Marine Corps Moms

March 30th, 2006

Hello All,

Sorry it has been five months since my last update, but then, we have been busy. Let me give you the bottom-line up front (BLUF), and then catch you up on things. Feel free to forward this to whomever, since we still can't seem to get the press to tell folks what is going on. This is how the fight is going from my foxhole, and it is much more than the bombings, US casualties, and rumors of civil war the press seems to be focused on.

BLUF: We are not, and have not been, on the verge of civil war. We have had an increase in killings by militia groups in the past five weeks, and that is not helping get the new government seated, but we (the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Coalition Forces) are far from losing control.

As you probably noted, Al Qaida and the other insurgent groups were not able to mount a Tet like offensive this past fall. Iraqi and US operations prevented them from organizing major attacks, and the ISF did a superb job of securing the polling sites. Iraq ratified a constitution and conducted a credible election. Although the Iraqis face some significant challenges forming the new government, the basics of democracy are present and taking root.

Saddam's trial is making progress, albeit painfully slowly. The new judge is ensuring the defendants receive due process and a fair trial, while eliminating their ability to turn the trial into a political circus. Saddam's and the others' security continue to be one of my personal headaches, so I am a big fan of keeping the trial moving.

2006 is the Year of the Police, which means our focus is to get the Iraqi police forces trained and operational. We continue to work to rebuild the Iraqi Army, which assumes responsibility for more battle space each week. It is the ability of the Iraqi Army to take the fight to the enemy that allowed us to turn off two US replacement brigades at the end of 2005. The Iraqi Army is having successes and failures, but is steadily improving. Recently they have conducted a number of truly outstanding operations, both in conjunction with us and on their own. The police are not as far along, hence our focus on them in 2006. What you don't see in the media is the tremendous courage of most of the Soldiers, Policemen, and Judges who take significant risk each day to bring stability to their country. I lost an Iraqi friend last week who was the leader of the security of the prison where we send our convicted terrorists to serve their sentences. Another equally brave corrections officer stepped up immediately to take his place.

The fight against Al Qaida is going well. They have chosen to make Iraq the battleground against the US, and this has enabled us to kill or capture significant numbers of their senior leadership, and put a dent in their funding. They believe they can prevail by killing US Soldiers, and waiting for the US public to tire of the war and casualties, and bring us home. As I talk to Soldiers around Iraq, they overwhelmingly believe in what they are doing and why they are doing it. They know they are winning, and are frustrated by what they see and hear in the news about America questioning why we are here. In my opinion, it is much better to fight these terrorists in Iraq vice in the US.

Our counterinsurgency strategy continues to focus on: offensive operations to kill or capture insurgents; train and reinforce the Iraqi Army and police forces to conduct the counterinsurgency; establish a strong democratic Iraqi government; and rebuild the infrastructure and economy. The interagency process is working fairly well in Baghdad (Washington could take a lesson), with most of my contacts being with the Departments of State and Justice.

One of our two largest challenges is to get the Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds to work together. No one party/sect has a majority in the newly elected Council of Representatives, so learning to compromise and put together alliances in the government will be key to success.

Who is selected to head the Ministries of Defense and Interior (police) is also key; we really need individuals who are secular, and are clearly not tied to any of the various militia groups. The militias are the other major challenge to success here. We will have to disarm them, weed them out of the government, and neutralize their ability to terrorize the citizens of Iraq. This will be at least as challenging as getting the major sects to work together, but not impossible.

On top of these two challenges, we have the Iranian influence to combat. Our neighbors to the east are intent on destroying this attempt at democracy, and infiltrate and support terrorists at every opportunity. The Judiciary continues to be a success story, and it remains strongly independent and resistant to executive branch influence. As a side note, we got our first death sentence in a Coalition case this week; one of the Al Qaida terrorists who participated in the beheading of Nick Berg.

I could not have been prouder than to spend my final Thanksgiving and Christmas in uniform with the outstanding young Americans who are serving here as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. Thanksgiving morning dawned clear and crisp at 45 degrees with a 20 knot wind. Although it was warm by Minnesota and Korea standards, it was chilly for the desert as we donned our body armor and loaded our HMMWVs for the convoy to Abu Ghraib.

Had a great dinner in the mess hall there with the Soldiers, and spent the afternoon checking fighting positions and guard towers. That evening I spent some talking with the joint service members of our intelligence unit, a section of which is dedicated to finding our one MIA, SGT Keith Maupin. They are out on missions each week, intent on bringing him home.

Troop morale continues to remain high. The Soldiers can see the difference they are making, whether killing bad guys, training the Iraqi forces, or improving the living conditions for Iraqis. They can no longer give beanie babies to the kids, because Al Qaida has taken to placing explosives in them, giving them to kids, blowing their arms off or killing them, and blaming the Americans.

This is a tough fight, and we are once again up against an enemy who has no moral compass. Our kids continue to excel at every mission, and are undaunted in their task. If anyone has any doubts about this generation, they can erase them. 2006 will be a decisive year. We have the opportunity to do a battle handoff to the Iraqis for the lead in the counterinsurgency fight, and begin to reduce our combat presence. Concurrently, we must continue to coach and mentor the Iraqi Government as it continues its journey toward democracy. We will need to be here for awhile, but my assessment is that this is the make or break year.

I'm betting on our Soldiers and the Iraqi people.

Colonel William Ivey, Infantry

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Yesterday morning I woke up around 4 a.m. to begin the day by walking through the chilly, dark city of Husaybah with about two dozen Marines. The Marines had night vision goggles to help them navigate through the dirt or crudely paved roads; I just tried to follow the sound of the quiet, soft crunch of the pair of boots in front of me and not trip on anything.

The Marines were on a joint mission with dozens of Iraqi soldiers to "sweep" through a neighborhood, essentially house-to-house searches, in this city along the Syrian border. Every home in the area had been searched in November during a major offensive, leading to a sharp reduction in insurgent attacks, but U.S. commanders this time wanted the Iraqi soldiers to get the experience of planning and executing a large-scale operation.

The Iraqis were just waking up when we arrived at their base, gathering in line to pick up their breakfast of two pieces of bread, cheese, and their most prized sustenance: small cups of hot, sweet tea. I sat on a plastic lawn chair and tried to stay out of the cold outside, hoping that the sun would be up by the time we hit the streets.

Over the past year I've been on several of these operations, which have subsequently led me through hundreds of Iraqi homes as U.S. troops search through mattresses, cupboards, backyards and anything else for weapons or insurgent paraphernalia. Many times the Iraqis were ready for the troops, with all their doors and drawers unlocked and their family's AK-47 unloaded and sitting on a table. On a few occasions the families were visibly irate at the intrusion, such as one time in the small town of Bidimnah where a man complained that soldiers tracked mud on his carpet.

After about four hours of searching Thursday, I walked into a courtyard where a group of about five Marines were huddled around a young girl covered in flies. She was partially wrapped in a white flour sack and trembling, apparently from some severe neurological disorder. She was close to death. Her mother spoke with tears in her eyes while some young boys, apparently neighborhood kids, ambled around the yard and curiously watched the Marines grouped around the girl. Every few minutes the girl would let out a short gasp. "This is just so sad," said one Marine, while most stood quietly watching with somber expressions.

One Marine unsuccessfully tried to swat away the dozens of flies hovering around the girl with a towel. The flour sack she was covered in had a large "Made in the USA" tag on its front. The commanding officer, Capt. Richard Pitchford of Norfolk, Virginia, immediately called headquarters for permission to have her evacuated. First a Marine doctor would be sent to see what could be done before a helicopter would be summoned.

"If she could get 24-hour care, she'd probably live for a while. But it sounds like the parents don't want to do that," said Lt. Brent Zamzow of Gaylord, Mich., as he took the girl's vital signs and explained that even advanced treatment would probably only prolong the inevitable by days. An Iraqi interpreter said the family was anxious about having her sent away to a military base for treatment.

By this point the operation was complete, with all the nearby homes searched. Pitchford remained in the courtyard, mostly quiet with the Marines around the girl. In the end, he ordered his Marines to regularly check up on the girl on their patrols to see if any medication or supplies were needed. They closed the gates and left in a long line of armored vehicles.

Best regards and "Happy New Year" to the families and friends of Battalion Landing Team First Battalion, Second Marines,

BLT 1/2 ...Since the last update BLT 1/2 continued combat operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The BLT is operating within the City of Hit (pronounced "heet") and surrounding areas and we are fully underway in counter=insurgency operations. The BLT, in conjunction with operations of 22nd MEU are intended to neutralize anti-Iraqi forces, support the continued development of Iraqi Security Forces, and support Iraqi reconstruction. Our daily activities and operations will be a significant contribution to an overarching focus on giving the people of Iraq a chance to live in a peaceful and democratic society that has so long been denied them.

