Friends and families, I'm sending this update because your Marines and Sailors have had a lot of activity here recently. First, let me assure you that from the recent activity, we've had very few injuries, and most of those we've had have been minor. I credit our success and minimal injury rate to the training before we left home, our training since we've been here, the supervision provided by the great small unit leaders I have, and your prayers. Please keep doing your part, while I keep the battalion task force doing ours!
I could not be prouder of all the Betio Bastards of this fine unit, and that includes everyone attached who is now, and forever will be, a Bastard along side their brothers in arms from 3/2. The news may be carrying a story about the attacks on Camp Gannon several days ago. I cannot give you all the details, but you should know that the terrorists threw everything they had at your 3/2 Marines and Sailors at Camp Gannon , including three of their most devestating weapons, the suicide vehicle IED. They damaged the exterior of the camp's defenses, but did not break through, and the Marines performed exceptionally well under attack; many of them heroically. The perimeter held, and many terrorists died trying to continue their attack on the camp. For several days, they have tried to test our Marines on posts, and met similar fates. I visited the men immediately after the main attack, and as always, morale is high. Camp Gannon remains secure and the men are continuing their mission today the same as they did prior to the attack. The city around them remains dangerous, but has calmed a bit now.
While the action around Camp Gannon has been the most spectacular so far, you should know that every man in the Task Force has been busy all around our area of operations. For the past week, I've had Weapons, Kilo, and H&S working hard in Camp Al Qaim and the surrounding areas, and our actions have kept the enemy off balance. Everyone is professional, dedicated to the tasks at hand, and performing at a level I knew they were capable of. I was in Al Asad with SgtMaj Mennig five days ago, and we had the opportunity to visit with Capt Hankard, Lt. Wingate, and many of the Lima Company Marines and Sailors. They are doing a fantastic job with their security missions in and around Al Asad, and I continue to hear their praises sung by the men they work for. All of your men from 3/2 have met my challenge to "quell the storms" thus far in western Iraq , and they are certainly "riding the thunder!"
As you can tell, everyone in the Task Force is involved in sharing the dangers here, and everyone is a vital member of the team. I can't accomplish my mission without the hard work of all your husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers. I am exceptionally proud of the job they are doing here, and you should be as well.
The mail continues to pour in, and I think we've solved any minor problems with Lima Company getting theirs directly. Thanks to all of you for your immense support. I would also like to thank the numerous churches and support groups who have “adopted� men in 3/2 for letters and care packages, and others who just send packages in support of the entire Task Force. The encouragement we get from knowing we have the support of our families, but also so many of the American people, is tremendous.
Keep checking the Marine Corps website, at www.usmc.mil , for more stories about 3/2. There should also be one coming out soon in the Chicago Tribune, because we recently had a reporter here from that paper. We currently have a Washington Post and USA Today reporter in the area, primarily covering the Gannon attack, so with luck you'll see a quote from your son, brother, father or husband in an article or their smiling face on TV soon.
In operations following the attack on Camp Gannon , we did suffer a terrible casualty, with one of our snipers, Cpl Eddie Ryan, being very seriously wounded. My prayers are with him and his family at this time, because his condition is very grave. All the members of 3/2 grieve our fallen comrade.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Ride the Thunder!