At night the sky is as clear as I have ever seen it. We are the northern most allied force in the country and it is going to stay that way.

Being out here makes me appreciate all the little things.

This is strange country. We have Bedouins living out beyond our perimeter. Groups/small herds of camels wander around the landscape.

We are going into Iraq, either as a combat force or as a peacekeeping force. We have been briefed on all of our missions and are totally prepared.

This is going to be very different from the war 11 years ago.

The situation makes me a little concerned. But then think about what I am and why I did this and that concern quickly fades away. We are gunfighters on the frontier. It is an exhilarating feeling knowing that the United States of America has empowered us to do this job that we are going to do. I am not concerned about death. If it happens, it happens. I’ll die with honor surrounded by my brothers. That is something that very few people get to feel. This is the most awesome thing I have ever been a part of. We are sitting on the boundaries of the most significant historical event that could happen now. Don’t worry. I belong here. I am very happy and incredibly proud to be a part of this.

-- Lt. Thomas A. O’Neil, USMC

From the Kuwaiti border