The Environment...The BLT's area of operations is along the Euphrates River Valley and centered on the very old, perhaps best described as "ancient" City of Hit. The geographic area that surrounds the city offers some distinct contrasts. Extending laterally from the river for approximately a mile or so, one can readily encounter palm groves, agricultural facilities like rice paddies and date groves, and small towns -"villes"-in Marine vernacular, serviced by the consistent water supply offered by the Euphrates River. Beyond the river valley proper, one almost immediately encounters a blend of desert terrain comprised of small mesa-like features to lightly rolling desert hills and wadi to barren, flat desert floor. With the exception of the occasional oasis and palm grove, the desert area is abundant with dirt and sand, and the "mix" results in a silt-like powder that floats on the surface of the desert floor. When agitated by vehicles, helicopters, or natural winds, the powder can certainly take up home in nostrils, eyes and in the mechanisms of our weapons and equipment.

The City of Hit is by and large the center of the BLT's AO and has drawn our attention in these initial days of combat operations. With the City of Hit being a "focal point" if you will, the units of the BLT are arrayed in manner that supports interruption of insurgent activities and routes while maintaining mutual support with adjacent BLT and 22nd MEU units. As one might suspect, routes and activities of the insurgents are woven with that of everyday civilian life of the area to offer the necessary "cover" for preparations and actions and to facilitate the illicit activities that fund insurgent operations. It is in these areas that we will go to root out the enemy and disrupt his activities.

An insurgency historically looks to capitalize on areas/community centers plagued by a number of negative factors, not the least of which can be an unresponsive and fractioned local leadership, long-standing or developing rifts in tribal and religious affiliations, an unstable economy and slow to stalled development of infrastructure, questionable and/or defunct police forces, and finally a populous that due to the strain brought on by the noted factors makes it susceptible to the manipulation, in this case by a variety of anti-Iraqi forces. Our actions are helping the citizens of the area maintain a level of security and normality in their lives while also helping to set the conditions for increased local security, responsive local government and improved economic development - key aspects in beating back and ultimately defeating of the insurgency.

Drilling down, "patrol operations" have been the "business of the day" these first several days for each of the companies. On a continual basis, vehicle and foot-mobile patrols are out and about in the untidy streets of the city and in and around the rural areas of the river valley, all focused on seeking the enemy and disrupting his plans by our direct actions and, in many respects, merely by our presence. "Your warriors are getting after it." "We are all here," ... AAV crews, artilleryman and their howitzers, combat engineers, tankers, infantryman, "docs" and chaplains, all working together. I have watched them "gear up," I see the confidence they have in themselves, their fellow warriors and the confidence they have in their equipment. They are all impressive. It is early yet and there is hard work ahead, but I know that it will be the sense of mission accomplishment and shared dangers that will positively fuel this fine team each and every day.

Concurrently, we are working to engage the local citizenry to gain their confidence and their assistance in addressing the threats within the area. Providing some semblance of security, and in that normalcy of life for the citizens of the area is an important task. Our security operations (patrolling, etc) coupled with engaging and assisting the legitimate, local leadership and operating with and assisting the local Iraqi Army are other key aspects to achieving that end.

As you no doubt have come to understand through the media, and perhaps from a loved-one's previous tour in Iraq of Afghanistan, countering an insurgency involves demanding and at times dangerous work. Let me tell you that your Marines and Sailors are on their toes every day, executing smartly and doing their part. We've encountered the enemy; he knows full well that we are here and that we have every intention of hunting him down. No surprise when I tell you that our enemy is allusive and our mission has risks and won’t be easy, but the members of this BLT are displaying tremendous qualities within a demanding environment. I am extremely proud of our Marines and Sailors.

"Home Is Where You Hang Your Rifle" ... As the header may infer, "home" is where Marines hang their weapons up and where they try to clean up and rest from the day's operations and prepare for the next. For units of the BLT, "firm bases," - buildings in a unit's designated area of operations reinforced with a variety and in many respects robust physical security measures - "firm bases" serve as "home" for now. There are several firm bases in the BLT area and although they offer little to nothing in the form of creature comforts, they offer several key aspects of force protection, not the least of which is added security that a hardened cement structure affords against mortars and rockets, and a location that is guarded by our Marines and with the assistance of Iraqi soldiers-our fellow counterparts in this fight. It is in these small bases where your Marine or Sailor can rest, get some "hot chow," relax with fellow warriors, get cleaned up and plan and prepare for operations. My medical officers and their corpsman are also dispersed throughout the firm bases, sharing in the patrols and hardships and capable of providing 24/7 assistance to the warriors. Through the hard work of our brothers and sisters in the MSSG, these firm bases have expeditionary showers and Marines have the capability to heat tray rations, a step up from the Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). 22 MEU as a whole continues to commit every available resource to these bases to give our warriors the life support to stay healthy and ready for operations. We are in good company and we're in great shape.

Mail continues to flow in and in large quantities. Always great to see the letters and care packages...and the grins that go along with news from home. A reminder on MOTO Mail at www.motomail.us ...a great way to stay in touch.

Happy New Year ...I extend my best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. My "thanks to all" for the steadfast commitment and support for this BLT.

Semper Fidelis and best regards,
LtCol "Drew" Smith

Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/2

There's a rumor circulating among the Marines of the 2/6 that "hot chow" is coming. The fervor with which Marines here talk of the possibility of a hot meal - roasted turkey, steaming stuffing, and tart cranberry sauce - being delivered to their sandy, remote outpost in Iraq's Anbar Province from the nearest base for Thanksgiving is understandable, especially when you taste what they've been eating. There are stacks of Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) around but most marines can't bear to even look at them. They've already spent months eating Country Captain Chicken and Vegetable Manicotti from hermetically sealed brown plastic bags. Inside: "wheat snack bread," "jalapeno cheese spread," or "pumpkin pound cake." But few of the Marines here of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment were even aware that Thanksgiving was approaching until asked by this reporter. Capt. Brendan Heatherman had just finished a long morning of raids, jumping rock walls, and racing through houses looking for insurgents. "It's in two days? Man, snuck up on me," he said, incredulous.

They run patrols on foot and sit in humvees 24 hours a day and race out on raids, following tips on insurgent movement. Back at base, they have no running water or electricity. They live in giant metal containers and sleep on wooden bunks they built themselves. Captain Carabine is considered fortunate because his camp already had one half-built rock and a cement structure when his group arrived. Now it serves as the headquarters. If the turkey and stuffing doesn't arrive, Captain Heatherman's company has already a contingency plan - a local turkey farmer. "The Iraqi [soldiers] say they'll [cook] it, and we've got some guys from down south who know how to clean it and have already volunteered their services," says 1st Sgt. William Thurber

Posted by Deb at 12:11 PM | Comments (3)

June 29, 2005

Those Magificent Betio Bastards

HN "Doc" Alfro, Kilo Company 3/2, receives the Purple Heart from General Nyland, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps at Camp Al Qaim, Iraq.

With Operation Spear wrapped up, the Betio Bastards have time to update us. Here are letters from Kilo, Lima, and Weapons companies.

Hello Family and Friends of Company K, Operation SPEAR is complete. Unfortunately, we lost Lance Corporal Adam Crumpler due to enemy action. We will honor our fallen Marine's life by a memorial service and remembrance of his ultimate sacrifice. We are also thankful that our wounded are healing well. Once again, your Marine's and Sailor's performed with brilliance and bravery. Tasked to clear a foreign fighter stronghold, they were absolutely magnificent in their performance of their jobs. Their proficiency, heroism, and meritorious achievement were not lost upon the nation and by the world through their rescue of four captured prisoners chained and tortured by the very insurgents we fought. Although this father's day was quite different for the Dad's in the company, the concept fatherhood was evident by our killing of foreign insurgents in Iraq versus them having the ability to do harm to our homes and family in the United States . Again, while we were gone, some of your Marines and Sailors provided outstanding security of the Camp. Your love and support keeps us going and keeps us vigilant. We miss and love you! God Bless and Semper Fi!, Chris Ieva Captain, USMC P.S. Harp on your Marines and Sailors about being smart even though they have become seasoned to high intensity combat!

