On my way to Mosul, Iraq to link up with the boys of Alpha 2/7 Cav.  I took a little tour around the Al Anbar province with an old friend and made a few new ones.  

 

The man standing next to me is Pastor Todd Dubar.  He had a calling, which he answered.  It was to travel Iraq with his good friend Chuck Norris, to see for himself.  Just as I did two years ago.  To see if what the media is reporting was true.  What about the moral?  What about the conditions?  What did the Marines and Soldiers think about their mission?    Are they winning, are they succeeding?  The answer was a very loud yes!  They are succeeding.

 

The travels we were on took us to the fare reaches of all the areas the Marines covered across the Al Anbar Province.  All the way to the Syrian border.  Todd and I were curious to see the border crossing.  We climbed up to a gun emplacement on the roof of the little out post in the middle of no where.  Manned by the brave men and woman of the United States Marine Corp.

 

Todd said it felt like we were at the end of the earth.  We were so fare out from everything else.  A Marine Chaplain who was traveling with us said, “No, this isn’t the edge of the earth.  But you can see it from here”.  He wasn’t kidding.  

 

Big Mike, (the Chaplain) was nothing less than the image of a Marine and the ultimate man of the clothe.  With the greatest grace under-fire.

 

Big Mike’s bookend was Pastor Todd.  Those two guys... what a hoot!  Not what you would expect from anyone that has the first name of Pastor or Chaplain...ha ha!  Never the less, he was a pleasure to be around and a joy to work with.  Someone I hope to stay in contact with for a very long time.

 

Todd, God Bless you my brother.  Thanks for the prayers and the up lifting food for thought.