From my son Chris to my brother Kevin
Proud Papa of a TRUE MARINE
ed

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Donnelly [mailto:smprfi99@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 2:37 PM
To: Captain Kevin; wschmith@optonline.net; Tom Mathias; Tmd1mtd@aol.com;
rfdonnelly@optonline.net; Mom D; Maureen Byrne; Mark Donnelly; Kevin
Donnelly@FTU; Kerri Higgins; Karen Chandler; jvbissett; Joe&Barbara; Joe
Belmonte; Jimmy Byrne; Jim Bissett; Jean Donnelly;
higginsj@frontiernet.net; Henry Donnelly; fishkatc@optonline.net;
Edward.killer@scripps.com; Donnelly, Edward; DONNA DONNELLY; debbie V;
CMStuke@optonline.net; Caryl Lipira; andrew.s.donnelly@verizon.com
Subject: Re: Fw: Red Friday

Uncle Kevin,

I have to tell you, this one got to me. I am sitting in a wooden structure that we call a SWA Hut in the
Western Desert of Iraq. Believe it or not, it is pissing rain harder than I have seen in quite some
time. The weather is playing its hand in my ability to fly tonight, so I have a little more time to check
my email. And, I have to say, this one made me a bit misty-eyed.

Unfortunately, this scene plays out quite a bit these days. This month has been a tough one for us. Not
because our policy is flawed, or it is an un-winable war. This past month has been the holy month of
Ramadan. For those of us serving here, we fully expected this month to be a difficult one, and it was.
Whereas our Christmas season is filled with joyous affairs, family and friends. Ramadan is beilieved to
be a time of power for the Jihadists. So, in the name of their holiday, they make bombs and kill people. By
"they," I meand the insurgents. The insurgents use the season to fuel their fire and wipe out the
infidels. It has been this way for the last three Ramadan's, so we knew this would be the case.

A majority of what I do, is CASEVAC escort. That is, we provide security for other helicopters that go into
landing zones (LZ's) to pick up our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers who are victims of the IED's and
small-arms fire out here. Some are pretty bad, others, not so bad, but need better medical attention.

Two nights ago, I was on one such mission. I will tell you, the weather was not much better than it is
tonight. Thunderstorms in the area, the cloud layer was fairly low, and at night, without the moon, the
desert is a lot like the ocean on a moonless night. You can't tell up from down, sky from ground, it is
very intimidating. None of us enjoy flying in these conditions, but we do, and will continue to do so as
long as we can. Well, this night, I was escorting an Army HH-60 that was going to one of the forward
operating bases (FOB) to pick up some Marines that had been injured a few moments earlier. We were expecting to be picking up 3, possibly 4 Marines. Halfway there, we received an update, that there would be 3
urgents, and one ANGEL. Usually, the word ANGEL invokes images of artwork by Raphael, or maybe even
Valentines Day. Howerver, in Iraq, it is a word that takes your breath away and leaves you feeling empty
inside. Angels, are what we call fallen Marines. Those who have paid the ultimate price in this war.
Men, and women, who served with honor for a cause that they truly believe in.

As the HH-60 landed on the pad, they passed to us, that they would only have one urgent on the flight.
Fortunately, the other two were upgraded and would be treated locally. But one Marine was still so critical
that they had to get him to a better facility for treatment. Unfortunately, that also meant that the
Angel would have to wait before he could make his trek back home to his waiting family.

They lifted out of the zone, and we made it to the other facility with relatively few problems. Some
lost communication issues, some disorienting lightening, and some clobbered airspace when we
finally reached our destinationm. But, the Marine that needed treatment made it to where he needed to be, and
is receiving the care he needs to get back in the fight. After the drop off, it was another dark, and
"sporty" flight across the desert back to our home base. When the night was over, we were glad to still
be in one piece, but were relatively quiet about what had happened. My copilot and I commented on the fact
that it sucks to lose Marines like we did today, but didn't think back on it too much. We carried on, as
we have to.

The next day was typical. Got up in the morning, went to chow, briefed for the days hops and walked to the
bird. There was one thing out of the ordinary, there were two HH-60's parked on the line that weren't
normally there. There was also an unusual number of Marines and Sailors (corpsmen, attached to the
Marines) walking about the area. I noted it as odd, but just walked past them on my way to my bird. I
didn't think much of it. As I waited on my copilot, wondering what was taking him so long, I looked back
to see an Army soldier standing at attention and saluting a strecher that was being placed in his
helicopter. Once again, that feeling of eptiness returned. In an instant I realized it was the Angel
from the night before. Solemn, everyone stood motionless at attention rendering honors to a fallen
brother.

