Marine Corps Moms: September 2004 Archives

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September 30, 2004

Media perspective by a journalist

Tim Chavez, reporter for The Tennessean is one of my heroes and this story is one reason why. He quotes LtCol Jim Rose who is currently working in Samarra. Here's an excerpt:

"Samarra is a beaming success story over here," writes Lt. Col Jim Rose, a Tennessee Marine whose parents live in Old Hickory. "We were getting ready for a take-down there right after Najaf. We told the locals, 'Hey, see what happened in Najaf? Is that what you want? Cause we're coming.' It took the locals about two days to get the bad guys out."
Rose is based in the Sunni Triangle. That's where most U.S. casualties occur, where the Sunnis are supportive of terrorists coming in. Fallujah is there, along with Samarra and Najaf, where Marines drove terrorists out of one of Islam's holiest shrines.

Rose verified a message I received from another Marine officer in Iraq. He provided perspective missing in the media: "Those achievements, more than anything else ? account for the surge in violence in recent days ? especially the violence directed at Iraqis by the insurgents. Both in Najaf and Samarra, ordinary people stepped out and took sides with the Iraqi government against the insurgents, and the bad guys are hopping mad. They are trying to instill fear once again."

Rose asked: "Why isn't the media covering Samarra?"

Instead, we get what reader Jim League of Smyrna complains about. He cited a picture and story featured at the top of Page 13A in Saturday's Tennessean:

"The perhaps 100 protesters get front-and-center billing, and the impression is that all of Iraq is unhappy. What is missing is perspective. Imagine a foreigner perusing the front page of The Tennessean. He reads about a 15-year-old-boy being chained to his bed for six weeks. Would he be justified in believing that all parents in America constrain their children? If he had no perspective and if his impression was selectively reinforced by subtle media or political pundits, this could be possible."

Exactly. And what we get on TV is also just one side. Consider this story Rose saw reported: "I was going through the battle damage assessment at my desk with NBC's Today on the TV. The attack occurred in the middle of the night. I had the footage of the attack on my computer, and here's Katie Couric (or whoever hosts it) showing the same bomb location.}

"I had pictures of the bombed vehicles, which is how I knew she was talking about the same location. The next shot is kids being carried into a hospital. We had eyes on this for a long time. If there were kids in there, they were toting weapons or the terrorists used them as human shields. ?"

"I went to our Combat Operations Center and walked into them watching the same thing. I verified what I thought and spoke with our intelligence guys. They said the whole thing was staged and probably old footage. They track the footage and have seen repeat footage shown in the past. They also said to look at the footage and see if it makes sense. More often than not, it doesn't ? pulling a child from rubble with relatively clean clothes. "

Is NBC wrong and the Marines right? Americans deserve both sides to make up their minds.

"The Najaf shrine ? HUNDREDS of dead women and children were brought out after Sadr left," Rose wrote. "They (Sadr's supporters) rounded them up during the battle and brought them in to be executed. Why? Because they anticipated the Americans would eventually enter the shrine and walk into a media ambush. We never went in. The people of Najaf love us right now because of that. They hate Sadr and want him dead."

''Have you heard that one yet (in the media)?''

No we haven't. We just get one side. That's bad journalism ? by a news media acting in concert with Kerry.

Posted by Deb at 03:54 PM | Comments (1)

Two hugs a day

Cheryl, new Marine Mom, is getting extra support at home:

I am a relatively new Marine mom. My son, Alex, is stationed at Camp Pendleton at SOI but has already been told they will be going to the sandbox, so I read all the posts and sit and worry and pray about the future, not just for my son, but for all our troops. But, I have to tell you something that happened this week that gave me strength.
I have four other children besides my Marine. My youngest, Eric, is 6 years old and he idolizes his big brother. In fact, when Alex was home on leave, Alex and another Marine walked Eric to first grade. They were on their way to their high school to talk, so they were dressed in their dress blues. All the problems Eric had with older boys picking on him on the playground went away when those boys saw Eric escorted by two handsome young Marines. Alex stayed until school started and answered their questions and let them touch his uniform. Since Alex stands 6'4", he looked like a giant standing next to all those first graders!

Anyway, I love to watch the Waltons and the other day the show was on where Ben is in a Japanese prison camp and then the family finds out he is alive. I'll admit it, I cry about that stuff! Anyway, I had tears in my eyes and Eric asked me if I was sad because I missed Alex. I said, "well, I'm really kind of crying about this dumb show, but I really do miss Alex too." Then Eric hugged me and said, "Did Alex sit on your lap and hug you when you cried when he was little like me?" I said, "Yes, Alex used to sit on my lap and give me hugs too." Eric looked incredulous and he said, "Alex was once little like me and he sat on your lap?" I said, "Yes, but now he's too big to sit on my lap."

Eric hugged me tight and said, "Mom, don't be sad. I'll give you two hugs a day - okay? One from me and one from Alex until Alex comes home." And, each morning and each evening, he does just that - he hugs me one for him and an extra tight hug that is from Alex.

It made me realize that this just doesn't affect me, it affects the rest of our families too. Sometimes I tend to have tunnel vision and think that I'm the only one lying awake at night worrying and praying. Hugs from Marines are great, but so are hugs from little brothers of Marines!

Any hug is great, but I'm still partial to Marine hugs.

Posted by Deb at 03:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 29, 2004

Dragon's Lair

Here's another update from USMC Major S. in Afghanistan:

Dear Family and Friends,
Afghanistan's voter registration window ended last month. It is a very exciting time to see democracy blossom and a nation come to life. The success of voter registration was remarkable with over 10 million people registered. The performance easily meets the United Nations' minimum requirement in order to meet legitimacy. In the province in which I work, they needed 380,000 registered to meet the minimum requirement. The final number put them over the goal with over 450,000. Even with so many people registered, many were complaining that they couldn't get their voter registration cards. The UN ran out of card laminate and pre-printed card stock.

The local Afghan leadership supported the process unseen like any emerging democracy before it. It is rule by gun in Afghanistan, but many took it too far. Afghan Militia Force checkpoints started asking people who wanted to pass to show their voter registration cards. If they couldn't produce it, they had to pay. This is Afghan democracy with a spin. These incidences are not widespread in the country, but it happened enough to get reported fairly often. Women were also registering to vote, but nowhere near the numbers of men. At best, the females registered were somewhere around 15%. Still a long way to go, but it is a start.

One of our soldiers started talking to some school age children while we were on a mission the other day. The kids had their school bags with textbooks with them as they walked home from school. He asked to see one of the textbooks and was shocked at what he saw.

The book had several pages in it with pictures describing math. Remember the picture textbooks that show 2 apples plus 2 apples equals 4 apples? The book had the same thing, but only it had 2 machine guns plus 2 machine guns equals 4 machine guns! The picture math continued throughout the book with hand grenades, knives, and bullets.

This curriculum was generated during the time of the Taliban. New curriculum and new textbooks have not been completed and printed yet, so they are using the old textbooks. There are still a few hardliners in the transitional government, so this is not happening as quickly as it could.

With curriculum such as this in existence.some US citizens don't get it as to why we are here. The Taliban were teaching their kids to be terrorists at the most basic level.

We've completed a trip last week that marks a milestone in my travels here. We conducted a mission located where known Taliban live and where we get extensive "troops in contact." Since we were traveling in a high threat area, we rode almost purely in up armored hummvees. There is a certain sense of security you feel when riding in these trucks. We received a timely shipment of brand new up armored hummvees the week before. These trucks are awesome. At over 12,000 pounds of armor, they can protect you from bullets, grenades and most road side bombs. A turret in the top has a gun mount for offensive capability. To top it off, the 6 cylinder turbo charged diesel can really move the heavy vehicle. This is pretty surprising considering the vehicle is 6 tons plus when loaded with men, equipment and supplies. I was definitely safer riding in these trucks than my Toyota Landcruiser.

The trip had many highlights. Of course, we ate more goat and rice with plenty of chai (tea). My mission was to talk to police commanders, district chiefs and tribal leaders about the upcoming elections and the status on the reconstruction effort. The secondary mission was to look at some schools and roads that needed to be rebuilt.

One highlight of the trip was a visit to a hydroelectric dam up in the mountains. The mountains are a portion of the Southern end of the Hindu Kush, which eventually ties into Mount Everest. The scenery was incredible. The dam was built by the US before the Soviet occupation and generates power (intermittently) to the Southern part of the country to include the city of Khandahar. The teal blue color of the water looked so refreshing compared to the miles of parched soil that stretches across the horizon. We did not take a dip, it was not exactly a recreation area with all of the unfriendlies around.

We drove out of the mountains and slept in the middle of the desert that night. It was actually peaceful. A slight, warm breeze could be heard more than felt. Other than that, almost nothing could be heard. It was as if the desert was dead. While on guard watch, it was comforting to hear a US jet patrol the skies as well as the occasional pass of an unmanned, armed drone aircraft operated by a US soldier via remote control hundreds of miles away. It was also an indicator that we were in the dragon's lair of Afghanistan. This is where what's left of the leadership of the Taliban have their homes. You could just feel that it just wasn't quite right there. We fully expected to get rocketed that night, but nothing happened. Another quiet night in a combat zone is always welcome.

We made our way to a town in this region to where I've been to before. I needed to check on some wells that I had contracted for a month earlier. After rolling into town, the district chief greeted me with an invite to more chai. We sat outside on straw mats, sipped tea, and talked about current events in his district. The mud walled compound was saturated with armed men. US soldiers covered the perimeter with a few on the inside to provide for my personal security.

Inside the compound, over 50 men armed with AK-47 machine guns milled around. Half of the men that came with us as were from the Afghan National Police and the National Directorate of Security (Afghan version of the soviet KGB!). The others were the district chief's men. He was pro-coalition, so I felt fairly comfortable with so many men with guns around. Taken out of context, the sight would make most people shudder with frigid fear. It was like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie. Dirty, rough looking Afghans armed to the teeth!

Somehow, a man not with any of us slipped into the crowd. He approached the mat and sat down inches from my face. He was dressed in different clothing and started speaking Urdu, which is spoken mostly in Pakistan and India. He was not an invited guest. The district chief thought he was with me and I thought he was with him.

After a few moments of getting this straightened out, local policemen attempted to remove him. A lot of pushing and shoving, but the police were not being successful. The man started kicking and punching and the situation escalated. The scene made the Rodney King beating look like a tickle fight. We had the beating stopped and the now unconscious man was hauled off to an Afghan jail. It was a tense few minutes, but ended fairly quickly. What surprises me most is why a man would be inclined to attempt to get into a meeting that he was not invited to and not leave when asked, with so many armed men around! Thankfully, the mission ended successfully with no one save the uninvited guest getting hurt.

I've attached a few pictures.

	The first one titled "Kajaki Lake" is where the dam is located. I did not add special effects to the picture, it really is that blue.
The picture titled "Mitch and Hazara Kids" is our cook's kids. They were not shy and very animated to watch.
	The picture of "Musa Kalay HS" is a high school that is in ruins but still being used. I'm in the process of getting the existing structure bulldozed and a new building built.
The last picture is me and some of my new closest friends, yeah right! These guys are about as crooked as they get, but they are the local leaders of a nearby town and I have to work with them. The other American in the picture is a Marine that I work closely with.

I hope you enjoyed the update and the pictures. I look forward to hearing about news from the "real" world, so feel free to drop me an email.
Khuday pe aman (Good bye)
Mitch S.e
Major, US Army
Civil Affairs Officer
Lashkar Gah Provincial Reconstruction Team
Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan

Posted by Deb at 12:37 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 28, 2004

Report from the Sandbox

Greyhawk has arrived and here's what he saw today at the Dining FACility (DFAC):

But here's what I noticed in the DFAC today: young faces. Young determined faces. Not much older (but far wiser and much more mature) than the crowd at a high school lunch room. You can tell without asking what these guys think. They look you in the eye. And if you can stand to look back you'll see into the eyes of the undefeated. There is no quit here, no early out, no cut and run. These are young men with an ugly job, America's finest sent to do our worst and best, and they make me feel old and inspired all at the same time.
So here is the first impression of your fine young sons: They walk straight and tall with heads held high in this war-torn world, in this sagging land. I wish you who can only read of defeat trumpeted in your newspapers or on your TVs could have walked among them and seen this for yourselves.

I read where someone said George Bush and Dick Cheney are the only people in America who think Iraq is going well. That may be so, but I don't believe for a minute they think it's a picnic.

And I saw 300 young Americans in Iraq today who didn't look like quitters.

Posted by Deb at 08:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Operation Santa Update #3

Thanks to everyone who has called or e-mailed to offer help and sponsorship of our troops. Last night, an enthusiastic group of volunteers gathered at Crawfordsville Grade School in Sweet Home Oregon to work on Operation Santa. KVAL, a TV station in Eugene, OR visited - click on the picture to read their news story:

KVAL reporter Jodi Unruh talks with Pamla Winslow about Operation Santa

For KVAL viewers who saw the broadcast and would like more information, check these links to the stories about Operation Santa that are posted on this website:

Operation Santa overview
Operation Santa Update #1
Operation Santa Update #2

This entry will be updated later today with more pictures. Thanks so much to the Crawfordsville community for showing up en masse to work on this project.

Posted by Deb at 10:30 AM | Comments (4)

September 27, 2004

When prayers are answered��

Last Monday, Sept. 20th, I flew to Palm Springs - just the first stop to my final destination of 29 Palms, California. The much anticipated and long awaited reunion was finally happening. It was my first trip alone, a small but mighty welcome home committee. Since this was the return of my sons second deployment and our second �reunion�, I was prepared for the hotel check-in, meeting the anxious and excited parents and families, getting my security pass to get on base, camera in hand, and posters to make those �welcome home� signs.
Buses filled with weary and excited Marines had already arrived. Families had come and gone and new families had arrived to continue the wait for our courageously brave Marines. And, for all of us prayers had been answered.

Celebrations were happening. Parents from platoons gathered in the hotel commons and together made signs and nametags and shared stories about their Marines. The excitement was intoxicating. I sat watching as this �family� grew as more parents arrived and information flowed in as to the estimated arrival time. Here we were just hours away from having our children home. Prayers had been answered.

By midnight another group of buses had delivered to waiting families another company of Marines. And, the �hot-line� message had changed. Weapons Co. was due to land at 3:30 am. By 7:30 am several hundred parents, children, sisters, brother, aunts and uncles, wives and grandparents anxiously waited with signs, banners, balloons and cameras. The Marine band played as we were notified that the buses were now on base. Again, we waited and just with the knowledge that these Marines were so close the tears began to flow. It wasn�t long before those big white buses were heard and seen. As they approached the staging area, screams and shouting was the only thing to be heard.

It was Tuesday morning, Sept. 21st when Bill, my son, stepped off that bus. I immediately saw him, even in the sea of desert khaki, and without hesitation I made my way to him. He heard my voice as I called his name before he saw me. And, like most moms, my emotions took over and nothing was getting between me and my �mission� to hug my son. My prayers have been answered.

	A hotel commons becomes a place for creative hands and happy families to make name banners with pictures of their Marines
Along Adobe Rd. runs the sentiments of those who have patiently waited back home.
	Luis and Andreas were excited as they waited for their uncle to return. It was a challenge not to lose those balloons.
Kids played while waiting for the buses.
	And the band played on.
I think this happy Marine has his hands full.
	My Marine, my son.
The sea of C-bags and packs. Finding the right green bag is bit of a challenge. This is like the airport with everyone having black luggage.

Posted by at 03:31 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

September 26, 2004

Gold Star Mother's Day

Proclamation by the President of the United States:

Whereas the preamble to Public Resolution 123, 74th Congress, approved June 23, 1936 (40 Stat. 1895), recites:
Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the Country�s strength and inspiration; and �Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we revere and give emphasis to the home as the fountainhead of the State; and

�Whereas the American mother is doing so much for the home and for the moral and spiritual uplift of the people of the United States and hence so much for good government and humanity; and

�Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers suffered the supreme sacrifice of motherhood in the loss of their sons and daughters in World Wars�

and Whereas the said Public Resolution 12 provides:

�That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the Government officials to display the United States flag on all Government buildings, and the people of the United States to display the flag and to hold appropriate meetings in their homes, churches, or other suitable places, on the last Sunday in September, as public expression of the love, sorrow and reverence of the people of the United States for the American Gold Star Mothers."
�Sec. 2. That the last Sunday in September shall hereafter be designated and known as �Gold Star Mother�s Day,� and it shall be the duty of the President to request its observance as provided for in this resolution.�

Contact information:

The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
2128 Leroy Place NW - Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-265-0991
Fax: 202-265-6963
E-mail agsmoms@aol.com

Posted by Deb at 08:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

1/7 Alpha Company Update

Dear Wives, Family Members, and Friends,

We are now coming to the end of our first month in Iraq. Just in this short time the Battalion has been put to the test. As many of you already know we have taken KIA�s and WIA�s. I can assure that the best in medical care is being given and in a speedy fashion. As a Company, Alpha has had some close calls but has had no casualties thus far. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those injured and killed in Weapons Company, and Bravo Company.
A special thank you goes to Dawn Rowe who has served as Alpha Company�s Key Wives Coordinator. She was invaluable during our preparation and deployment ensuring that the key wives; wives and family members of Alpha Company were also ready for this deployment. Her husband Maj. Rowe was killed in Action soon after arriving in theater. We will miss her hard work, devotion and special touch that she put into her efforts. A pavilion was constructed for the Marines so they can get out of the sun, eat chow, and hang out. It is named in his honor and will remain when we leave as a lasting memorial to a man that trained many of the Marines in this Company.
Christina Pirtle is stepping up to the plate and will be the new Key Wives Coordinator. Please support her in her efforts to serve the Company.
Congratulations go out to Cpl Clarke from 3rd Platoon and LCpl Medina from Weapons Platoon. They were recently selected by the Battalion for Combat Meritorious Promotions.

I will continue to take pictures of your Marines and post them on this web site. Some Marines have evaded me so far, so if you haven�t seen your Marine yet it won�t be long before you do.

Continue to support your Marine by snail mail, e-mail and packages. These are a force multiplier and will keep them in good spirits.

You can be confident that the Marines of Alpha Company are performing their mission in a highly professional manner. Even though they are very busy, and tired they have not forgotten those left behind. From all of us here in Iraq we thank you for your support.

Semper Fidelis
1stSgt Weir

Posted by Deb at 05:57 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

September 25, 2004

Why I'm not sleeping much these days

This is part of an e-mail I received this morning from my son:

I've been shot at more times than I can remember, mortered more times than I can count, had a rocket shot into the house I was sitting in and the other day I got blown up along with the rest of my fire team by an I.E.D. my A gunner and my team leader took shrapnel (dont worry they'll be fine)

One month down. Six more months to go.

Posted by Deb at 04:57 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Update from MSSG 31

Via Marine Mom Lynne Holland-Kelley, here's a September message from LtCol James A. Vohr:

Since I last updated we have offloaded a considerable portion of the MSSG in Kuwait and gone ashore for sustainment training at the Camp Udari range complex. For the Marines and Sailors used to operating in the semi-tropical environment of Okinawa and the Pacific, the desert landscape provides a significantly different backdrop. Temperatures, while not as hot as they are in the middle of the summer are still quite high and the wind seems to blow constantly during the afternoon. During the evening the winds diminish and the temperature drops to about 30 degrees Celsius (don't ask me what that is Fahrenheit), but it is not bad.
While ashore we will continue our training, while providing combat service support to the MEU. Training for the MSSG began with the operation of the Port Operations Group, spearheaded by the Landing Support Detachment, executing flawlessly. The live fire ranges are good and there is plenty of room to do anything else we need to get accomplished. Being off the ships also provides an opportunity to get our equipment operating and perform preventive maintenance checks.

The living spaces, provided by Army support are excellent and interesting. Marines are billeted in large tents designed to withstand the desert wind and hold up to 60 Marines sleeping on cots. The food is better than normally expected in a field training environment and nobody wants for quantity. Motivation is high and as always, I'm proud of the Marines and Sailors.

