Letter from Eric Colton to President George H. W. Bush

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Description

20-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Eric Colton of Oregon wrote to President George H.W. Bush towards the end of the Operation Desert Shield in February, 1991, and expressed his support for President Bush’s policies. After Iraq occupied Kuwait, the President deployed the U.S. military, including Colton’s unit, to Saudi Arabia. Less than two weeks later, Bush ordered a ground operation to free Kuwait.

Transcript

12 Feb

Mr. President,

Howdy!

My name is Eric Colton, I am a 20 year old Marine serving in Saudi Arabia. I grew up on a cattle operation in the mountains of Oregon. I am stationed out of 29 Palms, California.

The reason I am writing to you is to tell you that me and my comrades feel you are doing an outstanding job concerning the Gulf War.

My Unit is positioned near the Kuwaiti border ready to accomplish any mission we are assigned to do. Morale is high and everybody believes in what we are fighting for.

When we first arrived in this country we felt it could possibly be another Vietnam. During the six months of Operation Desert Shield we knew the United States will not approach Iraq lightly. We respect all of your decisions.

We will not let the American people down. As a United States Marine, Mr. President I promise you and the rest of the country we will win this one.

Semper Fidelis,
Eric Colton
Lcpl USMC

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of the White House Office of Records Management (George H.W. Bush Administration).

National Archives Identifier: 594367

Full Citation: Letter from Eric Colton to President George H. W. Bush; 2/12/1991; Alpha Files, January 20, 1989–January 20, 1993; Records of the White House Office of Records Management (George H.W. Bush Administration),; George Bush Library, College Station, TX. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/letter-from-eric-colton-to-president-george-h-w-bush/, April 6, 2026]

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