Deployment Cycle 2026 - Letters from the Front

[Cpl Shackelford]

Members & Visitors to our forum

 

It has been a time honored tradition that during the deployment cycle the troops of the 15th MEU Realism Unit write letters to loved ones detailing missions, activities and thoughts as if they were away from home for the 6-7 months of a typical MEU deployment. This helps with the immersion of the deployment cycle and has, at times, been very humorous for members and at times very realistic as they sometimes reflect actual content of letters written from real service members when they were deployed into harms way. 

 

These letters have, over the last few deployments been posted in the more public area of our forum to allow the casual visitor the chance to get a glimpse of what goes on in a realism unit of our size during the deployment cycle. This thread will be the "Post Office" for our deployment. 

 

If you wish to become part of the unit after reading some of these posts or watching some of our videos, don't hesitate to hit the join button, We are always recruiting. (Unit Requirements)

Edited 2 hours ago by Cpl Shackelford

[Cpl Shackelford]

Dear Becka,
 
Hey baby! Hope this letter finds you well. I can't tell you where I am, but I can tell you it's hot, wet, and everything here either buzzes, bites, or wants to become part of my sleeping bag. It's a jungle, which narrows it down to about six places according to the lieutenant.
One of the old salts told me to keep an eye out for "Bush Bunnies." I've been looking for three weeks and I gotta tell you, I don't think they got rabbits in this country. I've keep looking for them around the trees, near the swamp, and even asked one of the locals by making rabbit ears with my hands. He just laughed and walked away.
 
How's your friend Jody doing? You mentioned her a lot in your letters. My buddy Abbott says "Jody" is definitely a dude's name. He started laughing so hard he fell out of his rack and said, "Brother, you better hope she's ugly." Honestly, I don't know what his problem is. You said Jody helped mowed the lawn, and took you dancing because you "didn't want to go alone." Sounds like a good friend to me. I'm glad you have someone to hang with while I'm away.
 
Oh yeah, please send more socks. I don't know what black magic is happening, but I came out here with twelve pairs and somehow only possess three. Also, tell your mom I appreciate the brownies she sent. Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm doing great. I haven't seen a rabbit yet, but if I find one of these famous Bush Bunnies everyone keeps warning me about, I'll be sure to write and let you know.
 
Give my regards to your parents, the dog, and your good friend Jody. And tell her thanks again for all the help around the house. It's nice to know somebody is looking after things while I'm gone.
 
Love,
 
Cpl Shackelford