UPDATE: I have a solare pump headed my way for the aquaponics project I want to start up here in Nawa. Additionally, I have permission to start the project, along with space….now it’s time to design.

That said, Vol 2, Issue 2 has been released for public comsumption: 200906 ISAF Newsletter (Click on the link to download or view.)

Mom, thanks for the packages…the clippers got here just in time.

To all, we are in Nawa, Afghanistan, taking part in Operation Khanjar, “sword strike” (this is also a reference to “tip of the spear”, a common term used to describe the Marine Corp’s role in the American military), which has been going very well. We made a dramatic initial push and we continue to do really good work out here for the people of Afghanistan.

Last year, I created a newsletter to help folks back home keep track of my deployment, and this year I’ve done it again. I welcome you all to read through my deployment newsletter, which you can download from here.

Back home, Maira is doing well, but could use some assistance with nanny selection. She has been keeping up with the Sequoia, growing her business, and the household, to include my aquaponics project – she has even had some of our lettuce already. Sequoia is now 4.5 months old. I miss my girls terribly, and can’t wait to get them back in my arms.

Sgt Holzmann, Matthew J
1/5, H&S Co., Comm Plt, Data
Unit 40320
FPO AP 96610-0320

Our journey, thus far, has taken us from March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA, to Bangor, Maine, to Leipzig, Germany, and finally to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishkek
We are awaiting our departure to Afghanistan. Fortunately, this place is beautiful. It is very much like Colorado Springs, with dramatic, large mountains punctuating our view. The range is completely covered in snow.

As we get updates, I”ll be sure to post what I can, when I can.

Thank you all for the wonderful support and love you’ve given me. Please, keep Maira & Sequoia in mind.

Every day, I fall more in love.  Every day, she develops.  Every day, I wonder if she can wrap me any further around her finger.  And, every day, she does.

Today, we received a letter from my commanding officer.  While I’m sure it’s the same letter every other father in our unit receives, it was still special.  As I read the letter aloud to Maira, I was brought to tears by the weight of the message.  The letter was addressed to our daughter, and it expressed a sense of import regarding our mission as Marines, the role I play in our unit, and feeling of loss every deploying parent  feels during our times away from home and family.

Reading that letter was sobering.  The thought of Sequoia reading that dispatch some 18 years from now, when she goes off to college, was profound.  It made my role in the Marine Corps feel substantial, my role as a servicemember feel essential, and my role as father feel incredibly weighty.  All of which, I feel duty-bound to meet and exceed expectations.

Thanks to my lovely wife for ordering some wonderful soaps, which arrived “next day”, despite ground status, from ClassicShaving.com. Maira is a week away from popping and being in the field sucks. I wish I could be home to support her, instead. Anyhow, it’s time fir bed after a very long night.

UPDATE: Normally, I’d reply in my comments section of a post; however, this calls for a post update to highlight some incredible insight by Mantic59.  For any ‘old-school’ shavers out there, or anyone considering a switch, his blog is a fantastic guide on the subject.  Please, check out http://mantic59.blogspot.com/.

The next trick is to get a link in the top navbar. Just gimme some time on that one. Wifey and I have a few other priorities right now.

At this point, I’ve posted photos from the Marine Corps Ball, a trip to the Encinitas Meditation Gardens, and Thanksgiving.

Immediately below, you can play a clip of our child’s heartbeat from the 27 week prenatal checkup.
20081028_27-weeks-baby-heartbeat

It’s been so nice to get your updates. Thanks for taking the time to give us such an informative and interesting glimpse into your adventures! Seriously, I so appreciate your service and all that you’re doing to serve those of us back home. Since becoming a mom, I have been even more aware of the incredible gift of safe soil, and so grateful for everyone who is working to make sure that Benjamin grows up in a secure place. It’s incredible to me that the only “background noise” he has to grow up with is noisy neighbors, yappy dogs, and poorly-timed lawnmowers. So many kids all over the world have a soundtrack that’s much more disturbing and gut-wrenching. Thanks for everything you’re doing.

Sarah, thank you for the email, and we’ll keep doing the best we can to keep Benjamin safe back home.

After the beach clean up, we headed back to the ship to clean up. Then, we headed out to Sembawang, another Singaporean military base, for a unit function. I was able to ship off some gifts & holiday cards. We had some lunch/dinner at the Terror Club – named after the HMS Terror, an old British vessel.

Johnson and I promptly headed out of there for less militaristic climes. We headed down to Marina Bay, a bad choice since there’s NOTHING there. Then, we hit up Raffle’s Place…um, cool if you need a gym or a mall. Then, we headed toward Boat Quay (pronounced ‘key’), where I had a beer or two while catching up on all this Internet stuff. Pics have been posted on my Facebook account.

Singapore is clean & fun, but very far from what I thought an authentic Asian experience would be.

Tonight, I posted a bunch of pictures from our float on my Facebook. If you would like to get regular updates via email, then please email me at holzmannmj@11meu.usmc.mil. 

I miss you all an wish that we could all be living it up in Singapore, because it seems to me that this is either a place to make your name in international business or party like a college kid.

In the mean time, I leave you with a way to contact me. Via email: holzmannmj@11meu.usmc.mil

Cpl Holzmann, Matthew J

1/5, H&S Co., Comm, Data

Unit40320

FPO AP 96610-0320

NO FedEx or UPS. Only send via US Postal Service (USPS). Use Nylon Filament Tape for boxes. If you want to send letters for free – via the Internet, then you can use MotoMail (www.motomail.us).

More later, when I have time. Also, there may be a site redesign in the near future.

• I’m married (to the wonderful woman I used to write about – 3 July)
• We’ve our respective in-laws
• I’ve ’sold’ my Vespa to Jonathan, for safe keeping
• I’ve been to FL to visit my mother, and up to NoCal to visit my father
• I’ve purchased a Mac
• My wife will be moving out to San Diego this weekend
• I’ve been in the field* since 3 Aug
• I’ve turned 30

**Field: Currently a hellish part of the Mojave Desert known as Ft. Irwin. We sleep in refugee style tents, work in a portable command center, enjoy temperatures in the 110’s, fly kites (namely us) in the nightly windstorms (a.k.a. sandstorms that coat EVERYTHING in a thick cloak of sand), go without bathing for weeks, and try to maintain network connectivity over several satellites and through several hops of another force’s gear (ahem). Oh yeah…and our battalion plays GI Joe everyday in a ‘notional’ campaign against desert-going insurgents. This is practice for some desert-like place, in which we may be expected to perform our duties. Gee, wonder where that could be?

Getting married was great, but I’m really looking forward to our ceremony in San Diego, 27 Oct, 2007…yes VERY soon. Turning 30 was kinda a non-event, but I was fortunate enough to live the day for 39 hrs before finally getting to sleep – we moved our unit out of the ‘rear’ and into the field the day after my birthday.

Currently, I’m typing through a satellite connection w/ downloads of glacial speeds, which seems to impact the loading of pages to the point that simple buttons, like Reply and Delete, often don’t work. So, if I haven’t replied to your email, it’s b/c I haven’t been able to do so.

I love and miss my wife. I miss talking to friends and family. I can’t wait to take a shower.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST ENTRY CATEGORIZED UNDER ‘DATING’!!!

Yesterday, I was awareded Marine of the Quarter for my Company, and now I move on to a Battalion level board in a couple of weeks. If that comes through, then I will potentially receive a meritorious promotion to Corporal. As a Corporal, I will be considered a Non-Commissioned Officer…which is a big damn deal (pay raise and more responsibility).

A few weeks ago, MMommy was out in San Diego for a conference. It was a big deal for her, because she got the opportunity to present. And, it was great for me, because we got to be together. I might even get to see her next week, if I get leave approved to go back to Denver.

Ahhh…I finally have a renter for my condo! Yeah!!! Guess that’s about it.

Today, I received several awards upon graduation from the Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School (MCCES) 0656 Tactical Data Network Operator’s Course (TDNOC).

