admin
03-11-2005, 11:26 AM
[color=lime]From Brooks Mason[/color]
[color=lemonchiffon]Posted by Admin[/color]
___________________________________
Dear Friends,
I know it has been a while since we have talked. I deeply appreciate the support of you given me and my family.
Yes, I have been sick. Yes, I am well. All things work out with trust in God. I apologize for not having been more forthcoming about my illness but some things are best left to handle alone.
I look forward to once again attending fights and working with the fine people who make up our great community.
To Steve Fossum,
Thanks for not accepting my resignation. You are a good and trusted friend.
To Joe Lewis and his wonderful organization,
Thank you for understanding my inability to attend your conference. You are truly a class act.
To my dear friends left in the dark,
Thank you for respecting my need to handle this privately.
I have a good many people to talk to and can not wait to be involved once again.
As much as I owe all of you for your prayers and understanding, I am here to ask for one more favor.
My son has taken up the fight for freedom. His martial art upbringing could allow him no other path. I ask that you read his letter and if possible send him a few of the items he mentions and if possible a letter of encouragement. I know he does not mean to offend anyone but straight talk is his way and I hope you understand I cherish him for this quality.
What you do for my son, you do for me. It is a debt I will gladly pay for any kindness you can show.
These are the two e-mails he sent. Thank you for your time.
God Bless America. God Bless the Fight for Freedom.
__________________________________________________
From: [color=lime]roy.b.mason@us.army.miI[/color] (roy.b.mason@us.army.miI)[color=lime]
[/color]Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:28 AM
Subject: past emails
Hola dad! Sorry I didn't email but I didn't get a chance to last night. Here are the two emails I have sent out already.
The first email:
Hello Everyone!
Please forgive the mass email, but I get very little time for anything like phones or the internet here.
First things first. I'm doing this quick because the last time I tried the power went out when I was writing.
Ok. My address is as follows:
Pv2 Mason
0. Co. 1/503 infantry
Apo AE 09381
Send anything you send by next day air. If you do that, it will only take 2-3 weeks for me to get it. IF you send it normal mail it will take about a month or two.
Now, I'm not gonna lie to anyone here. I know this isn't what you want to hear but this is the truth, and you need to know where I'm at. Time magazine was here awhile ago. They left after 2 days are rated Ar-Ramadi the 2nd most dangerous place on earth. It was rated as one of the top ten worst places to live on earth and our camp (camp corrigidor) was rated the worst military installation due to battlefield conditions in the army.
I'm sorry to tell you it, but hell.. .I'm even sorrier to be living in it.
I want everyone to know that I love them and will always be here for everyone. If there is a problem, email me and I will get it in a week or so, if we don't have missions going.
Now, for those looking to send things (mom, Michelle, etc) I need the following:
Cigs (like money here. A carton will get you free internet time, detail switch, little duty, etc etc)
**** (like having pure gold. Magazines are like 100 dollar bills and DVDs are like a printing press since you can copy them to other computers. .no blank cds guys, nothing like that here) Send this in large supply as it's like pure ****ing gold here, ESPECIALLY with the Iraqi commandos who live with us. . "maxim? you have maxim? I give u soda coke for maxim yes mister?". .trust me, send ****.
Electric shaver (no running water, sucks to shave here.)
Movies (the hajis. .iraqis. . .have movies on DVD before they are out in US theatres, but we don't interact with any haji shops here. Every time we go outside it's for combat)
BABY WIPES!!!
MORE baby wipes (no running water = no Showers. baby wipes = bath = money)
Did I mention baby wipes? Unscented please. When you have no shower, you can smell baby powder baby wipes on someone just by passing them in the hall)
Batteries, AA size. Nods (night vision) use these. Send please!!
More baby wipes
OK, that about covers what I need. Little about myself here:
Itm in Dog company, heavy weapons platoon. I'm on a SAW (squad automatic weapon) and mounted sqaud (we ride in humvees with a 50.cal on top) We live in a run down college that we took over and fortified. It is in Ar-Ramadi. You won't here news about ramadi because the news won't come here anymore.
