Marine Corps Moms: Memorial Day message

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June 05, 2004

Memorial Day message

The Commanding Officer of RCT-7 gave this Memorial Day message to his Marines:

"Americans across the globe pause today to remember and honor our nation's war dead. Back home, in cities, county parks, farming towns, and backyards amidst parades, picnics and speeches our country remembers millions. We gather here today, in a dusty courtyard on an airbase in Iraq, to remember 23.

Many have told me over these last few days that this short talk should reverberate with words linking those we remember today to great causes and purposes. I do not have those kinds of words in me today. I don't need them. The truth has nobility enough.

Our families and friends assemble today at their picnics and parades free of fear and terror. They assemble as the normal commerce of life in the U.S. proceeds apace, their children safe from the terror that stalks this globe. That sense of security and freedom from fear does not, however, make this enemy any less dangerous or any less real. This is a war against terror, fighting an enemy whose strategy is to focus his death and destruction on our families, our neighbors, and our citizens; an enemy whose tactics are designed to instill fear by killing our children in their homes as we stand helplessly by. That horror has moved away from our shores because men like you, and those men we remember today, are willing to endure the sacrifices required to engage this enemy here.

Each man we honor today paid the ultimate sacrifice, and when that moment of sacrifice alighted upon each Marine's personal battlefield, his feet stood fast, he stood to his duty, and he honored the loyalty of his friends and his fellow Marines. They were worthy of their country, of their forefathers, and of their buddies. We can pay them no greater honor than to paint each of them into our memory and to promise, each in our own way and each to our own thoughts, that we will never forget them.

And for as long as any here live, their memorial day will not be the last Monday in May; their memorial is their lives sculpted into the hearts of their friends, a memorial enduring for the generations all of you have left to live, a memorial that comes to life when we speak of them, laugh over their antics, cry over them, talk to our family and friends about them, or sit quietly and feel the pain of their loss to our fellowship.

As for me, I knew few of them personally, but I remember all of their names; I remember the hour and date of their death, I remember how and where they died, I know the names of those they left behind. And for the remainder of my days their memorial will be that remembering: that these young men I counted as my sons have far exceeded the honors of their fathers. "

In Memoriam

LCPL ARIC J. BARR
2ND Bn, 7TH Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Hit, Iraq
On 3 March 2004

PFC RICKY A. MORRIS
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received Husaybah, Iraq
On 17 March 2004

PFC BRANDON C. SMITH
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 March 2004

CPL DAVID M. VICENTE
2ND Bn, 7TH Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Hit, Iraq
On 19 March 2004

PFC DUSTIN M. SEKULA
2ND Bn, 7TH Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Al Anbar Province, Iraq
On 1 April 2004

LCPL CHRISTOPHER B. WASSER
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 8 April 2004

CPL NICHOLAS J. DIERUF
1st LAR Bn
Died as a result of wounds received in Al Bu Jardin, Iraq
On 8 April 2004

LCPL ELIAS TORREZ III
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Sa'dah, Iraq
On 9 April 2004

CPL DANIEL R. AMAYA
3RD Bn, 4th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Fallujah, Iraq
On 11 April 2004

LCPL TORREY L. GRAY
3RD Bn, 4th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Fallujah, Iraq
On 11 April 2004

1STLT OSCAR JIMENEZ
3RD Bn, 4th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Fallujah, Iraq
On 11 April 2004

CPL JASON L. DUNHAM
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 14 April 2004

CAPT RICHARD J. GANNON II
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 April 2004

CPL CHRISTOPHER A. GIBSON
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 April 2004

LCPL MICHAEL J. SMITH JR
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 April

LCPL RUBEN VALDEZ JR
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 April

LCPL GARY F. VANLEUVAN
3rd Bn, 7th Marines
Died as a result of wounds received in Husaybah, Iraq
On 18 April 2004

LCPL BOB W. ROBERTS
C Co, 1st CEB
Died as a result of wounds received in Al Asad, Iraq
On 17 May 2004

CPL RUDY SALAS
1st LAR Bn
Died as a result of wounds received on MSR Tin, Iraq
On 20 May 2004

SSGT JORGE A. MOLINABAUTISTA
1st LAR BnDied as a result of wounds received in Al Anbar Province, Iraq
On 23 May 2004

CPL MATTHEW C. HENDERSON
C Co, 1st CEB
Died as a result of wounds received in Hit, Iraq
On 26 May 2004

LCPL KYLE W. CODNER
C Co, 1st CEB
Died as a result of wounds received in Hit, Iraq
On 26 May 2004

In April, Connie and I attended the funeral of LCpl Gary Van Leuven in Coos Bay, Oregon, the 12th Oregon Marine to fall while serving in Iraq. He died in the battle of Husaybah, trying to move another Marine who had been hit to safety. Connie's son was fighting with Cpl Van Leuven when he fell, and reports that he died a hero and a warrior.

In May, Connie, Janise and I attended the funeral of LCpl Bob Roberts in Portland, Oregon. He also died with valor, fighting for democracy and peace in a land that has known neither. This was the 13th funeral for an Oregon Marine. It does not get easier to attend these funerals.

Neither of us knew these brave young Marines before they died. Now, we will never forget them.

Posted by Deb at June 5, 2004 09:04 AM

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Comments

I am the mother of Captain Richard J Gannon II, the CO of Lima Company that was killed in the Battle at Husaybah on April 17th with three of his young marines. I know very little about what happened that day, only that he was going to the aid of a wounded Marine when he was struck down by the enemy. I would like to hear from others that were present at the incident about what actually happened to my beloved son on that fateful day. If you know of any details please contact me by e-mail, or, if you know any of the marines that would be willing to write to me with more information, please pass this message along to them. I know how much my son loved the Marine Corps and especially the marines that he commanded, he often spoke to me of his concern for thier safety, and how difficult it was for him to sleep at night knowing they were in danger while on patrol. I have little to comfort me now that he has passed except in knowing that he died for something more than than just, DUTY, HONOR, CORPS - He died for LOVE!
Thank you for the beautiful Memorial tribute to our fallen Marines.
Respectfully,
Tess Gannon

Posted by: Tess Gannon at August 25, 2004 01:24 PM

to all the families who has lost a Marine, my deepest sympathies arefor you. i lost a lot of good friends out there so i feel the same as you. Just a few off the top of my head: Lcpl. elias Torrez III U.S.M.C (KIA), Gysgt Elias fontechio U.S.M.C (KIA), Capt. Richard Gannon U.S.M.C (KIA) and Cpl Jason Dunham U.S.M.C (KIA) I am also a member of 3rd Bn. 7th Marines. and i was there for a lot of these deathes. again my heart goes out to you.

Posted by: Cpl. Jerome C. Ward at October 8, 2004 09:56 AM

Although I rolled up to baghdad with 1st tank battalion, I served my first 2 1/2 years with 3/7 wpns co. up to 6 months before leaving for kuwait. 3/7 is where I learned to love the marine corps! I still check on you devil dogs and devil docs from time to time and am deeply saddened when I come across a familiar name of a marine who has perished over there. I will remember you! Semper Fidelis!

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