Forgive me for not writing sooner, but I was seriously wounded during the last days of fighting. I am now recuperating in a hospital in Baghdad after two operations. I hope to be released and to see you as soon as I am well, but that will take a few more weeks, the doctor informs me. I have so many things to tell you, all of them very much surprising to me and entirely different from what I had expected.

Before we went into battle, our officers told us that if we were captured, we would be summarily executed. So, when I was wounded I expected nothing less. I was bleeding profusely and in great pain. Much to my amazement two American paramedics came to help. They treated me with great skill, efficiency, and yes, even kindness. I was taken from the battlefield on a stretcher, given pain killers and made as comfortable as possible. Without the Americans immediate attention I am convinced I would have died.

My treatment has been consistently kind and very competent. Me and the other wounded prisoners are given good food, and sleep in clean and comfortable beds. We are treated no differently than American troops and that is absolutely amazing.

These Americans are not what I expected. We were told the invaders had come to rape and pillage our homes. None of this happened. The damage their bombs did was horrible. But the troops themselves are well disciplined and they fight with courage, determination and great resolve. They are fair, orderly and well trained and equipped. I only wish our training had been half as good.

Yet there is something puzzling about the Americans that goes beyond technology and training. Once the fight is over, they quickly become your friends. They seem to be a genuinely nice people, forthright in their feelings, quick to forgive, sincere, and lacking in duplicity. They are respectful of our civilization and religious beliefs.

Many Iraqis are impatient with the military occupation and are clamoring for their withdrawal. But if they leave now, do we have more chaos? I think it will take a little time to restore order and to put in place a workable election procedure. But I am convinced that soon we will move toward an interim government with free elections to follow. I pray to Allah that this will happen.

Pat, an American paramedic, has befriended me and we visit almost every day. We have had many long conversations about our two countries and find that we share many things in common. I am enclosing a photograph of my new friend, the paramedic.

I hope to see you soon,

Your loving son,

Ali

Hi Mom, Dad and Sis:

Wow! A lot sure has happened here in Iraq since I last wrote. As you know, Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in just three weeks. I don't think I'll ever forget the scene in down town Baghdad when they toppled the statute of that dictator. Do you know I was there and had first hand look? Talk about jubilation and a time for celebrating! It really struck me, then, what warm people the Iraqis are.

I really believe they were happy to see us and did, in fact, view us as liberators who had come to free their country from the clutches of a ruthless tyrant. But their way of celebrating-by shooting their guns in the air-was disconcerting to us marines at first. Some of us thought we were caught in another firefight, but luckily we didn't shoot back!

Well, it's been a few weeks since that momentous day and we are hard at work getting food and water to the homeless, restoring water and electricity, and organizing clean up crews. The looting has ended, but who can blame them? Years of oppression has paid its toll on the national psyche. No wonder many people vented their rage in this form. Soon reconstruction will begin. Meetings have been held with local officials and an interim civilian government is in the making. Free elections will follow.

As a paramedic I continue to be very busy. I spend most of my days at a military hospital for injured Iraqis, both civilian and military. Medical help is in very short supply. Our own nurses and doctors and Iraqi medical personnel also, are vastly over worked and us paramedics have been called to fill this gap. We tend the wounded, change dressings, administer antibiotics and do whatever else needs to be done. We are Johnny on the spot, to be sure!

I think we are doing a good job, if I do say so myself, as ambassadors of good will. I know for a fact that many Iraqi prisoners who were wounded fully expected to be shot dead by the "barbaric" Americans. You sure could see the wheels turning in their heads when they were treated kindly and with consideration, as well as receiving top notch medical care.

I've made friends with a young Iraqi who seems to be a decent fellow. Ali was conscripted into the Army shortly after graduating from secondary school. We've exchanged backgrounds and talked about our common interests. Even though he was hurt pretty bad, he still has a sense of humor and is looking forward to the reconstruction of a new Iraq. I think the country will be safe again when a freely elected government is restored. Let's hope and pray that it will.

I've enclosed a picture of yours truly along with my friend Ali.

Your Loving Daughter

Patricia