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April 15, 2004

"This is a story about heroes . . ."

This Washington Post article related the heroic actions of a small group of Marines who battled "50 to 100" insurgents in order to rescue 17 brother Marines.

Marine officials said the three-hour battle that erupted at dusk Tuesday on the streets of Fallujah, and was recounted Wednesday by several of the key officers involved, exemplified the bravery and resourcefulness that Marines are known for, even when surprised and surrounded by a host of enemy fighters on alien urban turf. By the end of the tumultuous encounter, the charred personnel carrier had been towed to safety by a tank and most of its 17 crew members -- several of them wounded -- had been rescued from a house where they had taken shelter

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Senior Marine officials here, who plan to seek commendations for valor for four men involved the rescue mission, said the most important aspect of the incident was the courage that the Marines displayed in battling their way through heavy fire to reach the disabled carrier and rescue its crew.

"This is a story about heroes. It shows the tenacity of the Marines and their fierce loyalty to each other," said Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. "They were absolutely unwilling to leave their brother Marines behind."

My son chose the Marine Corps over all other branches of armed forces for a number of reasons. Knowing that his brother Marines would never abandon him was one of those reasons. These heroes of 1/5 have proved once again that there is no better friend, no worse enemy than a United States Marine. Semper Fidelis.

Posted by Deb at April 15, 2004 03:08 PM