For a moment, time stood still. Part of you is glad it's not you, part of you is pissed that this is still
happening. But, it passes and you are thankful for the Marine's service, and glad that this Angels trip
home was beginning. While your email demonstrates the effect at the end of the journey. Every step of the
journey that these Angels make is filled with the same respect that they have earned, and deserve.

I flew twice that day. The first go, we helped a convoy get through a rough area on their route. We
didn't shoot anything, often times the sound of our rotors is enough to keep the insurgents in their
holes. That night, we provided presence over a Marine foot patrol. Again, we made noise in the sky that
kept the Marines safe on the ground. It is what I do. And I am proud to do it.

Thanks for the emails. I appreciate them, and am glad to be included. I know I am terrible with my replies,
so if past performance is any indication, you should realize how much your email affected me.

Well, I have rambled on a considerable amount tonight, so I am going to sign off. That is it for now. Take
care.

Chris

--- Captain Kevin wrote:

>
> Capt Kevin Donnelly
> www.HappyTimesCharters.com
> 772-692-0290
> ABILITY is what you're capable of doing
> MOTIVATION determines when you do it
> ATTITUDE determines how well you do it
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: teiseman@bellsouth.net
> To: JSDETAIL@COMCAST.NET
> Cc: CaptKevin@Adelphia.net ; weiseman@bellsouth.net
> ; flaphantom13@aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 8:31 PM
> Subject: Red Friday
>
>
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> WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE,
> ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!
>
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> A Simple
>
> Thank You
>
> While traveling to Chicago on business, I
> noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded
> flag, but did not put two and two together. After
> we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant,
> who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across
> from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
>
> No, he responded.
>
> Heading out I asked?
>
> No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
>
> Going to pick him up?
>
> No. He is with me right now. He was killed
> in Iraq . I'm taking him home to his family.
>
> The realization of what he had been asked to
> do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor
> for him. He told me that, although he didn't know
> the soldier, he had delivered the news of his
> passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he
> knew them after many conversations in so few days.
> I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said,
> Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my
> family and I can do what we do.
>
> Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped
> short of the gate and made the following
> announcement over the intercom.
>
> "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note
> that we have had the honor of having Sergeant
> Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on
> this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back
> home to his family. I ask that you please remain
> in your seats when w e open the forward door to
> allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his
> fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat
> belt sign."
>
> Without a sound, all went as requested. I
> noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was
> brought off the plane, and his action made me
> realize that I am proud to be an American.
>
> So here's a public Thank You to our military
> Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way
> we do.
> signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington , D.C.
>
> Also, here are two very touching
> photos honored at this years International Picture
> of the Year.
>
>
> First Place
>
>
>
>
>
> First Place
> When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's
> body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed
> into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag
> over his casket as passengers watched the family
> gather on the tarmac.
>
> During the arrival of
> another Marine's casket last year at Denver
> International Airport, Major Steve Beck described
> the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the
> windows? They s! at right there in the plane,
> watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's
> going through their minds, knowing that they're on
> the plane that brought him home," he said. "They
> will remember being on that plane for the rest of
> their lives. They're going to remember bringing
> that Marine home. And they should."
>
>
>
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> Second Place
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> The night before the burial
> of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to
> leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body
> for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her,
> tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she
> fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and
> played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of
> the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue
> standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be
> kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I
> think that's what he would have wanted."
>
>
>
> PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!
>
>
> "No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals
> of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral
> courage of free men and women."
> -- Ronald Reagan
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> Red Fridays.
>
> Very soon, you will see a great many
> people wearing Red every Friday. The reason?
> Americans who support our troops used to be called
> the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and
> are voicing our love for God, country and home in
> record breaking numbers. We are not organized,
> boisterous or overbearing.
>
> Many Americans, like you, me and all our
> friends, simply want to recognize that the vast
> majority of America supports our troops. Our idea
> of showing solidarity and support for our troops
> with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and
> continues each and every Friday until the troops all
> come home, sending a deafening message that ...
> every red-blooded American who supports our men and
> women afar, will wear something red.
>
> By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's
> make the United States on every Friday a sea of red
> much like a homecoming football game in the
> bleachers. If every one of us who loves this
> country will share this with acquaintances,
> coworkers, friend s, and family, it will not be long
> before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our
> troops know the once "silent" majority is on their
> side more than ever, certainly more than the media
> lets on.
>
> The first thing a soldier says when
> asked "What can we do to make things better for
> you?" is ..."We need your support and your prayers."
> Let's get the word out and lead with class and
> dignity, by example, and wear something red every
> Friday.
>
> IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.
>
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