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November 30, 2004



Landstuhl Revisited

Diana Hartman visited our wounded troops at Landstuhl Germany again today.

hello all, tomorrow's trip to landstuhl (30nov04) will be a big-haul day as there were many arrivals today and i would like to thank each and every one of you for your generous contribution...

the toiletry kits i was able to put together are the best i've been able to take up yet...there is always a shortage of toothbrushes and shaving cream so i wasn't able to use all of the toiletries to complete kits...these "leftovers" (about 6 bushel baskets) are only leftover in the sense that when more toothbrushes and shaving cream shows up, more kits will get made and delivered; they are NOT leftover in the sense that they won't get used, cos they so will get used...
there are 21 kits and each one includes:

toothpaste
toothbrush
floss
nail clippers
cotton swabs
comb
chapstick
baby powder
shaving cream
shampoo
deodorant
razors
soap
mouthwash
lotion
candy
socks
letter/card from a child/adult

in addition, the delivery includes 24 articles of clothing, 49 backpacks, dvds, magazines, toys, games, writing materials, and disposable cameras...
this nicely compliments last week's haul of 17 toiletry kits, 7 coats and jackets, 18 articles of clothing, dvds, several dozen cds, models, modeling kits, and a lot of toys and games...

i have been in receipt of $250 to be used for supplies for the wounded...i have spent $151 of that cleaning out the px here of all their toothbrushes and shaving cream and other stuff (the commissary only sells fullsize and is more expensive)...i will be taking the remaining $99 to the ramstein px (afb adjacent to landstuhl) to buy more supplies...at the same time i will be redeeming vouchers for those wounded who are unable to do so themselves...if you would like copies of the receipts (i can digitally photograph them and email them to you) please let me know...

one more thing:
if you sent stuff via another person or company (thus i wouldn't have your address), please send me your address...c'mon people, don't be shy...the cards i picked out just for the thank yous are quite pretty...they're already bought and the stamps are already attached, they're just waiting for someone to say "yes i sent something, here's my address"...

if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the landstuhl trips, please feel free to email me!

sincerely, diana hartman
marforeur spouses
stuttgart, germany

Her email address is msdusmcd@yahoo.com. Read about her first and second visits if you've missed them.

Posted by Deb at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack





Wish List for Infantry Marines

Wondering what to get your favorite Marine for Christmas? Here's a list compiled by Charlie Company Marines from 1/3.

  1. Advanced combat optical gun sight/Binoculars: “When you’re on post, you can tell what individuals walking down the street (blocks away) are carrying,” said Cpl. Michael Fredtkou, a M-203 gunner. “The enemy doesn’t expect you to see them that far away.”

  2. Energy bars: “They’re lightweight, easy to get to,” said Staff Sgt. Luis Lopez, 3rd platoon sergeant. “Plus they’re not as bulky as MREs.” (meals-ready-to-eat)

  3. Kevlar cushions: “The old padding gives you a headache after wearing it for a few hours,” said 1st Lt. Travis Fuller, 3rd platoon commander. “After a few minutes with the cushions on, you can’t even tell it’s there.”

  4. Elbow/Knee pads: “If it wouldn’t be for these things, my knees would be completely cut up by now,” said Lance Cpl. Tim Riffe, a machine gunner. “You can only take so much jumping into a defensive position without them.”

  5. Personal Role Radio: “Communication has been a huge key in our operations,” said Cpl. Tyrone Wilson, 2nd squad leader. “When my squad was across the street in a defensive position, the platoon was able to let me know insurgents were in the building next to us. Who knows what would’ve happened if they couldn’t contact me.”

  6. Global Positioning System: “I’m able to pinpoint our location within 10 meters when calling in position reports and medevacs,” said Lance Cpl. William Woolley, a radio operator. “We’ll never get lost as long as we have it.”

  7. Extra socks: “My feet are nice and dry right now,” said Lance Cpl. Kaleb Welch, a squad automatic weapon (SAW) gunner. “I’ve gone without changing my socks before on three to four day training exercises and I always regretted it later.”

  8. Gloves: “They’re clutch because when you’re climbing over a wall you don’t have to worry about broken glass cutting your hands,” said Cpl. Gabriel Trull, 1st squad leader. “You also don’t burn your hands when changing 240 golf barrels.”

  9. Baby wipes: “It’s a multi-use piece of gear,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Irving Ochoa, a Navy Corpsman. "You don’t have much time out here for personal hygiene, so it’s the best alternative.”

  10. Three-point sling: “When you’re jumping over rooftops you don’t want to worry about dropping your weapon,” said Cpl. Dave Willis, 3rd squad leader. “At any time you can just reach down and grab it.”

  11. Alice/Day pack: “Without these I don’t know how I’d carry all of my gear,” said Lance Cpl. Geoffery Bivins, a SAW gunner. “It displaces all of the weight around my body, so I’m not uncomfortable. When you’re running with 100 lbs. on your back, that’s important.”

  12. Night Vision Goggles: “Wearing these at night gives you the advantage over the enemy,” said Lance Cpl. Marquirez Chavery, a combat engineer. “When you’re on a rooftop at night you can see everything.”

  13. Personal hydration system: “Water is one of the things you always need to make sure you have,” said Seaman Hugo Lara, a Navy corpsman. “Instead of struggling to get your canteens out, the cord is there within your reach. Plus it holds more water as well.”

  14. Watch with compass: “You get calls where you have to lay down suppressing fire in a certain direction and instead of wasting time to ask which way is north or south, you can just look at your wrist,” said Lance Cpl. Lonny Kelly, a machine gunner. “Knowing the time is important because everyone pulls shifts for guard duty or standing post. How would you know when your shift starts or stops without one?”

  15. AA batteries: “You use them for your NVGs and handheld radios; both which contribute to more effective fighting,” said Cpl. Bryan Morales, 1st squad 1st fire team, team leader. “You wouldn’t want either of those items dying on you, so having a spare set of batteries around is very important.”

  16. Poncho/poncho liner: “The temperature at night is extremely different during the day,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Etterling, machine gun team leader. “If you don’t have some sort of protection at night, you end up freezing because you’re cammies are still damp from sweating during the day.”

  17. Ballistic goggles: “I was the A-driver one of our convoys and we got hit by an IED (improvised explosive device),” said Lance Cpl. Anthony Johnson, an assaultman. “Shrapnel bounced off of my glasses, saving my vision.”

  18. Multi-purpose portable tool kit: “It’s like carrying a combat knife, hammer and screwdriver in one hand,” said Lance Cpl. Evan Fernandez, an assaultman. "Cutting open MREs, cleaning your weapon, tightening screws on your gear; it has a thousand uses.”

  19. Carabineers: “Anything that you might have to grab at a moments notice, you don’t want to be digging through your pockets to try and find it,” said Pfc. Jason Kurtz, a SAW gunner. “With these you can attach anything to your flak and have right at your fingertips.”

  20. High powered flashlight: “It does wonders,” said Cpl. Chris Williams, 2nd squad 1st fire team leader. “After you throw a fragmentation grenade into a room it’s difficult to see because of all the dust floating around. No one can hide from them."

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



November 29, 2004



Doc's Thanksgiving Message

It's inelegant but comes straight from the heart.

Thank God for the fucking Marines.

I mean it. Thank God that we have a corps of warriors who can storm a city like Fallujah, and completely conquer it. Thank God we have men such as these. MOUT, or urban fighting is historically some of the most bloodiest. Urban warfare is like fighting just by headbutting. It's repetitively very sudden, and twice as violent. You toss a grenade in, and follow the blast into the room. You storm in to what may be nothing or what may be a squad of bad guys. You just run in, and hope to kill them in that frenzied second before they kill you. Then you do it again. And again. And again. You keep doing it until you run out of rooms, or run out of luck.

Thank God we still have Marines who can do this. Growing up in America these days, we are constantly told about how our grandparents did such a smashing job. They weathered a depression, and then saved the world for an encore. They fought all across the globe. As a young Marine, when you wallk across that grinder for the last time, they call out over loudspeakers where other Marines who had marched that grinder had marched into next; Tarawa. Okinawa. Lebanon. Iwo Jima. Khe Sahn. The Chosin reservoir. It is easy when you recall such battles, such examples of fortitude and courage on earth made Hell, that maybe oure best days are behind us. Maybe we will just have to accept that we and our children, and our children's children will be condemned to living in the shadow of their forefathers. Maybe, that was as good as it got.

And then the Marines go in. They go in and they fight. They fight and they bleed. They fight and they tire. they fight and they die. And yet, still...they keep fighting. Through the hail of automatic weapons, the rain of mortars, and the thunder of RPG's they fight an enemy entirely prepared for and committed to killing as many as they can before they are killed themselves. But no matter how determined and how zealous the enemy, the Marines prevailed. Against all of this, they prevailed magnificently.

The Marines went in and a flagging cause was resurrected. The Marines went in and while saving a city, they reaffirmed their standing as the warrior sentries of civilization. Maybe some day, Americans will have to live in the shadow of days long gone past. Maybe one day they will think that the Hall of heroes is full, and there is none left to enter. Maybe some day this will happen.....but not today.

Today they are standing tall; bloodied but unbowed. Today they have proven themselves as good as their title. Today the battle of fallujah is added to the list of battles that will be called out as new Marines march across the old grinder. Today.

Today, I thank god for those fucking Marines.


Oohrah. Read the rest.

Posted by Deb at 04:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack





Heroism under fire

Sgt. Peralta cleaning his weapon after training at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton in February 2003.
Photo by Sgt. Charles E. Moore
"Tomorrow, at 19:00 hours (7 p.m.), we are going to declare war in the holy city of Fallujah," Peralta wrote to Ricardo, 14. "We are going to defeat the insurgents. Watch the news, it's going to be all over. Be proud of me, bro, I'm going to make history and do something that I always wanted to do."

This exerpt from a letter sent by Sgt. Rafael Peralta was received by his younger brother, Ricardo, one day after the Peralta family learned that their Marine was killed in action on November 16, 2004. It was his first and last letter to his brother and after he mailed it, Sgt. Peralta indeed made history as one more in a long line of Marine Corps heroes. His final act of bravery saved the lives of his brother Marines at the cost of his own. It will be retold by future generations of Devil Dogs who will privately wonder if they could ever measure up to this example of selfless service.

From the Seattle Times:

Sgt. Rafael Peralta built a reputation as a man who always put his Marines' interests ahead of his own.

He showed that again, when he made the ultimate sacrifice of his life Tuesday, by shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade blast.

"It's stuff you hear about in boot camp, about World War II and Tarawa Marines who won the Medal of Honor," said Lance Cpl. Rob Rogers, 22, of Tallahassee, Fla., one of Peralta's platoon mates in 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

Peralta, 25, as platoon scout, wasn't even assigned to the assault team that entered the insurgent safe house in northern Fallujah, Marines said. Despite an assignment that would have allowed him to avoid such dangerous duty, he regularly asked squad leaders if he could join their assault teams, they said.

One of the first Marines to enter the house, Peralta was wounded in the face by rifle fire from a room near the entry door, said Lance Cpl. Adam Morrison, 20, of Tacoma, who was in the house when Peralta was first wounded.

Moments later, an insurgent rolled a fragmentation grenade into the area where a wounded Peralta and the other Marines were seeking cover.

As Morrison and another Marine scrambled to escape the blast, pounding against a locked door, Peralta grabbed the grenade and cradled it into his body, Morrison said. While one Marine was badly wounded by shrapnel from the blast, the Marines said they believe more lives would have been lost if not for Peralta's selfless act.

"He saved half my fire team," said Cpl. Brannon Dyer, 27, of Blairsville, Ga.


Sgt. Peralta finished his letter to his younger brother:

"Just think about God and we will all be together again," he wrote. "If anything happens to me, just remember I lived my life to the fullest and I'm happy with what I lived."

Letters of condolence for Sgt. Peralta's family can be sent to:

Humphrey Mortuary
753 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910-5328

Posted by Deb at 03:47 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack



November 28, 2004



Best of the Blogs

Nominations are being taken for Weblog Awards - 2004 and there is a new category for military blogs. If you haven't nominated your favorite milblog yet, do it tonight since nominations close in a few hours. Check out the list of milblogs in the Marine Corps Moms blogroll, pick your favorite and give them some love.

