in vain.

US Forces launched their assault to retake Fallujah on Nov. 7, 2004.This passage has been borrowed from the journal of Marine CPL. Ian Stewart.

Journal Entry Nov. 6, 2004

The battalion commander came to talk to us. He told us it will be a tough fight. Some of these buildings are rigged to blow. Suicide bombers will be out and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) will be on the street.

I am not so much scared as I am VERY AFRAID of the unknown. […] If I don’t get to write again, I would say I died too early. I haven’t done enough in my life. I haven’t gotten to experience enough. Though I hope I haven’t gone in vain.

Stewart, 21, was ambushed and killed in Fallujah on Dec. 12.