Anyone working with the US here is killed. The man who pumps our crap from the stalls was killed, so we burn our own ****. No seriously, we burn it in drums. Not too cool either when you get the late shift because that's when the mortars usually start hitting. Found that out my first night. .had the late shift and 4 mortars landed close. Too close to talk about.
I have no time left but will email the next chance I get. I'm counting on everyone to maintain while I'm gone and to remember that I'm ok. I have the best company here, the most armour, the biggest weapons and the best leaders.
You won't see me on the news though. Like I said, news don't come here. Last news was Associated press, and one of them got sniped so they flew out before the day ended.
I love you all. .wait except the guys here. . .and will be coming home as soon as I can.
Keep up the good work and tell everyone I know that I said hi.I will try to write individual emails if we get a few hours downtime someday. SEND ME ****!! we are lacking alot of stuff as you can imagine. Letters help alot, hint hint!!
Thank you. Have a nice day
Pv2 Mason
U. Co. 1/503 infantry
APO AE 09381
___________________________
[color=lime]The second email:
[/color]___________________________
Hello again everyone!
Ok, I tried to write individual emails, but last time we got mortar attacked and some got emails ending with "mortars gotta go". That sucked.
So, with very little time to write AND use the phones, it's mass emails for awhile until the city calms down.
Ok. Marie you asked what it's like here in the city.
We are in ar-ramadi. This is where the majority of the muj (nick name for mujahadeen. . .we just call all insurgents "moo-jj" and all civilians "hah-je") from fallujah fled when that city turned on them and the marines came in.
There are two muj groups here. 1 that lives here, is respected by the people, and has a sense of honour in their fights. These muj want no civilian life lost, don't plant ieds near homes or in tight streets, and will actually cease fire and flea if civilians enter a battlefield. They are like the mafia used to be in New York. Feared, respected, and in power but their power comes from their people.
The second group is from fallujah. They are mainly forgien fighters, bounty hunters, Syrian army, iran army, etc etc. Basically iran and Syria's version of our "special forces". Sent to fight but not officially here. These people do anything. Kidnap iraqis, kill and cut them open, then plant ieds inside them and leave them on the street. These people are ruthless, and are some of the most cruel and dangerous people on earth. Think nazis and you can imagine their "tactics".
Both groups fight eachother, sometimes stopping long enough to hit us, but mainly fighting each other. We expect them to kill eachother off by summer.
We know these things because we have people in the city who like and side with us. They give us things they hear. This city is like a junior high school when it comes to rumours. When an ied is planted, the whole city knows in 3 hours.
The niuj here can't aim for ****. Our "commandos" (word for "iraqi special forces who fight and live with us") told us the muj thinks "allah will guide their bullets and keep our bullets from hitting them". Their favorite tactic is to peek around a corner a few times, then spray a few ak rounds and run.
They work in 2-5 man teams. They always lead with their most casualty producing weapon. most times it's an ied or rpg.
While they can't fight for **** and they rarely seek cover (sometimes they litterally stand in the middle of the road firing), when it comes to hit and run, they are ****ing ghosts.
These people can hit you and be gone in a matter of 15 seconds, not only taking their own dead, but EVEN THEIR AMMO CASINGS OFF THE GROUND! They completely disappear and they do it quick. They learned that if they stay and fight they die. They know we learn from something as small as a bullet casing, so they got real good at being ghosts.
The city itself is alot like san fran. Tight, narrow streets big enough for one humvee and a bike (maybe) are the norm, with a few main roads that travel through it (we never travel down these anymore, too many ieds and ambushs because here, and with no houses around, both muj groups hit us with full force.)
The city has a very old "sewer system" and human **** is in the streets in every neighborhood. The smell. .1 won't even go into it. You never forget the smell though.
Dead animals lie along some roads. Sometimes we see 2-3 a day. We used to pick them up, tyring to help the people clean their city, but the muj picked up on it and started placing ieds inside them, so we leave them.
