Marine Corps Moms

Wendy McKay thought she had met someone special when the Marine colonel deployed to Iraq started chatting with her on the online dating Web site.

Someone claiming to be Col. Richard Bartch told her he was in Iraq for the first time after volunteering for duty. And like her, he was divorced. Chats quickly led to e-mails and within a day he sent her photos of himself in uniform.

In one, he stood in his woodland digital-patterned utilities, proudly holding up his Bronze Star citation and medal. In another, he's lounging in desert cammies in a chair, with his service pistol holster pulled taut across his broad shoulders just next to his name tape.

His e-mails were romantic, echoing the sentiment of a schmaltzy Hallmark greeting card: "I went to sleep last night with a smile because I knew I'd be dreaming of you . . . but I woke up this morning with a smile because you weren't a dream," he wrote to the 52-year-old British woman Oct. 21, just one day after they made introductions online. "Though miles may lie between us, we're never far apart, for friendship doesn't count the miles, it's measured by the heart."

The e-mails quickly picked up intensity. "[T]he feeling is getting stronger and stronger," he wrote the next day, Oct 22. " . . . think it will not be hard to LOVE you huh!"

By Oct. 23, his e-mails reflected he was sure it was love. "You awakened a part of me that had lay [sic] dormant all of life. [A'lthough [I] had loved and been loved before, never had it been so intense and so deep as what we feel for each other. [T]his much [I] am sure of, we share a love so true that [I] have never before experienced the true joy of complete empowering, soul-felt love as we share," he said.

McKay almost bought it. That is, until she realized doing so was really going to cost her.

Bartch - or more accurately, the con artist who had stolen the identity of the real Marine officer, from a family-oriented military Web site - wanted her to send him $5,000.

"This is the first M777 battery to deploy to Iraq, so we're looking forward to the experience," said Lt. Col. James C. Lewis, 3/11 battalion commander. "We can't wait to see how the capability is employed and we'll take lessons learned for future deployments if necessary."

An awkward feeling of gloom and excitement hung over the Combat Center Monday as India Battery said goodbye to their friends and families.

"I'm really sad," said Lindsey Ledbetter, wife of Cpl. Tyler Ledbetter, artilleryman, India Battery, 3/11. "I'll probably cry when he says goodbye to our daughter. It's very depressing he's leaving, but I'm very proud of him."

Ledbetter agreed with his wife, but said he's been waiting a long time to go to Iraq.

"It's going to be hard leaving my wife and daughter behind, but I'm really excited to get this show on the road," he said. "Chesty Puller!"

Sgt. Trevar Perkins, fire direction control man, India Battery, 3/11, also expressed his excitement to deploy to Iraq. He said he felt the message should be short and to the point.

"Let's do this," he said.

Overall, it seemed the Marines and sailors of India Battery were excited to deploy to Iraq, but would miss their friends and families.

"I'm excited, but I just want to go over there and come home as soon as possible," said Cpl. Matthew Beaudin, fire direction control man, India Battery, 3/11. "I want to come home to my family and move on to other things."

"But the thing that helped me pull out of that particular lifestyle was my father, God rest his soul, who passed away not too long ago, he had told me I didn't come from Mexico for a member of my family to be a burden on American society. He had earned his citizenship by serving as an Army Ranger for 20 years, and that really resonated with me. And I decided I needed to do something good, something productive, something that's going to help America. So I decided to join the Marine Corps infantry. And my father and mother were ecstatic, and everyone was proud that I had finally decided to do something worthwhile. "

Liberals often like to say that "violence is senseless."

That's wrong.

Violence isn't senseless. Senseless violence is senseless. And I should know. Before being awarded the Navy Cross and having the privilege of becoming a Marine, I was a gang member. Sometimes it takes having used violence for both evil as well as good to know that there's a profound moral difference between the two.

People often ask me whether I still support the war. I never hesitate when answering: "Absolutely I support completing the mission," I tell them, "Now more than ever."

I was honored to have been given the opportunity to fight in Iraq on our country's behalf. And it was that experience - and five things I saw firsthand - that illustrate the foolishness of those who would equate American military power to that used by thugs and tyrants.

1. Mass Graves

I was part of a group that was tasked with guarding Saddam's mass graves. And let me tell you something: anyone who could look straight down into those huge holes at the skeletons and remains and see what that monster did to 300,000 of his own people would have no doubt that we did the right thing in removing him from power. Saddam's henchmen would tie two people together, some with babies in their arms, stand them at the crater's edge, and then shoot one of the people in the head, relying on the weight of the dead body to drag them both into the hole. This would save on rounds and also ensure that both people died, one from a gunshot, the other by being buried alive.

2. Tongue-less Man

You never know how precious freedom of speech is until you meet somehow who has had it taken from them -literally taken from them. During a patrol we came upon two hungry Iraqi men scavenging for food. When our translator began speaking with the men I noticed that one of them had a stub for a tongue. Through the translator we learned that the tongue-less man had spoken against the regime and that Saddam's henchmen had severed his tongue. Saddam had quite literally removed the man's freedom of speech.

3. Adrenaline-Fueled Fedayeen Saddam

I couldn't for the life of me understand why the ninja costume-wearing terrorists we encountered in a series of hellish firefights just wouldn’t go down - even after being shot. Once my fire team and I cleared a terrorist-filled house in a close quarters shootout, I saw dead bodies all around the kitchen. I looked up at the countertops. Scattered everywhere were vials of adrenaline, syringes, and khat (pronounced "cot"), a drug similar to PCP that gives users a surge of energy and strength. That's when we realized that our zombie-like attackers were zealots who came to fight and die.

4. Human Experiment Pictures

I still can't shake the pictures out of my head. We discovered them inside a strange laboratory we found inside a Special Republican Guard barracks that had been plunked down inside an amusement park. When I cracked open the photo album, my jaw dropped. There in front of me were the most horrifying images of experiments being performed on newborn and infant children. Picture after picture, page after page, the binder was filled with the most extreme deformities and experimental mutations one could imagine. One baby had an eye that was shifted toward the middle of its head. We turned the books over to our lieutenant as valuable pieces of intelligence.

5. Bomb-Making Materials In a Mosque

Well after the invasion we were tasked to conduct city patrols and build rapport with local sheiks and mosque members. On one occasion we revisited a mosque where the sheik had previously been warm and friendly. Yet this time something seemed a little off. As we made our way through the mosque compound, we were told there were certain "praying houses" we weren't allowed to enter. But when a Marine walked through a side hallway and passed by a door that had been left ajar, he spotted a huge bottle of nitroglycerin and assorted bomb-making materials.

When I think about my gang member past I shudder in shame. But if there was one lesson I learned from my past it is that there is a profound moral difference between using violence to destroy lives and using violence to save lives. Terrorists do the former; soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines do the latter.

Antimilitary liberals need to learn the difference between the two.

I recently attended a showing of "Spiderman 3" here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorioum we use for movies as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.

The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone sat down and expected the movie to start.

Here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every Soldier stood at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand Soldiers:

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here.

When I was at Valley Forge Army Hospital in 1971, we had a theater and a good many flicks.

The first few rows of seats--which are generally on the flat part of the floor--had been taken out. Those were where the guys in wheel chairs sat.

They had each chosen a less wounded buddy to help them stand during the Anthem.

Damn.

"There was a long line, so I wasn't even looking up yet," Williams said. "It's really busy, he bought some stuff, and he had a hat on, so I didn't even recognize him." Gracin brought out a credit card but hadn't signed the back of it, so Williams asked to see his license. Then she looked up - and burst into tears.

Gracin, working on the dumplings later for his paprikash in a trailer behind the main stage, recalled the incident with a grin. "I said, I have a lot of fans, but they don't usually cry." He asked her why she was crying, and she told him how much she admired his music. "Are you coming to my show tonight?" he asked, and she told him the story: the purchased tickets, the work schedule, the tickets given away. "He said, 'Can I talk to your manager?'" Williams said. "I was like, what? Oh my gosh!"

A few minutes later, manager Charles Wines called Williams to his office and asked her why she hadn't told him she had concert tickets. "I said, well, I have to work,” she said," and he said, 'Well, you’re going. Josh said it made his day.'"

Gracin said he offered Wines tickets for himself if he would let Williams go. "He said, 'No need to do that, I'm sure we can work something out.'"

