To all, I have made it. I am alive and well in Southern California once again. I have completed a tumultuous tour of duty in Al Qaim, Iraq. It is a part of the Al Anbar Province and can be located by following the Euphrates River to the Syrian Border. Before we left, we were hit one final time. Four Marines were killed. One was ours; one belonged to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. But this time we got some pay back. One of the Medevac birds spotted RPGs in the back of a boat fleeing from the scene, and the people on board were armed. So I authorized the Cobras to engage that target. They did, killing two. Two more escaped the attack and were captured. It turned out they were a police office and an Iraqi National Guardsman. (The Guardsman was a surprise, the cop was not). Another boat was seen unloading cargo quickly onto a small island in the river and then fled to shore where the four occupants were arrested. I called for two Harriers and we blew the hell out of the island. The final pass even got secondary explosions, proving conclusively that there were explosives on the island. That is a very brief synopsis of our final action in the AO. I’ll wrap up with a general overview of the excursion later, but for now, let it be known that I am home safe and sound; spending some much needed quality time with the wife and son. So take care my friends, and keep your eyes pealed for another installment.

Time I help keep up the good fight on the home front with you!

Fight on S.C.!!!

K