Again, operations have pulled me away from my intent to write you at least once a week. These last weeks have seen the RCT involved in combat operations across 1st Marine Division’s area of operations. The nature of this fight has changed as we see terrorists, criminals, and thugs allied in a loose confederation of the weak and cowardly attempt to sow terror and disorder among the Iraqi people. They came out to fight us, and in that coming found themselves face to face with the cohesion, skill, and courage of a Marine rifle squad, platoon, company or battalion. We have defeated them in detail at every turn. In that coming this enemy also came face to face with Iraqi police, soldiers, and militia, some of whom demonstrated great courage in their efforts to rid their society of this scum. This cooperation between Iraqi citizens and your Marines has moved us closer to our endstate of an Iraqi society freed of these terrorists and able to provide for its own security and governance.

I can not tell you with certainty how the actions here are depicted in the press back home; but seek the truth from your fathers, husbands, sons, and uncles. There be terrorists here, and they bring with them the tactics of terror and torture and intimidation focused on the innocent Iraqi and civilian. This is an enemy determined to destroy a way of life and destabilize the Iraqi culture through a terror focused on the death and destruction of families and communities.

We are currently engaged in a campaign of this millenniums first world war. Unlike the last world war, the rest of the commerce of U.S. life proceeds apace and relatively untroubled. As Marines and Soldiers and Sailors in the Service of our nation and its citizens, we would have it no other way. That’s does not, however, make the threat any less real or any less dangerous. This enemies ultimate goal is to kill us, to destroy our cities, murder our children, our neighbors and our citizens. We either complete process of defeating them here, or our children and grandchildren will have to do it for us. He has chosen to fight us here, and we will move forward in completing his destruction fighting with spirit and a happy heart.

It is a phenomenal experience to see the morale and determination of these Marines focus and grow as their efforts lead to success and victory. These young men are resilient, and even in the tragedy of lost or wounded buddies, they emerge stronger and more determined. They have the stuff of which their forefathers were made, and history will treat them with great honor.

RCT-7 remembers the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for their
country and its future.

Captain R. A. Gannon, Company L, 3d Bn, 7th Marines. on April 18, 2004, vic
Husaybah, Iraq.
1stLt O. Jimenez, 3d Bn, 4th Marines, on April 11, 2004, vic Fallujah, Iraq
LCpl C.B. Wasser, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 8, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq
Cpl N. J. Dieruf, 1st LAR, on April 8, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq
LCpl E. Torrez, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 9, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq
Cpl D. R. Amaya, 3d Bn, 4th Marines, on April 10, 2004, vic Fallujah, Iraq
LCpl T. L. Gray, 3d Bn, 4th Marines, on April 11, 2004, vic Fallujah, Iraq
LCpl M. J. Smith 3d Bn, 7th Marines on April 18, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq
Cpl G. F. Vanleuvan 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 18, 2004, vic Husaybah,
Iraq
LCpl R. Valdez, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 18, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq.
Cpl C.A. Gibson, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 18, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq.
Cpl J. L. Dunham, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, on April 14, 2004, vic Husaybah, Iraq.

Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Share their courage.

Colonel Tucker, Commanding Officer of 7th Marines Regiment