It is Saturday, January 7 at 5:53 a.m. when the email message is received here at the Reporter from Army National Guard Spc. Geoffrey Jenkins, a Mattapan man stationed in Iraq. The message is brief. He writes that the last couple of days have been what he termed, "Brutal." There are numerous roadside bombs that have claimed the lives of innocent civilians he writes. His patrol, he says, is on high alert and told to use whatever force is necessary, including throwing rocks. Here is his story. - Judy Vance

Hello readers of the Reporter. I trust everyone had a happy holiday!

I'm still currently an Iraqi resident, until further notice. The elections here went well as the casualties were very low, considering the insurgents in the area. We went on patrol all day on Election Day providing security for the voters.

The insurgents are dangerous out here. My definition of an insurgent is they are characterless cowards whose main goal is to strike fear into innocent people: Men, women and children. The insurgents call themselves freedom fighters who want to rid the country from American evil yet their motivation and half-witted ideals thrive on hate and ignorance. These individuals or persons of this cowardly sect are responsible for planting explosive devices or roadside bombs as they are called on roads and in fields targeted to kill American Soldiers. The true fact is that these tactics are actually killing their own people along with armed forces deployed here in Iraq fighting for our freedom and our way of life. These invisible cowards don't have the guts or manhood to engage us in the field of combat with honor.

With the American Armed Forces stationed here and the other countries who are serving and our relentless quest to defeat our enemy, we will be victorious on the war against terrorism.

As I write this story I believe 100 percent in what I'm doing over here in Iraq is right. That is why I extended my enlistment in the Massachusetts Army National Guard for another six years. I was sworn in on December 14, 2005, two days following my son Robert's birthday.

I would like to thank the readers for a huge response in sending me e-mails and your prayers. Please continue to forward them along at Geoffrey.lance.jenkins@us.army.mil (all lowercase lettering). My address is: Spc. Geoffrey L. Jenkins

HHC 1-108 Mortars, CSC, Scania Iraq, APO AE 09372.

In closing I would like to thank my family- the Jenkins, Mumford, Pauling, Smoot, and James for their continued support and love. This story is dedicated to the William Carter Post #16-VFW, Legionaries, Women's Auxiliary and all the veterans who served in previous wars.

A special thanks to Clairborn (Sonny) Dean for letting me use the Carter Post for my going-away party. Also, I want to thank Mt. Washington Bank in Dorchester and South Boston for sending Christmas Cards from customers and to the American Red Cross in Boston for the Holiday Care Package.

And lastly a big shout out to the Schofield family both Darryl and Scott and my home-boy Kevin Davis.

Until next month….

-Spc. Geoffrey Jenkins

Spc. Jenkins dispatches home are published each month, exclusively in the Mattapan and Dorchester Reporters. Special thanks to the Reporter's Judy Vance for coordinating Spc. Jenkins's correspondence.