Comments on: Letter From Iraq http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: The Ugly American http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3298 The Ugly American Wed, 24 May 2006 23:49:56 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3298 Thank you for sharing this with us Gaius and thank you Sarge for your service and your sacrifice. Godspeed to you. Thank you for sharing this with us Gaius and thank you Sarge for your service and your sacrifice.

Godspeed to you.

]]> By: American Flag » American Flag Business http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3188 American Flag » American Flag Business Tue, 23 May 2006 12:08:26 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3188 [...] Also, Gaius’ son is in Iraq, serving his second deployment, and wrote a wonderful letter. Please go read the whole thing.   [...] [...] Also, Gaius’ son is in Iraq, serving his second deployment, and wrote a wonderful letter. Please go read the whole thing.   [...]

]]> By: Pirate’s Cove » Blog Archive » American Flag Business http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3187 Pirate’s Cove » Blog Archive » American Flag Business Tue, 23 May 2006 12:07:37 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3187 [...] Also, Gaius’ son is in Iraq, serving his second deployment, and wrote a wonderful letter. Please go read the whole thing. Explore posts in the same categories: American Flag [...] [...] Also, Gaius’ son is in Iraq, serving his second deployment, and wrote a wonderful letter. Please go read the whole thing. Explore posts in the same categories: American Flag [...]

]]> By: chez Diva » Letter From Iraq http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3172 chez Diva » Letter From Iraq Tue, 23 May 2006 02:53:25 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3172 [...] I’ve never tried to curl up in my helmet during a concentrated artillery barrage. I’ve never rushed a machine gun nest. I’ve never seen hordes of my enemies advancing relentlessly across an open plain. I’ve never held the limp body of a friend in my arms and wondered how I still lived while he lay dead. To me, the men (and more recently, women) who have endured these hardships of war are the ones who have truly seen the Elephant.  ( the rest here) Permalink TrackBack [...] [...] I’ve never tried to curl up in my helmet during a concentrated artillery barrage. I’ve never rushed a machine gun nest. I’ve never seen hordes of my enemies advancing relentlessly across an open plain. I’ve never held the limp body of a friend in my arms and wondered how I still lived while he lay dead. To me, the men (and more recently, women) who have endured these hardships of war are the ones who have truly seen the Elephant.  ( the rest here) Permalink TrackBack [...]

]]> By: Scott http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3057 Scott Mon, 22 May 2006 01:04:12 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3057 Make no mistake about it, you have "seen the elephant". Any member of the military today--particularly one in the 101st and who has spent time in any war zone in the GWOT has met this qualification. You have volunteered to guard this nation from far away outposts in a time when a frightening number of our citizens see nothing to guard it from. You have definitely seen the elepant, Sarge. And thanks to people like you, many more Americans never will "see the elephant" in our own country, as so many did on 9/11. May God continue to keep you and your comrades in arms safe. Make no mistake about it, you have “seen the elephant”. Any member of the military today–particularly one in the 101st and who has spent time in any war zone in the GWOT has met this qualification. You have volunteered to guard this nation from far away outposts in a time when a frightening number of our citizens see nothing to guard it from. You have definitely seen the elepant, Sarge. And thanks to people like you, many more Americans never will “see the elephant” in our own country, as so many did on 9/11.

May God continue to keep you and your comrades in arms safe.

]]> By: Mary http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-3055 Mary Sun, 21 May 2006 23:56:13 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-3055 TexasRainmaker is right on and states eloquently the appreciation that I cannot put into words. Thank you Sarge and God bless you, the men and women over you and the men and women under your command. I believe your words have encapsulated the spirit, dedication and selflessness of the 101st Airborne and all the members of the military proudly defending and protecting the USA. Thank you for making our lives at home safer. Thank you for protecting our freedom and liberty. Thank you: from me to YOU: THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU. TexasRainmaker is right on and states eloquently the appreciation that I cannot put into words. Thank you Sarge and God bless you, the men and women over you and the men and women under your command. I believe your words have encapsulated the spirit, dedication and selflessness of the 101st Airborne and all the members of the military proudly defending and protecting the USA. Thank you for making our lives at home safer. Thank you for protecting our freedom and liberty.

Thank you: from me to YOU: THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU.