Posted by Deb at 04:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack





What it means to be a grunt

Sgt. Robert M. Storm, press chief for The Scout, the base newspaper at Camp Pendleton wrote this essay on his experience as an infantry Marine. I've heard the same sentiment from my own 0311 son.

There are so many different aspects of the job: training, the field, combat. During each of these times, the job varies. I could explain each of these experiences at great length and detail but as with many experiences, words don’t adequately express what it means to be a grunt. But I’ll try to give you a picture anyway.

Training: Four words sum this experience up: “Any clime and place.” This means you go complete a Combined Arms Exercise at Twentynine Palms, Calif., in 100-degree plus heat, or a cold-weather package at Bridgeport, Calif., in negative 14-degree weather with 40 mph winds. Spending a month in Jordan to cross-train with the Jordanian military or carrying out a range on Guam in the pouring rain are just other ways to use our time. Sitting eight hours in the back of an AAV sucking diesel fumes and getting a headache while being jostled worse than any roller coaster I’ve ever been on. Even when we’re not doing ranges, we stay busy with endless classes on radios, Marine Corps martial arts program, close quarters battle, first aid, crew-served weapons and nuclear, biological and chemical training, all so that we can deal with problems quickly, cleanly, decisively and with swift violence when necessary.

The Field: Next I’ll move to the field, where the motto is, “If it ain’t raining, you ain’t training.” This aspect probably wouldn’t be that bad except that contrary to popular belief, we rarely use tents. You will also eat the best meals of your life as a grunt. I’m not joking either because believe me when I tell you that the meal you eat after spending four months eating Meals Ready to Eat will be the best meal of your entire life no matter what it is. The MRE you eat after a day of patrolling or a 12-mile hike with an 80-pound pack will taste pretty good too.

Combat: It’s a lot easier than training. After all, it’s pretty easy to get shot at. Most of the time combat is boring, waiting for something to happen followed by a few quick minutes of excitement. In those hours of doing nothing, you try not to think of everything you miss back home. Playing cards passes the time and if you don’t know how to play, don’t worry because you’ll learn, with spades, hearts and rummy being the most popular games. In the meantime, you’ll run endless patrols and search house-to-house all day long. You’ll crawl through an Iraqi sewer and climb to the roofs of many buildings so you can clear from the top down. After exhausting yourself all day, you’ll dig a fighting trench so that you can bed down for the night. In the interest of speed you make this hole just big enough for you and your partner so that you can get as much sleep as possible, since during war you’re usually at 50 percent firewatch. This results in closeness with your fellow grunts that I don’t even share with my wife at home. Despite all these occurrences, there are fun times; the joy of blowing up a bus on a demo range, fast roping out of a helicopter, conducting a live fire range at night with just tracers. The camaraderie you feel with fellow grunts as you complete a mission and bed down for the night underneath the stars. These are the parts of the job that make what it means to be a grunt.

Posted by Deb at 03:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack





Sending packages to APO/FPO addresses

The U.S. Post Office has just released a new flat rate Priority Mail box. It's too late for Operation Santa but good news for those of us who are still getting holiday packages in the mail for deployed loved ones. I just orderd 50 boxes that can be mailed for a flat rate $7.70 for any U.S. destination, including APO/FPO addresses, and contain any weight up to a 70 lb. maximum. Two box sizes are available with dimensions of 14" x 12" x 3.5" and 11.25" x 8.75" x 6". Best of all, these boxes can be ordered free of charge from the post office via their website and sent to your home. This program started November 20 and will operate in a trial status for 2 years. For those of us who mail frequently, it will be a tremendous savings.

Posted by Deb at 02:26 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack





The CinC's Thanksgiving Radio Address

Good morning. As Americans gather to celebrate this week, we show our gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our friends and families who fill our lives with purpose and love. We're grateful for our beautiful country, and for the prosperity we enjoy. We're grateful for the chance to live, work and worship in freedom. And in this Thanksgiving week, we offer thanks and praise to the provider of all these gifts, Almighty God.

We also recognize our duty to share our blessings with the least among us. Throughout the holiday season, schools, churches, synagogues and other generous organizations gather food and clothing for their neighbors in need. Many young people give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters or food pantries. On Thanksgiving, and on every day of the year, America is a more hopeful nation because of the volunteers who serve the weak and the vulnerable.

The Thanksgiving tradition of compassion and humility dates back to the earliest days of our society. And through the years, our deepest gratitude has often been inspired by the most difficult times. Almost four centuries ago, the pilgrims set aside time to thank God after suffering through a bitter winter. George Washington held Thanksgiving during a trying stay at Valley Forge. And President Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a civil war.

The past year has brought many challenges to our nation, and Americans have met every one with energy, optimism and faith. After lifting our economy from a recession, manufacturers and entrepreneurs are creating jobs again. Volunteers from across the country came together to help hurricane victims rebuild. And when the children of Beslan, Russia suffered a brutal terrorist attack, the world saw America's generous heart in an outpouring of compassion and relief.

The greatest challenges of our time have come to the men and women who protect our nation. We're fortunate to have dedicated firefighters and police officers to keep our streets safe. We're grateful for the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks to the men and women of our military who are serving with courage and skill, and making our entire nation proud.

Like generations before them, today's armed forces have liberated captive peoples and shown compassion for the suffering and delivered hope to the oppressed. In the past year, they have fought the terrorists abroad so that we do not have to face those enemies here at home. They've captured a brutal dictator, aided last month's historic election in Afghanistan, and help set Iraq on the path to democracy.

Our progress in the war on terror has made our country safer, yet it has also brought new burdens to our military families. Many servicemen and women have endured long deployments and painful separations from home. Families have faced the challenge of raising children while praying for a loved one's safe return. America is grateful to all our military families, and the families mourning a terrible loss this Thanksgiving can know that America will honor their sacrifices forever.

As Commander-in-Chief, I've been honored to thank our troops at bases around the world, and I've been inspired by the efforts of private citizens to express their own gratitude. This month, I met Shauna Fleming, a 15-year-old from California who coordinated the mailing of a million thank you letters to military personnel. In October, I met Ken Porwoll, a World War II veteran who has devoted years of his retirement to volunteering at a VA medical center in Minneapolis. And we've seen the generosity of so many organizations, like Give2theTroops, a group started in a basement by a mother and son that has sent thousands of care packages to troops in the field.

Thanksgiving reminds us that America's true strength is the compassion and decency of our people. I thank all those who volunteer this season, and Laura and I wish every American a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend.

Thank you for listening.

Posted by Deb at 11:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack



November 27, 2004



" . . . war is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows . . ."

Another 2nd LAR update from the front. It's an awesome retelling of bravery and brotherhood.

24 November 2004

I have started this letter 100 times in my mind. Inadequacy on my own part is the best answer I can come up with to express my emotions about our experiences here. They say war is the highest of highs and lowest of lows and it happens in a moments notice. I can say without question it is true.

We departed Camp Baharia about a month ago now to do our part in the fight for Fallujah. People said this would be our Hue City, our Guadalcanal, or compared it to numerous other epic battles that the Marine Corps has endured. Was it? I don't know. Who am I to make that statement? I think all of us want to believe that our time is historic and that our life has meaning. Ronald Reagan once said that many of us want to know if we made a difference in this world but the US Marines don't have that problem. I can not say how this battle will be defined in the history books but I can tell you besides the birth of my children and my marriage, it will probably be the most meaningful event of my life. How do you adequately define heroism, espirit de corps, patriotism? Words almost belittle their true definition.

As many of you saw on the news, Apache Company was definitely involved in the fight. We took our share of licks, delivered a disproportional amount more on the enemy, but more importantly we are all still here to talk about it and in the true Marine way of dealing with it - we laugh about it. A Purple Heart is not a medal anyone really wants to earn but it sure is a special person who wears that badge of honor.

All the Marines and Sailors of this company are heroes. They always have been even before we arrived. But now without question, for one shining moment in all of our lives, my Marines were heroes in the truest sense of the word.

They fought like brothers fighting to protect and defend their families. While I believe wholeheartedly in the mission, I do not preach about fighting for the greater glory of God, country or Corps because in the end, we fight for one another. And that is what they did. I have been blessed with the greatest collection of men ever assembled and I knew it from day one. I knew this company had a destiny and we would write our own chapter. It is indescribable to visit a Marine at the field hospital who was just wounded and he doesn't even talk about himself. To the man the first three questions were always about the status of the other Marines, did we beat the enemy and can I stay in the country with the company. I stand by their side and wonder why I do I deserve to be surrounded by such men. To the parents, guardians, grandparents who raised these kids, my hat is off to you. If you ever wondered if you made a difference in this world, I can tell you if your son is over here, the world is a better place because of you.

I have talked to some Iraqis throughout my time here and it is sad because many do not believe that life will get better. Some even say it was better under Saddam. Now that may be a tough pill to swallow for many Americans because of the sacrifices so many families have endured but I would argue just the opposite. I think that statement should make you even prouder to be an American. We are over here fighting for the success of this mission. My Marines are selflessly fighting for people they will never know. They are fighting for some who don't even appreciate the sacrifices they endure. I can not think of a more honorable act. We believe in the mission, even while some here don't because we live the miracle that is the United States of America. It is an awesome sight to see.

The support from our families and sponsors has been overwhelming. Overwhelming in two ways - one, physically and two, emotionally. We got back to Camp Baharia today and it looked like the Post Office went on strike. We had stacks of boxes and bags of letters. More than one person has told me (to which I completely empathize) that we feel guilty that we cannot respond in a timely manner, if at all. It is hard for us to know that some great American spent their time and their money to send us a package or a letter, or a newspaper and we can not get enough down time to write a thank you. It feels almost shameful. So I offer on behalf of the company, once, an offer of appreciation. Please do not feel that since we are unable to respond that we do not appreciate what you are doing for us. To go down a long laundry list of people, we would inevitably fail to mention one person or company and that would be worse than not mentioning anyone specifically at all. It is humbling to see the outpouring of support from our families and sponsors. We are indebted to you.

We are off again tomorrow on a new mission. Well, same mission, new place. As it has been for the past few weeks, we will not have internet or phone access. In fact we will not have electricity or running water. We thought Baharia was austere. You should have seen the camp we lived in for two weeks or see this next place we are going to tomorrow. Camp Baharia is a thriving metropolis with all the comforts of home compared to the new place. It looks like we will be occupying this place for some time. But in a few short days, the new digs will be home and we will be fine. I will try to cycle Marines back to Camp Baharia but please understand that those basic services that are available back home are almost privileged services here. I say this not out of some request for pity but again out of a sense of responsibility to all of you who support us. I see two Marines in a fighting position at night in the cold, frying up one slice of spam at a time in a canteen cup, with an MRE sleeve to block the wind, alternating piece for piece and offering a hot slice to any Marine in the area, and my only thought is - this is what makes our country great. Here are these two Marines, 8000 miles from home, sitting in a filthy hole, taking care of each other with a can of food that some great citizen back home sent them. It doesn't get any better than that.

I will leave it to the platoon commanders to write updates about the individual Marines. But I will offer this one story before I sign off about a Marine named Brooks. Ol' Brooksy was one of the first wounded in action we had in the company. It happened on the night of 30 September. He has been making tremendous gains and we hope to have him back on full duty within a week or so. Since the night of his attack, he has been doing his part manning the command operations center in Baharia, but more importantly healing from his wounds. His story is one to be told because he exemplifies what makes this company great. He never once complained about his lot in life and he never once complained about the job he now fulfills. He is doing his part and that is honorable. He is generally a quiet Marine but always very pleasant and enjoyable to talk with. As other guys were wounded, he would in his own way, let them know that he was there for them if they wanted to talk about it. For those of us who have not been wounded, we really do not know what it is like. But instead of feeling sorry for himself, he does his job and looks out for his brothers. It was not until 3 November that his Purple Heart award had come in and we invited the regimental commander to award him, and the other Marines their badge of honor. I will never forget watching Brooksy get his award. I think I was prouder that day to be a Marine and to serve along side another Marine than ever before. Brooksy was still walking tenderly. But when it came time for the ceremony, he marched completely erect, made all his facing movements as we were trained in boot camp and basically on shear physical courage alone, muscled his way through the whole ceremony to march and execute the drill movements precisely. I could see it on his face that he was in pain but he didn't yield to it. In that one moment in time, it hit home to me how special being a Marine really is. There was young PFC Brooks ensuring he lived up to the standards that others have set before him, standards that have been beat into us from day one, to ensure he did not let the Corps down and to represent himself well. As if the weight of the whole Corps' reputation was on his shoulders that day, he ensured he did not fail. Would anyone have blamed him if he didn't execute his about face properly? Not at all. But Brooksy wouldn't give them that chance. These are the men I serve with. Be proud. These are the men who serve in your defense.

