'My Son, A United States Marine' - READ THIS NOW, SEND IT ALONG

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/100804V.shtml

My Son, a United States Marine
By Della T. Austin
t r u t h o u t | Letter

Thursday 07 October 2004

I am writing this in hope that it will open some eyes, enrage, and disgust everyone that reads it. I am a PROUD mother of a U.S. Marine. My eyes have been opened and I am now enraged and disgusted with "OUR GOVERNMENT! My son is now in Iraq. Before he left Camp LeJuene, my side of the family and his wife had to get money together because my son had to spend over $300 to buy things he was "REQUIRED" to have in his gear. If he were missing one thing, he would not have been allowed to come home on his Block Leave to see his family before being deployed to Iraq! Almost $100 of this money had to be spent on a third set of "new and improved" Digital Cammies. He was lucky! He had been issued one set and had already bought a second set. Some of the Marines were not even issued one set so they spent almost $300 on just their Cammies. Money is being deducted from their pay for "equipment". My son has never really been sure WHAT equipment, but he paid for it.

I was enraged when I found out that the Flack Jacket (their bullet proof vests) were the woodland version, the ones that are supposed to blend in with TREES! No one in Sierra Battery was issued Desert Flack Jackets! These marines will look like a group of trees in the middle of the desert!

Soon after my son arrived in Kuwait, his eyes were hurting so bad from the dust and sand in the air that he could hardly stand to blink. He noticed some Marines were wearing eye-protectors. He asked where they had gotten them. A Marine told him that he was "ISSUED" a pair. Sierra Battery was NOT issued any! My son had to spend another $100 at the PX to buy himself a pair TO PROTECT HIS EYES!! Wouldn’t you think that if the soldiers need their eyes protected in the environment our government is sending them into, that the military would make sure to issue a pair to every single soldier?! HOW DARE THEY!!!

President Bush said we "must support our military personnel." I did not know he meant literally! Support with money to buy equipment they MUST have because it is required or needed to protect their health, eyes, and for their VERY LIVES!! What in the hell is $137 BILLION paying for? The new rifles they were supposed to be issued were not. Some military personnel do have the new rifles that have been modified for the desert conditions. NOT MY SON! How many of our sons, daughters, husbands, and wives are in this situation? Do we need to buy their rifles also??

Support our Military? Why is the government not fully supporting and protecting our Military? Issue everything they need or do not send them until they have it! I was not fortunate enough to have been born RICH. I have to scrounge to help my son. My family, his wife, and her family got together to help my son purchase everything he was "required" to have. I have met other Marines and their families who are in the same situation. Apparently our "Commander and Chief" meant SEND YOUR MONEY TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN AND RELATIVES, because the government is unable to do so. This administration is NOT PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS!!

This is just one reason why I will vote for Senator Kerry! I believe that under his command, all or our Military personnel will be treated fairly and equally. I also believe that he will have a PLAN to bring ALL our children home! I also support Senator Kerry because I believe if the need arises to call again on our Military, President Kerry will not send our children into situations without everything they need to protect themselves and their lives!

...more...

[WilliamPitt]

1. .

[speedoo]

2. Unbelievable.

Maybe the biggest reason to elect John Kerry is that he will stop this idiocy immediately.

What the f*** is Rumsfeld doing? Don't bother asking what shrub, Cheney and the other chickenhawks are doing. They have no idea what it is to support our military.

[SeanQ]

3. OMFG

:mad:

[Out the Parasites]

4. This has got to get out...it's morally irresponsible of this admin.

and should be brought to the worlds attention. I'm so sorry for this woman and her child, and for everyone else who sent away a loved one to Iraq to risk their lives to needlessly kill others and be put in harms way.

[TrustingDog]

5. erm... yikes...

what the Hell is going on and how long do they think they can get away with this?! Cheating Money pouring into the Halliburtons and soldiers have to buy their own stuff?

c r a z y s h i t .

[Proud liberal Kat]

6. and the blind Bushites

go smilingly along with their support the troops ribbons on their SUV's without giving a flying fig about the TRUTH! And then have the unmitigated gall to accuse Dems of not supporting the troops. November 3rd and the righting of our upside down country can't possibly come fast enough!
Kathy

[David Zephyr]

7. Like a Punch to the Gut Reading This.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe that contrary to conventional wisdom that John Kerry is going to deliver a mother lode of vets and troops to the Democratic Party for the first time in decades.

I don't know how these families are dealing with this emotionally.

[ozymandius]

8. I am livid with rage.

Excercising Bush from office is not just a moral obligation. It is only the first of many punishments that I wish visited upon him and this cabal. What gnawing hunger dwells inside me to see the Bush administration swept into prison. There they can witness, over the remainder of their mortal lives, all of their fortunes, prestige and power fade away. Justice demands no less.

[blm]

9. I think they MEAN to destroy our military so PRIVATE ARMIES get the nod.

.

[beyurslf]

10. Why is this not all over the media? Support our troops?

How about protect them and give them all the best equipment without CHARGING them for it!

[Jack_Dawson]

40. I sent it to 1360 AM in San Diego

Everyone should do the same. This is how the pukes are so effective at spreading their lies. Except now we can spread the truth.

[Proud liberal Kat]

11. kick

[WilliamPitt]

12. .

[LiberalFighter]

13. Why are they required to have digital cameras?

I can't see any reason it would be required for everyone in the military.

[cheshire]

15. Yet not gun. WTF

[Proud liberal Kat]

16. I think it is referring to some type of camoflouge uniform...?

[A_Possum]

17. I wonder if she's referring to...

camoflage fatigues? But why they would be digital I don't know. After that she talks about the desert vest, so I'm wondering if "digital" is a typo for something related to desert. A stretch, I know--but geez, 3 sets of digital cameras? The management of this Iraq campaign is a far worse disaster than I thought if they are demanding that every soldier pay for the latest model camera.:crazy:

[Longhorn]

34. The pattern is much smaller and is put together almost like pixels

on a screen. That's why they're called "diggies" or digital cammies. They are issued in desert or woodland patterns.

[WilliamPitt]

18. Digital camoflage

http://www.sew-lexicon.com/Camouflage_patt_digital.htm


Woodland


Desert


Urban (not officially adopted)

[jmowreader]

21. Digital "cammies"

"Cammies" are what the Marines call their utility uniforms. You get a shirt and a pair of pants for a hundred bucks.

The digital part refers to the camouflage pattern--it was printed on the uniform fabric with a big inkjet printer. It's a new design that's supposed to be effective in the desert, the woods and the city.

Yes, this poor bastard had to spend $200 for two shirts and two pair of pants.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Ohhh now I remember

[Longhorn]

33. Not digital cameras.

Digital cammies -- they're the camouflage utility uniforms they wear that are have digital patterns to blend in better with their surroundings. The Marines have had them for awhile and now the Army is going to them, too.

[cheshire]

14. Do you know if the Kerry camp has this to use. Kerry needs to read this

soon.

[txindy]

30. We all need to email them this story and

keep this thread kicked to the top.

I am just stunned by this, I really am.

[Booster]

19. My nephew went to Kuwait in August and we basically did

the same thing. I bought him a GPS system so if he got lost he could map his way out of trouble - damn thing cost $250, but then found out the Middle East maps cost $450 - talk about a scam, the damn thing is worthless without the maps. His wife sent out a very long list of stuff he needed before he left and the family all chipped in and got most of it. Now we're sending him stuff he needs through the mail. He's still a very proud Marine though, bless his heart.

[Jacobin]

20. More's the irony when I drive around my red state

and at least one-third of the cars have those insipid yellow loops reading "Support the Troops" with a Dumbya 04 stick next to it. A LOT of the cars are undoubtedly owned by parents and relatives of soldiers who are over there getting themselves ground up in this disaster.

[TexasLady]

22. Id like to point

to a staff sargeant's little blog and some pics(yes one of my nephews and his dad are there in one of the pics too!)of just daily life in Iraq, what is going on, etc..my nephew is number 10 under gallery then, Iraq...

its not political..its just how these guys are doing...the guy who owns the site just talks about stuff here and there. I just found it today, and have been perusing the site for a while now.

click here

[Booster]

25. Thanks, Texaslady, that's exactly where my nephew is also.

I don't know how big the place is, but I would imagine our nephews have run into each other - sure looks uncomfortable, although my nephew says it's ok. His name is Joel and he works in the transportation dept. as a Staff Sargeant. I'll forward the blog to him and I bet I get an email back that says "yeah, I know that guy". He's also originally from Texas, but since being in the service has been mostly in Missouri and doesn't really want to go back to Texas. Small world, huh?

[TexasLady]

26. awesome!

no kidding a small world!

I will also ask my nephew Jason, or Steven if they know of your nephew.

Steven came back to Texas and got married...just last month..bet he hated to leave his new bride to go back!

let me know, ok,?

[Booster]

27. Yes, I will. My nephew is also a newly wed and misses

his wife terribly, but he's supposed to come home in April to Camp Pendleton in San Diego and of course there will be a huge party. He already knows he has to go back in a year though, unless something happens (hope, hope). He only has 5 years til retirement and this had to happen, but he doesn't complain because he was sent to Kuwait instead of Iraq. Whew!

[0007]

24. When 'ya think you've heard it all, another story appears to add

to the list.

[txindy]

29. Exactly

Never in my wildest nightmares did I imagine this was possible. We require our soldiers to buy their own uniforms and equipment. And we punish them if they don't. Because I'm sure they're paid so much the cost outlay is nothing to them, right? :grr:

Is it November 2nd, yet? I can't wait.

