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May 30, 2004
Seventy-two Reasons
Memorial Day is a day rich with meaning for Marines, Sailors, soldiers and airmen. They understand, perhaps better than anyone else, the sacrifices that have kept our country free. This tribute to our present day heroes was written by Sgt. Major Wayne R. Bell, 1st Marine Division to honor the memories of our Marines who have given their lives to uphold freedom during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Seventy-two. There are 72 reasons why this Memorial Day is a little more sacred this year, a little more solemn.Seventy-two is the number of Marines, Sailors and soldiers assigned to the 1st Marine Division who were killed in action during combat operations in Iraq. Seventy-two patriots upheld our Corps Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Seventy-two to whom we owe our pride, our dignity and our gratitude.
For most, Memorial Day will be a day off from work. Backyard barbecues, time with family and the kick-off to summer mark the day for most Americans. But most Americans aren't familiar with the sacrifices of our Marines, Sailors and soldiers.
Most don't know about Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the 22-year-old Marine who dove on top of a grenade to save the lives of his Marines. But Marines do. Marines know that our Corps' legacy is built on such men, who selflessly gave their lives for their fellow Marines.
Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, such as Cpl. Dunham.
Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowische was killed in Ramadi, Iraq trying to search out improvised explosive devices. He died trying to keep other Marines safe. We have no greater heroes than Marines such as Wiscowische.
Memorial Day is Wiscowische's day.
Lance Cpl. Elias L. Torrez III had one hand on the steering wheel and another on his weapon as he fired away at the enemy shooting at his Marines. His foot propped open the door to his humvee. He emptied two magazines on the enemy before he was killed.
Remember Torrez on Memorial Day.
Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya led his Marines from the front when he was killed in fighting in Fallujah. He always told his Marines he would be there, leading them. That's how he died, fulfilling his promise to his Marines.
Amaya's day is Memorial Day.
There are 72 reasons why this day, this year is more bittersweet than the rest. I've stood at the foot of memorials in Iraq. A single inverted rifle with identification tags and helmet honors fallen Marines. But Memorial Day is a day that we honor the sacrifices of all those Marines together with those who fought and died in Iraq last year and in Kuwait in 1991. We honor those Marines who were killed in Beirut in 1983. We honor those killed in VietNam and Korea. We remember the sacrifice of the Marines who forged our legacy in the swamps of Guadalcanal and on the beaches of Iwo Jima. Their sacrifice made us the Corps we are today. The sacrifices of the 72 killed in action in Iraq during this campaign is forging that legacy of selfless brotherhood, of one Marine laying down his life for another.
I am truly honored to have served with and continue to serve with some of the finest human beings on the face of the earth - U.S. Marines. I am humbled to stand in the shadows of these warriors who gave their lives for freedom. Their contributions enable this great nation of ours to enjoy the freedom that no other nation can.
It is because of the sacrifices of Marines like those who've fought and died for our country and Corps that I continue to serve. I am proud to serve my country and serve with my fellow Marines.
Although we do not have some of the basic comforts that we are normally used to when at home, we remain modest and determined to carry out all orders to their fullest, led by our noncommissioned officers, supervised by our staff NCOs and fully supported by the officers who issue those orders.
We continue to risk our lives daily in order to complete this mission to enable a country and its people to enjoy the freedom that we have enjoyed all of our lives.
Throughout the year, the sacrifices of our Marines are easily forgotten by most. As a national holiday, Memorial Day serves as a reminder to all to honor those men and women who gave their life in order to secure yours. It is the perfect time to thank those who answered their call to duty.
From my cover to yours, I salute those Marines, Sailors and soldiers on Memorial Day.
Join me: "No better friend; No worse enemy."
This Memorial Day, I'm visiting my son and his wife at the 29 Palms Marine Base. And Sgt. Major Bell is absolutely right. We, as a nation, owe our pride, our dignity and our gratitude to these brave troops that make it possible for us to enjoy a carefree holiday weekend. Thank you, Sgt. Major Bell for your service to our country. And, thank you for reminding us to remember, not just on Memorial Day but on every day.
Posted by Deb at 06:46 PM | Comments (4)
Message from the CG to those who wait at home
Dear Ladies;
As much as these days and weeks may drag by at times for some, out here they seem to fly by. Hard to believe that it's nearly June and the first of our units (1/5 and 3/4 who deployed in December to Okinawa) will begin rotating out of Iraq a mere 45 days from now.
It's getting hotter here with the temperature nearly 100, so the nights and early mornings are the best part of the day. That said, the real heat will hit soon enough and we are ensuring that the air conditioning for quarters, medical spaces, mess halls, etc. are fully functional to allow for a cooling atmosphere when the lads are not out on the prowl.
We have elements of two battalions that still need a/c and I expect they will be complete within days, surely prior to the 1st of June - much better situation than last year.
The spirits of the Sailors,Soldiers, and Marines remain very high, unperturbed by the heat, enemy action, news, media pessimism, or disturbing misconduct of a few leaderless jail guards at Al Ghraib prison. We are defined by our men, one act at a time - with compassion for the innocent and discrimination when using their weapons, a discrimination unkown to the morally bankrupt enemy we fight. You ladies know these selfless, high spirited troops better than anyone, so you know it's not false modesty when I admit I have the easiest job in the Division, thanks to the attention to duty, good humor, military efficiency and chivalry that these gallant young fellows display every day.
The drubbing that the enemy took over a month ago, from 7th Marines in the west near the Syrian border, to Falluja at the hands of 1st Marines, to Ramadi (the provincial capital) where 2/4 and the Soldiers of the 1st Brigade broke the enemy's back, continues to pay off. No large outbreaks of fighting have occurred now in over a month; the enemy lacked the will to come back at us. We continue to live in a very dangerous neighborhood however; the enemy remains an elusive foe who tries to use random explosive devices to cause us casualties. We also believe that the enemy, who lacks a political vision and can offer no positive future for the people fighting here, must come back out fighting again, or else watch as Iraq recovers from the years of Saddam and slowly but surely finds its path to freedom and prosperity.
We will be ready should the enemy make that mistake and rest assured, Ladies, that all our antennae are out and we are watching. We will not be taken by surprise.
So where along that path are we over here, the path to put Iraq back on its own feet, us on our way out of here? Iraq is what it is; two steps forward, one step back. Yet slowly but surely, we are making progress on the one track that is absolutely essential - the Iraqi Security Forces (Police, Civil Defense, Border Patrol, etc) are coming on line. With a lot of nurturing and coaching by your guys, the Iraqi Security men are stepping up to the plate and becoming more assertive. As they assume more responsibility, we will step back - we will always provide training and, if they get into trouble, we will come in, guns a-blazing. But they know that if they want a country, they must assume the security responsibility.
Now, for the first time, I can report with some confidence that we are (finally) on a track that will replace Americans and Azerbaijanis (yes, 7th Marines has a fine Azerbaijani Company working with them, wonderful troops) with the Iraqi Security Forces. Not soon enough for you and I, but at least we have a way ahead for replacing us in many of the precarious locations we have had to operate in until now.
The transition to Iraqi sovereignity will occur on 1 July. While the effect of that date will be miniscule in some respects to us, it is nonetheless a Red Letter Day along the road to Iraq's future as a pluralistic state. Yes, there will still remain some murderous criminals but, inexorably, the enemy will find himself marginalized and on the run, as maturing Iraqi police and pinpoint raids by the Coalition Forces leave him no place to hide.
I will be visiting the States in mid-June. I will see our wounded at Bethesda and then return to California where I will brief the commanders and conduct pre-deployment briefs for units inbound to Iraq to replace the seven-month tour battalions during the June to September time frame. I will also come to 29 Palms and Camp Pendleton to address those ladies who want an update about the situation in Iraq. I hope to see as many of you as possible at those events.
All is as good as it can be here. We stick together and hear only great things about the team you have created at home, as you set your own high standard of caring about one another, of seeing one another through this time of hope and anguish. I cannot thank you enough; the words themselves are never sufficient, but thank you, every one of you, for the love and support that you send our way. Nothing reminds us more of all that is good in this world than the memory and the reality of you, who compose your own lives and maintain a degree of stability in our lives that defies explanation.
I wish you all good things as we go forward, together, to do what our Nation needs its Marines to do in this fight.
Sincerely,
Jim Mattis
Posted by Deb at 06:38 PM | Comments (1)
Operation 31 Flavors
If you were stationed at a distant outpost in the middle of a remote area of the Al Anbar province and the commanding general asked you if there was anything you needed, what would you ask for?
Captain Valerie Hodgson asked for ice cream.
3rd MAW Major General James F Amos visited the MWSS-374 detachment in early spring. He explained, "I was talking to the Marines and asking them how things were going, so I could get a read on if they were happy or if there was anything they needed. After talking with them, to be honest, I didn't get a single Marine who said anything negative."
The General persisted. Finally, Capt. Hodgson looked at him and said, "Sir, send us some ice cream." And he did.
A few weeks later, 800 containers of ice cream landed in the middle of the desert. Chief Warant Officer 3 Samuel Pamoleras expedited the shipment. "We used resources that we have in Kuwait to make this happen." He added, "We were able to get it palletized, put on dry ice, get it shipped to Al Asad, and put it into cold storage within a matter of a few days." Marines on the other end - Mudyasis, Korean Village, and Al Quim - were surprised and delighted during evening chow. PFC Dustin Hawkins from Houston Commented, "After a hard day's work, any food is good, but this is awesome." Cpl Michael Rice from Indianapolis added, "It shows that our leaders have actually seen a difference in what we're doing out here, so they're rewarding us." Captain Hodgson agreed. "Being in a remote area, I think it's easy for people to forget about us, but clearly they did not because they worked so hard to get this ice cream out to us. Having ice cream out here is a reward for the hard work that the Marines and Sailors put in everyday."
Lt.Col. David Leppelmeier, CO for the MWSS-374 said, "They know I care about them and want to get out to see them more since they have a little tougher scenario than everyone else because of location. They get a kick out of seeing us and they really appreciate the general's gesture with the ice cream."