Thanks for all you do to support our Marines and Sailors
Sincerely,
J. Alex Vohr

And since nothing warms the heart of a Marine Corps Mom faster than seeing a picture of her handsome son, here are a few pictures sent take aboard ship before they landed in Kuwait:

	Marines begin staging their equipment in preparation for NEO training.
Marines of MSSG-31 fire the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
	Marines of MSSG-31 practice close quarter drills while firing the M-16A2 service rifle.
Assistant Operations Officer for MSSG-31, a.k.a. �the Godfather,� takes a quick break between naps.
	Supply and Motor Transport Marines aboard a helicopter during �NEO� training.
A Marine from the BLT stands watch upon approach to Singapore.
	Commercial ships were plentiful in the busy straits of Singapore.
The MSSG-31 Commander and Sergeant Major out supervising the M249 SAW live-fire shoot.

Posted by Deb at 04:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 24, 2004

War Games

Via Instapundit, here's a link to photos taken by a Marine who recently returned from his second deployment. In his words,

"They are pictures from my office, mostly at 30,000 feet. I took pictures doing my job so my friends and family could see a portion of what I see and do on a daily basis. I also believe in what I did and did it so my kids can have a chance at growing up in a moderately peaceful world within a secure nation."

Here's one; go here to see the rest.

Posted by Deb at 11:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Afghan Air Conditioning

Here's a recent update, complete with pictures from Major S., currently deployed as a Civil Affairs Officer in Afghanistan.

Jorge ye? (How are you?)
Here's another chapter in my travels in Afghanistan...

Several weeks ago, we received information that anti-coalition militants were specifically targeting me. Even being in a third-world country, satellite communication technology allows for pretty decent communications not only amongst ourselves, but among terrorists as well. On one recent outing, the locals were able to physically track me down after only a few phone calls, even though I was over 100 kilometers away! This was a real wake up call. We thought we had taken all of the precautions. Somehow, we were setting a pattern and spotters were reporting our location. In order to foil the spotters, we started leaving in the middle of the night and driving "black out" or with no lights with night vision goggles on. The most difficult thing when driving with night vision goggles is getting used to seeing with limited depth perception and virtually zero peripheral vision. Imagine looking through a paper towel tube with one eye shut and driving down the freeway and you get a good feel of what it is like.

During one recent late night trip, we were traveling along a farm road rolling at a little over 30 miles an hour when a dog the size of a horse comes up from behind our vehicle. Cujo's bark/growl/gnashing of teeth were this raspy sound only heard from rabid dogs from the depths of hell. After being on edge with the recent security situation, I nearly wet my pants. My immediate reaction was to shoot and I swung my rifle around. Luckily for the dog, the speed at which we were traveling quickly put it behind us. I avoided a very embarrassing moment that night. I don't think the men would let me forget the day that I shot Rover!

Last week was a very rewarding experience and makes up for many of the horrible things that I see here. The hospital in Lashkar Gah is very rudimentary and quite barbaric. It doesn't have the familiar smell of disinfectant like most hospitals in the US. Instead, a musky odor hangs heavily in the air.

I befriended the Doctor in charge of the hospital and we have had many great talks about the health care system (or lack of one) in Afghanistan. I asked for a list of equipment that he needed and he provided one. Among the extensive list, that he provided was an autoclave. His current method of prepping instruments was by boiling water and the technique is simply not adequate. Secondary infections were common due to the lack of a tool to sterilize equipment and hence the strong musky odor in the hospital.

We located a container of medical equipment donated by an organization from the U.S. It was just sitting there with little information. Without knowing what it was, we claimed it and began an inventory. Among other things, we found a jewel in the pile of gear, two autoclaves. We delivered the equipment last week and the visit was very touching. The Doctor was nearly in tears and I was moved. With the addition of the sterilization equipment, I'm sure we just advanced his medical technology 70 years in one day. I finished the visit by handing out personal hygiene kits (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, etc.) to each patient in the hospital. It was an incredible sight. The pain and happiness that I saw that day made for a very strange mix of emotions.

A couple of weeks ago, a gentleman came to our gate requesting to speak with us. I don't talk to every Mohammad, Akmed, and Ullah (Tom, Dick and Harry) that comes by, so my sergeant handled the visit. It turns out that the man speaks English, is an Afghan-American and runs a non-profit organization that is building a school nearby. He is originally from the area, but has relocated to America; Portland, Oregon to be exact. After learning this, I decided to visit to see what he was about and how I could help. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to someone from home.

It turns out that Dr. Kharoti, was in the country for a month while he made repairs to a school in the village where he came from. He's been coming for the last several years, slowly rebuilding the school. His son and daughter were both with him this trip and they are college students in the US. It was nice to talk to Americans again. We dropped off a huge school supplies box (paper, pencils, chalk, maps, books, etc.). They were completely shocked just by the school supplies and very grateful for the gift. (Little do they know that I have a shipping container of the stuff and I give it away all of the time!) After conducting an assessment of the school, I determined that I could help. I sent a construction contractor the next day to provide me cost estimates. As of this writing, work has started on the repairs of the school.

I recently returned from a four-day romp through the desert. We met with local tribal leaders and police commanders. My goal was to make new friends and establish points of contacts in preparation for the elections. Many of the places we visited were unspeakably dirty, broken buildings that served as the equivalent of a county administrative building and sheriff's office. One building we visited had no roof and two sides blown out. The locals piled boards along the roof and one of the sides and layered it with a prickly bush commonly found in the desert (a tumbleweed). Every 15 minutes, a kid with a bucket would douse the tumbleweeds with water. The water would evaporate and cause a cooling effect. Afghan air conditioning! It was a welcome retreat from the 122 degree weather that day.

The district chieftain invited us for lunch. We soon learned a disadvantage to Afghan air conditioning. When the kid emptied the bucket, the water would disturb the frogs stacked nose to tail at the base of the water laden tumbleweeds and hop out onto the table (Afghans eat on the floor.). You soon got used to the frogs, but you had to look down to make sure you knew what you were picking up while you ate and talked. It sounds unbelievable, but it's true!

Here's a few recent pics.

The first one is of me and a Police Chief in one of the districts I've visited recently. The short guy to my left is a hard core mujahadeen (freedom fighter). I called him my "Afghan Marine" because I thought his uniform looked like a US Marine uniform from World War II.

The other picture was taken at a school that I'm helping to rebuild. The woman is Sultana and is Dr. Kharoti's daughter. She's pre-dental college student in the US.

Thanks for all of your great emails. Keep 'em coming!

Khuday pe aman (Goodbye)

Mitch S.
Major, US Army
Civil Affairs Officer
Lashkar Gah Provincial Reconstruction Team
Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan

Major S. reports that he'll soon be coming home but we may hear from him a few more times.

Posted by Deb at 09:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 23, 2004

A visit to Landstuhl

Diana Hartman is an accomplished writer who is married to a Marine and lives in Stuttgart, Germany. I've known her as an online friend for almost two years and always look forward to her words. Here is her account of a trip earlier this week with other Marine wives to visit wounded troops at Lanstuhl:

the marine wives trip to landstuhl today was wonderful...there were 6 marines in the hospital today, and of those, one wounded in combat...the wounded marine is doing well...while i cannot be specific about the wounded or the reasons for the other 5 being there, i can tell you for myself and as the liason office explained, they are just as sorely in need of attention and good will...this was never more clear than after our visits...walking the wards and up and down the halls seeing young men and women my son and daughter's age was difficult...it was hard not to go to each and every one of them to hug them and kiss them on the head and fetch their favorite beverage and a nice warm blanket from the dryer, or whatever they wanted, you know like a mom does for a sick child no matter how old they are...
it was more exhausting having to pass by wounded than it was to stop and hang out with someone for a bit...but we didn't have nearly enough time and all of them had checkups and cleanups and whatnot, and that meant visitors had to go either for that moment or until another time...

all of the marines, from the liason's office to the patients, were happy to have us there passing out goodies, magazines, books, and toiletries...we visited each marine by introducing ourselves, swapping hometowns, learning about each marine's background, and having them go through the bags of stuff to get what they wanted and needed...they all, younger and older alike lit up like children when the bags were opened for them...it was both heartening and distressing to see how much of a difference a little thing like a magazine or a hershey's bar can make in someone's life...

quite a few marines had shipped out earlier for the states so there weren't as many marines there today as would be on another day...this is why the wives will be visiting them again and again...

as of yesterday's post office check there was no mail on this end (meaning my p.o. box), but mail from the states can take anywhere from a week and a half to two weeks, and packages as much as three weeks to get here which is why i specifically requested a seat on the october 7th visit...i don't have pictures from today's visit because the bag with my camera, water, and lunch didn't make it to the van...

i will make sure the camera goes all the way to landstuhl on the 7th
the liason office knows i will be there on the 7th and that i will be bringing things from marine moms from all over the united states...they were very excited to hear this; a few grew quite soft in the face at the mention of marine mothers responding so quickly and generously to the request...several assured me that they personally would be there when i arrived with the other wives to help get the donations to the everyone...

the marine corps liason's office at landstuhl has a unique and impressive system for tracking their marines...when a plane lands, all wounded are regarded as soldiers on the manifest...the marines from the liason's office go through the plane and find out just which ones are marines and make sure they are marked by clothing and followed all the way from the plane to treatment to their hospital room...the roster is updated daily and rechecked frequently so that there is no crack for any of the marines to fall through...
the marines we visited today were very grateful for the visit...they were talkative and excited about having stuff to read, view, and listen to on the cd players...

the number of donations coming into the marine liason's office doubles every couple of weeks...groups from all walks of life have responded to the request for donations, and this has directly and postively affected the quality of the stay for each of the wounded...when dvd players, cd players, and game systems (like x-box) are donated, these are made available to all wounded, not just marines...

between the marines themselves and the liason's office we compiled a list of things that they are in special need of at this time but first a little info before i proceed with the requests...

-when the wounded fly into landstuhl, they are often wearing an army undershirt...while this might not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it is a very big deal to marines...if able, they tell the liason that they want to take the army shirt off...the liason team will often have a few non-army shirts available and will cut the other shirt off if tubes or ties are in the way...while there are other shirts for them to wear, the marines prefer a marine undershirt or a marine t-shirt...they don't like sitting up in their beds or making their way around in a shirt that marks them as anything other than marines...

-when hands, fingers, arms and/or shoulders are wounded, fine motor skills suffer (the ability to hold a pen or thread a needle)...occupational therapy plays a big role in helping the wounded regain and strengthen these skills...among the more popular ways to do this is modeling -- car models, airplane models, etc...both snap-tite and traditional modeling kits allow them to redevelop their strength...

-those who are newly learning to get along with one arm or hand or whose injury limits their use to one arm or hand are unable to floss their teeth with conventional floss...floss handles like the one shown here allows these individuals a form of independence and cleanliness that they thought was lost to them...
-while dvd's are pouring in from all over, music cd's from all genres are in short supply...
-while there is more toothpaste available than you could shake a stick at, toothbrushes and floss are in short supply...

with that, i submit the following list of requests from the both the liason's office and the marines themselves...

*car, airplane, etc modeling kits and accessories (both snap-tite and traditional)...
*cd's -- all genres and/or concert dvd's...
*plain grey t-shirts with black lettering saying USMC or other marine corps t-shirts and undershirts -- all sizes (this is something that can be acquired by those who are near a marine corps exchange or are able to shop online at a marine corps clothing site)
*toothbrushes
*floss (see above link for reference)

these are items they are in special need of at this time, but of course they are most grateful for all the cards and letters and the donations of candy, magazines, books, dvd's, and anything else you think they might like...

as i post, it is about 1:30 east coast time...it's about 7:30pm here in germany...
while it was a long and emotionally exhausting day, i'm very glad i went and i very much look forward to going again...i'm going to go hug my children and husband, call my daughter in ca to tell her how much i love her, and then hopefully i will be in a better frame of mind to take a nap...

Read more of her writing here. And if you'd like to send along a few items for our wounded Marines, contact Diana here: msdusmcd@yahoo.com

Posted by Deb at 08:52 AM | Comments (4)

Another boots-on-the-ground viewpoint

Another e-mail from Hugh Hewitt's site, this time from an Army captain:

Dear friends, In the wake of all the unbelievable things that are being said about this war right now in the media, I thought that I might pass along a couple of things that won't make it to the news.
First, I would like to remind you all about the actual size of this country. It is roughly the size of California. Baghdad is the biggest city with a population of about 6 million, so it is a little bit bigger than Los Angeles. The reason why I tell you that is because the media is leading you all to believe that this entire country is "tumbling into complete chaos." Please don't believe that! What is happening in Baghdad and parts of Fallujah and Sammarah (A combined total population of 7 million) does not reflect what is being done around the whole country. It reminds me of the time when I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA early on in my Army career. I was talking to a friend of mine from back east and she said, "Don, are you alright? I mean, are you safe?"

A little puzzled, I replied, "Yeah, I'm fine, why do you ask? "

"Well, I heard about all the violence that is happening lately in Los Angeles and I wanted to know that you were OK," she said.

"Uh, thanks, " I said with a smile that must have went right through the phone. "You do know that Los Angeles is almost 350 miles away right?"

But she had never been to California. To her it was all the same. But ask a person who lives in Northern California and they will tell you that their part of the state is VERY different from Southern California.

And the same is true in Iraq. What is happening in Baghdad does not reflect what is happening in Southern Iraq where the UK brigade are continuing to "win the hearts and minds" of the people in Al Basrah and Al Hillah. Or ask my friend Jake who is stationed near An Nasiriyah. In one of his emails to me, he sent me a picture of him riding on a camel and this statement, "Here's me doing some crazy stuff with some of the locals. They are great people and so friendly. 90% of this country are people like these who simply want a safe country to live in. "

You see, the violence that is reported in and around the largest city in this country overshadows the incredible things that are being done by the Republic of Korea Army in the northern town of Irbil. Does anybody out there know that currently Iraq is the 2nd most heavily mined country in the world and that there are over 130 demining projects going on in the border towns between Iraq and Iran? Do the reporters do stories about the half a million tons of captured enemy ammunition that we have destroyed, never to be put into the hands of evil men again? Or the thousands of minefields that are being cleared everyday so little children in cities like Irbil, Kirkuk, and Halabjah can play and run in the fields with no fear of accidentally stepping on a mine ?
For security reasons, I can 't disclose all the operations that are going on right now, but you need to know that we are still here, are in the fight, and are ready to do whatever it takes to see this country succeed. And I still believe, with all my heart, that the majority of people here want us here. They may feel like we are occupiers, but they also understand it is necessary for the time being . I guess I don 't know how else to say it. It's just frustrating because I 'm the one over here. I see the work that we are doing. I listen to the daily operations briefs. I read the intel summaries. And I can say as a former history major who studied all of the major wars we have fought in, this is not another Vietnam. Even though I am just a Captain on a Corps level staff, you have to take my word on that.

But let me get back to the original reason of why I am writing you.

Last night at Bible Study, many of my friends were praising the Lord for some "near misses." There was my dear friend Erika , a signal officer for one of the military intelligence battalions on post. She shared that their sister battalion had made the decision to drive to the qualification range about ten miles from base. Well, in light of the insurgent activity that has happened in the last week, you can probably uses what happened. Their convoy was attacked with an IED and small arms. Through tears of joy, she told us about her friend who was the convoy commander. The explosion from the IED sent shrapnel through their vehicle. One piece went right past his head so close that he heard the whistling of it in his ear. It dug three inches into the back of the vehicle. Miraculously, no one was hurt.

Then there was our friend Gary who has to travel down to the International Zone (IZ) every day. As you may have heard on the news, we have had a surge in VBIEDs this month. Last Saturday, there were two that exploded within 30 minutes of each other on a two mile stretch of road going to the IZ. Gary told us that he praises the Lord for His protection because he missed the first VBIED because it exploded 10 minutes before him, and the second exploded 10 minutes after him. He just wanted to praise the Lord for the angels that God had around his vehicle and that He is the one who controls time as well.

But my favorite story to tell you is the one that Natalie shared. She told us about a convoy that was traveling in Baghdad yesterday and it was hit by an IED. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles was so close to the seat of the explosion that it injured two of the soldiers in the vehicle. A Mercedes who had passed the convoy, saw the explosion in his rear view mirror and turned around to double back. When he got there, he got out of his car to help. The soldiers, all pulling security now as the medic tried to tend to the wounded, pointed their weapons at him, unsure of his intentions. The Iraqi man put up his hands and said in broken English, "I'm here to help!" He pointed to his cell phone in his hand. "Please tell me who I should call for help." The soldiers lowered their weapons and gave him the number to call. In the meantime, another vehicle came up behind the convoy. An Iraqi man ran over to the exploded vehicle where the soldier lay on the ground. With his hands raised as well, he told them, "I am a doctor, please let me help." With tears in her eyes, Natalie told us that he probably saved that soldier's life.

My friends, I know that there are evil people over here. Zarqawi and his men seem to have this country in a terror that is something out of a B-rate horror movie, complete with machetes and beheadings. But they are a minority that knows how to play to the media! And these evil people don't simply target the military. Were they to do so, I might have a little respect for them as they would consider themselves Freedom Fighters attempting to fight their formidable foe. But they don't care who they fight or who they kill. They lash out at anyone who does not believe the way they do - to include innocent Muslims.

A couple of days ago I received an email from a friend expressing her concern for the bombings that have been going on over here. Her simple question was, "Will it ever end?" To that I say that I believe it will end. When? I don't know. But I stand with my Commander-in-Chief and say that we should stay the course. The only exit strategy we should have is one where Iraq is a free, democratic, self-governing country in good relations with its neighbors, and its citizens enjoy the freedom of traveling the highways free of exploding cars, and devoid of terrorists who have come to see Iraq as their playground.

Finally, below my signature block, I have included an interview written by an Iraqi web blogger named A.Y.S. He was swimming in the Olympic Pool in Baghdad recently and ran into an Iraqi Soccer player. I thought his last comments on how he wishes the media would report everything - good and bad - was great. If you get the chance, I would encourage you to read it, and maybe check out his website, www.iraqataglance.blogspot.com .

Thank you all again for your continued prayers and encouraging responses. Whenever I get down, I think about all of you, and I'm proud to be here serving for you. May God continue to bless our great nation, and may He give you peace.

Your faithful soldier in the Lord,

Don "

Akreem Sabeeh

Yesterday I was in AlHurriya Olympic Swimming Pool together with my friends, while we were there, the Iraqi soccer team alternates entered the place with the goalkeepers coach Ahmed Jasim.

I met one of the players, Akram Sabeeh, the goalkeeper and talked for few minutes, then I asked some questions and told him that I'd publish his words on the internet and he's agreed, so I gladly began my questions:

A: What do you feel when you play now? I think there's a difference than those days during the ex-regime?
Akram: look, I was seriously afraid when I was playing, they were really horrible days under Uday, I was afraid to do anything that might be misunderstood and the result would be the jail.
Now, I feel free when I play soccer, I feel that I'm playing to improve myself and never afraid of anyone.
A: So you feel that you are free now?
Akram: of course free.
A: Have you ever been jailed?
Akram: Yes, for 10 days.
A: what for?
Akram: Because I shouted at the referee!
A: Isn't it a humiliating act to be jailed for this reason?
Akram: Yes, but Uday was enjoying doing so, I might be lucky to be jailed only, other players were being beaten severely, tortured and many other brutal acts, you've heard about that?
A:Yes..let's forget what was Uday doing... what about the economical status?
Akram: my salary was 20$ and now it is 200$.
A: wonderful..multiplied by 10..
Akram: Yes, I can think in my future now!
A: So what was wrong with other Olympic players, they were so upset when they were shown on the TV after each game, they kept repeating: occupation, targeting the cities..etc, they blamed on the Americans for that, what do you think?
Akram: Well..they were saying this cause they were watching what was going on in AlNajaf and previously in Fallujah, they felt that the families were being killed everyday.
A: And do you believe that?
Akram: we are watching all of that on the channels.
A: Have you ever watched some good news regarding Iraq on those channels?
Akram: Frankly...Never!
A: So those channels intentionally collect the bad news and exaggerate in most of them and play with our emotions to achieve their goal, and they've succeeded in that with some people..if they are honest they had better look at the good changes also.
Akram: Yes, you are right, we cry and get angry as we watch those channels!..........................
Unfortunately, Akram's friend called and we've finished our conversation..
Akram: Excuse me..I have to go now..nice to meet you..
A: Thank you very much Akram..

