03/02/2003

"McKenzie Jeremy CPT 498 Med Co." wrote:

Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 21:21:55 +0300

Dad, I got your Snoopy card today and decided to reply via email. I added your peace crane to the many goodluck charms (it sits on top of my blood chit-- a piece of paper with the american flag and several different languages explaining that my government will pay a large sum of money for my safe return should I be captured and helped by the enemy) that I carry with me everywhere I go (an Episcopaleon Service Cross from the Western NY Bishop, the airborne saint medallion, a buddhist turtle that I where around my neck and my first set of airborne wings. Unfortunately I had XXX XXX from the XXX but I inadvertantly lost it forever in a sandstorm (figures right). Please don't tell the XXX right now. I would rather tell them when I am back safe and sound (somewhere between now and 10 and 1/2 month from now). I got a letter and book from somebody that is one of your website friends (India Gamboa). Pretty nice. Also got an Episcapol prayer book and service cross from the WNY bishop (probably through Bonnie of course). I miss everyone back home and can't wait to get back myself although everyday that I spend here strengthens my resolve to leave the service when my commitment is up. Things have changed so much now that I am married. I now want only to be able to be with Nicole who is truly my best friend in all the world. I realize now how lucky I was to be get to marry such a wonderful woman and I am tired of having my job carry me away from her and our dogs. I also want to get back and have her get done with school so we can start working on a family sometime so hopefully the grandparents will get to see some great grandchildren and of course I have a responsibility as the last one who can carry on the McKenzie name.

Well I will talk to you later. Thanks for the very appropriate Snoopy card and for all the hard work that you are doing to help make democracy happen in the streets back at home. Good luck and may democracy, diplomacy, and peace prevail over the forces of evil but if you should fail I pray for a fast and furious war that will inflict minimum casualties while bringing the Hussein regime to its knees quickly. I also hope that I have the strength to use my training for just a little bit of good to take care of our wounded joes and give them all the chances possible of making it back in one piece.

Well I will talk to you later. Send my love to Grandma.

Love,
Jeremy

PS Nice to talk to you today but it is like $2.50 a minute for me to call and I can only get limited minutes because we are confined to base so I have to have civilian contractors get minutes for me for the prepaid phone. It is much much cheaper for inbound calls for me and altogether b/c you can get it for as low as 42 cents a minute from the US.

PSS I am directly west of Kuwait City at Ali Al Salem Airbase (it was in a recent newsweek magazine I believe on the map).

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