And, they did. Several hours later, Gracin's crew had enjoyed a fine meal of Chicken Paprikash and Michelle and her boyfriend had enjoyed the concert from the front row. Oohrah! Posted by Deb at 01:13 PM | Comments (115) | TrackBack February 14, 2007 Love Story USMC Sgt. Ty Ziegel spent Valentine's Day 2005 at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas. Not quite two months earlier, he was on patrol near Al Qaim and a suicide bomber detonated next to the truck he was in. One arm was gone and he lost three fingers on his other hand. His head was severely burned - both ears were gone and one eye was blinded. But when his tracheotomy tube was removed, his first words were to his girlfriend who had spent the last six weeks at his side. "Renee, will you be my Valentine?" And she was. Last October, they were married - she wore a beautiful white dress, trimmed in red. He wore his dress blues with his Purple Heart prominent among his combat ribbons and medals. Here's a link to their wedding picture - copyright restrictions prohibit posting it here. Happy Valentine's Day, Ty and Renee Zieger. Posted by Deb at 11:41 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack February 04, 2007 What Marines do in their spare time 1/7 Marines - LCpls Stomberg and Hegland singing and dancing during a bit of down time. This was taken during their third deployment to Iraq (they're home now). It makes me laugh every time I see it. Posted by Deb at 08:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack July 31, 2006 "We have democracy now, let him speak" LtCol Nick Marano sends this July update from the Syrian border: It’s hard to believe that another month has gone by, but it has. July has been another good month for the First Team as we continue to keep the enemy on the run in Al Qaim. Unlike other Sunni areas of Iraq, the First Team lives and patrols in the urban areas and has established a high level of trust and confidence with the locals. Your Marines and Sailors are truly winning this fight. The enemy won’t just give up and walk away, but he has been forced to the edges of the society here as most locals are happy with the security situation and have had enough of the chaos and violence. They are no different from us in that they merely want to be able to earn a living and raise their families. We began July with an important visit from the Al Anbar Governor, Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Awani. All the local sheiks and municipal leaders attended the meeting and it gave the Governor a chance to talk about what he was doing for Al Qaim, and to listen to the concerns of the people here. This meeting gave the people here a view of what a return to normalcy here would look like under Iraqi-style democracy. These sheik meetings are always entertaining to be a fly on the wall for their theatrics, orderly chaos and emotional outbreaks. In a funny exchange, one minor sheik was complaining about an obscure issue to the Governor; everyone else attempted to shout him down. One of the most important sheiks looked at me, winked and said 'we have democracy now, let him speak.' July was a good month for police recruitment as well. We will soon have IPs on duty in every town in the Al Qaim region. The IPs, as they are known, have proven to be a valuable resource in the fight against the terrorists as they are all locals and have a vested interest in the security of their hometowns. Every line company has had success in working with the IPs and they have expanded our ability to take the fight to the enemy before he is able to attack us or our Iraqi allies. The enemy did not let up in July, and in fact has resorted to extreme measures as the partnership between the First Team, Iraqi security forces, local government and tribal leaders continues to grow. These enemy actions included the use of a female suicide bomber. Each time, your Marines and Sailors have proven to be more of a match for the terrorists. Every line company had heroic actions this month. Charley Company not only killed an entire IED Cell, but one brave Marine, LCpl Hiller, prevented a truck bomber from killing anyone but himself. Weapons Company has largely rolled up the entire IED Cell from last month which cost us three brave men from CAAT White. Please keep our wounded heroes and their families in your thoughts and prayers. I am hopeful that all our Marines wounded this month and in previous months will eventually make a full recovery. We celebrated the Fourth of July with a traditional BBQ and flew the meal out by helicopter to the Company Battle Positions. Congratulations to SSgt Escalderon, Weapons Company, who was awarded a Bronze Star this month for valor during the last deployment. The summer heat has arrived here as in 29 Palms, thanks to Navy Seabees, all Battle Positions now have air conditioning. We have entered our fifth month here; the battalion ADVON will be assembling for redeployment one month from now, followed by everyone else two weeks later. We are on schedule to turn over Al Qaim to 3/4 on 15 September and the battalion Main Body redeployment should begin soon after. I have told the Marines here to keep their focus and not let their guard down as the end of the deployment is now in sight. I ask our families to do the same so we finish this deployment as strongly as we began. Posted by Deb at 07:01 AM June 06, 2006 How anti-war demonstrations hurt the troops Currently deployed in Iraq, USMC Cpl. Anthony Ippoliti sent this letter to his hometown paper, The Ridgefield Press. I am fortunate enough to receive The Ridgefield Press every few weeks and enjoy keeping abreast of the local issues currently pressing in our small town. I am a U.S. Marine Infantryman currently serving in Fallujah, Iraq, and my mother usually includes The Press in the many care packages she sends me. Since we have very limited access to telephones, The Ridgefield Press is the primary means by which I receive local news. Almost every week, I open The Press and find an article or letter to the editors denouncing the coalition effort in Iraq. Invariably, the individuals behind these anti-war letters and rallies mask their political agendas by asserting that they "support the troops but not the war." People like Vince Giordano, Paul Sutherland and Anne Stubbs are pictured in the April 13 edition of The Press carrying a yellow-ribboned coffin and signs that say “Bring Them Home Now." They read off the names of the dead and claim to "show support for our troops" while urging lawmakers to “bring them home.��? They believe that the U.S.-led coalition should never have entered Iraq and that the current effort is a never-ending quagmire that has made no progress. They believe that things are progressively getting worse and think that our forces should just pick up and leave. They do all this under the pretense that they are supporting the troops. However, what they are really doing is using our lives and the issue of our safety and well-being as a means to achieve a political end. *** My primary concern is the assertion that these individuals support the troops in Iraq but not our mission. It boggles my mind that this logic is actually utilized on a large scale. Supporting the troops but not the war is like saying that you support filmmakers but not making films. One cannot claim to support an individual in a given profession but not support what the said profession entails. This is essentially a slap in the face to those in the service. How protesting the job we are doing in Iraq while demanding our withdrawal constitutes supporting us is beyond me. Furthermore, I am particularly interested in how these people support us, specifically. I have never once received a letter from an individual who claims to "support the troops, not the war." Not a single Marine I know has received anything that could be considered remotely supportive from any of these people or the groups they represent. We have received phone cards, hygiene supplies, food, etc. from members of state and local government, radio stations, schools, private individuals and organizations, but never once from any group claiming to "support the troops, but not the war." I ask again: How can these groups claim to support our troops while telling us that what we are participating in is wrong? How can they support us if they are essentially saying that our blood and sacrifices have all been given in vain? How can they support us if they say that our comrades and brothers who have been wounded or killed in action have done so for a hopeless and morally questionable cause? * * * I reply to the questions I pose with a simple answer: They can't. As a matter of fact, I assert with a considerable degree of confidence that their efforts make our already difficult job even more difficult. I'll go so far as to say that their rallies and protests cost more and more servicemen their lives and limbs every day. I support my assertion with evidence gathered first hand. I see the Iraqi people every day. The protesters do not. I speak with the Iraqi people every day. The protesters do not. I don't sit behind a desk and do paperwork or resupply efforts in the military. I am an Infantry Marine and I walk the sewage-filled streets of this city every single day. In Fallujah, the people watch Al Jazeerah. However, they also watch CNN. A lot of them fear that the United States will soon cut and run. The people of Iraq see when our country is divided. When they see rallies to "Bring The Troops Home," they see that as a sign that we will end our efforts prematurely. Furthermore, they know that the insurgents will not end their efforts early. That leads them to the conclusion that when we leave, the insurgents will still be there. Therefore, if they help us, their lives and the lives of their loved ones will be in great jeopardy the minute we leave - if we don't finish the job. Much that they see on American television leads them to believe that we intend to abandon our efforts before the new Iraqi government is capable of defending itself and its citizens. * * * The actions of these aforementioned organizations and the heavy media coverage their rallies often generate serves as fuel for the insurgency. Insurgents believe they can drive us out through the idea of "death by a thousand cuts." The longer they persist in their efforts, the more the American public becomes disenchanted with the coalition effort. The insurgency sees this as a result. These criminals will continue to kill Iraqi civilians, Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army and coalition forces so long as they see that their efforts are alienating the American public from its military. And for those of you that aren't up to speed with the situation in Iraq, the insurgents attack and kill established public services (such as Iraqi police and Iraqi army) more often than they attack coalition forces. As a matter of fact, an explosive-laden insurgent blew himself up last week outside the Iraqi police station that is attached to our compound. The insurgents aren't fighting simply to drive America out of Iraq. They are fighting to destroy any semblance of the Iraqi government so that they can impose their will on its people. Publicly