The general appreciated the troops too. "It really warms my heart to do something like this for our Marines and Sailors. It's only a small gesture but just doing it brings a smile to my face."
Posted by Deb at 06:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 26, 2004
"I was there"
LtCol Stan Coerr, USMC Reserve, asks an excellent question:
When is someone going to ask the guys that were there?
Here's a snippet:
The analogy is simple. For years, you have watched the same large, violent man come home every night, and you have listened to his yelling and the crying and the screams of children and the noise of breaking glass, and you have always known that he was beating his wife and his children. Everyone on the block has known it. You ask, cajole, threaten and beg him to stop, on behalf of the rest of the neighborhood. Nothing works. After listening to it for 13 years, you finally gather up the biggest, meanest guys you can find, you go over to his house, and you kick the door down. You punch him in the face and drag him away. The house is a mess, the family poor and abused, but now there is hope. You did the right thing.I can speak with authority on the opinions of both British and American infantry in that place and at that time. Let me make this clear: at no time did anyone say or imply to any of us that we were invading Iraq to rid the country of weapons of mass destruction, nor were we there to avenge 9/11. We knew we were there for one reason: to rid the world of a tyrant, and to give Iraq back to Iraqis.
None of us had even heard those arguments for going to war until we returned, and we still don't understand the confusion. To us, it was simple. The world needed to be rid of a man who committed mass murder of an entire people, and our country was the only one that could project that much power that far and with that kind of precision. We don't make policy decisions: we carry them out. And none of us had the slightest doubt about how right and good our actions were.
The war was the right thing to do then, and in hindsight it was still the right thing to do. We can't overthrow every murderous tyrant in the world, but when we can, we should. Take it from someone who was there, and who stood to lose everything. We must, and will, stay the course. We owe it to the Iraqis, and to the world.
Posted by Deb at 02:07 AM
Message from Mamudiya
Jarhead Dad relayed the following message - sent from the Battalion Commander for the 2/2 Marines:
Hello Warlord families!We miss you! I’d like to take a few minutes to pass on what the battalion has been up to during the past thirty days. To say that we have been busy would be the understatement of the decade and I must tell you that your Marines and Sailors have been amazing not only with their flexibility and ability to adapt to changing missions and locations, but they have been amazing in terms of their courage and tenacity.
As of the 19th of April we were still in our original location of Mahmudiya (about 30 miles South of Bagdhad) and we were making significant progress in developing and improving the relationships and security situation in the four major urban centers of Mahmudiya Qada (county). Easy Company had been working in Mahmudiya city proper, Fox had been focusing its operations in Latifiyah, Golf in Yusafiyah, Weapons in Rasheed, CAAT across the AO in a Quick Response Force role and our H&S Company…as always focuses everywhere supporting every conceivable facet of our operations. Simultaneously, the 81mm mortar platoon had been making significant strides in training and conducting operations with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Battalion that had been started under our predecessors in the US Army’s 82d Airborne Division.
We had seen an increase in both security and “winning the hearts and minds” through the diligent and compassionate work of our Marines and Sailors, but because we also had pushed our forces into areas that had until now, been unaddressed, we also saw a significant increase in combat operations. The events in Fallujah, Najaf and Karbala that occurred right before and just after Easter resulted in a significant spike in activity as many radicals and terrorists began to take action wherever they could to try to stir up hate within the populace. The Warlords responded and at one point the comment of our enemies was that “The Marines are everywhere…we can’t do anything.” At that point the battalion had been conducting intense 24/7 operations since about 4 April to provide a secure environment for the Shiite Arbaeen celebration (40 days following any Muslim holiday-the traditional mourning period-Muslims celebrate an “Arbaeen”).
The terrorists changed tactics to try to stop traffic along the major highways and the battalion responded by refocusing its efforts along the main artery running through our area and shut the enemy activity down there completely. Just as we were getting ready to re-energize our efforts throughout the Qada, we received orders to re-embark the entire battalion, move to a completely different base and then begin operations in an entirely new area. We moved our force from Mahmudiya to “Camp Fallujah” west of Baghdad and immediately began split operations. Golf Company assisted 2d Bn, 1st Marines to the Northwest of Fallujah at a place called Saclawejah, Easy assisted 1/5 along the southern portion of Fallujah and the remainder of the Battalion began operations to the Northeast of Fallujah at a place called Al Kharma (also commonly known as “Bad Kharma”). At any rate, each part of the battalion executed combat operations that included some violent engagements with the enemy and the recovery of significant amounts of terrorist weapons, ammunition and bomb making material.
After only about five days, H&S performed miracles again and the battalion then moved in force to the southern portion of Fallujah and slammed the back door on the terrorists operating in the city. Almost immediately upon our arrival, the battalion became decisively engaged and built on the situation Easy Company had been developing over the past five days. Easy and Fox, supported by Tanks, Armored Vehicles, 81mm mortars and our superb snipers began to wreak havoc upon the terrorists within Fallujah.
After only 48 hours of fighting, the battalion had succeeded in killing between 100 and 200 of the terrorists, leveled a portion of southern Fallujah and in the words of our Regimental Commander “broke the back” of the resistance in Fallujah. Within hours, the terrorists were at the negotiating table proposing a solution that developed in to what is now known as the Fallujah Brigade. Throughout those intense days, the battalion performed magnificently and earned a very key place in the history of the Regiment’s history.
As the Fallujah Brigade entered the city, we reluctantly departed our positions and entered what would be our fourth operating area in less than a month. We are now conducting operations east of Fallujah in an area that had, until now, been largely ignored. Our presence alone brought the rats scurrying out to engage. The result of our operations has been the virtual elimination of indirect fire attacks against key coalition facilities, the development of millions of dollars of civil affairs projects, the disruption of terrorist operations in what was once on of the most volatile areas in Iraq, and, through the superb efforts of Golf Company and our Counter Intelligence Teams, the discovery of the largest series of weapons caches in Iraq to date!
Throughout the past month, the Marine’s living conditions have varied from a firm base in Mahmudiya where they had access to a gym, internet, showers and two hot meals a day, to fighting holes and 100 degree heat, to bombed out buildings in Fallujah to abandoned buildings and open fields. Operations have been at once defensive and offensive and have reflected what has become known as the “three block war” where your Marines and Sailors are conducting full up combat on one block, peacekeeping on the next and humanitarian operations on the other. Access to the internet has been spotty at best, but we are now in a situation where we can rotate platoons back to our current location for showers, hot chow, and a brief period of rest and refit before they re-attack the missions we execute every day.
Snail mail has been regular for the most part given our hobo status, and your cards, letters and packages have been the most welcome thing you can imagine. Mail and the occasional hot shower are the highlights of our existence here and your support through the mail is literally the rock upon which we draw our strength. Thanks!
Throughout one of the busiest months in the storied history of the battalion, the Warlords acquitted themselves in the finest tradition of their predecessors from Tarawa and you should all be incredibly proud of them. As a result of those intense operations, we have had many wounded, and tragically lost two of our own to the cowards that do not have the fortitude to fight us openly. I ask that each of you remember their families in the prayers that you say for all of us every night and keep the faith that we are talking care of each other and that we are doing what Marines do … we are winning!
I must also tell you that one of the reasons we are winning, is because of the incredible support we receive every day from you all at home. The Key Volunteers in particular have done an amazing job of juggling the worries associated with this kind of a deployment while simultaneously providing that unique kind of help across the battalion that makes Marine and Navy families so very special. There are no words that can possibly describe the combat multiplier that you are, but take my word for the fact that your actions have saved lives, because your Warlords have been able to focus on the mission here. God Bless you.
As you can see, the battalion has done more in a month’s time than many do in years and done so under intense combat conditions. You should all be immensely proud of your Marines and Sailors. I am and I can honestly tell you that the battalion’s success has been the result of a magnificent team effort from the Staff, the Companies, our Regiment and the Division here and at Camp LeJeune. We were set up for success and we are winning because of it.
In closing, I must tell you that I have the privilege of walking in the shadow of greatness every day. The Marines and Sailors of Task Force 2/2 have exceeded every expectation and excelled in every mission. In a short e-mail to my wife after a ceremony I recently conducted I said the following:
“As I award these young men their medals as they stand in front of me in their combat gear, sweaty, dirty and so very young I am struck by the purity of their service to our nation and to each other. They accept the recognition but more often than not are embarrassed by it, and always concerned more for the welfare of those wounded along with them. They personify those things that so many people speak of but can never really know; the feeling of camaraderie, the commitment to the point of death to the men around them, and the unspoken hardness of their patriotism. God they are a blessing to me… and I feel so unworthy to stand in front of them to offer them such a small token. I feel inadequate and humbled to be in their shadow, regardless of their age and I walk away feeling so damned honored to be with them.”I am honored to know each of you to have been given the rare privilege of leading your husbands under difficult conditions. It is an honor that I will never forget and a debt that I can never repay. Please know that we miss you and love you all.
God Bless each of you, God Bless America, and Semper Fi from your Marines and Sailors in Iraq.
Humbly,
Giles Kyser
LtCol USMC
“Warlord Six”
LtCol Kyser's observation, "In closing, I must tell you that I have the privilege of walking in the shadow of greatness every day." is an amazing observation. We owe our freedom to that shadow of greatness. This is Military Appreciation month. Have you thanked a Marine - or a soldier, sailor, or air man/woman - today?
Posted by Deb at 01:37 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 25, 2004
Spirit of America with the 1/5
Boys at a newly renovated school in Kharma show off their new book bags filled with school supplies. The 3rd Civil Affairs Group team, attached to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines passed out the bags on May 22nd. Spirit of America, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, sponsored the battalion with more than 1,500 book bags, school and medical supplies and toys.
Posted by Deb at 02:18 PM
Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body
Yesterday, Gold's Gym in Salem, Oregon threw a block party and the Marines showed up. Rich Scott, District Manager for Gold's Gym explained, "This emphasizes the value of training as well as the importance of community awareness."
