It is with the deepest sadness and most profound grief that I must report to
you the loss of Daniel Wyatt, LCpl, Fox Co, 2nd Bn, 24th Marines, USMC.
Daniel was killed in the line of duty, while conducting foot patrolling
operations in Yusufiyah Iraq. Daniel was killed by a command detonated
improvised explosive device. He died instantly, suffered no pain and was
immediately recovered by his fellow Marines.

My command security element and I personally recovered Daniel's body and
escorted him back to the forward operating base, and then onto the
helicopter for the beginning of his final ride home. I cannot even begin to
express to you the soul touching sight of combat hardened Marines, encrusted
with weeks of sweat and dust, who have daily been engaged in combat, coming
to complete and utter solemnity and respect in the handling of the body of
one of their own. It puts on display a level of brotherly love you just
cannot see anywhere else.

We conducted a memorial service for Daniel in the battle space owned by his
fellow Marines, as well as one the following day at the battalion forward
operating base. I have spoken with his fiancée and expressed the sorrow and
sympathy of the entire Battalion.

If I might for a moment, I hear and see some of the media coverage. I hear
the accusations and charges. I hear what could almost be labeled as hysteria
over the situation in Iraq. Let me tell you something from ground level. The
town of Yusufiyah that Daniel and his fellow Marines seized, had not seen
government structure or security forces for over 8 months. FOREIGN FIGHTERS,
TERRORIST AND THUGS have had free reign and have routinely murdered people
in the market for no reason other than one day they MIGHT support a
democratic process and speak for themselves. For nothing more than they
MIGHT choose a version of religion even slightly different than the
terrorists and foreign fighters. They live in squalor and fear. The Marines
of Daniel's unit have not had a shower since seizing the town. They have
eaten MREs day in and day out. They live a Spartan existence that few can
imagine. And, on all my trips to their position for planning, coordination
and command visits, I ask them if they want to be relieved. To a man, they
look me in the eye and tell me NO WAY. Why? Well, I am not going to soften
it for anyone, the primary reason why is to kill terrorists. Please
remember, that is what they are trained and paid to do. But, they also tell
me, they want to help the people of Yusufiyah. They want to show all of Iraq
that they can stand on their own feet, push back against extremism, and with
our help live the life of freedom that all men yearn for. Yes, from the
mouths of these young and hardened warriors, this is what they tell me. And
then...and then...they ask me how I am doing! Un-freaking believable! They
worry about everyone else but themselves.

So believe what you want. That is your right as Americans. But I am telling
you, there are no heroes on any football fields, basketball courts or halls
of government. There are honorable and decent people all over America.
However, the heroes are on the battlefields of Iraq. Suffering, killing and
DYING that others might live, and live in FREEDOM. Americans free from
terror, Iraqis free from oppression and tyranny.

I am an under-educated gun toter from Indiana who is just lucky there is an
organization like the USMC where a half-wit like myself with some
rudimentary combat skills can succeed. But I do know heroes! I am surrounded
by over a thousand of them. And I am not the least bit ashamed to tell you I
have wept like a baby for Daniel Wyatt. Because when one of these heroes
falls, it is if an Angel of God himself has fallen from heaven! I will not
profess glory of battle or any other such hype. I will profess duty and
sacrifice. Daniel showed us all true duty and ultimate sacrifice. I have no
doubt that the instant he died, he was whisked to heaven on the wings of
Angels and placed before the unapproachable light of Jesus, who himself
said: "greater love hath no man, than a man lay down his life for his
friends."

GOD BLESS AND KEEP DANIEL WYATT, HIS FAMILY AND FIANCEE AND GOD BLESS AND
KEEP ALL THE FAMILIES OF 2/24.

Yours in profound sadness Mark A. Smith, LtCol TF 2/24 Cmdr Mahmudiyah, Iraq