(Note from Plunge: Sorry, lost this earlier and didn't get it posted)

Friday, April 01, 2004

Well I finally got the word to go back to Iraq. I will be leaving next week for another year back in Baghdad.

Not. April Fools

Great things continue to happen

After having been yanked around a bit, fortunately, the army has finally decided to release me from additional active duty. I will be on active duty for approximately one more week and then I will be returning to Fort Carson to finish demobilizing. I can’t say enough about how everything has worked out for the better. It has all been good and it is all good, all part of a much bigger plan, involving many more people than me.

Every dark cloud has had a silver lining. Most days I wake up just wondering what miraculous thing is going to happen next, life so far having been a continuous stream of interconnected wonderful events. This path I am traveling on is a virtual mine field of positive explosions, one explosion causing a chain reaction of events leading to another, all divinely controlled and orchestrated.

These explosions turn into bursts of joy and happiness as the pieces of this giant puzzle fall into place, one at a time, revealing the picture of generous Americans helping the people of Iraq.

• The 3 containers of toys and school supplies arrived in Kuwait and have been cleared for movement to Baghdad, without any taxes, duties, or other transportation charges. This alone is a miracle beyond measure. A certain person named Cheryl has really been a life saver for us in making this happen.

• We also received permission, with a minimal charge, to keep the containers in Baghdad for awhile until we can unload them at the warehouse. Not only did we work out a great deal on holding on to the containers, but also we were given the green light to park the container at a secure location for free.

• FedEx has agreed to move (free of charge) 50 boxes of stuffed animals, donated by Stansbury Park Elementary School last week, over to our warehouse owned and operated by Bridgepoint Systems in Salt Lake City, Utah. There seems to be no end to so many people doing so many wonderful things.

• The elementary students put letters in the boxes of toys for the soldiers who open them, hoping to brighten the day of each box opener.

• Our team of do-gooders is driving forward in Iraq, as our hearts have become welded together through our simple acts of kindness. The pieces are falling into place as they seek for ways to distribute toys and supplies.

A message to give

Lately I have been fortunate to have a number of speaking engagements, each one opening up new opportunities for people to share and participate in the cause of Operation Give. There are so many people out there with great ideas and a special willingness to be part of this wonderful initiative.

If any of you out there would like me to speak to your group or organization and are willing just to cover my traveling expenses, I would be more than happy to participate. I feel that I am on a mission to spread the word to the American people about what is really going on in Iraq. I have a message that needs to be heard by people who desire to hear the truth.

The media is doing us, the American people, an injustice by only giving us a very one-sided, sanitized, politically tweaked view of what the Iraqis really feel about our presence. As I travel around speaking to various groups, I am continually asked questions’ regarding what is really going on and what do the Iraqis really feel about us. Obviously there are enough free thinkers out there to realize that they are not being told the whole story and are only being given bits and pieces of a much bigger picture.

Why are we continually spoon fed sensationalized accounts of what is going on, only dwelling on the negative side in hopes that it will accomplish their own politically tainted agenda?

Speaking at Brigham Young University

On Friday I had the marvelous opportunity of speaking to a crowd of about 400 people at Brigham Young University, during their annual Family Expo. I was the opening speaker for the conference, which lasted two days, held in conjunction with General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had about an hour to convey my message, only to realize that even an hour was not enough time to really cover all my points.

I stood before them in uniform, armed with nothing more than my power-point slide show, and an honest desire to convey the feelings of my heart regarding my experiences in Iraq. I hoped they would catch the vision, through the spirit of my words, of the humanity of the freedom hungry people of Iraq, who as a majority only now want to realize their dreams for freedom and democracy.

After speaking a number of nameless individuals came up to me to express how touched they were by my words and how grateful they are for the many positive things that were accomplished. One person expressed to me that “hearing my speech alone was worth the trip she made�. Others had a desire for me to speak to their group or to question how they might participate in Operation Give. Another person informed me of their group of women who were quilting 300 quilts and were looking for a charity organization to donate them to, now realizing her search was over.

