Hi from 29 Palms!
Everything here is an acronym. In fact everything is an acronym with computers too. I must be cursed. Dad and Joe Belland have to know my problem. I'll give you an example of how these darn worlds collide.

Acronym: EGA
For the USMC it means Eagle Globe and Anchor
For the computer world it means Extended Gfx Adapter 16 Color Video

Acronym: BMP
For the USMC it means some kind of enemy vehicle
For the computer world it means A Bitmap, A Picture

It gets worse too. Some times the USMC is dislexic (no, I have no idea hot to spell lisdexic). Take BAH - Basic Housing Allowance. How did they mess that up and why has no one fixed it yet? And then there are the really jacked up ones like ANPEQA2. Not a clue. But it can lead to some fun with Privates and PFC's (Private 1st Class). You can send them to admin to request an eye-dee-ten-tea form which when you spell it out is id10t. Or send them to supply for a bee-A-eleven hundred-en or a ba1100n. SSgt (Staff Sergeant) Gray has been known to take a rubber glove, blow it up, tie off the opening and hand it to the stupefied private. The worst one requires a little setup:

I'm a Cpl (Corporal) or an E4 which means I'm enlisted and at a pay grade 4. If someone said, "I need an E4" in a room of mixed service members (Army, Navy, Air force, and/or Marines in one room) I might stand and volunteer for whatever. The highest enlisted pay grade in our company is an E9, a 1st Sgt. We have a sophisticated field radio called an AN/PRC-119, which we simply say prik-119 when we are talking about it. So any way, it's fun to send a private up to admin to ask, "Do you have a prik-E9?" Poor kid has no idea what hell is about to be unleashed.

Note: Please no one send packages until I arrive at whatever firm base in Iraq. I'll let you know some time mid to late March when I get there. But everyone please do send pics. Would like to know what the heck I'm fighting for. Not to mention I am now the official Marine Corps Dating-Marriage Service. I'm on a mission to weed out the bad ones and hook up my sister-in-law up with the best, most morally and spiritually acceptable Marine. So whoever wants to date-marry a Marine, who I might add is defending your right to be single and lonely (just kidding), send pics and an address where he can write you back. Keep in mind it might take me a little while to find GOOD marines. Guys, if you want to send pics too, we have some Navy docs here whom I'm sure would love to date you.

Now for individual and group messages:
The Carpenters: Miss you guys. How's Jay doing in the academy? Hope the computer/internet hasn't crapped out (or how are you reading this?) I don't think my CO (Commanding Officer) would understand If I had to go to Florida to fix a computer. If anything broke, I swear it wasn't me. If the Yellow Dart and My Other Girlfriend want Marine dates, Please send pics with the understanding it may take months to fund a guy whose good enough to date you.

Carie: How's the wedding plans? Please don't stress Carie. I know most brides do, but just remember with the exception of you, Sam and the priest, everything else is window dressing. Don't get locked into the "must be perfect" mind set. It should be perfect, but it might not be. Nothing no matter how imperfect should be allowed to stress you or put you down on what is unavoidably going to be the happiest day, week, month, and year of your life. Wish I could be there. Please send me pics when you get back from your honeymoon.

Joe, Anne Marie, Dave, and all the Bellands: As I write this, I'm only a couple of hours away from you. 29 Palms, Ca is somewhere near the NV border. Marines here talk about wanting to go to Vegas. I don't think we'll actually get a chance to leave or have people visit at all. That is the current word. Too bad, would have loved to have seen you all. Dave, you working with Gulf Coast? How's that coming? Hope to see you when I get back. You are all welcome to the house in Florida. Oh yeah, where's my coke? And nobody here believes the accuracy you, Joe, had with an air gun . . . 100 Ft . . . moving target . . . behind cover and concealment . . . right to my neck . . . you suck. I'll try and replicate that shot when I'm in Iraq.