[Sparkly]

28. But the billionaires needed their tax cuts more

:mad:

[nicktom]

31. Is this legit?

If it is we need to expose it. Is there any way of verifying it? If this letter is used in the Kerry campaign it must be provable. If it is not used in the campaign it has no impact.

This is exactly what JFK & JE have been saying. If this is true we HAVE to make it the story before the debates are over. Get these people to go public. I've got two draft age able kids at stake in this election.

Lets vote this asshole out of office, along with his entire administration, please.

[Longhorn]

35. It's not at all hard to prove. Ask any parent of a Marine or soldier.

I know several since my son is a Marine. He's in Japan so he wasn't given such a list but my friends have told me the same thing, that they spent up to $500 on required equipment for their sons' deployments to Iraq. I've heard of Marines going without adequate water and only two meals per day (MREs -- Meals Ready to Eat.)

I used to be active on a Marine parent board and these conditions are frequently discussed there but since no (liberal) politics are allowed on that board, no criticism of the administration was allowed either -- only praise, since that's not "political," it's "patriotic." :think:

[Bossy Monkey]

32. Tiny proofreading point: no 'c' in flak; otherwise brilliant n/t

[lefty_WOHM]

36. My cousin is over there

and he had to by gloves for himself b/c his gun was too hot to hold.

:eyes:

Fortunately, he's on his way home.

[Polemonium]

37. People must have their eyes opened

This president is most concerned about things other than the average American.

[Jack_Dawson]

38. So why does 75% of the Military Support Bush?

It confounds me. :shrug:

[Longhorn]

39. I don't believe that figure at all.

That last poll overly represented officers, from what I understand. I think the grunts are fed up. I hear about it from my son all the time.

[Jack_Dawson]

41. What does your Son say?

[Longhorn]

45. He says that many of his fellow Marines seem to be clueless

about the issues in this election and somewhat apolitical. But when he gets into discussions with them, it is extremely easy to change their minds. For example, many had no idea that Bush didn't show up for his National Guard service. They didn't know about cuts in the military and veterans benefits. And many were under the impression that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. Once my son sets them straight, they either claim they'll vote for Kerry or they aren't going to vote for Bush after all.

Something else that is happening is that the longer these guys are in the Marines, the more likely that someone they know is going to die. My son lost a buddy last month who was in his platoon at boot camp and from our town, so they also hung out together during leave. The same guys who are full of bravado about fighting for their country and the brotherhood are quickly disillusioned when they actually lose someone they care about and they're beginning to ask if it was worth it.

[mahina]

51. That is heartbreaking.

What a terrible path to knowledge.

[Demi_Babe]

42. reality

[txindy]

49. That's the Woodland camouflage, isn't it?

Oh, no, they don't stick out in that terrain, at all. Pffftttt!!! What are the military suppliers thinking? That's an oxymoron, isn't it? Never mind.

I'm just... This is... Ah, forget it. Words fail me. :grr:

[vetwife]

43. I asked McDermott this via email on C-Span about $ and he said

SLUSH FUND FOR BUSH ! 11,000,000 WAS TO GO TO BUSH TO BE USED FOR HIS DISCRESSION. DIRECTLY TO BUSH ! I got that on Cd somewhere. I will try and find it back on C-Span and link it !. Jim McDermott said it and I believe him now !

[vetwife]

50. I went to C-Span 4/3/03 and that link has been done away with

I changed computers and its not on this hard drive. But I wonder if that tape could be ordered? Wonder why they took that interview off?
there are some much older on there ! The word slush fund?

[ewagner]

44. Disgusting

Rummy is immediately responsible for this......he should be shamed out of office and imprisoned..........

Col Hackworth needs to see this letter.

[PartyPooper]

46. Junior never served. Kerry did! Get it everyone?

We need to oust the Bu$h regime. They went into Iraq for the oil. Period. They don't give a sh*T about our military! Kerry does.

Vote Democratic on November 2!

:kick:

[Generic Other]

47. What next? The mothers forced to pay for the coffins?

Jesus.

[evilqueen]

48. Enlistees all pay for their own uniforms

While you are in bootcamp, they deduct a certain amount from every check to help defray the cost of uniforms and equipment issued. It's been like this since at least 1976 when I was in bootcamp. I thought, at the time and I still do, that this was grossly unfair. Military pay isn't really very good either, considering the long hours and the conditions you're working under. Veteran's benefits have eroded so badly since I was in that it's really a shame the troops aren't better supported, regardless of the rhetoric from Washington. I'd like to see other federal employees survive on what enlisted people earn, it would be a rude awakening.

[Tsiyu]

52. This breaks a mother's heart

Like I say, it takes more than a pretty little ribbon. Damn Repukes to hell!

[WilliamPitt]

53. .

[txindy]

54. kick -- A must read

:kick:

[WilliamPitt]

55. .