Until next time, Semper Fidelis and pray for peace.

Apache 6 - out.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt John F. Griffin
Apache Company
2d LAR Bn RCT-1
Fallujah, Iraq

"Everybody fights. No one quits."

I'm posting this with tears in my eyes. These guys are heroes all, from young PFC Brooks up through senior leadership. I am so proud of them all and there are no words to adequately express that.

Posted by Deb at 09:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack



November 25, 2004



Precious Cargo

JHD shares this letter from Maj. Zarnik, USAFR as printed on the American Thinker website. Thank God for Major Zarnik and others like him.

Fallen Marines November 25th, 2004


I want to share with you my most recent Air Force Reserve trip. I had decided to go back into the Air Force Reserves as a part time reservist and after 6 months of training, I have recently been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and have been fully mission qualified as an Aircraft Commander of a KC-135R strato tanker aircraft.

On Friday of last week, my crew and I were tasked with a mission to provide air refueling support in order to tanker 6 F-16's over to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. We were then to tanker back to the states, 6 more F-16's that were due maintenance. It started out as a fairly standard mission - one that I have done many times as an active duty Captain in my former jet - the KC10a extender.

We dragged the F-16's to Moron Air Base in Spain where we spent the night and then finished the first part of our mission the next day by successfully delivering them to Incirlik. When I got on the ground in Turkey, I received a message to call the Tanker Airlift Control Center that my mission would change. Instead of tankering the F-16's that were due maintenance, I was cut new orders to fly to Kuwait City and pick up 22 "HR's" and return them to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

It had been a while since I had heard of the term "HR" used, and as I pondered what the acronym could possibly stand for, when it dawned on me that it stood for human remains. There were 22 fallen comrades who had just been killed in the most recent attacks in Fallujah and Baghdad, Iraq over the last week.

I immediately alerted the crew of the mission change and although they were exhausted due to an ocean crossing, the time change and minimum ground time in Spain for crew rest, we all agreed that it was more important to get these men back to their families as soon as possible.

We were scheduled to crew rest in Incirlik, Turkey for the evening and start the mission the next day. Instead, we decided to extend/continue our day and fly to Kuwait in order to pick up our precious cargo. While on the flight over to Kuwait, I knew that there were protocol procedures for accepting and caring for human remains, however, in my 13 years of active duty service, I never once had to refer to this regulation. As I read the regulation on the flight over, I felt prepared and ready to do the mission. My game plan was to pick up the HR's and turn around to fly to Mildenhal Air Base in England, spend the night, and then fly back the next day. This was the quickest way to get them home, considering the maximum crew duty day that I could subject my crew to legally and physically. I really pushed them to the limits but no one complained at all.

I thought that I was prepared for the acceptance of these men until we landed at Kuwait International. I taxied the jet over to a staging area where the honor guard was waiting to load our soldiers. I stopped the jet and the entire crew was required to stay on board. We opened the cargo door, and according to procedure, I had the crew line up in the back of the aircraft in formation and stand at attention. As the cargo loader brought up the first pallet of caskets, I ordered the crew to "Present Arms." Normally, we would snap a salute at this command, however, when you are dealing with a fallen soldier, the salute is a slow 3 second pace to position. As I stood there and finally saw the first four of twenty-two caskets draped with the American Flags, the reality had hit me. As the Marine Corps honor guard delivered the first pallet on board, I then ordered the crew to "Order Arms" - where they rendered an equally slow 3 second return to the attention position. I then commanded the crew to assume an at ease position and directed them to properly place the pallet. The protocol requires that the caskets are to be loaded so when it comes time to exit the aircraft - they will go head first. We did this same procedure for each and every pallet until we could not fit any more.

I felt a deep pit in my stomach when there were more caskets to be brought home and that they would have to wait for the next jet to come through. I tried to do everything in my power to bring more home but I had no more space on board. When we were finally loaded, with our precious cargo and fueled for the trip back to England, a Marine Corps Colonel from first battalion came on board our jet in order to talk to us. I gathered the crew to listen to him and his words of wisdom.

He introduced himself and said that it is the motto of the Marines to leave no man behind and it makes their job easier knowing that there were men like us to help them complete this task. He was very grateful for our help and the strings that we were pulling in order to get this mission done in the most expeditious manner possible. He then said -" Major Zarnik - these are MY MARINES and I am giving them to you. Please take great care of them as I know you will." I responded with telling him that they are my highest priority and that although this was one of the saddest days of my life, we are all up for the challenge and will go above and beyond to take care of your Marines - "Semper Fi Sir" A smile came on his face and he responded with a loud and thunderous, "Ooo Rah". He then asked me to please pass along to the families that these men were extremely brave and had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and that we appreciate and empathize with what they are going through at this time of their grievance. With that, he departed the jet and we were on our way to England.

I had a lot of time to think about the men that I had the privilege to carry. I had a chance to read the manifest on each and every one of them. I read about their religious preferences, their marital status, the injuries that were their cause of death. All of them were under age 27 with most in the 18-24 range. Most of them had wives and children. They had all been killed by an "IED" which I can only deduce as an [improvised] explosive devices. Mostly fatal head injuries and injuries to the chest area. I could not even imagine the bravery that they must have displayed and the agony suffered in this God Forsaken War. My respect and admiration for these men and what they are doing to help others in a foreign land is beyond calculation. I know that they are all with God now and in a better place.

The stop in Mildenhal was uneventful and then we pressed on to Dover where we would meet the receiving Marine Corps honor guard. When we arrived, we applied the same procedures in reverse. The head of each casket was to come out first. This was a sign of respect rather than defeat. As the honor guard carried each and every American flag covered casket off of the jet, they delivered them to awaiting families with military hearses. I was extremely impressed with how diligent the Honor Guard had performed the seemingly endless task of delivering each of the caskets to the families without fail and with precision. There was not a dry eye on our crew or in the crowd. The Chaplain then said a prayer followed by a speech from Lt. Col. Klaus of the second Battalion. In his speech, he also reiterated similar condolences to the families as the Colonel from First Battalion back in Kuwait.

I then went out to speak with the families as I felt it was my duty to help console them in this difficult time. Although I would probably be one of the last military contacts that they would have for a while - the military tends to take care of it's own. I wanted to make sure that they did not feel abandoned and more than that appreciated for their ultimate sacrifice. It was the most difficult thing that I have ever done in my life. I listened to the stories of each and every one that I had come in contact with and they all displayed a sense of pride during an obviously difficult time. The Marine Corps had obviously prepared their families well for this potential outcome.

So, why do I write this story to you all? I just wanted to put a little personal attention to the numbers that you hear about and see in the media. It is almost like we are desensitized by the "numbers" of our fallen comrades coming out of Iraq. I heard one commentator say that "it is just a number". Are you kidding me? These are our American Soldiers not numbers! It is truly a sad situation that I hope will end soon. Please hug and embrace your loved ones a little closer and know that there are men out there that are defending you and trying to make this a better world. Please pray for their families and when you hear the latest statistic's and numbers of our soldiers killed in combat, please remember this story. It is the only way that I know to more personalize these figures and have them truly mean something to us all.

Thanks for all of your support for me and my family as I take on this new role in completing my Air Force Career and supporting our country. I greatly appreciate all of your comments, gestures and prayers.

May God Bless America, us all, and especially the United States Marine Corps.

Semper Fi

Maj. Zarnik, USAFR


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Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

JHD shares this blast from the past, commenting "In today's secular society I can just imagine the rave reviews this Proclamation would've engendered!":

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord. We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choisest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

A. Lincoln October 3, 1863

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November 24, 2004



1/11 Marines on Jay Leno tonight

Drink coffee and stay up . . . or set your VCRs and watch it tomorrow.

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"Let's hear it for the Marines"

Marine wife, Mary Helen, sent this opinion by Janan Ganesh as published in the London Times:

The motto of the US Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis, or “always faithful”. And faith is exactly what the Western media eschew in their relentlessly cynical coverage of the American Armed Forces, which plunged to a new nadir last week with the outrage at a Marine who shot dead an injured and unarmed Fallujah terrorist. Their determination to portray the Americans as trigger-happy louts and the Iraqi terrorists as mere “rebels” slanders the former, sanctifies the latter and betrays everybody who trusts journalists to be objective.

Each American transgression is covered exhaustively and reproachfully, while triumphs, such as the trouble-free elections in Afghanistan and the reconstruction of Iraqi infrastructure, are treated as background noise. The torture of a few dozen prisoners in Abu Ghraib, for example, received far more attention than the restoration of the Marsh Arabs’ homeland.

And this bias predates the Iraq war. If you get your news from Channel 4, you probably believe that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are wide-eyed young gadflies who were enjoying an innocuous 18-30 holiday in glamorous Tora Bora before being kidnapped by rampaging Navy Seals. The truth is that many are al-Qaeda members who fought coalition forces during the invasion, but whose crimes are too legally vague to guarantee a conviction in court. America is therefore faced with the choice of releasing known enemies or detaining them indefinitely. That they choose the latter is not only sensible but generous — any of history’s previous superpowers, such as Soviet Russia — would have shot them on sight.

Jack Nicholson’s “you can’t handle the truth” routine in A Few Good Men has become an iconic monologue of modern cinema, but the point he was making is rarely grasped. The injustice Nicholson laments is not that we expect a noble minority to pay the blood price for our security — it was ever thus — but that we demand the right to tell them how to do it. Shackled by laws, norms and protocol concocted by legalists, the US Armed Forces — who have done more for freedom of the press than all the world’s journalists combined — are put in an impossible position. It is nauseating enough that they are now casually disparaged as “hicks” and “rednecks” by do-nothing civilians, without the supposedly objective media joining in.

Semper Fidelis is exactly right. The Marine who shot this unarmed enemy was responding to what he perceived as an immediate threat. There have been numerous instances of enemy combatants faking death or injury and then shooting or blowing up our troops. In this case, the Marine didn't know and should not be expected to determine if the enemy was unarmed before shooting. He reacted just as he had been trained - to protect his brother Marines. The ultimate goal of warfare is to make sure the other guy dies and this Marine achieved that goal. For that, he deserves praise, not condemnation.

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2/10 visits Al Majjarh

Major Timothy M. Parker, Executive Officer for 2/10 Marines writes:

Friends and Families of 2/10, We have completed our first two months in Iraq. I have had the opportunity to visit every site, and the high level of motivation and esprit de corps consistently inspires me. It almost seems like the places where things are hardest the morale is best. The weather has begun to cool, which was a welcome relief, although I’m sure you’ll soon hear complaints about how cold it is here (Marines are only happy when complaining).
Like many, I find it distressing that so many people back in America don’t understand why we are here. I’d like to relate to you a story that will hopefully bring all of it into perspective. Most of you will note the story of Huda, the young girl whose picture has graced our webpage for the past month.
On 3 November, we returned Huda and her father to their village, Al Majjarh. It was a great homecoming. The entire town came out to welcome them back. Huda mom wanted us to stay for lunch, but we try not to stay too long for security reasons. After talking with the family for a little while, CWO Torres went to talk to the village sheik (yes, they really have those here), and I walked back to my vehicle.
After I got back to the vehicle, two little girls walked up to me, and began to talk to me. I couldn't really understand what they wanted, and then they ran back to their house. They returned to me with a baby girl, who couldn't have been more than six months old. I could tell she was a girl because she had pierced ears, which I thought odd for a village so poor. She was a sweet little girl and they let me hold her, and I finally found out that what they wanted was water.
The village has problems with getting clean water, it's one of the projects we're working on in the village. I gave them three bottles of water, and they took the water and the baby back home. They returned to talk to me, which is a relative term since I don't speak any Arabic. So, I took out my wallet and showed them a picture of my family, and pointed out my own family (my wife and eight children). They took my pictures and ran back to their house.
I could see their mother in the backyard, so walked over there. One of the little girls had handed my pictures to the mother. She began speaking very rapidly, then began to cry. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, so I called one of our translators over. She (the translator) said that the mother was sad because I had to be away from my family.
I asked where she was from, and she told me she was a refugee from Fallujah. She was frightened of all the terrorists, and the bombs that were being dropped. They were living in a tent in Al Majjarh. I told her that I hoped soon we would drive out all the terrorists, so that she could return home. I told her that I was sad to be away from my family, and my family was sad I was away from them, but my family and I felt the sacrifice was worth it, so the people of Iraq could have the same freedom as we do. She seemed very touched, and genuinely appreciative of our efforts.
We are changing this country for the better, one person at a time. President Theodore Roosevelt once said:
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
The Marines and Sailors of 2d Battalion are men in the arena, they are making a difference for our great nation and for Iraq. I truly hope you are all as proud of them as am I.