The Company has completed another month with the Provisional Security Battalion at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq . In June the Company has continued to provide security outside the wire. They have served as the Base Reaction Force and the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) security element, conducted mounted security patrols outside the wire, and begun conducting security patrols on roads utilized by convoys. With our current and new missions, the Marines continue to distinguish themselves as professionals. The Company has recently participated in the repair of the base water mains destroyed by insurgents and a sweep of the local area for enemy weapons caches. In both missions, the Marines made significant contributions to Al Asad and disrupted enemy activity. Additionally, the Company has been active in sweeping the supply routes of the base for mines and IEDs. This activity ensures the uninterrupted flow of supplies to and from the base and protects the lives of our fellow service members. Corporal Tuomala was recently meritoriously promoted to Sergeant and Private First Class Tomasetti was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. Although these two Marines represented the Company for meritorious promotion, I am blessed to lead 173 of the finest Marines. As we continue in this deployment, the achievements of our Marines will continue to make us proud and set the example for other Companies to follow. The latest news is that we may be rejoining 3d Battalion, 2d Marines in Al Qaim in July. The Marines are excited at the prospect of finishing the deployment with 3/2. What this means for mail and contact home should become clear in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we will continue to pass information through the Key Volunteer network and our Marines. Thank you for supporting our Marines, Captain Sean Hankard

Hello again, WARPIG family and friends. Another month is officially a 'round down range' with each busy day bringing us closer to our eventual return. Despite some homesickness, we continue to move forward with the same discipline and professionalism that has characterized our behavior the entire deployment. We have recently participated in a very successful operation, similar in nature to MATADOR, code named SPEAR. The purpose of this operation was to neutralize foreign insurgent control in our Area of Operation and the outcome, due to the efforts of your Marines and Sailors, exceeded expectations. SPEAR was covered by multiple media agencies, most thoroughly by a crew from CNN, so articles and pictures are available on the Internet and cable news networks. As usual, I will let your Marines fill you in on the details now that we have returned and the phone lines have opened. Additionally, this month I have had the privilege of promoting the following WARPIGS: To Sergeant: M.B. Story To Corporal: K.O. Hedgepeth (Combat Meritorious) P.J. Culver J.A. Campbell To Lance Corporal: A.O. Lupson (Meritorious) P.M. Torroco (Meritorious) M.S. Chadha B.T. Holliday J.A. Kania As always, I am honored to serve with your Marines and Sailors. Semper Fidelis, F.C. Phillips

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

June 20, 2005

Father's Day wishes from the RCT-2 Marines

Col. Davis, commander of Regimental Combat Team 2 in Iraq sent along these Father's Day wishes:

All across the world, Marines, Sailors and their families will be honoring their dads with special meals, gifts, and of course the traditional tie or two. Fatherhood is often like being a Marine, it's an adventure that takes you places you never knew existed. May this Father's Day be filled with the lasting joys that family and friends can bring, while never forgetting the loss of our fallen warriors, whose absence at this year's Father's Day celebrations will be felt.

On behalf of the Marines and Sailors of Regimental Combat Team-2, I'd like to take the time to wish all Fathers who read this website a very safe and happy Father's Day. Thank you for your sacrifices and support to our team.

Happy Father's Day
Semper Fidelis and Keep Moving

Posted by Deb at 10:36 AM | Comments (0)

May 15, 2005

E-mail from the Syrian border

Proud Marine Mom Tammie has heard from her son who was in the battle at the border. Some of the identifying information has been removed, but here's a very relieved mom's response:

Matt called today. After practically screaming with joy and holding back from bursting into tears of relief and joy, him laughing at this point of course ... his Dad and I (one on each phone) calmed down and shut up and let him talk. He said "Mama I knew you were going to be worried when I didn't call back, then the reporters came and I told (somebody) Mama's really going to be worried now and then Oliver North and the news crew showed up and I told (somebody) Mama's going to lose it now." :) He asked if we saw the coverage on Fox News and said he is in some of it. Truth be told ... all we cared about was hearing his voice and knowing he is safe now. Matt is fine ... a bit banged up ... more on that later. He sounds like Matt, good spirits, in one piece, exhausted. As he related various parts of the following his voice broke at times so he is carrying the weight of all he's seen and experienced. We discussed taking care of himself now that the adrenaline is wearing off. He had only 5 minutes to talk. Had waited in line 90 minutes to call and said he'd try and call again maybe tomorrow. Loves us, said to let everybody know he's okay so I've called some of you ... the rest of you pass the word. I told him I know how he hates the whole hero thing (for those of you who don't know ... Matt always had a thing about people being called heroes ... he always said they were just doing their jobs or in a situation doing what they had to do. Thank you to everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the prayers and support. Do not stop because we've still got months to go. We have no delusions that the terrorists have tucked their tails and disappeared permanently. But for now, today and maybe this weekend, Carl and I are going to breathe .... as Matt said "Momma you and Dad go out to dinner and have a drink". Ahhhhhhhh

Like it or not, they're heroes. Every one of them. Thanks for sharing, Tammie.

Posted by Deb at 10:43 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

April 21, 2005

Thunder from 3/2 Marines on the Syrian border

CO for 3/2 Marines, LtCol Mundy sends an update from Al Qaim:

Friends and families, I'm sending this update because your Marines and Sailors have had a lot of activity here recently. First, let me assure you that from the recent activity, we've had very few injuries, and most of those we've had have been minor. I credit our success and minimal injury rate to the training before we left home, our training since we've been here, the supervision provided by the great small unit leaders I have, and your prayers. Please keep doing your part, while I keep the battalion task force doing ours! I could not be prouder of all the Betio Bastards of this fine unit, and that includes everyone attached who is now, and forever will be, a Bastard along side their brothers in arms from 3/2. The news may be carrying a story about the attacks on Camp Gannon several days ago. I cannot give you all the details, but you should know that the terrorists threw everything they had at your 3/2 Marines and Sailors at Camp Gannon , including three of their most devestating weapons, the suicide vehicle IED. They damaged the exterior of the camp's defenses, but did not break through, and the Marines performed exceptionally well under attack; many of them heroically. The perimeter held, and many terrorists died trying to continue their attack on the camp. For several days, they have tried to test our Marines on posts, and met similar fates. I visited the men immediately after the main attack, and as always, morale is high. Camp Gannon remains secure and the men are continuing their mission today the same as they did prior to the attack. The city around them remains dangerous, but has calmed a bit now. While the action around Camp Gannon has been the most spectacular so far, you should know that every man in the Task Force has been busy all around our area of operations. For the past week, I've had Weapons, Kilo, and H&S working hard in Camp Al Qaim and the surrounding areas, and our actions have kept the enemy off balance. Everyone is professional, dedicated to the tasks at hand, and performing at a level I knew they were capable of. I was in Al Asad with SgtMaj Mennig five days ago, and we had the opportunity to visit with Capt Hankard, Lt. Wingate, and many of the Lima Company Marines and Sailors. They are doing a fantastic job with their security missions in and around Al Asad, and I continue to hear their praises sung by the men they work for. All of your men from 3/2 have met my challenge to "quell the storms" thus far in western Iraq , and they are certainly "riding the thunder!" As you can tell, everyone in the Task Force is involved in sharing the dangers here, and everyone is a vital member of the team. I can't accomplish my mission without the hard work of all your husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers. I am exceptionally proud of the job they are doing here, and you should be as well. The mail continues to pour in, and I think we've solved any minor problems with Lima Company getting theirs directly. Thanks to all of you for your immense support. I would also like to thank the numerous churches and support groups who have “adopted” men in 3/2 for letters and care packages, and others who just send packages in support of the entire Task Force. The encouragement we get from knowing we have the support of our families, but also so many of the American people, is tremendous. Keep checking the Marine Corps website, at www.usmc.mil , for more stories about 3/2. There should also be one coming out soon in the Chicago Tribune, because we recently had a reporter here from that paper. We currently have a Washington Post and USA Today reporter in the area, primarily covering the Gannon attack, so with luck you'll see a quote from your son, brother, father or husband in an article or their smiling face on TV soon. In operations following the attack on Camp Gannon , we did suffer a terrible casualty, with one of our snipers, Cpl Eddie Ryan, being very seriously wounded. My prayers are with him and his family at this time, because his condition is very grave. All the members of 3/2 grieve our fallen comrade. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Ride the Thunder!

