Sister shares e-mail from brother in Iraq (11/17/05)

To the editor:

My brother, Sgt. Damion Claycomb, has been in Iraq for the past couple months. He recently e-mailed me this letter (below) and I would like to share it with the community. He wanted to join the Army since he was about 5 years old.

He has a love for this, and I believe that whether or not you support this war or our President, you should support those fighting for our freedom. I know that I couldn’t do what he does and for that I salute him and all other military men and women.

If you would like to drop him an e-mail of thanks, send it to [email protected]. I know it would be appreciated.

Wendy Haffner

Portland

(Editor’s note: The following is an e-mailed letter to Wendy Haffner from her brother, Sgt. Damion Claycomb).

Wendy:

Hey what’s up? Quick note from Iraq just to let you know this place sucks. It would be a lot better if I were allowed to leave post and go on convoys or something. I would also like to go to all the historical places from the Bible that are here ... Babylon and the city of Ur, just to name a few. This is the place where Daniel was and the Jews. It is like walking in history over here, only I can’t leave the post.

If you get a chance, e-mail me. Tell everyone hi for me and that I do this for them.

It sucks, but I still did it because (a) Freedom ain’t free; and (b) Take the fight to them before they bring it to us.

Please tell the people at church that I appreciate their prayers, but what is more important is that they remember why we are here and that they don’t forget those who have given so much for their country and the families who have also sacrificed everything on the altar of freedom.

Please make sure that they realize that soldiers don’t fight or die in vain. We fight for each other, our God and our country, but never in vain. We die knowing our country’s cause is just, for it is us, the soldier, standing on the front line defending the freedoms that allow U.S. citizens to disgrace us, but that is their right, thanks to us, so I don’t care.

Drink a beer for me (Coor’s Light). Say a prayer for me also and remember the families who have lost so much in this war, for theirs is the true sacrifice of what freedom really does cost — American lives: Sons, daughters, wives, husbands, daddies and mommies, too.

Please don’t think I regret being here or what I do, because I do not. I love it that I’m here so that my niece and nephews can be free so that they can grow up with a future.

Don’t let anyone tell you and don’t tell anyone that this war is stupid or unjustified or that you don’t support it. I do, and because I do, you should support me. If I die, I die for my country, my God and my family. We soldiers do not like our country degrading us or not supporting us.

Some of us have seen our best friends die and have seen the grief on their families’ faces and do not appreciate their memory being stepped on. I know this does not apply to you all, but if it applies to someone you know maybe you could tell them (or punch them for me).

Please e-mail this to everyone you know. I don’t care. Send it to your church’s e-mail; read it in church. As a soldier, I don’t feel Americans appreciate their military (mostly the Democrats; the same ones who want to take God out of our government).

I have to go, but my love to all.

Sgt. Damion Claycomb,

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