This is from the local newspaper, reprinted in its entirety from The Daily Reporter (Coldwater, Mi), dated Saturday, 11-12-05
"Editor's Note: The following is a copy of an email from Union City resident, SSG Justin W. Alford of the Michigan National Guard, who is currently serving his country. Staff Sgt. Alford is the son of Tina and the late Darwin Alford of Union City, where he also graduated from high school.
Hello My Good Friends,
October 15, 2005 was one of the most exciting and gratifying days I will never forget.
These good people were voting on a referendum to their Constitution. Of course the entire country beefed up security for this anticipated election, including my place of work.
What a great morning, I thought to myself with a cup of coffee in my hand while overlooking the beautiful city. It was a quiet morning with only a few explosions and small arms fire in the distance.
As I sat down and took a sip of my coffee, I looked down at our mobile element and noticed one of my troops talking to one of the English-speaking Iraqi Police (IP) next to the humvee. He looked up at me and pointed down the street and immediately called me on the radio. In a concerned voice he says, "Staff Sgt. Alford, did you know there is a polling station about 200 meters to our 12 o'clock?"
My first concern was if I needed to pull my guys out of there. I told them I'll be right down, hop in the humvee with the guner up and make sure that the IP stands by until I get there. As I'm walking to my mobile element, I recognize one of the local neighbors. I greet him in Arabic, "May peace be with you my good friend," and placed my hand over my heart. With a very proud look on his face, he raised his ink-stained finger showing me he just voted. I said in Arabic, "Good, good my friend!" As he shook my hand with both of his, he thanked me over and over.
Even through out language barrier, I made it clear to him that I was thinking him for having the courage to go to the polling station and voicing his opinion. You now have a voice and the right to vote. That is a freedom you need to take advantage of and cherish.
As I walked up to our humvee, I had to stop short becasue my eyes started to tear up. I was acting as if I was securing their 6 o'clock position but in actuality I was trying to clear up my eyes. It is absolutely amazing how much these people truly touch your heart.
After my eyes and their 6 o'clock position was clear, I approached their humvee. I really wanted my guys to experience what I just experienced by only under one condition. I wish I could guarantee the safety of all my troops but look at where we live and operate, right in the middle of this war - Baghdad. Every day is a risk and I'm okay with that. I have to be okay with that. After securing the area, I was confident that the area was secure enough for my mobile element to remain in that particular location.
After many more similar experiences with our proud Iraqi neighbors, I had to return to my post where I could maintain command of all my troops. I returned to the highest point on my post and continued to watch these proud Iraqi people walk to their polling station and take advantage of their right to vote.
Consider the courage it took for the Iraqi people to go to the polls, to risk becoming bombing or shooting victims or even beheadings. And yet the proud Iraqis voted - millions of them!
This past year has certainly opened my eyes to the wonderful freedoms we Americans take for granted every single day. I surely will not miss wearing my 40-pound armored vest and Kevlar helmet. Nor will I miss carrying my pistol and M16/M203 grenade-launcher everywhere I go. Well, I may miss them. I have learned to cherish every single freedom we possess. Freedom is absolutely without a doubt, worth paying the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom is worth living and fighting for just as well.
To this proud American soldier, freedom does not come free and without the sacrifices of our brave military men and women, past and present, Freedom would only be a dream.
I never ask much but I have to ask this, please support your American troops. Please visit anysoldier.com. You won't find my name on this website because I have more support back home than I could ask for. But there are over 3,000 military personnel listed on this site who receive very little from back home. It really saddens me to see this number so high. I am asking for your help. Freedom isn't free. Just ask an American soldier.
Today is my 32nd birthday. Everyday I receive a smile and a wave from the most adorable two-year-old boy who always makes my day a little brighter. Today wasn't about me, it was about him. I wanted to repay this young lad for keeping me smiling day after day. As the young boy and his mother wakled toward us, I told her I had a present for the young lad. I handed him a Hot Wheels car and a Beanie Baby camel to the very happy boy. To see his big brown eyes light up with happiness has made this one of the birthdays I will never forget.
As the young boy and his mother walked away, I couldn't stop thinking how proud I was to be a part of securing his future. I'm just as proud to be here today as I was the first day I stepped off that plane. I have never been so proud to be an American soldier as I am today. Freedom is a great thing. Cherish it!
Your Proud American Freedom Fighter,
SSG Justin W. Alford
Baghdad"