A message from Andrew F. Whitacre (06/28/08)

Editor's note: This letter from Lance Cpl. Andrew Whitacre was first published in June of 2007. It is being reprinted in response to numerous requests from our readers. Lance Cpl. Whitacre was killed June 19 while on patrol in Afghanistan. His funeral was Friday.

To the editor:

To whom it may concern (which should be everyone). My name is Andrew Whitacre, or as many of you know me, that good-looking Whitacre kid from down the block.

Now while I am no longer "just down the block," I still like to stay in touch with how life back home is going.

I have been able to do so with phone calls, e-mails and letters from home, but the one thing I have used most of all is the local paper, The Commercial Review.

Most of the time I would skip stories about the war in Iraq because well, let's face it, I am here and I know there is no way to fully understand it by reading the "facts only" articles that the news - television, radio and print - puts out to you.

So I felt that it was my obligation to write to you and let you know some "facts" that you might not know about the "war."

"It seems like every time you pick up the paper you hear about another shooting or another bomb going off or another hijacking. While I cannot say that these things are not happening, that is all they tell you. It really (makes me mad) because I know that without knowing all the good that is going on here, this war does seem pointless.

All right, if you want examples: My unit rolled into a village a while back that had not seen American forces in quite some time.

While talking with the locals, we learned that 90 percent of their day is spent at or near their homes. Children are not allowed to play unsupervised, and overall they were scared to death to be out at night. They told us that the insurgents had been coming into the area and doing and threatening things (that I will not print) within mere weeks of us making an appearance in the area. I began to notice a drastic change in the overall atmosphere of the area. Kids out everywhere, shops open all over; people would stop us coming through and faces would light up.

Now I am not saying that everyday here is sunshine and rainbows. We have faced tragedy more than once. I have lost brothers here. Good friends who, like me, wanted to do great things.

Things that would not so much impact himself or his loved ones, but an entire nation far away which no one seems to realize is struggling to survive. This country is filled with people who want the exact same things you and I want, who need the same things we do, and who love their families just as we do.

The difference is they were not blessed with being born into a nation that promotes, or better yet allows, for such things to come with ease as we have. They are forced to live their lives between a rock and a hard place, always in fear for their lives as well as the lives of those they love.

Now I am not trying to change anyone's opinion about the war. I know that it is a very touchy subject with a lot of people. And don't get me wrong. I don't like it here. I would be much happier back home with those I love.

But I have become a U.S. Marine; I vowed to fight for freedom, wherever and however it was needed. And that is what I'm doing.

Maybe not for you or your neighbor, but for another nation. A nation which has been beaten down by its leaders and overrun with terrorists. And just keep in mind that the people we are fighting are not the Iraqi people, but those who are hiding among them.

These are people who hate America and our way of life and will stop at nothing to hurt us. So do I enjoy being here fighting these evil people? No, but it sure as hell beats fighting them at home.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, and most of all your support.

God bless America,

Lance Cpl. Andrew Whitacre,

United States Marine Corps

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