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". . . the world is full of good people"

Capt John F. Griffin from 2d LAR Bn sends this update from Fallujah, Iraq

Pain and suffering is how character is defined. If life was easy and all that we have was provided and not earned, nothing would be appreciated. Life would be without value. I believe that the world is good again. The evil empire has been defeated and righteousness has returned as our hero. Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox - World Series Champions.

Life around the camp has definitely settled into a rhythm. All the unknowns are gone, all the questions we had before we departed have been answered and now, more than ever, the team is focused and ready.

We celebrated Halloween yesterday thanks to the generous support of the families, friends and sponsors. As I toured the tents yesterday, I saw no fewer than 20 Halloween masks out and in use. I think this speaks so highly of the men committed to the cause. They are warriors at heart, strong in their resolve to accomplish the mission, but remain America's jovial, spirited youth. We also enjoyed a barbeque of hamburgers, chicken and steak fajitas and BBQ pork ribs. LCpl Kempher has turned out to be a magician with some frozen government chow and some burning logs.

As you know, we now have CBS embedded with us to cover the unit. They will be with us for an undetermined length of time. It has been great. During the first three days, Marines from this company made the CBS news every night. While most people are slightly intimidated by the press and some have tainted opinions, I will tell you the crew we have are righteous, committed professionals. I have no hesitancy having them embedded in the company. Their presence has been a force multiplier.

Having a crew from CBS is a positive experience for all us on many different levels. First, I firmly believe that it makes the Marines feel more appreciated. Our families, friends and sponsors have been phenomenal in their support and CBS merely adds to that momentum. These young kids who are 8000 miles from home, without question, now know that America cares enough about what they are doing to embed a crew from the one of the largest media organizations in America. And they are with our company alone. Second, it enforces the feeling that we are part of something larger than ourselves. We are writing a chapter of our nation's history that our future generations will read about and respect those that answered the call and committed themselves selflessly to the fight for what is right and good. Third, it reinforces what I tell the Marines all the time - they are heroes. They know the impact of seeing Marines on TV, full of confidence, their resolve forged and honed like steel, individually self-admitting focus on the mission at hand. They know the impact this has on America, on fellow Marines and on our adversaries. We all have sat on the sidelines and watched Marines go into harms way and wonder if we had what it takes. We all wondered if we would live up to the legendary prowess of the Marines that went before us.

We all wondered if we could be as inspiring to future generations of Marines and produce the envy of fellow of Marines who were not in the fight feel just as we all felt when it was not our time. The presence of CBS embedded with this company, answers all those minute feelings of self-doubt that we may have. My (our) Marines are heroes and CBS will help us tell their story. That was the Ying - this is the Yang. My opinion remains the same - please do not get tied to the nightly news. Remember they are marketing a story. Marines sitting around playing Madden football on their play station, taking long afternoon naps, doing daily maintenance on their vehicles, playing soccer, walking to the internet and phone center, reading mail and opening packages is not a story you will see on the nightly news - but that is the situation on the ground. Remember - we had a bar-b-cue yesterday and the talk of the crowd was the annoying motion sensing scarecrow I posted in front of the COC that yelled at everyone who walked by. Our favorite webmaster has created a link to the CBS news and every time Kim Dozier (CBS correspondent) reports and is televised, Caressa will post a link. So watch the story from there but focus on seeing our Marines.

One lesson I will definitely take away from this experience is that the world is full of good people. It is too bad all the bad and evildoers get all the press. I equate it to the good cop-bad cop paradigm. All you ever hear about are the bad cops but you rarely hear about the miracle workers our policemen are on a daily basis (except for a brief few months after 9/11 when they received the recognition they deserved). But all of America is like that in every profession and every walk of life. The media may get a bad rap at times but I personally am impressed with the integrity and commitment of the reporters who are imbedded with us. But more importantly, I am impressed with all of you and all of the citizens of our great nation. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and humbling. This war has been going for a few years now. Far longer than I ever believed America's attention span to be. But America is without question still out there supporting us. It is amazing to receive the voluminous, random letters and packages from people all across the country, from all sectors of life that just want to do their part.

We have built (what we call) the Apache General Store. We have received so much material support that we are unable to keep it in our personal spaces. In the spirit of taking care of one another, whatever excess each of us receives, instead of hording it, it is provided to the Apache General Store. Now our Marines have an opportunity to go the "store" first before they go to the PX. Of course, everything in our store is free. But the bottom line is we could not have done this without you. My hat is off to you. Great events do not make great people. Great people make great events. We have a great country and it is not because of us, it is because of you. Without question, our families and friends have a harder job then we do. We chose this profession and accepted the consequences. All of our loved ones have to deal with a greater hardship and sacrifice than we do. We chose to do this and we are surrounded by people who made the same decision and there is a great deal of comfort in those circles. Whatever connection you have to your Marine, you have to get through this because of decisions we made. You are my heroes and you are extremely appreciated.

God Bless America and Pray for Peace. Apache 6

Semper Fidelis,

Capt John F. Griffin


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November 23, 2004



Jet Noise muted

Cassandra from I Love Jet Noise is hanging up her keyboard. She's on my short list of writers who I read every day and she never fails to elicit a laugh . . . or a tear. I'm sorry to hear this and hope that she'll find a new venue for her witty and right-on-target opinions very soon. And the welcome mat is open here.

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First Team - between Iraq and a hard place

1/7 Marines continue to excel as they battle insurgents along the Syrian border. Here are exerpts from two reports from the front.

As Marines everywhere celebrated the 229th birthday of the Marine Corps on November 10th, 1/7 Suicide Charlie did what Marines do best - they kicked ass in their little part of the world. Here's an account by Cpl Matthew Jones on how Marines from the 3rd platoon uncovered weapons caches in two Al Qaim houses, freed three captured Iraqis who had been held as hostages for almost a month, and took six suspected terrorists off the streets and into custody.

As the Marines approached the house they observed a man sitting on the stoop, who matched the description of a wanted man. The man, who did not visible have a weapon, fit the description of a known high value target, according to Sgt. Tobey J. Owens, squad leader, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon.

Owens then ran after and tackled the man. The man struggled with the Marines while he was being detained. The Marines found a Glock 9-mm pistol on the man, said Owens.

The Marines continued towards the second house. The Marines quickly cleared the house of insurgents, said Cpl. Brandon L. Soetaert, team leader, 1st Sqd., 3rd Plt.

Once the house was originally cleared, the Marines began a more detailed search of the house. The Marines found a metal door in the rear of the house that was locked. The Marines breached entrance into the room and discovered a large weapons cache, said Lance Cpl. Adam Wiedler, assaultman with 1st Sqd., 3rd Plt.

The Marines breeched the doorway and entered the room. Once inside of the room the Marines discovered a weapons cache that was large enough to outfit a small militia, according to Wiedler.

The room was lined with every type of weapons from pistols to anti-air craft rockets. The weapons were well maintained and some of them were loaded, said Weidler.

In addition to the weapons systems, the Marines found anti-coalition propaganda, videotapes showing the insurgents beating Iraqi hostages and falsified identification papers, according to Leonhart.

“Once we realized what we had discovered, we decided to conduct a more detailed search of the property,” said Owens, 29, a native of East Liverpool, Ohio.

Upon further search coalition gear and U. S. currency were found inside the house. On the property surrounding the house Marines found a locked concrete shed. After cracking the door they realized that there were people in the room, said Soetaert, 20, a native of Kansas City, Mo.

“I didn’t realize what they were at first. We had been banging on the door for a few minutes and they were asleep,” said Weidler. “Once I realized what that they were hostages, I was extremely happy to be able to help this people.”

The hostages were civilian contractors that had been working with coalition forces toward bettering the future of Iraq.

During a more detailed search of the property multiple weapons caches were found among three vehicles. Not wanting these weapons to fall back into the hands of insurgents Multi-National Forces placed charges on the vehicles destroying them in place according to, Lance Cpl. Russell D. Antonuccio, assault man, 3rd Plt.

In total MNF to took six insurgents into custody, found multiple weapons caches and recovered three hostages without firing a single shot or taking any casualties.

“I felt that we truly helped the Iraqi people today,” said Wielder. “It was a great birthday present for the Marines' birthday.”

Cpl Jones describes another night's work for 1st platoon:

Assembling in the dead of night, the Marines of “Suicide Charlie” prepare to provide the wake up call of a lifetime for a handful of known insurgents. They mount their vehicles and head towards the small town on the banks of the Euphrates River and as the sun rises the Marines knock on the insurgents door in a way that only Marines can.

With a bang on the door, the Marines entered houses with such speed that the insurgents didn’t have time to react to the early morning visitors. At the completion of this early morning visit, the Marines leave with five insurgents detained and weapons that could have been used to kill coalition forces or innocent Iraqi civilians.

The Marines of 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted simultaneous cordon and knocks on three houses’ to capture insurgents.

They entered through the front door of the first house and began clearing the each room, said Sgt. Tobey J. Owens, squad leader, 1st Squad.

The Marines had cleared most of the house when they entered a small room in the rear. They discovered a man crouching along the wall with a loaded weapon pointed at them, stated Cpl. Travis M. Ball, team leader, 1st Squad.

“We were on top of the man so quickly he did not have time to react,” said Owens. “I kicked him as Ball tackled him to the floor so he would not have the opportunity to shoot at us.”

The squad captured the armed insurgent, Kais Atal Mutatharer, who had worked with the U.S. Army as a translator in the Al Qaim area.

“The quick actions of the Marines enabled us to gather intelligence out of him,” said Capt. Chris DeAntoni, company commander. “They had every justification to shoot this guy, but they had the discipline not to and we’ll be able to use this guy to get bigger fish.”

Then they entered the house next door and discovered four insurgents along with three women and a baby. The Marines quickly separated the males and moved the females outside of the house, according to Cpl. Brandon L. Soetaert, team leader, 1st Squad.

The Marines also provided medical care to a known terrorist facilitator after entering the house. The man had gone into shock as the Marines entered the house, stated Soetaert, 20, from Kansas City, Mo.

Inside the two houses the Marines found loaded weapons, ammunition, anti-coalition propaganda, falsified documents, identification papers and tools for making vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, Owens added.

The Marines also visited an insurgent house in the northern section of the town. Scaling the wall they surrounded the perimeter of the house and gained entry only to discover that the informant and given the Marines incorrect information, but the insurgents house was actually across the street, according to Cpl. Timothy A. Collier, team leader, 1st Squad.

The head of the household showed the Marines which house the insurgent lived in and the Marines searched the house. According to an Iraqi woman inside of the house the insurgent had left earlier that morning, said Collier, a 24 year-old native of Akron, Ohio.

As the sun rose across the Iraqi sky, the Marines left the small town on the riverbank of the Euphrates and returned to their base with five terrorists captured.


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November 22, 2004



Marine Dad, Frank Schaeffer, speaks on troop support

Watching the bickering by survivors of those killed on 9/11/01 has been incredibly frustrating for parents and family members of troops who watch their loved ones take incredible risks for a country that is made up of both fervent troop supporters and those who never think about the men and women that protect and defend their right to live in a free society. In this editorial, Frank Schaeffer puts this frustration into words.

