Subject: MARINE SAVED

Tampons in Iraq:  A life saved

Don't worry, it's a good story - and worth reading - it's even humorous
in parts. It's from the mother of a Marine in Iraq. She writes:

"My son told me how wonderful the care packages we had sent them were
and wanted me to tell everyone thank you. He said that one guy we'll
call Marine X, got a girl care package and everyone was giving him a
hard time. My son said, 'Marine X got some really nice smelling lotion
and everyone really likes it, so every time he goes to sleep they steal
it from him.' I told my son I was really sorry about the mistake, and if
he wanted I would send Marine X another package. He told me not to worry
about Marine X because every time I send something to him, Marine X
thinks it's for him too. He said when my husband and I sent the last
care package, Marine X came over  to his cot picked up the box, started
fishing through it, and said, 'What'd we get this time?' "

"My son said they had the most fun with Marine X's package. He said he
wasn't sure who we were sending the pack to, but the panties were size
20, and he said one of the guys got on top of the Humvee and jumped off
with the panties over his head and yelled, 'Look at me, I'm an Airborne
Ranger!!!' One of the guys attached the panties to an antenna and it
blew in the wind like a windsock. He said it entertained them for quite
awhile. Then of course, they had the tampons."

"When he brought this up my imagination just went running, but he
continued: My son said they had to go on a mission and Marine X wanted
the Chapstick and lotion for the trip. He grabbed a bunch of the items
from his care package and got in the Humvee. As luck would have it he
grabbed the tampons too, and my son said everyone was teasing him about,
'not forgetting his feminine hygiene products.' "

"He said things went well for a while, then the convoy was ambushed and
a Marine was shot. He said the wound was pretty clean, but it was deep.
He said they were administering first aid but couldn't get the bleeding
to slow down, and someone said, 'Hey use Marine X's tampons.' My son
said they put the tampon in the wound. At this point my son profoundly
told me, 'Mom did you know that tampons expand?' "

"Well, yeah!"

"They successfully slowed the bleeding until the guy got better medical
attention. When they went to check on him later the surgeon told them,
'You guys saved his life. If you hadn't stopped that bleeding he would
have bled to death.' My son said, 'Mom, the tampons sent by the Marine
Moms by mistake saved a Marine's life.' "

"At this point I asked him, 'Well what did you do with the rest of the
tampons?' He said, 'Oh, we divided them up and we all have them in our
flak jackets, and I kept two for our first aid kit.' "

"I am absolutely amazed by the ingenuity of our Marines, and can't
believe that something that started out as a mistake, then turned into a
joke, ended up saving someone's life. My sister said she doesn't believe
in mistakes. She believes God had a plan all along. She believes that
female care package was sent to Marine X to save our Marine."

"Either way, our efforts have boosted the morale of many Marines,
provided much needed items for our troops, AND saved the life of a
Marine! God bless every one of you for your efforts and hard work, and
God bless our Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, and everyone."

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND KEEP IT SAFE! A PROUD Marine Parent

ANOTHER DAY TO SERVE THE CORPS.                         
Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis!