CHICAGO -- The
following e-mail was sent to NBC5.com from Lance Cpl. Daniel Gomez, a U.S.
Marine fighting the war in Iraq. Gomez is from Chicago and graduated from Lane
Tech High School. After portions of his e-mail were read on air, many viewers
wrote in and asked to see the whole text of the e-mail. Here it is.
To The Great City Of
Chicago:
I just read your article
on the Marine from Chicago that passed away in the helicopter crash, and I would
like to tell you about another Marine from Chicago. My name is Daniel Gomez. I
am 22 years old. I am a United States Marine.
I am currently overseas in Kuwait and Iraq helping fight this war. This
letter is just to inform you that there is someone from the great city of
Chicago out here and that we need all your support.
I was born and raised in
the city of Chicago. I graduated from Lane Tech High High School in 1999. I
lived on Racine Avenue and Taylor Street until April of 2000 when my parents, my
siblings and I moved to 2400 Silvercreek Drive (I am the oldest of four).
However strange it may
sound, I do not know my neighbors or anyone in my neighborhood. Why you might
ask? A few months later -- July 25, 2000 -- I shipped out to Marine Corps boot
camp.
Since I've been in the
Marine Corps, I have only been able to go home for about one week at a time.
Once, I was only given 24 hours to go home for my little brother's 8th grade
graduation. It might have only been 24 hours, but it was worth it. From March
10, 2001 to March 25, 2002 I was in Okinawa, Japan. I was with the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU). It was hard being away from my family and
friends. But it was worse when I did get to come home, for it was for a funeral.
My girlfriend had passed away. I wish I could have called her my fiancee, but I
never got a chance to ask her to marry me. I was waiting to come home to ask
her. Right after, I was ordered to report to the 1st Force Service
Support Group (1st FSSG) in Camp Pendleton, California. From April 2002 to
January 2003, I was in Camp Pendleton preparing for our deployment. In late
January 2003, my unit and I were finally in Kuwait.
Now that a lot of
Marines are out here helping to liberate Iraq, we are hearing of many antiwar
protests across the country. Just a few moments ago, I heard of one in downtown
Chicago.
I understand a lot of
Americans do not wish for war but unfortunately, it is needed. For instance, at
first Saddam had stated that he did not have any missiles of mass destruction.
But yet, for the past several nights, I have not gotten get much sleep because
of missiles being launched at us -- some which contained unknown gases and
chemicals.
We were fortunate to
have practiced our drills over and over that we all made it safely to our bomb
shelters in time. Now we (the U.S. troops) need our fellow American's support
behind us.
We are all out here
giving our lives for you all, so that you all may enjoy this great freedom that
most take for granted. If you search deep down inside and still wish to protest,
please do so, but do so peacefully.
I once read, "It is
the Marine, not the reporter, that gives us the freedom of the press. It is the
Marine, not the poet, that gives us the freedom of speech. It is the Marine who
defends the protesters' right to burn the Flag. It is the Marine who salutes the
Flag, who serves under the Flags, and whose coffin is covered by the Flag."
Is it not now time to
demonstrate that we support our troops? Were it not for the brave, there would
be no land of the free.
Just a few days ago, we
had our first fallen American, a Marine. I pray we all come home safely. But I
know that if I have to, I will give my life for this country and all it stands,
and so will all the Marines that are out here with me. I also pray that we all
return home soon, whether it is to San Diego, St. Louis, New York City, Franklin
Park, Chicago or any other great city or town across the country.
But I am prepared to be
here as long as I have to. My Staff Sergeant, Staff Sergeant Godfrey G. Marille
who is also out here -- his wife just had a beautiful baby girl. He has yet to
see her, but I bet he can't wait to finally hold her in his arms.
I know most of us won't
be coming home to a hero's welcome. Nor are we asking for one. We don't consider
ourselves heroes. We are only doing what is our duty to our country.
If I am fortunate to return to United States alive, once I am able to go
home, I will try my best to get to know my neighbors and as much of my
neighborhood as I can. Especially because I have seen a few who fly the Marine
Corps Flag high and proud over their homes. And to them, I would like to say
thank you.
Semper Fi,
Lance Corporal
Gomez, Daniel The World's Finest United States Marine Corps
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