Jim Spiri in Iraq

Each year about this time of year, I find myself in some capacity mingling with the Marines. This year, I am embedded with Golf Company, 2nd Battallion, 6th Marines, at Forward Operating Base Reaper, in the restive city of Fallujah, Iraq. It is exactly where I wanted to be, for quite some time now. Since the early part of January 2004, I've been working in theatre as a civillian contractor on flight lines.
For two years in Balad, at Camp Anaconda, about 50-miles north of Baghdad, and most recently in Kuwait, at Al Mubark Military Air Base, and Kuwait International Airport. Both my wife and I have been able to work together most of the time in theatre, as these days we are empty nesters since the children are all grown up now. We had four children, two sons, two daughters. Our one remaining son, is a Warrant Officer, who currently is on his fourth deployment in theatre, and flys CH47 chinook helicopters, and is currently stationed in Taji, Iraq, with 2nd of the 227th, 1st Cav division, out of Ft. Hood, Texas.

We, my wife and I, have always considered all the sons and daughters of America currently in harms way, as our own sons and daughters. For two years, in Balad, I was able to assist in the loading and transferring of over 10,000 of America's wounded, where I saw what war can do to our children. It was there, in 2004, that I met and loaded many many wounded marines who were injured fighting in a place called Fallujah, particularily in April and November of 2004. I have also attended hundreds and hundreds of honor guard ceremonies in that time, as well as my most recent employment in Kuwait where all the KIA's, (killed in
action) arrive before being returned to the USA via Dover. We have witnessed many sad moments.

It is for that reason, as well as my own healing process, that I chose at this time in my life, to come and embed with the USMC, for historical purposes and be among the men that have to be here, doing their jobs, for all of us. I have chosen to come and take photos of them, for them, and give them to each Marine, for I know, that one day, all will want to show to their own children, what they did during what we all call "the Iraq War".

I learned a long time ago, that "Freelancer", means one usually works for free. And so, that is what I have done at this stage of my life. I have been given the opportunity to give instead of take, while others give all that all of us may have a sense of freedom and security at home. It is our sons and daughters that are paying the price. For three years, I have recieved wages from the civillian contracting world, (which I am not a great fan of), and each time I saw a "fallen angel", being carried by six, I had the thought that another one lost, has paid my salary. In good conscience, I now must give what I have to them.

Travelling the streets of Fallujah with US Marines where American sons blood has been spilled, is not a job, ...rather, it is an honor to capture on a digital camera, what the likes of Ernie Pyle or Matthew Brady,
(WW2 war photographer, Civil War photographer) would have done, no matter what the risk. It was then, and it is now, shear history before my very eyes.

This father's day, I report to all of America's father that their sons, OUR sons, are carrying on in the finest of traditions, the things we taught them about growing up in freedom in the streets of Philadelphia, and all across America. It is true, that in each Marine, I see the face of my own son, gone now, but awaiting with all those gone before us, in the hands of the Lord, for a time when there will be no more tears. I am here with the Cpls, and Sgts and Lt's and others, walking the streets of Fallujah, reporting that they are well, working hard, and in all cases with the highest degree of professionalism that any one could ever imagine. On this day, our sons carry the fathers freedom in the flak jackets, in their bottles of water, in the ammo clips and in the hearts, as they patrol through streets of danger, so that one day, we will all walk together on the streets of gold, hand in hand, with those gone before us, in the light of the Lord.

Yes, father's day is always a hard one for me. And I know it is hard for many, many others. It is my hope, that those fathers whose sons I am among, such as Sgt.
Don Reynolds of the Philadelphia area and many others from all across America, will know, all is well and there is one walking with and among them, praying for them step by step in the streets of Fallujah. This is history. I am most blessed, and the healing presses on. Semper Fi, the motto here among the USMC means always faithful. The Lord is faithful. This is my experience.

Sincerely,
Jim Spiri, jimspiri@yahoo.com
Forward Operating Base Reaper, Fallujah, Iraq