Thought I would share this email I just opened from my nephew, who is in Afghanistan
Although I consider every other Soldier, Sailor, Airmen and Marine here with me a hero; they are not the only heroes. Those of you that give or have given your time to make this world a better place--not for money, but simply because it was the right thing to do. To those that support us, even if you don't want us to be here--you are heroes too. On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 10:28 AM, Joel Fox <classapistol@gmail.com> wrote:
Well another week has passed at the expense of my government sponsored vacation to Southwest Asia. This week has had many interesting moments; as I write this most of you are going to bed the evening of 11 Sep, having recalled at least once through out the day where you were and what you were doing 7 years ago. It is kind of surreal to be in Kabul, Afghanistan on the anniversary of Sep 11th--where the government protectors of Osama bin Laden had once ruled. Camp Eggers held a ceremony at 0730 to remember the acts of both terrorism and heroism that occurred on that day and almost everyday since. Our Coalition partners stopped to remember, pray and cry with us. As I drift into the rest of my letter, remember this: I will leave this place in about 10 months, but we will be fighting this enemy (you can call them Taliban (TB), Al Qaeda (AQ) or religious fundamentalist, but by any name they are evil) for more years than I can serve--both by being able and willing. As long as we, as Americans and our Allies, continue to prosper because of our hard work, opportunities and tolerance of other religions and cultures, we will be hated and despised. A fundamentalist, of any kind, believes that to tolerate anything other than what you believe is to lack conviction in your beliefs. Since we "western" countries appreciate people regardless of their ethnicity, color, sex or religion, if any, we are hated an despised and thought of as an infidel. Those that hate us for this are the terrorist, and they are evil. Although I don't consider myself a hero, every other Soldier, Sailor, Airmen and Marine here with me is. That is what we remember here. The large crowds that gather to remember September 11th 2001 will eventually fade and people will go about their lives for another year, but the battle against evil will rage as it has since creation.
