Army Staff Sgt. Jason M. Evey
July 6, 2006

The text-message exchange below is between Evey (jaseevey) and his father (johnevey).

johnevey (2:33:44 PM): Are you going to get some dinner?
johnevey (2:33:52 PM): Mom mentioned that you weren't sure that you would.
jaseevey (2:34:06 PM):I dunno, not really interested tonight
jaseevey (2:34:14 PM):have to put on full gear to go and eat
johnevey (2:34:15 PM): Are your missions going ok?
johnevey (2:34:26 PM): Wow, just to eat.
jaseevey(2:34:33 PM):yeah
jaseevey (2:34:38 PM): missions have been fine
johnevey (2:34:39 PM): Is that because of the need to be ready or the potential for shelling?
jaseevey (2:34:55 PM): had a big IED the other night...but we found it
johnevey (2:35:02 PM): Or are you just in a danger zone getting to the mess hall?
jaseevey (2:35:12 PM):it was in some grass and there was wire poking out
johnevey (2:35:14 PM): Found the IED on the mission?
johnevey (2:35:24 PM): Found before it exploded?
jaseevey (2:35:29 PM):yeah, we usually find one
jaseevey (2:35:33 PM): yes
johnevey (2:35:43 PM): Along a roadway?
johnevey (2:36:06 PM): Are they detonated by contact or by some kind of remote signal?
jaseevey (2:36:49 PM):yeah...cell phone, RC car control...you name it
jaseevey (2:36:56 PM): garage door openers
jaseevey (2:37:06 PM):security key fobs for car doors
jaseevey (2:37:19 PM): they arent new to this
johnevey (2:37:24 PM): So someone is watching and hoping that troops get close enough for it to do some damage.
jaseevey (2:37:28 PM):yep
johnevey (2:37:50 PM): Sounds harrowing.
jaseevey (2:37:57 PM):it can be
johnevey (2:38:00 PM): How do you find them.
jaseevey (2:38:07 PM): drive slow
jaseevey (2:38:17 PM):stay alert of anything odd
johnevey (2:38:32 PM): So your job is to keep the road open for traffic?
jaseevey (2:38:39 PM): most of the time
johnevey (2:38:48 PM): What do you do when you find them--detonate them>?
jaseevey (2:39:12 PM): pretty much

Evey, 29, of Stockton, Calif., was killed on July 16, 2006, when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle was hit by an IED during combat operations in Baghdad.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dimitrios Gavriel
Nov. 2, 2004

I moved to a small apartment next to Central Park in New York City and began the long hours of the "grind" of Wall Street. I remember those years as some of the best of my life, surrounded by close friends and good times. So how, after all this, did a guy like me end up in Iraq? The answer is pretty simple when I look to the young Marines at my right and left. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to do something, no, give something, to deserve all the good things we, as Americans, enjoy and sometimes take for granted as we move through the years of the good lives we lead under the safety and freedom of our flag. Everyone lost something on that terrible day of 9/11. I lost my close friends, brothers you might say. Guys I grew up with, team mates, pals, mentors and confidants. I watched the towers fall, helpless, from a block away in the streets of New York and made a promise before God that I would do all I could to keep something like this from happening again. I left a job I loved, said goodbye to a circle of close friends and joined the Marines, the perfect place for a guy who wants a front row seat to the sweeping changes the world is currently experiencing.

No man can know just exactly how much his effort has changed the world out here, but together we have chased much evil away from power and have shown those who, for one reason or another, hate our way of life, that we are a nation of people who refuse to live under the threat of terror. We are out here for the things we miss most, green grass, football games, flowers, and the fresh cool breeze of home. Most importantly, we are out here for you, the people who make our land so special.

Gavriel, 29, originally from Haverhill, Mass., was a Wall Street analyst who enlisted after losing two friends in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was killed during fierce fighting in Fallujah on Nov. 19, 2004.

Army Capt. Timothy J. Moshier
Jan. 11, 2006, Taji, Iraq

Several people have asked me to describe what I am doing on a typical day. I wake up at 5:30, and put my sandals on to walk to the shower trailer. I'm usually all alone on my walk to the shower, most of the camp isn't up yet. Sometimes, when the air is still, and when the helicopters aren't drowning out the noise, I can sometimes hear the morning call to prayer from the local mosques. It's that weird, warbling Arabic music, but I can never tell if it's just a recording, or if someone is actually singing. It's usually so faint that it's just barely there on the edge of my consciousness. I suppose that, in its own way, it is beautiful music. I hope it's a real person singing. Anyway, I like that part of my morning, because it's still and peaceful, and I know that stillness is not going to play a part in the rest of my day…

Just yesterday, I flew my first combat mission. It was a different experience to get out of the TOC [Tactical Operations Center] for a day, and be one of the pilots fighting the battle, not just listening to it on the radio. Of course, the danger out there is real, and there are parts of Baghdad that are still considered "Indian Country." Of course, you don't win a war by playing it safe, and you have to go to where the enemy is in order to beat him. I got my first real look at Baghdad from the air. Coming out of Taji, I can see the Tigris river as it winds south towards the city. It is always hazy over Baghdad, a combination of smoke (something is always burning) and pollution and fog. We're flying over fields of something or other, and there are lots of cattle and sheep. There are settlements here and there, mostly one story buildings with flat roofs that just look like shoe boxes with windows. Many of the homes don't even have roofs, just some thatch covering a corner of a walled in square. Piles of manure are stacked behind the house, and a clothesline with brightly colored fabrics is strung from a corner of the house to the fencepost. Some people look up at us as we fly by, others just ignore us. As we get closer to the city, we pass boys playing soccer on dirt soccer fields. Then we are over the city, flying over row upon row of irregular building block houses, with stairs leading up to the roof. In the summer, the Iraqis simply sleep on the roof, as it is too hot to sleep anywhere else in the house. The city is built close together, and the poverty is obvious. The marketplaces look like landfills, just shanty towns where goods are sold. The poorer districts are just tent cities. Even downtown, along the Tigris river, the wealthy homes have been abandoned. Many of them bear the scars of war. I saw one home that was obviously beautiful in its day, right on the riverfront, but now the second story has been blown wide open by an explosion, and the inside is filled with rubble. The swimming pool is green with algae.

There are bright points to the city, though. The mosques are large and ornate, and are exactly what you expect them to look like. The architecture is beautiful, and they have been spared the bombings that the rest of the city endured. An immense mosque, known to the pilots simply as "Mega Mosque" is being built downtown. Palm groves pop up intermittently throughout the city. I would think they were more beautiful if I didn't know that the insurgents use them for cover, and as a place to launch mortars and rockets at the Americans.

Soon we are south of the city, racing south along the highway out of Baghdad, back out into the agricultural regions. Again, everything is flat and green, crisscrossed with hundreds of small irrigation canals. The immensity of the mission we have over here is apparent. In a place where the enemy wears no uniforms, how am I to pick out the good guys from the bad? We spotted one suspicious looking vehicle that appeared to be driving aimlessly on back roads. The driver acted as if he were nervous that we followed him (can you blame him?). We wondered if perhaps it was a car bomb, looking for a target. Finally, the car stopped at a house, and people got out, looking up at us fearfully. It was a family, with small children, and the woman was holding an infant. My wingman called me on the radio and said, "well, at least we escorted them home safely." I suppose he was right. I felt bad about scaring them, but what could we do? It's our job to pay attention to things that look suspicious or out of place. The good news is that we make gains day by day. Like I said before, small victories.

Moshier, a helicopter pilot from Albany, N.Y., died on April 1, 2006, when his helicopter crashed during a combat air patrol in Baghdad. He was 25.

Army Spec. Francisco G. Martinez
March 18, 2005

hey hey hey!
This addy [address] does infact work. And it works well. Finally the post is getting slightly more high tech. They have made some of the internet access wireless (with the usual restrictions) which allows me to access this thru my laptop.

Anywho...
Pues papa, todo relativamente bien.
Desde la ultima vez en que hablamos, muchas cosas han sucedido...
Some bad, Some good.  Amongst the things that happened, a few soldiers who were dear to me lost their lives on one of our routine patrols, to an IED. It took 4 of them. It was truly one of the most trying times of my life, as I had to police up my buddies bodies/parts and put them in body bags w/ my own 2 hands. All this while maintaining my military bearing and composure.
::sigh::

Needless to say I was a bit f---ed up for a few days after the event. I dealt with it in my own way and I am good now.  One of the things that helped the most was your words: There will be more than enough time for tears later.  We have also suffered the loss of 3 other soldiers. 2 of which were in my company. For one of them I had the honor to create a tribute video for his memorial service.  The video received much praise from everyone who was there to see it. I was simply happy that it served its purpose and was well put together... to the best of my abilities.

Aside from that, we've been doing ALOT of groundpounding as of late. I've worked with marines, sailors, seals, army snipers, and so on. I must say that ever since we started taking casualties we have certainly upped the ante. Everyone involved in the mission is taking a much more aggressive/proactive approach to the mission at hand.

We are doing great things.
(despues te hare todos los cuentos exclusivos y clasificados)

::On another note::
Tita me mando un e-mail a little bit back, and it stated that I should sign up for Anysoldier.com. So I did out of the courtesy of following thru w/ her request, not expecting it to go thru...

