Letters Home from Chaplain Richard Townes, First Battalion, Seventh Marines Stationed in al Qaim, Iraq on the Euphrates River at the Syrian border in 2006.
H I G H E R
T H I N G S __ 18
sent and it’s s u o r e ng in my er is da to rega ing g n e a m f r o d y stand e long fo This kin idn’t tak here were man ibution. d It . In n a d t T etr ille by Sa March posure. ediate r s m rst KIA (K who m o fi c r im n u d o ia te sire red qi Christ ho wan their de s w tly suffe at the very Ira s e n a e m d c e e d t r r a We aroun eir orde d out th e medry frustr It turne as on the sam can imagine were ve match with th onflict of ). y n e io h t T c A u ew e) didn’t en I saw their c to Pastor ictim. Yo r Marin (reveng shot ou n flight as his v ose of us who Wh ck in th assion). diately fell ba ance. Then I io t p n a io m u t o c o a (c v m e e . id de ctors ard him ns I imm to pray for gu . sion an emotio felt tow psmen and do i’s n t the ten a us h s g e e ig J b fl f was the ice o y cor e and e Iraq v v d h d a t o a N d e m e d that it But I h le greeted v r t b a a r a s e e k h r ff d a o n e o av emies.’ Our rem tely to work a arines nearby , began t rd said, “You h t M your en a dia y e o e h t n L T hose a a . m r h g u , m s im O in sav iend ray for t were went h p fr e t r r d u e o n o h y a w t s t e my v ie no ugh said, ‘Lo ve your enem hese words on le life was motion of the , we life, tho is h t t a lo th e re ith u: peop who felt came from the emies, therefo who tell yo secute you.” W o counsel our r t e, t our en even on those is is the who pe heart I began of cours e are no emy. Th also the y c d n W r e n . e t a r n m u d e o d in ke m it’s mom n an n. ne re not li and us, mpassio wn dow said, at we a etween them God and the o s h t show co d one of our o ard that it was b t e u nes e u r e B e c e t n .’ h differen between the love and forgiv d just gun aid, “You have oth for a tooth one n e a ’s c e s o at om Jesus differen y follows - God face of horror ye, and ge on s se for e n e n v a e e r r m h t r e fo our ene ough even in ‘An eye you: do not tak not an easy ve ood hr t s s ll a I e w t e a cold s I a is t h w shines t no u.” T men tly. I hav s o o s y o m s r m g , la n y u o death. eligiou d health who wr r at that partic he well an t’s alright. My R een busy g him t onestly say ea in m h a iv I o g t e e rin m ve b tha nh ung Ma the Dying. I ca erienced true ow, but st (RP) and I ha Michael’s – so o n y t a h r ig e r t. ov xp of Speciali el. We apel – S y life I e ndation Program to our new ch he warrior ang for us Comme e first time in m th e. ving in ig day ow God hael is t that for scared m urch, I know h an who mo because Mic ter Sunday. A b it d n a am Eas called he Ch hatred s, but as ate it on ing. I stor of t ill dedic aim. As a pa eat our enemie boys, as a man ters com w t le d n r t a r Q Al ds, s to with ou illy here in he e-mails, car you. wants u he mud them at their s to Eat), t t in p t e e p e n K o of h dy has sle hed wit RE (Meals Rea ve each h g t lo u a d e la n d s a a e miss who h a cold M ith them at th idn’t es over w Id , d e ie g r c ia r s antidot r a a t t, n who h p of a m . I was angry a In Chris as a ma or the break-u t n e m o m d t il a h k Ric of a c ook it d at th arine. I t hear Go here. want to ho killed my M f us standing t w to the man as did the res y ll a n o pers
