Families and Friends of 2/10,

I would like to take this opportunity to recount for you a unique mission that your Marines and Sailors participated in. Daily, they to provide security for over 15,000 service members at four different camps in Iraq. Additionally, they conduct Civil Military Operations (CMO) to assess and assist in the construction and repair of homes, schools, and vital infrastructure in the surrounding area. On one such recent visit to Al Majjarh, a village near Camp Taqaddum, we met Huda, a beautiful 12-year-old girl with a passion for life and an infectious smile.

Huda is the youngest daughter of Hadi, a loving father and husband with three daughters and two sons. During a recent celebration, Hadi found his eldest son with a loaded rifle. In some cultures, it is not uncommon to shoot weapons into the air during festivities. As Hadi moved to take the weapon away from his son in an effort to prevent an accident, the weapon fired, striking Huda in the foot. This type of wound would normally have crippled the young girl for life.

Enter the Marines and Sailors of 2/10.

Two weeks after the accident, CWO3 Torres was directing a CMO team in Al Majjarh to ascertain what improvements were needed. Our Medical Officer, LT Burt, USN, was with him. Once the team entered the village, Huda’s family brought her to LT Burt with hopes that he could help her.

While the injury exceeded his capabilities at the time, LT Burt was able to change her bandages and give her some medications to numb the pain and prevent infection.

When the team returned to Camp Taqaddum and debriefed my staff and me, there was no doubt as to what action we would take next.

After nearly a week of extensive planning and coordination, CWO3 Torres, LT Burt, and an FSSG Medical team returned to the village to escort Huda and her father to Camp Taqaddum. Once arrived, she received the necessary surgery to save her foot courtesy of the 1st Medical Battalion’s Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon.

During her surgery and subsequent recovery, 2/10 hosted Hadi and gave him a job on base so that he could continue to support his family while still being near his daughter.

Furthermore, 2/10 continued its efforts to mitigate any ramifications resulting from Huda’s village accepting help from Coalition Forces.

Even while Huda recovers, CWO3 Torres and his CMO team are working with village leaders to refurbish village homes and to provide clean, drinkable water to the village for the first time since it was settled. They visit Huda’s family and have brought her clothes and shoes. Huda’s smile, and the smiles of her family, only reinforces the need and reward of our mission here.

Your Marines and Sailors are the epitome of versatility: by night they patrol for insurgents and weapons caches; by day they rebuild hearts and dreams. Each member of 2/10 is truly making a difference. I am sure that you join me in being extraordinarily proud of each of them.

Terence P. Brennan
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps