The Forgotten Part Of The War In Iraq

Our youngest son Brian Cramer is back in Iraq serving his next 7th month tour that has just begun. Brian called us for the first time on Monday at 3:00 am in the morning. He is in city of Al Qiam, which is located on the Syria border. The area is called the Wild, Wild West and is also known as "The forgotten part of the war in Iraq".

This past Friday September 3rd, 2004 Brian and 17 other men from the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Weapons Co. were on their very 1st mission or patrol. There were 5 Humvees and 18 Marines that pulled over to check a bridge to see if it was safe enough to take heavy equipment over. It only took about 10 minutes for 2 engineers, along with the other 16 men, to check the bridge out and then they returned to their vehicles. Many of them were already in their Humvees when someone detonated an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that had been planted in the road close to the Humvees. Our son was only 50 feet away and watched his best friend die. His name was Nicholas Wilt from Tampa, Florida. He was 23 and married for only a little over a year. He and his wife attended the same nursery school. You will not hear anything about this on the news, since there are no news reporters where they are and as I said before, they are fighting in "The forgotten part of Iraq". The names of the fallen marines are:

Lance Corporal Nicholas Perez age 19 from Austin, Texas (He was with the 3rd Battalion/7th Marines) (His 7 month tour was almost over and he was going home soon).

Captain Alan Rowe (Brian's captain) age 35 from Hagerman, Idaho (Married with 3 children)

1st Lieutenant Ronald Winchester (Brian's Lieutenant) age 25 from Rockville, N

Lance Corporal Nicholas Wilt (Brian's best friend) age 23 from Tampa, Florida (His wife's name is Mercedes)

I do not want these Marines to be forgotten. They have paid the ultimate price for freedom and please keep their family and friends in your prayers.

There were two other friends of Brain's that were injured and I regret to say I only know one of them by his first name and the other by his last name. Matt was one of the young men that was injured the worst. When we had our last visit with Brian a few weeks ago, we had dinner with Matt, his wife & his father the night before coming home. Matt's wife, Heather had just found out she was pregnant. His leg was badly injured and he should recover. His injury will allow him to come home. The other young man I only know by his last name. His last name is Patterson, he received minor wounds to his face and will be fine.

Since they lost both their officers, a Capt. and 1st Lieutenant, Brian is now in charge of his platoon, since he now the highest ranking in his unit. He will need are prayers and I ask God to help him through this. It doesn't quite seem fair that at 20 years of age you have so much responsibility, but I am sure he is very capable. When he was in 29 Palms, California (his duty station), he told me he never slept well due to the fact that he had so many things racing through his mind with so much responsibility as a Corporal. Well, the bars been raised even higher for him.

Thank you so much for listening. Thanks for your prayers and for praying for our lost marines, soldiers and their families! They won't be forgotten!

Jeanie

For 10th Mountain Division

I ordered this on behalf of my son who is currently stationed in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, US Army. He is giving it as a gift to a comrade in memory of their fallen. He ordered one for himself while he was home on leave.

They are in the thick of it...in the mountains, wilderness, caves. God Bless the USA and God Bless our Troops.

To Show My Pride For What We Are Doing In Iraq

I am a Flight Nurse in the Air Force Reserves and have served for 22 years. I have recently been deployed to the Middle East Serving in Africa, Qatar and Iraq. I transported many sick and injured and have grown a real sense of pride for what we are doing over there.

I chose this bracelet because he is a POW of Iraqi Freedom and I have served there, and also I was just returning from my first deployment last year when Keith was captured. Actually he was presumed KIA at one time.

Capt Denise

To Replace Our Bracelets From The 70's

I had ordered one each for my mother, sister and myself. We all wore these bracelets back in the 70's and they had broken and didn't get replaced. I bought my sister hers for her birthday. Was she ever excited! My sister and myself proudly wear the same bracelet as before, Col. Michael O. McElhanon, USAF. We have a personal connection with this brave man's family. We both went to school with his daughters. They are both wonderful people and he would be very proud of them. My mother also proudly wears the same bracelet she wore in the 70's, Henry H. Herren, USNavy. She has done a lot of research on him. He was a Navy photographer when his plan went down.

We are from a very patriot family and proudly wear these bracelets. It is wasn't for the brave men and women of our nation risking their lives, both past and present we wouldn't enjoy the freedoms. There are so many in this nation that take FREEDOM for granted everyday. My ex-husband was in the Air Force, stationed in Fort Worth, Texas in the early 90's. I was very proud to be able to support him and my country, being a miliatary wife.

Thanks,

Stephanie

For Sgt. Michael J. Kelley

I just received my Memorial Bracelet and it is great. It fits well and I am so honored to wear it. I ordered a bracelet for Sgt Michael J Kelley from Mass who was killed in Afghanistan June 8,2005. He was under my husband's command while stationed at Otis Air force base in Otis, Ma. I met him when I would drive onto base. Always a pleasant and professional man who loved his country. Sgt Kelley is greatly missed by my family although we only knew him a short time. 

Susan S.

Freedom Is Not Free

I wear my bracelet as a constant reminder that freedom is not free

9-11 Is Very Personal For Me

I was a career volunteer/paid-on-call firefighter and EMT in PA and MA last serving in Northampton County, PA during 2002. I trained at Randalls Island (FDNY) through their weekend courses and knew some of those FDNY killed at the WTC. I also Worked In Mid-Town Manhattan untill 2002 and knew some of the civilians that were killed. Lastly, Ralph Kershaw, killed on Flight 175 from Boston, was a colleague of mine from the days when I lived and worked in the North Shore area of Boston. 9/11 is very personal for me and a watershed event in my life.

To Show How I Feel About 911

My reason for this bracelet starts with my lack of emotion for 911. That day completely caught me off guard. I knew that it was terrible. I knew that everyone's lives changed that day. I guess with such an overload of emotion running through me, I couldn't cry. I hated that I couldn't cry, I couldn't make myself cry. I felt that my body needed to cry in the worst way. 2 and 3 years later we all went through the brutal beheadings of innocent victims of terrorism. When Paul Johnson's story came on the news and that he was awaiting execution, is when 911 happened all over again in my heart...I don't know if it was the straw that broke the camel's back or what, but a flood of emotion hit me quite hard that day. That time I felt everything I didn't feel on 9/11 that I should have. My heart broke to see Paul's son on the Today show talking with Matt Lauer begging for his father's life. I decided from that point on that I would not forget Paul Johnson. I know that he was a loved father. I will carry his name proudly on my wrist.

To Remind Me To Pray For Our Service Men And Women

I have worn a Vietnam POW bracelet for years (I think I got it in 1989) I have been wearing it since the war on terrorism to remind me to pray for our service men and women. I was searching on the internet to see what the status of the person who was named on my bracelet. And in finding that his gear was found and returned to the family I decided to get a new bracelet, I decided to get an Iraqi freedom to be an obvious prayer reminder (plus I love when people ask what the bracelet I am wearing means. I chose someone who was killed on my birthday.

A Way For Us To Have Him Close

I met the soldier, Capt Eric Allton, back when we were teenagers. We quickly became close friends and then high-school sweethearts. During this time, his parents became like my second set of parents. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, we ended up going our separate ways after highschool, and ended up marrying people we met at our respective colleges. However, we stayed in contact throughout the years (over 15 years), and I've stayed in close contact with his parents as well. Communication over email made it seem like he was just next door -- regardless of whether he was state-side (in the same state where I live), or across the US, or even across the world. Therefore, his death in Iraq has devastated not only his own immediate family, but had drastic effects on my family as well. I've ordered these bracelets for Eric's parents, as a way for them to have him "close", even though he is in Heaven now, watching over all of us.

I Wanted To Show How Strongly I Felt About My Brother And His Mission

I am the brother of a serviceman in the middle east. I wanted to show how strongly I felt about my support for him and the mission that he and his colleagues are involved in. I purchased a bracelet in the early summer and wore it everyday since. Until one evening I realized it had fallen off. I frantically searched for it and couldn't find it. I figured I would not miss it but found myself sitting in front of the computer at midnight that evening ordering a replacement. I had committed to memory the solder who gave his life for his country and ordered a bracelet with his name on it again. I was very pleased when I saw on your site that I could order a larger size. I have had it on since it showed up. It has become a popular of jewelry at my place of employment as many folks have ordered their own for their own very personal reasons.

Thanks again,
Seth

I Will Wear One Like My Father's To Honor Those Oversea

My father just received his bracelet the other day. It was extremely well done and a lot nicer than his older one (he had one for a Vietnam MIA that he bought before I was born). My father was never in the military, but has a lot of respect for those that are and were. In our family history is a big part of our lives. He wore the Vietnam MIA all the time to remind him, in case he had a rough day, that the man whose name is on the bracelet had a much worse day than he can imagine. One day in the fall of this year he spoke to me about a man wearing a similar bracelet, but for Iraqi Freedom. He had told me that he would like to retire his Vietnam bracelet for something more recent that he could relate to. That is when me and my mother searched the Internet and came across your website. We felt it was very organized and full of options. When we started searching for names it was an extremely solemn moment. We choose a man who was an officer and lived close to Spotslyvania, VA. Our intentions were to give it to him as a gift for Christmas, which we totally understand that having it in time was not possible. If there is one thing I will never forget in my life is when he read a letter I made for him explaining that we bought him a bracelet, and at that moment he started to cry. It was a very emotional moment for several minutes, considering that I have only seen him cry two times in my life, and this is one of them. I would just like to thank your corporation for the splendid job you people do in making something other people can wear to remember and honor our fallen and missing heroes. Hopefully someday I will wear one like my father's to honor those oversea.

