(via Tim) A 19-year-old Marine is going back to Iraq for his second tour because of his sense of duty to his country. Shockingly enough, some of his peers don't even realize that we still have troops in Iraq; America's short attention span is this Marine's biggest fear: "It gets to me. It's almost like 9/11. Everyone started throwing flags up on their cars, but now it's fading out. Same old news every night." So he's volunteered for two more tours, going back a little braver, a little wiser, and a little stronger because he's a Marine and that's what Marines do.
He's also another servicemember who has parents who'd rather use their appearance in the newspaper to express their distrust of the current administration instead of pride and gratitude for their brave child. His mother: "'I don't know if there are weapons of mass destruction,' she said. 'If this is based on a lie, I'm gonna be really [angry].' Getting rid of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a good thing, she said, but, 'Is that worth the lives that have been lost over there? I have no idea. I don't want to lose my only son for a cause that might be a lie.'"
Her son's response?
Isaiah doesn't think highly of the folks who constantly question when troops expect to find weapons of mass destruction.
"I think they should shut their mouths. You can't even find an AK-47 in someone's home because they can hide it so well," Schaffer said. "They really don't know what they're talking about."
He stands firmly behind the president--and wishes Americans would stand just as firmly behind him and other troops.
"President Bush sent us over there for a reason. And from a Marine's outlook, you start something, you finish it," he said.
"God willing, we'll finish it."
Godspeed, Marine. As my husband's company says, "Get 'er done!"
Posted by Sarah at March 3, 2004 01:53 PM"Get 'er done!"
Why " 'er"? It's as if "job" (?) were a feminine noun in English. Is such a use of "her" normal in military usage?
Posted by: Amritas at March 3, 2004 07:02 PMI've been in a lot of house's here in Baghdad. Some of the people know how and were to hide their weapons. What just about everyone in the states doesn't realize is that they are authorized to keep one weapon in there home. It could be an AK-47 or a .380 "six shooter" pistol. The terrorist know that, so that's all they keep in just one home. In other words, you physically have to catch them in the act, or catch them with their pants down. It's a pain in the ass really.
Posted by: Birdie at March 6, 2004 02:26 AMThe marine in the article is my nephew. Isaiah is headed back to Iraq for a third tour this spring. Isaiah came home from his last tour of duty early because of an injury to his knee. Injured during a fire fight in March of last year it took nearly two months before he was able to come home and have knee surgery. Once in the US it took another three months to get the procedure done. Isaiah's tour in Iraq will last 14 months and when he gets back home he will have less than 60 days left in the Corps. I hope he gets out. During his four years in the Marine Corps he will have spent more than half of it fighting in Iraq. Isaiah comes from a long line of Marines. I served four years in the Corps, both of his grandfaters are retired Marines. His paternal grandfater saw combat action in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and his maternal grandfater (my dad) served three tours of duty in Vietnam. Isaiah's paternal greatgrandfather was a China Marine and 4 of his cousins are Marines. During the original conflict three of the four cousins were fighting in Iraq. All five cousins have served at least 1 tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanastan and four of the five have served multiple tours.
In the comment posted by Tim, he made mention of my sister using the paper as a means of voicing her opion against President Bush. My sister is a Bush supporter to this day, but she does question the motives for beginning the war with Iraq. Last time I checked it was perfectly legal to express one's opinion in the local paper. Further more Tim, how would you feel if your son or daughter were headed to Iraq? Would you question the motives of the president if your child's life was on the line? Or would you blindly follow the party line? Tim have you ever served in the armed forces? Are you of age to serve and fight? I'm tired of young people telling me they support the war and the president, but when I ask them if they plan on joining the service to help the president spread democracy across the world they look at me like I have lost my mind. I also ask the parents of kids if they are going to encourage their child to join the armed forces so they can fight in Iraq. Every time I get the same look...HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? I'M NOT SENDING MY KID INTO HARMS WAY. Actions speak louder than words. If you support the Prez and the war and you are 18 to 26 years old or have a child that age join up and grab a weapon. Don't just talk, do something. My family has done its share and Isaiah (all of 20 yrs old) has done his share. When he gets home from his next tour the Corps may not let him out because they are short bodies to send to war. For the first time in more than a decade the Marine Corps failed to reach its enlistment quota for 2004. Yet the Prez was re-elected by a voting public that supports the war. How does that work?
Bill, just for your information, Tim is a retired lieutenant colonel whose captain wife served 14 months in Iraq with 1AD. He knows the meaning of sacrifice...
Posted by: Sarah at March 7, 2005 05:15 PMSarah, I hope you didn't misunderstand my comments and take them as a slam against people that support the Prez or the war. I'm just a little tired of hearing people, young and old, saying they support the war, but they won't do what it takes to get the job done. I support the Prez and believe that our original intentions for enetering Iraq were justified, and now we need to finish the job. I would join the fight if the marine corps needed 44 year old grunt cpls, but they turned me down when I tried to re-enlist this past year.
Posted by: Bill at March 8, 2005 04:47 AMI am Isaiah Schaffer, I have fought and sacrificed more than most people well over my age could ever imagine or dream about. Let me say this.. I am sick and tired of pople having an opinion about MY WAR. I am sick and tired of people telling me..." I support the the troops, but not the war" that my freinds is BS you support us fully or in my opinion you too are the enemy. And believe me I have no regret in ever saying that to someones face. I have fought, and i HAVE seen my freinds die. If you do not have a good thing to say about my family, there views on the war, or anything good to say about my war and why MY buddies died, then go ahead say your thought , hold your signs, but I will conitinue to fight. I just will not fight for you. In the back of my mind i will be fighting for the only pople who support me to the fullest, no matter what opinions they may have. My family.And my fellow marines who guard my back as i guard theres. So I tell you this...your opinions and your signs and you protest or slandering or whatever you may say do nothing for me. I still have to go and fight as a Marine as an Infantryman as a guard of peace, and as an American. Who by the way is still pissed off about 9/11 alothough most of this nation has chose to forget. So, say your thoughts and have your fun with the freedom of speech i am sworn to uphold. But i put my life and the lives of my men on the line every day for you. My family hads the right to say what they will. YOU have the right. I dont have to like it but you have the right. I will leave you with this... I am proud to be serving this great nation wethere or not this great nation is proud to have me serving.
Isaiah Schaffer
United States Marine
My brother recently informed of this site and the comments that had been made on it regrding my statement to the press. I must say that I am not "another" one of those parents looking for an opportunity to use the media as a way to slam the prez or the war. I can tell you that when the reporter asked me his question, my anser was truthful but definitely a knew-jerk response. You see, my only son was leaving again, before the age of 20, to do another man's bidding. Again, his father, sisters, and extended family members would spend hours in front of the TV looking for his face and hoping we would see him. Some of us don't even turn the TV on when he's there because we are afraid to know how many casulaties our Marines took that day.
This year he will turn 21 in the sandbox. WE will send him a box of birthday goodies and streamers. We will pray he comes home for his 22.
I hope that you will join our family in praying for all the Isaiah's who are stationed in Iraq and other hot spots around the world. All the men and women who know the sound of a bullet singing over the heads and the profound sadness they feel when they lose a companion so far from home. Pray for them. Pray for them. Pray for them.
Posted by: Debbie/Proud Mom of Isaiah Schaffer at March 11, 2005 01:53 PM