Things Fall Apart

Foyteck, 26, was shot and killed on Oct. 30 while searching a house for weapons in one of Baghdad's more prosperous neighborhoods.

Mundell
Nov. 8, Fallujah

One more thing. I hope that no one is making any decisions about the war based on what I am saying. I don't know what's going on in Baghdad or Ramadi or Mosul or anywhere else. You all have more access to news than I do. I can only tell you what I see, hear, think or experience. I don't have the vaguest idea as to who is winning this war, and I don't care. My job is to bring home my boys and I will do whatever I have to in order to accomplish that. Lance Corporal Danny Catron, all of 19, his wife (18) and their new baby are counting on me not to screw it up here. I could care less what is going on in Baghdad. Or anywhere else.

Mundell, 47, was killed by an IED in Fallujah on Jan. 5, 2007. (Corporal Catron is still serving in Iraq and is due to return home soon.)

Army Sgt. William Sigua
Nov. 14, FOB Summerall, outside Bayji

Mom,

[ ... ] Sure, by the time we leave from this deployment we might turn this city around, but you cannot erase the deep-[seated] hatred between the [groups here]. They have been mercilessly slaughtering each other for long before this war has been going on. No amount of American influence will be able to remedy that.