1st in class – Meritorious Promotion to Lance Corporal

Warrior’s Award – Peer award for Marine that most exemplifies Core Values

Highest PFT (Physical Fitness Test) – 295pts (out of 300pts)

CO’s Challenge Coin, an extra honor received from the Bravo Company Commanding Officer.

Director’s Award – Received by entire class for outstanding academic and physical achievement, community service, and no negative paperwork (Non-Judicial Punishments or Page 11’s)

Needless to say, I’m very happy. Additionally, I’m very proud of the class with which I served. They showed outstanding character and commitment by staying out of trouble, studying, and staying physically fit. I also thank them for selecting me to receive the Warrior’s Award.

UPDATE: Other big news, my orders were changed this morning. I will still be serving at Camp Pendleton under the 1st Marine Division – the oldest and most decorated Division in the United States Marine Corps. More specifically, I will now be serving a Victor Unit, known as 1/5 – 1st Marine Division/5th Regiment/1st Battalion - the most highly decorated Regiment in the Marine Corps.

Did you know that 47 countries’ have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated,

364 schools are under rehabilitation,

263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?

Did you know that Iraq’s higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?

They have 5 – 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq’s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq?

They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Ir aqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN’T KNOW!

WHY DIDN’T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WOULDN’T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades. Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:

It is intended to undermine the world’s perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

—- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website.

The following is the text from a website entitled “This Will Make You Proud.” It was forwarded to me via email, and I’ve chosen to post the story to honor an outstanding Marine and his actions.

Those of you who might not know, the man on the left is the Commandant (General Michael Hagee) of the Marine Corps, and he is proud to know the man on the right.

Maybe you’d like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the uniform he wears:

Meet Brian Chontosh

• Churchville-Chili Central School
• Class of 1991.
• Proud graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology.
• Husband and about-to-be father. First Lieutenant (now Captain) in the United States Marine Corps. And a genuine hero, the Secretary of the Navy said so yesterday (6 May 2004).

(Image of Navy  Cross) Navy Cross

At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can bestow.

That’s a big deal. But you won’t see it on the network news tonight. And all you’ll read in Brian’s hometown newspaper is two paragraphs of nothing.

The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it’s not covering the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing.

Oh, sure, there’s a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen. And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out.

And we’re almost on a first-name basis with the jerks who abused the Iraqi prisoners. And we know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us.

We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom. But we don’t hear about the heroes.

The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue.  The ones we completely ignore, like Brian Chontosh.

It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee. When all hell broke loose.

Ambush city.

The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him.

So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire. It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish. And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack.

He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the 50 cal unload on them.

Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines.

Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta, and 228 years of Marine Corps pride.

And he ran along the trench, with its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers. And he killed them all.

He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo.

Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo.

Then he picked up a dead man’s AK4 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.

Then he picked up another dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.

At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion.

When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon’s flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more.

But that’s probably not how he would tell it. He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he got them out of trouble. Ooh-rah, and drive on.

“By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, 1st Lt. Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

That’s what the citation says. And that’s what nobody will hear. That’s what doesn’t seem to be making the evening news.

Accounts of American valor are dismissed by the press as propaganda, yet accounts of American difficulties are heralded as objectivity. It makes you wonder if the role of the media is to inform or to depress – to report or to deride. To tell the truth, or to feed us lies.

But I guess it doesn’t matter. We’re going to turn out all right As long as men like Brian Chontosh wear our uniform.

• My wonderful and supportive parents.
• My wonderfully loving extended family.
• My brilliant, beautiful, and accepting girlfriend.
• My infinitely patient friends, thanks for putting up with me.
• My new life in the Marine Corps.
• My health – the mere fact the I’m still alive to see this Thanksgiving.
• The Denver Broncos for the deep and endless emotional swings they cause – reminds me I’m alive.
• All the things I’m too lazy to type, but still appreciate.

Thank you to everyone in my life for making me who I am today. Thank you for your support!