Well, I could ignore all those questions, and ask him directly showing some bored and upset facial expressions: 'DO YOU ACCEPT..what's going on in your country now? Chaos, explosions, bombing the cities...what do you think..isn't it miserable?' !! I could make all the conversation full of hatred and pessimistic views!

I mean, you have to hear the question of the reporter and the manner of asking the players before you judge the players' opinions. Those journalists ask according to what they want to hear or according to what is needed from them.

The reporters should be honest and fair in dealing with the people in Iraq, it's a temporary critical period, and they have to help and support the Iraqis to stand against terrorism and build their country. Unfortunately, there are few of them."

Posted by Deb at 08:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 22, 2004

A Montana Marine Mom Speaks

From Hugh Hewitt - if you're not reading him every day, you should be. Here's an e-mail from a Marine Corps Mom, sent to a USMC Major in Baghdad who wrote an essay on why most media reports should be taken with a pillar of salt:

Sent: Tuesday, 21 September, 2004
Subject: Thank you from a Marine Mom!
Dear sir: I'm a marine mom from Helena, Montana. My son (____) is in Iraq right now. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one still supporting the mission over there after all these negative reports hit the airwaves. John Kerry just adds fuel to the negative fire! It makes me crazy to listen to him talk. He just doesn't get it! You just summed up my sentiments of this whole operation. I thank you for helping me stay strong in the continued "fight" at home to keep the troops morale high by standing by them. I absolutely agree with everything you say by what ____has written in his letters. He said that he has a huge respect for the Iraqi National Guard because they are trying so hard to make a better life for the Iraqi people. He also told me not to listen to news reports that the Iraqi people don't like them. He said even the places they've gone where most people didn't like them to begin with, they gained their respect by the time they were done there. After the people watched them standing back and getting shot at as they guarded the Iraqi's while rebuilding hospitals and schools. He said the people start to realize what the USA stands for. They are not there to be aggressive, they are there to show them how to stand up for themselves. He said there's been many times they've been shot at and they don't shoot back unless absolutely necessary just to build the trust of the people and the ING. They take orders from the ING in those situations and he said the ING is starting to feel some confidence in themselves. His quiet humor amazes me. He said "Sometimes it's a little nerve wracking hoping their aim has gotten better..... but it all seems to work out and is worth it to see the ING gaining confidence in themselves" He said it's been an amazing process. ____was sent to Najaf in August and was helping tranport troops (both marines and ING) to the Mosque in his Amphibious Assault Vehicle. The storming of the mosque was called off at the last minute, but ____said he was impressed with how hard the Americans and Iraqis worked together. He told me it was something he can't even describe and that I will never even imagine and that if we back down now the Iraqis would be totally devastated and never trust us again.

On a final note: I am always amazed at the lack of whining of you marines! The only thing ____has complained of is missing the upcoming Monday Night Football game between his beloved Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins....ha! Anyway, I appreciate articles like yours! Keep em coming!

________- Helena, Montana

Proud Mom of CPL _______, Camp Lejeune
24th MEU

This could have been written by any of the Marine Moms that I know. And I appreciate that this proud mom took the time to put her thoughts on paper for the rest of us.

Posted by Deb at 09:48 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

A Marine Cobra Pilot writes

USMC Lt. Kevin Brown, a Marine Cobra pilot and 2001 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, wrote the following letter in response to a question from his father. It's excellent reading and reminds those who have forgotten, just what happened on September 11, 2001, and why it's crucial that we keep it in mind.

Dad, you asked me what I would say to America from Iraq on 9/11 if I had a podium and a microphone. I have thought about it, and here is my response. Your Son, Kevin
September 11, 2004
Dear America,

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell

The Marine Corps is tired. I guess I should not say that, as I have no authority or responsibility to speak for the Marine Corps as a whole, and my opinions are mine alone. I will rephrase: this Marine is tired. I write this piece from the sands of Iraq, west of Baghdad, at three a.m., but I am not tired of the sand. I am neither tired of long days, nor of flying and fighting. I am not tired of the food, though it does not taste quite right.

I am not tired of the heat; I am not tried of the mortars that occasionally fall on my base. I am not tired of Marines dying, though all Marines, past and present, mourn the loss of every brother and sister that is killed; death is a part of combat and every warrior knows that going into battle. One dead Marine is too many, but we give more than we take, and unlike our enemies, we fight with honor. I am not tired of the missions or the people; I have only been here a month, after all. I am, however, tired of the hypocrisy and short-sightedness that seems to have gripped so many of my countrymen and the media. I am tired of political rhetoric that misses the point, and mostly I am tired of people "not getting it."

Three years ago I was sitting in a classroom at Quantico, Virginia, while attending the Marine Corps Basic Officer Course, learning about the finer points of land navigation. Our Commanding Officer interrupted the class to inform us that some planes had crashed in New York and Washington D.C., and that he would return when he knew more. Tears welled in the eyes of the Lieutenant on my right while class continued, albeit with an audience that was not very focused; his sister lived in New York and worked at the World Trade Center. We broke for lunch, though instead of going to the chow hall proceeded to a small pizza and sub joint which had a television. Slices of pizza sat cold in front of us as we watched the same vivid images that you watched on September 11, 2001.
I look back on that moment now and realize even then I grasped, at some level, that the events of that day would alter both my military career and my country forever. Though I did not know that three years later, to the day, I would be flying combat missions in Iraq as an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot, I did understand that a war had just begun, on television for the world to see, and that my classmates and I would fight that war. After lunch we were told to go to our rooms, clean our weapons and pack our gear for possible deployment to the Pentagon to augment perimeter security. The parting words of the order were to make sure we packed gloves, in case we had to handle bodies.

The first Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom was in my company at The Basic School, and was sitting in that land navigation class on September 11. He fought bravely, led from the front, and was killed seizing an oil refinery on the opening day of the war. His heroism made my emergency procedure memorization for the T-34 primary flight school trainer seem quite insignificant. This feeling of frustration was shared by all of the student pilots, but we continued to press on. As one instructor pointed out to us, "You will fight this war, not me. Make sure that you are prepared when you get there." He was right; my classmates from Pensacola are here beside me, flying every day in support of the Marines on the ground. That instructor has since retired, but I believe he has retired knowing that he made a contribution to the greatest country in the history of the world, the United States of America.

Many of you will read that statement and balk at its apparently presumptuous and arrogant nature, and perhaps be tempted to stop reading right here. I would ask that you keep going, for I did not say that Americans are better than anyone else, for I do not believe that to be the case. I did not say that our country, its leaders, military or intelligence services are perfect or have never made mistakes, because throughout history they have, and will continue to do so, despite their best efforts. The Nation is more than the sum of its citizens and leaders, more than its history, present, or future; a nation has contemporary values which change as its leaders change, but it also has timeless character, ideals forged with the blood and courage of patriots. To quote the Pledge of Allegiance, our nation was founded "under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." As Americans, we have more freedom than we can handle sometimes.

If you are an atheist you might have a problem with that whole "under God" part; if you are against liberating the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Asia, all of Europe (twice), and the former Soviet bloc, then perhaps the "liberty and justice for all" section might leave you fuming. Our Nation, throughout its history, has watered the seeds of democracy on many continents, with blood, even when the country was in disagreement about those decisions. Disagreement is a wonderful thing. To disagree with your neighbors and your government is at the very heart of freedom. Citizens have disagreed about every important and controversial decision made by their leaders throughout history.

Truman had the courage to drop two nuclear weapons in order to end the largest war in history, and then, by his actions, prevented the Soviets from extinguishing the light of democracy in Eastern Europe, Berlin. Lincoln preserved our country through civil war; Reagan knew in his heart that freedom is a more powerful weapon than oppression. Leaders are paid to make difficult, sometimes controversial decisions. History will judge the success of their actions and the purity of their intent in a way that is impossible at the present moment. In your disagreement and debate about the current conflict, however, be very careful that you do not jeopardize your nation or those who serve. The best time to use your freedom of speech to debate difficult decisions is before they are made, not when the lives of your countrymen are on the line.

Cherish your civil rights; I know that after having been in Iraq for only one month I have a new appreciation for mine. You have the right to say that you "support the troops" but oppose the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. You have the right to vote for Senator John Kerry because you believe that he has an exit strategy for Iraq, or because you just cannot stand President Bush. You have the right to vote for President George W. Bush if you believe that he has done a good job over the last four years. You might even decide that you do not want to vote at all and would rather avoid the issues as much as possible. That is certainly your option, and doing nothing is the only option for many people in this world.

It is not my place, nor am I allowed by the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, to tell you how to vote. But I can explain to you the truth about what is going on around you. We know, and have known from the beginning, that the ultimate success or failure of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the future of those countries, rests solely on the shoulders of the Iraqi and Afghani people. If someone complains that we should not have gone to war with Saddam Hussein, that our intelligence was bad, that President Bush's motives were impure, then take the appropriate action. Exercise your right to vote for Senator Kerry, but please stop complaining about something that happened over a year ago. The decision to deploy our military in Iraq and Afghanistan is in the past, and while I believe that it is important to the democratic process for our nation to analyze the decisions of our leadership in order to avoid repeating mistakes, it is far more important to focus on the future. The question of which candidate will "get us out of Iraq sooner" should not be a consideration in your mind. YOU SHOULD NOT WANT US OUT OF IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN SOONER.

There is only one coherent exit strategy that will make our time here worthwhile and validate the sacrifice of so many of our countrymen. There is only one strategy that has a chance of promoting peace and stabilizing the Middle East. It is the exit strategy of both candidates, though voiced with varying volumes and iffering degrees of clarity. I will speak of Iraq because that is where I am, though I feel the underlying principle applies to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The American military must continue to help train and support the Iraqi Police, National Guard, and Armed Forces. We must continue to give them both responsibility and the authority with which to carry out those responsibilities, so that they eventually can kill or capture the former regime elements and foreign terrorists that are trying to create a radical, oppressive state. We must continue to repair the infrastructure that we damaged during the conflict, and improve the infrastructure that was insufficient when Saddam was in power. We should welcome and encourage partners in the coalition but recognize that many will choose the path of least resistance and opt out; many of our traditional allies have been doing this for years and it should not surprise us. We must respect the citizens of Iraq and help them to understand the meaning of basic human
rights, for those are something the average Iraqi has never experienced. We must be respectful of our cultural and religious differences. We must help the Iraqis develop national pride, and most importantly, we must leave this country better than we found it, at the right time, with a chance of success so that its people will have an opportunity to forge their own destiny. We must do all of these things as quickly and efficiently as possible so that we are not seen as occupiers, but rather liberators and helpers. We must communicate this to the world as clearly and frequently as possible, both with words and actions.

If we leave before these things are done, then Iraq will fall into anarchy and possibly plunge the Middle East into another war. The ability of the United States to conduct foreign policy will be severely, and perhaps permanently, degraded. Terrorism will increase, both in America and around the world, as America will have demonstrated that it is not interested in building and helping, only destroying. If we run or exit early, we prove to our enemies that terror is more powerful and potent than freedom. Many nations, like Spain, have already affirmed this in the minds of the terrorists. Our failure, and its consequences, will be squarely on our shoulders as a nation. It will be our fault. If we stay the course and Iraq or Afghanistan falls into civil war on its own, then our hands are
clean. As a citizen of the United States and a U.S. Marine, I will be able to sleep at night with nothing on my conscience, for I know that I, and my country, have done as much as we could for these people. If we leave early, I will not be able to live with myself, and neither should you. The blood will be on our hands, the failure on our watch.

The bottom line is this: Republican or Democrat, approve or disapprove of the decision to go to war, you need to support our efforts here. You cannot both support the troops and protest their mission. Every time the parent of a fallen Marine gets on CNN with a photo, accusing President Bush of murdering his son, the enemy wins a strategic victory. I cannot begin to comprehend the grief he feels at the death of his son, but he dishonors the memory of my brave brother who paid the ultimate price. That Marine volunteered to serve, just like the rest of us. No one here was drafted. I am proud of my service and that of my peers. I am ashamed of that parent's actions, and I pray to God that if I am killed my parents will stand with pride before the cameras and reaffirm their belief that my life and sacrifice mattered; they loved me dearly and they firmly support the
military and its mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. With that statement, they communicate very clearly to our enemies around the world that America is united, that we cannot be intimidated by kidnappings, decapitations and torture, and that we care enough about the Afghani and Iraqi people to give them a chance at democracy and basic human rights.

Do not support those that seek failure for us, or seek to trivialize the sacrifices made here. Do not make the deaths of your countrymen be in vain.

Communicate to your media and elected officials that you are behind us and our mission. Send letters and encouragement to those who are deployed. When you meet a person that serves you, whether in the armed forces, police, or fire department, show them respect. Thank the spouses around you every day, raising children alone, whose loved ones are deployed. Remember not only those that have paid the ultimate price, but the veterans that bear the physical and emotional scars of defending your freedom. At the very least, follow your mother's advice. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Do not give the enemy a foothold in our Nation's public opinion. He rejoices at Fahrenheit 9/11 and applauds every time an American slams our efforts. The military can succeed here so long as American citizens support us wholeheartedly.

Sleep well on this third anniversary of 9/11, America. Rough men are standing ready to do violence on your behalf. Many of your sons and daughters volunteered to stand watch for you. Not just rough men- the infantry, the Marine grunts, the Special Operations Forces- but lots of eighteen and nineteen year old kids, teenagers, who are far away from home, serving as drivers, supply clerks, analysts, and mechanics. They all have stories, families, and dreams. They miss you, love you, and are putting their lives on the line for you. Do not make their time here, their sacrifice, a waste. Support them, and their mission.

Posted by Deb at 01:27 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

1/7 Update from Al Qaim

The First Team has been on the ground in our area of operations in western Al Anbar province for 3 weeks now. On 11 Sept we formally took control of the mission here and said goodbye to 3d Bn 7th Marines as they begin their trip home. We are grateful for their help in taking over the mission, and we wish them all a safe journey home and a happy reunion with their families.
While I cannot pass on specifics, the general locations of the battalion have not changed since my last update. Baker Company and their attachments are still at Camp Gannon in Husaybah, and the rest of the battalion task force is at Al Qaim working and operating in the towns of Karabilah, Sadah, and Ubaydi. While it is a fact that the areas we operate in are hostile and very hazardous, the Marines and sailors of the battalion are already highly proficient in identifying the dangers, protecting themselves and innocent Iraqis, and eliminating the threats. The courage, discipline, and skill of these young men reduces the risks and never ceases to impress me every day.

By now I'm sure you have all learned of the battalion's losses. On 3 Sept Capt Rowe, Lt Winchester, and LCpl Wilt were killed in action, and GySgt Trujillo and LCpl Laymanleary were wounded. On 15 Sept, LCpl Drew Uhles was also killed in action by an IED in Husaybah. In that same incident, LCpl Graham Walker was wounded, but thankfully he has already returned to the battalion and is expected to recover quickly. Our thoughts are always with our fallen heroes and our prayers go out to their families to grant them peace in their time of suffering. The loss of these men is painful for us all, but know that we will always carry on because that is what our comrades would want us to do. It is to honor them that we continue our mission.

Please understand that when events like this occur your Marine or sailor may not be able to contact you by phone or e-mail. We must restrict communications until after the next of kin have been properly notified. I know that nothing is more comforting for you as hearing your loved one's voice, so rest assured that I will not cut off communications unless it is absolutely necessary.

As always, you are all in our thoughts and your prayers sustain us. Every one of us looks forward to the day we return and are reunited with our families. Until then, thank you for your continuing support.

God bless you and
Semper Fidelis
LtCol Chris Woodbridge

Posted by Deb at 12:56 AM | Comments (65)

September 21, 2004

Update on Operation Santa

Almost completed and waiting to be filled.

Santa's elves are working hard! We have volunteers from all over the United States to help make the holidays merry for platoons of Marines who will be away from friends and family over the holidays. I?ve mailed out patterns and directions for Christmas stockings to more than 30 crafty folks, and now have project guidelines and sample press releases available to be downloaded from this website.

Right click here and select ?Save Target? for Project Guidelines.

Right click here and select 'Save Target' for sample Press Release.

If you are interested in coordinating Operation Santa for a Battalion, the guidelines should answer your questions. You will help recruit clubs, organizations, church groups, schools, etc. to fill platoons in your assigned battalions. We?ll help you. Currently, we have the coordinators for the following battalions:

1/7 ?-Deb Conrad and Connie Riecke - e-mail deb@marinecorpsmoms.com or Riecke@marinecorpsmoms.com

We also have platoon coordinators for several other battalions but need overall coordinators. These include 1/2, 1/4, 2/10, and possibly 3/5. Please let me know if you are interested in helping to find platoon coordinators for other platoons in these battalions. As folks show interest, we?ll add more battalions.

Platoon coordinators will take primary responsibility for filling individual stockings for each Marine in the platoon and enclosing a personal letter or card. They will also send a box of gifts to be shared by the entire platoon. This could include board games, DVDs, holiday treats, etc. - much like a family holiday back home might feature. If your club, organization, workplace, congregation, etc. would like to sponsor a platoon of Marines, please let me know. We'll hook you up.

For Portland, Oregon area folks who would like to help us sew, we've dropped off a supply of stocking patterns and directions at one of my favorite fabric stores:

Mill Ends Store
9701 SE McLoughlin Blvd
Milwaukie, Oregon 97222

I've been shopping there since I was 18 years old - excellent selection of fabrics and wonderful, community-minded staff. You can also drop off finished stockings there - they've offered to collect them for us.

My son's comment about this project's effect on his brother Marines, "This will bring a smile to their faces on Christmas Day" is all the motivation I need.

Posted by Deb at 12:41 AM | Comments (15)

September 20, 2004

Welcome home Warriors of 3/7

Photo by Cpl. Randy Bernard

The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, gathered to listen to Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, the 1st Marine Division sergeant major, tell them that their actions did not go unseen. Bell praised the Marines for their hard work, and determination to get the job done.

Marine Mom Connie is at 29 Palms tonight, waiting with other parents, wives, and friends who will welcome 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines home tomorrow morning from the al Anbar province of Iraq. These heroes made a difference to the people of Iraq and deserve a warm welcome home - please add your comments to this thread and we'll make sure they see them.

Here is a wrap-up from Cpl. Randy Bernard:

3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment has spent the last seven months operating out of Al Qaim, Iraq, successfully completing each mission.
Their mission was to improve the way of life for the Iraqis by removing insurgent threats and finding materials and locations used to make improvised explosive devices.

"The quality of life for the basic Iraqi person increased greatly," said Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Huff, the battalion sergeant major, 42, from Bellevue, Neb. "There hasn't been a day gone by when I don't think about how well the Marines perform on a day by day basis."

With their mission now in the hands of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 3/7 moved back to Al Asad for a little bit of rest before heading back to 29 Palms, Calif.

To help send them off, the 1st Marine Division sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, gave them a few words of bolstering encouragement and praise.

"Every time I am around these Marines, I feel like I am standing in the shadow of greatness," said Bell, 47, of Boston. "They will be read about for a long time."

Bell congratulated the Marines for doing a great job, and for serving the Marine Corps honorably in a time of war. He said there were two kinds of Marines, those in Iraq, and those going to Iraq.

Bell also addressed issues and the importance of voting, now that the Marines would be going home. When questioned about unit awards, he responded that there was already paperwork in the process for the humanitarian service and an Iraqi campaign medal for the Marines of 3/7.

With all of the formality out of the way, the Marines of 3/7 didn't seem to care about the medals or all of the praise, they were just eager to get home.

"We completed our mission we were assigned to do, now we are looking forward to heading home and being with our families," said Huff.

"We worked hard and we tried to do the best we could," said Lance Cpl. Clinton N. Shumway, 25, machine gunner with Company I and native of Atlanta. "We found a lot of IED materials and the people making them. I think we improved (the Iraqis') opinion of Americans. I wish 1/7 the best of luck, and I can't wait to see my wife and two kids."

"I think it was a decent thing to come out here," said Cpl. Charles E. Flockhart, a team leader with Company K. "I actually extended for 10 months to come back out here."

Flockhart, 25, from Newport, Tenn., deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom last year. He thinks that coming back and helping the Iraqis was a good thing.

"Seeing the kids wave at you and smile definitely made it all worth while," said Flockhart.

Posted by Deb at 08:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

24th MEU update from Iraq

Col. Ron Johnson sends along this September update from Iraq:

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Another month down. As the summer turns to fall back home, the 24th MEU is well into our own Fall Campaign here in Iraq. We�re advancing, steadily but surely, toward three objectives: the restoration of security, the revival of Iraq�s social and economic engines, and the reformation of its political system. All we do here revolves around the central goal of enabling this proud people to overcome decades of tyranny and fear in order to live in liberty and peace.
In the nearly 45 days since we assumed operational control of Northern Babil, we have conducted countless patrols, some 30 cordon-and-knock searches, 15 precision raids, and four citywide sweeps on the punks who are preying on Iraqis. We�ve rounded up dozens of detainees, several of them serious criminals and ists.

Our efforts, heartbreakingly, have come at a cost. During the past month we mourned the loss of Lance Cpl. Dustin Fitzgerald, Cpl. Barton Humlhanz and Sgt. Edgar Lopez. We will never forget them nor their heroic sacrifice for our country.

As we continue the fight, our overwhelming goal is to turn over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces. Their task will be to destroy the network of ists, thugs and thieves tormenting the Iraqi people. We are training the ISF and supporting them in every endeavor. Their confidence and capabilities are growing. They are increasingly taking the lead in conceiving, planning and executing offensive operations. The more they step up, the farther we will fade back, continuing to provide the support they require until we are no longer needed here.

And once the Iraqi security forces fully emerge, the ists know that their day is done. Abu Musab Zarqawi, our number-one target, acknowledged as much in his recent memo to Al Qaeda: �Democracy is coming. There will be no excuse thereafter for ism in Iraq.�

Three years ago today, we entered a war we did not choose but could no longer ignore. Nine days later, the president assured the American people that while the course of the conflict ahead was not certain, its outcome was. We reaffirm now what he vowed then:

�we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.�

Please keep the faith, as you are our pillars of hope and love.

Semper Fidelis,
R.J. JOHNSON
COLONEL, USMC

Posted by Deb at 01:28 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

September 19, 2004

Rumsfeld's Patriot Day message to the troops

September 11 was the third observance of Patriot Day, a day set aside to remember and honor those who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Here's the address by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld that was broadcast over radio to troops at home and abroad:

I value this opportunity to talk to those of you serving in our armed forces, and I want to thank you, personally, for your commitment to our country.
As you know, this week we lost the thousandth servicemember in Iraq. Some ask whether the global war on terror is worth a thousand American lives. It's an understandable question, but the answer should be clear to all who have studied our nation's history.

And I want you to know what I believe the answer is to that question.

First, we need to recognize that we passed the thousandth casualty mark in the global war on terror a long time ago. On September 11th, 2001, alone, we lost over 3,000 men, women and children. Since that time, the extremists have killed many more innocent men, women and children all over the world.

While some may feel we have been at war only since September 11th, the enemies we face have been at war against us for a good deal longer. Terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in 1993. They bombed our airmen in the barracks at Saudi Arabia, they attacked Americans at our embassies in East Africa, and they killed the sailors aboard the USS Cole.

During that same period, Saddam Hussein's regime tried to assassinate a former U.S. president, regularly fired at American and British aircraft that were flying in the Northern and Southern No-Fly zones over Iraq, and Saddam Hussein was, of course, paying the families of suicide terrorist bombers $25,000.

President Bush was faced with a choice � to confront a repressive dictator plotting to get his regime out of the international inspection and to amass the world's most lethal weapons � or wait until Saddam had succeeded. The president was faced -- as presidents always are -- with the risk of acting versus the risk of failing to act. But after September 11th, our country could no longer accept the risk of failing to act.

Because of your courage and commitment, some 50 million people from Afghanistan and Iraq are now experiencing freedom. Other regimes that also sponsored terror now support our cause.

Because we are eliminating the havens of those who seek to terrorize our nation, our country is safer today. And that is why the important work you are doing is worth the cost, and why it is so deeply appreciated.

Throughout history, brave Americans have come to the defense of our freedom. Today, that task falls to you.

Over my decades of service, I have been fortunate to meet a great many of our servicemen and women. And I always come away impressed � impressed by your dedication, by your professionalism, and by your devotion to our country.

With you on the front lines in this global struggle against extremists, this global war on terror, I know we will not falter, or tire, or fail, or yield. Our country is deeply in your debt.

May God bless you all, and may God bless America.

Donald H. Rumsfeld

Posted by Deb at 12:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Brig. Gen. Paxton reflects on the importance of 9/11

BrigGen Paxton commands the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Here is his essay on September 11:

Marines, Sailors and Marine Civilians,

September 11th will forever be a date America will mourn and never forget. As we take time today to recognize the tragic events of that day, we should all reﬂect on the importance of 9/11 and how it has changed our lives.

During the three years since September 11, 2001, we have been steadfast in our solemn duty here aboard MCRD San Diego to recruit and transform the very best young men and women this country has to offer into United States Marines. The recruits who have marched across this parade deck over the past three years have played a crucial role in defending freedom and fighting terrorism throughout the world. Many of the young men and women we continue to recruit and make into Marines will ultimately go into harm?s way around the world in the ongoing global war on terror.

The past 12 months in particular have seen many Marines make the ultimate sacrifice abroad, so that all Americans may continue to enjoy freedom and security at home. Throughout Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq, Marines have displayed heroic valor and determination in the face of a ruthless and cowardly enemy determined to attempt to keep freedom and peace from innocent people.

Places such as Ramadi, Fallujah, and Nasiriyah now take their rightful place in Marine Corps lore with Belleau Wood, Iwo Jima, and Khe Sahn as historic battles where Marines of today have continued to uphold their time honored reputation as the world?s finest fighting force.

This date will forever remind us of how precious the freedom in our country is, the importance of preserving our freedom and way of life, and how our mission at the Depot is crucial to ensuring this country never again experiences the catastrophic events of September 11th. As we pause to remember all who have given their lives on and since September 11th, let us be ever vigilant at the mission we have as Marines and the ultimate task we have as Americans in preserving freedom and democracy.

Semper Fidelis,
J. M. Paxton Jr.
Brigadier General, U. S. Marine Corps

Posted by Deb at 12:00 PM

Of phone calls and e-mails

Parents of deployed Marines are never far from a phone. I sleep with my cell phone and have been known to stop in at a phone store to beg for a quick recharge when I'm away from home and my phone battery runs low. My students know that I do not turn my phone off during class and if my son calls, we take a break until he's done talking.

Last year, I received frequent phone calls; this year e-mail seems to be more convenient. The lines are shorter to the internet center than to the phone center. Until this morning. The phone rang and it was my son. What an incredible uplifting feeling to hear his voice again. Reading words on my computer screen as I read and reread his e-mails pale in comparison to a real-time connection and hearing him say, "I'm fine, Mom."

It's rough over there. Frequent mortar attacks, constant vigilance for IEDs, and his battalion has lost some good men. Since all communication out is shut down when there is a fatality, it's been a few days since the guys were able to call or e-mail.

The people in his region of the Anbar province are very different than the citizens of the holy cities of Najaf and al Hillah where he spent seven months last year. But he also said that 10% of the people were causing the problems and that there were many families who just want peace. They are going after that 10%.

And there is a small but significant difference between reading "I love you, Mom" and hearing it over a phone line, even half a world away. Thank God for Alexander Graham Bell. He's one of my historical heroes.

Posted by Deb at 11:40 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

September 18, 2004

What happens if my son or daughter is wounded in action?

Photo by Cpl. Veronika R. Tuskowski

Capt. Paul D. Avellino stands in the same spot where he was injured by a rocket blast May 29. The crater above him and the scars on his head are reminders of that day.

A question that many Marine parents have is how they will be notified if their son or daughter is wounded. Here is one Marine mother's experience with the casualty notification process as related by USMC 1st Lt. Eric M. Knapp

She had just got home from a long day at work and was sifting through the mail when the phone rang.
Elizabeth Avellino picked up the phone when she saw the words 'US Government' displayed on the caller ID. She had never seen those words displayed before, and like many families who have gotten a similar call, never wants to see them again.

"When I answered the phone, Lt. Col. Mike Melillo identified himself and said he was from Camp Pendleton," said Elizabeth, 54, and the mother of two. "He told me Paul had been injured in Iraq by a rocket attack. At that point, I didn't hear anything after that."

Captain Paul Avellino had been walking to the showers from his barracks room here May 29 when a rocket smashed into a wall near his head.
"I heard the explosion, but it didn't quite register right away what it was," said Avellino, a 28-year-old intelligence officer by trade. "It felt like someone poured a bunch of water on my head. I got some shrapnel in the head and chest."

Avellino was rushed to the base battalion aid station by an Army soldier who had been walking nearby.

"They put me down on a stretcher. Everyone kept talking to me to make sure I was conscious," explained Avellino.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert L. Spencer, the senior corpsman on the scene, kept talking to Avellino for two reasons: one, to make sure his mental functions were not damaged by the blast; two, to get the necessary information to report him as a casualty.

"We treated his wounds, bandaged him up, put some dressings on him, and wrote out a casualty tag, which has all the patient's information," said Spencer, 41, of Marietta, Ga. "As people would come in, the adjutant would jot down their information and made sure she had all the accurate information: name, rank, social security number, type of injury and unit they were attached to."

Obtaining all of that information is necessary so the unit can report the casualty to their higher headquarters, but more importantly, so they can track the casualty and notify the family.

"The adjutant should be actively engaged by the first responder that provided care for the Marine to find out the extent of the injuries," explained Gunnery Sgt. Marco A. Rico, who tracks casualties for the 1st Marine Division. "She would prepare the official Personal Casualty Report that is sent in to us here. At the same time her section would be gathering his personal information to relay to the rear so his next of kin can be notified."

That duty fell to Melillo, the executive officer of 11th Marine Regiment, Avellino's parent command.

"He was very supportive," Elizabeth said. "I was running around the house screaming and crying. He tried to calm me down by talking about Paul and said he knew Paul would heal quickly and he would pray for him."

After Melillo gave her all the information he had on her son, he answered Elizabeth's questions and offered her any support she needed.

"I felt that if there was anything I needed I could call him," Elizabeth said. "I felt I had the support of the entire Marine Corps if I needed it."

The Avellinos' story is not uncommon, and neither is the care that was provided to each of them throughout the casualty notification process. However, notification for very seriously injured Marines, and those that are killed, has additional steps.

For serious injuries and death, the PCR is forwarded up the chain of command to the headquarters of the Marine Corps. A PCR contains a Marine's personal information: name, rank, social security number, unit, time and date of incident, extent of injuries, and where he is being treated at.

There is a balance, though, in including too little or too much information in the PCR the family receives.

"Our general's intent is not to provide information where the enemy can retrieve it and get an accurate assessment of the force they are inflicting on us," Rico said. "When we do our PCR everything is in general terms."

Understandably, some families want to know exactly when, where, why and how their son or daughter was injured.

"That is where the unit comes into play," Rico explained. "The battalion commander, company commander or platoon commander will write a letter and explain exactly what happened to their son or daughter."

The Marine Corps has another crucial element to providing information to families and giving them comfort in their time of need, though.

"In cases of very serious injury or death, the (Marine Corps) will assign a CACO - a casualty assistance officer - to make notification to the family," Rico said.

"Many families do not know what's involved with getting a Marine home, getting therapies, or getting through medical facilities before he's discharged," Rico added. "Or they're not aware of how a deceased Marine is processed within the Marine Corps. That's where the CACO comes in."

The CACOs are Marines who are hand-picked from the Inspector Instructor staff stationed across the US, whose primary job is to train and instruct reservists. The CACOs are assigned to a family the minute the PCR is received and often stay in close contact until the family buries their loved one or is rehabilitated, as in the case of a severe injury.

CACOs can be sent out alone, in pairs or be a whole team. Chaplains often accompany them on the visits.

"They have refined the process to an art form," said Rico, who has served as a CACO. "Every single I&I staff knows we're out here and have their procedures in place and their designated CACOs. There's always gas in a van ready to go. Their Dress Blues are hanging up in their office ready to go. It's just amazing."

Fortunately, Elizabeth did not get a knock on the door by a CACO that day. A half an hour after Melillo gave her the bad news, her son called her from a hospital in Iraq.

"I remember she started crying," Avellino said. "I was just trying to reassure my mom everything was alright."

Avellino's mother didn't know what to think when she heard his voice.

"I asked him 'are you okay?' and he said yes," Elizabeth said. "I asked him if he's coming home and he said no. I thought to myself 'if he's not coming home, he must not be injured serious enough to be sent home.'"

Avellino recovered from his injuries quickly and returned to duty. He will be heading home soon after a seven-month deployment to visit his mother in Brimfield, Ohio.

"First thing I'm going to do when he gets home is look over every inch of his head like those apes on the Discovery Channel," said Elizabeth. "I want to make sure his head's alright."

Posted by Deb at 06:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Motivation

Via Grim's Halls, this quote from Col John Coleman, USMC, Chief of Staff, I MEF in Fallujah, Iraq as quoted in the Boston Globe 16 Sep:

"I'll be damned if when I'm 65 I'm going to be sitting on the redwood deck of my double-wide and read some snot-nosed grad school thesis about another failed US foreign policy example in the early part of the century. I'll die staying here so I don't have to read that."

Posted by Deb at 05:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The view from Iraq

Here's an e-mail from a Marine Major in Baghdad who sees things from a bit of a different perspective that our media would have you think:

A thought from Iraq:
?Doom & Gloom about Iraq?s future?
I don?t see it from where I?m sitting.?

[For those of you who haven?t gotten my ?Thoughts? before, I?m a Major in the USMC on the Multi-National Corps staff in Baghdad. The analysts and pundits who don?t see what I see on a daily basis, in my opinion, have very little credibility to talk about the situation ? especially if they have yet to set foot in Iraq. Everything Americans believe about Iraq is simply perception filtered through one?s latent prejudices until you are face-to-face with reality. If you haven?t seen, or don?t remember, the John Wayne movie, The Green Berets, you should watch it this weekend. Pay special attention to the character of the reporter, Mr. Beckwith. His experience is directly related to the situation here. You?ll have a different perspective on Iraq after the movie is over.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The US media is abuzz today with the news of an intelligence report that is very negative about the prospects for Iraq?s future. CNN?s website says, ?[The] National Intelligence Estimate was sent to the White House in July with a classified warning predicting the best case for Iraq was ?tenuous stability? and the worst case was civil war.? That report, along with the car bombings and kidnappings in Baghdad in the past couple days are being portrayed in the media as more proof of absolute chaos and the intransigence of the insurgency.

From where I sit, at the Operational Headquarters in Baghdad, that just isn?t the case. Let?s lay out some background, first about the ?National Intelligence Estimate.? The most glaring issue with its relevance is the fact that it was delivered to the White House in July. That means that the information that was used to derive the intelligence was gathered in the Spring ? in the immediate aftermath of the April battle for Fallujah, and other events. The report doesn?t cover what has happened in July or August, let alone September.

The naysayers will point to the recent battles in Najaf and draw parallels between that and what happened in Fallujah in April. They aren?t even close. The bad guys did us a HUGE favor by gathering together in one place and trying to make a stand. It allowed us to focus on them and defeat them. Make no mistake, Al Sadr?s troops were thoroughly smashed. The estimated enemy killed in action is huge. Before the battles, the residents of the city were afraid to walk the streets. Al Sadr?s enforcers would seize people and bring them to his Islamic court where sentence was passed for religious or other violations. Long before the battles people were looking for their lost loved ones who had been taken to ?court? and never seen again. Now Najafians can and do walk their streets in safety. Commerce has returned and the city is being rebuilt. Iraqi security forces and US troops are welcomed and smiled upon. That city was liberated again. It was not like Fallujah ? the bad guys lost and are in hiding or dead.

You may not have even heard about the city of Samarra. Two weeks ago, that Sunni Triangle city was a ?No-go? area for US troops. But guess what? The locals got sick of living in fear from the insurgents and foreign fighters that were there and let them know they weren?t welcome. They stopped hosting them in their houses and the mayor of the town brokered a deal with the US commander to return Iraqi government sovereignty to the city without a fight. The people saw what was on the horizon and decided they didn?t want their city looking like Fallujah in April or Najaf in August.

Boom, boom, just like that two major ?hot spots? cool down in rapid succession. Does that mean that those towns are completely pacified? No. What it does mean is that we are learning how to do this the right way. The US commander in Samarra saw an opportunity and took it ? probably the biggest victory of his military career and nary a shot was fired in anger. Things will still happen in those cities, and you can be sure that the bad guys really want to take them back. Those achievements, more than anything else in my opinion, account for the surge in violence in recent days ? especially the violence directed at Iraqis by the insurgents. Both in Najaf and Samarra ordinary people stepped out and took sides with the Iraqi government against the insurgents, and the bad guys are hopping mad. They are trying to instill fear once again. The worst thing we could do now is pull back and let that scum back into people?s homes and lives.

So, you may hear analysts and prognosticators on CNN, ABC and the like in the next few days talking about how bleak the situation is here in Iraq, but from where I sit, it?s looking significantly better now than when I got here. The momentum is moving in our favor, and all Americans need to know that, so please, please, pass this on to those who care and will pass it on to others. It is very demoralizing for us here in uniform to read & hear such negativity in our press. It is fodder for our enemies to use against us and against the vast majority of Iraqis who want their new government to succeed. It causes the American public to start thinking about the acceptability of ?cutting our losses? and pulling out, which would be devastating for Iraq for generations to come, and Muslim militants would claim a huge victory, causing us to have to continue to fight them elsewhere (remember, in war ?Away? games are always preferable to ?Home? games). Reports like that also cause Iraqis begin to fear that we will pull out before we finish the job, and thus less willing to openly support their interim government and US/Coalition activities. We are realizing significant progress here ? not propaganda progress, but real strides are being made. It?s terrible to see our national morale, and support for what we?re doing here, jeopardized by sensationalized stories hyped by media giants whose #1 priority is advertising income followed closely by their political agenda; getting the story straight falls much further down on their priority scale, as Dan Rather and CBS News have so aptly demonstrated in the last week.

This is via the Captains Quarter's blog - an excellent read any day but especially today.

Posted by Deb at 05:20 PM

September 17, 2004

I Love Jet Noise goes a'wandering

Cassandra from I Love Jet Noise is guest-blogging at Mudville Gazette while Greyhawk is busy protecting and defending the rest of us. Here's a snipped from her inaugural post describing those who keep up the home front by supporting their Marines and soldiers - it's an excellent read, as always:

We're used to thinking of courage on the battlefield: the active kind you see when adrenaline is pumping and bullets are flying. But what of the quiet courage it takes to face a wheelchair? Or months of pain, disfigurement, or physical therapy? What of the grace, faith, and amazing strength of our military wives and mothers, who must deal with all the hardships of deployment: bills, the absence of a husband and father, loneliness, depression...and face all these things with a smile because their loved ones look to them for support?