And the Marines put a few good men and women through a bit of training.
 | Gunny Dukes, from the Salem Marine Corps Recruiting Office, and Rich Scott, district manager for Gold's Gym, stand tall in the shadow of a mighty Devil Dog. |
| Malik Mitchell and Sgt. McKee (Albany Recruiting Office) compete on the obstacle course. |  |
 | Malik Mitchell and Terrance Gibson accept the pull-up challenge from the Marines. The Marine on the far left is Pvt. Bergerson who is home on leave after graduating from boot camp. He will return to Camp Pendleton next month for Marine Combat Training. His reason for joining the Corps? "I looked at all the branches and decided if I'm going to do it, I'll do it right" |
| Terrance Gibson will attempt 20 pull-ups - enough to qualify for a t-shirt. |  |
Over 100 people showed up for hamburgers, pizza, and ice cream . . . and a chance to talk with the Few and the Proud.
Today, the Army and the Navy will share the spotlight at Gold's Gym in Albany. Tomorrow, you'll find them at the new Keizer location.
Thanks, Gold's Gym, Costco, Cold Stone, and the community for showing up to support our troops.
Posted by Deb at 01:13 PM
A note from a 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment Marine wife
The following request is made on behalf of the 3/7 Marines and their families:
When you find yourself playing a new role in your life, the family member of a marine or soldier, things change. You watch the headlines daily, pray like never before, and try to make a connection to your son or daughter overseas.Such as it was for the moms, wives and girlfriends of the marines of 3/7. One by one, these women became connected and have created an email relationship that offers support and information of their loved ones. On this Memorial Day, at 11:00CST, these families will be lighting a candle to show their love and support of their marines and to honor and pay tribute to their fallen comrades.
What makes this special is that the Marines of 3/7 will be observing a moment of silence at the same time, 8:00 p.m. in Iraq, when they reflect upon their families back home and their friends who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The families of these Marines ask that you please join us in supporting not only the 3/7, but all of our service men and women, and light a candle on Memorial Day. Your show of support is appreciated by our military and their families far more than you could know.
Pacific - 9am
Mountain - 10am
Central - 11am
Eastern - 12pm
Posted by Deb at 12:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 24, 2004
I'll Fly Away
Martha, a Marine Corps mom from Tennessee represented Marine Corps parents everywhere at the funeral last week for LCpl Jeremiah Savage who was killed May 12 in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. Here is Martha's narrative of this final goodbye to another fallen hero.
Yesterday was one of those "scattered shower" days. It fit our emotions, because by the end of the day 4 Marine Mothers and a Marine Dad would experience the dark clouds, the rain and the warm sunshine. Donna, CJ, Linda, Mike and I drove 2 hours and 100 years from Nashville to a tiny town in east Tennessee to pay our respects to LCpl Jeremiah Savage. This beloved Marine lost his life while handing out school supplies and candy to the Iraqi children just 12 days ago.Livingston, Tennessee is Amaricana at its best. A perfect town square with an old courthouse in the center. American flags all around. On many signs around town were words honoring LCpl Jeremiah Savage. Livingston is the kind of place where we could just ask anyone where the funeral was, and get directions.
We were too late for the official honor escort where all of the official cars in the county drove through town, with lights and sirens going. Everyone in town came out and stood with their hands on their hearts or saluted. This was their boy. I got to see that on the 10:00 news.
The church sits on the top of a hill surrounded by tall, full trees. The small church was full of stained glass, old pews and love. We had arrived early for the service, so we had time to watch the slide show of Jeremiah's life. Baby pictures, Halloween, sports....just an American boy growing up with his brother and sisters in a home where his sweet mother loved them all. I found Jeremiah's mother and gave her the stack of notes from all of you. She was very appreciative and thanked me over and over. We hugged twice- the kind of hug that is shared by Marine mothers, the kind that really doesn't need words. I told her we would keep in touch.
As usual at these kinds of services, there was a diverse group of folks. The fire and rescue squad was there, the sherriff's department. There were several American Indians there and I found them to possess a particular air of dignity. Overall, in the tiny church there was a "Glorious lack of sophistication" right up to the moment the United States Marines entered the building.
During the service, we sang "I'll Fly Away" because it was Jeremiah's favorite hymn. We also sang the National Anthem and The Marine Corp Hymn...my first time to hear all the words since boot camp graduation. Most of the Marine parents couldn't make it all the way through the last verse. The minister spoke, Jeremiah's High School coach, and an outstanding young Marine Lt. He was perfect. At the end of the service, an old man played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and we all followed the family and the Marines out to the front lawn of the church. The rain had stopped, and the late afternoon sun made everything glisten. The family and the rest of us stood in front of the church and Marines stretched down both sides of the hill. Seven of them executed a perfect 21 gun salute. As we silently listened to Taps, the old Indian woman looked up and pointed to a huge, single bird that was flying back and forth over the crowd. She smiled and was clearly saying a prayer. It is a moment that will never leave me.
As the service was over, we all headed straight for the Marines, and I am happy to tell you that we got fabulous hugs from each and every one. And of course I told each and every one to call his mama. Many of the towns people were in line to thank them for their service to our country.
LCpl Jeremiah Savage, son of the South, American Hero will be buried in Arlington Cemetery on Thursday, May 27th, 2004. He will take his rightful place among America's finest. But in my heart, I know that for the rest of my life, when I sing, "I'll Fly Away," I will remember Jeremiah Savage and the huge, magnificent bird who flew over us, and flew away on a special afternoon in Tennessee.
It was an honor to have been there.
With love and respect,
Martha
Martha, thank you for representing the rest of us. Connie and I recently attended the Coos Bay funeral for LCpl Gary van Leuven who was killed in Husaybah on April 17. He was a 3/7 Marine, as is Connie's son Bill. We took notes of condolence from all over the United States to give to LCpl van Leuven's mother, and we hope to visit with her soon.
On Wednesday, we will attend the funeral of LCpl Bob Roberts. Again, we will take notes of condolence from all who wish to send them. And, we hope this will be the last funeral we will attend for these fallen heroes.
Posted by Deb at 09:32 AM | Comments (2)
Troops are doing their best
This note was written by a 19-year old Marine currently deployed with the 3/7 Marines in Iraq. His wife, pregnant and waiting for him back home, is fiercely proud of his words and wants the world to hear them.
I am from Kelso, and a 2002 grad. I am a U.S. Marine over here in Iraq right now, and I am reading about all the things being said about the prisoners being mistreated and people trying to blame President Bush and everyone else higher.You all make me sick. You forget these people are trying to kill us everyday. The good people over here can't even wave at us or thank us any more, because they kill them also.
We have lost lives here trying to make it a better place. When we get someone who tried to kill us or set up a bomb to take a lot of us out, would you like us to give them a pat on the back, invite them to our town or maybe your house? Then you could cook them a great meal after they try to kill your family and friends.
If you still think we should treat them like a king, you should come over here and show us how it's done. After all, you have all the experience, right?
All I am trying to say is stand behind us. We are doing what we can to come home safe and help this country.
D. F., Iraq
Posted by Deb at 09:31 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 23, 2004
More news from the front
Here's another update from Col. Tucker who commands the RCT-7 in Iraq.
Dated 22 May 2004The enemy has returned to the tactics of the weak….primarily coming after us with IEDs. And not with very much success. The Marines are very competent at finding the things now and, more importantly, local Iraqis, Iraqi Police, and Iraqi militia are telling us where they are or destroying them on their own. That is a significant step towards our ultimate goal. Much of our effort has turned to training Iraqi Security Forces (ISF); both on joint patrols and in training centers we have built over the last months. Result is a quantum improvement in ISF confidence and capabilities and the development of trust and camaraderie between ISF and the Marines conducting the training.. This training combines with our efforts to improve the quality of the average Iraqi life…hard to shoot at someone who is building you a school. The RCT has put almost $5M against schools, clinics, water projects, sewage projects, and ISF infrastructure. We are starting to see the fruits of our efforts This is a mission requiring patient persistence and it is working. Please keep that in the back of your mind when the nay-sayers start screaming.
Have some more pictures today. Good feedback on the last set, but some very nice complaining that it was all 3/7 and why can't my _______ (son, husband…fill in the blank) unit get his picture in the newsletter blah, blah, blah….Ok..well, I listened to the first part before turning off. Ergo, more pictures. None of 3/7 though…so all of you 3/7 wives and Moms can skip to the bottom.
 | The top of Haditha Dam, looking east over the Euphrates. Probably the prettiest (and coolest) location in our AO. 2/7, 3/4 , E 2/11 and Small Craft Company have all lived and operated here. Currently occupied by 3/4 and Small Craft Company. |
| Final moments of relaxation before patrol. Marines from 3/4 about 20 minutes before departing friendly lines. Top of Haditha Dam. |  |
 | RCT-7 Headquarters, Al Asad Air Base. |
| Life in Iraq, Scene I: When you come into a village and 3 minutes later see a teenage boy hauling ass to the sheep pen with a knife, you know you are going to be there for awhile. CWO3 Eby, RCT Gunner, enjoying lamb off the grill with cucumbers, tomatoes, and flat bread. Iraqi in cammies behind him is a Lt. in the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. |  |
 | Life in Iraq, Scene II: Trailer camp at Al Asad. HQCO and elements of 3/4, 1st LAR and Force Recon Co live here. Affectionately nicknamed "the tins" "the box" . All have beds and a locker. Comes complete with trailer showers and heads. |
Read today that the New York Times has decided we've lost the war. Amazing to me how so much intelligence can contain so little intellect. Our mission here is to provide a foundation of security---through our actions and our training of ISF---so that the rule of law and a functioning civil administration can take root. That mission is being executed with success across the 1st Marine Division AO. We see that success in the emerging professionalism and competence of the ISF, in the willingness of the Iraqi people to begin to provide for their own security, and in the daily improvements to Iraqi quality of life and economy. Not sure what war the NYT is writing about, but its not the one I'm in.Speaking of the media: for those of you, who have heard or read of the "wedding" incident, remember this: Iraqis get married on Mondays and Thursdays. They do not get married on Wednesday mornings. They don't get married at 3 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. They don't get married in the middle of a wadi in the middle of a bleak desert 6 miles from the Syrian border at 3 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. We do not target civilians. We do kill terrorists and terrorist leadership. And we make very damned certain they are terrorists before we kill them.
