Dear Friends, Well, my unit has come to the end of its time here in Iraq and I wanted to send a final note.

During the past seven months 3rd Battalion 11th Marines has accomplished much. Our artillery Battalion was given the mission of convoy security and provisional MP (Military Police) duties. From that mission grew other duties and we eventually ended up accomplishing a wide range of tasks.

We were assigned to assist the Iraqi Border Patrol along the Saudi Arabian border. Along with that came the responsibility to care for the nearby town of Nukhayb. It is a fairly small town that had been ravaged by two wars, 12 years of sanctions, and a tyrannical government that neglected its basic needs. Over the course of seven months, our small civil affairs section was able to spend roughly $1.3 million on the infrastructure, people of Nukhayb and outlying areas. The projects included the following:

· Hospital renovation and medical supplies
· School refurbishment
· Water supply improvement
· Sanitation equipment
· Regional fire department
· Agricultural cooperative
· Multiple power generators and transformers
· Equipment and gear for local Iraqi Security Forces
· Electrical rewiring
· Refurbishment of local government buildings
· Establishment of employment programs
· Local mosque refurbishment

Nukhayb is now a thriving active community with a renewed sense of direction. The local economy is rapidly increasing and is already far beyond where it was at any time during the past 30 years.

3/11's main mission was to provide convoy security for military and non-military convoys throughout Iraq. This was done with the utmost patience and professionalism. The Marines of 3/11 being trained as artillerymen, performed tremendously as provisional infantrymen without skipping a beat. As this war has only further proven, Artillerymen are the "go-to" Marines of the Marine Corps. In the end 3/11 was responsible for escorting hundreds upon hundreds of vital convoys throughout the theater.

In addition to this responsibility 3/11 was asked to supervise and run a provincial Iraqi Security College where Iraqi Security Forces were trained to take control of their country. The college was so successful that it is now entirely run by Iraqis.

Continuing the Military Police role 3/11 also maintained and operated a provincial detention facility where detainees were treated with respect and humanity. Long before incidents at other prisons in Iraq were discovered, 3/11 set the highest of possible standards in the country for quality of care and facility conditions. The detention facility has been heralded as a hallmark in our area of operations and brings much praise to the battalion.

All along the way 3/11 was asked to step outside its area of expertise and provide the highest level of performance, and each time the expectations were met and exceeded. Few units if any can claim to have accomplished such a wide variety of missions in such a short period of time. The Marines of 3rd Battalion 11th Marines can return home to their loved ones knowing they provided absolutely vital contributions to the war in Iraq. The Iraqi people have never known liberty in their entire history and now they finally have a chance to live free. With Marines and soldiers out there like those from 3/11, the war on terror will be definitively won and the world will know a higher level of freedom and prosperity than it has ever known.

I personally want to thank each of you who have supported me through this journey. I will never be able to put into words, my appreciation for all you have done for me. My definition of family has grown exponentially since being over here and I thank you.

But more than just your personal support I am grateful for your support of the cause. Not everyone in America is educated enough to understand the full importance of what we are doing in this part of the world and I am so thankful that you all do. Freedom and liberty are fragile and America seems to be one of the only countries actively fighting to ensure that they do not perish from this earth. Your continued efforts at home are much needed in spreading the truth. Together we will win this fight and secure a better future for the whole world.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis,
1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC