Sacrifice for a Friend

Hey Mrs.E !
Finally! Sorry it's been so long. It seems like every time I sit down to write a letter someone comes into our room to grab us for a working party. Oh well, such is life! So how are things going? Getting ready for school pretty soon huh? Well things are going pretty good here, but its pretty boring nothing ever happens. Its the same thing every day, but at least the weather is cooling off a little or else I'm just getting use to it! About the only exciting news to report is that yesterday we found a weapons cache. Oh a couple of nights ago when I was detached to the snipers I got covered in tar on top of a roof. It stank! I was glad to here that your guys vacation went well. I bet Christy was happy that you guys went to Noah's Ark, since you guys owed her! haha! Also tell Eddie that I wish him good luck this year at Northern. (sigh) sometimes I regret not going to college but at the same time I'm grateful for this experience. I wanted to tell you that I challenged myself to memorizing two verses a week and when I memorize them I write them up on the wall next to my rack. So hopefully by the end of the deployment I will know alot of God's word and have the whole wall covered! Some of the guys give me a hard time for it but I don't care cause everytime they say something I say "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 5:10. Also I just wanted to say thanks for all the times you guys were there for me, when I needed a good lecture!, and thanxs for taking the time to write and take pictures for me. You don't know how much that means to me. When ever I get a letter or pictures it lights up my whole day, sometimes the whole week. Well got to get some sleep. I got the grave hour shift tonight for post. Love and miss you guys!
Andy

Patten, 19, of Byron, Ill., was killed Dec. 1, 2005, along with nine other Marines in Fallujah from an explosion caused by two IEDs.

Marine Lance Cpl. Geoffrey R. Cayer
Jan. 29, 2006

Dear Mom, Dad, Everybody,
We just got back to camp after spending six days out. The people I encountered were friendly, they know we're here to help them and they really appreciate it. So don't worry about me, everything is fine. Anyway, I got dad's letter dated the 16th. He wanted to know about the weather. Among other things, and it's rained quite a bit in the past couple of weeks, it's also been about 50 degrees for the average temp…I miss you guys so much but know that I'm needed here and I see the good we're doing so that makes things easier. This is my second letter in like 3 weeks so I'll try to write you guys more, it helps pass the time and when I do I don't feel so lonely….Love Geoff

Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Mass., was killed July 18, 2006, in Al Anbar province.

Marine Lance Cpl. Norman Wallace "Wally" Anderson III
Sept. 30, 2005

Hey guys, what's up?  Are you surprised that I wrote?  Sorry it took so long, I really don't have an excuse, it's just hard to site down and write when I could make a phone call instead.  I know I haven't called in a while either but I just assumed Tori was relaying everything to you.  The phone situation gets pretty annoying too, whenever someone is injured or worse they shut the phone center down for as long as it takes to contact their family.  This happens too often.  So anyway, I thought a good old fashioned letter would warm the heart.

I received your latest package, which had all the dip last night.  Everyone appreciated it "ALOT"!  Mail is a lot faster here, usually taking ten days to get here so that's a plus.  I want to thank you so much for all that you send.  I loved the trail mix.