WITH ALL THIS HOOPLA ABOUT US NOT DOING ANY GOOD IN IRAQ,I THOUGHT THIS NEEDED TO BE FORWARDED.
This
from COL Ren Hart - what a great piece!! - We
know this is happening - we just don't hear it
enough.
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As I'm sure you know, the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment has been serving in Iraq (its second
deployment there) for the past year.
As the regiment prepares to come home, it has
received the letter pasted below. I believe many of
you will find it an interesting counterpoise to much
of what we read in the press.
From: Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq
In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d
Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the
city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which
terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure
city flourishing with life.
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the
grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women
and children in the streets for many
months.
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our
children, and gave us restored hope, through their
personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new
life to the city after hopelessness darkened our
days, and stole our confidence in our ability to
reestablish our city.
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu
Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held
hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our
schools, governmental services, businesses and
offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no
one dared to walk them. Our people were
barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited
them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and
controlled the only hospital in the
city. Their savagery reached such a level that they
stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and
tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving
parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their
young. This was the situation of our city until God
prepared and delivered unto them the courageous
soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who
liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers
after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists,
and
forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like
rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of
other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and
Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry
Regiment; they are not only courageous men and
women, but avenging angels sent by The God
Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL
Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly
embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom.
Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the
confidence and character of knights in a bygone era.
The mission they have accomplished, by
means of a unique military operation, stands among
the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi
Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in
military science. This military operation was clean,
with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of
the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons
they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city
without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the
families who dedicated these brave men and
women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the
families. They have given us something we will
never forget. To the families of those who have
given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you
in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones.
Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead,
but alive, and their souls hovering around us every
second of every minute. They will never be
forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have
sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them
in the smile of every child, and in every flower
growing in this land. Let America, their families, and
the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity
and life.
Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about
this brave Regiment, I haven’t the words to describe
the courage of its officers and
soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health
to these legendary heroes and their brave families.
NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall ‘Afar,
Ninewa, Iraq