protesting our efforts in Iraq fuels the insurgency. Doing it under the pretext of "supporting our troops" is disgraceful. * * * Let me now emphasize that I respect an American citizen's right to voice his or her opinion in a public forum. Such a right is granted in the U.S. Constitution. However, voicing one's opinion in such an irresponsible way is something I do not support. Additionally, using deployed service members as a mask to serve your purely political purpose is downright shameful. If your desire is to protest the war, then protest the war, but don't use me or any reference to our troops as a tool to bolster your purpose. I'll summarize by saying this: Organizations such as The Ridgefield Coalition to Stop the War do not support our troops. No matter what they say or what is printed on the signs they carry, they effectively do the opposite of support us. They downright hurt us. Such organizations damage the morale of the men and women in the armed forces and progressively cause them to believe less and less in the mission at hand. The conditions here are difficult as it is. Opening a month-old edition of The Ridgefield Press and reading an article about an anti-war demonstration that uses our troops in an effort to mask its true cause doesn't help. Please do not feign support while effectively telling us that we are fighting for an unworthy cause. I think I speak for an overwhelming majority of our troops when I ask organizations like The Ridgefield Coalition to Stop the War to discontinue using Marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors as a means to serve a political end. You are neither supporting us nor honoring us. You are doing the exact opposite. Well spoken. I hope it strikes at a few consciences. And, thanks to Jarhead Dad for sending it along. Posted by Deb at 10:18 AM | Comments (1) June 05, 2006 Letter from Iraq It's always a treat to get a letter from Iraq. My son has never enjoyed writing but there is little alternative - his platoon is at a location with no internet and only one satellite phone. Here are a couple of snippets from the letter I received over the weekend - first I got scolded for my description of Memorial Day camping, then he described his current living space: It's funny to hear you complaining about a tent. Could be worse - you could have to carry it all on your back, LOL. Camping is fun. First off, you have a tent, then beer, and real food, not to mention a truck and the scenery in Oregon. I think a trip to Diamond Lake will be in order when I get back. Maybe I'll have a bike too and John and me can go for a ride and you can take the truck. That works for me. And I do admit that even a tent sounds better than this: This place sucks. The walls are made of dirt so there is mold growing on them. No AC and 100+ degree weather. It makes for an interesting smell. Could you send me another head lamp? Someone acquired my last one. Hey, we have a 16 yr old Iraqi kid as our intrpreter. He goes on most patrols and is basically a part of the platoon. He would give just about anything to go to the U.S. and join the Marines. Maybe your friends could send him some packages - he's a good kid. I sent a Motomail, asking for clothing and shoe size, as well as family information. If anyone is interested in sending a care package to this Iraqi teen, let me know. Posted by Deb at 11:40 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack May 29, 2006 General Hagee: On Marine Virtue General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued this message to his Marines as a reminder of the Corps values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment: Recent serious allegations concerning actions of Marines in combat have caused me concern. They should cause you to be concerned as well. To ensure we continue to live up to General Lejeune's description of a Marine as someone who demonstrates "all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue," I would like to review the importance of our core values. As Marines, you are taught from your earliest days in the Corps about our core values of honor, courage and commitment. These values are part of and belong to all Marines, regardless of MOS, grade, or gender. They guide us in all that we do; whether in combat, in garrison, or on leave or liberty. To a Marine, honor is more than just honesty; it means having uncompromising personal integrity and being accountable for all actions. To most Marines, the most difficult part of courage is not the raw physical courage that we have seen so often on today's battlefield. It is rather the moral courage to do the "right thing" in the face of danger or pressure from other Marines. Finally, commitment is that focus on caring for one another and upholding the great ideals of our Corps and Country. The nature of this war with its ruthless enemies, and its complex and dangerous battlefield will continue to challenge us in the commitment to our core values. We must be strong and help one another to measure up. The war will also test our commitment to our belief in the rule of law. We have all been educated in the Law of Armed Conflict. We continue to reinforce that training, even when deployed to combat zones. We do not employ force just for the sake of employing force. We use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful. We follow the laws and regulations, Geneva Convention and Rules of Engagement. This is the American way of war. We must regulate force and violence, we only damage property that must be damaged, and we protect the non-combatants we find on the battlefield. When engaged in combat, particularly in the kind of counterinsurgency operations we're involved in now, we have to be doubly on guard. Many of our Marines have been involved in life or death combat or have witnessed the loss of their fellow Marines, and the effects of these events can be numbing. There is the risk of becoming indifferent to the loss of a human life, as well as bringing dishonor upon ourselves. Leaders of all grades need to reinforce continually that Marines care for one another and do what is right. The large majority of Marines today perform magnificently on and off the battlefield. I am very proud of the bravery, dedication, honor, courage and commitment you clearly display every day. And America is proud as well. Americans, indeed most people around the world, recognize that Marines are men and women of the highest caliber - physically, mentally, and morally. Each one of you contributes in your own unique way to our important mission; I am proud of your dedication and accomplishments. Even after 38 years, I still stand with pride every time I hear the Marines Hymn. The words of that Hymn mean something special to me. Especially, "Keep our Honor Clean". I know that means something to all of you as well. As Marines we have an obligation to past Marines, fellow Marines, future Marines and ourselves to do our very best to live up to these words. As your Commandant, I charge all Marines to carry on our proud legacy by demonstrating our values in everything you do - on duty and off; in combat or in garrison. Semper Fidelis. Posted by Deb at 06:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack May 28, 2006 "It's one more rifle out of the fight." Photo and story by Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva No one is ever going to tell Cpl. Patrick A. Diener not to kick rocks again. The 24-year-old from Knoxville, Tenn., was kicking at some loose soil when he turned up a buried insurgent sniper rifle. Diener, assigned to B Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, was on a "knock-and-talk" patrol in this rural area south of Fallujah when he made the find. It was the end result of patience, careful questions and a stroke of luck. "I looked around to see if I could stir something up," Diener said. "It was the third hole I checked out at that site and it looked like something could be buried there." Diener dug at the ground with the toe of his boot until he uncovered a smooth, black plastic surface. He knew he had a weapons cache. "I saw a bag inside and pulled it out and it was the rifle wrapped up," Diener said. Specifically, it was a modified Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle. It had a scope mounted on top and a crudely-fashioned sound suppressor over the barrel. For the small team of reconnaissance Marines, many of whom are trained snipers, it was an important find. "It"s important for me," Diener explained. "We don"t have much to work with, so for a recon team to eliminate a sniper rifle from the fight, it"s an accomplishment." The cache discovery was the result of a day's worth of work. Marines set out to patrol the area, gathering information. After several stops, one local Iraqi spoke of seeing men digging in a nearby farm field. Marines moved into the area based on that tip. "Sometimes, it feels like we're playing CSI," said Sgt. Aaron C. Torian, a reference to the TV show about crime scene investigations. "Sometimes it's more of a gut feeling. Everything here happens in the shadows." Torian, the 28-year-old team leader from Paducah, Ky., led his Marines to the area only to find they recently passed it earlier. They couldn't see most of the area, though, because of overgrown reeds in a canal. "When we walked by the first time, we saw only one male," Torian explained. "When we came back everyone was gone. The family that was left didn't even look at us." Torian reached into the black cylinder and wrapped his hand around the end of the rifle, wrapped in the burlap sack. "As soon as I felt it, I knew," he said. "I felt the scope. It's a big prize for our snipers. For them, that's a trophy." Torian said the find was the result of diligence and finding the patterns by which insurgents operate in this region. "It's not a lazy man's game," he explained. "It's like chess. It takes a lot of moves to get to where you want." It's long, monotonous work for the reconnaissance Marines. They'll patrol areas for hours on end, turning up empty on nearly every turn. It's frustrating at times, but every weapon they find is one less that can be used against them. "You go out for 10 days of boredom and its 10 minutes of excitement," said Cpl. Scott Ostrom, a 21-year-old from Plantation, Fla. "Right about the time you want to give up, you find something. It keeps you going." "It would be better to kill the dudes," Ostrom added. "You see the insurgent videos and it makes you feel good to get rid of those weapons." Diener said he couldn't be sure if the rifle was accurate or even effective. Still, he said getting the rifle out of the insurgents hands was the important part. "You constantly put yourself our there," Diener said. "Even though it's a little find, it's one more rifle out of the fight." Posted by Deb at 02:24 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack May 24, 2006 1/7 update - "your Marines are truly the hunters" 1/7 Marines from Charlie Company send along a few messages for their loved ones back home From 1st row left, Cpl Anderson, PFC Haag, LCpl Rodgers, and Sgt. Feeney 1/7 Battalion Commander LtCol Nick Marano has good news from the Syrian border: Families of 1/7, We are well into our third month