Letter from a son of Sonora

Tommy and Beverly Arnwine live in Sonora, TX., a small town about 80 miles from San Angelo. They received this letter from their son, Shannon, who is a Capt. in the Marines. Shannon wrote the letter at 3:00 pm Sunday and sent it to his parents, who received it at 5:15 am Sunday (the following day with time difference). Shane Folmar is mentioned in the letter. He was a local Sonora 2002 graduate, who lost his life in active fire. The funeral was held in Sonora two weeks ago and over 700 people attended to honor a fallen hero.

Shannon's Dad read the following e-mail letter at their church Sunday. There wasn't a dry eye in the church.

From: "Arnwine Capt Barry S"
To: "Mom and Dad Arnwine (E-mail)"
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 5:10 AM
Subject: God in this place

I am doing well, it was good to hear your voices yesterday, thank God for technology. Y'all had said that y'all might have a letter of mine printed in the paper, or read at church, I would like at least the people in Sonora to understand what is really going on over here, not what they here on the news.

My first taste of the middle east was when I landed at Kuwaiti International, I thought what a dirty, hot, disgusting place, the wind was blowing extremely hot, and when I arrived on station here a Camp Fallujah, it was even worse. How could God be in this place. Then I met the people of this land, they stunk, they were uneducated, we have to constantly watch them because some are thieves, I thought again how could God be in this place. If you watch the news especially CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS they all show you the death and destruction that is happening over, Soldiers and Marines dying daily, one would think that we were losing this war. Just like the Vietnam War, the public thinks we are losing, but just like the Vietnam War, we in truth are winning. We have won every conflict, every skirmish, every fire fight but the media wants the great American people to believe this is a losing cause. It isn't...

Today, I was able to go to church, it was held at the base theater. With a laptop computer, a one eye (projector), two speakers and a microphone the chaplain played some praise music. I sat there and watched, watched the Marines, Soldiers and Sailors walk in and greet each other, all different ranks from the a Navy Captain all the way down to a Marine Private, and all perfect strangers but all brothers and sisters. As I listened to the music, I began to notice, an awesome presences. God was in this place. I have been in a church where I felt the presence of God but not like this, I fought back the tears, can't have the young warriors see a Marine Captain cry. Overtaken by His Presence, I began thinking about all the info y'all see on the news and what the newspapers tell you about this place.

I was wrong, God is in this place. The beginning of life, so close to land of milk and honey, and what is it, a war zone. Rockets, mortars, small arms fire, IEDs, how could this be, is this where it all began? This is why we are here, these people are good people they are our brothers and sisters. They were so brutalized by Saddam Hussein regime, that when I walk by them they cower from me. Yes, some are thieves but they try to steal out of necessity, these people need us and want us here, they have told me this themselves. Because we are here, they have jobs again, they get paid, they put food on their tables, their schools are open and children are learning, their hospitals are open and working, their infrastructure is up and running. Do you see this on the news? We are helping our neighbors, these young Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen are doing wonders over here, I am in complete awe of them. This cause that we are fighting and dying for is a worthy cause, what we are doing over is the right thing to do. You have paid with your own flesh and blood, Shane Folmar died a hero, on his feet, facing the enemy. He gave his life so that this battle would be fought here, not at home.

This is the real thing; I have Captain Arnwine's confirmation of this email to his folks in Sonora, Texas, and his permission -- nay, encouragement! -- to post it to Free Republic. No "urban legends" here, just one of our guys over there protecting our right to vote and wanting everyone to know the truth!

Be kind, FReepers, and pray for him and those with him.

Marine Sgt. Shane Folmar, also of Sonora, mentioned in Capt. Arnwine's letter, died a hero in Iraq September 24, 2004. I've posted a small tribute here.

How is it that our brave soldiers, living in brutal conditions can see what so many sitting in their easy chairs in America fail to see? As I read your post and got to the part about how Capt. Arnwine sensed a strong presence of God in their make shift church, I wept. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so intensely reading his words. I am grateful God is holding them up even though our media and some Americans blinded with hate for Pres.Bush have refused to see what we are up against and have let them down. When God says he will put scales over their eyes so that they cannot see the truth He wasn't joking!!

Like so many other Americans,I have prayed for strength and encouragement for our soldiers and leaders that are all doing the heavy lifting without the praise they deserve. It is obvious in letters I have read that our soldiers know their hard work and sacrifice is making a difference. It seems any discouragement is lifted when they get a smile,hug,or word of thanks from Iraqis.

When I get my dart gun with suction cups this Christmas that I have requested I will do my part by aiming at the naysayer's mouths on tv and getting a bullseye. I believe it will be good mental therapy and help me release toxic chemicals that build up in me when I hear them running down Pres.Bush and saying they support the troops in the same sentence they declare the war in Iraq unnecessary and a disasterous failure.

Whenever George Bush is around a group of soldiers it is so obvious he cares deeply for them and I think they sense he feels their purpose is noble and to be honored. I was telling my husband last night after we watched the documentary 'Confronting Iraq' that it is beyond my comprehension that 50 million people have been set free from tyrants. What an awesome gift of hope our soldiers with the help of the Lord have given so many! All in 3 yrs!

The fact our president and decision makers pray before making a move gives me so much peace of mind. John Kerry as president would take away the peace I have now because it would be flawed men making policy absent God's guidance. I have had fear during this election cycle, then I would pray and feel God was in control and that means greater things than I can even dream are possible.

This soldier has lifted my spirits and I wish it could be the other way around. For those of us that understand the road ahead must be met head on and with strong purpose, I believe the Lord has given us an almost painful sense of pride in and desire to encourage and support our warriors that are also tirelessly serving thousands that need their help. Captain Arnwine, you are my hero along with all those serving along side you and those who have given their life serving the United States. I loved this post, the letter home, and also the tribute to Marine Sgt. Shane Folmar. . . your willingness to share this blessed me greatly. P.S. I love Texas and Texans!

This young man, Shane Folmar was unique. When I served in the Army (Ranger Class 13-87, thank you) I met several young men just like him. He came from a hard background, a broken home and for a while drifted from living with his father to living with friends. Through it all, he stayed in school, worked hard in the oil field on weekends and the summer, and you could not help but like the kid if you met him.

Young men like him find a home in the military and I have no doubt that had he lived, he would have served our country for a couple of decades at least.

News of his death was recieved here in Sonora (pop. 2300) on a Friday about an hour before the homecoming football game. The next day was the annual high school rodeo and Shane's old paint horse was saddled up and draped in an American flag and lead riderless around the arena by one of his best friends. It was a touching and heartwrenching tribute.

In Sonora we have the Homecoming Tree. An old oak tree in front of the courthuse where a yellow ribbon is put up for every soldier serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. When a soldier comes home, he removes his ribbon. If one of these soldiers is killed, his ribbon is replaced with a white one.

This tradition was started in 1990 during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I, myself have had a ribbon up there. Shane's ribbon was the first one to ever be replaced with a white one. There are 25 yellow ribbons up on that tree right now. I pray to God that another white ribbon never graces that tree.

Indeed, many of my own worries -- as an American, a veteran, and a parent -- have been calmed since 9/11. These kids are doing just fine!

At a full-house small-town Texas funeral in January, I eulogized a long-time LEO (and Korean war vet) who'd mentored me years ago. In rounding up other speakers, we faced the fact that the entire second generation below him was unavailable -- one was overseas in the military, one was unable to get leave from the Air Force on such short notice, and a third had just started boot camp!

The man's legacy was a eulogy that little needed any words from me!

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