The Heart of America

Posted By Blackfive

Via Seamus, this email is a thank you from a Marine Gunnery Sergeant in Iraq.  It was sent two days ago:

Just wanted to write to you and tell you another story about an experience we had over here.

As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here and several people (Americans that support us) sent them over by the box. On each patrol we take through the city, we take as many toys as will fit in our pockets and hand them out as we can.  The kids take the toys and run to show them off as if they were worth a million bucks.  We are as friendly as we can be to everyone we see, but especially so with the kids.  Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are completely innocent in all of this.

On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street.  This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio.  The lead vehicle reported a little girl sitting in the road and said she just would not budge.  The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did. The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and so they waved to her as they drove around.

As the vehicles went around her, I soon saw her sitting there and in her arms she was clutching a little bear that we had handed her a few patrols back.  Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop.  The rest of the convoy paused and I got out the make sure she was OK.  The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed to a mine in the road.

Immediately a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive posture around the site. The mine was destroyed in place.

It was the heart of an American that sent that toy.  It was the heart of an American that gave that toy to that little girl.  It was the heart of an American that protected that convoy from that mine. Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains.  It was a heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace and grace, even through the inconveniences of conflict that saved that convoy from hitting that mine.  Those attributes are what keep Americans hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United States, but she knows what it is to be brave and if we can continue to support her and her new government, she will know what it is to be free.  Isn't that what Americans are, the free and the brave?

If you sent over a toy or a Marine (US Service member) you took part in this. You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future. Thank you so much for supporting us and for supporting our cause over here.

Semper Fi,

Mark

GySgt / USMC

For those who want to help, I just posted some suggestions where you can help our troops.

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Comments

[RKV]

God bless the little girl and keep her safe. In this instance, there may be cause for worry. The VC would have cut her arms off for that act of mercy.

[Maggie]

Just getting ready to send another package to some Marine I found on the internet...I had already stuck in some lollipops but I had a Teddy Bear (new) which just got popped in too!
Thank you soooooooo much for the info.

[badcatrobot]

Wow. Just wow. What courage to refuse to move from the mine, even as the convoy is bearing down. But then she knew as only a child can they would not hurt her, and that's how she saved them. And with all due respect, she knew enough about war and mines and loyalty to do what she did. Brave kid. Watch her grow up to be a Gunny someday herself!

[mannedspace]

I shouldn't have read this during my lunch break. Can't eat when I'm choked up. Blackfive, I'm sending you my lunch bill today :). We're making a difference where it is needed: future generations....while the liberals are doing simular, though anti-American, in our public schools (and universities/colleges) here in the states. Cheers guys, MS.

[mdmhvonpa]

Oh God ... I'm crying ... PLEASE! Why did we go there? Oil? Terrorists? Regional Power? I don't give a damn what the cold hearted power mongers twitching beneath the frock of Liberalism may say. That little girl might as well have been my daugter and has more right to live free than those, both here and there, who would have put a bullet in the back of her the head.

[Richard Aubrey]

That kid needs orders. Also a rank. She's upheld the responsibilities piece, and now she needs the privileges afforded to members in good standing of Gunny's unit. And a home away from home--our kids are gone--if need be.
God bless her.

[David]

What is it about women and Marines? Must be the uniform.

If you aren't tearing-up after reading this you are either dead or a member of the Democratic Underground.

Semper Fi!

[Brian Andrews]

How or where can I send a box of toys?

[John Davies]

Brian-

http://operationgive.org/

[Machias Privateer]

I have linked to this post on my site. It ties in quite well with my The Questing Cat posts.

[NJjoyjoy]

I'm crying and asking the Lord to bless and protect that child. What awesome bravery and love she displayed! Another organization that sends toys and just about everything else to ALL branches in the Stan or Iraq is www.anysoldier.com. In particular, search for a posting by Tim Larkin to see what got me started.

[Marty Horn]

Can anybody identify the this Gunny or his unit?
We have a number of them with us but no Mark.
For the last year we have been advocating sending toys (especially beanie babies) to the folks there, they are our best ambassadors.
Any help would be appreciated.
Marty@AnySoldier.com
-marty

[Blackfive]

Email me, Marty, I know who he is.

I stripped out the relevant info for the blog.

[craig mclaughlin]

Wow.

I'm sure the CBS Evening News will lead with this story...

[Machias Privateer]

Craig McLaughlin - I doubt CBS is in a position to devote the time to research. Check out my Dan Rathergate posts which also will link you to scylla&charybdis and you'll see the legal fix they're in.

BTW the direct link to The Questing Cat is http://machiasprivateer.blogspot.com/2004/12/questing-cat.html

[Beth]

B5, where do you find all of these?! I can count on you to have an email or story to touch the toughest heart--including mine. From brave little girls to heroic fallen soldiers, blackfive.net is like an emotional rollercoaster ride with a lot of education on trip. And it's a beautiful (even bittersweet and painful at times) thing. Thanks so much your hard work on athis site.

[The Redhunter]

Wow, what a moving letter. It truely speaks to how wonderful our soldiers are.

I linked to you on one of my blog sites. (sorry I never learned how to set up trackback)

[AFSister]

Marty! OH- it is SOOOO cool to see that you read B5! I'm a big anysoldier supporter, and have email'd you myself in the past. I hope you find out more about this unit from B5.
It is stories like this that prove that the humanitarian efforts we are undertaking in Iraq and AFG make a huge difference. Now that W has been re-elected, these people can take a stand against the insurgents with the knowledge that we have their backs. We are NOT leaving until the job is done, and they can trust us.
This is just awesome! Thanks for sharing!!

[Merino]

God bless that little girl. She is a hero. I believe God worked through her to save the lives of those soldiers. Never doubt the power of prayer.

[Jake]

Why are there no details about the unit, the place, the time? The name of the Sgt? This reads like a typical 'urban legend'. If this happened the way it was described, you'd expect all the above details to be included.

[Jake]

Email me, Marty, I know who he is.
I stripped out the relevant info for the blog.

Why? And if you don't want to id the Sgt, how about the unit? Or the time and place?

And how did the little girl know it was a mine? Was she watching when it was placed?

[Machias Privateer]

http://machiasprivateer.blogspot.com/2004/12/choir-of-angels.html

[Denita TwoDragons]

Jake, take your Devil's Advocate crap and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. I know it'll be a tight fit, what with your head already being there, but I'm sure you'll manage with a little Vaseline and some leverage.

BlackFive, thanks--this is the kind of story that leaves me feeling lighter of heart and more full of hope than ever before. When I start feeling bitter and cynical, all I have to do is remember these posts and my smile is restored! I hope that little girl stays safe. I'd hug her as warmly as I would my own son, if I ever met her...

--TwoDragons

[TallDave]

Great story guys. Thanks for sharing.

The mass media won't touch it -- but talk to Brit Hume at Fox News. I bet you could get this story reported there, esp. if you can produce the sgt for an interview.

[Blackfive]

Hi Denita- Thanks for the moonbat bash. I already banned him and deleted his comments.

It's mostly open around here except for using foul language and denigrating our fallen warriors - that I can't abide here.

[Almaty]

Machias Privateer, asking for documentation on a story is not being a devil's advocate. It's being rational. Why would I accept something as truth just because it moved me (which it did)? If everyone tried to accept only truth rather than swallowing every camel that comes by, we would have many fewer confrontations in the world, both personal and political.

[Almaty]

Pardon me. I guess I was actually addressing Denita TwoDragons.

[Mike]

Why keep the details secret? Why not at least identify the unit and time and place. It's nothing but good PR for the Marines.

[Elisabeth]

One does not post the time, date, place, rank, file, etc. of the incident because that helps to identify the little girl. We read these blogs for information. So do many who are hostile to American troops and those who help them. In a month when two pharmacists were killed for selling a soldier medicine for a headache, why should we help narrow the search for those could seek retribution for her actions?

It is interesting - I teach 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. In 8th grade, the students will often be so excited to tell a story of an exploit, past or future, that they will include many details. Several fights, pranks, and incidences of trouble have been headed off or dealt with because enough of those little details are in the 8th grade gossip. By 10th grade, they have learned that just because the teacher does not say, "I'm listening" does not mean that she is not hearing their conversation. Many of those little details will never appear in a 10th grade conversation. It is a mark of maturity. While it makes our jobs as teachers a bit harder, that same principle can make the insurgents' jobs more difficult, too.

It also may be something that gets this post edited by those who keep sensitive information about troop movements/missions out of the hands of everyone in the world. It may seem trivial to us, but we are not there and do not know what might be problematic to reveal. To tell the greater story, those details might have had to be removed.

This will probably be one of those stories that we see with all of those details we crave in Reader's Digest in about 5 years. Until then, I agree that the simple fact that something moves us is not basis enough to call it fact - after all, the movie Titanic moved many people, and it was full of inaccuracies. However, it would be wise to consider that there may be valid reasons to keep particulars from a post, not just an attempt to sell a warm-n-fuzzy urban legend.

Blackfive, thanks for the story. I'll be using it with my Speech and Novels students later as an example of how our actions can have unforseen consequences. Keep up the good work over there!

[rod stanton]

God bless you Gunny. S/F
Rod Stanton
1/5 Nam 1968+1968

[rod stanton]

How about 1967+1968

[DagneyT]

I posted it at my blog, with a thank you to my readers who sent Christmas cards to my adopted soldier over there. What a country!

[Jack Dean]

This is such a great story. Unfortunately, it's already being attacked by some on the left who feel it is made up. Can we have just one detail that will shut these people up?

[bjbarron]

Moonbats....a life's lesson for you.

Trust is something you earn over time and can lose instantly. Either trust B5 or hit the road. Go watch CBS.

Being a bit of a skeptic is a good thing...too much will hollow you out. You'll knee jerk to attention anytime prisoners in head-panties comes up, but ignore things like this disgusting display. Buzz off.
http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/001327.html

[Roger Simmons]

I think what's being missed here is the opportunity to make this one of the 'great stories'. Truly, this would get great coverage on Fox, the Wash Times, and a host of other outlets (Sinclair Broadcasting, anyone?)

All that's required to 'break this story out' is to get a few more details out. The girl doesn't have to be identified at all. A simple picture of the Gunny and an account from one of the other Marines would be all that would be needed to give this story wide exposure, beyond a few blogs. Wouldn't that be a good thing? I hope others will join me in calling for B5 to 'break' this story wide -- to millions instead of just the few who keep up with blogs.

[Blackfive]

If someone from the MSM wants the story, I'll help them. But good luck, people. I've been sending stories like this for the last two years.

The last time I posted a Sergeant's address on the blog, he received about a hundred anti-war posters in Afghanistan.

For the new visitors: When I want to get help from visitors to send someone something via snailmail, among other things, I ask for an email from a work email address, valid phone number...so there's some equal risk involved in the transaction.

This has kept the flies out of the soup - so to speak.

[Blackfive]

...for the skeptics from Snopes - welcome!

You've helped prove my posts before http://www.blackfive.net/main/2003/12/email_from_part.html

[themaj]

This should be compulsory reading of every newscaster in America. What a fantastic story.

[Axel]

A heart-warming story of the kind we'll never see on the liberal main-stream media -- good news just isn't news at all for them.

@ Elisabeth: Good to see a sane teacher for a change ... your explanation for the details missing in the story is great !

The US-led coalition troops are doing a terrific job down there, keep up the good work and may God bless you !

Greets from Bavaria.

[Jay]

The only way the MSM will report on this is if something bad happens to the little girl - and they'll they'll report how it was the fault of "the Marines and the pro-war hawks in America" who "caused" it.

And even then they won't give the details of the story, they'll just report something like "because the little girl was seen talking to Marines".

[TallDave]

Well, if this story gets sent to Fox News by enough of us, *with verifiable details*, maybe a producer there will run with it. It might at least get a mention in The Grapevine or maybe even a short segment of its own on Special Report. They do run this kind of stuff, but are understandably afraid to run with something that might later be discredited. Remember, Fox News has a HUGE target on their back. Just imagine the screaming from the MSM if Fox News had a fiasco like Dan Rather's.

[TallDave]

Another thought - this kind of thing is RED MEAT for Sean Hannity.

[raptor]

Wonderful story.I provided a link to my friends at rantburg.com.Thank you one and all.

[mentaldent]

It was the heart of an American that tore her world apart. It was the heart of an American that gave toys to little girls to replace their fathers and mothers killed by bombs in a ridiculous war of choice. It was the heart of an American that will be betrayed sure enough by insurgents willing to exploit our kind-heartedness as displayed in this act that I am now parodying.
Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains - yes, she was an idiot who needed to be educated about the promised land, which apparently was not her land, which had housed thousands of years of history. It was a heart of blindness, of ignorance, of arrogance and eventual convenient convergence of war rhetoric and my own physical presence in this awful conflict that can rationalise saving my convoy from hitting that mine. Those attributes are what keep Americans hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United States, but she knows what it is to be homeless, hungry and desperate. If we can continue to support her and whatever new government were told to support, she will know what it is to be a hardened insurgent.

[Justin B]

Mentaldent,

How do you know that her mommy and daddy did not die in one of the mass executions of Saddam or maybe mommy was raped in a rape room by Uday? She knows what it is like to be homeless, hungry and desperate because Saddam looted billions in Oil for Food Money to build palaces. Go watch a Michael Moore movie about what a paradise Iraq was three years ago, and the rest of us folks will live in reality.

[Mary Villano]

Thank you so much for the story of the little girl and the teddy bear. That little girl made a lot of soldiers' families so happy here at home.

[John Simpson]

I cannot say how stories like these warm my heart, when all along I knew that the majority of Iraqi people did not hate us like bin Laden does.That's why Bush kicked ass in November, not so much because he was Bush, but because he WASN'T John Kerry, the darling of Ho Chi Minh and commie libs everywhere. For you soldiers that would like to chew on some real red meat you won't find anywhere else, go to http://johnnyragepage/blogspot.com and see me give 'em hell! Semper Fi, stay safe, and Merry Christmas to you who are our true heroes, not the Michael Moore/Josef Goebbels of the Liberal Elite!
We love you more than you know. God bless. Most Respectfully, John Simpson, Nashua, NH.

[John Simpson]

correction: http://johnnyragepage.blogspot.com/2004/12/johnny-rage-page.html. Sorry, not trying to plug, just trying to cover up a screwup. HA. Happy Holidays, all! John Simpson

[nyerere]

Man, I know what you mean. Every time I see a story like this I want to sign up for 6 more, but I'm too old now. I just got an email from my buddy, a master chief with the SEALs; here it is:

Nyerere, you old whoremonger,

Last time I was in Iraq I had a weird experience. You know how we always like to hand out candy to innocent bystanders when we're doing a prisoner snatch? Well, this time, I was injecting the sedative into the prisoner's butt (the easier to haul him back out of there, que no?), and I look up and see this haji drawing a bead on me from across the alley. "Joder!" I says to myself, looks like the old master chief has bought it this time for sure, where the hell's my flank security, etc., but just then, this kid lowers his AK, gives me the transcultural V-for-victory sign, and disappears around the corner most ricky-tick. When I go over to check out his hide-site, I find a Hershey bar wrapper, and, well, you guessed it. Hearts and minds, ese, hearts and minds.

Well, there you have it Blackfive. I figure, put this together with the litle-girl-teddy-bear- minesweeper story and Hannity CAN'T not go with it.

[ThaSickness]

What an absolutely wonderful story. I heard this brought up on the Rush Limbaugh show today and was looking for sources. I've linked to your page from my site, TS Right DOminion.

http://tsrightdominion.blogspot.com/2004/12/gift-in-iraq-does-wonders.html

Again, thanks for this bit of good news.

[CodeMoose]

This is a great story... I personally believe it, but would like to see it brought up to a greater level of attention.

CNS (*NOT* CBS) cNs News often posts good things that others don't (speaking of the bent MSM).

Perhaps if the source material for this were sent to CNS news and some local news agencies - perhaps that would get it the attention it needs.

I once called all the news agencies in my city and one of them actually ran a story that the rest of MSM would not. Finally, Reuters picked it up.

It's worth a try, even if other attempts in the past didn't make it - what's there to hurt in trying? If I had the source material (and permission), I'd do it tomorrow.

Respectfully Yours,
CodeMoose

[Jimmie Pope]

Just found your site through Wall Street Journal's "Opinion JOurnal" - the weekoly roundup of the past 2 weeks's good news from Iraq. This is the stuff you NEVER see on TV even
on Fox News. I wish they would carry some of this. I know you guys and your big hearts and I know these kinds of stories are there. You are special-blessed by God. Thank you.

[FTS]

Here's his email....

FRANCISMJ@IIMEF.USMC.MIL

[J D Brooks]

It is indeed strange that only talk radio , a few in the print media and perhaps Fox, are the only source of positive news from Iraq.
There is no doubt in my old military mind that the children in Iraq are praying that we remain.
They deserve to be as safe and as secure as they can possibly be.
We cannot let them down...like we did in another place...another time. We had that war won too, but the enemy appeasing liberals in the hallowed halls of Congress, media amd academia convinced others that we should leave.
You remember the rest of the story; we left too soon...and all support for those fighting the communist was discontinued. Millions died as a result.
I remember it well....I was there

[chris galadema]

Dear Friend,
I am an Accountant with STANDARD TRUST BANK(STB),My name is Mr Chris
galadema.I am the personal Account Manager to Late Engr.Williams,who is
a citizen of your country who used to work with an Oil Development company
in Nigeria. (SHELL PETROLUEM AND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY) Here in after shall
be referred to as my client On January 27, 2002, my client,his wife, and
their three children were involved in the Ikeja bomb blast disaster which
occured in Lagos Nigeria.
All occupants of the area unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any
of my clients extended Relatives, this is also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his last
name
over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted
you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property
left
behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable
by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged,particularly the STANDARD
TRUST BANK PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($5.5
million u s dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin.
Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two
years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($5.5 million
u s dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money.55%
to me and 40% to you why 5% mapped out for expences that might be incurred
by both parties in the cause of this transaction.

An attorney will be contracted to help revalidated and notarize all the
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may
make.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that
will protect you. from any breach of the law.

You may contact my private email:

Best regards,

Mr.Chris Galadema
(Auditor Accountant)

[bappy]

if you want make friendship with me then mail to me.

[bappy]

if you want make friendship with me then mail to me.