]]> By: Worldview - Blog Archive » Daily Web Roundup http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2994 Worldview - Blog Archive » Daily Web Roundup Sun, 21 May 2006 01:46:27 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2994 [...] On the Brotherhood of Arms: Have no doubt, he’s seen the Elephant: Blue Crab Boulevard [...] [...] On the Brotherhood of Arms: Have no doubt, he’s seen the Elephant: Blue Crab Boulevard [...]

]]> By: Gaius http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2989 Gaius Sat, 20 May 2006 21:20:49 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2989 Thanks, Andi. Thanks, Andi.

]]> By: Andi http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2985 Andi Sat, 20 May 2006 21:09:48 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2985 What a great letter, and a great son you have. Thanks to him for his service. What a great letter, and a great son you have. Thanks to him for his service.

]]> By: Isaac Schrödinger http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2916 Isaac Schrödinger Sat, 20 May 2006 11:20:18 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2916 <strong>Facing the Elephant...</strong> Blue Crab Boulevard:I have been on three separate convoys that were attacked with improvised explosive devices (the infamous IED of... Facing the Elephant…

Blue Crab Boulevard:I have been on three separate convoys that were attacked with improvised explosive devices (the infamous IED of…

]]> By: Trevor http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2914 Trevor Sat, 20 May 2006 06:34:05 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2914 There are big elephants and small elephants. I'm gifted with having seen only the midget elephant, and I too have slept through a mortar attack. The only mortar that counts is the one that puts you to sleep permanently. The rest are just reminders that we all have an invisible expiration date stamped on us. There are big elephants and small elephants. I’m gifted with having seen only the midget elephant, and I too have slept through a mortar attack.

The only mortar that counts is the one that puts you to sleep permanently. The rest are just reminders that we all have an invisible expiration date stamped on us.

]]> By: Tony B http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2901 Tony B Sat, 20 May 2006 01:40:36 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2901 TXRainmaker has this exactly right. The fact that you describe getting mortared in such a flippant manner sort of underscores what he's saying. All I can say is thank you. Thank you so very much for what you have done to keep the rest of us safe. TXRainmaker has this exactly right. The fact that you describe getting mortared in such a flippant manner sort of underscores what he’s saying. All I can say is thank you. Thank you so very much for what you have done to keep the rest of us safe.

]]> By: Fuzzilicious Thinking http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2900 Fuzzilicious Thinking Sat, 20 May 2006 00:07:47 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2900 <strong>Today's Must-read, Update...</strong> In a recent post I discussed the divisions and connections between warfighters and those who wait at home. I linked to Gaius at ...... Today’s Must-read, Update…

In a recent post I discussed the divisions and connections between warfighters and those who wait at home. I linked to Gaius at ……

]]> By: Gaius http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2895 Gaius Fri, 19 May 2006 21:27:02 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2895 I had a link to what seems to be the consensus opinion of where the phrase came from in my original post if you're interested, Peter. Thank you for your kind words. Sarge will be reading these comments, I'm sure. I had a link to what seems to be the consensus opinion of where the phrase came from in my original post if you’re interested, Peter.

Thank you for your kind words. Sarge will be reading these comments, I’m sure.

]]> By: Peter http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-2894 Peter Fri, 19 May 2006 21:10:44 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/05/19/letter-from-iraq/#comment-2894 You indeed "saw the elephant" by being at the receiving end of hostile fire--a sniper may not be all that bad a shot in the future. I am not sure what the origin of the phrase is--it might refer to the Romans' confrontation with Hannibal and his elephants. It was a popular term during the War Between the States, and those guys on both sides, regularly endured 10-30% casualty rates because the generals on both sides were using tatctics designed for muskets and smooth bores against rifled weapons. It is due to the heroism of people like you and those in our past who give us the rights we have today--and that we still must defend from domestic "enemies." We must never forget. I do not know how to thank you, your comrades, and those in the past for their willingness to put it all on the line. God bless you. (I think I can say that on this site.) You indeed “saw the elephant” by being at the receiving end of hostile fire–a sniper may not be all that bad a shot in the future. I am not sure what the origin of the phrase is–it might refer to the Romans’ confrontation with Hannibal and his elephants. It was a popular term during the War Between the States, and those guys on both sides, regularly endured 10-30% casualty rates because the generals on both sides were using tatctics designed for muskets and smooth bores against rifled weapons.

It is due to the heroism of people like you and those in our past who give us the rights we have today–and that we still must defend from domestic “enemies.” We must never forget. I do not know how to thank you, your comrades, and those in the past for their willingness to put it all on the line.

God bless you. (I think I can say that on this site.)

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