A Fallen Soldier's E-mails to Home
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 9:41 AM
To: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Subject: RE: your son checkin' in
Hi Son
Sounds like you guys are seeing a lot of activity. The bomb [maker] you guys got is nothing more than a common criminal, a murderer, an animal. I am so glad [that] you have the professionalism that you have. If I were to find a guy like him, I would want to choke him until his eyes pop out.
Is it starting to get cold there now? I understand that the winters can be as harsh as the summers are. How are your young guys doing? Thank God for your maturity. I am sure that they look to you for guidance and knowledge.
We have been talking to Diana [Darrell Griffin Jr.'s wife] every day. She seems to be doing well, but we can tell that she really misses you a lot. I have a friend that just came back from IRAN and he told me that he [was] shocked at how much the common IRANIAN likes America. He said that the "religious nuts" and government people do not like [America] but the man in the street really likes us.
We love you and pray for you daily.
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 6:38 PM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: Your son
Dear Mom and Dad,
Things are hectic here right now. We are defending an old castle that seems to be a magnet for heavy small arms fire. Rounds strike our part of the castle daily and we return heavy fire in the direction that it came from. The insurgents here in Tal Afar know that within these castle walls stands the last police station in this city and they are trying desperately to destroy it. We are in firefights daily at this castle and it seems so dream-like when you hear the snapping of rounds as they break the sound barrier above your head. 60 people were killed in Mosul by a car bomb that targeted a military convoy that's all I know for right now. Things are getting thick over here so keep us in prayer ok? It was expected due to the close proximity in time concerning Iraq's elections which I think will be a total failure. If we start guarding polling stations that will not be good.
Well I must go for now. I will try my best to keep you updated on the situation here. I love you guys so much!
Lil'
Skip
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From: Darrell Griffin, Jr.
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 7:04 AM
To: Darrell (DAD) Griffin
Subject: bad day, skipper
We heard news that an Iraqi cop's son was beheaded and his body left on the street in Tal Afar. We took some Iraqi cops to the scene and did in fact see a headless body with the head carefully stacked on top of the chest with the body lying flat on the ground. The police officers (3) went up to the body to identify it while security was maintained for them by us. Before they got within 8 ft. of the body, the body exploded and killed one while injuring severely the others. Body parts went flying everywhere like a nose, jawbone, top of skull, eyeball and lower torso. Flesh was completely blown off the bones. We took the torso back to the castle where we have been for awhile and had to unzip the body bag so that other family members could identify the lower half by the shoes he was wearing. Later in the day, the Iraqi police who were family members of the destroyed body began to drink heavily and one of them ... started shooting randomly into the crowded traffic circle below the castle. We watched as he killed a 17 yr. old girl, a 7 yr. old girl and a 28 yr. old male. We could not intervene as this was happening for very complex reasons. This has been one of the most horrific days of my entire 34 yrs. of living on this earth. Flesh flying everywhere, and senseless violence ruled the day today. I am stupefied and stand in tragic awe in the face of this carnage, what could I possibly say? Where was God today? One of my soldiers ... was deeply affected by today's events. These images brought back many painful and macabre memories of what I used to do as an [emergency medical technician]. I had to talk to my squad to see where their heads and hearts were.
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