Condolences For A Fallen Warrior

Our deepest condolences to the family of SPC. Christopher A. Merville of Albuquerque, NM.

SPC Merville was assigned to the 2nd battalion 17th Field Artillery, and lost his life on October 12th. We send our prayers and most sincere sympathy to the Merville Family, as well as to SPC Mervilles friends and fellow comrades.

Ramadan

Tomorrow marks the first day of Ramadan (assuming the New Moon was visible the night before). Below is a compilation from various source about this month and the daily lives of Muslims during this time. Muslim are called to prayer five times a day and pray even more during this month. The call to prayer is something our soldiers have undoubtedly gotten quite used to hearing as it is broadcast from the tops of mosques thru loud speakers. Click here to listen to this call, that Rory must hear daily.

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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar—that is, each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used elsewhere, Islamic holidays "move" each year.

For more than a billion Muslims around the world—including some 8 million in North America—Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan precedes Christmas and Hanukkah. But while in many places these holidays have become widely commercialized, Ramadan retains its focus on self-sacrifice and devotion to Allah (God). At this time Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation.

Muslims believe that during the month of Ramadan, Allah revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. Around 610 A.D., a caravan trader named Muhammad took to wandering the desert near Mecca (in today's Saudi Arabia) while thinking about his faith. One night a voice called to him from the night sky. It was the angel Gabriel, who told Muhammad he had been chosen to receive the word of Allah. In the days that followed, Muhammad found himself speaking the verses that would be transcribed as the Qur'an.

At many mosques during Ramadan, about one thirtieth of the Qur'an is recited each night in prayers known as tarawih. In this way, by the end of the month the complete scripture will have been recited.

During the Ramadan strict restraints are also placed on the daily lives of Muslims. Muslims practice sawm, or fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan. This means that they may eat or drink nothing, including water, while the sun shines. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam. As with other Islamic duties, all able Muslims take part in sawm from about age twelve.

During Ramadan in the Muslim world, most restaurants are closed during the daylight hours. Families get up early for suhoor, a meal eaten before the sun rises. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal known as iftar. Iftar usually begins with dates and sweet drinks that provide a quick energy boost. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends.

Fasting serves many purposes. While they are hungry and thirsty, Muslims are reminded of the suffering of the poor. Fasting is also an opportunity to practice self-control and to cleanse the body and mind. And in this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion as well as kinship with fellow believers. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.

According to the Qur'an:
One may eat and drink at any time during the night "until you can plainly distinguish a white thread from a black thread by the daylight: then keep the fast until night."

The good that is acquired through the fast can be destroyed by five things:
• The telling of a lie
• Slander
• Denouncing someone behind his back
• A false oath
• Greed or covetousness
These are considered offensive at all times, but are most offensive during the Fast of Ramadan

During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

On the evening of the 27th day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

Rory, We Miss Your Face!

I have to thank Julie Brooke who 100% made my day today. I think you'll all agree:


This is a picture that Rob Brooke took of Rory while they were still in Korea.

Remember when Rory told us about being out in the field for exercises and what the conditions were like? Here's what it looked like:


This is Rory's friend and bunk mate Rob. We're glad you are getting better!


Sometimes I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright, and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they are gone...I guess I just miss my friend.
- Ellis Redding (Morgan Freeman)from Shawshank Redemption

Rory's Okay

FYI all...Julie heard from her husband Rob and he is doing better and Rory is also okay. They have the phone lines shut down right now. See Julie's update. Be safe you guys!

Iraqi forces raid Ramadi mosques

From CNN:
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Tuesday, October 12, 2004 Posted: 4:29 AM EDT (0829 GMT)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi security forces, backed by U.S. Marines and troops, Tuesday launched a series of raids on seven mosques in Ramadi, the U.S. military said.

Mosques, at times, have been used by insurgents to stage attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.

The U.S. military Monday launched an airstrike against a mosque in the neighboring town of Hit -- about 30 miles northwest of Ramadi -- amid a battle with about 100 insurgents who had attacked U.S. Marines from inside the building.

"Our participation in these raids has been limited to supporting Iraqi Security Forces," Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, the assistant division commander for the 1st Marine Division, said of the Ramadi raids.

A statement from the Combined Press Information Center said:

"The mosques are suspected of participating in a spectrum of insurgent activity, including harboring known terrorists, storing illegal weapons caches, promoting violence against the Iraqi people and encouraging insurgent recruitment.

"The raids are an effort to search the mosques for known terrorists and insurgents, illegal weapons caches and insurgent propaganda."

The U.S. military said the mosques are considered holy sites and are granted protective status unless they are a being used for militant purposes.

Ramadi is located about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

A couple other versions of the raids can be found at the BBC's website and on the AP's site.

No U.S. casualties have been announced in relation to these raids thus far.

Random

I forgot to mention last week that Iraq went off Daylight Savings so they are now only 10 hours ahead of Pacific time and 12 hours ahead of Central Time.

Also this past weekend, parts of northern and central Iraq got RAIN for the first time. (Also lightening and thunder!) Many soldiers were thankful for the rain and the bit of cooling off it offered. I don't know if Ramadi got rain for sure, but I think it might have! :)

Monday Morning Updates 10-11-04

Sorry it's been quiet here for the past couple of days. (I was at a wedding for the weekend.) Not a lot of new news from Rory's battery, but I thought I would share the following updates:

In Sadr-City, we are apparently buying back weapons from insurgents in an attempt to lower the attacks on US military. Very interesting concept. I won't debate that one here, but here is the link to the story. Let's hope it works.

There are two articles on Stars & Stripes today that talk about reconstruction efforts in Iraq. It's nice to hear some of the good stuff sometimes, so check it out if you have the time. I hope everyone had a good wekend.

Rory, we love and miss you.

In Memorium

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Private Kim. He was one of Rory's comrades and know that he will be deeply missed.

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October 11, 2004
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

PV2 Jeungjin Na Kim, 23, of Honolulu, Hawaii, died October 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. Kim was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division from Camp Hovey, Korea.