Sent: September 07, 2006: 1039

Hey Pretty Lady,

It’s close to 1030 pm in Iraq right now, and we JUST got to the compound. We landed nearly 4 hours ago
and only had to go like five miles to our base. I heard some of the leadership talking about roadside
bombs or something like that. They didn’t seem to concerned but planned for it anyway. Well, it worked
lol. Just got all of my stuff unpacked and now I’m helping Dave. He saw that I had a picture of you and I
at our wedding. He remembers that night and said you were beautiful. But that he looked the best out
of everyone because he had the title of Best Man. This guy never fails to make me laugh. He’s a nutcase
lol. After I’m done unpacking, I’m going to crash out. We have a pretty early morning tomorrow. They’re
supposed to brief us on some of the stuff going on around here. Just to make sure we’re aware and able
to stay safe. I’m not too concerned. I got all my boys with me and I know they’ll take care of me. Plus,
nothing has really been going on here, from what other people were saying.

Anyway, I miss you guys. It’s only been about 36 hours but I miss y’all. You and little Penny mean the
world to me. We have super spotty internet here but I’ll try to send an email to you whenever I can. Try
not to stress, babe. I’m always thinking of you and I keep your picture with me wherever I go.

MISS YOU! LOVE YOU!

Danny
Sent: December 17, 2006: 1632

Hey babe,

It’s been a busy couple of months here. I haven’t had the time to get on here and type much. We’re
going out every single night. I’ve been writing some stuff on my notepad when I’m not able to write on
here. Some of the guys in our sister platoon were hit the other day… I didn’t see it happen but I saw
some of their guys coming off the helo. It didn’t look good but it could have been worse. Anyway,
enough of that! Gotta stay focused and make sure that you don’t worry.

I saw that you got my email or at least it said it was delivered. I haven’t received one back from you yet
but I know it will come through. Penny’s birthday is coming up in January and I’m hoping to get a
satellite phone so I can call and hear both of you. I’ll make sure that you two are awake and that I’m not
calling in the middle of the night because of the time difference. I love you pretty lady. Make sure you
give Penny a kiss for me. Call ya soon, hopefully!!!

MISS YOU! LOVE YOU!

Danny
Sent: January 31, 2007: 1512

Hey babe,

I’m sorry I couldn’t call for Penny’s birthday. It’s been really tough here. I’m missing you guys so much.
Everyday seems to get more difficult than the last. Has Penny started walking yet? Did she say her first
words yet? I’m typing this as if I’m going to get a reply immediately. You guys are my motivation to come
home. I hope you know that you two are everything to me. I’ll email you again soon.

Miss you, Love you both

Danny
Sent: February 16, 2007: 0401

Babe,

Two days ago, was our anniversary but something else happened. I can’t even type it. I’ve been in my
rack trying to type this for the last two days…

We were hit by an IED…and… we lost 8 guys. One of them was Dave…

I’mm shaking typing this. I can’t even see the screen through the tears in my eyes.

I’ll email you soon. I just can’t talk right now.

Love you,

Danny
Sent: February 25, 2007: 0454

Hey,

Sorry for the short message. It was just a really tough couple days at that point. Still is. I’ve tried talking
to people. Old guys and young guys. But every one of the old guys seems to compartmentalize
everything. They also drink a lot. They said it helps them sleep. Whatever. I haven’t slept in days. Some
of the things these guys are saying is really awful stuff. It doesn’t fix any of the problems we have when
we lose guys. It only masks it under the guise of mental toughness. They said talking to a doctor is weak.
They used different words but I’m sure you get the picture. I hate it here. I can feel myself becoming
numb. This place is hell and I never want to come here again.

We’re leaving in a couple weeks to come back home. Hopefully when I see you and Penny again all of
this is taken away and life can get back to normal. I need you two. You are still my motivation and my
everything.

Love,

Danny
Sent: June 06, 2007: 1438

Babe….

You’ve been gone for weeks now. When I came home, I knew I had changed. I’m sorry for everything.
I’m sorry I blew up and yelled. I’m sorry I can’t think straight and forget things. I’m sorry I started
drinking to fall asleep. I’m sorry for not being there and missing my child’s first everything. I’m sorry for
everything I’ve done and I don’t think you understand how remorseful I truly am. I’m not angry at you!
I’m angry with who I’ve become. I’m angry with the Marine Corps. I’m angry at everything but you two.

I’m currently staying with LT Thomas. He was having some issues with some of the stuff we went
through in Iraq. We don’t talk much but we know we’re both not right. It helps having someone else
around that understands. Even if we don’t talk to each other. Also, I’ve been trying to get in to talk to
the psych. It’s been about 3 weeks since I let the corpsman know that I needed some help. I haven’t
heard anything since then. I called their office and they never pick up the damn phone. I’m doing
everything I can to make myself, and us better. I want my family. I need my family.

I miss you. I love you…Both

Danny
Sent: July 01, 2007: 19:03

Hey,

Since you don’t answer my calls, I figured I’d send you this email. LT Thomas killed himself today. I
walked in the front door of his house and he usually greets me and then goes to his room, closes the
door, and talks to someone on the phone. I went to his spare room, where I’m staying but I kept the
door open. In case he came out, not to talk, but more of a reassurance that he wasn’t alone. I usually
don’t pay it any mind but I noticed his door was closed, light was on, and he hadn’t been out of his room
in a couple hours. I also hadn’t heard him talk on his phone like he usually does. I knocked on his door.
No response. Knocked a little harder. Nothing. I went to open the door and it was locked. I could feel
something wasn’t right but I didn’t react like it. I eventually got the door open and there he was. He had
a voice recorder in his hand. He wasn’t on the phone every night. He was journaling himself up until this
point.

Any normal person would react. Call the police. Call for help. They would do something. However, I sat
there. Next to him. I understood him and his reasoning. I understood when nobody else cared or wanted
to understand. I didn’t cry or feel remorse. I actually felt jealous of him. I am jealous.

I still haven’t called the police. This is the first time in the last couple years that LT has been at peace. I
actually just made us a drink.

I don’t even know what to think anymore. I’ve seen the worst in humanity and I’m expected to carry on
as if its normal. I saw my best friend and die in front of my eyes. That same IED gave me some kind of
concussion that went completely untreated. I was having nose bleeds for months!!! Not a single person
supported the idea of me going to talk to a psych when this mental thing started??!! Finally, I reach out
and get absolutely nothing. Stonewalled. Not just by my command and the Marine Corps but my own
wife. Since Dave was killed, it seems like everything has been spiraling out of control. I’m helpless…
drunk… and exhausted…

Lost my friends…lost my mind…. lost my wife and child…. That’s why I’m jealous of LT.

I don’t have you or Penny. I don’t have my motivation.

Whenever you get this… just go ahead and call the police.

And tell my daughter how much I loved her.

Danny
Received: January 07, 2022: 1111

Hey Dad,

I turned 16 today! I’m sure you already knew that though. I never knew that you sent these emails to
Mom. She showed me some of them the other day. She didn’t show me all of them but a majority of
them. I wanted to send you an email in the hopes that you might mysteriously write me back. I’m going to
time this email so that I send it at exactly 11:11. Like that will work lol. I have so much to tell you. I
know you’re with me all the time. I can feel you next to me when I need you most.

Just know I love you so much. You are my motivation.

LOOOOOOOVE,

Penny

Sent from iPhone