In My Humble Opinion

More letters to Dad
(Second of two articles)

Major David G. Bellon’s service in Iraq has been exemplary. This modest Bronze Star recipient is quick to share the credit with his fellow Marines. “I was doing my job,” he told his father, “and many guys who did as much or more will have gone unrecognized.”
In his letters to his father, he shares a bit about the challenges our forces face, and the increasing role the Iraqis are playing in their own security. “The best case scenario is for the Iraqis to succeed in handling the problem and we are doing everything we can to set them up for success.”
On May 11, Maj. Bellon wrote to tell his father of one success story. “We executed the patrol yesterday. Interesting information that you probably did not see on the news: When the Iraqis came in to link up with us, they were very stoic.” There had been disinformation and rumors floating throughout the day. The Iraqi patrol was not sure what to expect. Instead of a joint patrol, some Iraqis had been told that the Marines were planning a strike. But the rumors proved to be just that – rumors. The joint patrol went as planned, drastically boosting the moral of the Iraqi forces. Bellon recalled, “When the patrol exited the city and the Iraqis came back through our lines, they were literally chanting and singing. Their pride was evident. There will be good days and not so good days. Today was a good day.”

That is one of several inspiring stories Maj. Bellon shared with his father. On May 22, he wrote to say, “I could tell you stories of individual heroics of Iraqi soldiers. One specific example is of an Iraqi Sgt. Maj. who came into our lines during the first days of fighting in Falluja. He made his way through the mujahadeen and risked being killed to tell us that he was concerned about the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps armory in town.” According to Bellon, the Iraqi was afraid that the insurgents would raid the armory. The Marines offered to help him with a patrol, but he declined. Maj. Bellon recounts, “This guy took a couple young Iraqi soldiers with a truck and drove back through our lines into the hornet’s nest of Falluja…He went to the armory, emptied the weapons and ammo stored there and brought it back out through the fighting to us. Not a coward by even the most cynical standard.”

The time in Iraq has offered a lesson for the troops. “The lesson that we have learned for this iteration is for us to focus first and foremost on our true strength and that is the character and decency of our Marines. Force of personality and personal example are more important to us right now leading up to the inevitable violence this summer than the right radio for the Iraqis. For what it is worth, I think that is the right approach. If we demonstrate the best aspects of the Marines who they see every day, we are giving the young Iraqi men something that can never be taken from them. They are seeing the best part of a free people. Hopefully the lights will go on.”

How can the American people read such statements with anything less than heartfelt pride and the deepest sense of gratitude? How can a cynical left continue to degrade our forces, and a belligerent media persist in their slanted coverage?

If I’ve learned one thing from my time as a writer, it’s what to expect from those who read my columns. I’ll save some of you the trouble, and go ahead and write a response for you. You can cut-and-paste it into your e-mail to me.

“Mike, you are typical of the right-wing fanatics who continue to support King George Bush and his imperial army. And this Marine is just another poor dupe, fooled into thinking that this war is about something other than oil.”

Yes, this educated attorney and Bronze Star recipient may be a dupe. After all, he’s right there where the action is. How could he possibly know as much about the situation as those of us who have the advantage of being thousands of miles away and getting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but from CNN and the Washington Post?

Major Bellon, I’m with you, and so are most of the people I know. You and your fellow Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen are the best hope we have for freedom and peace. We thank you, support you, and pray for God’s blessings and protection to be upon you. When you read the hypocritical blather written by those who claim to “support the troops” while undermining your efforts with their every word, ignore them. They are the dupes.
Major David G. Bellon’s letters can be found at http://www.thegreenside.com

(Mike North writes a regular op-ed column for six newspapers in the southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama region. He is a professional land surveyor with True Line Company, Land Surveyors. He is a former Walker County School Board member and a student of history and political science. He can be reached at
Mike@myhumbleopinion.net
His columns are at
Mike North Columns )