Nov. 26, 2007 I want to thank you for the box of goodies. This is my second time in Iraq. I'm in the Navy but I'm a different kind of sailor, I'm not attached to a ship. We are the only combat unit in the Navy that is offensive, instead of waiting for trouble we go looking for trouble and eliminate it. Some of the people here are used to us and don't really mind us. Some are glad we're here because we have helped out with their education and hospitals and that we are here to protect them from those that would harm them. Then there are those that are afraid of us because we carry around guns all the time, we have large numbers of people with us. Some people don't like us because of their own previous encounters. Much of the country is dusty and dry, the dust is like a powder so we call it moon dust, you step on it and a fine cloud comes up. There are lots of rocks around and we are coming into the winter time frame so it is getting very cold around here. Dogs run rampant out here like cats do in the states. There are about 227 people in my unit and we're split in four groups; three are located in another area. We are the only one working on our own; I'm friends with just about every one in my unit, there's 53 of us. My unit is a boat unit that has three weapons stations. We patrol waterways such as rivers and lakes but we are also capable of ground movements. Think of us as infantry. It was great to get a care package and a letter, thank you very much, I loved the Thin Mints, my favorite. Sincerely, GM2 Michael L. Ayres