An email I received from a Marine Mom:
Those who are not living this war may not be aware that this past week has been an extremely heartbreaking one for Marines and Marine families. One of the units “3/25” lost 20 men within just a few days. This unit was replacing unit 1/23 who also had suffered a large number of losses during their tour.
Our family is especially concerned because we have been corresponding with a Marine who serves with “3/25” and we have not heard from him yet. We usually receive a letter once a month so have no other way to hear from him except to wait. I am including two articles that we would like to share with our prayer warriors.
As time goes by it is natural for Americans to forget that each and every night and day our troops are in extreme danger still. Our Marines and Soldiers desperately need us to keep them covered in prayer. For the Marine unit 3/25 who have lost so many men, cards/packages of encouragement are so needed. These young men/women are carrying on their duties while mourning the loss of not one, but many of their brothers. It would mean the world to them to receive encouragement.
Two emails she passed along:
#1In the past two days 20 Marines of 3/25 stationed in Brook Park, Ohio were killed in the war. We as a family have lost 20 of our brothers. Please remember the families of these Marines in your prayers……
#2 (an excerpt from an email)
As you may have seen, the battalion that replaced us in Iraq (3/25) has been especially hard hit in recent days. I follow them closely in the news and keep up email contacts with a few folks still at the dam in Haditha. By my counts from news reports and Dept of Defense press releases, 3/25 has now lost close to 47 Marines if not higher. This might be the highest price any Marine battalion has paid in Iraq.
1/23 lost 10 of our members and I know how difficult each loss was to our guys. It meant a great deal to us to know how much support we had from folks back home during those trying days. Many politicians and tv types talk about how their thoughts and prayers are with our troops there, but I believe that is not enough.
Actions of course always ALWAYS speak louder than words. If you can find it in your day please send them a box or even a letter to just let them know we have not forgotten them and that we hold them in the highest place of honor. 3/25 will probably be in Iraq until October. It takes about two weeks for mail to get to them.
You can send all sorts of stuff like books, magazines, dvds, candy, food, etc in a simple US Postal service flat rate box for less than 8 bucks. That’s about two lattes at Starbucks. Most importantly you can also send a note or card for 37 cents and let a few American patriots know how much they mean to us.
The address for 3/25 is:
Adopt a Marine
c/o Capt Kasparian
3/25 H&S Co
Unit 72110
FPO, AE 09509-2110Thank you for reading this and please pass it along to anyone that you might think would want to see this.
Semper Fi,
Capt James Crabtree, USMC
I believe that prayer can help these Marines in ways that we may never know. But, remember the story of the little girl who said she was afraid at night? Her mom told her Jesus was always with her. The little girl replied, “I want Jesus with skin on.” These letters and boxes are our prayers “with skin on.”
The Marine Mom I got this from has a son on his second tour of Iraq. From his address I think he’s in 2/1. Pray for him, too.
Note: The mail has to have been sent by August 14th to get to them.
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There are rumors of an August 10th mail stop for this group.
Blackfive commands and it shall be done!
Went shopping already, rumor of mail block or not.
Thanks for showing the way to lend support.
You Marines are as great as any Marine who ever crapped behind a pair of boondockers. I can’t pay any more homage than that. We aint gonna let politicians do to you what was done to us. I remind my congressman almost weekly of that fact and hes on the Armed Services Committee.Keep up the good work and don,t let the bastards grind you down. Semper Fi. T. Blunt MSgt USMC(Ret) 1950-1973
I am checking on the date of last mail. If you send by August 14 it will reach them.
The correct address for the adpot-a-marine is as follows;
Adopt-a-marine
in c/o Capt. John A. Kasparian
3/25
Unit 72105
FPO AE 09509-2105
This is from the 3/25’s official website in the letter dated March 27, 2005. I am a Marine Sister.
MY 20 YEAR OLD SON IS WITH THE 3/25, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH AN AWEFUL FEELING OF TREMENDOUS PAIN AND HORROR AS I DID SITTING ON THE STEPS FACING THE DOOR WAITING FOR THOSE THREE TO SEE IF SON WAS ALIVE OR MAYBE HURT. WHEN THE NAMES WERE ANNOUNCED THE PAIN NEVER WENT AWAY. ALTHOUGH HE WAS OK ,SOME OF HIS HIS FRIENDS, THOSE HONORABLE MARINE RESERVIST WERE NOT. THE PAIN NEVER WENT AWAY, THOSE YOUNG MEN OF THE 3/25 WERE DEFENDING THE PRESERVATION OF OUR WAY OF LIFE. THEY DIED WITH FULL HONOR AND DIGNITY AND BELIEF THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A COUNTRY WE COULD NEVER RELATE TO. THE HURT AND PAIN I SAW ON THOSE PARENTS AND LOVED ONES AT THE 9 FUNERALS I ATTENDED WILL NEVER GO AWAY BUT I DO HOPE SOMEDAY THEY WILL THERE HEAD HIGH WITH PRIDE AND HONOR THEY DESERVE BECAUSE THEY GAVE US AMERICANS ONE VERY SPECIAL PERSON WHO I WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. THEY ARE HEROES IN THE FULLEST WAY AND ALL THOSE INJURED SOLDIERS THAT ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THERE LIVES OR HAVE HAD TO EXCHANGE FOOTBALL FOR A WHEEL CHAIR KNOW WE ARE GREATFULL AND WILL ALWAYS REMEBER WHAT THEY DID FOR US. WHEN YOU SEE SOLDIER HUG AND THANK THEM. I BELIEVE OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE SHOULD BE KEPT TO OURSELVES AND WE SHOULD HONOR AND RESPECT THERE OPINIOS ON THIS WAR BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE AND THEY DID WHAT THEY DID UNSELFISHLY FOR US. I ADORE AND HONOR AND SO VERY PROUD OF MY SON I DON’T EVEN WANT TO THINK SOMEONE HURTING HIM BY WORDS AFTER ALL HE HAS GIVEN FOR ALL OF US. EVERYTHING HE AND ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH, AND I AM SURE WE DON’T KNOW AND ENEVER IMAGINE WHAT THAT HAVE SEEN
HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE MUST NEVER FORGET. IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH WE ARE HAVING WEL DESEREVED HOMECOMING CELEBRATION, I HOPE HE UNDERSTANDS MY TEARS WILL BE FULL OF HONOR AND PRIDE FOR I AM NOW A TRUE MARINE MOM. THANKS YOU ALL YOUR SUPPORT IT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
Do you know the status of 3/25’s return (pls forgive if this is an inappropriate q), and if it has been extended is the mail stop pushed back?
Also, do you know why 4thMarDiv website is down (and thus 3/25 Bn site also being down) and when it may be back up?
Thank you very much.
Respectfully,
-Susan
No more mail or packages. The site is down because the main sourc is located in New Orleans. They could be home the first week in October. No confirmed date yet.
My company is wanting to find Marines who do not have family or friends that send them care packages (especially since the holidays are coming up) and so we would like to send some items to some marines. I have 2 children in the marines so I understand how important it is for all US Marines to feel appreciated. Does anyone out there know how I can contact someone to find out who we can send items to?