Thank You Very Much,

Keith

A Reminder That Nothing Is Greater Than One Who Lay Down Their Life For Others

Although both fortunately and unfortunately, I have the opportunity to bring up good friends whom I served with in the United States Army. I have purchased two so far, but already have friends back home that would like them as well...So I look forward to doing business with your company again. It is a shame to think of how many we have lost, but I find solace in the fact that SO many of us...will never forget them. I wear mine as a constant reminder that our lives are to chance, and that nothing is greater than one who lay down their life, for their country.

May God Bless The USA,
Jeff

To Keep His Memory Alive In Me

The man's name, 1LT Luke Wullenwaber, on the bracelet was our company executive officer and my first line supervisor. He and I worked, and interacted several times a day together. He was full of energy and always brought a smile to everyone's faces with is jokes, and personality.

He was kill on Nov 16 2004 by a car bomb in Kaladia Iraq. His memory and work ethics are still in our everyday lives. I ordered the bracelet to keep his memory alive in me and to share his attributes with the rest of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Mariens there my actions and a desire to full fill his expectations.

Thanks again
Garrett

I Wanted To Pay Tribute To One Fallen Hero While Remembering Them All

I grew up with Greg Stajk in Kings Park. We graduated together. Many others I know were lucky to get out...they described their experiences in great detail. Number One was the bravery of the FDNY...Greg lost his life saving others. I know hundreds of other brave souls died helping others, but I wanted to pay tribute to the one I knew while remembering them all.

I keep in touch with his brother...Greg's family is grateful for all the support the world has shown.

Carol

I Wanted My Own Memorial To A Fallen Friend

My friend Jay that was killed in the first few days of OIF. I bought the bracelet for my own memory of my friendship with Jay. I served in the same unit with him for five years. I currently keep it on a mantle. I will probably only wear it for special occasions, but I just wanted it to have as my own little memorial to a fallen friend.

Thanks,
Allen

I Am A 911 Dispatcher

I was browsing to look at POW/MIA bracelets and didn't know there were ones for 9-11. I am a 911 dispatcher and was a volunteer Firefighter/EMT so I chose a bracelet of a fallen Firefighter from WTC.

Thank you!

Michelle

I'm A Huge Supporter Of Our Troops

I'm a huge supporter of our troops and thought this was just another way to support them. For Christmas this year instead of buying gifts for my family and friends, I went on line and found a web site that soldiers were listing things that they needed or wanted. I sent four huge boxes of stuff to a group of guys that I have never met. I think we should all support our troops and remember those that have died to help other people.

Thank you for my wonderful bracelet.
Serena

It's Something That Needs To Be Made More Aware To The Public

I ordered a bracelet because it’s something that needs to be made more aware to the public, people seem to forget about POW/MIA troops; whether they’re from the Vietnam, Korean or Iraqi wars. I wanted to get the word out, and this is definitely one way to do it, whether silently (to those whom have heard of it, but do not participate) or to those who ask “What’s that bracelet all about?” I’m active duty AF, I heard about this by asking that same question “What’s that bracelet all about?” I didn’t know what it was until about 18 months ago, and I think it’s a good thing to have out there in the public. People tend to forget that there are POWs still alive stuck in Vietnam, or they just don’t care. When we say “No man left behind” we try to stick to it as much as possible, and this is another way of funding that mission.

For The Brave Men and Women Who Risk Their Lives for Us

I received my POW Bracelets today, and will wear them both proudly. 

A local radio station, in conjunction with a local Harley Davidson dealership, has sponsored a motorcycle ride for the last 3 years.  All money raised goes to the USO to buy minutes for phone cards for the troops.  We have been lucky enough to participate all 3 years.  This year, the total raised was over 500,000 minutes, with over 600 motorcycles participating.  One of the items that each participant was given was an Army National Guard Hero Bracelet...it brought back memories.  I had one of the "original" POW Bracelets when I was a teenager.  Unfortunately, I do not know what happened to it, but I wore it for years.  I am happy to say that the soldier who's name I wore is a POW returnee. 

The decision on the names for the bracelets was the hardest part.  I decided on one who was from a very small town near the very small town where my mother was born and raised - unaccounted for.  The other was because of the date - my 14th birthday - who's remains have been recovered/returned.

I will wear my bracelets as a daily reminder of the brave men and women who risk their lives every day for us.

For the USS Kitty Hawk

I received my Memorial Bracelet and it's prefect. I order this one because I was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and I remember the day this happen I was on the bridge and remember writing it in the daily log. I'm not sure how I found your site was surfing around for one thing then another and came crossed it. It's an amazing web site has a lot of GREAT information on it. I enjoy it a lot. I had a POW Bracelet I wore in the 70's and an old girlfriend took it with her when she moved. 

Anyway thanks a lot for the new one. 

Peace 

John

I Have Always Had Compassion Towards Vietnam Vets

Since I was a teenage girl, for some reason I have always have compassion towards Vietnam Vets, and the men and woman that served, and witnessed some horrific things, during the Vietnam conflict, and treatment that they received when they returned home. I have had one family member that was in Vietnam and he just passed away last July due to cancer from exposure from agent orange, I witnessed what he already went through with the war (stories that he shared) and then another battle, cancer. So I purchased two bracelet's one for me and my husband to wear. We wear them everyday and a lot of people ask what they are and have never even heard of such a thing and they think that it is a great concept. I chose men that were killed in action (BB) and remains never found and returned home, so I searched out men that were from the state that I live in (Ohio) and well all I can do is hope and pray for these lost souls are finally found and brought home instead of being on foreign soil.

I own a tattoo shop and a gentlemen that is getting ready to leave for Iraq had a bracelet on and that is how I found out. He was very helpful and actually guided me through to finding the website, I love the bracelet and so does everyone else. To me it is more than a bracelet, it is someone's soul and memory that I carry with me everyday, everywhere no matter what. I pray they are all found and thank you so much for the chance to wear something so passionate.

Valerie

For My Fiancee Who Was Shot In Southern Bahgdad

I ordered a bracelet not for myself, but for my fiancee who was shot in Southern Bahgdad back in January of this year. During his recovery, he has lost two of his Infantry Brothers. One to a roadside bomb, the other to a mortar attack. He continues to deal with the very real possibility that even more of his dearest friends will not return home alive. I gave him a memorial bracelet not sure how he would react being that this is understandably a very painful issue. Much to my relief, he absolutely loves and appreciates that he can carry on his friend's names with the bracelets. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to give him something that he is and will forever hold dear to him. Of course, he will always remember his Brothers, but I think these bracelets hold such a great significance being that they often strike up conversations with strangers who are curious as to what they are and the story behind the Soldier's name engraved on them. This allows us to spread the story of their sacrifice and to carry on the stories of everyday men making bigger than life contributions to their country in a time of conflict. Thank you.

Nola

It Is Not About POWs It Is About The Dead

I wanted a bracelet because I wore a POW bracelet for years for my Vietnam soldier, he was MIA after the return. I checked on him occasionally via the net and learned recently that he is felt to have died in a plane crash that was witnessed. The crash site is not accessible, so the bodies have not been recovered.

When we got POWs in the Gulf war, I ordered a bracelet, randomly, and got the soldier from my state. Ironically, my Gulf soldier went missing on the same day as my Vietnam soldier, 20 some years later. But he came home-hooray.

Now my precious son is in Iraq. I wear all kinds of stuff to honor him. He is still ok, but he was in the truck next to Pfender's when they were all hit by the IED. Being the medic, he went straight to his best friend there who was injured fatally. My son held Jonathan as his life's blood poured all over the two of them. Joel knew John was gone the instant he was hit, but he held him and said a blessing for his dear friend. My son will never be the same after that, the son I sent to the Army died that day too. Later he discovered another soldier had been hit, but the guy was so adrenalined up he didn't even know it. The injury turned out to be severe, and Joel was able to save him and pack him off to the hospital. He is now home still recovering.

This war isn't about POWs, it is about the dead. I wear this bracelet in honor of Pfender, who lost his life, in honor of Joel, who lost his innocence, and in honor of Rodrigues, who's injuries are forever.

Judi

As An American I Will Wear This Bracelet With Pride

I remember the POW bracelets from Vietnam. My Parents did not allow me to have one for some odd reason I may never know. We were a military family and at Fort Lee Virginia at the time so... Now I work for the Air Force as a Civilian DOD Employee. From time to time you kind of forget why we are sending troops to what they call The Sand Box. So this will be a reminder to me and whoever I come in to contact with. After all now there are no pictures of the devastation on TV anymore. The whole thing seems like a bad dream that no body remembers any more..., yet we still have troops and civilians dieing over there daily because it is their jobs. Remember the war was supposed to be over last June. Well enough of all that. I'm pleased with the bracelets as and honorably discharged airborne ranger, as an ex-army brat, as a DOD employee and as a proud American I will wear this bracelet with pride.