She describes the courage and fortitude of the family of Sgt. James Lathan who had just finished breakfast and was entering the rec tent to watch a movie when he was injured last 4th of July. His wife and parents are remarkable people - read the story here.

Posted by Deb at 02:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

True Grit

Cpl Glen R. Springstead recently interviewed another modern-day hero of the Corps.

The bullet in his back hasn't damaged his spirit. Cpl. Lonnie Young kneels next to a wounded Marine.

In boot camp, recruits learn that every Marine is a rifleman and this is reinforced annually when each Marine must requalify on the rifle range. Cpl Young put that training to good use when the base he was working on in An Najaf, Iraq came under attack by approximately 800 anti-coalition militiamen, April 4, 2004. Young fought alongside seven Blackwater Security personnel to secure the base and defeat the enemy. Here's his account of the day's events.

The day was Sunday, April 4th. Corporal Lonnie Young had been in Iraq since January, three long, hot months in the war-torn country and a far cry from his hometown of Dry Ridge, Kentucky -- small-town America with a population of 2,000.
Being called to the frontlines as a Defense Messaging System administrator, he quickly found himself providing convoy security and personal security for visiting general officers, but on this day he was setting up communication throughout the different camps.

Young and his co-workers, approximately seven civilian contractors and coalition fighters, pulled into the gates of Camp Golf in An Najaf to establish a communication link at the coalition base.

�While entering the front gate, I noticed a small group of protesters out in the streets,� Young recalled. �As we proceeded onto the base there were numerous coalition soldiers in �riot gear� near the front gate. Our rendezvous point was behind the first building in a large parking lot.�

After undergoing a short mission briefing, the convoy moved to the rear of the base to continue their mission at hand. Young and his team remained with the 5-ton truck and went to work installing a Motorola base-station radio in the Spanish Forces headquarters building.

�We entered the building and had a quick discussion with the Spanish commander. After the short introduction, we went to the roof and began installing the radio antenna,� Young said.

While on the roof, Young stopped for a brief moment to clear his head and admire the view of the cityscape. He recalls not seeing many people in the streets. Everything seemed tranquil and peaceful, a scarce sight in Iraq today. Little did he know that this was the calm before the storm.

�We went back downstairs to the radio room to continue the installs, and after about twenty-minutes we finished up everything. I then grabbed all of our gear and took it back outside to the five-ton truck.�
�Since we were about twenty-minutes from chow time, I removed my cammie blouse and caught a quick 10-minute nap in the back of the truck. Andy, a civilian contractor, came outside, woke me up, and exclaimed that we were not getting a good signal on the radio and that we need to fix it. I told him that I would be right in to help. I got dressed, grabbed my weapon, and was about to get out of the truck when I heard the unmistakable sound of an AK-47 rifle fire a few rounds out in the street in front of the base.�

The shots Young heard fired were just the beginning of what would turn out to be a brutal four-hour firefight between eight commandos from Blackwater Security Consulting, a handful of U.S. and coalition force troops, and approximately 800 anti-coalition militia members.

Upon hearing the shots, Young threw on his gear, grabbed his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and assumed a clear vantage point atop the roof alongside his comrades. He peered through his rear site aperture at the armed mob below, awaiting further orders to engage.

�After what seemed like an eternity, which was maybe just a few seconds, I could see people getting out of the truck and start running. One of the Iraqis quickly dropped down into a prone position and fired several round at us. I started yelling that I had one in my sights and asking if I could engage. �With your permission Sir, I have acquired a target�, I yelled over and over until finally, the Blackwater Security guys gave the call of commence firing,� Young explained.

�I leveled the sights on my target and squeezed the trigger. I could see that the man had on an all white robe and was carrying an AK-47 rifle in his right hand. He seemed to be running as hard as he could when I fired off a short burst of 5.56 mm rounds. Through my sights I could see the man fall onto the pavement. I stopped for a second, raised my head from my gun, to watch the man lay in the street motionless.�

�I had a weird feeling come over me,� Young recalled. �I had many emotions kick in at once. I felt a sense of purpose, happiness, and sorrow, which all hit me at once.�

The battle raged on with rounds whizzing closely overhead, Young unrelentingly fired belt after belt of ammunition and suppressing fire, deterring the rebel fighters.

�I was getting ready to make an �ammo� run when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Capt. Eddy get hit and fall to the cement rooftop,� he explained. �He made a short scream and then yelled for a medic. I leaned my weapon up against the wall and dove to his side. I started to remove Capt. Eddy�s gear carefully one piece at a time.

�At that moment, I could hear bullets ricocheting off through the air and smacking a tin air duct. I removed Capt. Eddy�s Interceptor vest and continued to cut off his brown T-shirt. I could see a small hole in his left arm that was gushing blood. I looked around him and shortly thereafter found another hole close to the center of his back. Quickly grabbing my medical kit from my load bearing vest (LBV), I dumped it out onto the ground and started to search through its contents.�

Young grabbed a couple gauze patches and applied pressure to the blood spurting wounds.

�We came up with a plan. He said that he could run, so I put his right arm around my neck and called for covering fire. I heard everybody firing their weapons rapidly as we made our run for the door. The sounds were ear piercing and very intense. I continued on and carried Capt. Eddy down the stairs and into the tactical medical room they had set up on the first floor.�

�I then saw a beautiful sight. There were two tanks rolling out into the drive that leads to the front gate. I could hear their machine guns lighting up and their tracks slapping the pavement as they moved. You could sometimes see sparks come off of the tanks as bullets ricocheted off of its heavily armored hull. It was a great sense of relief to see them out there. It gave me motivation to continue on without noticing any kind of fatigue or pain that was throbbing through my knees from diving around and trying to dodge bullets.�

Young loaded up a few magazines and returned back to his rooftop position. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something red flash out in front of him�. SMACK! Again, the unforgettable sound of bullets ripping through human flesh rung in the young corporal�s ears.

�It sounded just like a bullet smacking a target at the rifle range -- a really sharp crack. I had heard that same crack when Capt. Eddy was hit. I looked down and to my left, and saw a horrific sight. I saw blood gushing and squirting out the side of a guy�s face.�

That guy was a linguist for Blackwater Security. To this day, Young has yet to figure out his name. It was the first time that he had ever seen the man, but he still considered him to be a brother. He set down his weapon and leaped to the injured man�s side.

�I could see a quarter-sized hole in his jaw. By this time, the guy had lost about a pint of blood. I tried to press on the wound and stop the bleeding that way, but the blood was squirting out between my fingers. I had thought to myself that his carotid artery had to be cut. Using my index finger, I reached inside the hole and began to feel around. It took a few seconds to find it, but finally, I felt something like a large vein. I wrapped my finger around it and pinched as hard as I could.�

With bullets raining down on them, Young grabbed the guy by the back of his Interceptor vest and began to drag him. As he was dragging him, the Marine heard an ear-piercing smack, much like the all to familiar smack that he had earlier when the guys beside him had been hit. He then found himself hurling through the air and collapsing to the concrete rooftop.

�I had a burning sensation like I had never felt before on the backside of my left shoulder. My left eye was throbbing as I tried to rub out what I thought was dirt. I could no longer see out of my left eye. I picked myself up and looked around for who had been hit. I knew that I heard the unmistakable smack, but no one appeared to be shot. I went back to the guy that I was previously dragging and moved him on in behind a concrete air duct in the center of the front wall. There, the Blackwater medic came sliding in by the guy�s other side. I reached back inside the hole in the guy�s neck and pinched once again.�

With every once of energy left in the weary Marine�s body, he hauled the badly injured man down off the rooftop and into the floor below where medics were still administering first aid to the wounded captain. As the battle raged on outside, the Marine grabbed his SAW and some more ammunition and ran back to his rooftop perch.

�I gazed over the streets with straining eyes, only to see hundreds of dead Iraqis lying all over the ground,� Young recollects. �It was an unbelievable sight; even though there were so many lying dead, the Iraqis were still running towards the front gate. I opened fire once again. Emptying magazine after magazine, I watched the people dressed in white and black robes drop to the ground as my sights passed by them. All I could think about at that time was that I had to either kill or be killed. It felt as if we were losing ground. In many senses we were, but that feeling just made me fight harder.�

Suddenly, Young felt a tugging on his back. He turned and looked over his right shoulder to see one of his officers yelling at him, ordering him off of the roof. It was then the Marine realized he was standing in a pool of his own blood. The last smack he heard was in fact his own flesh being torn.

�Still a little confused about what was going on, he asked me where I was hit. I told him that I wasn�t sure but I thought that it was my back. I was sweating heavily and it was getting in my eyes. I took off my Kevlar helmet and wiped the right side of my face. I could feel the sweat dripping off my hand, so I flung my hand really quickly, as to fling all the water off�. my hand was painted bright red from fresh blood,� said Young.

Feelings of dread overtook Young as he frantically felt around his face for a bullet hole.

Ka-Bar in hand, they cut the Marine�s green T-shirt to expose the bloodied wound. One entrance hole was found, right in line with his heart and there were no exit holes.

�I said to the captain that I was good to go and started to put my Interceptor vest back on. I felt that I was able to get back in the fight, but the captain thought differently. After a short argument, the captain convinced me to get down off the roof.�

�A small bit of time passed and the room started spinning. My eyelids felt like they had bricks tied to them, and I was hot all over. I heard the �doc� say that they had to get me out of there. They started to pick me up and I gained enough sense to walk on my own. We ran outside and I saw three Blackwater helicopters sitting there. I ran to the farthest helicopter and got inside the front passenger seat. I felt very nervous as we took off from the ground. I didn�t have any body armor at all, nor did I have a weapon. I looked all around the base and saw that everybody was firing their weapons�. I felt almost helpless sitting there.�

Young explained that the helicopter ride to the hospital in Baghdad seemed like an eternity. Upon arrival, he went straight into surgery. After a successful operation, the round was removed from his back, and piece of shrapnel was removed from his left eye, but no major damage was done. The doctor even let Young keep the troublesome hunk of metal as a war trophy.

In the words of Maj. Douglas Fordham, the only other Marine attached to the DMS team of technicians, Young was critical to the success of the militia deterrence.

�I can tell you this, before this attack ever broke out in the two days of operations that preceded it, I was very confident placing the security of my team and indeed my own life in the hands of this corporal,� explained Fordham. �I had no doubt in him. He exuded a level of confidence and professionalism found in few seniors and even fewer peers. As I look back on all of this, I believe that I have Cpl. Young to thank that I am still alive. Period.�

Young has seen the horrors of war; he�s experienced hell firsthand and learned the hard way that truth is far stranger than the fiction of movies. What could possibly make a man sacrifice his own well-being for the safety of two complete strangers? The answer is simple�. The title Marine.

The title Marine - earned, never given - has inspired ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things for 228 years. Cpl Young isn't the first and he won't be the last Marine to ignore his own injuries to protect others, but this remarkable account deserves to be shared.

Posted by Deb at 12:34 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

September 16, 2004

SecDef on Troop Rotation

Donald Rumsfeld recently spoke at Fort Leonard Wood and was asked about the differences between Army (12 month) and Marine (7 month) rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here's his reply:

I?ve had two meetings with the Army and two meetings with the Marines on this. And I look at it and I say to myself that doesn?t make a lot of sense. You got seven-month rotation for the Marines, 12 months for the Army. And the Marines argue vigorously that they?re circumstance is that they have many more younger people who come in, serve a tour and leave and that the way they?re rhythm ? their rotation rhythm is that they can get seven months and then have those people go back and then get them again ? possibly, depending on their tour length ? and end up with 14 months during a period when the Army may have had 12.
And then you raise the question, well, -- but isn?t that inefficient. You have to bring them back and bring them forth and they say, well, now we?re doing that with the Army anyway. After six months, we?re sending them back home for two weeks. And then you say, well, isn?t it a little short, seven months to get situational awareness and to really get good at what you?re doing.

And they argue on the contrary, that it works for them. And they say that sometimes when you have a 12-month tour in a combat zone, about the last three or four or five months, your head?s kind of getting out of the game and you?d like to get out of there. So there are pluses and minuses for both arguments. Pete Schoomaker and the Army are absolutely convinced that they?re doing it the right way at a maximum of 12 months. The Marines are absolutely convinced they?re doing it at a seven-month rotation and I am as uncertain of either as I was before I had my two meetings with each of them.

Now that?s ? confession is good for the soul. [Laughter] They each make good points. And I am very big for jointness and it bothers me to think that people in the Army will look at the Marine rotating in and leaving after seven months and thinking they?re not pulling their oar. And so it?s that disconnect that worries me the most about it. There?s no plan at present to change it. And I have no plans to have anymore meetings with either of them on this subject. [Laughter]

Speaking as the mother of a Marine who is beginning his second seven month rotation, I hope that Secretary Rumsfeld sticks to his plan. Troops come home, train, reconnect with family, and return to the sandbox refreshed and motivated. New troops serve along seasoned Marines. Situational awareness is there; due in part to this mix of experience and training.

Posted by Deb at 08:36 PM | Comments (1)

Forever Proud

As sons and daughters deploy to other lands, parents wait at home, knowing that there is little to do but hope and pray that our children will stay safe and strong. And we wonder whether the commanders who lead them into battle can possibly understand the warring emotions of fierce pride and absolute fear that we go through as the news reports come back from half way round the world. Each time there is a reported death, we have to remind ourselves to breathe again. We grieve with parents who we will never meet, knowing that it could just as easily be our own precious son or daughter. And yet, we know that our children are exactly where they have chosen to be and are protecting and defending us - a role reversal that many of us are not quite ready to relinquish willingly.

We scour internet sites and news sources, looking for references to where our children are sent. And we wonder about the commanding officers who have the power to send our children into harms way. Here is a message from 1/7 SgtMaj Gary Weiser that sheds light on the character of men who make the USMC a career.

As the Marines of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines once again deploy into harms way I would like to let you know how much your support, prayers, and thoughts give your Marines the courage and resolve to carry out this next mission. Your Marines have stepped forward to add to the great heritage of our country.
For the past 228 years of the independence and freedom that we as Americans have enjoyed, at times throughout our history, many of our young citizens have stepped forward to protect and defend those same freedoms. A freedom of such great there is no price that can be placed upon it. Even as some of your young Marines do not even yet fully understand the value of the concept they are willing to protect, the willing do so and in time they truly will understand the importance and value of their actions.

While we enjoy our way of life here in the United States of America many others around the globe can only dream of it, and have known only repression. During the last two years we have helped to liberate over 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq. The war in Iraq took only a few weeks.

Since that time, American men and women with the help of multiple other forces from around the world have remained in Iraq to secure the freedom for the Iraqi people and to ensure that they can build the foundations of their new government and way of life. Most of the Iraqi people are extremely grateful for what we have accomplished so far. The job is not yet finished and like the time it took to establish our own government, theirs will also require time and many growing pains.

Your Marines will face danger from the few in Iraq who wish to control the country for their own purposes and also from those that wish to destroy our own civilization here at home. They come from many areas to attack the freedoms that we have brought to Iraq and to attempt to kill the Americans who are there and the will of all you back here at home, but we must never lose our resolve.

In the words of our President, The Honorable Mr. Bush, �Freedom is not America�s gift to the world, it is God�s gift to mankind�. The efforts of your Marines in this War on Terrorism are truly in concert with the efforts and sacrifices that we as Americans have put forth throughout our history. You can be forever proud of your Marine, and your support while he is away will bolster his courage and purpose of mission. I thank you for your thoughts, prayers and continued support.

Last year, when 1/7 Marines returned to 29 Palms from their first deployment to Iraq, I met SgtMaj Weiser briefly when I stopped him to ask directions to the redeployment site. A few weeks later, he stepped into the role of top enlisted Marine for 1/7. Reading his words above helps me to understand why my son and his brother Marines have a great deal of trust and respect for him. And the words, "forever proud", are an apt description of parental feelings about not just their but all Marines.

Posted by Deb at 02:31 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 15, 2004

2/2 Marines Final Update

Jarhead Dad tells us that his Marine son is coming home, along with the rest of 2/2 Marines. Here's LtCol Kyser's last message to the waiting families and friends. It's an incredible testament to the bravery and courage of these young Marines and Sailors.

Sept. 11
Hello again Warlord families!

As I began this final letter to you from Mahmudiyah, Iraq, it is fitting that I do so on September 11th. That day and the tragic events that were the catalyst that brought the Warlords to this troubled land will forever be etched in our minds. It will not only be a day that we always remember where we were, but also a day that we remember as the day that so many of our country�s citizens were lost to terrorism and also remembered as the day when so many stood up and said �enough!� Your Warlords were some of those who said �enough!� Accordingly, I consider it a singular honor, on this day in particular, to pass on to you some of the things that your husbands, sons, brothers and fathers have done since I last wrote you at the end of June.

I related to you at the beginning of the last letter that we had moved again (for the fifth time) and returned to our original location in Mahmudiyah where we relieved four Army battalions that had been conducting operations in this area while we had been in Al Kharma, Fallujah, and Zaidon. Upon returning to Mahmudiyah, the Task Force immediately rolled up its sleeves and reasserted its presence in the area with an aggressive series of actions that ignored the sometimes 140 degree temperatures. Those actions seized and maintained control of nearly 22 miles of six lane highway that had become one of the most volatile sections of road in Iraq, and put the terrorists on their heels within a nearly 800 square kilometer area of operations. Combined with those offensive and defensive operations, we rekindled old friendships with local leaders and families as the battalion assumed control of those civil-military actions designed to rebuild the infrastructure here in the Mahmudiyah area.

Unfortunately, the level and type of enemy activity in our absence spiked to a degree that made our final three months in Iraq less characterized by actions that would exemplify the �No Better Friend� portion of our mission, and more consistent with the �No Worse Enemy� angle. As has been their custom, your Marines and Sailors responded to this challenge and performed magnificently. The three rifle companies found themselves rotating through stints providing fixed site security along the main supply routes strategically supporting the links to Baghdad and Fallujah, providing security for other key infrastructure, conducting patrols to deter enemy activities designed to disrupt the functioning of the Iraqi National Conference and conducting raids and searches in the dead of night that kept the enemy looking over his shoulder and wondering where the Marines would come from next. At every turn, the Marines of Easy, Fox and Golf and their assigned snipers met the enemy on his home ground with raids, cordon and search operations and coordinated stay-behind operations designed to ambush the insurgents � and on every occasion when he chose to challenge the Warlords, he was defeated decisively. There was no doubt in the mind of these cowards that there was a �new Sheriff in Town.�

While the rifle companies asserted their presence with these missions, Weapons Company�s 81�s Platoon not only kept the enemy at bay by providing �spot on� counter mortar fire but continued their role as the Battalion�s Combined Action Platoon helping to train the fledgling Iraqi national Guard. Capitalizing on the foundation they built during our six weeks here in March and April, they transformed a ragtag group of Iraqi soldiers into a Battalion that now regularly patrols and operates alongside their Marine counterparts. This is a singularly impressive accomplishment because not only did they keep their fighting edge, but they also overcame the language barrier and cultural differences to teach these Iraqis the basics of warfighting and provided them the foundation to begin assuming responsibility for security in their own country. Simultaneously, the Red, White and Blue Sections of the CAAT Platoon continued to earn their reputation as the workhorses of the battalion by conducting operations twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week with mobile patrols, escort duty for our Explosive Ordnance Disposal heroes, and aggressive actions designed to hunt down and kill terrorists with their hard-hitting firepower. Again and again, the enemy engaged our CAAT�s with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED�s), direct fire and indirect fire in order to try to shake them from accomplishing their mission. No matter the method the enemy tried to use, the Marines of this platoon stood tall in their turrets fast in the face of daily attacks against them and kept the pressure on. Incredible courage and attention to duty are the two phrases that most come to mind when I think of their daily ability to be �in the enemy�s face� and defeat his best efforts.

