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October 16, 2004



Adam Marshall on his way to #1

Adam with Marine Corps Moms Janise, Linda, and Connie at an outdoor Margarita bar in Indianapolis last summer.

Adam Marshall, former Marine up and coming country star, has entered this country music chart at number 13 on the Radiowave Airplay Report with his first single, "Come Home as Fast as You Can". 13 is a lucky number in October - if you haven't heard Adam's music you're in for a treat. Check out his website and order his CD. The album is irresistable at $11 and you can feel good about your purchase since the proceeds go to Operation Interdependence.

Adam wrote his songs while deployed last year during OIF1. Read his bio on his website - his is a remarkable story.

Posted by Deb at 05:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack





11th MEU update

Here's the latest from 11th MEU:

Another quick update on what we're doing back here for those of you at home.

For the past couple of weeks the MEU's commanding officer, members of the command element and BLT 1/4 have been going to neighborhoods in the cities of Najaf and Kufah to provide condolence payments to citizens who suffered damages during combat operations in August. So far, the MEU has given out nearly half a million dollars.

That's on top of the millions spent to rebuild Najaf and Kufah in these past weeks. Many Marines and sailors are working hard to survey what needs to be fixed and arranging Iraqi contractors to do the work.

Other than that, we're keeping ourselves occupied with guard duty, the various knickknacks to be bought from local vendors on base and thoughts of home.

We look forward to when we can step back on to American soil and will be thinking of our loved ones until then.

There are an equal number of families who are looking forward to that day with equal longing.

Posted by Deb at 04:08 PM | Comments (5)



October 13, 2004



Send Cards!

Here's an idea for care packages from Anita Ramos, 1/7 Marine Mom. She knows that many of our troops have limited or no access to a PX, or any way to purchase Christmas cards for their friends and family. So, she's sending a few boxes of cards for her son and his friends so they can mail holiday greetings to their friends and families. It's a great idea - perhaps some of the rest of you would like to send a supply as well. No stamps are necessary since our troops have free franking privileges while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Posted by Deb at 01:29 AM | Comments (3)





"The Corps is Bush country"

Here's a Boston Globe report from FOB Kalso where the 24th MEU is operating:

It is a measure of President Bush's unassailable popularity among the US Marines on this base that the only one who admitted that he supported John F. Kerry would say so only on condition of anonymity.

The 19-year-old private said he recently bought a copy of the film ''Fahrenheit 9/11," which questions Bush's rationale for going to war. ''If half the things in that movie are true, we're here for the wrong reasons."

With that exception, Marines freely boast that the Corps is Bush country.

''I think 'W' is the man," said First Lieutenant Andrew Thomas, 25, who still has not signed up to get his absentee ballot at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, an hour's drive south of Baghdad.

But Thomas said he had told one of his fellow Marines to remove a Bush-Cheney 2004 bumper sticker pasted on a Humvee on the base. ''We all want him to win, but that's wrong," Thomas said. ''The sticker's got to go."

The Hatch Act notwithstanding, Marines have strong opinions on this fall's election. USMC Capt. Leigh Dubie helps Marines file for absentee ballots.

''I told them if you want a voice in how the military is going to be in the future, this is your chance," she said.

Asked whether she expected Kerry to have any support, Dubie laughed.

''We crack jokes about that," she said. ''People say, 'We want to make sure we even have a military in four years, so we better vote for Bush.' "

Last weekend, my mother spent Saturday at the Pony Village Mall in North Bend, Oregon, gathering community support for Operation Santa. While there was near-unanimous community support, the local chairwoman of the Democratic Party stopped by to loudly voice her opinion of our military as "poor saps" who were misled about the war. While there is no indication that she's actually talked with troops or whether she's gaining her information from sources like Michael Moore, here's what another Marine had to say when interviewed:

McClusey -- the first in the unit to request his absentee ballot from Dubie -- said the nearly-uniform support he had encountered for Bush over Kerry did not translate into unanimous support for the invasion of Iraq.

''Even if the decision to come here was questionable, at least he had the guts to come over here," he said.

Whether or not Marines agree with Bush or not, they support him. And that translates into bad news for Kerry.


Posted by Deb at 01:22 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack



October 12, 2004



2/24 reports from Iraq

Marines have a rule: Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, and grab a nap any time you can. Here, 2/24 Golf Company Marines grab an opportunity for a bit of rest.

2/24 CO,LtCol Smith sends along this update from Iraq, shared by Marine Mom Linda:

1st Item: the "information" flying around the network about the LVS Trailer roll over and burning full of mail is true. However, it happened a month or so before we left for Iraq. So rest easy, your packages and letters will arrive. :-)

Even though our email is back up, a large percentage of the Battalion is operating forward from the Forward Operating Base. Myself and the Command Staff move virtually daily about our battle space checking up, planning and supporting the different elements as they close with and destroy the enemy in their assigned zones of action. They do it very well, and are only getting better each day. In addition, they truly are bringing stability, freedom and peace to people who have known nothing but terror and oppression. The town of XXXXXXX had not had any government presence for months and the terrorists had absolutely dominated the people and their lives. Randomly killing and demanding money and youth service for anti-coalition fights. NO MORE! Now they must deal with the Warriors of 2/24. That is a deal they are losing, and losing in a big way. They have thrown every sinister attack you can think of, including multiple attempts at suicide car bombers. All have been thwarted with only the suicide bomber being killed in the process. The saddest part is how they have seriously injured several Iraqi children. Children who have life saving first aid applied to them by the very Marines and Corpsman who just seconds before were engaged in full-scale combat to destroy the terrorists. To see that in action is to see the battle between good and evil played out before your eyes. And to the entire anti-war, anti-American crowd, I ask them; where else do you see such disciplined and proper violence, followed by such compassion and mercy. I guarantee you it is uniquely American! And there are no better ambassadors of it than the WONDERFUL Marines of 2/24. They absolutely humble me and everything about my existence, and you should feel nothing but extreme PRIDE in them. They are amazing.

2nd Item: I understand we are rock stars in the media. Our current operation has received press in the Chicago Sun Times, the New York Times and extensive coverage on FOX News. That is good. Task Force 2/24 is doing great work here in Iraq, sought contact with the enemy from the minute of our arrival and has performed remarkably well in the face of the enemy. Every technique you have heard about this sinister enemy using, VBIEDs, IEDs, indirect fire (mortars, rockets), Small Arms, etc they have attempted against 2/24. We have suffered some casualties, but thank God, so far, all have been relatively minor with good prognosis for return to full health. The enemy however, does not get such a good report. Most of them have ended up dead! The Marines have been very disciplined in their application of force, and on two occasions when the enemy attempted a VBIED attack, it was thwarted by the alert Marines of this Battalion. I would love to be able to tell you that this is Disney World, but again, reality strikes. This is combat. That being said it is what we trained for and what we are here for. The terrorists would love nothing more than for us to be scared. Wrong answer! There is a healthy fear of mortality, as there should be, and there is constant longing for loved ones left behind. But when things start blowing up and bullets start flying, these magnificent Marines run forward, past all those who are running away. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO WITNESS. But it is also why the terrorists can never win. They can't terrorize those who bring "the Mayhem!"

That said, currently many of them are without the standard comforts and are living Spartan in support of the mission. We are working non-stop to push them mail, hot chow, ice, fruit and all we can possibly support. We also are pushing a couple of satellite phones around so they can attempt at least some 5-minute phone calls home for an update. PLEASE BE PATIENT! The focus of the day is combat. But, everywhere I am I see the Marines with pictures of their loved ones.

YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF THEIR HEARTS OR MINDS.

As I already said I am nothing but humbled by these magnificent Warriors, citizens and Marines; and I can ensure you that MANY fanatics who dreamed of one day destroying innocent "infidels" on the streets of America have met with a violent end at the hands of the disciplined, precise HEROS of 2/24. God Bless You All and Thank You for your continued sacrifice.

Yours in service to the Nation and in never ending thanks for your sacrifice,

LtCol Mark A. Smith
Commanding Officer
Task Force 2/24


Posted by Deb at 12:17 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack



October 11, 2004



Devon is here!

New babies are special and this one is no exception. Baby Devon Jones was born this morning to his wonderful mother, Bobbi, and proud grandparents Jack and Claudia Jones, and Robert and Gayle Roberts. I am certain that his father, Sgt. Curtis Jones was looking down from heaven, and that he will be a very special guardian angel for his little boy. If you missed the earlier story, read it here.

Here is proud grandma Claudia's announcement:

At 4:56 this morning, Devon Curtis Jones came into the world, a little blue but vocal. He weighed 8 lb. 3 oz. and is 20 inches long. Bobbi gave it her all. She was admitted into the hospital about 12:30 p.m. and hung out until about 9:00 p.m. when things became exciting. She and the baby are doing great. We are all excited and grateful that Devon is finally in our lives for real. Needless to say, Bobbi was not alone in the coming of her and Curt's baby. We all shared it with her and a few of her close friends. Even Captain JR Rinaldi came last night and spent some time with us. He had to leave before the big event came so he could go to work today. We are excited and thrilled as new grandparents should be. Love to all Jack and Claudia


Posted by Deb at 02:13 PM





Final Update from 2/7

2/7 Marines came home recently from Iraq. Here is the final letter home from LtCol Skuta - gotta love a Marine who quotes T. E. Lawrence:

Dear Family and Friends of 2/7,

As I write this letter, the battalion is completing its most recent combat tour in almost 14 years. We are beginning to turnover our responsibilities to the unit that is relieving us. Soon enough we will complete final packing and prepare to return home to rejoin our loved ones.

We came to Iraq to provide a windbreak against terrorists and criminals, with every sentiment of faith, friendship, and honor to allow the Iraqis to rebuild a proud, free, safe, and prosperous Iraq wholly committed to the struggle against those that threatened them. We respected religious practices, culture, and always considered Iraqis our friends. We intimately observed just how hard Iraqi life was under a brutal and evil dictatorship. We saw the conditions in which terrorists could seek safe harbor and refuge. In our hearts and minds we always upheld the belief that the terrorists would never succeed in making us think the Iraqi people were our enemies.

We gained common cause with many Iraqis. We formed friendships, bonds, and associations. We became part of their lives and communities. It took a long time, blood, and heroic effort, but many Iraqis finally understood our good intentions. After all, our two cultures have been separate for more than 4,000 years. We were truly strangers in a strange land for quite some time. We know our part of Iraq is better today than when we arrived. We have witnessed the steady progress with our own eyes and heard their words of hope. We have helped them walk as they placed each step forward and learned what it is to taste freedom for the first time. We are confident Iraq will be even better six months from now. There will be setbacks in the future, but they are headed in the right direction.

We approached our fight in a very unique way, adopting lessons from others that visited the same areas of Mesopotamia nearly eight decades ago: "Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them. Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be as good as, perhaps, you think it is. It may take them longer and it may not be as good as you think, but if it is theirs, it will be better." (T.E., "Lawrence of Arabia," Lawrence)

The result in Iraq, after the efforts of the men and women of 2/7 along with our Iraqi friends, is better now than when we arrived. It is now their fight to win in every sense. The men and women of the battalion performed magnificently. When we look back years from now, I think we will all share in the belief that we gave all we had towards making a difference in Iraq. We accomplished our mission as best as we could. That is what Marines have done for 229 years. I will always be proud to be the commanding officer of 2/7 during that moment in time.

Finally, and most importantly, remember those who will not be returning home or sharing the sea stories years from now. They have paid the ultimate price for our country's efforts in fighting the War on Terrorism. Their sacrifice for us was for a much greater purpose. They will always be in our hearts. We will see them again and thank them for what they gave the rest of us.

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you soon.

Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Phil Skuta

Posted by Deb at 01:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack



October 10, 2004



Final update from 3/11

1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger of 3/11 Marinessends his final update from Iraq:

Dear Friends, Well, my unit has come to the end of its time here in Iraq and I wanted to send a final note.

During the past seven months 3rd Battalion 11th Marines has accomplished much. Our artillery Battalion was given the mission of convoy security and provisional MP (Military Police) duties. From that mission grew other duties and we eventually ended up accomplishing a wide range of tasks.

We were assigned to assist the Iraqi Border Patrol along the Saudi Arabian border. Along with that came the responsibility to care for the nearby town of Nukhayb. It is a fairly small town that had been ravaged by two wars, 12 years of sanctions, and a tyrannical government that neglected its basic needs. Over the course of seven months, our small civil affairs section was able to spend roughly $1.3 million on the infrastructure, people of Nukhayb and outlying areas. The projects included the following:

· Hospital renovation and medical supplies
· School refurbishment
· Water supply improvement
· Sanitation equipment
· Regional fire department
· Agricultural cooperative
· Multiple power generators and transformers
· Equipment and gear for local Iraqi Security Forces
· Electrical rewiring
· Refurbishment of local government buildings
· Establishment of employment programs
· Local mosque refurbishment

Nukhayb is now a thriving active community with a renewed sense of direction. The local economy is rapidly increasing and is already far beyond where it was at any time during the past 30 years.

3/11's main mission was to provide convoy security for military and non-military convoys throughout Iraq. This was done with the utmost patience and professionalism. The Marines of 3/11 being trained as artillerymen, performed tremendously as provisional infantrymen without skipping a beat. As this war has only further proven, Artillerymen are the "go-to" Marines of the Marine Corps. In the end 3/11 was responsible for escorting hundreds upon hundreds of vital convoys throughout the theater.

In addition to this responsibility 3/11 was asked to supervise and run a provincial Iraqi Security College where Iraqi Security Forces were trained to take control of their country. The college was so successful that it is now entirely run by Iraqis.

Continuing the Military Police role 3/11 also maintained and operated a provincial detention facility where detainees were treated with respect and humanity. Long before incidents at other prisons in Iraq were discovered, 3/11 set the highest of possible standards in the country for quality of care and facility conditions. The detention facility has been heralded as a hallmark in our area of operations and brings much praise to the battalion.

All along the way 3/11 was asked to step outside its area of expertise and provide the highest level of performance, and each time the expectations were met and exceeded. Few units if any can claim to have accomplished such a wide variety of missions in such a short period of time. The Marines of 3rd Battalion 11th Marines can return home to their loved ones knowing they provided absolutely vital contributions to the war in Iraq. The Iraqi people have never known liberty in their entire history and now they finally have a chance to live free. With Marines and soldiers out there like those from 3/11, the war on terror will be definitively won and the world will know a higher level of freedom and prosperity than it has ever known.

I personally want to thank each of you who have supported me through this journey. I will never be able to put into words, my appreciation for all you have done for me. My definition of family has grown exponentially since being over here and I thank you.

But more than just your personal support I am grateful for your support of the cause. Not everyone in America is educated enough to understand the full importance of what we are doing in this part of the world and I am so thankful that you all do. Freedom and liberty are fragile and America seems to be one of the only countries actively fighting to ensure that they do not perish from this earth. Your continued efforts at home are much needed in spreading the truth. Together we will win this fight and secure a better future for the whole world.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis,
1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC

Welcome home 3/11!

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