The houses and "businesses" are almost all 2 story, with no yards and multiple, smaller rooms in each. They are almost always mud-brick or brick or concrete with a steel gate.
In the states, you will see housing tracks where all the houses are built with the same blueprint. No such thing here. One house will be a mansion-style home, then nextdoor will be a crappy hut-style building, then. .well you get the point. No two houses are the same in this city.
The city holds about 200,000 people, and some like us. Correction, some like 2nd ID and know our shoulder patch. They know we help them, we kill only who we need to kill, and we help rebuild anything we destroy. Like last night, when we raided this house (more on that later) we accidently gave this man a hear attack. Well, we gave him medical right then and got him to a hospital. This has a major impact on people here.
Actions speak millions times louder than words here. You can promise anything and ppl will say nothing, but simply hand them a candy bar and they all praise your name. Actions. . .we are learning that. The muj doesn't rebuild, we do. People see that.
Now on that raid. We caught the brother of the leader of 1 muj group here. We also managed to get a terrorist cell leader and his LT, but I bet a million dollars that wasn't on the news (even though it's a huge bust here). No, the news will say "1 marine dead in baghdad today" because the news won't come here and show the good we are doing. They don't show the EOD team clearing 8 ieds last week, they would only show the 2 that went off (with no injuries by the way. and thats if the news had the balls to come here, which they won't until it calms down)
On base, it was a bad day yesterday due to high mortar attacks, but the day before was decent, only 1 rocket attack. I think things seem calmer (7-10 mortars a day is "calm", that's when you know you're in a ****ing warzone 1-IOOAH!)
I think that about covers it on the people and culture in ar-ramadi. If I left anything out I will cover it next email. This one has taken the majority of my time up, and time is precious here.
To everyone out there, keep up the good word, keep emails coming, and keep your minds right when watching the news. Yeah we are getting hit hard here, but we are kicking their ****ing ass over here. They won't last past this summer in ar-ramadi. And if they do. . .well the national guard takes over then and they can deal with it! ha ha ha!
Later!
[color=lemonchiffon]Posted by Admin[/color]
___________________________________
Dear Friends,
I know it has been a while since we have talked. I deeply appreciate the support of you given me and my family.
Yes, I have been sick. Yes, I am well. All things work out with trust in God. I apologize for not having been more forthcoming about my illness but some things are best left to handle alone.
I look forward to once again attending fights and working with the fine people who make up our great community.
To Steve Fossum,
Thanks for not accepting my resignation. You are a good and trusted friend.
To Joe Lewis and his wonderful organization,
Thank you for understanding my inability to attend your conference. You are truly a class act.
To my dear friends left in the dark,
Thank you for respecting my need to handle this privately.
I have a good many people to talk to and can not wait to be involved once again.
As much as I owe all of you for your prayers and understanding, I am here to ask for one more favor.
My son has taken up the fight for freedom. His martial art upbringing could allow him no other path. I ask that you read his letter and if possible send him a few of the items he mentions and if possible a letter of encouragement. I know he does not mean to offend anyone but straight talk is his way and I hope you understand I cherish him for this quality.
What you do for my son, you do for me. It is a debt I will gladly pay for any kindness you can show.
These are the two e-mails he sent. Thank you for your time.
God Bless America. God Bless the Fight for Freedom.
__________________________________________________
From: [color=lime]roy.b.mason@us.army.miI[/color] (roy.b.mason@us.army.miI)[color=lime]
[/color]Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 4:28 AM
Subject: past emails
Hola dad! Sorry I didn't email but I didn't get a chance to last night. Here are the two emails I have sent out already.
The first email:
Hello Everyone!
Please forgive the mass email, but I get very little time for anything like phones or the internet here.
First things first. I'm doing this quick because the last time I tried the power went out when I was writing.
Ok. My address is as follows:
Pv2 Mason
0. Co. 1/503 infantry
Apo AE 09381
Send anything you send by next day air. If you do that, it will only take 2-3 weeks for me to get it. IF you send it normal mail it will take about a month or two.