Staff Sergeant Aaron White, USMC was killed in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2003 in Iraq. Here is an excerpt from his last letters home to his wife Michele and to his baby daughter Brianna.

"What keeps me up at night is thinking you may never know what you mean to me.... If I don't come home, please tell Brianna that her daddy loves her more than life....

Brianna, it breaks my heart to have to miss your first birthday. I hope that you will forgive me.... I fall asleep every night with visions of you and your mommy in my head, reminding me of all I have been blessed with. I will be with you every day, if not in body, then in spirit. I love more than my words could ever say..."

Aaron was killed two days after Brianna turned one. When an American in a military uniform is killed his or her family receives a one-time death gratuity of $12,000. The surviving family may also qualify for Survivors Benefit Plan (SBP) paid up to age 62 or until the widow remarries. SBP amounts to 55% of the soldier's retirement pay, pay that is already so low that it qualifies many military families for food stamps. These "benefits" are contingent upon fulfilling many petty regulations. Michele did not qualify for SBP because Aaron was in the Corps just under10 years service. Several further benefits, like the income-based Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), may or may not pay out about $800 per month and $200 per child depending on the case. Michele did not qualify because of several arcane technicalities. Michele and Brianna's medical benefits will end three years from Aaron's death. However Michele did receive some modest insurance compensation because Aaron paid for coverage out of his own meager salary.

A just released study by the Rand Corporation found that the families of civilians killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 received on average, $3.1 million in government and charitable compensation. The families of the firemen and cops who died received even more. Their average compensation exceeded $4.2 million.

Our soldiers are being killed on a daily basis but most of us seem to feel little personal connection with them. If we did their widows and families would be better compensated. Our idea of "supporting the troops" is to stick magnetic yellow ribbons on our cars. Those Americans who do not serve or do not have family serving are disconnected from our all-volunteer forces and their families. I know. I never served in the military and before my son unexpectedly enlisted in the Marines, then went to war in the Middle East for eleven months, I looked at our military as made up of people who had little to do with me.

Let's strip away our yellow ribbon sentimentality for a moment and admit the truth: we treat our military like second-class citizens. I'm glad the 9/11 families were generously compensated but it's time to ask why the family of someone who has done no more for his country than show up at a stock trading office on the wrong day should receive hundreds of times more compensation than a soldier who volunteered to leave his wife and child to defend the rest of us.

Most of the dead from our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are being buried in small towns and the blue collar or middle and lower middle class sections of our cities. Our politicians seem better able to identify with the needs of stock trader's widows (not to mention the businesses and airlines that were also generously compensated), than with the needs of the families of our soldiers. This is a scandal.

In his second to last letter home Aaron wrote: "Believe me I am not having a good time here. This is an ugly hasty land. I hope [our] people appreciate the blood we are to spill." Judging by how we are taking care of his widow and daughter apparently the answer is that we do ot.

Thank you, Frank.

Posted by Deb at 10:03 PM



November 21, 2004



LtCol Bellon reports on the future greatest generation

Praise for the Marines of RCT-1 and RCT-7, as well as the Army Blackjack Brigade, from LtCol Bellon:

There is an image burned into my brain that I hope I never forget. We came up behind 3/5 one day as the lead squads were working down the Byzantine streets of the Jolan area. An assault team of two Marines ran out from behind cover and put a rocket into a wall of an enemy strongpoint. Before the smoke cleared the squad behind them was up and moving through the hole and clearing the house. Just down the block another squad was doing the same thing. The house was cleared quickly and the Marines were running down the street to the next contact. Even in the midst of that mayhem, it was an awesome site.

The fighting has been incredibly close inside the city. The enemy is willing to die and is literally waiting until they see the whites of the eyes of the Marines before they open up. Just two days ago, as a firefight raged in close quarters, one of the interpreters yelled for the enemy in the house to surrender. The enemy yelled back that it was better to die and go to heaven than to surrender to infidels. This exchange is a graphic window into the world that the Marines and Soldiers have been fighting in these last 10 days.

There are many heroes among our troops. LtCol Bellon focuses on two exceptional Marines:

I will end with a couple of stories of individual heroism that you may not have heard yet. I was told about both of these incidents shortly after they occurred. No doubt some of the facts will change slightly but I am confident that the meat is correct.

The first is a Marine from 3/5. His name is Corporal Yeager (Chuck Yeager's grandson). As the Marines cleared and apartment building, they got to the top floor and the point man kicked in the door. As he did so, an enemy grenade and a burst of gunfire came out. The explosion and enemy fire took off the point man's leg. He was then immediately shot in the arm as he lay in the doorway. Corporal Yeager tossed a grenade in the room and ran into the doorway and into the enemy fire in order to pull his buddy back to cover. As he was dragging the wounded Marine to cover, his own grenade came back through the doorway. Without pausing, he reached down and threw the grenade back through the door while he heaved his buddy to safety. The grenade went off inside the room and Cpl Yeager threw another in. He immediately entered the room following the second explosion. He gunned down three enemy all within three feet of where he stood and then let fly a third grenade as he backed out of the room to complete the evacuation of the wounded Marine. You have to understand that a grenade goes off within 5 seconds of having the pin pulled. Marines usually let them "cook off" for a second or two before tossing them in. Therefore, this entire episode took place in less than 30 seconds.

The second example comes from 3/1. Cpl Mitchell is a squad leader. He was wounded as his squad was clearing a house when some enemy threw pineapple grenades down on top of them. As he was getting triaged, the doctor told him that he had been shot through the arm. Cpl Mitchell told the doctor that he had actually been shot "a couple of days ago" and had given himself self aide on the wound. When the doctor got on him about not coming off the line, he firmly told the doctor that he was a squad leader and did not have time to get treated as his men were still fighting. There are a number of Marines who have been wounded multiple times but refuse to leave their fellow Marines.

It is incredibly humbling to walk among such men. They fought as hard as any Marines in history and deserve to be remembered as such. The enemy they fought burrowed into houses and fired through mouse holes cut in walls, lured them into houses rigged with explosives and detonated the houses on pursuing Marines, and actually hid behind surrender flags only to engage the Marines with small arms fire once they perceived that the Marines had let their guard down. I know of several instances where near dead enemy rolled grenades out on Marines who were preparing to render them aid. It was a fight to the finish in every sense and the Marines delivered.

I have called the enemy cowards many times in the past because they have never really held their ground and fought but these guys in the city did. We can call them many things but they were not cowards.

My whole life I have read about the greatest generation and sat in wonder at their accomplishments. For the first time, as I watch these Marines and Soldiers, I am eager for the future as this is just the beginning for them. Perhaps the most amazing characteristic of all is that the morale of the men is sky high. They hurt for the wounded and the dead but they are eager to continue to attack. Further, not one of them would be comfortable with being called a hero even though they clearly are.

By now the Marines and Soldiers have killed well over a thousand enemy. These were not peasants or rabble. They were reasonably well trained and entirely fanatical. Most of the enemy we have seen have chest rigs full of ammunition and are well armed are willing to fight to the death. The Marines and Soldiers are eager to close with them and the fighting at the end is inevitably close.

There's more.

Posted by Deb at 11:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack



November 18, 2004



A Marine writes home

Via Powerline, this letter is a must-read for those incensed by Kevin Sites' video.

This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does.

This is one most don't hear:
A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.

But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded. Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, i too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.

Oohrah. And thanks for the perspective.

Steve from Hog On Ice asks a follow-up question:

. . . what ever happened to "WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!"?

Hmm...here we have a grunt in the field. Not Donald Rumsfeld. Not Paul Wolfowitz. Not George Bush. And he made a split-second decision to kill an enemy combatant, in an environment where terrorists have been pretending to be dead so they could ambush and kill coalition soldiers. Isn't he...part of our "TROOPS"?

No, I guess not. I guess he's a BABY-KILLER! Come on, say it, liberals! You know you want to! BABY-KILLER! I mean, granted, the guy he killed was a dirty old terrorist, but "DIRTY-OLD-TERRORIST-KILLER" just doesn't roll off the tongue, especially after a few dozen puffs of the herb.

People, the left does not support our troops. They don't really see the troops as helpless, uneducated dupes who can't see through George Bush's magical screen of smoke and mirrors. They know perfectly well that soldiers and sailors are overwhelmingly conservative, and the smarter leftists also know that without military votes, George Bush would never have been elected President. That's why Bill Clinton and Al Gore worked so hard to prevent military personnel from voting and from having their cast votes counted.

I have to tell you--and I am truly sorry I didn't write about this earlier, because I wanted to, and I have no excuse--I am floored by the selflessness and courage of our troops in Fallujah and Mosul. I'm always awed by the courage of our soldiers at war, but in my mind, these troops are even more impressive. We are taking dozens of casualties, and we expected that beforehand, and by all accounts, our fighting men and women were not just willing but eager to get in there and get started.

God bless every one of them. Quite simply, they are better people than I am.

How do you thank people with hearts like that? The thought of it actually brings tears to my eyes. How do you thank someone who accepts low pay and unbearable working conditions in exchange for marching into hell's very mouth?

The very idea that spoiled liberal brats are condemning this brave soldier before they know the facts--it makes me wish we could flog them.

In the video of the incident, it's clear the Marine feared for his life. He shouted that the terrorist was faking death. To any sane, reasonable person, that is prima facie evidence that the shooting was justified. If you love our troops so much, why won't you let this man make his case before you air the video and condemn him? You'd do that for the Fedayeen Saddam, you America-hating morons. Implicitly, you're doing it for the dead terrorist in this story. Why can't you do that for for a man who is risking his life so you can have the right to sit here on your fat, comfortable asses and criticize him?


Posted by Deb at 06:10 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack





Why We Are Here

LtCol Michael S. McGurk, presents this compelling explanation from Baghdad:

8 November 2004

One must ask with the daily reports of death and destruction in Iraq why are we here? Why? What for? What are we doing? Is it making a difference?

It is a difficult question and one I will make an attempt to answer, although I doubt I will satisfy everyone's ideals. The best explanation I can give is to provide you with two stories. Two stories separated by years but still relevant to today.

In 1998 I was fortunate to visit the beaches of Normandy, France. I was on a tour of the invasion beaches with a group of gentlemen from Virginia. They were all veterans of the Second World War. Not all served in France, some in Africa, Italy or the Pacific. However, one of the gentlemen was a veteran of D-Day. He had come ashore that terrible day, 6 June, 1944.

We stood at the end of Omaha beach, in the narrow defile the 29th Infantry had cleared. The beach of "Saving Private Ryan." The 29th Infantry from Virginia, lead by the 116th Infantry Regiment, assaulted that draw at Omaha Beach. They won the battle, but at a heavy cost. The 116th Infantry took over 800 casualties that day. Alpha Company, took 90% casualties and the town of Bedford Virginia, lost 19 of the 35 sons they sent to fight.

The gentlemen who had been on the beach that day turned and looked at the rest of us. He said, "This is not how I remember the beach, it didn't look at all like this..." Then he pointed to the beach, devoid of obstacles, with now fresh, clean sand, and two children playing in the surf, and he continued "... but I guess this is why we fought here, so children COULD play on the beach again." And then he fell silent.

Was Hitler a direct threat to the US? Did we have to storm the beaches of Normandy that day? Could we have waited months or years for a political solution? I certainly don't know. But I have traveled across Normandy and spoken to the people of the small towns and farms. They are grateful for what the World did that day. They desired to be liberated from a brutal dictator, and they desired to be free.

The second story is more recent, here in Baghdad. Baghdad is a dangerous place. Travel is risky and infrequent compared to other parts of the world. So if you get a chance to travel, you try to make all your errands on one trip. One of the chaplains from Baghdad had been out on mission, visiting the soldiers. On the way back in, the chaplain asked the soldiers if they wanted to stop by the small Post Exchange for supplies. The soldiers jumped at the chance.

While walking to the Post Exchange the soldiers, and the Chaplain, were approached by several small children. You have seen these children. I have seen these children. In the streets of Vietnam, Korea, Somalia and Haiti. Large eyes and a shy smile. They speak the English patois of the street "You want gum G.I.?" "Give me candy?" There is an unwritten law that Chaplains always have candy.

