Dear Family and Friends of 2/7,

As I write this letter, the battalion is completing its most recent combat tour in almost 14 years. We are beginning to turnover our responsibilities to the unit that is relieving us. Soon enough we will complete final packing and prepare to return home to rejoin our loved ones.

We came to Iraq to provide a windbreak against terrorists and criminals, with every sentiment of faith, friendship, and honor to allow the Iraqis to rebuild a proud, free, safe, and prosperous Iraq wholly committed to the struggle against those that threatened them. We respected religious practices, culture, and always considered Iraqis our friends. We intimately observed just how hard Iraqi life was under a brutal and evil dictatorship. We saw the conditions in which terrorists could seek safe harbor and refuge. In our hearts and minds we always upheld the belief that the terrorists would never succeed in making us think the Iraqi people were our enemies.

We gained common cause with many Iraqis. We formed friendships, bonds, and associations. We became part of their lives and communities. It took a long time, blood, and heroic effort, but many Iraqis finally understood our good intentions. After all, our two cultures have been separate for more than 4,000 years. We were truly strangers in a strange land for quite some time. We know our part of Iraq is better today than when we arrived. We have witnessed the steady progress with our own eyes and heard their words of hope. We have helped them walk as they placed each step forward and learned what it is to taste freedom for the first time. We are confident Iraq will be even better six months from now. There will be setbacks in the future, but they are headed in the right direction.

We approached our fight in a very unique way, adopting lessons from others that visited the same areas of Mesopotamia nearly eight decades ago: "Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them. Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be as good as, perhaps, you think it is. It may take them longer and it may not be as good as you think, but if it is theirs, it will be better." (T.E., "Lawrence of Arabia," Lawrence)

The result in Iraq, after the efforts of the men and women of 2/7 along with our Iraqi friends, is better now than when we arrived. It is now their fight to win in every sense. The men and women of the battalion performed magnificently. When we look back years from now, I think we will all share in the belief that we gave all we had towards making a difference in Iraq. We accomplished our mission as best as we could. That is what Marines have done for 229 years. I will always be proud to be the commanding officer of 2/7 during that moment in time.

Finally, and most importantly, remember those who will not be returning home or sharing the sea stories years from now. They have paid the ultimate price for our country's efforts in fighting the War on Terrorism. Their sacrifice for us was for a much greater purpose. They will always be in our hearts. We will see them again and thank them for what they gave the rest of us.

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you soon.

Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Phil Skuta