Equally impressive were the efforts of our Combat Engineers and Counterintelligence Marines. The Engineers continued as the most productive platoon in theater finding dozens of enemy caches, adding to the survivability of our Marines on fixed site security missions with their construction skills, and as always adding their considerable infantry skills to an already deadly team. Their search methods are now used as the template for the entire Division. Complementing their actions were the warriors of our Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Exploitation Team (CI/HET) who continued to rack up the most significantly actionable intelligence of any team in theater. Their efforts alone, when combined with the rest of the Task Force�s combat power was specifically responsible for the detention of dozens of high value terrorist personalities operating within our Area of Operations and some whose influence was international in scope.

A significant and welcome addition to our Task Force came with Artillery Marines from both the 11th Marine Regiment and 10th Marine Regiment as we returned to Mahmudiyah. Sixteen indirect fire attacks during our initial return here highlighted the need for a more robust counterfire capability. With that in mind, RCT-1 and later, the 24th MEU provided the Warlords with a split battery of 155mm howitzers. As a result, any time the enemy was foolish enough to engage us with indirect fire, the canoneers fired with responsiveness and pinpoint accuracy that in once case, forced the enemy to leave his position so quickly that he left his rocket launchers and ammunition in place.

Finally our Headquarters and Service Company kept every conceivable aspect of the Task Force supplied, supported and operating like a well-oiled machine. Our Battalion Aid Station and its Corpsmen literally saved the lives of dozens of Marines wounded in engagements with the enemy. Often under fire, these Sailors not only took the fight to the enemy themselves but often found themselves shielding their Marine brothers as they rendered lifesaving medical care�proving once again why a Navy Corpsmen will never buy a drink when there is a Marine infantryman present. As Corpsman triaged our Marines, our Motor Transport Marines drove thousands of miles supporting every combat need, and worked around the clock and with the enthusiasm of a well-practiced pit crew conducting �triage� on vehicles that if back in the states, would have been relegated to the dump. They worked around the clock installing life-saving armor, ballistic windshields and keeping our vital rolling assets in working order proving once again that �the pride don�t ride without Motor �T!�

The Marines and leaders of the Communications Platoon continued to stretch the limits on every piece of equipment the battalion owned in ensuring timely and reliable communications across this 800 square kilometer area of operations thereby allowing the battalion to respond with devastating effects. The Communications reliability and versatility of this Task Force has literally become the envy of the Division because of their efforts. Other standouts include our Supply section, our Armorers, the NBC section and our administrators. Each Marine, in addition to their �day job� of keeping the battalion supplied, paid, and our weapons and chemical gear in top condition, also found themselves as the primary security for multiple tasks supporting the battalion�s myriad missions. Each has proven unmistakably that �every Marine a rifleman� is more than just a catchy phrase.

A special mention during this letter must go to the Marines from H&S Company supporting us in the chow hall. Throughout the deployment, their extraordinary efforts, sometimes under fire, have ensured our Marines have had the best field mess support possible regardless of the conditions. Unlike so many other units, the Warlords maintained their own organic capability and these Marines worked twenty hour days consistently in 130 degree temperatures to make sure that the members of the Task Force were well-fed and able to enjoy the occasional special meal. Their commitment to their task added immeasurably to the morale of our Marines and Sailors.

As you can imagine, to try to recap all that your Marines and Sailors have done during the past two and one half months would be an almost impossible task from the standpoint of volume alone. To try to recall the hundreds of acts of heroism and compassion becomes and even greater task but one that merits some mention here as I try to share my immense pride in what these fine men have accomplished. As the commander of the Task Force I have had the privilege of reading the recommendations recognition for all of our Warlords. It is not uncommon for me to find myself up until the sun rises after I have returned from a mission, reading with great admiration and pride, the courageous acts of so many Marines and Sailors. I am not trying to sound melodramatic, but their deeds will now become part of the legends that make up the lore of the Naval Service as a result of their consistently selfless actions.

Examples of some of the more than 150 recommended awards for valor include men who crossed fire swept terrain to save Iraqi families caught in deadly crossfire as terrorists used them as human shields, Corpsmen who protected Marines with their bodies as indirect fire landed around them, Marines who continued to fight after having been wounded, not willing to give up their positions for fear that their buddies would pay the price, admonishing themselves to �stay in the fight,� maintaining their fire to protect their fellow Marines without the slightest regard for their own danger. Most importantly however I will remember the dozens of Purple Heart ceremonies where we recognized those who day in and day out, put on their gear, checked their ammunition and headed out to get the mission accomplished regardless of the dangers they knew were waiting for them. That my friends is courage�and that is why these Marines and Sailors deserve every accolade a nation can bestow. They have paid the price for freedom with their courage.

If you remember, prior to the deployment I wrote you that �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. They are also men who are fathers, sons, brothers and husbands whose capability as warriors is exceeded only by their compassion and strong moral compass.� I must tell you that those words were written based on my confidence in these men and what I had seen them do to prepare. I can tell you that that confidence was not misplaced. They exceeded my most ardent hopes and reminded me again what it means to be a part of a fighting unit like the Warlords of Task Force 2/2. Their actions are indeed the stuff of legend.

I will also tell you without reservation that much of our success is arguably the result of the strength we drew daily from your support. Your letters, your packages, your prayers and most of all your complete commitment to our mission here by your devotion to your Warlord gave us not only the focus we needed, but the promise of what we had to return to. In particular I must thank the Key Volunteers throughout the Task Force who consistently gave to us, and to each other, the support and sustained commitment that provided the foundation on which we succeeded. Your Marines and Sailors were able to focus on the mission because of the confidence they had in all of you at home to take care of each other when they could not be home with you. For all that you have done for all of us I will remain forever in your debt.

As uplifting and inspiring as the performance of your Warlords has been, each of you also know that those successes have not been without cost. Sadly, as the deployment comes to a close, I am reminded of each of the more than one hundred and fifty wounded and our six fallen. I ask that each of you continue your prayers for these men who gave so much in support of their fellow Marines and Sailors. Their names and their deeds will be remembered by each of us who were privileged to serve with them. But well after the welcome home celebrations are over, after Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II becomes part of the battalion�s lineage, and after a new generation of Warlords carries the color forward, you must remember that the true legacy of their sacrifices will be revealed. First, their legacy will be in the gift of freedom and hope they gave to a nation ruled by a brutal dictator for four generations, and second, that legacy will live on in the example of courage and compassion that they gave not only to each of us, but to a nation. With that in mind, I ask that each of you keep the families of Sergeant Michael Speer, Gunnery Sergeant Ronald Baum, Lance Corporal Andrew Zabierek, Lance Corporal Bryan Kelly, Lance Corporal Nick Morrison, and Corporal Chris Belchik in your thoughts and prayers. They never broke faith with us or with you. I ask that you pray that their families are sustained and strengthened as their Marines sustained and strengthened us through their actions. Pray that their families and all Americans remember that it is in how they lived their lives that makes their memory the treasure it is, and the gift they gave so precious.

In closing, I will say yet again what an honor it has been to have been given the rare privilege of commanding such fine men under difficult conditions. They led, they fought for a nation and for a people, and they kept faith with each other and with you. They inspired the world with their example of what is best among the youth of our country and they have established a legacy of leadership and courage that will become the foundation for the leadership of the Naval Service well into the twenty-first century. As we reunite with our families and recall the moments of courage and compassion that changed our lives during the past seven months, I think you will see a change in these men. That change will reflect the special knowledge of what it means to have given freedom to a nation, hope to a people, and strength to each other during moments when the measure of a man�s life is defined by his actions. You and they will find that those actions will stand the test of time and be remembered with great pride. Freedom has taken hold in Iraq and it will not let go because of what these brave men have done.

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�

Posted by Deb at 09:41 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 14, 2004

They've got mail

Mail to the 11th MEU was held up for a few weeks because of hostile action but our Marines are once again feeling the love from home. Here's part of the backlog - 3 tons of letters and packages:

Here's the latest 11th MEU update:

September 13. Greetings from Iraq once again. After all the excitement from the past month-and-a-half, things here are starting to get somewhat routine but we're still staying busy. Everyone is doing their job and accomplishing their mission, from security patrols to supply and logistics, from base security to computer network administration. Life goes on. The busier we are, the faster time flies, and the sooner we get home.
As before, the MEU's primary focus is the civil affairs, reconstruction effort; reestablishing and improving essential and critical services to the people of An Najaf. Buildings, schools and key infrastructure projects are making positive progress daily. Crowds of children and teenagers continue to happily greet us as we patrol and convoy through the area. We're trying to keep a low profile though.

Marines and sailors continue to return to FOB Echo where they are picking up where they left off -- training the ING, working on civil affairs projects and supporting the 11th MEU with combat service support.

We're staying busy and counting the days until our return.

Posted by Deb at 08:21 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 13, 2004

1/7 update from Al Qaim

The first written update is out from 1/7 CO, LtCol Chris Woodbridge:

9 Sept 04
To the families and friends of the First Team,

Greetings from Iraq. As I write this our relief in place of 3rd battalion, 7th Marines is proceeding on schedule and will soon be complete. The Marines and sailors of the First Team are extremely busy learning all we can from our brothers in 3/7 about our area of operations in order to continue forward with the good work they have done for the last seven months. Company B (Baker Company) and their attachments are located at Camp Gannon in Husaybah, and the bulk of the battalion task force (Company A, Suicide Charley, Weapons Company, H&S Company, 2/14 Truck platoon, Combat Engineers, HET, MPs and the rest of the battalion's attachments) are in located at the battalion firm-base at Al Qaim. The weather is still very hot, with daytime highs well over 110, and the living conditions, although a great improvement over last year, are certainly not like the comforts of home. That said, the Marines are thriving, and as always, we learn to make the best of hard-living. With hot food, cold air-conditioners, and a bed to sleep on the hard-living really isn't that hard at all. Of course phonecalls, e-mail, and good old-fashioned letters and care packages from home make anything bearable.

As I said, life here is busy. Most of our time is spent preparing for and executing many patrols throughout our area of operations, day and night, both on foot and in vehicles, guarding our firm-bases, conducting convoys, training and supporting the Iraqi Police, National Guard, and Border Police and hunting down those individuals who seek to do us and the innocent people of Iraq harm. These tasks are a full-time job in a very hazardous enviornment. Each and every day the courage, discipline, and patriotism of the Marines and sailors humbles me, and I remain proud merely to serve with men like them.

As you all probably know by now, the battalion suffered our first casualties on the 3rd of September. Captain (major select) Alan Rowe, First Lieutenant Ron Winchester, and Lance Corporal Nicholas Wilt were killed by an improvised explosive device north of Al Qaim in Ubaydi, Iraq. We mourn their loss, and all of our thoughts and prayers go out to their families. We will never forget their sacrifice, and in all we do here, we seek to make them proud and to honor their memories. In addition, Gunnery Sergeant Leonel Trujillo, and Lance Corporal Matthew Laymanleary were wounded by this IED, and are currently receiving outstanding medical care at the Army's hospital in Germany. We all pray for their speedy recovery, and look forward to their return to duty with us.

God bless you, and Semper Fidelis
LtCol Chris Woodbridge

I have addresses where letters of sympathy can be sent for the families of the fallen Marines. Please e-mail me if you'd like to send a card: deb@marinecorpsmoms.com

Posted by Deb at 03:14 PM | Comments (57)

Rushing through Monday

My laptop is undergoing a motherboard transplant today - the surgeon hasn't announced when the procedure will be done. And, I think he's a bit tired of my frequent phone calls. Since my antique desktop will not let me access web sites, including Marine Corps Moms, I'm stuck with 30 minutes at the library with an impatient sixth grader in line behind me. Here's some good stuff for today.

Cassandra has a marvelous piece on the Kerrylied rally. Here's my favorite part but you really need to read it all.

First up was Dexter Lehtinan, an Army paratrooper and Ranger who was seriously wounded in 1971. His recovery took 18 months and many operations - most of his cheekbone was destroyed. Now an adjunct law professor, Mr. Lehtinan retired as a 1st Lieutenant, then graduated first in his class at Stanford Law School. He has served in the Florida House and Senate, was a US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and has argued before the USSC. The Unit and I had seen him just that morning on Washington Journal, where he argued persuasively against another Vietnam Vet who supports Kerry. Despite his scars, he is still a handsome and imposing man.

Lehtinan spoke of his experiences: "I was discharged from a military hospital 18 months and several operations later, almost as good as new from the wounds my enemy had inflicted on me. Those wounds were just flesh and blood. But the wounds inflicted by John Kerry -- the bearing false witness against me and a generation of honorable veterans -- those wounds were much more serious; they went much deeper. Those wounds went to the heart and soul. Those wounds never go away."

"Now we're in another war. Now my son is in the Marine Corps, a weapons officer flying F-18D Hornet jet fighters. That's the Marine Corps Kerry mocked with a book cover showing protesters simulating the flag raising at Iwo Jima, with the American flag upside down. That's the F-18 fighter that Kerry voted against in the Senate. And today John Kerry's picture hangs in an honored place in the enemy's war museum in Saigon, as an honored hero to the Vietnamese communists."

"At least he's a hero somewhere.", he commented wryly.
B.G. Burkett, author of Stolen Valor, invoked the recent 60 Minutes forgery scandal, relaying how Dan Rather claims to have been a Marine, but actually failed to complete Recruit Training. Burkett discovered this while checking up on Rather's claims after Rather ran a CBS TV documentary, "The Wall Within�, in which he portrayed vets as guilt-ridden, dysfunctional, and mentally disturbed.

She's got some great pictures to go with her narrative - please visit her site and read the rest.

Posted by Deb at 03:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 11, 2004

Remembering 9/11

This is the third anniversary of the horrific events of September 11. Three years ago, my son and I sat at home and watched events unfold on television as our nation was attacked. Within a few days my son had talked with recruiters and informed me that he would become a Marine. My reaction is another story.

Two years ago, he prepared for his departure for MCRD-San Diego where he entered boot camp. In one of our last conversations, he told me that he thought about 9/11 every day and this was his way of helping to protect his family.

One year ago, he was in Iraq. He continued to think about 9/11, as did the other Marines. They knew it was why they were there. And this was 1/7, Baker Company's response:

"The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do something to pay tribute to our fallen comrades. So since we are part of the only Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq the one way that we could think of doing that is by taking a picture of Baker Company saying the way we feel. It would be awesome if you could find a way to share this with our fellow countrymen. I was wondering if there was any way to get this into your papers to let the world know that 'WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN' and are proud to serve our country." -- Semper Fi 1st Sgt Dave Jobe

This year, 1/7 Baker Company is once again in Iraq on the anniversary of September 11. They are still proud to serve and they have not forgotten. I don't know if they'll have time to take a picture this year. But looking at the image of my son who stands proudly at the top of the first R in Remember, reminds me of how blessed we are to have men and women who protect and defend us against future attacks.

Posted by Deb at 10:24 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

September 10, 2004

Update from LtCol Dave

Congratulations on a well-deserved promotion! Here's the latest update:

As you have heard, we lost 7 Marines to a suicide car bomber the other day. We also lost 3 Iraqi Special Forces Soldiers. All were exceptionally brave men. The Marines are from a battalion that has fought as hard or harder than any other here in Iraq. These were the guys that were knee deep in the hardest fighting in Fallujah back in April and who have been going hard ever since. Even more tragic is that they were close to getting out of here.
As heart broke as the Marines of the battalion were, last night they really took it to the insurgents inside of Fallujah. Contrary to what might be in the media, the mission was not "retribution" for the suicide bombing. It was part of a regular operation that was slightly accelerated in light of what happened. We had been watching the city for quite a while and killed many, many terrorists last night. The battle lasted for hours and hours later, we were still getting secondary explosions off of objectives that we destroyed. You must have faith that the Marines are giving much better that we get.

Such action does not lessen the pain for the Marines who lost their buddies but it gives them a chance to fight and that is what they want. I saw the SgtMaj for the battalion that lost the seven Marines the morning after the explosion. He told me "there is still plenty of fight left in them" (the Marines). Sure enough, that night (last night), they delivered. Regardless of what the enemy throws at them, the Marines will always be laying in the tall grass looking to take the fight to them. There is a major effort to "keep the noise level down" and stay out of the news but it does not mean that the Marines are not out there every day performing. I cannot say it enough, they are amazing.

Read the rest here.

Posted by Deb at 10:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Update on Operation Santa

Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed offers to help with Operation Santa. If you haven't heard back from us yet, please be patient. My laptop, with all my files, died Monday night. The new motherboard has been ordered and I'll be back online by next Monday. In the meantime, we're busy! My mom sewed 130 stockings last night - she's amazing! Connie and I bought another 15 yards of fabric tonight and are cutting out more stockings. We now have enough for the entire 1/7 and are adding battalions. We've had folks ask for platoons in 1/8, 3/4, 1/2, and 3/5. And there are more. My spreadsheet, with all assigned platoons is on my laptop - I'll do an update Monday when I get my files back and let all of you know who has what.

And if you're considering sponsoring a platoon but haven't spoken up - we'd love to hear from you! Again, we'll provide stockings and guidelines. You'll make Christmas merry for 30-40 Marines who would love to be home with their families but are keeping watch on the other side of the world. Please contact us by e-mailing deb@marinecorpsmoms.com or using the contact page on this website.

Posted by Deb at 10:50 PM | Comments (1)

September 09, 2004

E-mail from the battlefield

LCpl Heist, currently deployed in Iraq, sent this e-mail to his mother to be shared with his family and friends. It's a poignant message of loss and brotherhood and deserves a wider audience. My heart aches for what our Marines go through - as parents we seek to shield them from hurt and harm. Now, they shield us - a role reversal that is unsettling at best.

Dear Friends and Family,
Growing up in a middle class upbringing as I did, you are in a way shielded from the horrors of life and death in war. Such innocence and ignorance is almost apart of your skin. Yeah, you hear of countries with oppressed people, the unfair justices, and deaths of many in the wars of the past. But you never get to experience or see the effects of it all. Well, today I finally had my first experience.

On September 5th, 2004, at 1630, the ceremony for the deaths of PFC Nicholas M. Skinner and LCPL Alexander S. Arredondo was held. Walking to the formation, feeling the punishing heat and the combination of sand and rocks below my feet, I was not prepared for the display. Hearing the short testimonies of Marines talking about their brothers was undeniably moving. Standing there in formation, I couldn't help but think of their families and how honorably these men died. In the background, was a large mound of dirt with a huge wooden cross, complemented by two stands with the names, dates of birth, dates of their death, and pictures of them with family and friends. In front of this display, was the symbol of a fallen warrior: their
Kevlar helmets on top of the butt stock of their M16 with bayonet stuck in the ground, their dog tags with chain hanging from the handle of their weapon, and at the mussel of the M16, were the boots in which these Marines marched onto the battlefield.

After the ceremony, all of the Marines present, including myself, paid their respects by giving them an about face and a firm salute in front of their memorials. On the left, were the closest of friends to the fallen in which all the Marines gave them a firm handshake and/or a big hug. I couldn't help but shed tears watching all the Marines do this, because even though most of us weren't friends with these men, we Marines are all brothers and sisters. We all had to persevere the pain of fatigue in recruit training, the tyrannical raids of the Drill Instructors, and we all marched that parade deck on graduation day in which we earned the title of United States Marine.

No doubt about it, PFC Skinner and LCpl Arredondo are heroes and I will never forget their names as long as I shall live. Please pray for their families, it's the least we can do as Americans.

I miss you all and God bless you.

Semper Fi,
LCpl Heist USMC

Posted by Deb at 01:34 PM | Comments (6)

September 08, 2004

Operation Santa

The second rotation of troops to Iraq is underway. Many of our Marines will be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas . . . and others will spend these family-centered holidays far from home. For many of these young men and women, this will be their first Christmas away from friends and family. Although they have made a choice to serve their country, it's going to be a lonely holiday. And not just for the Marines but for family members back home as well.