RCT-7 remembers the sacrifices of LCpl B. W. Roberts, Company C, 1st CEB and Cpl R. Salas, 1st LAR, killed in the line of duty vicinity Al Asad, Iraq. Please remember their families and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
Share your courage.
C.A. Tucker
Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps
CO, RCT-7.
Thank you, Col Tucker for sharing your courage with us. We will attend LCpl Robert's funeral on Wednesday and will print out and take any notes of condolence that are left in comments or e-mailed to us.
Posted by Deb at 04:51 PM | Comments (230) | TrackBack
2/2 Marines Update
USN news reporter PO Sean Galloway reports that morale among the Marines is good despite conflict. LtCol Giles Kyser, CO of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, commented:
"I really wish each and every one of you had the opportunity to watch what these young men do here every single day. To walk in the shadow of greatness. That may sound corny, but that's what it is. Even when these Marines are wounded, their first question to me is 'Hey sir, how's my buddy?' And then they tell me, 'Hey, this isn't going to slow me down, sir, I'll be back in the fight.' That's the kind of young men they are. It's absolutely amazing."
These pictures of the 2/2 Marines were sent along by Jarhead Dad:
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Posted by Deb at 11:24 AM
May 21, 2004
First class travel
Think back to your last cross-country or international flight. Now, compare your experience with this group of Devil Dogs.
They are the proud Rhinos of Marine Wing Support Squadron-374 en route to the sandbox. Nineteen hours in the air. No smiling flight attendants. No reclining chairs. No in-flight movie. Some of them might bring a CD player with headphones or a portable DVD player - they'll watch as long as the batteries hold out. Others play cards or talk about home and family - everything they're leaving behind for the next seven months.
I'm flying to California to spend Memorial Day weekend visiting my son and his wife at Twentynine Palms. Coach seating will seem like an absolute luxury in comparison.
Posted by Deb at 01:44 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
Tribute to our Troops
Jarhead Dad sent this link to an excellent slideshow of our deployed troops. Click and wait for it to load. If you're on a dial-up, you'll have time to get coffee, take the dog out, and change laundry loads.
It's worth the wait.
Posted by Deb at 01:38 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 20, 2004
Update from Iraq
I attend troop support rallies whenever possible. Usually, I'm standing on one side of the street with my poster, my flag, and my knowledge that our troops are an awesome fighting force. On the other side are anti-war protesters who occasionally jaywalk to explain earnestly that they really do support the troops and the best way to do that is to bring them home because they are against the war. Ho hum. The next time, I'm printing copies of this letter to hand out. USMC Major Ben Connable says it much better than I can. (Via Instapundit.)
This is my third deployment with the 1st Marine Division to the Middle East.This is the third time I've heard the quavering cries of the talking heads predicting failure and calling for withdrawal.
This is the third time I find myself shaking my head in disbelief.
Setbacks and tragedy are part and parcel of war and must be accepted on the battlefield. We can and will achieve our goals in Iraq.
Waiting for war in the Saudi Arabian desert as a young corporal in 1991, I recall reading news clippings portending massive tank battles, fiery death from Saddam Hussein's "flame trenches" and bitter defeat at the hands of the fourth-largest army in the world. My platoon was told to expect 75% casualties. Being Marines and, therefore, naturally cocky, we still felt pretty good about our abilities.
The panicky predictions failed to come true. The flame trenches sputtered. Nobody from my platoon died. Strength, ingenuity and willpower won the day. Crushing the fourth-largest army in the world in four days seemed to crush the doubts back home.
Twelve years passed, during which time America was faced with frustrating actions in Somalia and the Balkans. Doubt had begun to creep back into public debate.
In the spring of last year, I was a Marine captain, back with the division for Operation Iraqi Freedom. As I waited for war in the desert, just 100 miles to the north from our stepping-off point in 1991, I was again subjected to the panicky analyses of talking heads. There weren't enough troops to do the job, the oil fields would be destroyed, we couldn't fight in urban terrain, our offensive would grind to a halt, and we should expect more than 10,000 casualties.
Remembering my experience in Desert Storm, I took these assessments with a grain of salt. As a staff officer in the division command post, I was able to follow the larger battle as we moved forward. I knew that our tempo was keeping the enemy on his heels and that our plan would lead us to victory.
But war is never clean and simple. Mourning our losses quietly, the Marines drove to Baghdad, then to Tikrit, liberating the Iraqi people while losing fewer men than were lost in Desert Storm.
In May of last year, I was sitting with some fellow officers back in Diwaniyah, Iraq, the offensive successful and the country liberated from Saddam. I received a copy of a March 30 U.S. newspaper on Iraq in an old package that had finally made its way to the front. The stories: horror in Nasariyah, faltering supply lines and demonstrations in Cairo. The mood of the paper was impenetrably gloomy, and predictions of disaster abounded. The offensive was stalled; everyone was running out of supplies; we would be forced to withdraw.
The Arab world was about to ignite into a fireball of rage, and the Middle East was on the verge of collapse. If I had read those stories on March 30, I would have had a tough time either restraining my laughter or, conversely, falling into a funk. I was concerned about the bizarre kaleidoscope image of Iraq presented to the American people by writers viewing the world through a soda straw.
Returning to Iraq this past February, I knew that the Marines had a tremendous opportunity to follow through on our promises to the Iraqi people.
Believing in the mission, many Marines volunteered to return. I again found myself in the division headquarters.
Click Continue Reading for the rest of the story.
Just weeks ago, I read that the supply lines were cut, ammunition and food were dwindling, the "Sunni Triangle" was exploding, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was leading a widespread Shiite revolt, and the country was nearing civil war.As I write this, the supply lines are open, there's plenty of ammunition and food, the Sunni Triangle is back to status quo, and Sadr is marginalized in Najaf. Once again, dire predictions of failure and disaster have been dismissed by American willpower and military professionalism.
War is inherently ugly and dramatic. I don't blame reporters for focusing on the burning vehicles, the mutilated bodies or the personal tragedies. The editors have little choice but to print the photos from the Abu Ghraib prison and the tales of the insurgency in Fallujah. These things sell news and remind us of the sober reality of our commitment to the Iraqi people. The actions of our armed forces are rightfully subject to scrutiny.
I am not ignorant of the political issues, either. But as a professional, I have the luxury of putting politics aside and focusing on the task at hand. Protecting people from terrorists and criminals while building schools and lasting friendships is a good mission, no matter what brush it's tarred with.
Nothing any talking head will say can deter me or my fellow Marines from caring about the people of Iraq, or take away from the sacrifices of our comrades. Fear in the face of adversity is human nature, and many people who take the counsel of their fears speak today. We are not deaf to their cries; neither do we take heed. All we ask is that Americans stand by us by supporting not just the troops, but also the mission.
We'll take care of the rest.
We know that. It's one reason we can sleep soundly here, because you are standing watch there. Thank you, Major Connable, and please tell your troops that you all have our support. Unconditional support.
Posted by Deb at 10:16 AM | Comments (3)
Desert Mail Call
Mail means motivation to our troops. Letters from home are saved and read over and over again. Here, 1/6 Marines sort mail that arrived at their location via a resupply convoy. Even though they are in the middle of Afghanistan in a combat operation, mail is a priority and the Marines received their mail mere days after it arrived in country.
Show your support and appreciation to our troops deployed overseas by sending notes, letters, postcards and drawings to “Desert Mail Call”. This effort is designed to allow the communities across the country to directly impact the morale, welfare, and pride of the Marines and other service-members stationed abroad. Mail will be added to care packages and sent periodically to the troops via Marine Corps Community Services in 29 Palms. If you have 10 minutes to write a letter or send a card, it would bring a touch of home to those who are far away.
Please send your mail to:
P.O. Box 6145
Twentynine Palms, CA 92278
Posted by Deb at 10:04 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 19, 2004
What the media won't tell you about Iraq
This missive came from a Marine officer in Iraq, and was dated 5/17/04.
There is no way to spin it, the past ten days have been tough. I had hoped to email everyone this week with news about my amazing trip to Egypt as it was truly a vacation of a lifetime. However, as is often the case in Iraq, events of the past ten days have caused me to change course this week and offer the war zone perspective of the tragic series of events that have transpired. Egypt will have to wait until later.A little more than one week ago the world awoke to the shocking and graphic images of the horrific treatment of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of their U.S. captors at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. Global condemnation was swift and the Arab street was whipped into a mad frenzy as anti-western television stations ran the photos nonstop 24 -7. No other message would penetrate for days. No manner of reconstruction successes or steps towards sovereignty would seal the rift that these terrible photos had opened in the hearts and minds of many in the Middle East. To many, it was hard proof of what they had already believed about the United States all along.
Within days, the President apologized to the world for the horrendous acts of a few misguided soldiers that cast a dark shadow on all of their 135,000 compatriots. The Department of Defense announced that it would put together a system of compensation to repay victims of the abuses and the United States Congress launched into full investigative mode.
And while these steps may seem impressive after the fact, it is important to remember that they pale in comparison to the full-fledged investigations the military had launched months earlier as soon as the allegations began to surface.
In January a young Army specialist became aware of the illegal actions in the prison and did his duty in reporting them to his senior commanders. 24 hours later an investigation was authorized. The day after that, it was announced from Baghdad that an investigation had been launched into allegations of mistreatment. No cover up. No foot dragging and no pressure from the media, they originally learned of the allegations from the military.
General Sanchez then launched a criminal investigation immediately and asked for an administrative review of procedures at the Abu Ghraib facility. These investigations have so far resulted in criminal or administrative actions against at least 12 individuals, including the relief of the prison chain of command and criminal referrals of several soldiers directly involved in abuse. General Courts-Martial will be convened as early as next week as charges have already been brought against a handful of the soldiers involved in the outrageous acts.
Unfortunately, with the election season now upon us, there are those in Washington who see political gold in professing their righteous indignation. As the volume of their shrill voices continues to drown out reason, many have lost sight of the real story here.
Donald Rumsfeld said it best last week when he testified before the United States Senate. ?Judge us by our actions,? said the Secretary of Defense. ?Watch how Americans, watch how a democracy deals with wrongdoing and scandal and the pain of acknowledging and correcting our own mistakes and weaknesses. And then after they have seen America in action -- then ask those who preach resentment and hatred of America if our behavior doesn?t prove the lies in the falsehood and slander they speak about our people and way of life. Above all, ask them if the willingness of Americans to acknowledge their own failures before humanity doesn?t light the world as surely as the great ideas and beliefs that first made this nation a beacon of hope and liberty to all who strive to be free.?
And believe it or not, this is exactly what has happened. Iraqi media, almost unbelievably, have in recent days begun to editorialized astonishment at how the United States has responded. No covers ups. No denials. The President of the United States, the world?s most powerful man, formally apologized to the people of Iraq. The U.S. Congress grilled a senior member of the Administration and all the while the U.S. media was allowed to report on the unfolding story with full freedom and access.
?Why does Arab media fail at self criticism and why can?t Arab human rights NGOs pressure Arab governments the way their counterparts do in America?? asked the host of satellite news channel al-Arabiya?s (one of the harshest critics of the United States) ?Spotlight? news program. The follow up commentary was even more astounding, given the source. ?The Americans exposed their own scandal, queried the officials and got the American Government to accept responsibility for the actions of its soldiers,? stated the host before asking her guests why this sort of open and responsive action isn?t taken in the Arab world.One of the largest newspapers in the Pan-Arab world raised the stakes even higher yesterday with this editorial comment: ?Bush has apologized and claimed that democratic regimes make mistakes, but that the guilty will be punished?What happened at Abu Ghuraib is not surprising as there are many stories of horror inside Arab jails. The abuses that the Arab governments condemn at Abu Ghuraib are nothing compared to what happens in these governments? jails. Will the Arab regimes go on TV and apologize to their people in the same way President Bush did??
My colleague who heads our Arab media unit here in Baghdad called these statements nothing short of revolutionary for the Middle East media. And while they may not seem that profound on the surface, they are threads of a far greater, and still unfolding, story. Yes, the horrific actions of a few have tainted the good work of the many. But they have unwittingly done something else. The events of the past several days have given democracy a global stage within which to prove its worth.
In all their lives, the citizens of Iraq never heard Saddam Hussein apologize. Not once. Not when he gassed more than 10,000 of his own people on an April morning a decade ago. Not when he dragged 300,000 men, women and children from their homes in the dead of night to be driven into the desert and summarily executed and buried in mass, unmarked graves. And not after decades of war and isolation that left a once prosperous land completely crippled and devoid of even the most basic of freedoms.
No, the first time the people of this land ever heard an apology it came from the leader of the world?s oldest democracy. He was apologizing on behalf of a nation that had spent more than $100 billion to liberate their country from a brutal tyrant. He was apologizing on behalf of a people that sacrificed more than 700 sons and daughters to bring freedom and hope to a region devoid of such notions. He was apologizing because in this instance, we were wrong.
Judge us by our actions admonished Secretary Rumsfeld, and judge us they are. And while the verdict is still out, the signs are optimistic.
Having traveled outside of Iraq to Kuwait and Egypt during the height of the news coverage last week, I can understand why many in the United States believe this scandal to be a destructive blow to the Coalition?s efforts. Government run satellite news channels have hyped this sad moment for all its worth. From Saudi Arabia and Iran to Indonesia and Syria, the outcries of injustice have been deafening.
Oddly enough, however, the response in Iraq has been much more even-keeled. Reporters ask what will be done to bring justice to those soldiers who participated in these outrages and what form of compensation will be paid to the victims, and so on. To be sure they are angry, but they also know that despite the gruesome nature of the photos, they pale in comparison to the brutality of the former regime.Much to my surprise, I can honestly say that the people of Iraq were equally, if not in some cases more, disgusted by this week?s brutal murder and decapitation of Nicholas Berg ostensibly carried out in the name of God. Much as we are now finally beginning to see with Sadr and his militia, Iraqis are fed up with those that would insight violence in their communities through horrific acts of violence. Condemnation of Mr. Berg?s murder has been widespread and now, moderate clerics in Najaf have denounced Sadr and demanded his withdrawal from the Holy City. His militia are pillaging stores and markets and terrorizing local Iraqis much like an unchecked street gang. His fifteen minutes are up.
What happened at Abu Ghraib will haunt the United States for many years to come. For those who already despised the United States it provided fuel for their long simmering hatred. For those on the fence, it made our work that much harder. One thing is for certain, in less than 50 days the Iraqi people will have an opportunity to finally judge the intentions of the United States. Many here, betrayed by decades of lies and lost dreams, simply do not believe that we will transfer sovereignty back to the people of this land.
The fear and distrust of the West that Saddam Hussein sowed into the minds of every Iraqi during his three decades of tyrannical rule will not easily be overcome. The transfer of power on June 30th will signal far more than just the birth of a new democratic nation. By following through on our promise of sovereignty, we will do more to unravel generations of mistrust than any job programs or reconstruction projects could ever hope to accomplish.
Don?t believe everything that you read in the papers or see on television. Things have not unraveled in Iraq. To be sure our work is now a little harder, but then, anything worth doing isn?t easy.
God bless my friends, I miss everyone more than you can possibly imagine. I cannot wait until I get home in less than 7 weeks.
Posted by at 02:10 PM | Comments (2)
No Better Friend
| Our Marines are no better friend on the homefront too. Here, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Silvers, a hospital corpsman assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, evaluates a young girl who was injured while playing outside her school.
Silvers was part of a Marine vehicle convoy that stopped to aid the girl while driving though the area during the MEU's Training in an Urban Environment Exercise (TRUEX) May 9. |
My own son spent the last two weeks training at March AFB. If you saw a FOX news clip of a tall handsome Marine dressed in Iraqi garb (he calls it a "mandress") and carrying a spear - that was my son. And simulated battlefield injuries are taken seriously. At one point, he was hit by a simulated morter and rescued from the field of battle by his brother Marines. The Navy Corpsmen diagnosed him with a "protruding bone from the face" and sent him off to be fixed. Preparing for war is serious business with these men, and they do not take it lightly.
Posted by Deb at 06:46 AM | Comments (3)
E-mail from Fallujah
Another e-mail, this time from a USMC Captain in the 1MARDIV:
As you all probably know by now, we are turning Fallujah over to the Iraqis. This will give us an opportunity to focus on other areas, and hopefully to build a new Iraqi Army with some of the folks that are feeling alienated right now. We're all painfully aware of the various issues associated with this move, but there's no point in discussing them. We'll make this work, just like we make everything else work to the best of our ability. The Marines fought hard in Fallujah and took a lot of very evil people out of the fight. That effort, and the associated loss of Marine lives, was not in vain. We're already seeing a significant decrease in the enemy's ability to attack our forces. The supply lines are open again and everything is flowing freely through the country. Their efforts to cut us off in order to break our willpower failed. The Iraqi people are tired of the enemy and they are turning them over to us left and right.I'm going to discuss a subject that I know does not apply to most of you...
We're reading that everyone back home is starting to lose faith in our efforts in Iraq. The last CBS poll put the numbers under 50% for the first time. I know that doesn't mean a loss in support for the troops, but supporting "the troops" while not supporting the mission doesn't do much for us. If we're over here for nothing then vague "support the troops" statements carry little weight. The Marines are in high spirits. The troops in Fallujah are doing what Marines do best, and they're true professionals.
Everyone else is driving forward, wondering what all the fuss back home is all about. We don't feel that we're losing anything - in fact, we're finally addressing issues that should have been addressed some time ago. The world seems to have forgotten what war looks like. It's not supposed to be pretty and happy. Force is used to kill those who are perpetrating evil on the people of Iraq. The images need to be put in perspective, something the news agencies just don't have time for.
It would be interesting to see someone track all the dire accounts and predictions that were issued over the past three weeks to see if they've been accurate. I read reports that we were cut off and couldn't get supplies. Reality: Not true, they failed. A popular revolution was taking place in the south and Sadr was leading a new Shia revolt. Reality: Not true. Shia militia are killing Sadr's folks in Najaf because they don't respect him and they're sick of him. He's the same buffoon he was last month. Fallujah would ignite the Arab world (how many times have we heard that one). Reality: Despite the best efforts of Al-Jazira to make us look like Atilla the Hun, there has been no explosion of populist anger. The same problems exist that existed last month - no better, no worse.
Please pass the word that we're doing great and the Marines are victorious in every battle. The enemy is a disconcerted, disparate group of disenfranchised dissemblers who have little power outside the realm of localized intimidation and the support of complicit al-Jazira reporters.
We will be able to settle this place down and help the Iraqi people back on their feet if we're able to ignore the hysteria on T.V. and recall the national willpower we had in the 1940's. What happened to our country? Have we really become so addled and weak-willed that we can't stick something out through a little rough patch?
I have faith that we'll get the backing we need to finish our work in Iraq. Please have that faith with me and support our mission as much as you support our Marines.
Posted by Deb at 06:26 AM | Comments (2)
May 18, 2004
Buckles and Bottles
Heard on Charlie Rose tonight:
Joseph Califano, who served as a policy expert during LBJ's administration related how the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, examined the separate and cumbersome purchasing procedures of the armed forces and decided that a centralized purchasing operation would streamline the process.
A committee, led by Califano studied the problem, prepared a report, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived to provide input. At one point, belts for each branch of the services - Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps were displayed on pegboards and McNamara demanded to know what was so different about the various belts.
No response from the Army, Air Force, or Navy. The USMC General spoke up, "Mr. Secretary, the Marine Corps belt buckle is the only one that can be used as a bottle opener."