One of the children approached the Chaplain, and looked at the Cross on the Chaplain's helmet, where the rank is found on other officers. In a quiet voice the child asked "Christian?" The Chaplain answered "Yes," and the child asked again "Messiah?" and the Chaplain said "Yes, I believe in the Messiah." The child then reached under the thin t-shirt and pulled out a cross, showed it to the Chaplain, then quickly kissed it and put it away, making the sign to be quiet to the Chaplain. The Chaplain smiled and nodded in understanding. The child wanted us to know they were Christian too, but in Baghdad, such a proclamation invites death or a beating a the hands of the mob.

Why are we here? It is NOT to bring Christianity to Iraq. But it is to bring Freedom. Freedom to follow whatever religion you practice, or none at all. Freedom to walk the streets of Baghdad and to live in Peace.

Why are we here? I think of the men who died on the Beaches of Omaha, and the children of Baghdad, and I can't answer why others are here. But I know why I am.

MICHAEL S. McGURK
Lieutenant Colonel
Baghdad, Iraq

Posted by Deb at 01:37 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack





1/7 November Update from Al Qaim

LtCol Woodbridge sends this update on my favorite battalion:


Greetings from Al Qa'im. It's the 16th of November, and it is hard to believe that the deployment is almost half over! Time is flying and the battalion remains very busy here. I hope time is flying for everyone back home as well.

I'm sure the fighting in Fallujah is all over the news right now. The Marines, soldiers, and sailors of the Division who are involved in that fight are doing very well. US casualties remain very low while over 1000 insurgents have been killed or captured. Many of you are probably wondering if any of the First Team is involved in the fight, and whether the operation is Fallujah is causing more violence in our part of the country. Several of our attachments (AAVs, and EOD) we reassigned to units in RCT-7 in Fallujah, and D Co LAR was reassigned to support the battalion to our east. As for the effects of the fight in Fallujah, we have not experienced any significant change in enemy activity in our area. The Al Qa'im region is still a very hazardous place, but no more so now than it was before.

In fact the last few weeks have been very positive. The battalion has conducted many very successful missions against the insurgents in our area. We have come through two of the events that we expected to cause us the most trouble: the Islamic holiday Ramadan and the US presidential election. We have had no one killed in action or seriously wounded recently, and on the 10th of Nov we all celebrated the 229th Marine Corps Birthday. Believe it or not, in the middle of the desert we had a seafood dinner and birthday cake.

The hard work both in Fallujah and here in Al Qa'im continues. It is very important for everyone--us here and you all back home to understand that there is not going to be one decisive battle to end this fight. This is not how a counterinsurgency or stability and support operation works. Think of it like a boxing match. This fight will not be won with a dramatic "knockout." This fight will go the distance--hard fought in every round, and it will ultimately be won "by decision." The next "rounds" will see us continuing to go after the insurgents in our area, and preparing for the upcoming Iraqi election. This will be the first free election ever held in this country--truly historic.

Let me take a minute to thank all of the First Team's key volunteers--especially Mrs Lori Rogers. You are all doing a wonderful job supporting our families, and we are all very grateful for your hard work and commitment. Keep up the great work.

Lets talk briefly about the future. I will not pass you any dates just now because as we all learned during OIF-I last year--all dates are subject to change. The battalion is still planning to be home in March. This time we will wait until the next calendar month to take out post-deployment combat leave in order to give us another month tax-exempt. After the leave block we are planning a "welcome home ball" in Las Vegas since we missed this year's birthday ball. So there is plenty to look forward to.

As I write this our Segovia "Internet Cafe" here at Al Qa'im is still not working. We lost this e-mail and phone service on the 4th of Nov, so if you haven't heard from your sailor or Marine in a few weeks--this is the reason. We still have satellite phones, so if there is any kind of emergency rest assured I will make sure your loved one can make a call home.

I know I speak for us all when I say that the thing we look forward to the most is our reunion with you. The support from home has been incredible and your thoughts and prayers are really paying off. Stay strong and God bless you.

Semper Fidelis

LtCol Woodbridge

Posted by Deb at 01:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack



November 17, 2004



Happy Thanksgiving from the 24th MEU in Fallujah

From Col. Johnson:

Dear Families and Friends of the 24th MEU,

The eyes of the world are now on Fallujah, where Iraqi and U.S. forces are dropping the hammer on terrorists. Less visibly but just as relentlessly, the 24th MEU and its Iraqi allies are pressing the attack south of Baghdad.

In three months of operations, we've rounded up roughly 600 insurgents and seized hundreds of weapons and ammunition stockpiles. More important perhaps than the numbers is our demonstration - to those we're here to hunt and those we're here to help - of unwavering resolve to see our mission through.

Even as we maintain the offensive, we pause this month to celebrate the birth of the Marine Corps, to honor our nation's veterans, and to give thanks for our many blessings.

Foremost among these are your love and support, which continue to strengthen us. High atop the list, too, is the land of the pilgrims' pride, our magnificent nation.

If service in Iraq, as in most of the world's hotspots, reveals anything to us, it is how fortunate we Americans are. We consider seven months here a hardship tour. For the people who call this beautiful but tortured country home, theirs has been a hardship life. Millions of long-suffering Iraqis have known little but deprivation and despair, the byproducts of three decades of tyranny. My prayers go out to those Marines and their families whose sacrifices have won for the Iraqi people unprecedented freedom and the prospect of security that will permit them to pursue happiness in peace.

This month we set aside a special day to express gratitude. There's nothing we're more thankful for than to have you waiting for us. I know the months drag by, and it seems we'll never get there. But of course it will pass, and we'll soon be home.

Some among us have less to be thankful for than others. The people of Iraq want peace and prosperity, just as we enjoy in the United States. Our contribution to that noble endeavor is enormous, and despite the difficulties, I can assure you this is no lost cause. The sacrifices we have made and the blood we have shed are not in vain. We're making a difference, and we see it on the faces of children in school yards across our area of operations. I thank all of you who sent so much to help us help them.

It is my wish that when you sit at the dinner table this Thanksgiving, you add a prayer for them. For long after we are gone, they will still be here, bravely building on what we have begun.

We miss you, and we love you all.

Semper Fidelis,
R.J. JOHNSON
Colonel, U.S. Marines


Posted by Deb at 10:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack





The Luxury of Pacifism

I recently heard a discussion that included one young woman who made some interesting comments. She doesn't support putting any of our soldiers in harm's way, ever, for any reason. Moreover, she defies authority very day, thinks governments and laws are unnecessary, and as she put it, "I live by me." She's a self proclaimed pacifist.

Admittedly, she's young. She's idealistic, and her life perspective is very different from mine. However, I couldn't help but think about the sheer luxury of her positions.

Never put any of our armed forces in harm's way, ever. In that case, let's disband the military completely. After all, if we're not ever willing to risk a life to protect freedom, we might as well plan to be overrun by those who are stronger and less principled, and just give up our freedoms entirely. Whoops! I can't accept that, I'll stand by words that served this nation so well more than 200 years ago. "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased with the bonds of slavery? Forbid it, Almight God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

I live by me. Gee, that's great. Let's just give up the rule of law, the government that provides police, firefighters and (heaven help us) a national defense. Of course, you might want to consider getting youself a gun. Not everyone is as nice as you, shares your exact moral code, etc. and at some point, someone's going to decide that you should give them what you have, what you've worked to earn or decide that you just don't deserve those freedoms you so glibly exercise. That's happened in some other places . . . Afghanistan, for example, where one religious group decided that their way was the only way. Line up to get your burkas here, but for heaven sakes, don't show even an inch of ankle. Iraq's another good example. Just one man intimidated, frightened and murdered his way to the top, at the expense of one nation's citizenry. He probably would have happily espoused the "I live by me." theory. So, I think, would Osama Bin Laden. (Oh wait, they already have.)

I'm a pacifist. There's an old joke about pacifists. Ask one to tell you all about his beliefs, and then punch him in the mouth. If he raises a fist, shake your finger in his face and remind the naughty pacifist about his own beliefs. Then hit him again.
Repeat until the pacifist changes his philosophy.

This young woman will probably never have to fight for her freedoms or her beliefs. She can remain safely tucked in her little pacifist bed, and sleep soundly at night. How nice for her. But perhaps it's worth reminding her and others like her that she can do that because she lives in the United States, a country that was not founded on those sorts of ideals. It's pretty clear that our nation was founded by people who were willing to fight for their freedom. Perhaps it's worth reminding her that this country and its citizens owe their freedoms to men and women throughout time who have been willing to make sacrifices to keep their freedoms. Maybe, just maybe, we should remind her that the reason she'll probably never have to fight for her freedoms is because the most free nation on earth also spends a lot of money, as well as blood, sweat and tears, to maintain an Armed Forces full of men and women who are most assuredly NOT pacifists. Men and women who choose to be ready to put themselves in harm's way on her behalf, and to whom the philosophy of "I live by me!" is a phenomenally self centered , ignorant piece of claptrap not worth the sand that clings to their well worn combat boots.

And while she lavishes in the luxury of pacifism, I'll extend my gratitude to those whose idea of luxury is sleep without the accompaniment of gunfire and rocket propelled grenades . . . to the Sailors, Soldiers, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen and Marines who protect and defend this nation of luxuries.

Thank you, for what you do, and for the gifts you give that we would not otherwise have. May we never take them for granted.

Posted by at 03:42 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack



November 15, 2004



Operation Santa

Operation Santa continues with a number of dedicated Santa's Helpers who are busy coordinating details. We're getting reports that almost all packages have been mailed, and that the generosity of people all over the country towards troops who will be in war zones over the holidays is amazing.

This picture was taken at 11:00 last night as we continue to wrap stocking stuffers and gifts to be sent to Marines in Iraq. We hope to be mostly done early next week and Connie will have her living room back!

Operation Santa Project Directors are:

Connie Riecke riecke@marinecorpsmoms.com
Deb Conraddeb@marinecorpsmoms.com

Please contact Deb or Connie with questions about Operation Santa.
If you have a question about a specific battalion, please contact Deb or Connie. We've covered 1/7, 1/23, 2/10, 9th Comm, and 4th LAAD. We have a few folks working on partial battalions.

Donations can be made to:


Paypal DonationsFrom www.paypal.com, send to operationsanta@marinecorpsmoms.com
Checks and gift certificates/cardsMarine Corps Family Foundation
4500 Ruby Ct. NE
Salem, OR 97305

Until everything is out the door this year, we'll continue to accept donations. Excess donations will be saved for Operation Santa in 2005 when we hope to cover all Marines deployed in war zones over the holidays. We'll start much earlier next year - if you are interested in coordinating a platoon, company, or battalion, we'd love to talk with you. All donations made to Operation Santa will be used for direct troop support unless the donor specifically tells us that we can use it for administrative expenses. We will fundraise after the project concludes to pay ourselves back for the administrative part of this project, including our cell phone bills - yikes! A complete accounting of all monies received and expenditures will be published at the end of this project. Thanks to everyone out there who is helping our Marines have a merrier Christmas. This would not have been possible without an amazing group of volunteers who stepped up and said "I can do this" . . . and then they did it!

More information here:

Operation Santa overview
Operation Santa Update #1
Operation Santa Update #2
Operation Santa Update #3
Operation Santa Update #4

Posted by Deb at 03:39 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack





Guarding the streets of Heaven

Memorial Table presented by the SgtMaj of 6 fallen 2/24 Marines since activation. Happy Birthday Marines.

Marine Mom Linda shares this tribute from Lt Col Mark A Smith, commander of 2/24 Marines:

It is my most unfortunate duty to report to you the deaths of:

Corporal Nathaniel T. Hammond, USMC (Weapons Company)

Corporal Robert P. Warns II, USMC (Company G)

LCpl Branden P. Ramey, USMC (Company G)

LCpl Shane K. O'Donnell, USMC (Company G)

These magnificent Marines, one and all, passed from this earthly existence into the hands of the Lord on Monday, 08 November 2004. Without a doubt, the darkest day in the history of this Battalion since World War II.