now and you can really see the Marines and Corpsmen hitting their stride. The days and weeks spent in the field on predeployment training have really paid off for the platoons and companies. Iraq may seem on TV like a violent place with a faceless enemy, but your Marines are truly the hunters. They are taking the counterinsurgency fight to the enemy everyday, and winning. Every line company is aggressively patrolling their Area of Operations (AO) and everyday we are rolling up insurgents, discovering IEDs, weapons caches and keeping the terrorists off balance. In my last letter, I spoke about April being historically a violent month and it unfortunately remained this April as we lost three fine Marines. I pledge to you, as we have pledged to each other, that their sacrifices will not be in vain. We are committed to moving the Al Qaim region forward, and we are making steady progress. It will not be easy, this is a hot, dirty and dangerous job, but it is one we are capable of completing and we will all be safer for it. I could not be prouder of the Marines and Sailors I am fortunate enough to lead. Even in the midst of tragedy, their selfless devotion to each other and their mission is remarkable - and moving. In my letter following the rocket attack on BP Tarawa, I detailed some of those actions. Today, I am happy to report to you that the little girl who LCpl Simons and Cpl Kutner were so worried about has lived. We were able to get her treated and MEDEVAC'd to a hospital in Baghdad. She would have certainly died had it not been for two brave Marines; those Marines cared more about their comrades and a little Iraqi girl than they did their own lives. We continue to work with the Iraqi Army, and now the Police, to improve their capability and prepare them for the day when all Marines depart the Al Qaim region. This job, like every other in Iraq, is difficult. There are no easy problems here! There are many times that working with the Iraqi Army and Police has the "one step forward, two steps backwards" feel. We currently have Iraqi Police patrolling in Husaybah with Baker Company and soon will have them on the street with Alpha Company in Ubaydi. As the Marines have found out, it initially takes more work to patrol and work with Iraqi security forces, but in the long term these soldiers and police will perform the tasks that your Marines currently do. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the mothers a Happy Mothers Day. As you enjoy the day at Victory Field, please know that we couldn't do any of this without your strength, support and love. You are what make all of this worthwhile and we look forward to the day when we will all stand together on Victory Field in celebration. The story of what your Marines and Sailors do here has been written about in major newspapers around the world and the Al Qaim region is held up as one of the positive areas within the Sunni regions of Iraq. We have generated so much attention, that even Toby Keith is coming here to play for us. Yes, that's true, Toby Keith will be here on 29 May and I will do my best to ensure every Country Fan is here to enjoy it. He specifically asked to go to where the "real" Marines are, so he is obviously coming here. Thank you for staying strong and keeping the faith. This group includes LCpl Ruiz, PFC Santos, LCpl Bronson, and PFC McDaniel. Posted by Deb at 01:36 PM | Comments (1) May 21, 2006 Update from 3rd LAR Captain Michael Nakonieczny, CO of 3rd LAR, Apache Co. sent this update to the friends and family of his Marines: All is well here in West, Al Anbar. As of this moment, we are 33% done with the deployment. The weather is slowly beginning to rise and the temperature has consistently been in the low 90’s during the day. Fortunately, the increase in temperature is coming gradually and we have the opportunity to acclimate to the changes. There is also a major project in the works that will greatly increase the quality of living for our Marines. These improvements include better living quarters and air conditioning. Just in time as it will get very hot here, very soon. We have enjoyed more than a fair amount of success and continue to work with the Iraqi Army on a daily basis. It is a welcomed relief to see the Iraqi Army soldiers ready and willing to work beside us. They are brave, eager to learn, and want to do well. You can't ask more of a fellow soldier/Marine than that. More are on the way to the city we work out of and seeing their interaction with the Iraqi civilians makes me very optimistic. The insurgents in this city are like a cancer. They are small in number, but lethal to innocent Iraqis. We could go into this city at anytime and cut out those insurgents, but with out the proper treatment, the cancer will grow back. The Iraqi Army is that proper treatment. As these Iraqi civilians see more Iraqi Army soldiers stand up to these thugs, I have no doubt, they too will strive to be free. In fact, I am continually amazed at the number of Iraqis that are stepping forward and giving us information on the insurgents. That is how it looks here, at least, from the ground with your men. As for operations, we have been pretty busy here in Apache for the last few weeks. Forgive your Marine if he has been unable to call. We are proud to say that we have detained a number of known insurgents and have also been successful in finding and then destroying more than 11 weapons caches throughout our local area. 1st platoon (commanded by 1st Lt Gaitens) and 2nd platoon (commanded by SSgt Harper) have been doing a terrific job manning the traffic control points that lead in and out of the city we operate in. Their stringent attention to detail and mentoring of the Iraqi Army continues to ensure weapons and insurgent fighters are unable to get into our city. Third platoon (commanded by 2nd Lt Brobyn) and fourth platoon (commanded by 2ndLt Niznik, formally of Dragoon company) have been kept busy with maintaining security on the main road that travels through our area of responsibility and in patrolling the local area. Headquarters and weapons platoon have been keeping very busy too. Most of these Marines are responsible for maintaining the security of the companys forward operating base. There vigilance keeps us all safe and their job is very much appreciated by all. We rotate the units around so they are never on the same duty for more than a month or so. Updates: Congratulations to LCpl and Danielle Ohotnicky on the birth of their son, John Anthony. He was born on 11 April at 2344 in Joshua Tree, California. He weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds 15 oz. He is 19.5 inches long. Our very best goes out to you Danielle and John. Congratulations are also in order for LCpl Bobby Metzler and his wife who also were blessed with the birth of a child on 11 April. Avery Breane Metzler came into our world at 7 pounds and at 18 inches. As a proud father of a little girl, I have assured Bobby that his life and perspective of it will forever be changed for the better. Newly promoted Marines for the month of May:`(rank listed is their new rank): Congratulations to our executive officer Joe Shusko who was recently selected for promotion to Captain. Congratulations are also in order for: James Brobyn (3rd Platoon) promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant Isaias Hernandez (4th Platoon) promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Nicholas Maxedon (4th Platoon) promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Jose Calvache Jr. (1st Platoon) promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Harley Bottoms (3rd Platoon) promoted to the rank of Private First Class. Parting shots: Be proud of your Marines. They are extremely tough, brave, resilient, and they never say no. It is with complete sincerity when I tell you they are an awe inspiring to watch as we execute our missions. Thanks to you all for your continued letters of support. Mail makes even the best day here better. Please keep it coming.. Posted by Deb at 10:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack May 18, 2006 3/1 Change of Command One of the benefits of calling a retired USMC colonel by the title "Dad" is seeing what goes on behind the headlines. Yarbz, from Juggernuts, shared a story from his father yesterday - here's a snippet and one of the pictures, but do visit Juggernuts for the full story. His dad is a wonderful photographer and has shared his pictures with our site before . . . something we very much appreciate! Photo by Col. BB Yarborough, USMC Ret. SgtMajor Edward T. Sax was relieved from his post as SgtMaj of 3dBn, 1st Marines, and assumes new duties of SgtMaj of a Marine Air Wing in Mira Mar, CA. Sax distinguished himself in 3/1, deploying as SgtMaj of 3/1 for 3 combat tours. His last tour was as a volunteer and at his insistence, otherwise he would have been assigned non combat duties more than a year ago. Before he left I asked him why he wanted to go for the third time, and he said that there were so many new officers and staff NCO's that he felt obligated to help indoctrinate and train them so that "his Marines" would have a better chance to make it safely through the tour. The Bn lost 4 men killed in action, tragic, but evaluated as an overall operation, excellent results. Thanks to father and son for letting us excerpt it here. Full story at Juggernuts. And, while you're over there reading the story, do leave a comment wishing Col. Yarborough a very happy birthday! Posted by Deb at 11:59 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack May 16, 2006 The Real Deal I've watched the NBC show, Deal or No Deal, a few times under protest - game shows based solely on greed aren't my idea of a good time. Last night, I made an exception as a Marine wife from Camp Lejeune was surprised with a video visit from her deployed husband. Sgt. Sara Wood, AFP reporter, filed this report: The wife of a Marine from Camp Lejeune, N.C., got more than she bargained for as a contestant on NBC's game show "Deal or No Deal" last night. Renee Stokes, whose husband, Marine Staff Sgt. Justin Stokes, is currently deployed to Iraq, was the second contestant of the night on the high-pressure show that allows people to try for cash prizes up to $1,000,000 in a game of odds and chance. Stokes was joined on stage by her best friend, her mother-in-law, and a family friend. The show allows contestants to bring family members and friends on stage to offer advice at crucial decision-making points. Stokes and the other three women were wearing "America Supports You" lapel pins. America Supports You is the Defense Department's program to recognize citizen support for military men and women and to communicate that support to members of the armed forces at home and abroad. At the show's beginning, Stokes said she and her husband had just celebrated their one-year anniversary, but it was a lonely celebration because he was in Iraq. She said if she won the $1,000,000 prize, she would buy herself a motorcycle to match the one she and her husband bought right after they got married. After Stokes had played the game for three rounds and had to make a decision of whether to make a "deal" and accept a cash amount instead