This is just one most don't hear:
A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a
room just recently filled with insurgents armed with
Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another
wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying,
"Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is
badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The
Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the
injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come
from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the
room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the
concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard.
Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror
as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room
filled with the barely recognizable remains of the
deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several
pounds of explosives.
The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed
comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box.
The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture
of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid
behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories,
except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend,
and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this,
so no one cares.
This is the story everyone hears:
A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room
just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's
and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain.
The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister,mister!
Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded.
Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a
grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room,
killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young
Marine catches shrapnel in the face.
The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a
different story. The young Marine and his cover man
enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on
the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall.
A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside,
and in the background can be heard the voice of a
Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" The pop of a rifle
is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now
dead.
Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national
television, and the Marine is being held for commiting
a war crime. Unlawful killing.
And now, another Marine has the possibility of being
burned at the stake for protecting the life of his
brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief,
tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I
have been in your boots, i too would have done the
same.
For those of you who don't know, we are Marines, Band
of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight
because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We
are here for the man to our left, and the man to our
right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or
woman next to us can go home and see their husbands,
wives, children, friends and families.
For those of you who sit on your couches in front of
your television, and choose to condemn this man's
actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out
of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle,
leave your family behind and join me. See what I've
seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who
support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.
I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq.
These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not
represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US
military, or any other.
Sincerely,
LCPL Schmidt
USMC
