OTHER
PHOTOS>> BULLET
HOLE IN AMTRACK
TREKING
IN THE
DESERT
JOEL
FLIES FLAG ON SADDAM
JOEL INSIDE HIS AMTRACK
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Joel
Murray served in the USMC for four years and was deployed during
two major operations: "Operation Enduring Freedom" and "Operation Iraqi
Freedom". During Operation Enduring Freedom, he was stationed in
Pakistan and guarded Alkida and Taliban prisoners. During Operation
Iraqi Freedom, he took part in the initial invasion of Iraq and was
engaged in the "Battle of An Nasiriyah". Before the invasion, Joel
bought a flag in Kuwait and carried it with him on his amtrack. After
the battle of An Nasiriyah (with the help of two of his fellow
marines), Joel attached the flag to the rifle on one of the
statues;
using zip ties which I sent him in a care package. (He also used these
zip ties to detain POWs.) After the flag was lowered, the statue was
destroyed and Joel and his fellow marines brought back pieces of the
statue as suveneirs of the war. Joel made it safely through the war,
but he had several close calls. It was only by the grace of
God that
he survived and did not become a casualty of the war. On one
occasion,
an RPG was stopped short of his amtrack by a telephone pole which had
fallen just
minutes before the RPG was released by the enemy. The telephone pole
(shaped very much like the cross on which our Lord died) became a
shield and it prevented the RPG from reaching its target. On
other
occasions RPGs either missed or did not explode. We
give thanks to God and to all the people who prayed for the safety of
Joel and his fellow marines.
Far
Left: Joel, decked in his
dress blues.
Immediate
Left: Joel, atop his amtrack.
Top
Left: Joel holds a piece of Saddam Statue.
Top
Right: Joel, with his finger on the trigger.
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