of continuing with the game, she was given a huge surprise by host Howie Mandel. "This is a tough decision, a big decision, and I know you brought supporters and family. I also know that your biggest supporter is not here," Mandel said. "This is a time you have to make a serious decision. You've got to get as much help as you can possibly get." As Mandel finished saying this, Stokes' husband, Justin, appeared on a large video screen via satellite from Fallujah, Iraq. Justin's appearance was greeted by screaming and applause from Stokes, her family and friends, and the audience. "I already won my million," Stokes said, referring to her chance to see Justin. Justin was able to provide advice and encouragement to Stokes throughout the rest of the show, with the help of Marines from his unit who were assembled behind him. At one point in the show, "Tonight" talk show host Jay Leno made an appearance, presenting a motorcycle of the exact model Stokes wanted. The show's "banker" was throwing the motorcycle into the deal to try to convince Stokes to abandon her pursuit of the big money. After consulting Justin, Stokes said no to the deal, but Leno didn't leave without thanking the troops for their service. "I want to thank you for all your service," Leno said to Justin and the other Marines. "We really appreciate what you men and women are doing." Justin's mother, Judy, who was on stage with Stokes, then tearfully addressed her son. "Dad and I love you, and I have your Marine necklace on and your bracelet that you gave me," she said. Justin's father was in the audience and was also emotional as he spoke to his son. "We love you. Be good and get home safe," he said. In the end, Stokes won $28,000 on the show, which she said was still enough to buy her motorcycle. I'm glad she won enough to buy her motorcycle. But, she should have made a deal when Jay Leno came out on stage - $99,000 and the Harley AstroGlide that she'd dreamed of. That's the problem of understanding probability and risk assessment - and why I don't watch the show. Unless there are Marine families in the background. Posted by Deb at 12:27 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack May 13, 2006 "I want to tell everyone how great he was" On May 3, another hero fell. Captain Brian Letendre, deployed with 1/25 Marines, was killed on May 3 when a suicide car bomber attacked his observation post in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. A Potomac News story shares details of Cpt. Letendre's life: "He's a hero. This young man is fighting the global war on terrorism for other people to give them a chance to have a better life," said Bill Bann, a friend of the Letendre family and a retired Marine Lt. Colonel. "He was over there, saw it, experienced it first hand and wanted to go back because he believed in what they are doing." Letendre, a Marine since he graduated from Milligan College in Tennessee, made his family's friends proud, they said. "He was a fine young man, the best our country has to offer," said Bann, whose twin sons befriended Letendre in elementary school. "He was full of passion, a man of courage, conviction and integrity. He loved being a Marine." Since they were teens, Letendre and friends David and Brian Bann dreamed of becoming officers in the Marine Corps. They played G.I. Joe in the woods near their Woodbridge home, said David Bann. Letendre's father, Milton Letendre, said his son was strong, high mannered and moral. "He was looking forward to [his tour in Iraq]. He's a very motivated, very patriotic young man who believed in what his country is doing," said his father. Letendre, a 1996 Potomac Senior High School graduate, won a posthumous Purple Heart Medal and an Iraq Campaign Medal this week, said Gunnery Sgt. Pete Walza, DoD spokesman. Those medals add to Letendre's 14 other awards during his nearly six years of Marine Corps service. He joined in May 2000 as a second lieutenant and nearly at the same time married his college sweetheart, Autumn. She and their 3-year-old son live in Indianapolis. And last week, Autumn Letendre wrote a letter to the men of 1/25 who served with her husband.: Dear Friends and Family, I write this letter with a pain I never imagined could exist. It was just last week that I was telling you our story and what a story we have. Although I feel cocooned with extreme sadness I could not be any prouder. Brian loved the Marine Corp and all that encompassed its purpose. He believed that being in Iraq was right and that no one should resist the chance to liberate another human being even if that meant putting his life on the line. He leaves our three year old son Dillon- a blessing and mirrored image of Brian. I can not find a word with enough meaning, enough passion to explain how great of a father Brian was. Dillon loves his daddy so much and has truly lost an American Hero. I am smiling right now as I reminisce our first date, our first kiss, the day he told me he loved me, when he proposed etc. Wow, what happiness fills me with these thoughts and how I want to tell everyone how great he was. (To those of you separated by deployment) As our news shocks and terrifies you, please stay strong for your men. They need your strength as they must complete their mission. Do not let fear take away the great bond that deployment can create between you and your spouse. I encourage you to write them and write often. Tell them how you truly feel and live with extreme pride to be married to one of the few. I have no regrets as I always told Brian how proud of him I was and still am. I may have lost the love of my life, but I have gained a life and story that few in this great country have. Thank you for your prayers Autumn Letendre I am reminded of another example: The night before last at dinner, I listened to General Mattis speak of another helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Desperate for a replacement, he contacted Washington and obtained one from the command back home. Later he learned that, that evening, the young widow of one of the men who died in the crash, seven-months pregnant, showed up with fresh-baked brownies to bid farewell to the outgoing crew as it headed out to Afghanistan. Fallen Marines are often described as having given the ultimate sacrifice for a free country. That is certainly true. But their spouses give the penultimate sacrifice - the loss of the love of their life - as they assume the mantle of both parental roles. Think of the widows of those fallen heroes tomorrow on Mother's Day. Posted by Deb at 01:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack Update from Camp Fallujah Here's an update from Col. Larry D. Nicholson, commander of RCT-5 : Dear Families and Friends of the Regiment, Already May, and after nearly 3 months in Iraq, we are really starting to hit our stride and find our daily rhythm. So many great things being done by our Marines, Sailors, and yes Soldiers. Most of these things never make the news, but I am immensely proud of our accomplishments and the manner in which we are treating the Iraqi people. Currently we have 3/5, 1/1, 2/6, and 1st RECON BN on deck along with Tank, AAV, Engineer, and Arty Company's / Batteries from both coasts. Nearly 5 thousand folks on RCT-5 morning reports and this is just the US side. We also have 5 Battalions of Iraqis working under the RCT-5 banner, and with them our daily count is near 8 thousand. So as you might imagine, we are exceptionally busy moving all of these units and personnel in the same direction every day. We are also in the middle of unit turnovers for some of our Battalions, and this complex and challenging process is going very well so far. Life inside Camp Fallujah is "almost" comfortable in the sense that the weather is still nice, California like in fact, and the food and billeting for all hands is much improved from my last trip here. This does not mean however that we do not need care packages from home. We each look forward to the mail trucks arrival and just like kids at Christmas, can"t wait to rip into those packages. I am very encouraged by the great participation of our families back home in attending our sponsored events. Our family network is doing a wonderful job of keeping the lines of communications open and providing the critical support required for our family team. On a sad note we morn the loss of LTCOL Jay Bargeron and Capt Jason Freeby's fathers these past few weeks. Our prayers are with them, their families, and all of our Marines and Sailors who have suffered family losses or illness during this period. Thanks you again for your continued strong support of your Marine and Sailor, there is no way any of us could make this deployment successful, and stay focused on our important work, without the dedicated support of our loved ones back home. I very much look forward to writing to you again in June. Semper Fidelis, L.D.Nicholson CO RCT-5 Comfortable weather is a relative statement - other reports indicate that temperatures are ranging upwards of 100 each day. I'm adding powdered Gatorade to each care package - staying hydrated is essential in the desert heat and Gatorade helps. And, I'm sending a couple dozen pairs of socks a month since it is essential to change socks frequently - my son said he'd pour a pint of sweat out of each boot at the end of the day. The comfort of a new pair of socks cannot be overestimated. Deb Posted by Deb at 01:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack May 10, 2006 Update from the Al Anbar Province Major General Rick Zilmer, Commanding General of I MEF Forward sends this update from the front: The tough mission of securing the western province of Iraq and training our Iraqi Army partners continues to keep the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen busy, and focused on the task at hand. The Marines and Soldiers in Ramadi had a lot of success working with their Iraqi partners and rid the city of a large number of insurgents in the past couple of weeks. Slowly, but surely, the Iraqi Army becomes stronger and is more and more capable. This past week, a new class of Iraqi recruits graduated from boot camp and will join our efforts. The new recruits are the result of efforts to bring more Sunni Muslims into the Iraqi Army and Police Force to fight in the Anbar province, which is made up mostly of Sunni Muslims. We work hard everyday making sure that the service members are well equipped, well prepared, and well supported. Despite the rising temperatures -- we're just breaking 100 degrees now -- the operational tempo remains high. With the promising new leadership in the Iraqi Government, it is clear that Iraq is moving in the direction of democracy. The Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen, with their Iraqi counterparts, are unfazed, dedicated and are doing a great deal to move the nation toward their goal. Recently, a couple of visits from former heroes and entertainers gave the service members a much needed break from the seriousness of the task at hand. Two Medal of Honor recipients recently visited, sharing their war stories with our young warriors, and providing them an evening of camaraderie and inspiration. The Charlie Daniels Band also came out for a well-attended concert at Camp Taqqadum. A large part of our resilience and ability to continue the fight is due to your outstanding support! Thank you. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and continue to write, email, and MOTOMAIL. Please check back after May 15th to hear more news about your Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen doing a fine job out here in the Al Anbar Province. Until then, take care on the home front and Semper Fidelis. Good news . . . except for the hot weather. I just mailed a box of 48 Snickers bars for my chocolate-deprived son and his Marines. Sounds like they'll be Snickers Soup by the time they get there . . . but they'll eat them anyway. Life as an infantry Marine does have its challenges. Posted by Deb at 01:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack May 09, 2006 Lunch with the President - "It was just some motivating stuff" Most enlisted Marines rarely - if ever - talk with their battalion commander. Chains of command are there for a reason and messages are passed up and answers are passed back down. One of the high points of SOI for my son was the day he went through grenade training. He pulled the pin, threw the grenade and just then realized there was a full bird Colonel standing right behind him. As he hit the deck, he managed to throw his body into attention while saluting. He said the landing was a bit uncomfortable but he wasn't going to take a chance on not following protocol. Imagine having lunch with the Commander in Chief of all U.S. armed forces. It happened last week for the Marines of the Combat Center, 29 Palms. Cpl. Jesse Markel, recently returned from Iraq with 2/7 Marines, shakes the hand of President Bush. Cpl. Markel's mom (Nicole Markel who coordinated Operation Santa for 2/7 Marines last fall), commented, "Leave it to our son to get an opportunity to sit at the head table next to the President for lunch! He had a great time, said they talked about everything from Iraq to football. He said he is very down to earth, easy to talk to. Pretty cool!!!" Cpl. Evan M. Eagan, Combat Correspondent, reports on the day's events: President George Bush came to the Combat Center April 23, to visit Marines, Sailors and their families during a three-day tour of the Southern California area. Marking the first time a president has visited the Combat Center, Bush attended church services at the Protestant Chapel and ate lunch with the service members and their families at the 7th Marines mess hall, where he addressed those who assembled. During his speech, Bush expressed his appreciation for the Marines, Sailors and their families for the sacrifices they have made whether overseas or stateside. You represent the very best of America, he said. You represent men and women who volunteer to serve during dangerous and historic times. And because of your service, we're defeating an enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. Because of your service, we've liberated people from the clutches of a tyrant. And because of your service, we're laying the foundation of peace for a generation of Americans to come. These are historic times, and your service makes me incredibly proud. And I also want to say something to your families, Bush continued. It's hard when your loved one is overseas. I respect your sacrifice, and want to thank you very much for your service to our country, as well. Many Marines who ate lunch with the president were excited to meet with their commander-in-chief. For Sgt. Daniel D. Reuss, an assault gunner with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, meeting President Bush was a rewarding experience. I sat about 20 feet away from the president when I ate brunch with him, said the Redding, Calif., native, and two time Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. He said he was very happy to see us. He told us the Marine Corps was doing an excellent job. It was an awesome experience, which was worth a lot. Not everyone gets to meet the president. Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Parks, an infantryman with 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, wasn't seated as close to the president, but still had the opportunity to meet him. When he first came in to the chow hall, he became social with all of us who were standing in line,"said the Corpus Christi, Texas, native, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. After eating, he walked around the whole chow hall to shake hands with everyone. When he got to our table, he told us how much of a good job we're doing. He also asked about our families and how things were going at home. It was a pretty motivating experience. He gave me inspiration to keep doing my job and doing it well. He really showed us he cared and he wanted us to know that. It was an honor to see him because it's something that I might not have the privilege to do again. Sgt. Matthew L. Barber, a machinegun squad leader with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was motivated by the president's visit. Eating with the president is an experience he won't soon forget. I was very motivated to even get to see the president," said the Olathe, Kan., native. "When he first got to the chow hall, he busted out with a Semper Fi. That was very motivating. We all were very happy to have the president come to our base, continued Barber. “He actually took the time from his very busy schedule to come see us for a day. I know everyone in 3/4 was honored to talk to him. It was my best experience here. It was just some motivating stuff. After spending time with the Marines, Sailors and their families, President Bush made his way to the Combat Center parade field where he boarded Marine One and departed. I'll send these pictures to my son, currently deployed in Iraq. He missed meeting President Bush by a few hours in Ireland last February, to his regret. And if he had to miss President Bush's visit to his home base, he'll be happy that his good friend, Jesse, was the Marine who sat next to the him, chatting about the things that are of interest to men everywhere - sports and combat. Posted by Deb at 12:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack May 04, 2006 24/7 Marine Professionalism Pfc. Andrew M. Kalwitz correspondent for the RotoVue at MCAS-New River, had this to say about Marine decorum, on and off duty: Since we perform our duties as a service to the American people, it is essential to the Marine Corps existence that we have their support. In order to gain this support, Marines must conduct themselves professionally; on and off-base. When recruits get off the bus and stand on the renowned yellow footprints for the first time, they begin a 13 week indoctrination to become U.S. Marines. Their training will take them from the parade deck to the rifle range and from the gas chamber to the swim tank. They also attend numerous classes to learn the history of the corps, how to provide first aid, customs and courtesies and the appropriate behavior expected of a Marine. These things are not to be forgotten. One man who owns a business outside the New River gate, retired gunnery sergeant Anthony P. Waters, co-owner of Muddys Coffee House, said there has never been a problem inside the coffee house, but he is aware of the inappropriate conduct Marines have displayed elsewhere. "I have seen some pretty bad stuff," he said. The majority of Marines is very respectful. However, many Marines seem to have become much too comfortable with the use of profanity. It isn't unheard of for them to use inappropriate language in public places and around children, said Waters. Waters said he recently witnessed a Marine wife speak to a master sergeant using profane language after her husband was corrected for wearing one of his green undershirts with his civilian attire. “The Marine did nothing to stop his wife,�? he added. Waters said he also saw a private first class walk into a sitdown restaurant in his blue coveralls. But that doesn't qualify for the number one spot. “The worst thing was in Wal-Mart. It was a lance corporal and he was wearing his Alphas,�? he started. “But they were unbuttoned and the belt was completely taken-off.�? In a military community like Jacksonville, where many retired and former Marines reside, there is a strong influence to ensure today's Marines maintain current standards. Retired Sgt. Maj. Ihor Sywanyk, owner of Sywanyks Scarlet and Gold Traditions night club, explained that Marines need to have a respectable appearance while in public. By dressing like a Marine, one is more likely to act like a Marine, he said. “I personally believe that when people dress better, they act better.�? Sywanyks Scarlet and Gold Traditions is the only place in Jacksonville with a dress code, he said. Aside from appearance, speaking professionally also says a lot about the Marine Corps as an organization. "I ask all Marines to be aware of their own actions and to take charge of themselves," said Sgt. Maj. Lewis Summerville, Station sergeant major. "We have to stop setting the wrong example to those that we serve and protect. Every Marine has to remember that he or she is part of the Marine team and that team is much bigger than any individual." Many young Marines also agree that using profanity is unprofessional and tarnishes the Marine Corps' reputation with the surrounding communities. “We are Marines 24-seven and it is unprofessional,�? said Lance Cpl. John D. Floyd III, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron weather observer. “We should be professional 24-seven.�? Floyd explained why Marines need support from the community. “We need their support. We wouldn't be here without them,�? said Floyd. “They pretty much put the money in our pockets.