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Freedom is Not Free
Veteran’s Day Remembrance
CPL Kristopher (Daniel) Greer, USMC (Reserves) is a true American Hero.
Below are a few excerpts from a letter that Daniel wrote to his cousin Matt Greer (Pastor of Missionary Grove Baptist Church in Camden TN). The letter is honest, heartwarming and shows how a small gesture on the part of someone back home can make a difference in the life of a soldier, even in the middle of combat. We are grateful to Daniel’s family for allowing us to share this with you.
Matt,
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Greer
So I told you I was going to read the Bible you gave me! It’s tucked away in my body armor at this moment and goes anywhere me and my rifle go. I had a book to read before I dove into the Bible and its called “Psalm 91….God’s Shield of Protection”. It came with a bandana with Psalm 91 printed on it. I wear it when I go out on patrol.
It made me understand that I can’t survive this war without God. So, I decided to try my hardest to stop being the old me, to stop cursing and being hard headed, and to just be a better person. I’m not sure the exact day I started praying before I left out on patrol on June 18th, but it was then that I realized whole heartedly that I REALLY can’t do this without God. (I would like to share it with your church when I get home.)
So, I am at a Patrol Base in a river valley surrounded by desert on both sides. The valley is about 3-5 miles wide and full of canals and farmland, with the desert being about 100 ft higher in elevation and the ridge running along much of the length of our Area of Operations. On June 18th we left the wire to head out to the Eastern Desert on patrol. (I said my prayer like I had been doing before every patrol.) There is a road traveled by many locals and a small village of sheep/goat/camel herders. The Taliban have been murdering village elders and picked this day to kill off this particular elder.
I was walking Point…leading the patrol through the village when a station wagon and a motorcycle matching a “BOLO” (Be on the lookout) we had out came up on our patrol. (Our patrol was about 12 Marines.) We tried to stop the car and bike, but both drivers floored the gas. As they passed the front of us (where I was) they opened fire on me and a few others with AK47s. They shot enough to kill us all. I, of course, took it pretty personal and we opened up on the car and the motorcycle.
After it was all over, I found out there was a small child (maybe 2 years old) on the motorcycle I had just shot at 14 times, severely wounding the man (before they all managed to flee out of sight). I don’t know about the kid. We killed one man in the car and severely wounded another. Intelligence later reported that they were headed to ambush an elder and we just happened to be there. One man in the car was a top Taliban commander. The moral of the story is that without God protecting me, I’d look like a slow duck on opening day of duck season
That was the closest I have ever been to dying and no one was even scratched. I know that’s Divine intervention and will believe that ‘til I die. I’m gonna try my hardest to be the man I should be. I know I owe it to God. Without Him, I would be hurt bad right now.
Thank you for trying to get me to the Lord, but not pressuring me. With you trying I never forgot what I needed to do. I just took everything for granted until God woke me up. Thank you for praying for me. Thanks for loving me for me when I wasn’t the best behaving friend and family. I really appreciate it.
Take care and I will see you in November! Hopefully we can shoot some ducks. I will be home just in time!
I love Ya’ll!…Daniel
Freedom Is Not Free
Daniel, Stacy & Ethan Greer
CPL Greer left this world on August 8th of this year from injuries sustained in an IED attack two days earlier while deployed to Afghanistan. He leaves behind his wife Stacy and 2 year old son, Ethan, as well as many other family members who will rejoice with him when they meet again farther down the road.
“Dan was a great Marine and a good friend. He always had time to share a joke or some advice that made you feel encouraged, even in the worst times of deployment. He was very aware of the danger and tried to make sure all the guys stayed safe. He will always be with me.” LCPL Nathan A Mock, USMC
”Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