Now, I'm not gonna lie to anyone here. I know this isn't what you want to hear but this is the truth, and you need to know where I'm at. Time magazine was here awhile ago. They left after 2 days are rated Ar-Ramadi the 2nd most dangerous place on earth. It was rated as one of the top ten worst places to live on earth and our camp (camp corrigidor) was rated the worst military installation due to battlefield conditions in the army.
I'm sorry to tell you it, but hell.. .I'm even sorrier to be living in it.
I want everyone to know that I love them and will always be here for everyone. If there is a problem, email me and I will get it in a week or so, if we don't have missions going.
Now, for those looking to send things (mom, Michelle, etc) I need the following:
Cigs (like money here. A carton will get you free internet time, detail switch, little duty, etc etc)
**** (like having pure gold. Magazines are like 100 dollar bills and DVDs are like a printing press since you can copy them to other computers. .no blank cds guys, nothing like that here) Send this in large supply as it's like pure ****ing gold here, ESPECIALLY with the Iraqi commandos who live with us. . "maxim? you have maxim? I give u soda coke for maxim yes mister?". .trust me, send ****.
Electric shaver (no running water, sucks to shave here.)
Movies (the hajis. .iraqis. . .have movies on DVD before they are out in US theatres, but we don't interact with any haji shops here. Every time we go outside it's for combat)
BABY WIPES!!!
MORE baby wipes (no running water = no Showers. baby wipes = bath = money)
Did I mention baby wipes? Unscented please. When you have no shower, you can smell baby powder baby wipes on someone just by passing them in the hall)
Batteries, AA size. Nods (night vision) use these. Send please!!
More baby wipes
OK, that about covers what I need. Little about myself here:
Itm in Dog company, heavy weapons platoon. I'm on a SAW (squad automatic weapon) and mounted sqaud (we ride in humvees with a 50.cal on top) We live in a run down college that we took over and fortified. It is in Ar-Ramadi. You won't here news about ramadi because the news won't come here anymore.
Anyone working with the US here is killed. The man who pumps our crap from the stalls was killed, so we burn our own ****. No seriously, we burn it in drums. Not too cool either when you get the late shift because that's when the mortars usually start hitting. Found that out my first night. .had the late shift and 4 mortars landed close. Too close to talk about.
I have no time left but will email the next chance I get. I'm counting on everyone to maintain while I'm gone and to remember that I'm ok. I have the best company here, the most armour, the biggest weapons and the best leaders.
You won't see me on the news though. Like I said, news don't come here. Last news was Associated press, and one of them got sniped so they flew out before the day ended.
I love you all. .wait except the guys here. . .and will be coming home as soon as I can.
Keep up the good work and tell everyone I know that I said hi.I will try to write individual emails if we get a few hours downtime someday. SEND ME ****!! we are lacking alot of stuff as you can imagine. Letters help alot, hint hint!!
Thank you. Have a nice day
Pv2 Mason
U. Co. 1/503 infantry
APO AE 09381
___________________________
[color=lime]The second email:
[/color]___________________________
Hello again everyone!
Ok, I tried to write individual emails, but last time we got mortar attacked and some got emails ending with "mortars gotta go". That sucked.
So, with very little time to write AND use the phones, it's mass emails for awhile until the city calms down.
Ok. Marie you asked what it's like here in the city.
We are in ar-ramadi. This is where the majority of the muj (nick name for mujahadeen. . .we just call all insurgents "moo-jj" and all civilians "hah-je") from fallujah fled when that city turned on them and the marines came in.
There are two muj groups here. 1 that lives here, is respected by the people, and has a sense of honour in their fights. These muj want no civilian life lost, don't plant ieds near homes or in tight streets, and will actually cease fire and flea if civilians enter a battlefield. They are like the mafia used to be in New York. Feared, respected, and in power but their power comes from their people.