�? Sometime after the proud moments that followed the graduation of basic training, many Marines lost some of the professionalism and pride that had been instilled in them. If it was worth working so hard to become a Marine, it is definitely worth the effort it takes to stay a Marine. When my son is home on leave, he stays cleanshaven and his haircut is within regs. He wears a belt and his shirt is tucked in. Although, there was that one time when he had a two-day beard growout. I told him I'd wait for him to shave, but he didn't want to take time. So, I waited until we were in the Costco parking lot before acting. "Shane, is that Gunny Dukes?" He knew better than to take a chance on the senior recruiter for our region finding him in need of a shave. Nothing more painful than a dry shave with a dull razor in the front seat of Mom's car. And we bought an electric razor that same day with a car charger. No more excuses. Posted by Deb at 09:45 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack May 01, 2006 Finding peace in the middle of war I've always enjoyed reading messages from chaplains who minister to the spiritual needs of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Knowing that they are smack dab in the middle of the area that I used to teach my Sunday School kids about it is breathtaking. My son came home from his first deployment with pictures of Nebuchadnezzar's palace and the ruins of Babylon. Men from his platoon were baptized in the Euphrates River. And they gained a deep understanding of the longing for peace by people who had known mostly war in their lifetimes. Photo by SSgt. James Goodwin Cpl. Nick Duncan participates in an Easter Mass held at Al Asad Air Base. Cpl Duncan serves with RCT-7, 1st Recon. Here's a homily by Chaplain Mark Smith (CMDR, USN) that captures that human longing perfectly: I was walking back from the chow hall in the dark after breakfast the other morning. A lonely, wide, gravel path between encampments where armored vehicles sometimes wait for diners to return, it was rather quiet at this time. Keeping my eyes sharp to avoid stumbling, and always on the alert for the unexpected, I saw out of the corner of my eye a strange, quick movement above the berm. Something was scrambling rapidly and erratically over one of the synthetic canopies that stretch between poles to cover either small buildings or areas where people gather out of the sun and view. The creative ways Marines erect these often produce interesting rolling landscapes. This thing darted in and out of shadows, creases, folds, and over every synthetic hill created by a pole. I couldn't guess what it might be, since it seemed to barely dent the fabric at all. I suspected it was not a threat to me - across the concertina wire atop the berm - so I walked close to get a better view. It was a kitten. Or maybe more of a teenage cat, having the time of his life. He was running to and fro, capturing imagined prey, avoiding pretend predators. When he saw me, he stopped and stared, eyes and ears at full attention. When he soon became bored by me, he went back to the challenges of the acrylic hills. As I continued on my way to my office, I noticed the birds singing in the eucalyptus trees. They were not bothered by the sound of the cannons doing terrain denial around the base, nor the machine gun fire coming from the range. There is a war out here. But nature doesn't always seem to notice. The world goes on, and the wind whispers, "This too shall pass." Though we need to remain alert, aware of our surroundings and conscious of our purpose, we could also learn from the play of the kitten and the song of the birds. In the midst of all this, I too can find peace. The Christian communities have just celebrated Easter and continue in the next few weeks in the Easter Season. The Gospel reading on the second Sunday of Easter reports on some of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to his disciples and others. In that passage Jesus says several times to his disciples, "Peace be with you" - a normal Jewish greeting - but he says it repeatedly, even in the same visit. They may have been frightened by his sudden appearance, or even still rattled by witnessing such a momentous event. But what Jesus wished for them was peace. In their hearts, in their lives, in the midst of all the terror and loss of the crucifixion of their leader. Peace. If the one they called the Prince of Peace offers peace in times of trial, we might begin to recognize that peace is not dependent on the world's cooperation. Peace can be in our hearts even in the middle of struggle, pain, fear and war. A calm assurance that despite all that may assail me, I can have peace. Look to your sources of peace, whether it be your faith, your training, or your love and loved ones, and be at peace, even during war. Though we need to remain alert, aware of our surroundings and conscious of our purpose, we could also learn from the play of the kitten and the song of the birds. In the midst of all this, we too can find peace. Peace be with you. There's also a very interesting look at the life of deployed military chaplains in yesterday's Washington Post. Here's a snippet but do read the entire piece. It's Chaplain Jamie Deason's first night on FOB Diamondback. Alone at last in his seven-by-twenty-foot shipping container, Deason, a Southern Baptist, is unpacking his rucksack and praying about a mosque. Earlier over dinner in the chow hall, Deason met the outgoing chaplain he'll be replacing at the chapel. Major Michael Morehouse was charging through the long list of responsibilities he'll be handing off to Deason -- advising the FOB command on morale, caring for soldiers in units without a chaplain, humanitarian missions, Sunday services, meetings, reports, R&R briefs, and critical incident debriefs. During one of those debriefs, after a military police unit had been ambused and one of them wounded, Chaplain Morehouse sat with the 50 MPs in a big circle while they tried to come to grips with the fact that they could die here. As Morehouse ran through this list of responsibilities with Deason, he said, "There's a mosque on the FOB, and I've been trying to get some work done on it," as if to say this mosque, which was here long before the Americans, would soon be Deason's responsibility, too. That took Deason by surprise. "The Muslims on the FOB are all coming to clean up the yard day after tomorrow," said Morehouse. "They say, 'We can't believe a Christian minister is helping us clean up our mosque!' And I say, 'In America, we play nicely.'" "Mm hm," Deason murmured, as if he was still listening. But his eyes were already far away. Now he's praying for guidance. He's all for cooperation, he says. But helping a religion that is not Christian, if it's not a military activity, is a compromise he doesn't think he can let himself make. It's a long way from the west Tennessee hills where he grew up. You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. He heard that line about the same time he found Jesus, and he never forgot it, a line from a song by country musician Aaron Tippin. Outside, the nightly song that calls Mosul to prayer rises and falls in a minor key. Thanks to Grim for the link. . Posted by Deb at 03:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack April 19, 2006 A Letter to Military Children from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kids who grow up in military familes face their own unique challenges. It's hard to make lasting friendships when orders to new duty stations arrive with just a few weeks warning. Military parents can be gone for weeks or months . . . or years at a time. But families are important and it's nice to see children given special tribute from General Pace. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary contributions of our Nation's military families, who have faced many challenges-from family separations to frequent moves-with great courage. I would especially like to acknowledge a special source of inspiration: children of military families. You are patient and understanding when duty calls and your Mom or Dad cannot attend a soccer game, music recital, birthday party, or other important family or school activity. You are heroes in a quiet, thoughtful way, and I am grateful for the unconditional love you give your Mom and Dad. Many of you have experienced the sad and sometimes frightening experience of having your Mom or Dad far from home, serving around the globe in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Through your personal courage and support, you serve this Nation too - and I am proud of you! Frequent moves are a way of life for the military child. It is never easy to say goodbye to friends and familiar routines, to begin again in a new school, a new neighborhood - and sometimes a new country! But your resilience and self-confidence are strengths that others admire, including your parents. Growing up in a military family offers some challenges, but it also provides some special rewards. You can be proud of your Mom and Dad for their brave defense of this great country. Your love and support sustains them. So thank you for being there for Mom and Dad. You are American patriots and role models for us all. PETER PACE General, United States Marine Corps Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Posted by Deb at 04:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack April 15, 2006 3rd LAR Delta Company Update Photo by 1st Lt. Nathan Braden Before they moved to the Syrian border, the Dragoons participated in a cordon and search operation near the Thar Thar Dam. Here, Sgt. Joseph L. Massey (left), a 26-year-old scout squad leader from Shelbyville, Ky. and Lance Cpl. Nathan D. Wagner (right), a 22-year-old scout from Fruitland, Idaho fill out detention processing forms. The 3rd LAR has landed and this latest update from the Delta company commander is a fascinating glimpse of what it takes to deploy a battalion of Marines: Dear friends and family of Delta Company "Dragoons," I am writing our first e-mail status report later than I had hoped because of an extremely busy schedule as of late. Let me begin by saying how proud I am of our Marines and their hard work up to this point. Including work-ups, pre-deployment ranges and classes and loads of field ops and vehicle maintenance, this has been a grueling period for everyone, one I am sure they will never forget. However, I am convinced their hard work and strong efforts will help us complete the missions we've been assigned and guard our troops against a difficult enemy. First let me tell you at the writing of this e-mail, we have kept everyone safe, there are no injuries or illnesses. The Marines are smelly and tired after being in the field twenty days, but morale is good. My e-mails are checked, so I will not speak of any combat related issues unless allowed to in this or future e-mailings. I will let the Marines tell you about those items when we get home. After our departure from 29 Palms MCAGCC we drove to March AFB. The USO had a great set-up for us with breakfast including coffee, juice and snacks. The volunteers were mostly veterans of previous wars who wanted to wish the troops a goodbye. Older men and women, they greeted our Marines with smiles and stories of "shipping out" for Americas previous wars. We were all flattered by their honest patriotism and dedication to the troops. After a few hours wait, we took off with World Air, a charter company that primarily flys for the military. They had flight attendants and played movie after movie to keep the Marines entertained. They seemed to be happy to make us comfortable, and 1stSgt Ward reminded me a round trip flight to Europe would usually cost us over $1,500, but this one was free. We landed in Bangor Maine first, and after a brief turn-around flew across the Atlantic to Shannon, Ireland. Many of the new Marines remarked that this was their first trip across any ocean, and were motivated by the trip. The Marines mostly slept on the flight. We were not allowed out of the airport in Ireland, but the Marines all seemed to enjoy the countryside through the windows. The Shannon airport is surrounded by lush green countryside, there was a sense that it had rained recently. Adjacent to the airport was also a golf course, and though it was the middle of the day, there were a few stalwart older gentlemen out on the links. We were not allowed to drink, but on our return trip I will waive that rule. The Irish folks waiting in the airport seemed confused by all the men in uniform, but some seemed happy to talk to the Marines and wish them luck. Most of the Marines took the opportunity to charge their video games in