End of discussion.
Posted by Deb at 12:13 AM
A new way to network
In early April, the Marines made a request for television recording, editing, and broadcasting equipment from Spirit of America. Three weeks later, Jim Hake and the Spirit of America delivered $82,267 of video production and broadcasting equpment to Camp Pendleton. Today, the last of it arrived in Iraq. That is an incredible accomplishment.
The result of this effort will be a new voice of freedom in Iraq. Currently, most Iraqis get their news from Al Jazeera, hardly an unbiased source. Opening independent media sources will provide information about positive as well as negative viewpoints. The only requirement is that the stations refrain from anti-Coalition force propaganda. Iraqis will finally be able to hear a balanced news source.
However, Jim cautions:
While - like you - I am eager to hear these stations are up and running, it's important to keep in mind that all the gear is going into a war zone. The security situation changes unpredictably and plans change. Thus, I'd expect some delay. There may be even bad news. It's a war of ideas there as much as an armed conflict. Those fighting against us understand the danger that these stations (and free, unintimidated media) present to their agenda. One can assume they will resist them at some point. These are my thoughts. I'm not speaking for the Marines. I hope I'm wrong.
Yes, there is an element of risk. However there is also incredible potential to bring a voice of balance and reason to the citizens of Iraq. This is a risk worth taking.
Here's a message from Marine LtCol John Lutkenhouse about the media equipment:
Jim,Here is the link to the story and photos we just put together regarding the arrival of the TV/radio equipment. PAO has also edited some of the video we took into a news clip that I think is pretty good. Just need to decide on the best way to get it to you.
As far as next steps, we are coordinating with Harris Corp (the folks who are providing the support to IMN) to send reps our way who can add their expertise as we travel out to the stations and distribute the gear. This would include two of their engineers and an IMN cameraman who will document our visits and report on the Spirit of America equipment we donate. We will also use some of the equipment for the local AM radio station that we are moving onto our camp from an outlying base. We will be integrating our efforts with Harris Corp's strategic plan in order to make sure we give the right type of equipment to the right sites (i.e. avoid giving video production equipment to a TV station that is not designated as a production site). Keeping in mind the required combat assets to get around our AO, as it looks right now we should able to hit all of the stations within the next 2-3 weeks. In conjunction with this, we will continue to engage the media leadership in Al Anbar (station managers, etc) in order to build relationships that will foster trust and cooperation. In fact, we are even exploring mentoring programs to help these broadcasters think and operate as independent news organizations/media enterprises. Case in point, one of the things we are finding is that their reporters don't really know how to be reporters (ask questions, think critically, and dig for the truth). As you well know, one of the legacies of the former regime is the pervasive fear that effects the decisions of Iraqis in all walks of life.
As such, we are taking 'baby steps' to encourage both media professionals and local governments (town councils) to see the benefits of getting information to the public, to be seen making decisions in council, and to develop the instincts of an open society.
The end state here is to give the Iraqis in Al Anbar an open and independent broadcast media that will present the truth and serve as an alternative to the biased reporting from the likes of Al Jazeera. At the same time, this will also gain us access to the airwaves across our entire zone in order to help ensure that our message gets out. I will keep you and the folks back home posted as we move forward. Thanks again to you and to the donors who are generously supporting our efforts.
SF,
John
There's more coming - stay tuned.
Posted by Deb at 12:06 AM | Comments (1)
May 17, 2004
Call for Recipes
Claudia Thomas, another proud Marine Corps Mom is putting together a recipe book to raise funds for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and the Woman Marine Association (WMA). If you have a favorite recipe - or two or three - that you'd like to share for a very worthy cause, please write or type it on a form that can be downloaded here. All recipes must be submitted on this form in order to keep the cookbook publishers happy.
For instructions on where to mail the completed forms and to order cookbooks - $15 plus $3 shipping - contact Claudia at ProudUSMCmom@aol.com. I'm sending in a couple of recipes that have taken first place in recipe contests and that I have not shared previously. It's for a great cause - share your recipes and then order the cookbook! Or, just order the cookbook. It's all good.
Here's Claudia's story:
Click on Continue Reading to find out what Claudia has to say:
My son joined the Marines about four and a half years ago. In one of his first ''drill letters", there was a note asking for spouses to volunteer for the Key Volunteer Network I didn't call, but hung on to the letter for a month. Finally, I called. I explained that I knew that they had asked for spouses, and I was "just" a Mom, but I recognized how hard it is to get anyone to volunteer for things these days and if they ever needed help I would be more than willing. It turned out that I was the only one who called! (It also turned out that the Key Volunteer Network is NOT limited to spouses.) For approximately two years, our KVN consisted of the person who had originally asked for help and myself.Since that time I have recruited and trained a number of volunteers to assist me in my duties. Interestingly enough, my hardest working and most dependable volunteers are Moms as well! The Key Volunteer Network, and our various positions within it, are created and mandated by Marine Corps Orders. We have many responsibilities, and if you would like more info on it, just let me know.
I am the Key Volunteer Coordinator for the Marine Wing Support Group-47. I keep my team quite active. I do like to do fundraisers to support our local Marines and originally that is what I thought this idea would be. While still in my own investigative and planning stages of this, I realized that this project could be used to generate donations to organizations that help our service men and women when they need it most. Rather than use this endeavor to raise money for a Family Day event or a Birthday Ball, I thought that it had the potential to really make a difference in some lives. I researched nonprofits that benefit our military families and found that these two in particular provide the services that, if I could, I would want to be able to do. For example, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is an organization that families can turn to in extreme financial crisis. Can you imagine, after serving your country, you fall into hard times and can't afford funeral expenses, or your family has no money for food, what if you faced being thrown out into the street with your children? What if there is a medical emergency but you can't get help because you don't have the financial resources? I believe that WE owe it to those who have served our country to help them out. By raising money to donate to the NMCRS I/WE can do that, and, isn't that awesome?
The Women?s Marine Association (WMA) has programs that include taking care of patients in the VA Hospitals, sending packages to our troops overseas, finding "adoptive parents" for Marines overseas who have no one back home writing to them, scholarship programs for our Marines? children. These are all things I would love to do myself but no one person can do it all. I can, though, come up with this cookbook idea, convince my team to participate, and then use every possible avenue to spread the word.
My goal is to produce a beautiful cookbook with (approximately) 500 recipes, raise enough money through donations to cover the publishing cost (I am personally liable for that, it's my signature on the order form!), and sell at least one thousand copies. I know that it can be done if we all try our hardest. If we do just what I've outlined above, we will raise $15,000.00! If everyone really pushes these cookbooks we could make even more.
My son honors me by being a Marine. He will receive his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant on July 23rd, 2004. My son is a pilot. He will soon be going to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola for his flight school training. I do what I do to honor not only my son, but all our sons and daughters.There's no better cheerleader than a mom. Especially a Marine Corps Mom.
UPDATE: The downloaded Word document isn't working, so our wonderful webmaster first converted it to a PDF file and now he working on making it a fill-out form. Thanks, Sean!!
Posted by Deb at 01:24 AM | Comments (2)
Spirit of America at work in Camp Zadan
Operation: No Better Friend is winning hearts in Camp Zadan, Iraq with the help of the Spirit of America Foundation . . . and a few good Marines.
Before his Marines deployed last February, LtCol Giles Kyser, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, wrote this, in a letter to the families of his men:
The Battalion is returning to Iraq to help its good people build a future full of the same promise that we have been blessed with as Americans. This will be a difficult and dangerous mission and your Marines are very aware of the challenges that face them. Your Marines are also ready! The demanding training they completed during the past three months prepared them exceptionally well to meet those challenges head-on, and I am supremely confident in their ability to execute the broad range of tasks before them.Your Warlord will be conducting what has become known as ?SASO? of Stability and Security Operations. He will conduct offensive and defensive operations as well as civil affairs and humanitarian operations designed to create the conditions for the people of Iraq to get back on their feet. You should be extremely proud of your Marine or Sailor because the mission they will accomplish is a noble one? in the finest traditions of our nation. Through his efforts, your Warlord will be writing yet another chapter in the magnificent legacy of the Naval Service. Those who would challenge us have underestimated the capability and resolve of the Warlords. They do not know what you know?that these men are of the same stock that won at places like Belleau Wood, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Dai Do, Grenada, Kuwait and Al Kut. Our enemies will also come to recognize, that these men are also fathers, sons, brothers and husbands whose capability as warriors is exceeded only by their compassion for humanity.
Here's a demonstration of that compassion:
2/2 Marines distribute school supplies donated by Spirit of America to kids in Zadan. 
LtCol Kyser chats with a young girl as part of an outreach to let the locals know the Marines are there to help.
Lt Col Kyser hands out coloring books to the local kids.
USMC photos by Cpl. Shawn C. RhodesBesides winning over the children, the Marines demonstrated how they plan to help the rest of the town. Here's some information from Cpl Rhodes:
Even though the battalion was only in the camp for a few days, the message of the Coalition's intent of helping the Iraqi people got out. Marines passed out leaflets offering phone numbers for Iraqis to seek help for getting clean water."An ongoing project is helping the local water treatment plant," Dubois said.
Clean water is scarce in many rural areas of Iraq. Water treatment became a project where Marines quickly became involved.
"We've found a lack of good drinking water to be the number one complaint," said Maj. Mark P. DeVito, a Civil Affairs Group leader from San Diego. "We're putting $50,000 into the water plant. Because the people want to see immediate effects, we're giving 50,000-gallon water bladders to different towns so they have a way to get water immediately."
DeVito explained that Iraqis in the area were pro-Coalition at one time, but without seeing their surroundings improve, their minds changed. The Marines plan to leverage their assistance to gain back trust through upgrading conditions.
In addition to the water plant, CAG is also working to organize a street cleanup. Hiring people to go through the town and pick up trash not only cleans up the area but also creates jobs.
"Because we're out there in the towns every day, we see what needs to get done," DeVito said. "We become familiar to the people and they give us information about insurgents or weapons caches."