One of the hardest parts of this deployment for me is knowing that my son and his brother Marines will be spending Christmas away from home. Every Christmas morning for the last 20 years, my son has looked forward to a stocking, hung by the chimney with care, chock-full of carefully chosen and wrapped gifts. The week before our Marines deployed, Connie listened as I told her that I knew this would be a hard time and that I thought I'd send Christmas in a box to his platoon.

She looked at me and said, "Just his platoon?"

Okay, his company. "Just his company?"

The Marine Corps Moms are rolling again. Operation Santa will bring a touch of home to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. While we are starting with 1/7, we hope to add other battalions, depending on volunteer commitment and energy.

Here's a glimpse of of stockings-under-construction by Grandma Elf, Bette Conrad, that will be filled by loving hands here at home, and sent to the sandbox where they will be passed out at Christmas by Gunnery Sgt. Santa stand-ins:

Santa's Workshop

We are seeking sponsoring "platoon parents" (individuals, church groups, club, employee organizations, etc.) to coordinate Christmas for a group of 30-40 Marines. Each adoptive parent will take overall responsibility for a platoon of Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We will provide Christmas stockings and guidelines for making Christmas a merry occasion. The program parameters call for each Marine in the platoon to receive an individual Christmas stocking filled with wrapped gifts - toiletries, candy, games, tools, etc. There should also be a box filled with gifts to be shared by the Marines in the platoon. This could include board games, DVDs, books, a small Christmas tree, decorations, Christmas music, treats, etc. The coordinator will be responsible for any fund-raising to purchase gifts, pay for postage, etc. for that platoon.

As an example, I will coordinate the overall response for my son's platoon. My mom and I visited a local Walmart store over the weekend and asked for their support, handing them a flyer with program details. They will present it to their Community Outreach committee and we hope to get a gift certificate from them that can be used to purchase stocking stuffers or board games. We'll get decks of cards from a local casino. I'm stocking up on DVDs. I'm asking friends and groups to donate 40 small gifts that can be wrapped and placed in a stocking. Other folks will donate board games and DVDs. Local scout troops are writing letters to the Marines and making decorations. My sister, a secretary at a small country school, will ask folks in the community to bring their portable sewing machines to the school library and spend an evening sewing Christmas stockings. A church group will make cookies and gingerbread. It's a community response to the troops who are ensuring that we can enjoy our holiday season free from religious persecution or fear of terrorist attack.

And that response is overwhelmingly positive so far. Linda, who manages the North Bend JoAnne's Fabrics volunteered to spend her next day off sewing stockings. Ladies in line at Walmart overheard us talking about the project, took flyers and said they'd help. Moms and Dads have called dibs on their son's platoons.

If you'd like to be part of this project, download the Operation Santa flyer for 1/7 Marines here. If you are willing to adopt a platoon, e-mail Deb@marinecorpsmoms.com for guidelines and suggestions. We'll send you enough stockings for your platoon and guidelines for the outreach. And, if you can sew stockings, we'll send you a pattern and directions.

We won't leave out our Jewish and Muslim Marines. A companion outreach will ensure that they are included in an overall gesture of friendship from home.

All boxes must be mailed by the first week in November in order to reach the battalions in time for Christmas. We hope you'll be part of this project. It is sure to bring a few smiles to the faces of our troops, so far from home. And my son is so happy that we are doing this. He said that there are so many Marines that don't have strong family support. This is a way to be that support.

Posted by Deb at 01:15 AM | Comments (39)

September 07, 2004

First e-mail from the sandbox

After a nail-biting week for me, I received my son's first e-mail home after arriving in the al Anbar province last week. I'm a very happy mom tonight.

hey mom I made it to [destination]. its not as bad as I thought it would be. Ive been doing patrols and it gets a little crazy out there but Im confident we'll accomplish the mission we have all ready been kicking ass all over town. We live in an air conditiond hooch and have actual beds and a t.v. and Dvd Player I need socks A.S.A.P. long white ones if possible also to use the phones here i need a phone card from sergoviaip.com, I tried to use my g mail account but I couldnt get in. Anyways gotta go tell brook I love her and miss her very much and have her e-mail me nobody has received mail yet so hopefully we'll get some soon. Love ya Shane

Socks mailed, phone card purchased and codes sent. It reminds me a bit of summer camp days, except that now, they are using real bullets instead of rubber-band guns and the "bad guys" really are bad. Kids grow up. Some kids grow up to become Marines and thank God for that.

Posted by Deb at 09:56 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 06, 2004

Kerry's new campaign strategy

Hugh Hewitt thinks Kerry is channeling Jon Lovitz.

The New York Times explains:

The installation of former Clinton lieutenants is creating two distinct camps at Mr. Kerry's campaign headquarters on McPherson Square in downtown Washington.

The first is the existing Kerry high command, which includes Mary Beth Cahill, the campaign manager; Bob Shrum, a senior adviser; Tad Devine, a senior adviser; and Stephanie Cutter, the communications director. The second is the Clinton camp, which includes Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary; Joel Johnson, a former senior White House aide; and Doug Sosnik, a former Clinton political director. And Howard Wolfson, a former chief of staff to Hillary Rodham Clinton, joined the campaign yesterday."

I think he's getting his signals from Eugene Fields.

The Duel
(The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat)
by Eugene Field

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went " Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "Me-ow!"
The air was littered,an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with it hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed,"Oh dear! What shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate!
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole the pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock, it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)

It's a toss-up as to which camp is protected by the gingham dog and which by the calico cat. The role of the Chinese plate will be easy for anyone who can look down the tracks and see this particular train wreck coming. And the rest of the country will be forced to play the part of the old Dutch clock.

Posted by Deb at 05:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Delta gets it wrong

The following letter to the editor appeared in the Benton Courier on August 31. Mr. Nelson was a passenger on a Delta flight and witnessed an act of discourtesy to a young mother, home on a brief deployment leave. I am appalled.

This letter is NOT to the editor. This letter is to the young female soldier from Benton, who I had the privilege to meet this past Friday evening as we were both trying to get home to Arkansas. Returning from a business trip to New Jersey, I was changing planes in Cincinnati when we met. I had just boarded Delta Flight 6281 (operated by Chautauqua Airlines, a Delta Connection Carrier), Delta's last flight of the evening to Little Rock, when you came onboard and sat down in front of me. I, along with other passengers who had already boarded, listened while you shared your story with us. Having spent [more than] six months in Iraq, you were traveling home to Arkansas. While in Iraq, you had been under enemy fire frequently - on many occasions, several times a day. You had lost two fellow soldiers from your post, and just recently (watched) another lose a leg. You were exhausted from two days of travel, having flown from Iraq to Kuwait, from Kuwait to the Netherlands, from the Netherlands to Cincinnati ? but you were excited and happy, because Cincinnati to Little Rock meant you would be home, just in time for your youngest child's second birthday. You had 18 days' leave remaining before returning to Iraq.
This letter is also to the well-dressed, middle-aged woman who boarded the plane late, who through some administrative error had been assigned the same seat as the soldier. Your behavior made it obvious to me and those around me that you had no intention of handling the situation in a mature way. You approached the flight attendant and demanded "your seat." As the flight attendant worked with the gate crew to try and resolve the issue, the soldier was asked to leave the plane. Shortly thereafter, you returned. When I inquired as to whether you were aware that the individual who had previously been in "your seat" was a soldier traveling home from Iraq on leave to see her family, your verbatim response was, "So what ? I'm a victim from Chicago! What's the difference?" All within earshot were dumbfounded. It was apparent that you have no appreciation for your fellow Americans who leave home and family and risk their lives wearing the uniform of the United States military.

This letter is also to Delta Airlines. When I, along with several others onboard, approached the Chautauqua flight attendant volunteering to give up one of our seats for the soldier, she left to ask the pilot if that could be arranged, then returned to inform me that the pilot was discussing it with "ops." I overheard part of her ensuing conversation with the pilot, where he conveyed the message that Delta would not permit a paying passenger to be replaced with a "non-rev" ? so, in the end, the decision which caused the soldier to spend yet another night away from home was a financial one. Why, instead, don't soldiers like this one get preferential treatment from Delta instead of being placed last on the list? I am, and have been for many years, a Delta Medallion frequent flier, and may continue to fly Delta when appropriate. However, in spite of Delta's well-publicized financial difficulties, if it is your corporate policy to prioritize profit margin over principled corporate citizenship, then I will be a vocal opponent of any federal financial aid to Delta Airlines.

This letter is also to those in the U.S. military responsible for placing this soldier and all like her in this situation in the first place. As a small businessman, I understand fiscal responsibilities and expect taxpayers' money to be stewarded wisely. I cannot believe, though, that there are not better ways to save money than having our military personnel traveling to and from combat situations on leave flying on commercial airlines under this type of arrangement. Does this policy apply to the military decision-makers as well? Will it take you three days to get home on leave if and when you are ever again asked to serve in combat?

As I was deplaning in Little Rock, the flight attendant handed me a folded piece of paper and personally thanked me for offering my seat to the soldier. Walking through the terminal, I read the note she had written. The youngest of her six children, her only son, was joining the Army. She was expressing her hopes that, in the event he was ever placed in a similar situation, he would be treated differently or at least know that there were those who appreciated his service.

Back to the young soldier: Because you were asked to leave the plane, you did not see that there were numerous volunteers willing to give up their set for you. You only heard the one ingrate who had no appreciation for the sacrifices you are making for all of us. That was no way to be welcomed home to America. I was both ashamed to have been a part of what happened and angry that, in spite of our efforts, there was nothing the other passengers and I could do to help you. Again, this letter is first and foremost to you. It is my intention that it appears in the media before your return to Iraq, so that you will know your efforts are appreciated and that you are sincerely welcomed home by most, if not all, of us. I hope we get another opportunity to do just that. May God bless you and keep you safe.

Michael E. Nelson
Warren

Delta will be hearing from me regarding their "corporate policy to prioritize profit margin over principled corporate citizenship". And thanks to Mr. Nelson for taking the time to write this letter.

Posted by Deb at 12:16 AM | Comments (64)

September 05, 2004

General Mattis thanks the families behind the 1st Marine Division

One of the hallmarks of excellent leadership is knowing when - and how - to express thanks. Carrie Costantini, pulling double duty as both a Marine wife and mom to a Marine recruit, sent along this letter from General Mattis to the families of the 1st Marine Division.

COMMANDING GENERAL
1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN), FMF
AR RAMADI, IRAQ
20 August 2004

COMMANDING GENERAL�S THANK YOU TO THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION KEY VOLUNTEERS AND FAMILIES

It is time for me to leave the 1st Marine Division and I cannot do so without thanking each of you for your support over the last two, tumultuous years. Since our country was attacked on 9-11, 2001, you and your loved ones have endured uncertainty and heartache. Since November, 2002 most of you have dealt with long separations as your spouses brilliantly and effectively carried out their duties overseas. Through it all you have stood by us, and stood by each other. You have never been out of our thoughts and prayers, and I know we have been foremost in your hearts and minds.

For your unflagging support, I thank each of you. I regret that my own time overseas has left me little opportunity to get to know you individually. But your support, expressed through so many letters, e-mails, and kind words have made all the difference. Unmarried myself, I stand in awe of your courage, selflessness and compassion for our Navy-Marine Family. I am so proud of you that I believe I would have asked to marry each of you ladies, had your husband not found you first.

I share your immense pride in the Sailors and Marines of our National Treasure that is called the 1st Marine Division. As my time in the Division ends, your memory will remain with me. I will fondly recall this time together and keep you in my prayers. We could not have done our duty even half so well without your fortitude in adversity and your love.

To the Key Volunteers I send my sincere respects for your leadership and devotion beyond any expectation. Your service to our team has been priceless.

Thank you, each of you, and Semper Fidelis,

James N. Mattis
Major General, U.S. Marines

I'll bet this charming letter brought a smile to a few faces. The families of 1MARDIV will miss him.

Posted by Deb at 01:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Little Miracle

USMC Lance Corporal Adam Sanchez has a new title - Daddy - given to him by his brand new baby girl, Zoe. Denise Wilkerson, proud Marine mom shares her son's encounter with a caring stranger while he was flying home to California from Texas after his pre-deployment leave.

The Sanchez family

My son, LCpl Adam Sanchez � 1/7 Marines - was home on his pre-deployment leave when his wife began to have complications with her pregnancy. On August 5th she delivered a baby girl, Zoe Ann, who weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz., 16 inches long. My son was granted an extension on his leave and was able to be with his wife and daughter for two weeks following her birth. We are so grateful that she decided to come early and my son be a part of the birth experience and be able to bond with his daughter. Despite the fact that she was tiny, she was breathing on her own and as the doctors said��.a little miracle. She was still in the neonatal unit at the hospital when it came time for him to return to 29 Palms. As his mother, that was one of the hardest things I have had to experience with him. As he told his daughter goodbye and kissed her tiny cheeks we left the hospital and headed for the airport. The trip to the airport was long and very emotional, needless to say. We arrived at the airport about an hour before his flight was to leave. I will always cherish that hour that we had together just sharing stories, tears and a few laughs.
The hour passed by so fast and before I knew it, it was time to tell my son goodbye. I found myself holding on to him and not wanting to let him go. When he left I watched him until I could no longer see any part of him, then I sat and cried for an hour or so until I thought I had just about run out of tears. I could feel that pain he was going through of having to leave his daughter, and then my selfishness of not wanting him to go just made me cry even more. As I drove home from the airport and arrived home I could still smell his cologne and see the reminders of him and then it all started once again��.the tears began to fall. I could not stop thinking about him and what he must be going through on his flight to California.

He had to change planes in Phoenix, and while at the airport in Phoenix he was approached by a woman who could not help but notice he was quite upset, and said that she had overheard some of his phone conversation and that told her he was a Marine. She asked him if she could sit and pray with him. They sat and talked, and he of course shared pictures of his daughter, Zoe with her. She was there for him when he needed someone the most, and for that I will forever be greatful what the kindness she showed him that day. Ironically, she was on the same flight to Ontario with my son and during the flight made a point of walking back to check on him. She handed him her business card with her contact information on it. As soon as I heard about this I emailed her to thank her for her thoughtfulness. We have since become email buddies and are planning to meet when the guys come home in the Spring. She is definitely an angel sent down to watch over my son when he needed someone.

The same day that our boys deployed to Iraq, Zoe Ann came home from the hospital. She is doing great, weighs almost 5 lbs. now��..she is a fighter just like her dad!

I will continue to pray for all our boys, and ask God to keep them safe until they can return home to us again!

Semper Fi!

Posted by Deb at 12:08 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

September 04, 2004

Rumsfeld speaks

On August 26, Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, visited the Marine base at Yuma, AZ. When asked by the media what his message for the Marines and Sailors at the base would be, he replied:

It was to say ?thank you.? You just have no idea how important what they are doing is in the world. It is difficult work. It is challenging, and it?s dangerous. And they are doing it so well, and so professionally, and so courageously that it is important from time to time for people -- not just people in government ? but people outside of government, to be able to look them in the eye and say thank you -- that we value them. We value the fact that they are all volunteers. That they put their hands up and said ?send me.? And that?s a wonderful thing that our country has their service.

Posted by Deb at 09:54 PM

September 03, 2004

Double Digits

New Time Magazine poll:

New York: For the first time since the Presidential race became a two person contest last spring, there is a clear leader, the latest TIME poll shows. If the 2004 election for President were held today, 52% of likely voters surveyed would vote for President George W. Bush, 41% would vote for Democratic nominee John Kerry, and 3% would vote for Ralph Nader, according to a new TIME poll conducted from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Poll results are available on TIME.com and will appear in the upcoming issue of TIME magazine, on newsstands Monday, Sept. 6.

Posted by Deb at 01:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

President Bush, Commander in Chief

He had me at "Mr. Chairman, delegates, fellow citizens: I am honoured by your support, and I accept your nomination for President of the United States". But when he talked about the personal cost of serving as Commander in Chief, it was an electrifying moment. I'm printing this out and mailing it to my son, currently somewhere in Iraq.

One thing I have learned about the presidency is that whatever shortcomings you have, people are going to notice them -- and whatever strengths you have, you're going to need them. These four years have brought moments I could not foresee and will not forget. I have tried to comfort Americans who lost the most on September 11th -- people who showed me a picture or told me a story, so I would know how much was taken from them. I have learned first-hand that ordering Americans into battle is the hardest decision, even when it is right. I have returned the salute of wounded soldiers, some with a very tough road ahead, who say they were just doing their job. I've held the children of the fallen, who are told their dad or mom is a hero, but would rather just have their dad or mom.
And I have met with parents and wives and husbands who have received a folded flag, and said a final goodbye to a soldier they loved. I am awed that so many have used those meetings to say that I am in their prayers ? to offer encouragement to me. Where does strength like that come from? How can people so burdened with sorrow also feel such pride? It is because they know their loved one was last seen doing good. Because they know that liberty was precious to the one they lost. And in those military families, I have seen the character of a great nation: decent, and idealistic, and strong.

The world saw that spirit three miles from here, when the people of this city faced peril together, and lifted a flag over the ruins, and defied the enemy with their courage. My fellow Americans, for as long as our country stands, people will look to the resurrection of New York City and they will say: Here buildings fell, and here a nation rose.

Thank God we have one candidate who is strong, resolute, and can look to the future with clarity of vision. I have no doubt that he will continue to keep his eye on the ultimate goalpost. And I really hope he's given the opportunity to do so in his second four-year term.

Posted by Deb at 11:20 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

A Navy Doctor Returns to the U.S.

A surgical team doctor is rotating back to the United States. Here is a snippet from an e-mail she wrote, listing her memories of serving in a field hospital and caring for Marines wounded in combat. It's an amazing list. And if you can get through it without tears falling, you are made of much stronger stuff than I.

Here are some of her good memories:

But most of all, The United States Marines, our patients...

Walking, every day, and having literally every single person who passes by say "Hoorah, Ma'am..."

Having them tell us, one after the other, through blinding pain or morphine-induced euphoria..."When can I get out of here? I just want to get back to my unit..."

Meeting a young Sergeant, who had lost an eye in an explosion...he asked his surgeon if he could open the other one...when he did, he sat up and looked at the young Marines from his fire team who were being treated for superficial shrapnel wounds in the next room...he smiled, laid back down, and said, "I only have one good eye, Doc! , but I can see that my Marines are OK."

And of course, meeting the one who threw himself on a grenade to save the men at his side...who will likely be the first Medal of Honor recipient in over 11 years...

The list comes from Blawkhawk's site. Do visit his site to read her complete list, including events that she'll remember with both joy and sadness.

And to the author of the list, thank you for caring for both the fallen and those who serve with them and love them as brothers. As a mom on the other side of the world, it is comforting to know that the Navy is there for our Marines.

Posted by Deb at 10:41 AM | Comments (1)

General Mattis Moves On

USMC MajGen Jim Mattis (recently promoted to LtGen), who has provided stellar leadership to the 1st Marine Division as they liberated Afghanistan and Iraq, has transferred command to MajGen Richard Natonski who led the Marines in Task Force Tarawa who fought valiantly last year in Nasiriyah.