Posted by Deb at 07:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 20, 2005

Heroes of 3/2 hold the fort

Camp Gannon in Husaybah, Iraq is arguably one of the most volatile spots in the sandbox. And last week, the insurgents in that area hit Camp Gannon with everything they had. A dump truck. A fire engine. A third vehicle, all packed with explosives. They hit the front gate of this isolated post almost simultaneously . . . and three determined India Company Marines kept them from breaching camp security. It's an amazing tale of bravery and courage under fire for Marines, each just 21 years old. Here's a link to the story of the Marines who battled the insurgents. The bravery of LCpl Butler, Pfc. Charles Young, and Cpl. Anthony Fink saved the lives of a number of other Marines inside Camp Gannon. Here's a snippet from the longer story:

The base commander at Camp Gannon, a former Iraqi customs and immigration post at the edge of one of its most dangerous cities, credits Butler with preventing massive deaths here. "Butler -- that day, that Marine -- that's the critical error the insurgents made," Capt. Frank Diorio says. "They thought they could keep the Marines' heads down. But he gets back up." Butler, 21 and an Altoona, Pa., native, fired through the windshield of the first suicide bomber as he rammed a white dump truck through a barrier of abandoned vehicles the Marines had improvised. Barreling toward the camp's wall, the truck veered off at the last moment under volleys of Butler's gunfire."I shot 20 or 30 rounds before he detonated," he says. Knocked down by that blast, with bricks and sandbags collapsing on top of him, Butler struggled to his feet only to hear a large diesel engine roar amid the clatter of gunfire. It was a red fire engine, carrying a second suicide bomber and passenger. Butler says both were wearing black turbans and robes, often worn by religious martyrs. Amid the chaos of that first bomb blast, supported by gunfire from an estimated 30 dismounted insurgents, the fire engine passed largely undetected on a small road that leads from town directly past the camp wall, according a Marine report. "I couldn't see him at first because of the smoke. It was extremely thick from the first explosion," Butler says. When the fire engine cleared the smoke, it was much closer than the dump truck had been. As the driver accelerated past the "Welcome to Iraq" sign inside the camp's perimeter, Butler says he fired 100 rounds into the vehicle. The Marines later discovered the vehicle was equipped with 3-inch, blast-proof glass and the passengers were wearing Kevlar vests under their robes. Pfc. Charles Young, 21, also of Altoona, Pa., hit the fire engine with a grenade launcher, slowing its progress and giving Butler time to recover. Without breaching the camp wall, the driver detonated the fire engine, sending debris flying up to 400 yards and knocking Marines from their bunks several hundred yards away. Butler, less than 50 yards away, again was knocked down by the blast, which partially destroyed the tower in which he was perched. After he crawled for cover, a third suicide bomber detonated outside the camp. That blast caused no damage or injuries. Sporadic fighting continued for several hours. Meanwhile, Cpl. Anthony Fink of Columbus, Ohio, 21, fired a grenade launcher that the Marine unit says killed 11 insurgents. The Marines' "React Squad" swiftly deployed against the remaining insurgents. "We were able to get the momentum back," Diorio says. He also says that Husaybah townspeople later reported 21 insurgents dead and 15 wounded. No Marines were seriously hurt.

And here's the message sent to 3/2 India Company families by the company CO:

Hello to all those supporting and praying for our India Company family. They make a difference, I assure you today more than ever. You have all probably heard about the attack on Camp Gannon . Once again the good Lord looked upon us, and the Marines executed flawlessly, which were the reasons for the enemy paying dearly for their decisions. The Marines are fine. I am so unbelievably proud to be here with them. Motivation and dedication to each other, our families, and our mission couldn't be higher. As a unit, as a company, we continue to grow each day, understanding and appreciating each individual effort to protect, serve, and strengthen the company as a whole. The Marines are at times tired yet tireless in their duties, enduring hardships yet hardened against weak mindedness, and exposed to tough conditions but have toughened in mind, body, and soul. I'd thank all of you for your continued prayers, letters and packages of support from home. Please know how much of a positive impact they all have on us here. I'd like to finish this months letter with a special acknowledgement to two people who have given so much, and at times, almost all they have had in time, concern, energy, and commitment to the Marines of India Company. In one month's time Gunnery Sergeant Brian Hogancamp and his wife Teresa will be leaving 3/2 for their next duty station. As our company's Key Volunteer coordinator, Teresa has worked tirelessly to care for and assist the wives and families, and the Marines themselves, in any way that we needed. She has been a blessing to us all and will be greatly missed. Gunny Hogancamp leaves after almost 4 years in the Battalion. Although he will be leaving, he leaves behind most of him with us. His sweat and blood are literally and figuratively in all things India . His devotion to duty and selflessness to his Marines is the example for us all to follow. All that we have accomplished now and in the future has a foundation built upon the Gunny Hogancamp's hard work. Thank you both. Our hope for you is to someday truly know the impact you have had on all of us. Fair winds, and following seas . . . From Husaybah, Captain Frank Diorio

Posted by Deb at 02:37 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

First Kiss

Not the very first one, but just as sweet. Marine wife, Mary Helen Bartch welcomes her husband, Col. Richard Bartch, home from Iraq a few weeks ago. Some pictures don't need explanations.

and here is more of the family. Son Nathan surprised his dad by flying in for the homecoming.

Posted by Deb at 01:23 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

April 19, 2005

Key Volunteers - a "force multiplier"

Major General Natonski, Commanding General for 1st Marine Division, recently recognized the Key Volunteers who keep the home front running smoothly while their spouses (and in some cases, their sons or daughters) are deployed. These are amazing men and women who are suddenly faced with the absence of half the family leadership, but who also find the time to reach out to other families. The Marine family is a close one. It's nice to see the Key Volunteers recognized.

The week of 17-23 April 2005 is designated National Volunteer Appreciation week. During this time, our nation expresses its gratitude to those remarkable individuals who unselfishly volunteer their time, talent, and energy for the benefit of our communities and country. I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to the Key Volunteers, for all of the tremendous work and service you provide to our Marines, Sailors, and their families of the 1st Marine Division. I applaud your efforts to ensure the well being of our families during this very dynamic time. Much of the success we have enjoyed is a direct reflection of your limitless efforts. Your mission is vital and you carry it out with professionalism and compassion. The Key Volunteer Network is a “force multiplier” that allows the Marines and Sailors of the 1st Marine Division to focus on accomplishing our mission. By volunteering your precious free time, you ensure that our families have the resources, support, and necessary care while our loved ones are deployed. It is only fitting that the nation takes this time to show its appreciation for your contribution. Again, let me add my sincere thanks for your efforts and please know that your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. I ask for your continued faith, courage, and your support to our Marines, Sailors and their families. You have proven to be a valued asset to the 1st Marine Division. Thank you and God Bless.

Thanks to Carrie for passing along Major General Natonski's good wishes.

Posted by Deb at 08:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 07, 2005

"I've had a good time in Iraq" . . . 2/24 Marines come home

Marine Corps families are gathering in Wisconsin to welcome home the Mad Ghosts of 2/24. Proud Marine Mom Linda Kelly is en route, camera in hand, to help us share their happiness. I didn't get the last update from LtCol Smith posted due to getting sidetracked with my own son's return home, but once again, the bards of 2/24 have an eloquent way with words. Warriors are writers and these guys prove it over and over again.

Here is Major David Durham's last post from the sandbox:

This is my last e-mail from Forward Operating Base Saint Michael - in Mahmudiyah Iraq. It's been a long haul. Be patient with me - I want to tell you a few things - emotions are running high right now - so forgive me if I'm a little sappy. Over a million Americans have passed through Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 (many are on their second or third trip - they get counted twice) - so I know we are only a small part of this effort - it's a characteristic of any military unit to feel like you are the center of the universe - we're not of course, but as we come home - a lot of reflection is going on. There have been some very painful moments and difficult times for us to get through - I've written to you about those times. Things happened here that I would do anything to change - 12 lives lost that I wish I could bring back - of those, 4 Marines from Company G that followed me here - killed - 1 Marine who worked for me in my capacity on the staff - killed - I would give anything to bring them back - but I can't. They will never be forgotten. The separation from my family has been incredibly difficult. They have probably had a more difficult time than I have - the not knowing. All very hard - very dirty business. Having acknowledged the difficulties and the sadness I want to tell you something. I'VE HAD A GOOD TIME IN IRAQ - Most of what we experienced I would not change or trade or give up. We came to accomplish a mission and we accomplished it. We have lived - together. We have laughed - together. At times we have worked 18-22 hour days - together. We have almost nightly been woken from our sleep by the sound of our cannons. We have watched from the roof tops as our illumination rounds lit up the night. We have sheltered together behind concrete and sandbags while mortars fell around us. We have suffered through extreme heat and bitter cold - together. We have mourned - together. We have fought and triumphed - together. From the Lance Corporal on patrol to the Battalion Commander - from the clerk in Supply to the guard who kept the night watch - we have embodied the warrior spirit. We are not the victims of this war. We brought American muscle. We came to kill Saddam's thugs and Osama's terrorist. We came to protect the first spark of freedom that is already sweeping a flame across the Middle East. We brought hope to the oppressed. We brought the promise of freedom and backed it up with our lives. And we brought imprisonment or death to those who stood in the way. Every day that we were here we relentlessly brought torment, death, and hell to a wicked enemy. We did not get all of them - but we captured, killed, or displaced 2 to 3 or our enemy for every Marine in 2/24. We did things you can't do at home: built friendships in a combat zone, strategize, planned, fought, outsmarted our enemy, compromised our health, bet our future, and risked our lives. I tell you honestly - we had a good time doing it. Mothers, wives, daughters - welcome your Marine home - baby him - mother him - but greet him as the victorious Warrior that he is. Be proud of what he accomplished. Be tolerant of his stories. We have put every Marine through a class as he comes out of the field - getting them to open up to each other - preparing him for what he will experience when he gets home. He's been given advice on how to make his homecoming an easier process. It wasn't too long ago in the history of our country that our soldiers and Marines had weeks on a ship to unwind, we only have a few days. We all have a lot of transitioning to do - softening maybe - adjusting back to a more civilized existence. We will make every effort to do that - and get back to our normal lives - we're ready to move on. Be patient with us. Again - these Marines are not victims to be pitied but warriors who have fought a good fight. Finally - I want to say thank you for everything you have done for me, my Marines, and my family. Packages, letters, e-mails, donations to our fallen warrior's families, everything - I have been overwhelmed with your steadfast kindness - I will go to my grave in awe of you and the American people. I believe the outpouring of support must come from a determination in the American consciousness not to repeat the treatment our Vietnam Veterans received. Your support has given us a firm foundation to stand on - to fight from. Your support for us has been essential in defeating our enemy. Your support has ensured we come home mentally healthy - knowing we have the full faith and confidence of the people who sent us. I came to Iraq an American Exceptionalist - I leave here even more in love with my countrymen - and my home - more convinced that America is "the last best hope for mankind." I'll spend the rest of my life thanking you. There's not a Marine in 2/24 who does not want to come home. We have a bit of a journey ahead of us - but expect us to be in California the first week of April. After the doctors and psychologist have poked and prodded us and certified we're not sick or crazy - we will fly home in the second week of April - probably. I'm very anxious to come home - to see each of you - and to thank you in person. To steal a line - and paraphrase a famous quote: And then to Kuwait; and to America then: Where ne'er from Iraq arrived more happy men..... We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. Stay the Course - Semper Fidelis - see you in April.

And here is the final missive from LtCol Mark Smith:

I started these periodic updates on a whim. When I wrote the first update I didn't realize the gravity of the words. Before I started this final update from Iraq, I sat down and read a couple of the previous updates and realized that our journey here in Iraq is not only coming to an end but that we have been part of a remarkable point in history. Time has literally flown by and you feel like there is so much left to be done. But I leave Iraq with my head held high and very honored to be called a Marine and to have served with some of the finest men this earth has ever seen. To be part of an historical election, to fight an insurgency, to see people affected in such a moving way, to witness some of the most horrible sights one could ever imagine, to learn many great lessons, to be protected by God's Hand - these are just some of the amazing things that I have been fortunate to be a part of. Many lives have been changed because of our time in Iraq. The insurgency in South Baghdad/North Babil is suppressed. It is suppressed because of the lives of 12 Marines who gave everything to see justice and liberty come to Iraq. Their blood was spilt for Iraqis they never met, for their brother Marines and for the safety and protection of all Americans. It is suppressed because the other 1,170 Marines of this battalion have shed their blood, sweat and tears for freedom to come to the citizens of Iraq. January 30, 2005 will be a day that I will never forget and a day that I will talk about until I leave this earth. To see thousands of Iraqis ignore the terrorists threats and walk miles to the polling stations all while under the threat of a crazed suicide bomber or while actual mortars were falling out of the sky was truly a sight that my words cannot come close to illustrating. Iraqi security forces are taking responsibility for their areas, the Iraqi people are taking responsibility for the civil government, they are starting to provide for the basic necessities and services, shops and market places continue to open, and ad hoc gas station entrepreneurs are popping up along the main roads - it is democracy at its finest. In a couple of days the battalion will continue on to a staging base near Baghdad for an eventual flight to Kuwait. Once in Kuwait we will then wait for a day or two for our flight back to the USA! We'll be in CA for several days to turn in our gear, have a Battalion Memorial service to remember our fallen heroes then we'll be able to return to our families. What a glorious day that will be! We still have a dangerous road ahead and until we are out of the country we must remain ever vigilant. I sit here and write this last update as waves of helicopters lift my fellow Marines out of our forward operating base in Mahmudiyah, Iraq. This has been our 'home' for the past 7 months. We've definitely grown attached to this area and it will be hard to say goodbye to the good citizens of North Babil and the Iraqi soldiers who have stood next to us during this time and shed their blood as well. They have lost many and have born the brunt of the casualties. I want to thank every one of you who has sent me an email of encouragement. I want to especially thank those who have been faithful in prayer for both me and the magnificent Marines of this Battalion. Also, we were very appreciative of the wonderful boxes of goodies and letters. They definitely came at just the right times and we were never in want for anything! The comfort that I felt after I read a letter from someone back home was indescribable. I pray that I get the opportunity to shake the hand of everyone that this email goes out to and tell you personally how much I appreciate your support and prayers. My email address will be good for only a couple more days. I will forward an updated address when I return to the states. Thank you for letting me share my opinions, stories and feelings throughout my time here. I trust you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them down.

Posted by Deb at 08:58 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

March 25, 2005

Another warrior returns

Mary Helen Bartch, a role model for Marine wives and troop supporters everywhere, sends this message and picture of her war-weary husband. He'd sent it to her earlier, with the following caption:

"Stick a fork in me. I'm done."

Since our comments function is still not working, Mary Helen asked that this message be posted:

Dear friends and family: Tomorrow morning at 7 am I will start my journey to California to see Rick come home on Monday. I would like to say thank you to all of you that have been there for me during the last 10 months, 8 of those he has been over there. I couldn't have done it without all of your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have made friends all over the US whose friendships I will always cherish. Thank you and God speed to those of you that have loved ones still over there. Hugs, Sincerely, Mary Helen C. Bartch

Posted by Deb at 09:06 AM | Comments (0)

February 18, 2005

LCpl Wichlacz: Fair Winds and Following Seas

LtCol Mark Smith sends this beautiful tribute to fallen Marine LCpl Wichlacz who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Thank your for your graces and patience in allowing me to be a couple of days late with this week's update. The delay was predicated on the fact that the Mad Ghosts conducted two massive Battalion level operations in the Mayhem AO this week, in order to ensure the continued dismantling and destruction of the insurgent/terrorist networks that once thrived in the Mayhem AO, and now seek their survival. As well, we have been hosting and touring with the unit assigned to replace the Mad Ghosts in the Mayhem AO, and I know for all of you that is very good news. I shall address homecoming in a follow-on update to be published today, but right now there are issues of grave importance that I must communicate to you in keeping with my promise of informing the families of all the Mad Ghosts activity, fairly and honestly. With that said, it is again my unfortunate duty and with gut wrenching sadness that I report to you the death of Lance Corporal Travis M. Wichlacz, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, USMC. LCpl Wichlacz was killed on 05 Feb 05 when an improvised explosive device was detonated immediately adjacent to the up-armor HMMWV he was riding in. LCpl Wichlacz was part of a force conducting a raid against a suspected terrorist location when the IED was initiated. He sustained fatal injuries as a result of the explosion. He was killed instantly and felt no pain. He was secured by his brother Marines in the patrol, air med-evaced back to FOB St. Michael, and then with the utmost of dignity was prepared for his final journey home, which began approximately 12 hours after his death.

