‘It Only Took a Second’

In an ongoing series, NEWSWEEK publishes letters and e-mails from fallen U.S. troops in Iraq to loved ones and friends back home. The following are unedited excerpts from correspondence provided by families of the deceased.

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Apr 6, 2007

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Army Spc. Kevin S. K. Wessel
April 12, 2005

Army Spc. Jacob M. Pfister
Jan. 16, 2005

Army Spc. David L. Rice
June 3, 2005

Hey, how's it going? Not too bad here. Last night some jackasses decided to lob a couple of mortars at our compound. Those dumbs---s pissed us all off. Most of us were asleep. The main reason it pissed me off was [I was] eating some Golden Grahams when it happened. I had to set them down and go look for the dumbs---s who shot at us. When we got back my Golden Grahams were gone. Can you believe that someone took my cereal! That's what upset me the most. … Tell everyone hi and I'll be home soon.
Love,
David Lee

Rice, 22, of Sioux City, Iowa, was killed April 26, 2005, when his vehicle rolled over in Balad.

Army S/Sgt. Donald Griffith Jr.