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May 07, 2004
General Jim Mattis - a third star and a well deserved promotion
The Department of Defense announced yesterday that President Bush has nominated Major General Jim Mattis for a third star and appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as the Commanding General for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA. Mattis is currently serving as the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division in Iraq and is currently overseeing 14,000 Marines and sailors who are conducting peacekeeping and stability operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. Last November, the 1 MEF infantry, under General Mattis' command was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. It was the first time a Marine unit had received the honor since 1968. And it was well earned - it took our Marines 21 days from crossing the Kuwait border to the fall of Saddam's statue in Baghdad. For the next few months, the Marines lived and worked in the An Najaf province, bringing rest to a region that had never before known freedom.
Capt. Jeff Landis, spokesman for the Quantico-based command observed "I think Gen. Mattis will do really well here because he knows what the war fighter needs."
Congratulations, Lt. Gen Mattis and thank you for your leadership.
Posted by Deb at May 7, 2004 12:49 PM
Comments
Jim, I am so proud of you and am so grateful that God has heard my prayers and the prayers of so many that you are safe. Miss you and hope to hear from you soon. Andy
Posted by: Andy Ward Stewart at July 20, 2004 02:18 PM
Marines:
are they all animals like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they all blood hungry barabarians like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they all violent beasts like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they all racist bigots like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they all insane like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they all soul-less beasts like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they are little, pathetic people like Lt. Gen. James Mattis? Are they?
Posted by: Manny at February 4, 2005 12:16 AM
Manny:
No they are not animals or Racist Bigots they are just doing their job and a very good one. If you have not experienced war then you shouldn't talk about it or think you are an expert. I proud of Jim Mattis and all Marines.
Posted by: Roger Gress at February 4, 2005 07:33 AM
Gen Mattis is a Marines Marine. He is in the category of Patton, Rommel, Montgomery, & Slim. His leadership has saved the lives of many - both Iraqi and U.S., don't let his "troop speak" dissuade.
Posted by: Jim at February 4, 2005 09:39 AM
SEMPER FIDELIS GENERAL
Posted by: shea at February 4, 2005 10:22 AM
SEMPER FIDELIS GENERAL
Posted by: shea at February 4, 2005 10:23 AM
Manny:
You really need to learn how not to overreact to one man's statements. Sure, they were insensitive in today's ultra-pc climate, but they were by no means out of line or inappropriate. Lt. Gen. Mattis is a man to be praised for his candor, thanked for his leadership qualities, and honored for his dedication and valor in the face of combat. Roger had it right: unless you've served in combat, unless you've experienced what it's like to take up arms against an enemy that would see you dead simply for believing in a different way of life, you should keep your left-wing, bleeding heart, fuzzy bunny opinions to yourself. Of course, a coward like you will probably drape yourself in the First Amendment and claim your inalienable human right to speak your opinion, but don't lambast an organization, or even the man himself for being good at a job you'd never, in your life, even consider doing for a millisecond. Bloody hungry barbarians... violent beasts... You overdramatic wanker!
Posted by: s.k. at February 4, 2005 02:23 PM
Manny,
What a waste of skin you are. Lt.Gen. Mattis is the best example of a fine Marine. Maybe someone can give me a way to write him personaly. You see little one, as a former Marine and now a tax paying private citizen, I do not care what the General's personal views are. I do not pay him for his moral or ethical views on any matter. Thoes descisions are for the voters and thoes we elect to decide. I pay him for one thing (regardless of where he likes it or not) and that is to lead Marines into battle to kill. That is how battles are won you whinning little twit. Give me a break from your liberal dribble, take it to the U.N. or some other place, no one want's to here your trash here!
Posted by: R.E.B. at February 4, 2005 07:46 PM
Jim was my college friend in Ellensburg, WA. He was gung-ho and I admired him tremendously. I only wish I had stayed in touch with him. The Corps needs more Jim Mattis's. It was easy to see he was going to be a great leader; he had all the qualities. I wish him the best and would love to shake his hand again one day. Jim, if you read this, keep up the fight and don't let the scoundrels or enemies of freedom defeat you.
