This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one
that everyone does.
This is just one most don't hear:
A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently
filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three
dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying,
"Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying
in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk
toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from
behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds
that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the
blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror
as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the
barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent
setting off several pounds of explosives.
The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in
arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a
casket and! a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone
who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except
those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families
who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.
This is the story everyone hears:
A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently
filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three
dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying,
"Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded.
Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without
the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding
the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face. The next
day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young
Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One
lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A
reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the
background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's
moving!" The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the
wall is now dead.
Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and
the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.
And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the
stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings
their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should
I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.
For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers,
Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is
right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and
the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or
woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children,
friends and families.
For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television,
and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say
to you. Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle,
leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I
have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude.
You keep us alive.
I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my
opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine
Corps or of the US military, or any other.
Sincerely,
LCPL Schmidt
USMC
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Petition supporting the Marine in question
http://www.petitiononline.com/as123/petition.html
Petition to supprt Marine in Iraq 