The second group is from fallujah. They are mainly forgien fighters, bounty hunters, Syrian army, iran army, etc etc. Basically iran and Syria's version of our "special forces". Sent to fight but not officially here. These people do anything. Kidnap iraqis, kill and cut them open, then plant ieds inside them and leave them on the street. These people are ruthless, and are some of the most cruel and dangerous people on earth. Think nazis and you can imagine their "tactics".
Both groups fight eachother, sometimes stopping long enough to hit us, but mainly fighting each other. We expect them to kill eachother off by summer.
We know these things because we have people in the city who like and side with us. They give us things they hear. This city is like a junior high school when it comes to rumours. When an ied is planted, the whole city knows in 3 hours.
The niuj here can't aim for ****. Our "commandos" (word for "iraqi special forces who fight and live with us") told us the muj thinks "allah will guide their bullets and keep our bullets from hitting them". Their favorite tactic is to peek around a corner a few times, then spray a few ak rounds and run.
They work in 2-5 man teams. They always lead with their most casualty producing weapon. most times it's an ied or rpg.
While they can't fight for **** and they rarely seek cover (sometimes they litterally stand in the middle of the road firing), when it comes to hit and run, they are ****ing ghosts.
These people can hit you and be gone in a matter of 15 seconds, not only taking their own dead, but EVEN THEIR AMMO CASINGS OFF THE GROUND! They completely disappear and they do it quick. They learned that if they stay and fight they die. They know we learn from something as small as a bullet casing, so they got real good at being ghosts.
The city itself is alot like san fran. Tight, narrow streets big enough for one humvee and a bike (maybe) are the norm, with a few main roads that travel through it (we never travel down these anymore, too many ieds and ambushs because here, and with no houses around, both muj groups hit us with full force.)
The city has a very old "sewer system" and human **** is in the streets in every neighborhood. The smell. .1 won't even go into it. You never forget the smell though.
Dead animals lie along some roads. Sometimes we see 2-3 a day. We used to pick them up, tyring to help the people clean their city, but the muj picked up on it and started placing ieds inside them, so we leave them.
The houses and "businesses" are almost all 2 story, with no yards and multiple, smaller rooms in each. They are almost always mud-brick or brick or concrete with a steel gate.
In the states, you will see housing tracks where all the houses are built with the same blueprint. No such thing here. One house will be a mansion-style home, then nextdoor will be a crappy hut-style building, then. .well you get the point. No two houses are the same in this city.
The city holds about 200,000 people, and some like us. Correction, some like 2nd ID and know our shoulder patch. They know we help them, we kill only who we need to kill, and we help rebuild anything we destroy. Like last night, when we raided this house (more on that later) we accidently gave this man a hear attack. Well, we gave him medical right then and got him to a hospital. This has a major impact on people here.
Actions speak millions times louder than words here. You can promise anything and ppl will say nothing, but simply hand them a candy bar and they all praise your name. Actions. . .we are learning that. The muj doesn't rebuild, we do. People see that.
Now on that raid. We caught the brother of the leader of 1 muj group here. We also managed to get a terrorist cell leader and his LT, but I bet a million dollars that wasn't on the news (even though it's a huge bust here). No, the news will say "1 marine dead in baghdad today" because the news won't come here and show the good we are doing. They don't show the EOD team clearing 8 ieds last week, they would only show the 2 that went off (with no injuries by the way. and thats if the news had the balls to come here, which they won't until it calms down)
On base, it was a bad day yesterday due to high mortar attacks, but the day before was decent, only 1 rocket attack. I think things seem calmer (7-10 mortars a day is "calm", that's when you know you're in a ****ing warzone 1-IOOAH!)
I think that about covers it on the people and culture in ar-ramadi. If I left anything out I will cover it next email. This one has taken the majority of my time up, and time is precious here.
To everyone out there, keep up the good word, keep emails coming, and keep your minds right when watching the news. Yeah we are getting hit hard here, but we are kicking their ****ing ass over here. They won't last past this summer in ar-ramadi. And if they do. . .well the national guard takes over then and they can deal with it! ha ha ha!
Later!