Cpl Hammond was struck by a command detonated improvised explosive device, while establishing security for the remainder of his Mobile Strike Team
during patrolling operations in the vicinity of Yusufiyah, Iraq.

Cpl Warns, LCpl Ramey and LCpl O'Donnell were struck by a buried improvised explosive device while conducting a motorized patrol during patrolling operations in the vicinity of Lutafiyah, Iraq.

ALL Marines were killed instantly, suffered no pain and were recovered by their fellow Marines.

I cannot even begin to express the depth of sorrow and pain I feel for these losses. All of these Marines were exceptional Marines and outstanding human beings, for without whom the world will be a darker place. The most painful and difficult event in the loss of our Marines is knowing it has occurred, and then imagining the reaction of the families who love them dearly upon notification. I take some solace in knowing that as Marines we take care of our own, and the notification will be as professionally done as is humanly possible under the circumstances, but it is truly of little comfort knowing the gut-wrenching pain and soul shattering feeling of hearing the words, "I regret to inform you...killed in action."

But, it is the "killed in action" where the dim light of lossed life can be overcome by the bright shining light of sacrifice and love. These Marines, the living and the perished, live an existence that almost defies description, and I am far to incapable of truly putting it into words.

But if you picture the most physically demanding day you ever had in your life, multiply it by (2), and then imagine doing it every single day for TWENTY to TWENTY TWO HOURS a day, you would almost capture what these Marines do. Then, you have to add in the reality of violent death being around every corner, the reality of being ready to destroy and do extreme violence in less time than it takes to blink an eye, do it all while being ever mindful of not harming innocents or non-combatants, accounting for the 50lbs of armor and gear you are carrying, and trying to not let thoughts of home and loved ones distract you from the duty at hand...and you would have about a 50% visualization of what these UNBELIEVABLE AMERICANS we call Marines do every SINGLE day.

You then ask "why? You ask why because you are not here. I ask why because I am. And, by being here, I ask why because I cannot believe that there are such men! Men that will bear any burden, overcome any challenge, tackle any foe, face any fear, that others might live in freedom and peace. There are no William Shakespeare's in this Battalion and no Albert Einsteins. Quite frankly, many of these Marines you would shutter to present in mixed company, myself included. But you see, at their core of existence, beneath the veneer we all put on for the rest of the world to see, these Marines are pure of heart and soul! They are the Angels that we all long to see in the flesh. For all the bluster and machismo, all they want to do is make a difference in a world gone mad! They want to destroy EVIL that GOOD shall abound, and abound aplenty. They want children to be bounced on their father's knee, without the fear of masked men kidnapping and beheading "daddy" in the middle of the night. They want to be part of bringing about an existence where even if they vehemently disagree with another's belief in a God, or in no god, that it is that, a disagreement among men, not an entitlement to torture, maim or slaughter those with whom you disagree.

Inside the core of these Marines is love! Love of everything that is decent and proper. Love of their fellow man. Love of their home and country. Love of their family. Love of their Corps and fellow Marines. And, this love keeps them always moving forward.

It is this love that will lead us to shed a thousand tears as we memorialize our fallen Angels on Friday. It is this love that will lead us to continue our mission of hunting the terrorists and ERADICATING them from the face of the earth. It is this love that will forever have the families of our fallen angels in our thoughts and prayers. It is this love that will have the names of our fallen brethren forever etched in our minds.

I for one know that I will never again hear the National Anthem or the Marine's Hymn without tears in my eyes, a pain in my soul, and the names and faces of ALL 2/24 fallen HEROES on my mind.

IT HAS BEEN MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO KNOW AND SERVE WITH: CPL NATHANIEL T HAMMOND, CPL ROBERT P. WARNS II, LCPL BRANDEN P. RAMEY, AND LCPL SHANE K. O'DONNELL.

It will forever be my responsibility that I could not bring them home living. But in knowing them in life and in death, I have known Jesus. Because I saw in them the "carrying of the Cross" for love of a friend!

It is my deepest prayer that immediately after being welcomed to heaven by the Savior, they were reunited with passed family and friends, and then met by LCpl Daniel Wyatt, issued their orders, and took their post "guarding the streets of heaven."

And, I also pray that the families know our Marines and their precious loved one never dies alone, they die among their friends, their BROTHERS!

God Bless You, You Magnificent Warriors in your final journey home and may you rest among the Angels where you rightly belong!

In profound sadness,

Mark A. Smith
LtCol, USMCR
Commanding Officer, 2nd Bn, 24th Marines

PS: SSgt Simon, Co G and LCpl Kruchten Co G, were seriously injured in the detonation that took the lives of Cpl Warns, LCpl Ramey and LCpl O'Donnell. Please pray for them and their families, and please reach out to them in there time of challenge and need.

"I am the Lord, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13


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November 13, 2004



House Fly

After a week of waiting and worrying, my cell phone rang this morning. My son had waited in line for several hours for a 20 minute phone call, knowing that e-mail is sufficient but a phone call is over the top for this Marine mom. He was upbeat and positive after a week in the field. After giving me a list of equipment to order for him (the USMC provides everything he needs but there are a few luxuries on the battlefield - special ops gloves, surefire flashlights, and modular ammo pouches that keep everything at fingertip reach), he described his most recent encounter:

We watched a air strike on a house yesterday - the house disintegrated into a pile of rubble and the roof lifted off about 200 feet and then settled on the pile. Now I can say I've seen a house fly!

Were there people inside the house?

Well, that's kind of the point of it. It's weird being in combat. It's like the movies except it's real.

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Block by block, street by street

Photo by Kevin Sites

Kevin Sites is a reporter embedded with 3/1 Marines in Fallujah:

Almost to a man -- the 3.1 Marines I'm embedded with have all lost friends in this protracted war of attrition. They are eager "to get some," to pay "haji" back for the car bombs and IED's (improvised explosive devices) that have killed or maimed so many of their brother "Devil Dogs."

They are extremely likeable -- these young Marines -- full of bravado and easygoing about the danger that surrounds them. Some thumb through Maxim Magazine, others the Bible while the wait patiently to reign down death and destruction on their enemies.

"We're going to let loose the dogs of war," says Staff Sgt. Mortimer, "before the Falluja offensive begins. "It will be hell," he says, smiling after.

This levity continues until the Marines turn the corner onto a main street they've tactically dubbed, "Elizabeth."

Despite the constant weapons fire and explosion that have accompanied our advance -- this one is different -- it's directed at the Marines. As a squad from India Company passes by a way with a spray painted rocket propelled grenade launcher -- a real RPG round explodes against it. One Marines' face is burned by the powder and hot gas -- another has caught shrapnel in the leg, a third has been shot in the finger by the small arms fire that followed. The Marines are outraged. They turn their M-16's on the building to the west where they believe the shooter is hiding. But that's just an appetizer.

A gunner sitting in the armored turret of a humvee fires 40-millimeter grenades non-stop into the building -- until the gun jams.

Staff Sgt. Terry Mcelwain of Burden, Kansas is pissed. He grabs the bazooka-like AT-4 rocket launcher from the back of another humvee. It's fire trail zips into the now smoking building. Mcelwain wants Weapons Company to fire a tow missile into it as well, but low hanging electrical wires make it impossible -- so he calls up the tanks instead.

Two Abrams lumber toward the target. They stop and fire their main guns in unison. The explosion shakes the street. But the Marines aren't done yet.
They pour in more rounds from 50 caliber machine guns and their M16's.

But as the unit moves past the building, going from east to west, another RPG explodes behind them, then a third. More casualties. A Navy Corpsman cut the pants leg off one of the injured and wraps a guaze dressing around the bleeding wound while another Marine covers with a 249-SAW (squad Assault Weapon). But regardless of how much firepower the Marines bring to bear -- they can't seem to silence this phantom enemy, which continues to fire on them from the rear.

Then insurgent snipers begin firing in front of the Marines as well. One round pierces the Kevlar helmet a twenty-year old Mark 19 gunner -- in my vehicle. He is badly wounded. He's put in a canvas stretcher and six Marines run through the streets carrying him to a waiting military ambulance.

Shortly after -- another RPG round hits a humvee, but doesn't explode. The Marines are rattled but uninjured. A Marine who has caught shrapnel in the face is led to the safety of an empty storefront -- his eyes bandaged shut -- his hands outstretched -- probing the air in front of him.
The Marines know they are being hunted. Boxed from the east and the west in a treacherous kill zone by an enemy they can feel -- but can't see. Their superior firepower is checked by the insurgent's knowledge of the city -- their cunning in using blind alleyways and the crooks and crannies of buildings to pick off the Marines.

The gun battle continues late into the night -- eventually an AC-130 gunship is called in and strafes Elizabeth Street with its mini guns. With eight of their men wounded--it is a bloody and disappointing start for the Marines -- and a reminder that to win the battle for Falluja -- they will likely have to fight as they did today block by block, street by street.

There's more story and additional pictures at his website.

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November 12, 2004



Good news from Fallujah

A Marine Mom with a son in Fallujah reports that there are long lines of Marines waiting to call home. Outbound communication has been restored and things are looking very good. While they can't and won't provide detailed information, our Marines report that things are going "very well".

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A letter from the Commanding General - 1MEF

A letter to the families of the 1st Marine Division from the Commanding
General, dated November 10, 2004

Dear Families and Friends of First Marine Division:

We are entering the fourth day of Operation Al Fasr (formerly Phantom Fury), which means "the dawn" in Arabic. The Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Division are performing exceptionally well. We have met our intermediate objectives and will continue until we reach our final objectives. Joining us in this task are elements of the 1st Infantry Division and the Blackjack Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division. We are proud to continue the tradition forged at Belleau Wood of Marines and Soldiers fighting beside each other. The bravery of the men and women of the Division is unwavering. As I visit units engaged in the fight, I can see determination and resolve in their eyes. You should be proud of your loved one and understand they take on a task that is critical to our long-term goals in Iraq.

This mission is not without sacrifice. My prayers go out to the families who have suffered loss and we remember and honor their loved one's memory.

Today is the 229th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I want to extend my best wishes to all our families and friends. Please take a second to remember the great legacy of our Corps. Marines of the Division will celebrate the birthday of our Corps today throughout Iraq. Most of our celebrations will take place in fighting positions with small groups of Marines cutting pound cake
from an MRE. Once our operations in Fallujah end, we will celebrate more formally.

Your thoughts and prayers continue to give us strength. We appreciate your courage and faith. May God continue to watch over us and give His blessings to the 1st Marine Division and it's families.

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November 10, 2004



Happy 229th Birthday, Marines

Today, all over the world, Marines will stop to celebrate the 229th birthday of the Corps. Cake will be served in in locations ranging from dusty cities in war torn countries to luxurious hotel ballrooms. Here is General Hagee's message to his Marines:

The Commandant of the Marine Corps' 2004 Birthday Message

Two hundred and twenty-nine years ago, the Second Continental Congress established a Corps of Marines to fight for a democratic people's independence. Since then countless Marines have raised their hand and sworn to defend our Nation's freedoms and preserve its liberties. This year's anniversary again finds Marines engaged throughout the globe for the same noble purposes. The bravery, heroism and selflessness of all Marines—wherever they are serving—have added significantly to our rich legacy and measured up to the high standards that have come to epitomize all who wear the eagle, globe and anchor.

The current battlefields of the global war on terror are linked to the storied campaigns of our past by an unbroken tradition of proud and loyal service. At New Providence, Chapultepec, Belleau Wood, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Con Thien, Kuwait and now in places like Fallujah, Marines have consistently demonstrated a dedication to duty, a commitment to warfighting excellence, and a devotion to each other that has instilled a fierce determination to overcome seemingly impossible challenges. Our warrior ethos is and will continue to be the Corps' hallmark.

The fortitude and sacrifices of Marines and their families have been vital in protecting our Nation from those who would do us harm. Whether preparing and sustaining our agile force or engaged in battle, the esprit de corps, tireless energy, calm courage and inspired leadership of Marines continue to make a monumental difference in this world. Your unselfish dedication and significant accomplishments—demonstrated repeatedly over this past year in numerous places such as the Anbar province of Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Haiti and in the crucial job here at home supporting our deployed forces—are deeply respected and valued by your fellow Americans.

