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Iraq-Jordan
Dumped in the trenches of Iraq
2004-11-25
US Marines thousands of kilometres from home in Iraq face ruthless insurgents, a debilitating desert climate and tasteless food. But they dread nothing more than opening the 'Dear John' letter. "It's so hard when your girlfriend sends you that letter and says goodbye. It just shatters all your childhood notions of romance," said Corporal Samuel Shoemaker, 22, of Shelton, Washington. "(My girlfriend) wrote me a vague letter about our future but I had no doubt about what she meant. It's the last thing I needed out here. I first met her in grade school. I don't have the stamina to chase her anymore."

Thousands of US Marines launched an offensive this month that crushed Arab Muslim militants and Saddam Hussein loyalists in Fallujah, Iraq's most rebellious city. But many say victory can't ease heartbreak by letter or email. "Man I can't believe it," said an infantry Marine, who asked not to be named. "I was engaged to a woman who I raised our child with for three years. She wrote me a letter to ask whether we could put it on hold so she could have sex with another man. Then she asked me if I could accept her having sex with another woman if I reject the man."

Strict rules of conduct have not stopped Marines from seeking love on base. But it is not always easy and dating Iraqi women is prohibited. "(Iraqis) hit on us all the time. It is really annoying and we have enough to worry about out here," said Corporal Ann Gorecka, 23, of New York City.
Posted by:God Save The World

#11  Dear John's suck but hey, you don't want some weak chick to come back to anyhow. If she can't take the separation, don't waste your time worrying about it. Press on, too many fish in the sea lads.
Posted by: Jarhead   2004-11-25 7:17:46 PM  

#10  Dave

I thought you knew Rantburg's first rule: never eat or drink while visiting Rantburg
Posted by: JFM   2004-11-25 1:04:11 PM  

#9  "Dear Abu, things have changed, can we still be cousins?"

Oh, great; I had a mouthful of coffee when I read that.
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-11-25 10:31:22 AM  

#8  Mike i was thinking about the same thing myself, sounds like he got rid of a whore anyway.
Posted by: smokeysinse   2004-11-25 10:04:28 AM  

#7  cousins? heck - "I'll still be your sister, love, Fatima"
Posted by: Frank G   2004-11-25 9:44:37 AM  

#6  Now this is something the enemy doesn't have to worry about *cough*.

You'll never see an:
Dear Abu, things have changed, can we still be cousins?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-25 8:45:52 AM  

#5  "She wrote me a letter to ask whether we could put it on hold so she could have sex with another man. Then she asked me if I could accept her having sex with another woman if I reject the man."

Sheesh! That is one cree-pee chick. Run, do not walk, to the nearest exit, and file for sole custody of the kid.
Posted by: Mike   2004-11-25 7:14:21 AM  

#4  "It just stinks when you get the letter. She was my best friend," he said.

No she wasn't. A test of any relationship - even a friendship - is whether the other individual sticks with you through thick and thin. And your "friend" failed you.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-11-25 2:30:14 AM  

#3  It was a different time & setting (post-Vietnam, onboard a guided-missile destroyer on a WESTPAC deployment), but yeah, you're right, some things never change. The unmarried guys in my work group formed a "Dear John Club" - all of us got dumped by our respective girlfriends while we were overseas (our Chief was married & stayed such after we got back).
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo)   2004-11-25 2:27:43 AM  

#2  Some things never change.
Posted by: RWV   2004-11-25 2:13:13 AM  

#1  It's tough to learn life lessons while confronting Islamofascists on the firing line of the war on terror. Buck up, 22 year old, such a dumping can actually bring greater opportunity than loss.

Posted by: Capt America   2004-11-25 12:05:40 AM  

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