When my son was in Najaf last year, he spent many hours providing street security and standing post. He said that Iraqis would come up to his guard station and report where ammunition was stored or that attacks were planned. From May through October last year, no Marines were lost to hostile action, largely due to the level of trust and cooperation achieved by all levels of leadership. Handing out a pack of school supplies, or hiring an unemployed Iraqi to clean up his city is a small thing in isolation. The cumulative effect can be great. And, if you haven't donated already, consider giving to Spirit of America. It's money well spent.
Posted by Deb at 12:38 AM | Comments (1)
May 16, 2004
An Iraqi soldier's view of the American military
In this report, Mohammed (an Iraqi doctor) relates the story of his uncle who served in Saddam's army and is now being trained by the U.S. military for the new Iraqi Army
A relative of mine was forced as the millions of Iraqis to serve in Saddam’s army. He was poor and peaceful and couldn’t stand the humiliation and the torture that service meant. He lived in Baghdad and served in Basrah. He was paid about 10 thousand Iraqi Dinars a month, which equaled about 5 US $ at that time, while the ride from his place to his unit cost about 2 or 3 thousand Dinars. Above all he had to bribe the sergeants and the officers only to avoid the hell they could make his life there, as they could’ve made it a lot worse. Others more fortunate paid money to the officer in charge to stay at home and the officer would arrange it to look like they are serving. This may amount to 250-300 thousand Iraqi Dinars a month, and it was a very common practice at that time. And as tens of thousands of Iraqis, he decided to run away. He remained a fugitive for years, hiding from the eyes of the military police. He couldn’t see his family more than 2 or 3 times in the year. We helped him find a job and a place to hide where they couldn’t find him. Few days ago I was visiting his family to pay our respect in the 1st annual anniversary of his father’s death.When I saw my relative, and despite the nature of the occasion, I felt happy. Here’s a free man. I smiled as I said, “you must be very happy to be free again, and not fear the MP”. He said, "you can’t imagine! It’s like being born again. I’ve never felt so free before”. “But what are you doing for a living now? I hope you’ve found a job”. I asked. He smiled as he said, "I volunteered in the new army". “Really! I thought you’d never wear a uniform after that terrible experience” he replied "Oh no, this is entirely different". I said, “ I'm sure it is, but who convinced you to do so!? And when did that happen?” "A friend of mine who volunteered before I did told me some nice stuff that encouraged me to do the same, so I volunteered about a couple of months ago", he replied.
“So tell me about it, are you happy with this job?” I asked. "You can’t imagine! It’s nothing that we’ve learned or knew about the military life" he answered. “I expected it to be so, but can you tell me about it” I asked and I didn’t have to ask anymore, as my relative started talking excitedly without a stop. He said:
To find out what he said, click the Continue Reading link below:
"The most important thing is that this army has no retards or illiterate in it like the old one. Now education is an essential requirement when applying to serve in the new army and anyone who hasn’t finished high school at least has no place there. In fact most of the volunteers are college and technical institutes graduates.Everything is new, no more worn out dirty uniforms that only God knows how many people used before you, and they never minded about the size. This time they took our sizes and handed each one of us a new elegant uniform that’s worthy of an officer! It was a common scene, you know, that soldiers wander near their halls in their underwear after training hours. Some of them did that because they didn’t have much to wear when they wash their uniforms, but the majority did it out of custom. Now this is unacceptable, and everyone received a nice comfortable suit to wear after the training hours.
One of the officers said to us “you know what? One of the reasons you lose your wars is the boots you were wearing” He then handed each one of us a pair of those brand new boots that we could only dream of buying them in the old times, and said “Put these on and you’ll feel like you can fly” and it did feel almost like that!"
I knew exactly what my relative meant, as I had to wear those boots at Sadam’s times when they forced us to do a month of military training during our summer vacation in college, and they warned us that anyone who refused to do so would be expelled from his college. Wearing those inflexible rigid boots in that heat was more like a torture. They were my worst memory of that camp and caused me multiple painful sores that needed weeks to heal.
My relative’s face was glowing as he continued, "you can’t imagine how much valued we are and how much our religion and traditions are respected. When we pass by a mosque, the officer in charge shouts “no talk” until we pass the mosque by a considerable distance, and when one of the officers enters our hall, if he sees that one of us is praying he remains silent and order us to keep quite until our comrade finishes his prayer.
For the first time in my life, I feel I’m somebody. I’m not a trash as Saddam and his gang tried to make me believe” as he finished his last words his voice went faint as if he was chocking. I felt his pain and tried to change the course of our talk, “how much do you get paid” I asked, “Oh, pretty much, more than enough, thank God” “and what about your meals” I added and he said with a smile, “Oh you won’t believe it. Everything that we couldn’t get in our own homes before and that we only saw when the officers in the old army made a feast to honor a guest! I mean we have everything; meat is essential in every meal, vegetables, fruits apples and bananas. It’s still unbelievable to many of us!”
He went on, “One of the most important things that the Americans concentrate on in our training is physical fitness. A month ago I could hardly jog for one kilometer before falling to the ground exhausted and out of breath, and now I can run 4-5 kilometers without being exhausted.”
A frown crossed his face as he said “ I remember when they used to train us at the most hot hours of the day for hours without allowing us to rest for a while under a shade or drink any water, and when we get almost killed by thirst, we would be forced to drink from the dirty contaminated ditch water. Now we don’t even drink tap water! Each one of us gets more than enough an amount of that healthy bottled water everyday”
To some people this may mean little if anything, but my relative looked at it as something huge, and indeed, before the war, drinking bottled water was really a luxury that a very small percentage of Iraqis could afford. In my house we used to boil the tap water and cool it before drinking it, because we knew it was not safe and we couldn’t afford buying bottled water everyday.
“I feel I’m somebody now. I’m respected and get all what most people get. Do you believe that they threw one of the Iraqi officers out of the army because he used us to do him personal services, like carrying his bags, and when we complained about his behavior, they told him “ Do you see any of us, American officers use our soldiers? You can go home. You still have the mentality of the old regime and you can’t fit in this new army!” imagine that! They listen to our complains, we the soldiers, and bring us justice even if it involved the higher ranked officers. This had never happened in the old army.”
“But what about the dangers you are going to face when you graduate? You’ll face it everyday, and you’ll probably have to fight Iraqis. Have you thought about that? And how do you feel about it!?” I felt some regret as I asked this question, but it was too important to ignore.
My relative said, “Of course I thought about it!” He sighed as he continued, “Dangers were there since I was born; wars, MP chasing me for years, chaos…etc. These will not stop me from going on with my life, and I have a feeling that those thugs are the same people who oppressed me along with all the poor Iraqi soldiers. No, I’m not afraid of them and I’ll do my job. At least this time I know I’m doing the right thing and that my services will be appreciated” I looked at him admiringly as I said, “They are appreciated already! Congratulations, brother, for the new job and for being the free and new man you are”
When I left, I felt real hope in the new Iraqi army. Despite its terrible performance till now, one cannot be pessimistic after hearing the way this army is being formed and the way the soldiers look at it. I’m sure it’ll take time, but I’m also sure that we’ll definitely have an exceptionally efficient, small army with great morals and respect for the law and the institution they represent. An army that can preserve peace and order, and protect the constitution once the Iraqi people agree on one.
-By Mohammed
Posted by Deb at 11:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Latif urges support for U.S. troops
An online Boston Globe article, from embedded reporter Katarina Kratovac, reports that the Irai general appointed to lead Iraqi security forces in Fallujah has urged sheiks and tribal elders to support American efforts to bring stability and peace to Iraq.
''We can make them (Americans) use their rifles against us or we can make them build our country, it's your choice,'' Latif told a gathering of more than 40 sheiks, city council members and imams in an eastern Fallujah suburb.and
The venue offered a rare insight into Latif's interactions and influence over Fallujah elders. As he spoke, many sheiks nodded in approval and listened with reverence to his words. Later, they clasped his hands and patted Latif on the back.Latif, speaking in Arabic to the sheiks, defended the Marines and the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
''They were brought here by the acts of one coward who was hunted out of a rathole Saddam who disgraced us all,'' Latif said. ''Let us tell our children that these men (U.S. troops) came here to protect us."
''As President Bush said, they did not come here to occupy our land but to get rid of Saddam. We can help them leave by helping them do their job, or we can make them stay ten years and more by keeping fighting.''
Lt. Col. Brennan Byrne, the Marine battalion commander, said, ''No truer words have been spoken here today than those by General Latif.''It worked in Najaf last year. I'm crossing my fingers that it will work in Fallujah now.
Posted by Deb at 11:37 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
E-mail from Iraq
The 2/7 Marines from 29 Palms have seen some fierce fighting since they arrived in February but, according to the battalion leadership, they've "turned the corner". We can't wait to welcome these guys home later this year. One of the Marines in this battalion went through high school, the DEP and boot camp with my son. They graduated the same day, went through SOI together and hoped to be assigned to the same unit. Jesse was sent to the 2/7 and my Shane flew to Iraq to join his 1/7 unit already in Iraq. Here is an update from the 2/7 battalion commander.
Battalion Update to Family and Friends of 2/7It seems like only yesterday that we were writing to all of you, but time flies here in Iraq, with the unit being so busy helping the Iraqis build a new future. It has been almost three weeks since we last updated you! Now is a great opportunity to update the family and friends of 2/7 and share some very positive news.
Since our return from operations east of here, quite a few constructive events have taken place?the most important is that we have gained much more support among the people in our corner of Iraq. The upbeat relations with the locals, Iraqi police, and families in the community are the result of continued hard work by your Marines and Sailors. In a sense, we have turned one corner in the maze that is Iraq. This is giving us a boost in already high morale.
The problems that the Iraqi people face are very complex, require patience, social energy, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to listen in order to solve these challenges. The majority of the problems your Marines face do not require us to use our military training. For instance, the simple act of relaxing and listening to someone who has been denied a free voice for more than 35 years goes a long way.
