news that they will be leaving Kuwait the end of this week. It is with great pleasure that I boast of my son's accomplishments (and those of his fellow Marines). Other kids may be on the honor roll, but mine liberated a country! And needless to say, we will be more than happy for him to return to the U.S. I am to proud of the job these young men have done. Words cannot express the way I feel about their love of country and family. Only very special young men could perform so admirably under the conditions they had. Ooorah! Go, Marines!!! Jan Cobble Proud Marine Mom of LCpl Jeffrey Cobble
Unless the world forgets, Osama bin Laden is still at large and is still scheming and plotting the murders of thousands more Americans. Saddam Hussein, unless things have changed recently, is alive and well and is, presumably, hoping to kill enough soldiers for a repeat of the Somalia disaster and, one assumes, is planning a return to power. Standing in their way are the soldiers of Baker Company, the men and women of the 190th MP Company, men like LCpl Jeffery Cobble, and the other military personnel who say, "9-11...WE REMEMBER." May God bless and protect them, each and every one. [David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, which meets at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sundays on Ga. Highway 34 between Peachtree City and Newnan. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.CTKCEC.org.] |