I got all the letters from all those people from church and I figured the best way to respond and let people know how much they mean to me and my guys is to write you. A little background on myself for the people who will one day meet me and the old friends that will be catching up with me. I grew up in south Alabama going to Bay Community. I was there when the church was built. I can remember hurting myself playing basketball at the old church and Melanie Taylor running out to momma’s car with a bag of frozen popsicles for the pain haha!! Anyways, I ended up moving to Silverhill, going to Central Christian. I got really big into sports, and had multiple opportunities to go play college soccer or baseball. But instead I started hanging out with the wrong crowd doing all the wrong things at all the wrong times and places. I look back now and remember all the things I used to do and I actually thank God for keeping me out of trouble for all those years. I feel like God wanted me to learn from my mistakes on my own.
I moved around working at about every different job in Baldwin and Mobile Counties (I may have even built some of your houses!). I ended up going to the University of South Alabama and joined a Fraternity that shall remain nameless. Sadly, I became an alcoholic at the age 18. My first semester came to an end and I got my grades and realized that I couldn’t afford to have the title of a college student just so I could stay intoxicated so I got out and went back to construction work. Everyone always asks me “Tyler, why did you join the Marine Corps?” I never know what to say. To this day the only reason I can think of is I needed a change of pace. Something to straighten me out, which it has. I also got tired of watching things happen in society and all the people complaining about it and sitting back and watching it happen. I didn’t want to be one of the those people. I for one don’t think you should complain about war until you’ve seen it first hand. Ya’ll have no idea how much the letters ya’ll sent meant to me and my guys. Some guys got teary eyed! To the former soldiers and marines that wrote me, especially the Marine who served in 1967. I salute you sir. I also was in awe. I saw some letters from familiar names that I thought forgot about me, which may be true but im telling myself you didn’t. a lot of you im sure didn’t know that the letters were going to someone who grew up in Bay community but it meant the world to me. And anyone who gets a chance please give mrs Judy Wallace a big ole hug for me!! I just ask that ya’ll please keep us in your prayers because war is no fun. Anything can happen out here. I have been to 4 different countries so far and have to yet to got to one that wasn’t protesting. Its very discouraging. And I also need motivation cause im very upset that I wont be home for hunting season. Everyone knows that us country boys need to have our fun. Once again I thank you all for what your’e doing. Please feel free to email me at tyler.rachal@bataan.usmc.mil. I would absolutely love to hear from some old friends. Love ya’ll!!

LCpl Rachal, Tyler O. ”GOOSE”"
VMM-263 (REIN)
MAINTENANCE CONTROL
22ND MEU, USS BATAAN