Watching the men and women of the battalion listen intently as a farmer, businessman, or grandfather discusses a problem, or simply ?vents,? goes a long way toward understanding the people we continue to meet each day. We remain convinced that the majority of the people we meet each day all yearn for the same things?safety, a secure family and home, as well as a job and respect. Your Marines and Sailors are helping deliver these things by providing security and assisting the Iraqi security forces in performing their jobs better. The road to rebuilding Iraq is far from complete, but we are encouraged each day by our experiences in the communities, towns, and cities we operate in and around. 2/7 is indeed winning; don?t let anyone tell you differently.
We think of those most important to us?our families at home?all the time. You give us the resolve to continue winning this fight. You have the toughest job in all of this. Thank you for sharing the courage.
Semper fidelis,
LtCol Phil Skuta and SgtMaj Dave Plaster
Posted by Deb at 06:38 AM | Comments (1)
May 15, 2004
Military Intelligence
I've always been irritated by people who discount the intellect of those who choose to defend their country. I've had a number of conversations with folks who believe that our troops are those who couldn't afford college, couldn't find a job, or couldn't hack it in the real world.
Not true. I've spent much time talking with Marines who volunteered to work long hours for low wages and spartan living conditions. Why do they do this? There are many reasons, but the one that I hear most often is so that their families and friends can enjoy living in a free society. And they have not only intelligence but common sense and a strong moral determination to do what is right. They are amazing men and women - the best that this country has to offer.
My own son, currently training to return to Iraq later this year, is a case in point. I would have paid his tuition to any college he chose to attend. He chose to attend USMC Boot Camp instead. And, his requested MOS was infantry. His reasoning was, "They need smart people in infantry too, Mom." And he's done very well.
Here's another example, albeit far out on the right side of the bell curve, of a young man who looked at his many options and chose the U.S. Marine Corps. Meet PFC Billy McCulloch.
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif., May 14, 2004 ? Television shows about child geniuses have captivated American people for decades: "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Malcolm in the Middle" and even Cartoon Network's "Dexter's Laboratory" have captured hearts of nearly everyone that watches. One show, however, may never exist: "Pfc. Billy McCulloch, U.S. Marine."McCulloch, 18, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry before he was old enough to vote.
While growing up in Seguin, Texas, McCulloch learned at a rapid pace at his private school. He was so far ahead of his classmates, he was allowed to skip seventh and eighth grades.
"I just seemed to understand," said McCulloch. "Science came pretty easy."
At the age of 12, McCulloch began his freshman year of high school. Later that same year, he took a placement test from Duke University and placed in the top one percentile.
"I did so well on the test, I was allowed to go straight to college," said McCulloch.
So the boy genius enrolled at St. Phillip's College, which is near his home.
"I had a chance to go to Duke, but we couldn't afford it, and it was too far from home," said McCulloch.
The Marine said he fit in with other students despite the age gap.
"At first it was weird having my mom drop me off at college every day," said McCulloch. "But I realized I wasn't even old enough to drive, so there was no shame in that. I actually got along with everyone. I guess age doesn't really matter. We were all science geeks and we had a good time together."
After his third semester at St. Phillip's, McCulloch transferred to Texas Lutheran University to finish his degree.
He graduated when he was 17, and despite his educational victory, McCulloch had another dream: the Marine Corps.
"I've thought about the military for a long time," said McCulloch. "I knew it had to be the Marines because they're the best. It's common knowledge. Every Marine is a rifleman first, but every airman or sailor isn't. I know I can count on my fellow Marines every time."
McCulloch looked into becoming an officer but was unable to because he didn't meet the minimum age requirement of 20 years old. He decided to enlist.
"I wanted to join right away," said McCulloch. "There was no way I was going to wait around until I was old enough to be an officer."
McCulloch joined as an infantryman for several reasons.
"I want to go out and see all that I can," said McCulloch. "If some combat is involved, great. I just want to be out there in the thick of it."
While preparing for life in the Corps at recruit training, McCulloch's knowledge and organizational skills helped him become the platoon scribe. The scribe helps the drill instructors with administrative duties.
"McCulloch is a smart kid," said Sgt. Kent Sabido, one of McCulloch's drill instructors. "We give him a task, and we don't even have to explain it to him. He just figures it out."
Although Marine Corps recruit training doesn't call for much chemistry, McCulloch still found ways to put his skill to use.
"One time, there were some spots on the floor and nobody could get them up," said McCulloch. "I went into the gear locker and mixed some chemicals and it took the spots off."
McCulloch graduated April 2, 2004 in front of his family and peers. "While "Pfc. Billy McCulloch, U.S. Marine" will never grace TV land, the sight of him walking across Shepard Field as a Marine will remain in the minds of those close to him.
Posted by Deb at 12:06 PM | Comments (2)
Welcome Home
Photo by Cpl. Jeff ZaccaroDeployment affects both mothers and fathers. Here, Cpl. M. Morales holds her infant daughter for the first time since February. She redeployed earlier this month, along with more than 80 other Marines from Iraq to MCAS Miramar. While in Iraq, they supported 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing operations. Thank you for your service to our country.
Posted by Deb at 10:46 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 14, 2004
A message to our troops on Armed Forces Day
I’ve watched a lot of TV, read a lot of news reports and editorials, followed stories of individuals and groups who have demonstrated against and issued statements regarding our government and our military. There has been much publicity regarding celebrity pronouncements and political edicts from people who know and people who should know better.
One thing that I’ve learned over the years is that kids usually have a pretty good idea about what is happening in the world. And, they are willing to share their thoughts - we just have to be willing to listen. They often make more sense than some adults. I asked the second through fourth grade kids at a local elementary school what they’d like to say to our troops on Armed Forces Day. Here are some of their responses:
”Thank you for giving people freedom like people in Iraq. I think you are very nice and strong and brave to fight for our country. I hope that one day I could be as strong and brave as you are.” ~ Mandy”Thank you for keeping our country safe and for giving it all you got.” ~ Spencer
“I hope you are doing well. We all support you back here. I hope that you come back home safely to your family. You are doing something I hope to do when I’m older.” ~ Lindsey
“Thank you so much for fighting for our country. You made a difference in people’s lives.” ~ Ariel
“I’m proud that we are a a country that helps each other.” ~ Megan
“Thank you for fighting for our country. You are fighting for people you don’t even know and that is so cool. You are risking your life for us. So thank you for everything you are doing and have done. “ ~ Rochelle.
“I think that your service to the community is a great thing to be doing. You nsure our safety and help us get things like freedom. Thank you for risking your lives for our country. You are heroes in my eyes. I think you are very kind to do something like that.” ~ Eli
“Dear soldier; Thank you for being there for us and fighting for us, and saving us from them taking over our land and not letting them take over us. Thank you for being there for us.” ~ Brittney
”Thank you for making our state safe and free. I also want to thank you for taking care of our country and keeping us safe and free. I hope you live as long as you can. This part is to the Captain: Sir, it is an honor to have you read my letter. P.S. Sir, yes sir!” ~ Kevin
”Thank you for fighting for our country and leaving your homes just to fight for our country. I really appreciate what you’ve done for our country to save it. You are my big hero. God Bless America. Love Lizzy”These kids get it. They are unabashedly patriotic and not concerned with political posturing. And, to them, our troops are the real heroes.
Thanks to all who serve, protect, and defend. I agree with the kids - you are all heroes to me.
Posted by Deb at 10:17 PM | Comments (45) | TrackBack
May 13, 2004
Report from the front lines
In contrast to wars in the past, the internet has kept our troops in contact with family and friends at home. We live for those messages, and pictures are the icing on the cake. This is an update from Col. Tucker who is deployed with RCT-7 (includes 3/11 and 3/4 Marines) in Iraq.
When the Swan Island ESB opened their doors last fall for Marine Family Day, we saw models of the latrines - plywood seats, albeit painted and as pretty as they could make them. Check out the picture below - perhaps we should include toilet seats in our care packages from now on.
The best part of this letter is the first paragraph, "These have been quiet days. There are no sacrifices to remember at the end of this letter." Quiet is good.
From the Commanding Officer, Col. C.A.Tucker, Regimental Combat Team 7 (RCT-7)12 May 2004
These have been quiet days. There are no sacrifices to remember at the end of this letter.
April and the early days of May were busy for the RCT. As mid-April approached 3d Bn 4th Marines transited from the RCT-7 area of operations to the vicinity of Fallujah, followed on April 15 by the RCT-7 Forward Headquarters, 2d Bn 7th Marines, and 1st LAR Bn. 3d Bn 7th Marines remained in Al Qaim/Husaybah, and we entered a 2-3 week period of combat operations designed to destroy this scum. Don't know if he has gone to ground, or if he is soundly defeated…the next few weeks will tell…but he is most certainly thrashed. And now resorting to the tactics of the cowardly. If any of you ever doubted there were terrorists here, the images of the young American beheaded by these bastards should remove all doubt.
But these have been quiet days. The RCT Forward, 2/7, 1st LAR are back at Al Asad or Al Qaim, 3/ 4 returns to us tomorrow, and following their victory in the Battle of Husaybah 17-19 April 2004, 3/7 has enjoyed relative quiet in their area of operations.
I'm getting beat up about the picture thing…I failed in the expectation management arena the first time I ever sent a picture out; I should never have let on I knew how to use a digital camera. So, lots of pictures today, but don't get greedy.
I spent about 4 days with 3/7 in Husaybah this week. During my time there the battalion conducted a battalion level patrol across the ground they fought on 17-19 April. This time, however, they were distributing soccer balls, school supplies, and candy: an active reminder to the people of Husaybah that we realize they are victimized by the terrorists and mostly mean us no harm. This first series of pictures was taken that day:
To see the pictures and Col. Tucker's commentary, click on the Continue Reading link below.
This photo was taken from the roof of a company patrol base and shows a great deal of the ground fought over on 17-19 April. View is to the northwest. 
This house--- known as "the crack house" during the battle and the scene fierce fighting--- is thought to have been the terrorists headquarters. The large white house in the background-nicknamed "the white hou
