Got a letter from a Marine today as a result of Operation Thanks for Freedom. HAVE A KLEENEX HANDY, YOU MAY WELL NEED IT! This is soo sweet! The longer this war drags on, the more we have to work at reminding people that the troops aren't just faceless, nameless masses "somewhere out there:" these are real people with real names with real lives and people who love them - and NEED to know we support them. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now, hehe... Stay tuned for the Christmas/Holiday card drive, which will begin in October. :) The Marine's letter, word for word, is below. THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT! :) THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED!!!!! YOU - YES, YOU, MADE A VERY REAL DIFFERENCE AND TOUCHED SOMEONE'S LIFE!!!

Dear Mrs. Kat Orr:

Thank you for the prayers and all the letters. Our platoon sat around together and read all the letters on the 4th of July. They brought smiles to our faces and and brought us closer together. Reading the letters made us realize what we are fighting for, whether family back home or just freedom in general.

We are attached to a unit from Camp Pendleton. Our plt. is from Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. All motor transport operators. We go outside the wire [Kat's translation: they leave the safet of their base and enter combat areas] all the time for convoys.Nothing is better than knowing that people back home, whether friends, family, people who don't even know us are praying for our safety. We all have someone to come home to, and we will.

In a lot of the letters, the question was asked: "Is it hot?" Well, yes, it is, especially wearing all our gear. Imagine a hair dryer on high blowing on you constantly. there is no "cool breeze." But the good thing is there is no complaints, we all signed the contract to become Marines. "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer."

Being here, some Marines have expressed faith in God within the past months. After our first attack on our convoy, the prayer group prior missions went up from 3 Marines to 13 Marines praying before we left the wire. Its amazing what the power of God can do. Once again, thank you for everything.

Semper Fi,

Sgt. XXXXXXXXXXXXx. and all 45 Marines from XXXX Platoon.