Now, when LCpl Wichlacz arrived at FOB St. Michael, I went to our Shock Trauma Building to greet him. The Medical Section, our fabulous Navy Surgeons and Corpsman from the US Navy, conducted their unfortunate task of documentation and identification. This is not enjoyable duty, but the professionalism and reverence with which these amazing Sailors conduct this task touches your heart and your soul. They may be Sailors, but my US Navy Staff are Mad Ghosts, part and parcel of this Mad Ghost Team, and will forever have both my undying respect and my gratitude, for they give everything they have (and then some) to tend to the wounds of my Marines, both living and dead. Following the medical responsibilities, the Navy Chaplain Lt. Manilla gathered us all around the peaceful body of LCpl Wichlacz and said both a blessing and a prayer. I then held his hand and wished him Fair Winds and Following Seas for his final journey home. And, I told him JOB WELL DONE! For he had given all that others would live, and live abundantly, in freedom and with the ability to seek their own journey. For this, I know he will be rewarded in Heaven. Then, you leave the building. This is the moment that the Devil has his day. For at this point, I was filled with anger, hate and rage! The mind races with thoughts of vengeance. The body wants to lash out in violence in pay back for what has been done. And, you then look around at all the tools of violence and destruction at your immediate disposal and realize it would not be a hard thing to do!!! But, as it should be with the Devil, he gets but that fleeting moment of control, because the rage is replaced with respect. The respect of a fallen hero who calls to you to remember who and what you are: A UNITED STATES MARINE. The hero himself seems to speak to you from beyond the land of the living and reminds you that we are the ones that do good, and destroy only evil. He tells you that we came to free the oppressed and set the conditions for long-term stability in a region that has never known it, and by doing so will ensure the freedom and safety of our beloved back home. No, it is but a very fleeting moment that the Devil gets, it is a LIFETIME of remembrance, respect and honor that the hero earns. That we will never dishonor our fallen, that we will stay our course no matter how difficult, that WE WILL ACHIEVE VICTORY is the only outcome there can be! And, with YOUR Marines, YOUR Mad Ghosts, that is what it shall be. VICTORY with honor. VICTORY that delivers violence ONLY to the cowardly enemy, and compassion, respect and admiration for the people of Iraq, who we free and protect, and who have suffered unspeakably for far too long. When this moment of illumination comes, from which all follow on actions are guided, I will tell you, it comes with intense grief. But that is O.K. That grief only speaks to the righteousness of the cause and the realization of the heavy price freedom requires. LCpl Wichlacz paid it, we now have a lifetime to earn it. I am not a fan of Hollywood for its politics. I have never really been able to grasp, in my simple Hoosier mind, why people who make a grotesque amount of money by pretending to be something, honestly and earnestly believe that we care what they have to say about politics. No, that one has always escaped me. I mean, playing pretend is what my angelic daughters do, and although I love them more than I love my next breath, and would lay down my life for them, I have come to the conclusion I do not want Brittani and Nichole establishing National Policy and the use of force to achieve it...at least not while they are 8 and 6! So, I kind of feel the same way about Actors. But, as an art form, as a medium designed to stimulate the mind and touch the soul, well, on that count, sometimes Hollywood hits it out of the park. One such instance was the movie Saving Private Ryan. For if you would, my wonderful families of 2/24, I would like to ask you in light of LCpl Wichlacz passing, and in honor of all 11 of our fallen heroes, to reflect with me. Reflect on the final scene in Saving Private Ryan. The scene where Ryan is old, gray, round and soft in the middle, and he is with his wife and fully-grown children. They are visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Ryan is at the grave of his Company Commander and reflecting on the events of a battlefield over 50 years past. He is reflecting on the shared violence, the shared hardship and the death of his comrades. As he is reflecting, he is sobbing. Sobbing the tears of a pain that knows no relief, knows no easing in its passage of time. And then, he says to his wife, words to the effect of, "tell me I am a good man. Tell me I have been a good man." Many is the time, 11 to be exact, that all I wanted in this whole world was to feel the soft hand of my beautiful and loving wife on the back of my sobbing head and telling me I am a good man, that I have done right by my Marines and my country. Because, you see, that is what we owe LCpl Wichlacz, our 11 and all who have given their lives in this and all previous Wars. We owe them to live good lives. Good lives in the sense that we always think first and foremost of the cost of freedom! That we remember a life lived free, is a life lived without hardship, and most of the time in frivolity and miniscule tasks. But the majesty of it, is that we have the time and space to be engaged in the frivolous and miniscule. That we grocery shop, go to movies, go to ball games, eat out, eat in, barbeque, drink beer or not drink beer, attend the soccer games, watch our kids flip monkily through gymnastics, go to Disneyworld...we do all these without nary a thought, because a lineage of Warriors since 1775 have given us that freedom. That we never forget that, that we always pay honor to that is OUR CHARGE. Please ladies, understand, no preaching of morality here. I am not defining living a good life by any means other than NEVER forgetting what the price of our American lives really is. Our freedom, our ability to do the things we do as Americans, which we Mad Ghosts miss so dearly and will never take for granted, has been paid for with the blood of YOUNG Americans in battle. That the National Anthem ALWAYS be sung with that in mind, that the pledge of allegiance always be said with pride, conviction and a commitment to defend it, that you respect the flag when you see it, these are the requirements of a "good life" for an American. Never forget these MEN! Never forget these Warriors! And, in our case in particular, as the families and Marines that are 2/24, NEVER FORGET THESE MAD GHOSTS! For the reasons for which I would rightfully earn eternal damnation are many and varied, but that I ever dishonor these wonderful heroes, well, I am confident that will not be one of them! So in your reflection, please join me in a final farewell to LCpl Travis M. Wichlacz: good night sweet and gentle Warrior. You have touched us all. We have been deeply and profoundly saddened by your death, but we have been even more enlightened and touched by YOUR LIFE. Rest in the embrace of angels, Travis, rest in the embrace of angels! WE LOVE YOU. God Bless the Magnificent Marines and Families of 2/24.

Posted by Deb at 10:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

February 05, 2005

". . . returning home with our heads held high and our arms wide open"

The 24th MEU is coming home - here is Col Johnson's final message to the families and friends of the Marines he commands:

Dear Families and Friends, We are at last coming to the end of our mission here in Iraq. While we are looking forward with great anticipation and excitement to reuniting with our loved ones, we are departing with mixed emotions. Our indescribable joy will be tempered by thoughts of our fellow Marines and comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We will never forget them. Their names and faces will be etched in our memories forever. Even when we are old and gray, they will remain young and at the dawn of their lives. We have learned much about ourselves since we've been gone, and for that we will be better men and women. The experiences here in Iraq have taught us that we must not take life for granted, that we must cherish every moment of every day. We have also learned that our country has much to offer, that with great power and abundance comes great responsibility. I cannot thank you enough for the tremendous lift you've given us these past eight months. We have ridden that wave of support through exhaustingly endless days and nights, and it will carry us home. I want you to know that your thoughts, prayers, letters and packages were what we needed most when we were lonely and tired. They were indispensable in the accomplishment of our mission. Each and every one of us feels that we have made a significant contribution to the rebirth of Iraq. We are enormously proud of our efforts and grateful for you who made them possible. While we mourn and honor those we lost, we will also bear in mind those we leave behind. Please remember in your thoughts and prayers the brave men and women who will fight and toil on, trying to bring peace and democracy to a land that for too long has known little of either. We are returning home with our heads held high and our arms wide open. We are ready to turn our full attention back to those who mean the most to us. We are eager to share in the reward for our long and difficult separation. And we are more appreciative than ever of our many blessings, foremost among them you. Semper Fidelis, R.J. JOHNSON Colonel, U.S. Marines

Posted by Deb at 12:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

11th MEU after-election update

The 11th MEU reports from an Najaf:

Success! After much preparation and planning, elections in Najaf and Karbala went off without a hitch and with a festive air. As expected, the day was violence free in both Shi'a holy cities as Iraqis eagerly turned out in droves to vote. Iraqi police, army soldiers and border police provided security around polling sites and checkpoints throughout the urban centers, with 11th MEU Marine forces never having to leave their bases in support. Iraqi security forces had everything under control, and didn't need our assistance. At 7 a.m. the polling sites opened, and Iraqis arrived dressed in their best clothes. They were ecstatic and all smiles, congratulating each other on the vote, and holding their purple index finger up in the air as prideful evidence that they had voted. Since driving was forbidden across the country, the majority of voters walked to the polling sites, while some rode in donkey carts. The elderly were transported in wheelbarrows or wooden carts, while other Iraqis led the blind to the sites. Whole families entered the polls so the children could watch their father, as well as their mother, vote. The polls closed at 5 p.m. The Iraqi security forces, trained by 11th MEU Marines, did an outstanding job and proved that they could handle the situation on their own. Their performance, in addition to the high voter turnout and air of festivity in the two Shi'a cities, was heartening to all. Ultimately, the successful elections have validated all the hard work and sacrifice that has been made here. 11th MEU Marines and Sailors, and their family and friends, have much to be proud about. It is remarkable that Jan. 30 marks the first free elections in Iraq in more than 50 years. And quite possibly, today's elections may result in the first time in 80 years where the Shi'a people will have a say in their governance equal to that of their majority status in Iraq. These definitely are exciting times.

