Memoirs written in prose of Sergeant Robertson, Damon M. USMC while in Iraq | ...with frequent appearances of King Hammurabi.
If you are new to this journal, make sure to start reading in chronological order by scrolling down to the bottom of the oldest post in October 2004. Damon's letters from August 20th, 2004 - October 23rd, 2004 were all added to this blog on Oct. 23rd, 2004. All subsequent letters are posted in real time.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Dear Family and Friends: I arrived in Iraq in the early morning hours of September 11, 2004. As I stepped off the c-130 Hercules (transport aircraft, prop driven, noisy, oh my LORD uncomfortable ride) the first object I saw twinkling in the night sky was Mars. Just before I stepped on the bus that took me to my hooch (tent dwelling) I saw it again. I have had an undercurrent of feeling, a substantial sense of warning, this whole time, about potential violence in the coming weeks. I wish I could tell you guys a lot more than I can, but rumor has it that Hadji (pronounced "Hodgie") can screen our servers and we shouldn't say as much as we'd like. This place is hot, and it's only going to get hotter (I'm not talking temperature). I am on the top of the list from our unit to provide convoy security. As always, I welcome and Need your prayers. Today I am sick, with fever and allergic reaction to the dust (I think). The dust here is like talcom powder it's so fine. I won't keep you long (or myself) but here's a story for you: Just before leaving, my girlfriend took the time to ever-so-carefully write a series of scriptures on a rectangle of cardboard. On the reverse side, she drew a cross and around it the words "I asked the Lord how much he loved me. He stretched out his arms... and he died." I keep this piece of cardboard in the front flap of my flack jacket, just over my SAPI (small arms protective insert) plate that's supposed to stop bullets. The other day it was funny.... one of the marines I'm replacing tried to give me his collection of porn magazines. I refused, offhandedly remarking that "I just don't look at that stuff" so he gave it to another marine, who promptly stuffed the mags in the front flap of his flack jacket, over his sapi plate. Who guards your heart? love to you all, :D
# posted by chevas @ 7:30 PM 