the airport outlets and get a meal paid for by the airlines in lieu of airplane food. No Irish food, but sandwiches, chips and sodas. Our landing in Kuwait wasn't nearly as warm a welcome. It was the middle of the night, and you can imagine the stacks of cargo, lines of vehicles and crates, and tight security. Having been on two deployments to Kuwait, I can assure you we weren't missing much, the area around the airport is not very interesting. After a few hours, we met up with our seabags and were bussed to Camp Victory. A small camp used for transients awaiting transport in and out of Iraq. I met up with one of my former Marines, now a Master Gunnery Sergeant, and one of my former bosses, now a Lieutenant Colonel and they explained some of the recent goings on and current operations in Iraq. This is a busy place, to say the least. Once our flights had been arranged we took a C-130 to Al Assad. Also a night flight, it lasted just over an hour. The Al Assad base was huge and sprawling, but had not received a mortar attack for more than six months. They had a PX and small fast food restaurants including a Pizzia Hut and Burger King. It's going to be hard to keep our Marines fit if they keep feeding us this way. Living conditions were tight, to say the least. Billeting is always a problem when moving around, especially with many other units coming and going also. We officially detached 3rd Platoon back to our Battalion for further tasking in Korean Village (KV as it's called). Lt. Niznik and SSgt Arbuthnot have them well at hand attached to Alpha Company for missions in Rutbah in the Western province. We were taught a few classes by the Regimental Gunner on current Rules of Engagement and the importance of picking our fights wisely. We do not wish to hurt innocent civilians over here. The Company boarded CH-53 Marine helicopters for our next link. Our destination was Al Quaim, a place very familiar to those in the Company who had been here before. For the newcomers, this was their first Helo ride, and it was eventful. The flight was amazing, and we passed through terrain that looked as ancient as its history. Our helo's flew low and fast over the landscape, and we passed over rolling deserts with sand dunes and rocky outcroppings. Much of the infrastructure, at least from the air, seemed intact, with damage to powerlines and some buildings. As we passed over the Euphrates river, a mass of green seemed to cling to its banks, and shrouded in the trees and high reeds we could see ancient palaces and small towns. Minarets, Mosques and arabesque portals and doorways were clearly visible outside the gunners bubble on the CH-53. It was easy to envision the hanging gardens of Babylon and the cities that used to make up the silk trade routes between Europe and Asia. Haditha Lake was the most unusual thing to see in a veritable sea of sand. An enormous body of water, there were islands of rock and green reeds. Storks or cranes flew low over the surface in the direction of our helos giving it a Discovery Channel, nature show appeal. The pilots and aircrew were uncommunicative, having ferried countless troops North, and my usual attempt to sit in the jump seat and listen to the pilots communicate with ground stations and other aircraft was sternly rebuked by the crew chief. The wing was all about business here, and wasn't interested in entertaining us grunts. Our landing in Al Quaim was dramatic and like something from an old war movie. I've landed in many bases around the world, but this one was unique. The base at Al Quaim is inside an old Rail yard. With signs still hanging over the massive railcar bays proclaiming "Royal Iraqi Railways." There were lines and lines of rail car and engines. Some seemed to still have cargo onboard, all appeared to be suspended, waiting for an engineer. Many had been stripped or blown up, but there are plans in place to get the railways back up and running within the next three months. An amazing feat in this war torn country. The first of many surprises in what used to be the hostile North West portion of Iraq. The base had HESCO barricades, a kind of foldable metal mesh that can be filled with sand and rock to make an eight foot tall walls to keep out terrorists. It was ringed with guard towers and cammie netting, and razor wire, helos landed and touched off regularly. We saw sweaty, dirty Marines with their gear and sea bags lining up, waiting for us to unload so they could get onboard and head back to the States. They practically pushed us out of the way, I am sure we will feel the same way in another six months. We had an opportunity to see some detainees. Wiry, black hair, tanned arms and faces, these were our enemy, at least the ones we'd gotten. They didn't look very threatening, and most of our Marines towered over them in size, stature and military bearing. Nothing is more convincing to me that we can win the war with just a handful more Devil Dogs. These people are ineffective against our rugged Marines unless they hide, cowardly, behind their IEDs, mortars and snipers. Many experienced their first dust storm. Much similar to the ones others had seen or I had experienced in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, they were enough to blast the enamel off our teeth. The temperature wasn't too hot yet, and along the Euphrates it's cold at night dropping to mid forties. The days are in the eighties, and increasing in temperature as we get closer to summer. We officially detached from 3d LAR and attached to Regimental Combat Team-7. Commanded by Lt. Col. Marano, we were welcomed and billeted in SWA huts (South West Asia). This was the last spot for Marines to use phones and send e-mail. We had ordered enough sets of E-SAPI plates and side SAPI plates for everyone. This is the newest generation IV and V armor your Marines will wear. The latest in Marine gear, it defeats some of the biggest enemy weapons when properly worn. The side SAPI plates protect our Marines from their vulnerable flanks. We also convinced the supply Sergeant to issue all Marines a pair of fire retardant gloves, called NOMEX and a hood made of the same material. This can really save the Marines trouble in the event of a fire on the vehicle. All this gear is, of course, heavy, cumbersome, and will be extremely hot, so I am ensuring our Docs keep a close eye on our Marines to ensure they are drinking enough water when the weather turns. This also marked the beginning of our operational phase, we were no longer in transit, being guided from airport to airport. From here on out we had our feet planted firmly on the earth as with generations of grunts before us. We are, however, mounted like the cavalry, and thereby just a little better than the average grunt. Smarter, faster, and better armed and armored. Our motto, "Dragoon," is defined as a mounted warrior who dismounts for battle. We have definitely earned that title here, as I will describe later, driving across half of Iraq. We boarded up in armored trucks and moved up North across the Euphrates. We passed IED holes and spent brass casings on our way to "Memphis bridge." Crossing through the various companies zones, we saw a profusion of construction. New schools, mosques, houses; the people up North are rebuilding with a fury. Once on the other side of the river, we were greeted with a huge surprise, especially for the old timers. Children sprang out of houses and waved and jumped up and down with huge smiles. Moms held their little ones up to see us passing, and all greeted us with warm and happy faces. There were many farms irrigated by the Euphrates, green and producing. Cattle and donkeys helped the farmers trim their crops, and farmers stopped their days work to wave as we passed. Children in schools ran to the balconies and waved at us, laughing and smiling. We were caught off guard by the "atmospherics." A new term in the working lexicon of the U.S. Marines, the term "atmospherics" is used all the time to explain how the locals view us. You'll hear an NCO talking to a new NCO saying "The atmospherics at Tinian were great, kids were smiling and waiving." We passed Iraqi Army soldiers standing post at check points. Their uniforms were clean and clearly marked, they wore sunglasses, and stood proudly. The Iraqi flag waived atop all their positions. They waved nonchalantly as we passed. We were shocked, expecting something more like the news had shown, with sporadic small arms fire and IED's detonating daily. That is a reality in other parts of Iraq as we would find out later. Here, there was peace and rebuilding that astonished most of us. We were assigned a battlespace, to be renamed AO Dragoon (AO is Area of Operations) for our arrival. Owned by Weapons Company (Warlord) of 1st LAR (the Highlanders) from Camp Pendleton, for the previous four months. We didn't know it, but we wouldn't be here more than eleven days before being ordered elsewhere, but for now it seemed livable. There were battlepositions in our sector named for famous Marine battles, we were honored by our new mission and took stock of our situation. My opposite from 1st LAR filled us in on the mission. The Marines in his company had been working tirelessly to get connected with the locals. We were driven to the houses of all the local sheiks and they offered chai tea and discussed their problems and issues. Most had projects ongoing in their areas, from new pumphouses for irrigation to water purifiers for drinking water. Unfortunately, there are no restrictions on Syria so they dump pollutants in the water and it rolls down river into Iraq carrying disease and industrial waste. The Euphrates in AO Dragoon had tested positive for intestinal worms, chicken pox just to mention a few. I hoped the Sheiks had boiled their water well enough before serving their tea, but custom prevented me turning down their sweet-tea mixture. After we finished with the Sheiks we drove to each of the battlepositions. I had attached to my command a platoon of thirty Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. They were eager, as were we all, to get to work improving our battle positions. Our HQ battle position was shared with the Iraqi Army, much to everyone's surprise. The partnership included an Iraqi Army Lt. Col. named Lt. Col. Najim. He and his troops would be partnered with mine in all things, and he was technically under my command. Every patrol was 50% American and 50% Iraqi. We were amazed. Could the system be working? We found the Iraqi Army soldiers to have varying levels of proficiency (one platoon was weak), with most fully capable of holding their own. The Marine Corps was definitely the enforcing power behind them, but they were professional and dedicated. It was unusual to have a HQ with an American flag on one side and our former enemies' flag on the other. I met and surveyed their troops and had a late night dinner with Lt. Colonel Najim. We discussed his plans and how we would continue the good partnership established by Highlander, 1st LAR. He asked for nothing and explained that he was very happy with the progress. He said he looked forward to a time when Americans were no longer needed, but not in a derisive manner. He said he looked more forward to when