Well in the past 2 days I have received 12 letters, and 2 boxes. O_O! I am overwhelmed by the support. So as I write you this e-mail, I am mentally preparing my-self for a thank you e-mail. The senders range from grannies - Single Mom's - College girls - 11yr Old Kids. If I wasn't already involved w/ Mirela, this could serve as a great dating service!

haha.

Let's see what else.... Oh yeah, Im back in the swing of music creation, and I am very happy w/ whats comming out. Just the other day I put together a track where I grace w/ actual vocals that I recorded of my-self. It was quite the task, due to the massive lack of studio goodness out here in the barracks. lol. But I went outside w/ my mic, and did my best.

As far as my art goes, I haven't put my self to good use b/c it's hard to find motivation for it, but I have been embrassing the ways of the sponge, and have been absorbing all possible ideas around me. All I need now is to get out and apply all of my sparks of genius.

How about you guys? Everything good on the homefront? Como esta la enana? Y Mary que tal?

Bueno papa, te voy dejando que me voy a comer.
Cojelo suave por ahi.

Los amo a todos!
Bye!

~Paqui

Martinez, 20, of Fort Worth, Texas, was killed by a sniper in Tamin on March 20, 2005.

Army Spc. Holly J. McGeogh
Jan. 21, 2004

hey u guys its me again. i just got out of the shower a little while ago and i smell like a girl, that makes me feel really good. well i was really supprised, when i logged on just now i got 2 new emails . one from aunt chris and the other from aunt karen. they both said they just heard that im coming home soon so i figured that they just got done talking to u. im gonna write them back in a few. … everyone has really been packing up , we are all so excited about leaving, were all ready to get the hell out of here. well im gonna get off for now im gonna write them an email, so ill be safe love and miss u guys lots, love Holly

McGeogh, 19, of Taylor, Mich., who served as a light-truck mechanic, was killed on Jan. 31, 2004, in Kirkuk when her convoy was hit by an IED. She was posthumously promoted to Army Specialist

Army Capt. Christopher P. Petty
June 12, 2003

Dad,
You can definitely say the level of violence has risen in the past two to three weeks.  Had a soldier shot in the leg today, missed everything important, he's lucky.  Happened in an ambush on the roadside.  Not much we can do to weed out dudes hiding in the weeds on the roadside waiting for us to pass.  It's all really reactionary, they pop up, shoot some rounds, we return fire and level the area.  So far the odds have been in our favor for each attack, we have killed a minimum of 4 bad guys.  Just 30 minutes ago, had an RPG attack on two Abrams.  Now what kind of dumb ass is going to attack a M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tanks with a RPG?  It's like trying to break a window with a snow flake.  Needless to say, the tank engaged the enemy force and put down four bag guys with a hail of 50 cal and 7.62mm fires.

Well, I am off in just a few days.  Real excited to get out of here and up where the soldiers are.  Who knows, maybe a lowly captain can make some kind of difference.  Dont worry too much I will keep my head down and my weapon clean.  Oh ya, you can thank the Iraqi army for added protection.  We came across a supply warehouse.  Inside, among other things were SAPI plates.  Supplemental Armor Plate Inserts for our ballistic vests.  Well sure they are not made for the American army version but they fit in the front and back pockets.  Funny enough they are ceramic and steel, thinner than the Kevlar inserts the army doesn't have enough of and weigh about the same.  So sure the added weight sucks, but whats an additional 5 pounds when I am already wearing 50 plus pounds of stuff.  (M16A2, Ballistic helmet, ballistic vest, Load bearing vest with 10 30 round magazines, night vision goggles, 90oz camel back, three full canteens of water, two fragmentary grenades and two smoke grenades, just to name some of the stuff)  the added weight is unnoticed and comforting.  Well gotta run.
Chris

Petty, 33, of Vienna, Va.,  was killed on Jan. 5, 2006 in Najaf when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. He was on his way to see the progress being made on rehabilitating schools.

Army Capt. Ian P. Weikel
Jan. 20, 2006



Babe,

I got your packages last night after I got back from 48 hours out.  I'd like to be out more at a time, but then stuff stacks up back here. … I'm going to spend time tonight after our meeting getting my room all set up.  I'm excited about it!  Great stuff!

I'll send pictures and video once I get the camera.  I'll read Sports Illustrated for JT.  I'll probably order the 1GB flashdisk card so I can record more.  The card you get with it can do 15 minutes before it's filled up.  I still have to go get a casual pay so I can pay for internet to my room.

God is definitely looking out for us.  [The enemy] was trying to chase down car but didn't go any farther down a route because Bayonet (Paine's company)has a checkpoint set up.  On their way back Bayonet got hit by an IED but they were OK in their brads. I don't think our trucks would have faired as well. Thank God for his angels.  I pray as often as I remember for a couple things:
1) you and JT
2) That the guys would find God during this deployment
4) the guys safety and the angel's protection
5) That God would blind the enemy to my soldier's movement
6) That God would give the guys keen eyes to see the enemy and a steady hand to kill him
7) That God would give us patience and wisdom and that we do nothing to dishonor ourselves

I can't imagine how hard it is with all the wives.  I don't envy you at all. Those pictures you sent with the packages are awesome!  JT is so cute in the carseat one!  I'll share the cookies with my crew.  I also have PFC Barber from Denver City, Texas on my vehicle.  He's a funny kid and Cosby, Mogg, and Barber crack me up all the time.  Good guys.  They're very helpful.

I'll be here today and tomorrow before going back out again on Saturday after the VTC [video teleconference].  We've been giving out stuffed animals to the kids at the houses we visit.  There was this little boy (probably two) who got so excited he pooped himself right there in front of us. We couldn't stop laughing. We tried to chase some guys down last night but couldn't find them.  I rotate between the platoons and go out with their different patrols.  I have to get my 10% done over the next couple days too.  I'm definitely going to make sure I catch the broncos game. Please tape it to DVD.  If they win, send it to me.  If they lose, don't worry about it.

We're working on improving our area out at the checkpoints.  1SG has a line on a freezer so we store meat and ice out there.  He's also working on getting us a 15K so we can get AC and the freezer working.  It's been pretty cold at nights.  I actually sleep in my truck with all my stuff on.  It's easier to rest my head against the door with my kevlar on then off.  Plus, the new helmet doesn't bother your head at all.  The guys are getting used to burning crap and garbage every day and we're improving the wire and all the other force protection stuff with triple strand, hescos, and everything else.  I'm death on these guys in terms of keeping things clean so they don't get sick and that we're safe.

Well, I have to go.  I have to get ready for the meeting.  I love you so much and love the pictures you sent us.

Tell your mom I got her package and made a cup of coffee this morning with it.  It's awesome!!!  Very cool.

I love you and JT!

Ian

Weikel, 31, of Colorado Springs, Colo.,  died on April 18, 2006, from injuries sustained when an IED exploded near his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. 

Marine Master Sgt. Brian P. McAnulty
Nov. 11, 2006

Dad,
All is good here.  Yes, it is cold... it gets into the 40's at night, but we are warm.  I have long johns - probably the same kind that you were issued, and they work great.  We also have two sets of fleece, which is awesome - so, I don't really need anything.  I did receive a package from you though,  with candy and school supplies - and Baby Wipes!  Thanks!  The stuff for the kids is great - and the baby wipes are my answer to everything.  Another stock I wish i would have bought into.

We had our Cake Cutting ceremony last night (for the 231st Marine Corps Birthday) at each of our Battle Positions.  Yes, I was the oldest Marine at each one.  I am even older than the LtCol that runs the MTT's (US Marine Advisors to the Iraqi Army).  Ugh.  Oh well, it was neat.  For a lot of the young Marines it was the first time that they have celebrated the Marine Corps birthday.  We grilled steaks and actually got a couple beers each to toast with.  Good stuff.  But I think I have run my course in this thing.  When we do the ceremony, the oldest Marine present gets a slice of cake and then passes it to the youngest Marine - which symbolizes the passing of tradition and experience from one generation of Marines to the next.  Well, they read a quick bio on each and then do the deed.  The youngest guys out here are born in 1987!!!!!  Ugh, again.  I was enlisting when these guys were born!  Amazing how time flies.  Anyways - It has really got me thinking about what i am going to do after this.  My 20 year mark comes in April 2008, so I will have about a year left when we get back.  I was thinking about doing the next deployment with the Bn [battalion], then calling it quits... who knows?  Regardless, I have had a blast, and still enjoy what i do - but I really am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Time to pass the torch and move on... I think.  Like I told Brett - the best people I know are my family - yet i spend the least amount of time with them.  That just makes no sense anymore.  Not that it ever did, but at least I was pursuing something, or following my path - or whatever.  Ok... I am reflecting and thinking and pondering.  Obviously today is a slow day - but I have been thinking about this a lot lately.
As I said - all is good, and I am warm.  thanks for the stuff you send, it is appreciated.  Give Mom a hug for me... and I'll write more soon.
Love, Brian

McAnulty, 39, of Vicksburg, Miss., was killed on Dec. 11, 2006 when the CH-53 helicopter he was riding in crashed just after takeoff in Anbar province.