CTL Guys: Out here conquering. Keep me in your prayers and pray especially that I never be asked to demonstrate the greatest act of love. I'm talking with a Marine who is just now having a conversion. Keep him in your prayers and pray I can help him 'till we get a gosh-darn Catholic Priest here. Lutheran chaplains are all we got at the moment

SOL Gals: You gals are all freaking gorgeous. Miss you all. Someone let Emily (formerly Foster), Gretchen Wagner, Bethany Croteau, Suzanne Valier, and Lee know about this because this is for them as well. Emily, is Nick out of the USMC? How are you two doing? Lee, how are you and John? Gretchen, Bethany, and Suzanne, I'm praying for all five of you when I do my rosaries. I know someone wants to date a Marine. Send a picture, but it may take a while to find a Marine that looks even half as good as I do. I make these cammies look pimp'in.

Todd Hartlieb: Gosh-dang it man, how do you spell that last name? It was easier when all I had to know to spell your name was how to spell my own. How's working at Disney? I hope to make regular visits to see you when I get back. What's your contact info? I'll send you turbans or something.

Mandy Lengyel: Mess with my wife in class? It's on now blondie! (Is it still blond? I don't know, I can't keep up.) You may be taller, but somewhere out there is a ladder I'm gonna climb and knock that smile off your pretty little face. Miss ya. Hey do me a favor and say high to Dr. Kovach, Dr. Burton, and Dr. Coleman. Also, make sure Ileana's always at class and not too down while I'm away.

Steph Puglia: Thanks again for that dinner. Maybe I'll see you again either in TX or in MI. Let me know how you are doing and when you move if ever while I'm here.

Emily Litson: Hey what's up? Remember your gonna show up here in Iraq and make a docudrama: Tom Adams - A Marine In Touch With His Feelings. I can even make pointless special effects to destroy and plot messages you try to convey. You like video hardware, you would love some of our secret gear. How's Jerry? Still crying at night? How about the baby? JUST KIDDING!!! I think I'm hysterical. Don't believe me? Ask my mom.

Chuck Wheeler: How the hell are you, sir? Are you a 1st Lt yet? How's Jessica and the kid? Still in Japan or have you been to the Mid East yet? Let me know. Would like to see you again, preferably under non-official circumstances. Right now I have a lot of different hats. Fire team leader, acting Squad leader at times, armory custodian, and Blue Force Tracker operator. Good stuff.

Josh and Mary: Thanks for that dinner before I left. It was delicious. I LOVE Alfredo sauce. Take care of Ileana when I'm gone, okay?

Jessie and Georden: Be a good boy! No giving your mom any sas. Are you even reading this? Anyhow, take care Jessie. Let me know how you're doing, especially after Sam's bro visits.

Penny Calmbacher and Dave Gresko: How are things going? I'll bring you back a sample of the combat ready laptops. These things won't break. Bet you I could find a Franciscan student who could. HA! I crack me up. Oh yeah, you're fired!

Tim, Mike, and the Gulf Coast Gang: I'm working on a concept to integrate journal data with video on an M16 mounted on a tripod. Every NO SALE for instance would result in an instant shooting. We could start with extremities and move to vital organs for repeat offenders. Hey if you want, I could still handle tech support. Tell Marla to mail me. Oh yeah, she'll have to send a picture too. HA HA HA! . . . tearing up . . . No really, I crack me up. Look forward to seeing you guys again.

Slash, Eddie, and Angus: If you guys are reading this, you guys rock and are keeping me sane. Why are you reading this? (These guys are members of Velvet Revolver)

Don Rumsfeld: Less armor! Less! This flak is freaking heavy! I have no mobility. Don't listen to complaining National Guardsman. Besides, that is our job, killing and complaining. If we are not complaining it means we are up to something.

Cindy Crawford: Sorry, but I love my wife.

Anybody I forgot: Sorry. Please mail me though. I'll try to write back. My next letter might not be for a long time.

End Transmission
*Posted by Ileana Adams on his behalf*