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February 01, 2005

Look! I'm an Action Hero!

An Islamic Jihad website posted a picture, claiming to have abducted a US soldier. Here's the ABC news story:

Iraqi militants claimed in a Web statement Tuesday to have taken an American soldier hostage and threatened to behead him in 72 hours unless the Americans release Iraqi prisoners. The U.S. military said it was investigating, but the claim's authenticity could not be immediately confirmed. The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of a man purported to be an American soldier, wearing desert fatigues and seated on a concrete floor with his hands tied behind his back. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and behind him on the wall is a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet." A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, Marine Sgt. Salju K. Thomas, said he had no information on the claim but "we are currently looking into it."

So far, no soldiers are missing and the picture bears a strong resemblance to "Cody", an action figure produced by Dragon Models USA for sale at U.S. bases in Kuwait.

AP Photo

I'm going to feel really bad if this turns out to be legit, but I sincerely doubt that the terrorists would get more than a name, rank, and UPC number out of this guy . . . and that only from reading the box he arrived in. Sheesh.

Posted by Deb at 09:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 31, 2005

A legacy of a free and democratic Iraq

Carrie shares this message, sent to friends and familes of the 1st Marine Division from the Commanding General.

On 30 January 2005, the 1st Marine Division assisted the Independent Electoral Commission-Iraq (IECI), the Interim Iraqi Government, and Iraqi Security Forces in making the necessary preparations so that all citizens of the Al Anbar province were afforded the opportunity to vote in a safe and secure manner. We saw mixed voter turnout across the province. The election could not have been accomplished without the hard work and dedication of every member of the Division. I cannot begin to describe how immensely proud I am of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines of the Division. Once again your warriors accomplished what many skeptics said would be impossible and turned it into a resounding success. The number of citizens who actually turned out to vote is inconsequential. What does matter is those who wanted to vote could, and those who chose not to vote were exercising their free and democratic choice not to. Together with the Iraqi Security Forces and the IECI, the Division assisted in the establishment, security, and retrograde of 30 polling sites throughout the province. Our operations kept the enemy from affecting the security at each of these sites. Our mission was not without sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those coalition and Iraqi forces who gave their lives on this historic day. A free and democratic Iraq will be their legacy. Although the election is behind us, our operational tempo remains high. We will soon begin the relief in place with the 2d Marine Division and begin our redeployment back to home station. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Although elements of the Division will return home soon, we will to continue to have units in Iraq with many more important tasks to accomplish. May God bless the 1st Marine Division and it�s friends and families.

Amen.

Posted by Deb at 09:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

January 07, 2005

Family Values

Duty and honor.

LA Times photo

39 years after he left for Viet Nam, Kendall Phelps is returning to the front. This time, he'll serve with his 34 year old son, Major Chris Phelps.

"I'm a father and a Marine. I can't separate the two," said Phelps, 57, a clarinet player who runs the music program for Silver Lake's schools. "I need to be there with Chris." On Friday, Kendall Phelps will get his wish. Father and son have been assigned to the same unit. At the end of this week, they will leave for Camp Lejeune, N.C., to meet up and train with the 5th Civil Affairs Group. They are scheduled to arrive in Iraq in March for a seven-month tour of duty in the Al Anbar province west of Baghdad, where snipers and suicide bombers have become routine.

Godspeed, father and son.

Posted by Deb at 01:08 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

January 05, 2005

He's given it for you

Marines from 2nd MARDIV's Small Craft Company said goodbye to fallen hero, LCpl Brian Parello in a memorial service held on the shores of Lake Habbaniyah in the Al Anbar province of Iraq on Jan. 4, 2005. He was killed in action on New Year's Day while conducting operations against anti-Iraqi forces in Iraq's Al Anbar Province.

Photo by Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

LCpl Parello served as a small unit riverine craft coxswain and took part in a number of riverine security patrols while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and also earned the Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

Photo by Sgt. Luis R. Agostini

This poem was read during his memorial service:

In a crowd you see him, standing so very tall. Not too much impresses him, He's seen and done it all. His hair is short, his eyes are sharp, His smile is a little blue, And it's the only indication of hell he's been through. It belongs to sacred brotherhood always faithful to the end, Walked right into battle And walked back out again. Many people think him foolish for having no regrets, But having lived through things that others would like to forget. He's First to go last to know, Never questions why, Or whether it is right or wrong, But only do or die. He walked path most won't take, And lost much along the way. He takes a lot of freedom, But it's small price to pay He's chosen to live a life off of the beaten track, Knowing well each time he goes, he might not make it back. So Next time you see a devil dog be grateful of all he's given, He's given it for you. Don't go up and ask him what it's like to be in war, Just thank God it's your country he's always fighting for. Thank him, too, for all the hell he's seen in cammie green, And thank him for having the courage to be a United States Marine.

Condolences to LCpl Parello's family and the Marines with whom he served.

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January 04, 2005

Starting 2005 on the right note

I hope this is true:

Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources. Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq. The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of 10 million dollars, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

Nothing official yet. But if this pans out, note that it was Iraqi police who made the arrest.

Posted by Deb at 08:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

December 24, 2004

Merry Christmas from Husaybah

My son called from his base camp on the Syrian border with Christmas greetings for all of his family here at home and that is by far the best gift I received this year. Each e-mails is treasured but hearing his voice is so wonderful. He said it's surreal being over there for Christmas - it's just another day without the traditional surroundings of home and family. Next year, I hope he'll be home to celebrate with us. But other Marines will be taking the place of those who are giving up comforts of home to help bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Thank God for men and women such as these!

1/7 Battalion Commander, LtCol Chris Woodbridge, sends along this Christmas update:

23 Dec 04 Happy Holidays to the entire First Team family, from your Marines and sailors here in Iraq. First I want to thank everyone for the holiday cheer that has been flooding the battalion since Thanksgiving. The outpouring of support from everyone back home has been incredible, and we are all very grateful for the cards, letters, and care packages. I can assure you that even though we would all rather be with you during the holidays, we will celebrate the season's festivities as much as we can, and this will be a time to remember for everyone. It may be hard to believe considering that it was over 130 degrees here back in August, but we have had snow here in the last week! So, we just might have a white Christmas! We are well past the halfway point in our tour in Iraq, and I know the questions that are on everyone's mind: when is the battalion coming home? Are we on schedule or will we be extended? While I can't pass on any specific dates yet, I can tell you that we are still on schedule to return home in March and there is no plan to extend us here. In fact, the battalion that will replace us here has already done a leader's recon and we are well on the way to turning over this area as planned. We have continued to be very successful in our fight against the inisurgents in this area and we have not lost a Marine to enemy action since the 15th of Oct. Unfortunately, on the 21st of Dec, LCpl Pesche from A Company lost his life in a vehicle accident. Mishaps like this are always tragic, but more so at this time of year. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time grief. The next round of this fight will be the Iraqi national elections at the end of January. You can expect to hear a lot about this in the news in the coming weeks. These will be the first free elections in this country and they are the next step in building a democracy in Iraq. The hard work and sacrifices of every man in the battalion and you all back home are making this free future possible for the Iraqi people. We are all thankful for the continued support from the home front--we could not do what we do without all of you. Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season. God bless and Semper Fi LtCol Woodbridge

Merry Christmas to all deployed troops. You are never far from our thoughts but, especially today, we miss you and look forward to welcoming you back home.

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December 18, 2004

For all you do . . .

Photos by Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

Marines work hard but they know how to play too. Here are pictures of Beer Day, held last Sunday at FOB Hotel. Marines and sailors with 1/4, 11th MEU each received the day off and two beers and a very small bottle of rum. Flag football, ping pong, volleyball and spades tournaments and other activities were arranged by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation representative.

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December 17, 2004

Dear Hero: America is counting on you

Chaplain Rosa, 24th MEU, writes:

"Dear Hero"... so began a letter I received from a third grade school student from a Christian school in Pennsylvania who was writing to encourage a then anonymous service member-me. "...It's really nice of you to do what you are doing! I think that's amazing! America is counting on you. I always wanted to be a hero. So be proud that you're one.... It would be cool if you wrote me back! May God be with you!" Sincerely, Toni V. Hero? I have never thought of myself as a hero. Heroes for me tended to be those people who are larger than life, who achieve major accomplishments and go on to legendary status. Then again I stopped to think what this third grade student wrote and I realized that the world is full of heroes- ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, teachers, moms, dads, grandparents, police, clergy, firefighters, doctors, plumbers, waitresses, secretaries, and students etc, even young ones are heroes. Heroes are those who don't give up on their responsibilities despite being tired, challenged or threatened. Heroes do the 'extra' ordinary by going that extra mile and seeing a task to completion and doing it with the right attitude-because it's the right thing to do. The Holy Scriptures are filled with heroes of faith-- ordinary people who did extraordinary things like believing the possible when all seemed impossible or loving the unloving and staying faithful when others walked away from faith in God because of disappointment, frustration or even anger. I wrote back to Toni and now I have a new extended family. I have a newfound group of young heroes who do the "extra" ordinary thing such as writing letters of encouragement and support or sending me care packages. When I have a long hard day and things don't always seem to go right, I think of Toni's words of encouragement and that heroes are ordinary people who do not give up because of temporary limitations or set backs and I recommit to the cause. But the real hero in all this is the 'ordinary' little girl in Pennsylvania who wrote an extraordinary letter and revolutionized my way of thinking. Toni and all of Mrs. Brown's students you are my new found heroes! Lt. Cmdr. Louis Rosa, 24th MEU Chaplain.

There are kids like Toni all over the United States who need a hero to look up to . . . and there is no one more deserving of the title than a United States Marine.

Posted by Deb at 12:22 AM | Comments (0)

December 16, 2004

I-A-M-B-L-I-N-D

Here's another story about one of our wounded heroes who refuses to give in to self-pity. He's an amazing Marine.

Read the eye chart on the wall. That's what they wanted Mike Jernigan to do. He could've blasted back with some cutting remark. Maybe even complained to a supervisor. But when someone at a hospital is trying to help you, and you're a Marine, you give it your best shot. So if he was supposed to read the eye chart, as the technician had asked without even looking up, that's what he would do. After an awkward silence, Mike began: "I-A-M-B-L-I-N-D."

Read the rest.

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December 09, 2004

A P.O.G. pays tribute to 1/3 Charlie infantry Marines

Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook, combat correspondent with 1st Marine Division, wrote this candid and compelling account of his experience with 1/3 Charlie during the Battle of Fallujah.

On Nov. 8, I was cramped inside an Amtrac with 28 Marines in full combat gear when two mortar rounds landed next to our position. The flash lit the inside of the vehicle and the Marines who were standing fell. Several screamed they had been hit. As sparks floated to the floor, and as blood from the Marine standing next to me ran down the side of my flak jacket, all I could think was �What had I gotten myself into?� Four months ago, my life was different. I worked in the Community Relations office at the Pentagon, which I refer to as the concrete jungle; one wrong turn and you�re lost. I wore service Charlies every day and only broke out my cammies for field day. An average day for me consisted of answering phone calls, faxes and e-mails from people who had questions about the Marine Corps. My main job was handling Marine Corps band requests from all around the U.S. It was an administrative job, but it wasn�t too bad. Stress for me was waiting around for the shuttle bus to go back to Henderson Hall when it didn�t show up on time. When a quota came out requesting combat correspondents to deploy for Iraq, I raised my hand. It�s hard to explain why now, but I just wanted to be a part of what was going on over here. Six months later, I was working at the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, traveling around the country writing stories on all of the services stationed in Iraq. I saw my fair share of mortar attacks and convoy patrols, but never any real combat. A week before we entered Fallujah, I was assigned to the I Marine Expeditionary Force to report on the 1st Marine Division�s Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen during the impending Operation Al Fajr. A few days after arriving to Camp Fallujah, I was attached to Charlie�s third platoon, in 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. Running around with a camera the size of a football doesn�t really allow you to blend. I heard jokes as soon as my boots hit the ground. First they asked if I�m a photographer, then came the lines from �Full Metal Jacket.� �Seen any combat?� Nothing I�m not used to though, it goes with the territory. As the days went by, I tried to attend every brief and training exercise the platoon conducted. I wanted to know exactly where I�d be placed when we got into the thick of things. I�m a P.O.G. (person other than grunt) and proud of it, but I didn�t want to do anything stupid when rounds were going down range. Three days before we left , I was assigned to first squad, third fire team. I would be the fourth man. They were a tight group of guys who did everything together and understand why the higher ups wanted me along for this mission. They answered every question I had about their role in the squad. Even after the platoon had finished its training each day, they spent countless hours with me going over tactics to make sure I would know what to do and how to react when thrown into certain situations. However, none of the extra training prepared me for that first night in the Fallujah. When the Amtrac doors opened and everyone ran out, I didn�t even think of trying to take pictures. I ran right behind someone and jumped down right next to him. All I wanted to do was find cover. Two members of my fire team were extracted by medevac right then and there. I was left to fend for myself, and so was the other Marine left from my fire team. I just looked to the guys beside me and did what they did. When we loaded up again to head for the breech point, my legs started shaking uncontrollably. I tried to hide it, but I know whoever was sitting next to me felt it. I grabbed a railing in the opening of the Amtrac to steady myself and put my hand in a pool of blood. I knew exactly what it was and tried to wipe it off right away. I didn�t want to think about what had just happened. When we arrived at the breech point a few hundred meters from the city, there were no fires or explosions to light our way. It was a moonless night, and I could barely make out the Marines who were running in front of me. We trekked through ankle-deep mud, stumbling over the holes and ditches hidden in the shadows of our night-vision goggles. We were trying to find our way to the point where we were supposed to infiltrate the city. I was still shaken up, but I pushed forward. When we arrived at the edge of the city, all was quiet except for the rumbling prayers emanating from a mosque that was held by insurgents. We were the first platoon from 1/3 to enter Fallujah, and the enemy was unaware of our presence. We sneaked as quiet as possible down the first street of broken-down buildings looking for a place to establish a foothold � our first objective. While part of the platoon looked for a house to base our operations, the rest of us bounded in fire teams to the first intersection. As I lay in the prone behind a mound of dirt alongside two other Marines, I could make out our second objective: a mosque held by insurgents. We only laid there for a minute or two when I started hearing shouts in Arabic that seemed to be coming from right around the corner: �Ensha Allah! (God willing) Allahhoo akbar! (God is great).� I couldn�t see anyone, but I knew they were out there waiting. Then it happened. Barrel flashes from AK-47s sprayed tracer rounds over our heads at once in every direction. Our battle for Fallujah had started, and I was nowhere near ready for it. When there was a lull in gun fire, we pulled back to a safer position. Not being able to see everything and having rounds bearing down on my position � plus the mortar incident earlier � was too much. I thought I was going to die right then and there. I�m a P.O.G. What am I doing here on the front lines? I don�t belong here. Thoughts like that echoed in my mind as each second passed and I made them well known. I didn�t care. I wanted out of there and back in the rear. To my surprise, I wasn�t laughed at or mocked. They told me it�ll be all right and not to worry; they were going to watch my back. The Marines I talked to said they were just as scared. While they said they were afraid, I didn�t see their fear. None of them faltered or hesitated while doing their jobs. I watched as they ran through a hail of bullets diving behind a makeshift wall of cinder blocks to lay down cover and suppressing fire as other members of their squad ran to other positions down the street. I have respect for all Marines no matter what their occupation because they earned the title just as I did, but that night, I gained a newfound respect for �O3�s,� � infantrymen � different from the respect I gave everyone else. For some reason, when the sun rose, my fear melted away with the night sky. Everything that had occurred only hours before seemed unreal like I was watching a movie. During the weeks that followed, I fed off the strength of the Marines around me and the patrols and fire fights hardly bothered me. Don�t get me wrong, I was still nervous every time we went in to clear a house, but I felt different somehow in a way that I can�t even describe. I hope the history books depict Fallujah as it should, describing the heroic acts and sacrifices of the Marines who took part in the operation. In time, some of my memories might fade only to be remembered when I scan over the images I captured on film, but I will never forget the Marines of Charlie Company who fought beside me. I wouldn�t be here if it wasn�t for them. They are the reason I can tell this story today.

Posted by Deb at 12:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

November 30, 2004

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.

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.� 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) 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� 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.� Night Vision Goggles: �Wearing these at night gives you the advantage over the enemy,� said Lance Cpl. Marquirez Ch