May 22, 2004
It’s 2000 and calm, but it’s “stand-to” time. 1800 to 2200 and 0500 to 0900 seem to be the most popular times for “recreational” mortar attacks on our position. We, however, have gotten mortared a couple times today, none during stand-to time. I’m on post now. We’ve formulated four hour posts instead of three, which gives us more consecutive time off.
May 18, 2004
All good things must come to an end. With that said, we left the Mech Camp yesterday to provide security for 2/2 Echo, who we are once again attached to. This time we are further south than our last position, which I thought was too far south to begin with. Yesterday was one of our worst days yet.
May 13, 2004
The anticipation, the focus in the minds of all Marines participating in the convoy, could be cut with a knife it was so thick. It was in the air from 2100 to 0200.
May 9, 2004
What an exciting week, I guess—sad, too.
A couple of days after my last entry, things seemed the same as usual: boring. I believe it was the third of May, the day before we left for Mech Camp for maintenance, that we were on stand down. I had gotten a package from Mom with a bunch of good food and some tequila or margarita flasks. Technically, we’re not suppose to have them, but damn, it tastes good. Like I said, this last pause was quite boring until we began taking mortar rounds.
May 3, 2004
Dear Father,
I thoroughly enjoyed your recent package and letter. I got it about a week ago, just before we pulled out of our position NW of Fallujah.
May 1, 2004
“I’m your Huckleberry.” I say that once over the net, and my call sign becomes Doc Holiday. I use “Holiday” ’cause it’s shorter.
