21-year-old Marine squad leader dedicates himself to fellow “grunts,” chooses Iraq over home
HUSAYBAH, Iraq - Commitment and dedication. Those are the two words U.S. Marines here use to describe Cpl. Jason Getty"s recent decision to extend his current enlistment to stay in Iraq.
Story, photos by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes
Combat Correspondent
3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
Getty"s service in the Marine Corps ends Jan. 27, 2007. But he won"t be getting out. He chose to extend his service just long enough to finish what he"s currently doing - a seven-month tour in Iraq.
"I had to be here with my boys," said Getty during a frigid, three-hour night patrol in Husaybah, a city that shares a border with Syria in northwestern Iraq.
The Lakeview, Ore., native made the decision long before his deployment to Iraq"s Al Anbar Province began in September.
"Getty made this decision for the love of his Marines," said 1st Sgt. Robert M. Sands, a Baltimore native and the senior enlisted Marine in Getty"s company. "It"s pretty honorable and a good example of a leader."
Getty is serving as a squad leader with a platoon in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a southern Calif.-based battalion. The company is currently posted in a U.S. Marine outpost in Husaybah, arguably the busiest city in the battalion"s area of operation, say Marines here. The city has a local populace of 50,000, predominantly Sunni.
Daily life for Getty and his Marines means patrolling the city"s streets, fully loaded with protective equipment, weapons and communication gear. The Market Street is one of their most popular routes for patrol, said Getty.
Even though the Marines must hold traffic as they pass through, the vendors seem to have no problem with the Marines" presence.
At times, Getty shakes hands with locals and greets them in Arabic. Most Iraqis respond in broken English with a "hello, mister," or "no problem," as Marines pass them by.
"Sometimes we"re looked highly upon," said Getty. "They know why we"re here and what we do. This country has been in dictatorship for a long time. I"m sure the people in this city appreciate what we"re doing for them."
As a corporal and a squad leader of roughly 12 Marines, Getty has to "carry the torch," he said. The 21-year-old is making very important decisions and plans, from managing military equipment and vehicles, planning patrol routes and looking out for his troops" welfare.
"I am doing whatever it takes to make sure all my boys go home safe," said Getty, reasoning his choice to go on the deployment.
Just last year, Husaybah was the original battle grounds of Operation Steel Curtain, a 16-day-long battle between Coalition forces and insurgents in this northern Euphrates River region. The battle resulted in the ousting of insurgents from the area.
Today, Getty, his squad and the rest of Kilo Company are maintaining Husaybah"s security by walking the beat alongside its one-year-old Iraqi police force and a fully equipped and trained Iraqi Army battalion. The company is tasked with mentoring local Iraqi security forces, imparting with them essential military tactics they will need in order to man the country on their own.
Long days and nights have paid off for U.S. and Iraqi troops here - they"re finding weapons caches and improvised explosive devices, as well as capturing insurgents.
Recently, the company found an IED in the region and destroyed it. Just three days later, they found a weapons and ordnance cache in the same area.
Getty had the choice to remain behind in Twentynine Palms, Calif. - the battalion"s home station - as his fellow Marines deployed, just like most Marines who are slated to leave the service during a deployment period.
But that was an option he had to refuse, he said. He feels risking his life in Iraq for another four more months is worth the reward - ensuring his Marines are well-led and trained, and ultimately, come home alive, he said.
"I wanted to be here so I can teach these guys what I was taught on my first deployment," said Getty, regarding his "on the job training" during combat operations in previous deployments. "I want to make sure they do things the right way… the way I was taught."
Most of the people in Getty"s squad are serving their first deployment to Iraq. The training Getty imparts with them may save their lives and one day they will pass it on to other Marines, said Getty.
Even though there is very little talking during their patrols, the Marines in Getty"s squad look toward his position in the formation whenever they"re unsure of something - for instance, a civilian wanting to pass through their formation so they can go home or children who follow the patrol.
Immediately, Getty responds to these situations by telling the Marine what they should say or do and why.
"By the time the deployment is over, I don"t want my guys to have any single question on their mind," said Getty. "I want them to learn and know everything about [combat operations] out here, because I won"t be around after this one."
Nonetheless, there"s an ambience of confidence as Getty and his Marines make their rounds through Husaybah"s dirt roads. The Marines are confident when searching homes or vehicles and the civilians know to stay away when Marines are conduction patrols. Even though the Marines shake hands and hand out candy to the children, the children know not to follow them.
"It"s quiet. This is the way I wanted my last deployment to go," said Getty.
"Cpl. Getty is always there for us, always takes care of us and always sticks up for us," said Getty"s fellow squad member, Lance Cpl. Maverick Moreland, a 21-year-old from San Antonio. "I feel confident patrolling with Cpl. Getty as our squad leader. Between him and Reeves, our squad is in good hands."
Moreland referred to another fellow squad member as a great leader who is currently also serving his third tour in Iraq - Lance Cpl. Daniel Reeves.
And just like Getty, Reeves is slated to end his service in the Corps before the end of the deployment. He too chose to extend his service for this tour.
"I came over twice already, and I felt it would benefit these Marines if I came again for this one," said Reeves. "Just as I thought I would, I"m helping these guys day-by-day become a good squad."
Moreland said Reeves and Getty are great examples to follow, and if the situation ever arose where he would have to extend his service for a deployment, he "most definitely would."
As Reeves and Getty approach their end of active duty service date, they are looking forward more to the plane ride home with everyone they came with, they said.
"I share a lot of memories with these guys," said Getty. "When I joined, I would never imagined to live through the experiences I have and be so committed to a group of… flesh and blood; humans. I became attached."
The friendships Getty developed over the course of his four-year enlistment are one of the toughest things he said he"ll be giving up after the end of his journey in Corps. Nonetheless, he and Reeves have more than three months to prepare to depart the service honorably.
While Reeves is looking into furthering his education by attending college, Getty has plans to join a police force in Oregon. And as two single Marines, they both agree that their choices are broad when they get out.
But their focus is on the remainder of the deployment.
"I love what I did and where I"m at," said Getty. "I have no regrets."
Email Cpl. Cifuentes at: cifuentesms@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil.
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CAPTIONS FOR PHOTOS:
Click on original link above to find photo links.01 -
Cpl. Jason Getty, a 21-year-old Lakeview, Ore., native, patrols alongside an Iraqi policeman Dec. 16, 2006 in Husaybah, Iraq, a city that lies on the border of Iraq and Syria. Getty is a squad leader with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a southern Calif.-based battalion who are four months into a seven-month deployment in Iraq. The battalion is serving in the northwestern region of Al Anbar Province, operating in the many cities that lie along the Euphrates River. Getty"s service in the Marine Corps ends Jan. 27, 2007. But he won"t be getting out. He chose to extend his service just long enough to finish what he"s currently doing - a seven-month tour in Iraq. "I had to be here with my boys," said Getty during a frigid, three-hour night patrol in Husaybah, a city that shares a border with Syria in northwestern Iraq. The Lakeview, Ore., native made the decision long before his deployment to Iraq"s Al Anbar Province began in September. (Photo by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes)
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Lance Cpl. Maverick Moreland, a 21-year-old Marine from San Antonio, guards the corner of a street during a patrol Dec. 16, 2006, in Husaybah, Iraq, a city that shares a border with Syria. Maverick is an infantryman with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a Twentynine Palms, Calif.,-based battalion. Kilo Company operates in Husaybah, a city of roughly in northwestern Anbar Province that houses roughly 50,000. The company is tasked with maintaining security in the city, working alongside Iraqi Security Forces, mentoring them so they can eventually provide their own security. The battalion is into its fourth month of a seven-month deployment. (Photo by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes)
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Lance Cpl. Scott Gomez, a 22-year-old Marine rifleman from Houston, keeps a watchful eye out at the home of an Iraqi family during a patrol Dec. 17, 2006, in Husaybah, Iraq, a city that shares a border with Syria. Gomez is serving a seven month deployment with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a battalion based out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. . Kilo company operates in Husaybah, a city of roughly in northwestern Anbar Province that houses roughly 50,000 Iraqis. The company is tasked with maintaining security in the city, working alongside Iraqi Security Forces, monitoring and mentoring them so they can eventually man the city on their own. (Photo by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes)
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U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Paul Hobart, a 21-year-old Lorain, Ohio, native, shakes hands with an Iraqi child during a patrol Dec. 18, 2006, in Husaybah, Iraq, a city that shares a border with Syria. Hobart is a Marine with Kilo Company, and is based out of Twentynine Palms, Calif. The Marines here say Market Street is the busiest street in the battalion"s area of operation. Last year, Husaybah was the battle grounds of a 16-day operation dubbed Steel Curtain in which Coalition forces combated insurgents out of the area and the surrounding Euphrates Rives cities. Now, Marines are working alongside the Iraqi Security Forces in the region, monitoring and mentoring them so they could eventually maintain security for the area on their own. The battalion is finishing up their fourth month of a seven-month deployment. (Photo by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes)
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Maintaining situational awareness is critical for U.S. Marines who patrol Euphrates River cities and villages in Iraq"s western Al Anbar Province. Here, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Maverick Moreland, a 22-year-old Houston native, patrols down Market Street Dec. 18, 2006 in Husaybah, Iraq, a city that shares a border with Syria. Maverick is an infantryman with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a Twentynine Palms, Calif.,-based battalion. Kilo company operates in Husaybah, a city of roughly in northwestern Anbar Province that houses roughly 50,000 Iraqis. The company is tasked with maintaining security in the city, working alongside Iraqi Security Forces, monitoring and mentoring them so they can eventually man the city on their own. The battalion is into its fourth month of a seven-month deployment. (Photo by Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes)