March 11, 2002

It's been six months to the day since the World Trade Center attack. This morning there were somber ceremonies in homage to the fallen from that day - both in and out of uniform. As for me personally, I still haven't gotten used to seeing planes fly overhead over the city quite yet. Oh, it's nothing that wigs me out or anything. It's just that seeing a plane and the city skyline just registers a bit more loudly in my mind than usuall. I hope it stays that way because I will never forget that day. I will never forget those other days either. The other days like the Beirut bombing of my Marine barracks or the day I lost friends over Lockerbee, Scotland on Pan Am flight 103.

Alot of people are worried about the sabre rattling between Iraq and the U.S. . There's still the fighting in the Middle East. You know, the usuall. The Israelis and the Palestinians. We're still kicking ass in Afganistan and still looking for Osama Bin Lauden (hoping to catch him alive -if he's alive).

It's a tough time these days since now the goverment has introduced the six color levels of national state of security alert.

Out of the six levels, the sixth being the highest level of alert meaning the highest probability of a terrorist attack, we're in the middle level which is the "Yellow" level. Most interesting and this, of course, can lead to discussions forever. Right now, I just want to convey on this site what's going on in the world today and maybe the "feel" of the people around me here in New York City.

Yesterday evening, I went to Hoboken, New Jersey and right as I got out of the train station I saw everybody looking back at where the Twin Towers once were. For the rest of the month there will be two giant beams of light streaming into the night sky . All emitting from their former location. The sight is breathtaking and peaceful in a harshly serene way. I use those words because I couldn't help but feel that sense of loss and despair mix in with a state of closure and well....peace.

Peace, we here in New York can "relate" - especially after this event. Yet we're so far removed from those areas where they believe in words like "peace - at all cost".

Maybe some day we'll all be able to achieve a state of detente much like we did with the Russians during the cold war. Something tells me that both sides did the arms race bit to appease the people and politicians moreso than for anything else. The bottom line was quite simple. WE have bombs, they have bombs. We both have enough to blow up the planet several times over. Now what was the reason again for having so many of these weapons again ?

Hmm...the point. what's the point?. Simple. Those beams of light put alot in perspective for me. Reminded me of what the hell we're trying to do here on this planet. I think it's to lead a good life by living,loving and learning and sharing all that is good within us all.

Mind you, I said "I think". Sometimes it seems like man likes this game of one step forward and two steps back. other times he has his moments of clarity.

Peace

semperfi03's Xanga Site

3/6/02

Got home last night and found a message from my friend. He and I just saw the movie Black Hawk Down. There's a scene early on in the movie which was reenacted,sadly enough, in the ongoing Afganistan war. Two days ago two MH-47 helos were shot at in hostile territory with one going down and all seven spec ops servicement from various military branches killed. My friend read me the article in the New York Times and it depicted exactly what the movie had shown.

This type of warefare is definitely going to be a long one with, I fear, more incidents like this and possibly more mortality among our very best forces. It's been said time and again that this wasn't going to be a short war . No clear beginning, middle or end.

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Terrorism is all-together a totally different type of war. Forget the reasoning behind this terrorsim campaign against America. Not much matters when you have shrapnel or deadly debris flying past your head.

"The American deaths Monday occurred during two operations involving MH-47 Chinook helicopters, Rosa said. In the first, a helicopter inserting special forces was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, forcing it down. As it tried to lift off, one American fell out, Rosa said. Another helicopter retrieved the rest of the crew.

Hagenbeck said the serviceman was captured by al-Qaida fighters and then killed. He was not missed until a head count was taken after the chopper was airborne.

Pentagon officials identified him as Petty Officer 1st class Neil C. Roberts, 32, of Woodland, Calif. Roberts was based in Norfolk, Va., with a Navy SEAL unit.

Three hours later, a Chinook was trying to land forces in the same area when it was hit by machine-gun fire and a rocket-propelled grenade, Rosa said. The helicopter was forced down, and a gunbattle took place in which six U.S. soldiers were killed.

When members of that helicopter were evacuated, the body of the soldier who fell from the first was found, Rosa said."

-source; NYTimes 3/6/02

In conclusion.

I'm determined to support our war on Terrorism. America, are you ?