Marines, as we celebrate with friends and families the founding of our beloved Corps, you should take pride in our long history of distinguished service to this great Nation and its citizens. I ask you to remember especially the sacrifices of our fallen and wounded comrades. Finally, rededicate yourselves to taking care of one another and ensuring we remain the finest warfighting organization in the world.

Happy Birthday, Marines. Semper Fidelis, and Keep Attacking!

M. W. Hagee
General, U.S. Marine Corps

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November 09, 2004



Two Parents, Two Messages

My son has always been protective and careful not to cause worry. When he deployed last year, there was much he didn't tell me. I took comfort in knowing that he was deployed in the relatively safe regions of Najaf and al Hillah. I found out when he redeployed in October that he was also providing convoy security for currency runs up through Tikrit, coming back with millions of dollars. I found out that sleepless nights can be retroactive.

This year, I was reminded of this when his dad shared a recent e-mail. Here's what my son sent to me, not corrected for spelling/grammar:

Things here are umm yeah. theyve defenetly taken it up a notch. well anyways I gotta go just wanted to let you know I love you and thanks for everything your doing.

and here is his communication to his dad.

Its been an interesting couple days here 2 days ago we were in a house and we got ambushed from 3 sides But before they started shooting They shot a rocket into the house first then about 6 shooters opened up on our position. Its pritty crazy laying on your stomach with rounds impacting all around you, but finally we gained fire superiority and started knocken them down. So that was pritty crazy.

Crazy indeed. Back to sleeping in 15 minute increments

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I am America!

A soldier shares a recent experience that put her place in this war into focus:

Something happened to me that I'd like to share. I've always been a patriotic person. I've always loved my country and I enjoy serving it. My mom and dad taught me, by example, to honor the American flag and to pray for our country. When people sing the Star Spangled Banner, I've always gotten that chill of pride down my back. In the past when I have said or have heard other people say, "God bless America", to me America was a place I cansidered home. God bless America meant, God bless the place that I live and the military that protects me and the government that makes me free. As of yesterday, that has changed for me.

My unit has picked up NATO soldiers at hospitals here in Kosovo that in the states we would consider condemned. Hospitals where there are no pillows, blankets, or sheets and wires are hanging from the cieling and there are holes in the floors. When we arrive the NATO soldiers always look up at us with gratitude in their eyes and say thank God please get me out of here. Yesterday I did a Med Cap in town. I was giving out medications to over 200 people and being very buisy when one old woman grabbed my arm demanding my attention and stoping me from working. She held my hand with one of hers and with her other hand she patted my cheek. For a moment in my own self righteousness I shuddered from her touch. All I could think about was the filth and the stench of the woman and what she could be transmitting to me by touching me. But then she began saying something in Albanian over and over again. I turned to ask my interpreter what she was saying and he told me that she was saying, "God bless America, God bless America, thats all I can say is God bless America."

I was too busy to think about it just then but last night I couldn't sleep and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I realize now that with that old womans touch the only thing she gave to me was a gift I will never forget. She let me know that when I think that America (home) is thousands of miles away, to her it is right here, in me. I AM AMERICA! To the rest of the world it is not a place. In their time of need, it is the representation of what we believe. We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL! So now when I have a moment of homesickness wondering why I am here and why the US doesn't let us come home and stop worrying about the rest of the world. I will remember that old woman. She gave me a sense of purpose and taught me a wonderful lesson, and it could not have been more appropriate than now, this close to Veterans Day.

If I didn't share this story with all of you I just wouldn't have felt right. I made a deep impact on me. Please pray for all of those people who are deployed and also pray for the people in those countries who's lives have been destroyed by war. We are all Gods people.

Amen.

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November 08, 2004



Semper Fi Fund

Marine wife Tonia Sargent describes her husband's severe injury and shares in a letter to the Washington Times how caring people can help:

My name is Tonia Sargent. I am the wife of a Marine injured in Iraq. My husband is 36 years old. He has been a Marine for 17 years. He had wanted to do 30 years of service.

My husband's dreams were altered on Aug. 5. He sustained a shrapnel injury to his head from an [improvised explosive device] explosion after volunteering for a mission in Iraq. The Marine Corps rushed me to his bedside at the National Naval Medical Center. We were supported at Bethesda by the Marine Liaison Office with the utmost respect and warmth.
My husband is now at a VA hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., and will be in a rehab program for a year or more. He misses his Marines, but he is humbled that every Sunday they line up in Iraq to call him on the telephone. I am sharing our story with you because you have been instrumental in spreading the word about the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.


This fund has assisted my family twice with financial assistance. There was no red tape, they just helped. Had it not been for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, I would not have been able to pay my bills for the last three months or stay at my husband's bedside.

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is the only organization I have found that will assist active-duty families. All others I have researched can only assist if my Marine has been discharged or is dead. I am asking for all of your readers to help. It has been a relief to me that I have had assistance from the Semper Fi fund.

Everyone can make a difference; a contribution to this fund will help other families like mine. I pray that more people will send donations so that the fund can continue to live up to its title. "Semper Fi" is the U.S. Marine Corps motto, and it means "always faithful."

We can all make a difference, and I'm asking your readers to help me do that by contributing to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. God bless all of us. Thank you for your prayers and support.

The address for tax-deductible donations is Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057.

Sincerely,
Tonia Sargent

The Semper Fi Fund can now take on-line donations:

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

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Oregon State Packing Party -

Last week, an energetic group of OSU students got together to pack stockings and wrap gifts for 1/23 Marines who are currently deployed in Iraq. Here are a few photos that tell a troop support story.

Corvallis loves Marines. This group of high-energy Oregon State University spent an evening wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings for 1/23 Marines last week. Laura Beardsley, OSU Operation Santa Coordinator, is at the right end of the first row.


Women from Alpha Chi Omega sorority wrap stocking stuffers with USMC LtCol Joseph Grant who heads the NROTC at Oregon State.
OSU students enthusiastically wrapped every gift that will go to 1/23 Marines . . . including briefly the scissors that Connie brought with her to help wrap gifts. The scissors were located, unwrapped, and put back into service cutting giftwrapping paper.
OSU Operation Santa Coordinator, Laura Beardsley (in background), has done a terrific job of making sure that 14 platoons from 1/23 will have a merrier Christmas.
Ronda Blacker along with friends, Barbara Norris, Phyllis Barbour, Rita Hathaway, Judy Settlemeier, Nina Toronto, Barbara Gabrielson, Kay DeCoss, LaFyme Pratt, Frankye White, and Nancy Thompson made these beautiful stockings. Becky Mack from Oceanside also prepared 200 beautiful stockings and sent them to OSU to be used for making the holidays brighter for our troops.

Connie reports: "Elves all over our nation have been busy with Operation Santa, sending Holiday packages to our Marines. We continue to have a growing list of requests to remember platoons and companies of Marines, and so the list of needed items for stuffing stockings and shipping expenses continues to grow. But, just when we think there is no way to send one more stocking a new volunteer emerges. Yesterday I met with a lady from my community who read in the paper about Operation Santa. She gathered her friends and neighbors and they went to work. Ronda Blacker along with friends, Barbara Norris, Phyllis Barbour, Rita Hathaway, Judy Settlemeier, Nina Toronto, Barbara Gabrielson, Kay DeCoss, LaFyme Pratt, Frankye White, and Nancy Thompson came to our rescue with 88 beautiful stockings and an envelope of money to help with shipping. And, they want to volunteer for next year. The many blessings continue to come our way as we work to make the holidays for our Marines special. Thank you to all our volunteer elves.

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November 05, 2004



Marathon Men

Last August, we told you about a group of Marines in Iraq who were training for the NYC Marathon. They are en route to NYC where they will join the best runners from around the world in friendly competition. Wayne Coffey, from the NY Daily News, describes one of the competitors, First Lt. Christopher McManus:

McManus and some friends ran the New York City Marathon last year, without training. McManus was on one knee, down for the count, at 20 miles, but somehow finished. This year he wanted to prepare. He thought it would be good for him, and his men, to have a goal. He E-mailed Janet Messina, who heads the marathon registration effort for the New York Road Runners, from Iraq.


"He came up with the idea to run and then said all of us had to do it, and then we didn't have a choice," Isaac Moore says.


Some of the guys, stationed in the town of Husayba, built a .44-mile loop around the perimeter of their camp. In McManus' camp, in Al Qaim, the loop was longer, nearly a mile. McManus went on the New York Road Runners Web site and followed the training regimen laid out for the marathon. Messina helped them out further by furnishing them shoes, clothing, running sundries.


Usually they would run at 5:30 in the morning. Sometimes it would be after they were up all night, fighting a war. Moore recalls one morning when he was getting his miles in when mortar shells started hitting about 100 yards away.


In another instance, about 40 minutes into a run, an emergency radio call came in about Marines who had been hit by a roadside bomb. Immediately the runners were off to get their helmets, flak jackets and weapons, and soon were in their Humvees, going off to secure a place for a helicopter to land and to transport the injured to the helicopter.

Their hotel rooms have been donated, their clothing and shoes donated by ASICS, but if anyone wants to throw a few dollars their way for air fare, it would be appreciated by them. Donations can be sent to:

Marine Corps Family Foundation
attn: NYC Marathon - USMC team
4500 Ruby Ct. NE
Salem, OR 97305


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November 04, 2004



Update from Fallujah

The recent spate of beheadings of foreign visitors to Iraq have drawn headlines and much media attention. It's a way of life for Iraqi citizens who have lived under tyranny and oppression for years, and who want it to stop. It sounds like the end is in sight - here, LtCol Dave Bellon analyzes the current situation in Fallujah.

As you have no doubt been watching, we have had our hands full around Fallujah. It would seem as if the final reckoning is coming. The city has been on a consistent down hill spiral since we were ordered out in April. It's siren call for extremists and criminals has only increased steadily and the instability and violence that radiates out of the town has expanded exponentially. If there is another city in the world that contains more terrorists, I would be surprised. From the last two years, I just don't see a way that we can succeed in Iraq without reducing this threat. The cost of continuing on without taking decisive action is too high to dwell on.

The enemy inside the town have come to fight and kill Americans. Nothing will sate their bloodlust and hatred other than to kill everyone of us or at least die trying. It is hard to fathom as a Westerner as rational thought would dictate that we will only be here for a relatively short blip in their history and while we are here, billions of dollars in investments will pour in and opportunity that is beyond comprehension will open up for anyone willing to work. This is not Kansas and this enemy does not think like that.

Read the rest.

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November 03, 2004



Thanks, Dad!

Photo by Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr

In a report from Camp Baharia, Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco reports that a last minute gift from a Marine Corps Dad - a former Marine himself - saved his son's life during a Fallujah firefight:

Sgt. Todd B. Bowers, a member of the 4th Civil Affairs Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, spotted enemy snipers during a security patrol outside the restive town of Fallujah. While returning fire, a sniper-fired round hit Bowers? advanced combat optical gun site, mounted on his M-16A2 service rifle. Fragmentation from both the ACOG and the bullet were peppered across the left side of Bowers? face.

?It was about a four-hour firefight. Bullets were flying everywhere, and as I returned fire, it felt like my weapon blew up,? said Bowers, 25, a native of Washington, D.C.

A Navy corpsman removed a piece of fragmentation and applied a pressure dressing to his left cheek.

As the corpsman began calling for a medical evacuation, Bowers refused and kept on fighting alongside his fellow Marines.

?After he was cleaned up, I knew he would be okay, but I was surprised that he didn?t want to leave on a medical evacuation,? said Sgt. Jung Kil Yoo, a member of 4th CAG.

Small pieces of fragmentation can still be seen on the left side of his face.

?Luckily, I had my ballistic goggles on to protect my eyes, without them I probably would not be able to see out of my left eye,? said Bowers.

He can still see the bullet lodged in his scope, which was given to him by his father, John Bowers, two days before leaving to Iraq.

?The last time I saw my dad was the day he handed me the scope,? said Bowers.

His dad was a former sergeant in the Marine Corps, who didn?t want to see his son go into combat without a useful piece of gear.

?The ACOG was the best purchase I have ever made in my life,? said John to his son during a phone conversation.

Sgt. Bowers will have the scope - bullet still embedded - mounted when he returns from deployment.

Posted by Deb at 12:27 PM