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September 09, 2004

E-mail from the battlefield

LCpl Heist, currently deployed in Iraq, sent this e-mail to his mother to be shared with his family and friends. It's a poignant message of loss and brotherhood and deserves a wider audience. My heart aches for what our Marines go through - as parents we seek to shield them from hurt and harm. Now, they shield us - a role reversal that is unsettling at best.

Dear Friends and Family,

Growing up in a middle class upbringing as I did, you are in a way shielded from the horrors of life and death in war. Such innocence and ignorance is almost apart of your skin. Yeah, you hear of countries with oppressed people, the unfair justices, and deaths of many in the wars of the past. But you never get to experience or see the effects of it all. Well, today I finally had my first experience.

On September 5th, 2004, at 1630, the ceremony for the deaths of PFC Nicholas M. Skinner and LCPL Alexander S. Arredondo was held. Walking to the formation, feeling the punishing heat and the combination of sand and rocks below my feet, I was not prepared for the display. Hearing the short testimonies of Marines talking about their brothers was undeniably moving. Standing there in formation, I couldn't help but think of their families and how honorably these men died. In the background, was a large mound of dirt with a huge wooden cross, complemented by two stands with the names, dates of birth, dates of their death, and pictures of them with family and friends. In front of this display, was the symbol of a fallen warrior: their
Kevlar helmets on top of the butt stock of their M16 with bayonet stuck in the ground, their dog tags with chain hanging from the handle of their weapon, and at the mussel of the M16, were the boots in which these Marines marched onto the battlefield.

After the ceremony, all of the Marines present, including myself, paid their respects by giving them an about face and a firm salute in front of their memorials. On the left, were the closest of friends to the fallen in which all the Marines gave them a firm handshake and/or a big hug. I couldn't help but shed tears watching all the Marines do this, because even though most of us weren't friends with these men, we Marines are all brothers and sisters. We all had to persevere the pain of fatigue in recruit training, the tyrannical raids of the Drill Instructors, and we all marched that parade deck on graduation day in which we earned the title of United States Marine.

No doubt about it, PFC Skinner and LCpl Arredondo are heroes and I will never forget their names as long as I shall live. Please pray for their families, it's the least we can do as Americans.

I miss you all and God bless you.

Semper Fi,
LCpl Heist USMC

Posted by Deb at September 9, 2004 01:34 PM

Comments

My boyfriend was a close friend of LCpl Arredondo, I felt his pain when he called home that day of the memorial. It is heartbreaking, I didn't know him but I prayed for his family that day and everyday after.

Posted by: Lisa at September 10, 2004 06:34 AM

It is truly amazing that a person I knew as a teenager, is experiencing these things and speaks so poignantly about them. Ryan you have grown up to be an amazing person. Good luck to you and all the others out there. Come home safe!

Posted by: Donna Tanner at September 10, 2004 08:49 AM

all of us need to remember that some gave all,all gave some and that not all wounds can be seen.This is what is important to remember as our worriors retun.This we learned from the Korean and Vietnam vets.

Posted by: blomberg at September 22, 2004 10:05 AM

Just read your email posted on marinecorpsmoms website and wanted to let you know how many of us are praying for all of you over there on a daily basis. God bless every one of you and pray that you return to an entire nation that is as grateful for the honorable service and sacrifices so many are making for what I consider a worthwile reason: FREEDOM for the Iraqi people, and safety for the American people; even the ungrateful ones! From one old Marine, to a young hard charger -
Semper Fi
God
Country
Corps

Ron Shaw
Cpl of Marines
1976-1980

Posted by: Ron Shaw at November 11, 2004 07:49 PM

I cried as I read your story of rememberance. In detail of what you wrote, I could have sworn you were describing my son's LCpl. Elias Torrez III,'s memorial. That is exactly how a few of his buddies described my son's memorial to me.
I do include PFC. Skinner & LCpl Arredondo's family in my prayers. As well as all the other Fallen Marine's Family's.

GOD BLESS YOU

and SEMPER FI.....

Betty / Gold Star Mom

Posted by: Betty at January 14, 2005 06:37 AM

Alex was, is,and forever will be a wonderfully amazing person, he was a light in this dark world, one that will never be extinguished. We'll miss him forever, but cherish him always!
RIP
S. Corey

Posted by: Stephanie Corey at June 4, 2005 01:55 PM