I received this today 10/10/05 from on of the real hero's that our children and grandchildren should be looking up to instead of those over priced sports clowns. Due to him and those who are fighting to make people free and to protect us yard birds back home from the terror the terrorist want to bring us destruction, we have not suffered any terrorist attacks in the U.S. since 9/11. They have disrupted the terrorist all around the world and destroyed hundreds of terrorists. If you are like me you pray each night for their safety and a swift end to this War on Terrorism. ben

Howdy All,

I thought this was a picture of My A&M Buddy's until I looked a little 
closer.  Took a while.  Hope you enjoy it.  Well won't be long now, 
well yes it will, but its closer everyday.  I can't wait to come home.  As 
I told someone else it has been real, it has not been fun, so its just 
been real.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their 
thoughts, prayers, support, and gifts for me and my family while I have 
been gone.  I know some of you are working on packages.  The original 
last day to send packages and have a chance of getting them here was 
October 15th.  However, I have been sent to a new place even further west 
in Iraq. I am at Al Asad and points west from time to time, but I can't 
tell you what I am doing, Cool huh?  Anyway, I have not been receiving 
mail and have had very limited Email and almost no telephone access 
since I got here in Early September.  In case anyone had one ready I 
wanted to make sure no one sent a package that I would never get.  If anyone 
has any packages thank you, or my best suggestion if you can't use the 
stuff is send it to the same address, but address it to "Any Soldier".

I have known from past experience how important it is for soldiers and 
Marines to receive mail while away from home.  That importance is 10 
fold in a place like this, where everything is foreign, and there is no 
place to escape and relax, even for a moment.  I would find myself from 
time to time like a little kid when I got a package.  I didn't know 
what was in it or even if I could use it, but it was a package or a 
letter, or even just an email and it was mine sent by someone who cared about 
me.  To all my friends that sent things to my soldiers, thank you.  It 
was just as good a feeling if not better to see my soldiers, especially 
those that didn't receive anything except what you sent.  Everyone here 
shares, and one in particular I think had more enjoyment that he 
finally had something he could share than just receiving the package.  Call 
it what you will, but I have been amazed at the compassion a bunch of 
"tough men" can have for each other in a Tough situation.

There is a set of fogotten warriors as I have heard dubbed in the news.  
They may not be getting shot at or have mortars, rockets or IEDs to 
contend with, but they have their own struggle every bit as difficult as 
anything we experience over here keeping the "Home fires burning".  My 
family, especially my wife has been a true Warrior back home while I 
have been gone.  My Family needs as much support as I have ever needed.  
Even more than what you all have done for me I thank you for what you 
have done for my family.  We will continue to get mail at home, and the 
phone still works there.   The best thing anyone can do for me now is 
support my family until my return.  The next 45 days with limited 
communications from Iraq will make it all the more important.

Well, enough syrupy stuff.  Thank you all again for all you have done.  
Thank you for all the correspondence, but letters probably need to go 
to the house and packages to the soldiers.  I will make an exception on 
Diapers.  I think we are still using them.

Thank you all, Simper Fi,

Michael

SSgt, Pilgrim, J.M.
TF Western Thunder
Al Asad, Iraq

jonathan.pilgrim@us.army.mil