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2004-04-24 02:38:03 ET I'm sorry about being busy! The internet is so slow here. By the time I get an email typed, my time is up, and I only get to email one person per day about. I am working on a letter for you! :) Everything is going well here. We went on a convoy through Baghdad the other day which was scary. It is so crowded in that city! Traffic is horrible! We spent a good deal of time on the wrong side of the road. Mostly because "we arent stopping for anything!" as the convoy commander put it. A couple of cars got too close to us and we had to turn our weapons on them and yell at them to "get the hell away!". One vehicle cut us off and stopped, so our Humvee ran on through him and pushed it away. I was pretty anxious. Everyone looks at you oddly when you are riding through the city. I feel bad when people look at me like 'why do you have your rifle pointed at me', but I can't help it. Some people smile and give us the thumbs up and others give us the thumbs down. Some smile when we face them and then throw rocks at us when we turn around. We don't know who to trust. I try to hold to the fact that I am here to help these people and I want to help. Thankfully I have not had to shoot anyone yet. I really don't want to. Our convoy commander the other day said, "i hear that the band gets shot at everytime you all go out (on convoy). Well, not today. We aren't playing any damn games today. If a vehicle pulls up beside you I want all weapons pointed at them. If you see anyone make a throwing motion at you, take them out. Even if its just a rock, you don't know that. I want everyone back alive, we'll explain actions later." I really liked that crew. We rode with G-1 from our Division Headquarters. They don't mess around. We took no fire thankfully. We aren't being rough enough over here in my oppinion, I'm tired of seeing my brothers die! It has turned now into a holy war between us, teh Shiites and the Suniis. We don't want involved in a religious war, they will never stop! Ask the Israelis! Anyway, on a more positive note, God is taking good care of me. He is the only reason me and my brothers are still alive. We, not only my unit, the whole military and its leaders need and thank you for your prayers. I am still doing fine. The camp is calm and has been for about a week or so. There hasn't been a lot of action around here for a while. On a positive note, we ordered sax music yesterday. Our budjet got raised from 400 to 1000 dollars!! We are also getting our new saxes ordered soon! fun fun! We are working on a concert with the Salsa band for the 5th of may (sinco de mayo or however it is spelled.) thank you all so much for keeping in touch. I miss you all and love you! Peter ................................................... 'and now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love' -the apostle Paul |