Gary and Terry rule

A few days ago, Gary and Terry of FedEx in Detroit, made a special trip out to Utah to give me the welcome home party of a life time. I was deeply touched by their eagerness, no matter what the cost, to offer me the warmest celebration of my safe arrival home from Iraq. I will never be able to repay them for their selfless generosity, presented to me in the form of gifts and love. I will never forget them and their kindness will never be matched.

They flew in on a Thursday afternoon to begin their secretive plans for the surprise luncheon to be held at FedEx. Other than having dinner with them on Thursday, they were busy running about buying up things for the party. I offered to help but they wanted to do this on their own and who am I to interfere with their own Good Luck Fairy plans. It is fun to be on the receiving end of things once in a while too.

They also came baring gifts from another team of players at FedEx in Corporate Communications, headed by Jean Ann, to include; Janas, Mike, David, Gwen, Terry, Cecelia, Alice, Lisa, Rose, Pam, and Roy. They also brought love and appreciation from Sally, Barbara, Audrey, Jim, and Stacey, who have, all along, been so supportive.

Jean even wrote a lovely poem,

 “We are your friends, both old and new,

Through Divine circumstance drawn to you.

To share your journey to Iraq,

And to rejoice that you are safely back.

We prayed God would keep you safe from harm,

Sheltered in the protection of his arms,

We saw through your eyes those who yearned to be free,

And we dreamed with you all the things that might be.

We wept with you as you brought joy

To the hearts of Iraqi girls and boys.

You’ve touched our lives beyond scope

For the Lord used you to give the gift of hope.

Charity never faileth

What a wonderful tribute, but I feel so undeserving, and yet I humbly accept your words of appreciation, only to hope that some day I can repay you for your kindness. I am sure you will be blessed for your desires to help and support soldiers, like me, who are all in need of your love.

Stacey, Gary’s wife, added a special tribute that really touched on the core of how sharing with others can actually change the giver’s heart forever. She wrote, “I thank you not only for what you did for the children of Iraq, but also for allowing Gary to be a part of this. Because of you and “Joys with Toys�, I have seen a renewed joy and sense of purpose in my husband, Thank you�.

I humbly admit that all of this started out so innocently, without prior thought of creating anything as grand as what this has become. It was the individual desires of many people whose combined synergy has brought about such great things. It was definitely not all my doing. I acted only as a facilitator to work as your representative, in touching the loves, by proxy, of so many Iraqi children.

FedEx puts on a party

The luncheon party was held at FedEx’s district offices, where all my fellow workers gathered together to offer up a very warm welcome home. We joked and laughed, hugged and kissed, opened presents and shared a very special unforgettable moment, as we rekindled our friendships and thanked God for my safe return. I will never forget them.

Much time and care had been given to each and every gift, as if Christmas had come in March this year. I was totally blown away by the generous and thoughtful expressions of love and appreciation by the givers.

Debbie and others at the local FedEx office had prepared such great food, desserts and drink, sodas of course, and it was such a fun time for me, the thoughts of which I will relish forever. Thanks so much.

The Holton family takes their turn

Later that night they were all invited over to my dance club, the “Mambo Club�, (a Latin dance club in Salt Lake City), to enjoy a night out on us, put on by my family. Many soldiers from my unit, especially those I served with at the CPA in Baghdad, were also invited, as we danced, ate, and enjoyed each others company, celebrating all of our safe return.

Half way through the night, to my surprise, the Highland High School Band showed up to offer their rendition of a few patriotic/military tunes, which was so awesome. After that several young local Korean girls, clad in traditional Korean dress, performed several traditional Korean dances. The even was a big hit, truly enjoyed by all those attending. Of course I got into the spirit of things by doing my usual antics on the dance floor, as I attempted to keep up with my dancing daughter (who is a very good dancer).