Posted by: David Stiles at February 5, 2005 06:53 AM
Lt. Gen Jim Mattis:
On behalf of myself and"Marines of Long Ago"
You are truely an Honor to Yourself, Your Country
your famil and every US Marine that ever served
in the Corp.Gen. you have the utmost respect of all of us and those that appreciate your service to our country, you are standing Tall alongside Chesty Puller and other distinguished Marines.
As for the malcontents of the world they deserve no quarter and will fall along side the rest of the despots. Cpl. Joe Cullen (Marines of Long Ago
Posted by: Red Cullen at February 7, 2005 06:19 PM
semper fi general
Posted by: Tony Z at February 8, 2005 03:02 PM
Manny, the trouble with deadpan sarcasm is that nobody knows you're joking -- of course, sometimes that a great advantage, too. Great series of increasingly hysterical questions, underscoring the overbuilt molehill that is the sheltered left's (Birken)stock reaction to a Marine telling it like it is.
The general also said that it was even more important to deal with the conditions that lead young men to join with terrorist groups; and Gen Pace of the joint staff (seen on C-SPAN a lot) says that LtGen Mattis's conduct and leadership in Afgh and Iraq showed proper concern for human life.
I'd follow General Mattis to hell and back.
Semper Fi!
Posted by: Smurph at February 10, 2005 07:58 AM
Is there a way to email General Mattis. I would like to personally congratulate him on his distinguished career and to send him my well wishes. Does anyone have his email address?
Posted by: David Stiles at February 10, 2005 12:23 PM
I was a college friend and also am proud to say was a young 2nd Lt with Jim Mattis. Semper Fi Jim.
Tom
Posted by: Tom at February 10, 2005 05:20 PM
Mr Stiles, I doubt that the General would want his email address posted on a website; but if you google Marine Corps Combat Development Command, you might be able to get an address you could use to send him an old-fashioned letter.
Posted by: Smurph at February 11, 2005 06:38 AM
Friday I had lunch with 16 Marines and 2 Sailors of which I was one of the Sailors. Among the Marines was Tom Mattis Jim Mattis's older Brother and his younger Brother was present also, but not a Marine. We Veterans try and get together once a month and this time was very special with Jims Brothers there. Just listing to them talk about their Brother was just great and like they said you never hear all of the good things that Jim has done for his Marines and one of the Marines that was there had served under Jim had nothing but praise for him. The one thing that I come away with after these get togethers is that the Marines stick together like glue. We are hoping that one day Jim will come to one our get togethers and after all we hold them in his home town.
Posted by: roger gress at February 12, 2005 05:32 PM
It's sad that some people are so delirious that they can be offended by what the Lt. General said. As some have mentioned here already, that is exactly what we pay our soldiers to do. That is exactly what the purpose of a military is. That is exactly the type of commander our military needs in every branch. Particularly when it comes to fighting the current enemy that has no respect for the human rights of women and who have no problem torturing whoever they feel like.
Also, I feel confident that the Lt. General will have the safety of his men take priority over political correctness as I believe it should be.
To hell with those that are offended by his frank comments. Let our men and women do the job we sent them to do and get as many back home safe as possible. Commanders like Lt. General James Mattis will do everything they can to do just that.
God bless you, Lt. General Mattis. Those terrorists want to die in a way so that they can meet Alah and I say help them as soon as they're ready to meet our forces face to face.
Posted by: Robert at February 15, 2005 09:42 AM
Lt. General Mattis rocks! He's the most gung-ho officer since General Patton. When and if I join up, I hope my CO is like this awesome Marine.
Posted by: Ethan Criss at May 20, 2005 11:51 AM
Manny sounds like some liberal crybaby. As a Marine who just recently got out; My Regimental Commmander {now BGen Dunford} and my Division Commander {Gen Mattis} were two of the most respectful men I could have ever met. They both respected human life and the laws of war. No other country even TRYS to do that. So when you have sand in your you-know-what, go cry to the New York Times, or some other liberal outlet, like CNN.
Posted by: Aaron at May 28, 2005 08:19 PM