Marine Corps in Somalia

As a Marine officer whose helicopter squadron is being deployed to Somalia, I take offense at Carole Telfer’s Dec. 19 letter, “U.S. Marines in Somalia.”

I sat through a deployment briefing in a theater filled with reporters and saw many Marines and their dependents interviewed and respond to questions such as: “How do you feel about your father/husband being overseas for Christmas--again?” Their answers were predictable, full of all-too-familiar pain and emotion.

Trust me, my Marines have a clear understanding of the famine, anarchy and human suffering in Somalia, and they understand what they must do to help achieve our humanitarian goal.

We in Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 363 have been proud to accept offers from Marines in other units to deploy with us to Africa. We will together endure the 105-degree weather, sleep on cots for six to nine months, and hopefully avoid life-threatening disease. These are not the actions taken by “self-centered and pampered” men.

Of course, we volunteered to become U.S. Marines. We are committed to a profession that can take us away from our families a year at a time, while putting us in harm’s way. It’s our job. Though not our regular mission, we eagerly accept this new task.

CAPT. DAVID GARCIA, USMC

Lake Forest