Thanks to my family for putting on a great party.

We must protect our freedoms

I am saddened by the recent reports of several soldiers and civilians being killed in Fallujah, Iraq. I was appalled by these blatant acts of violence and their total disrespect for human life carried out by a fanatical bunch of thugs and non-Iraqi insurgents, in an effort to destabilize the area and demoralize our troops.

I hope the world can see that these small groups of displaced Saddam loyalists, or hate filled terrorists, will stop at nothing to regain their control, power, or position, over the people of Iraq, who desire the people to remain ignorant in bondage. What would be their alternative? To rule the people with terror and hate, violently acting out their desires to control people with prejudice? Preventing the people from tasting the sweetness of freedom, equality and liberty? 

Are we that blind that we cannot see the evil intentions of these hate filled terrorists, who prefer keeping the people chained to their prejudiced beliefs in some twisted ideology, far removed from any of Mohammed’s teachings? They do in no way represent the majority of Iraqis or any Middle Eastern people. They would want us to believe this, as it was a contrived media opportunity for them to portray this to the world.

Wake up world! We must stand up against any such group to protect the freedoms of the majority of God fearing people everywhere, who would chose love over hate, freedom over bondage, equality over prejudice and discrimination, and peace over violence. We cannot stand idly by while we watch the people of the world be intimidated and held hostage by terror and fear.

Spain’s reaction to terrorism in their country only fuels the terrorist fire, giving these evil men confidence to strike out against others, in hopes of accomplishing the same response. But, we cannot give in. We must be firm in our resolve and willing to fight, when necessary, against any power that would subject us to their will, forcing us to live according to their desires.

Our resolve cannot be shaken and our course cannot be altered to suit the desires of these evil few. We must be willing to go the distance at whatever the cost, for there is too much at stake. It will never stop and we, the world, will never be safe if we give an inch to these terrorists.

Filling the children’s minds with hate is not the answer

We must break down the barriers of culture, language, religion, etc, through unselfish acts of kindness, allowing the children of the world to see the humanity of all people. We must build bridges of trust, understanding, and confidence in the humanity of all people. Operation Give must go forth, along with any and all causes that teach tolerance and love of all mankind.

As we move closer towards turning over the government back to the Iraqi people this summer, with out a doubt there will be an increase in these random acts of terrorism, in order to turn world popular opinion against the U.S. The world has to see that we are not occupiers; we are not there to take, but to give freedom and democracy to the people of Iraq. This is not about the U.S., but about stabilization of that region of the world, allowing them to hold the keys to their own destiny to the end that they will take their place as a key player in the world.

The majority needs our help

The quiet perhaps silent majority, given the chance, will step forward to take control of this destiny over time. But, they are weak and need the protecting hand of a stronger brother, for with out such a brother they would be easily imprisoned by their own fears. We must be that brother to assist those people who cannot do for themselves, to maintain their right for freedom and liberty.

As I sit typing my journal I can hear the sound of the wind outside rustling through the trees, causing me to pause reflecting on the wind of the deserts of Iraq, remember what it was like just a few months ago. Oh, how things do change, how time goes on, and oh how we must not give up, not lose interest in the causes promoting justice, freedom, and the liberty for all in the pursuit of happiness.

The Lord promises that he will be before us and on our left and on our right to guide our way and protect us from the evils that might befall us. I desire to perpetuate the cause of Operation Give, knowing that there is much to do and with faith that the way will be prepared before me. The children need the hope that a toy or school supplies give of a brighter future. They need the curing hands of doctors with supplies and equipment able to do their job as a result of people who care and are willing to donate the money or the supplies to make it happen.

I am now on this end across the waters from Iraq, able to promote this cause by reaching out to people in schools, churches, or other organizations who have a desire to help. I need your help to make this happen.

Have a great day

Chief Wiggles

Doing it the wiggles way