During a change of command ceremony at Asad air base near Ramadi, Iraq last week, MajGen Mattis shared these remarks with the Marines who came to honor him:

Friends and Comrades: For two years, the story of the 1st Marine Division has been one of honor. Today, my message is one of thanks: Thanks to the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who have stood the test, .and proved to the world that our experiment called the United States of America will survive; Thanks to our families who have stood with us through thick and thin, .and bore unbearable tragedy with a courage that has humbled me; Thanks to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing whose warriors have always come through, and painted the Blue Diamond on their wings and carried us in their hearts; Thanks to the 1st Force Service Support Group who committed to doing the impossible, and then exceeded the best we could have hoped for; Thanks to our Division's veterans, whose spirits have marched with us since we crossed the line of departure, .and whose example reminded us that there was nothing the enemy could throw at us that we would not overcome; And thanks to countless others whose commitment and loyalty made us what we are- .Who allowed us to achieve what we achieved, .Who allowed us to develop the character of No better friend, No worse enemy. Today I haven't the words to capture what is in my heart as I look out at these beautiful Grunts who represent thousands of cocky, selfless, macho young troops of our infantry Division- infantry - infant Soldiers, young Soldiers, young Soldiers of the Sea, who have given so much, and who have taught me courage, as they smiled, heading out to risk their lives again, to destroy the enemy. So lacking the words, I will close with a warrior's prayer from a man who understands:
Give me God, what you still have, Give me what no one else asks for; I do not ask for wealth Nor for success, nor even health- People ask you so often, God for all that That you cannot have any left. Give me, God, what you still have; Give me what people refuse to accept from you. I want insecurity and disquietude, I want turmoil and brawl, And if you should give them to me, my God Once and for all Let me be sure to have them always, For I will not always have the courage to ask for them. Amen
Thank you, my wonderful young Soldiers, Sailors and Marines May God be with you all as you head out once again into the heat of the Iraqi sun, into the still of the dark night, to close with the enemy. Beside you, I'd do it all again. Semper Fi.

And his Marines would do it all again for him with no hesitation. My son said that the grunts would love to see Mattis as the Commandant of the Marine Corps. I asked him if he thought it was likely and he replied that, unfortunately, the Pentagon wants polished gentlemen serving as Joint Chiefs, not rough and rugged warriors. That is, indeed, unfortunate. MajGen Mattis would be the first choice for many of us.

After the change of command ceremony, Mattis returned to Quantico, VA where he will take charge of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Posted by Deb at 06:00 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

September 02, 2004

The Last Marshall - Now Playing at a Station Near You

In August, the Marine Corps Moms had an opportunity to meet Adam Marshall when he played for the Marine Parents United convention. We wrote about it here, asking for your support in helping Adam gain a coveted CD review at Country Line Magazine. Adam is a former Marine who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom last year. Now, he's back and launching his first CD.

Adam's single, Come Home As Fast As You Can has now been released nationwide. You can help him again by requesting air play on your local country station.

Adam's explains how:

Hey there all, I was writing you guys to let you know that my CD is out now!!!! Please call or E-mail your local radio station and ask for "Come Home As Fast As You Can." It's on CDX Volume 351, Track #14.
Thanks again for all of your support and help. I couldn't of done it without the Marine Corps Moms.

Semper Fi
Adam Marshall

This Marine Mom has her local country music stations on speed dial. Adam put his life on the line for me last year; making a few phone calls is the least I can do to say thanks.

Posted by Deb at 05:57 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Update from 3/1 at Al Ghurayb

LtCol Buhl reports on the Thundering Third:

Dear Families and Friends of the Thundering Third,
Greetings again from Camp Abu Ghurayb. This is my fourth letter to you as we prepare to begin the month of September, and the third month of our deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2.

The big news that has already reached many back home, and is included as an attachment to my letter, was our recent tactical deployment to positions south of Fallujah. Responding to emerging threats from Fallujah, the Thundering Third was assigned two traffic control points south of the restive city. Immediately upon occupation of these positions, enemy forces from within Fallujah began to attack us. We responded with heavy firepower ranging from aircraft to artillery, mortars, tank main guns, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, TOW missiles, AT-4 rockets and our Marines and Sailor's personal weapons. Over a week-long period, the Battalion performed magnificently, defeating every attack the enemy could muster. This was a team effort that included Forward Air Controllers, Artillery and Mortar Forward Observers, Combat Engineers to dig us in, tank platoon attachments, a forward Battalion Aid Station (BAS), logistics sustainment, motor transport, communications, and other capabilities resonant in a reinforced Marine Infantry Battalion. Wherever attacked, your Marines and Sailors delivered precise and devastating fire on the enemy. While Kilo Company is described in the attached news article below, India Company was also in on the action, relieving Kilo after several days of combat there. India Company completed a magnificent battlefield handover with Kilo, while still in contact with the enemy. Throughout the next few days, the Marines of Company I carried on in the proudest traditions of our Battalion, engaging the enemy at every chance. Despite the heat and potential for danger, morale was high - Sergeant Major Sax and I couldn't be more proud of their performance.

Following the events described above, the Thundering Third conducted an operation to locate caches of ordnance, explosives, etc. Over a 48-hour period, the Thundering Third, reinforced with Iraqi Special Forces soldiers from the new Iraqi Army, searched a large area of agricultural land and small towns adjacent to rivers and canals in our zone. The operation was successful in a variety of ways, from locating a number of significant caches, to integration with host nation forces, to cross company coordination, and integration of civil affairs personnel who handed out over 1,000 soccer balls to parents and children. Temperatures during this operation hovered around 120F and the conditions were demanding. Again, your Marines and Sailors performed at the "3/1 Standard" and conducted a safe and successful operation maintaining initiative in our zone. In my next letter, I will highlight some key points about the new Iraqi Army and the Specialized Special Forces that have been attached to us and are doing a tremendous job alongside our Marines and Sailors.

The operations above were supported by the men of Weapons/George Company, who were busy firing in support, patrolling, screening, leading Iraqi National Guard Forces, and a host of other tasks that the Company has been doing here since arrival in Theater. Of note was the work of our CAAT Platoon, who provided very accurate TOW Missile and Heavy Machine Gun fire support south of Fallujah, and our 81mm Mortar Platoon that fired responsive, precise, and lethal indirect fires whenever the Battalion was fired upon by enemy weapons systems. Our Weapons/George Company Marines have continued to punish enemy forces whenever presented with the opportunity. Among a number of successes enjoyed by Weapons/George Company and the entire Battalion was that Sergeant Robert Hankins was meritoriously promoted to the rank of "Sergeant of Marines" after winning the 1st Marine Division Meritorious Sergeant Board. As you can imagine, competition within the Thundering Third alone was extremely keen. This outstanding young NCO's accomplishment as the number one Corporal in the entire Division is even more noteworthy because 3/1 is a relatively new arrival in Iraq. Sergeant Hankins is a native of Port Huron, Michigan and is an OIF I Veteran, having distinguished himself in action on a number of previous occasions. Hearty congratulations go out to Sgt Hankins and the Marines and Sailors of Weapons/George Company.
Our Lima Company Marines and Sailors have conducted multiple operations in their portion of the Battalion's zone. They recently put a stop to an illegal weapons market in a city in their area of responsibility. Security precautions preclude me from elaborating on details of the operation. Suffice it to say that Captain Alex Echeverria, 1st Sgt Wayne Hertz and their men performed a text book cordon and search using speed, surprise, and precision execution. Lima Company has been very successful in their assigned sector and the work they are doing is a model for our efforts in Iraq. Included in their area is India Company of the Iraqi National Guard (ING). India Company is also among the most successful ING Company in the Al Anbar Province. Cooperative efforts between our Combined Action Platoon (CAP), led by 1stLt Zach Iscol and his Weapons/George Marines (with support from Lima Company) have facilitated the creation of a very capable Iraqi ING Company led by very patriotic and dedicated Iraqi Officers, SNCOs, and NCOs. This unit has had a number of successes to date, including killing and capturing insurgents, locating caches and IEDs, etc. A testament to the success achieved by our Marines and Sailors at India Base is the many dignitaries have visited over the past two months to see what they are all about. Continued success to Lima Company and CAP India!

Headquarters Company continues to superbly support the entire Battalion and is involved in every operation we conduct in some regard. All of our staff sections are doing great work and all of our support platoons continue to keep the Battalion fed, paid, supplied, communicating, and rolling. Sergeant Major Sax and I were recent guests of our Motor Transport Platoon, where I had the great honor and pleasure of reenlisting Sergeant Jonathon Ferguson, our shop chief, who has stepped up to fill the Maintenance Chief's billet (normally filled by a senior SNCO') in absence of Staff Sergeant Alan Steer, who is unfortunately home on emergency leave. Indeed, another fine sergeant, Sergeant Jack Pierce, is holding the billet of Platoon Sergeant in absence of Staff Sergeant Spink, who is gone but never forgotten. Together, these two outstanding sergeants of Marines are keeping the Thundering Third rolling with a motor pool of nearly 200 tactical vehicles. Our motor transport platoon commander, 1st Lieutenant Ed Malinowski, beams with pride whenever his Marines are mentioned. Invariably, our motor transport Marines are the subject of compliments and appreciation. They have done incredible things since our arrival in Iraq and have a very squared away motor bay where they conduct daily maintenance. Aside from the businesslike arrangement of parts and tools, one unique item of decor inside the motor bay is a plywood table set for 12, surrounded by HMMWV bucket seats. The table is square but one immediately conjures up thoughts about King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. The HMMWV seats became available when we replaced them with Kevlar blankets to protect our Marines.

Our Logistics Marines led by Captain Mike Stehle and his very capable team of Officers, SNCOs, and NCOs have overcome every logistics challenge in fine fashion from generators, to gravel, water, fuel, rations, barriers, and even misters provided by OPERATION MIST. A kind friend of the Thundering Third, Ms. Sue McCormick, founder of "Cool Our Troops", even enlisted the aid of our Assistant Commandant, General William Nyland to deliver 900 misters to our Marines summering in Iraq. Captain Stehle and his team have kept your mail flowing, supported by our Postal NCO, Corporal Alexis Gonzalez and the rest of 1stLt Mike Beames' S-1 Staff. Indeed, we are receiving large quantities of mail and packages and many of our Battalion's Veterans are generously contributing. Among the many sending mail are familiar members of our family to include: Sgt and Mrs.Dan Frydrychowski, Major and Mrs.Tex Welch, Sgt and Mrs.Tom Enos, Major and Mrs.Bob Camarillo, LtCol and Mrs.Dan Quick, Cpl and Mrs.Paolo Demeis, Cpl Dick Rogge, Ms. Peri Mooty, Ms. Catherine Clark, John Wintersteen, Seamus Garrahy, American Legion Posts, VFW Posts, Marine Corps League Detachments, real estate firms, schools, church groups, library groups, and many others. As you might imagine, the many packages of food, books, and hygiene items that have been sent to our men have been most welcome. Sgt Major Ed Sax has established a distribution center out of his quarters at the firm base for all the company 1st Sergeants to pick up and bring items out to the field. We also take items with us wherever we go to deliver to our Marines, and sometimes to Iraqi children. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know how many people are behind us back home. These packages and the inspiring messages contained within really make a great difference to our Marines and Sailors... all are deeply, deeply appreciated. Another great event within the Battalion was the combat promotion of 1stLt Derrick Lane earlier this month. I shared the honor of pinning Derrick's silver bars on with 1stLt Terry Horton, our S-4A, who is a three-deployment Veteran with the Thundering Third, and Capt Mike Stehle's right hand man in the Logistics Section. Congrats again to 1stLt Derrick Lane, our Maintenance Management Officer and Combat Operations Center Watch Officer. A "Mustang" Officer of distinction, 1stLt Lane has been doing 1stLt's work since he joined the Thundering Third.

Folks, this letter would not be complete without an update on Lance Corporal Jonathon Ashley's latest upgrade from the improvised donkey cart he began operations with in June. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Lance Corporal Ashley has moved up in life to a sporty KIA "J2 Bongo." This racy machine has twin sets of 12" wheels in the rear, reminiscent of your lawn tractor back home, and a 14" get up and go set in the front. Two bullet strikes in the windshield add great character to his utility truck, which was impounded when its occupants were discovered to be smuggling a large quantity of 82mm mortar rounds hidden in sacks of grain at one of our vehicle check points. Being the innovative Marine that he is, Lance Corporal Ashley uses an eyewash machine loaded with a solvent solution that he has invented himself using a combination of industrial salt and cleansers, in order to prepare generators for a final wash conducted with a locally purchased pressure washer. His innovations in the use of available transportation and equipment have been Instrumental in keeping the camp's generators running. Among the many things young Ashley carries on his craft are an industrial fire extinguisher (very important!!) known as the "Mother Of All Fire Extinguishers" or "MOAFE", welding tanks, a tool set, and all the items required to keep our generators serviced and perform maintenance projects around our firm base. Lance Corporal Ashley has an indomitable spirit, a keen wit, and plenty of good old American G-2, using all the tools at hand to get the job done. As he described his utility truck to me, he proudly included the fact that he was able to get the stereo working and inserted a tape entitled, "Old Country". Sure enough, C.W. McCall's song, "Convoy" came piping through the loudspeakers. I wish you could have shared Lance Corporal Ashley's ear to ear grin with me.

For those wondering how our injured Iraqi National Guard Soldier Ali is doing, Lieutenant Matt Shepherd and our BAS has superbly supervised his sustainment care. Ali continues to make great improvements and is better every time I see him. On a related note, Mr.Shepherd was recently joined by a welcome addition to the Thundering Third, Lieutenant Robert Sobehart, our Assistant Battalion Surgeon. Mr. Sobehart hitched rides on a variety of government aircraft to reach us here in Iraq in record time upon completion of his hospital residency. Mr.Soberhart is a very welcome addition to the Battalion Staff and has hit the ground running here, making an immediate difference by his leadership presence and technical expertise. Additional great news for the Thundering Third's BAS was HM1 Richard Tomlinson's selection to Chief Petty Officer. Serving as an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC), "Doc" Tomlinson has been a stalwart member of our BAS in the Thundering Third. IDC's are capable of rendering advanced medical skills just short of those of a Battalion Surgeon. Congratulations to Chief "Select" Tomlinson and the motivated and dedicated "Devil Docs" in our BAS - best in the 1st Marine Division. Our BAS and indeed the whole Battalion are also following the progress of HN William Embessi, and HM3 Jose Ramos, who were wounded in action and are recovering at home with their families. They are missed by their brothers out here and our prayers go out to them daily for speedy return to full duty.

Like their forebears in the Thundering Third from WWII to present, our Marines and Sailors have continued to serve with fortitude in the face of adversity. As you must know, we continue to sustain casualties here in Iraq. Due to great combat leadership and training, a high percentage of our wounded are returning to duty. Unfortunately, as noted in previous letters home and the comments above, we have had a few men hurt enough to be medevaced back to the USA. On this note, our Marines and Sailors have been blessed to be visited by a number of the Battalion's Distinguished Veterans. From Weapons/George Company, several of our Chosin Reservoir Veterans, Col Clark Henry, Maj Bob Camarillo, and Cpl Jim Byrne recently visited our men at Balboa and Camp Pendleton Naval Hospitals. We have also had 3-1 Veterans from Vietnam, Col's Dan Quick, Larry Moran, and John Regal, visit and contact our wounded men and their families. These visits mean the world to our men and their families, and mean the world to the rest of us in Iraq, knowing that our lads are being well cared for in the rear. If any of our Battalion Families or Friends would like to visit wounded men in the Camp Pendleton area, please contact Gunnery Sergeant (Select) Ray Ortiz, at the 3/1 Rear Command Post [Blackfive note: email me if you want Gunny Oritz's contact info].

It is also my sad duty to report to you that we have lost three of our brothers killed in action here in Iraq. Corporal Nicanor Alvarez from our Combat Engineer Platoon, and PFCs Geoffrey Perez and Fernando Hannon from India Company, gave their lives for their brother Marines and Sailors here, and for all Americans in defense of the freedoms we are all privileged to enjoy. America owes these Marines and their families an endless debt of gratitude. They are greatly missed by their brothers here and by their families back home. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their Families. We continue the mission we began here together, as Corporal Alvarez, and PFCs Perez and Hannon would have wanted.

I will conclude this letter with all of our best wishes to you at home, especially to the great Ladies who continue to do great things in our Thundering Third Key Volunteer Network. A number of family related events have occurred over the past two months back in the USA, and our Key Volunteers have been there for our Battalion Families in EVERY circumstance. I do not have the words to express how important the compassionate work our Ladies are doing is for all of our Marines and Sailors and their families. Ladies, THANK YOU from all of us forward deployed for the continued superlative support - we all cannot wait to be home with you again soon.

As time permits, I will write again. I hope that this update has provided you with an insight into the Battalion's recent accomplishments and progress. In addition to your support for your Marines and Sailors over here, I also respectfully ask that you keep the families of our lost and wounded Marines and Sailors in your thoughts and prayers. The 3d Bn, 1st Marines honors the sacrifice of Corporal Alvarez, and PFCs Hannon and Perez, who are gone but never forgotten. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

God Bless and Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Willy Buhl
CO, 3d Bn., 1st Marines

PS. Please check out the USMC Official Website to view a recent article on the Thundering Third's Civil Affairs Detachment. Our Marines and Sailors are working hard every day to make Iraq a better place.

Also, check out this update on the Thundering Third's Operation Clean Sweep in Fallujah.

LtCol Buhl noted afterwards,

"Our Marines and Sailors performed at the 'Three-One Standard,' accomplishing the mission above expectations.

Sergeant Major Sax and I couldn't be more proud of them, as should our families and friends back home - we're doing great things for our nation, the Marine Corps and the Iraqi people."

Posted by Deb at 11:26 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 01, 2004

A Marine Mom Speaks Out on the NYC Demonstrations

Theresa Bonopartis is the mother of a United States Marine. Her son is one of the brave men that protect and defend the rights of all Americans to exercise their right to both free speech and peaceful dissent, including the protestors in New York City. After watching news reports of the protestors carrying flag-draped cardboard coffins through the streets, many of us were appalled that these protestors would use the deaths of our brave men and women as political capital. They do not understand the meaning of sacrifice. One has to be able to sacrifice to understand its meaning.

Here is Theresa's editorial that appeared yesterday on MichNews.com. It speaks for many of us.

I am a new Marine mom. I must admit, although I always thought I respected the military, I had no clue about the extent of the sacrifices these families make to give us the freedoms we so often take for granted. I also did not know what an emotional roller coaster I myself would be on once my son made the decision to serve our country as a United States Marine. I admit, I do not understand all of the thinking of the military, and I probably never will; what I do know is these young men and women made the decision to serve, to protect and defend, and that they are well trained to do so. Over the past few months I have been blessed to correspond with many families of the Marines as they guide us new folks on the road of being part of the Marine family. I have celebrated with them as their sons or daughter received promotions. I have worried with those whose sons or daughters are in the sandbox. I have prayed with them as they voiced their fears and relayed serious wounds that need to heal and I have cried with them, when they have experienced that terrible knock at the door telling them that their children are not coming home. I have learned it truly is a family; one I am not always glad I now belong to because many time it is just too painful. The more time passes however, the prouder I am, and as I learn how amazing these military men and women are. Of course, I am most amazed at the degree of self-sacrifice, even to the point of death. A sacrifice that enables us the freedoms each one of us enjoys each day. A sacrifice that has bought with its blood over the years, the right to free speech and to demonstrate, as we will see over the next week. As I watched the �Anti-war� demonstration Sunday, I kept reminding myself of that as I read the hateful signs directed at our Commander-in-Chief. I strained to read as many of them as I could��NO Draft�, �Keep Abortion Legal�, �Gay Marriage�, �Money for AIDS not for War� etc., etc. We all have the right to voice our opinions, that is what this country is all about, that is what the men and women in the military are there to ensure, however, when I saw the flag draped coffins in the midst of those signs, I have to admit, I became angry and it took me a while to remind myself that even this right soldiers have died for. Yes, being the parent of a military person is not easy, especially when you think of the people that exploit them like Michael Moore, or one of the many who voice concern for our troops but by their actions hurt their morale. You can�t help thinking they really do not care about the troops but only their own agendas. Personally, I hate the thought that my son may die for Michael Moore and his rights or the right of others who are so self-serving. Then I remind myself again, that this is the freedom our military is fighting for, yes, even Michael Moore. I know that many who read this will not like what I have said, but hey, I have a right to free speech too, and my son is risking his life for it.

Posted by Deb at 01:34 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack