Marine Corps News Room

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Members of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, recently went to the city of Rawah to set up a civil military operations center.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C893EA94E9928E10852572CC005FE539?opendocument

Apr. 29, 2007; Submitted on: 04/29/2007 01:27:26 PM ; Story ID#: 2007429132726
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

The CMOC is a place where Iraqi civilians come to report damaged property and receive compensation from the military. It is also the command center for civil works projects throughout the city, and the place where Iraqi contractors can come to discuss and plan the projects with their military counterparts.

“The CMOC helps give the Iraqi people a place where they can get help to rebuild the damaged and deteriorated civil infrastructure of the local area,” said Staff Sgt. Jason E. Sneed, the civil affairs team chief with the battalion, “stuff like city beautification, painting curbs, picking trash off the streets, and so on.”

Sneed, a native of Whitney, Texas, said projects like these are two-fold.

“If a curb is freshly painted, it’s obvious if it has been tampered with, and if the streets are clean, then it’s harder to hide an IED (improvised explosive device),” he explained.

The team chief also explained that by allowing Iraqi contractors to work with the city’s leaders on civil projects, it helps the leaders build rapport and stabilizes their area of influence.

“Projects help legitimize these leaders and get them working toward the end result of provincial Iraqi control, Iraqis leading Iraqis,” he said.

City projects aren’t the only mission of the CMOC, it also contains a damage-control section, led by the battalion’s judge advocate, and the disburser.

“I sit with the judge, and we listen to small claims to decide whether they are legitimate,” said Cpl. Steve E. Schuldt, the disbursing agent for the battalion. “The judge will decide on an appropriate amount to reimburse the claim, and I do the transaction in Iraqi dinar.”

The exchange rate as of April 18 was 1,272 dinar to the American dollar.

“If we (Marines) make a mistake, we break something, or we injure an innocent person, we know there is no way of replacing that loss,” said Schuldt, a native of New Berlin, Wis., “but this is our way of showing them the American public is sorry for their loss, and wants to help.”

The Marines who are a part of the CMOC hope the Iraqi people will see they are trying to help, and make a difference. They say so far they have noticed the area get a little calmer and believe it is due in part to the battalion’s weekly trips to the city.

“We are making sure the populace is happier when we leave, then they were when we got here,” Sneed said. That way the Delta Company Marines on the ground in the local area get to deal with a kinder, gentler people.”

Posted by sr at 7:16 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, recently finished up their portion of the zone sweep through the western Euphrates River valley.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C7BE64A40EC9DA2B852572CC0061EF4B?opendocument

Apr. 29, 2007; Submitted on: 04/29/2007 01:49:42 PM ; Story ID#: 2007429134942
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

The company, who affectionately refer to themselves as Warpigs, were in charge of conducting a large portion of the battalion’s role in operation “Valiant Guardian.”

“We conducted zone reconnaissance to find potential rat lines (supply routes) the insurgents use to push their way into the interior of the country,” said Capt. Mike G. Blackford, the Warpigs’ commanding officer.

The company worked hand-in-hand with several attachments to accomplish their part of the regiment’s overall mission of impeding insurgent movement and disrupting activity throughout the 30,000 square mile area, which is roughly the size of South Carolina.

“After we conduct the sweeps, if we find something, be it an IED (improvised explosive device), or cache, or whatever, we call in explosive ordinance disposal to safely remove it,” said Pfc. Henry A. Burke, a vehicle commander with the battalion’s quick reaction force.

The EOD experts say they have been pretty successful so far in this operation, and have disposed of ordinance ranging from 100mm to 155mm artillery rounds, as well as 80mm mortar rounds, and numerous small arm weapons and ammunition.

“It is really important that we take this stuff off the streets, so the insurgents can’t use it against our brothers later,” said Burke, a native of San Antonio.
The Warpigs have also been working with the Iraqi Army to give the soldiers more hands-on experience and expand their operational training.

“We conducted combined operations with the IA to ensure our area was clear, and they really exceeded expectations,” said Blackford, a Nashville native. “We have worked with them, and watched them, and while they aren’t perfect yet and still need practice, they are doing pretty good.”

The Marines say they are glad to see the Iraqi Army beside them on operations, lending their hand to rebuild their country.

One Marine said it reminded him of the proverb “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.”

“It has to be good for the civilians to see their own army taking care of things out here,” Burke said. “We are out here with them, but we aren’t doing the work for them. We are just here to make sure they are doing it right.”

Posted by sr at 7:12 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, has made its home on a small outpost in the western Euphrates River valley, 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, and 50 miles east of the Syrian border

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F579AB466572C206852572CC005BE7AD?opendocument

Apr. 29, 2007; Submitted on: 04/29/2007 12:43:50 PM ; Story ID#: 2007429124350
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

The city of Rawah, the COP’s namesake, acts as a thoroughfare for all traffic to and from the outpost. The city’s, and the outpost’s, defense and safety are the responsibility of Company D, commonly referred to as Diablo, which lives in the center of town.

Diablo uses patrols and evaluations, commonly called surveys, to keep up with the ever-changing city and it’s more than 20,000 citizens.

“A lot of times while we are going through a city we will do a census, or survey, to give ourselves a better handle on who is in our AO (area of operation), and what they are doing,” said Cpl. Zack R. Shook, a patrol leader with Diablo.

The Marines say they have discovered that many times trouble in the city is not caused by locals, but by groups of outsiders.

“We stay on the lookout for migrant workers from other cities who aren’t documented, and we check IDs against a BOLO (be on the lookout) list,” said Shook, a native of San Marcos, Calif.

“If someone doesn’t have an ID, or we suspect its fake, we detain them, so we can find out who they are and make sure they are here for a legitimate reason,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew M. Vanbuskirk, a fire direction control chief with the company.

Diablo’s Marines also said the surveys give them a good chance to constantly update their maps and grids.

“Construction is pretty much constant in the city. We graph new sites and new buildings, so we have a better grasp on what our city looks like at all times,” said Vanbuskirk, a native of Hayward, Calif. “It also gives us a chance to make sure they aren’t using the construction sites for other purposes.”

The surveys allow the Marines to interact and communicate with the local citizens, and strengthen the bonds between the two groups.

“Because we are out so much talking with them, they feel comfortable telling us when something is wrong, or when they think we are in danger,” Shook said.

So far, Diablo has discovered at least one improvised explosive device, and detained numerous suspected insurgents based off the information they receive from the Iraqi citizens.

“Our predecessors (2nd LAR) did a good job with the locals, which set us up for success,” Vanbuskirk said. “We have taken that lead and ran with it, and we are doing a great job keeping the insurgents on their toes and defending the people of this city.”

Posted by sr at 7:08 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Combat Outpost Rawah, home of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, sits in a shallow valley overlooking the city of Rawah, Iraq, in the western Euphrates River valley.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/0F7682E0D20280E0852572CC0053A82D?opendocument

Apr. 29, 2007; Submitted on: 04/29/2007 11:13:45 AM ; Story ID#: 2007429111345
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

Rawah’s defense and safety are left in the capable hands of Company D, more commonly known as Diablo, which lives on the edge of town. The company patrols the area several times a day, both mounted on vehicles and dismounted on foot.

“We patrol so much because our constant presence makes it harder to set IEDs (improvised explosive devices), and conduct other illegal or harmful activities,” said Sgt. Samual S. Pennock, a squad leader and platoon chief scout with the company. “We make sure these guys (insurgents) are always looking over their shoulder because they never know when we are going to show up.”

Many of the Diablo Marines agree with Pennock, and understand the importance of their mission.

“Patrols are important because they allow us to show our presence in the town. Insurgents can’t do anything here without looking over their shoulders,” said Lance Cpl. Steven R. Greene, a light armored vehicle driver with the company.

Diablo uses many types of patrols to canvas the area, and manages to average several patrols each day. The Marines never take the same route, and quite often they end up hiking up or down steep cliffs, and climbing over fences and walls to keep a close watch over every inch of their territory.

“The enemy never knows where we are coming from,” said 1st Lt. Joseph M. Kistler, the company’s executive officer. “The fact we patrol around the clock, whether mounted or dismounted, gives us excellent freedom of movement. It lets us conduct any operation at any time.”

The Marines said the patrols also give them a chance to see the locals and strengthens their relationship with the civilians in the city.

“Our constant presence gives the locals a sense of security,” said Kistler, a native of Savannah, Ga.

“I think they see us as a friendly force,” said Greene, a native of Newark, Ohio. “We hand out candy, shake hands and give high-five’s, and people are always coming out to wave at us. The proof is how much help they give us; a lot of our Intel comes from locals who just want to help.”

Diablo shares their headquarters with the local Iraqi Police force. The shared living space gives each group a new understanding of the others’ way of life.

“It opens the Marines’ eyes and lets them see into another organization. They get an appreciation for the level of training and the quality of equipment they have, plus it builds a mutual trust,” Kistler said.

The two forces work hand-in-hand in protecting the city.
“We do a lot of combined patrols,” said Pennock, a native of Osawatomie, Kan. “They step up and do the same stuff we do, which gives us a chance to reinforce what they have learned.”

Diablo’s Marines said working alongside the Iraqis and conducting security operations together is all part of the larger goal of turning everything over to Iraqi Security Forces.

“They are getting better; they really want to be like Marines. They emulate our good attributes and have improved since we have gotten here,” Kistler said. “They aren’t quite ready yet, we need to train more, but it is a possibility that is on the horizon.

Posted by sr at 7:05 PM | Permalink

Even if only just for a few days, the addition of 6,000 people on island was enough to give many businesses on island something big to smile about.

http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/NEWS01/704300306/1002

By Lacee A.C. Martinez
Pacific Daily News

The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group arrived Saturday for a port visit, bringing to the island six ships with 6,000 military personnel aboard.

The different shopping centers on island were flooded with heavy foot traffic yesterday, as were the streets of Tumon, with visiting military service members. So far the visit has been a relief for many businesses. Each sailor is estimated to spend about $300 a day while on liberty.

With six ships in, Lone Star Steakhouse in Tamuning was anticipating another full house last night, said manager A.J. Zapatos.
"I think they did help our sales," Zapatos said.

At least a quarter of the restaurant was filled with military personnel.

Because of its national branding, the restaurant receives a lot of military customers, especially when military ships are visiting, Zapatos said.

"That definitely means good news for business overall," he said. "We were able to stay busy throughout the evening until the end of the night."

Pod Gear, just a small kiosk in the Micronesia Mall, had its counters and display cases surrounded by customers yesterday.

"I've been told that April is just a slow month for businesses, and it started out really slow for us," Pod Gear sales associate Ray Santos said. "Sales all of a sudden in the last two days just went up."

A majority of his customers over the weekend were military personnel looking for new accessories for their digital media players, he said.

The employees at Haven Music, also at the Micronesia Mall, were busy yesterday assisting a full store of customers.

Sales associate Peter Untalan said the past two weeks will help drive up what otherwise has been a very slow month in sales.

"I wasn't here on Saturday to get the brunt of it but it was pretty busy," Untalan said.

Untalan said he was happy to be busy yesterday on account of the military traffic.

"It's been really good for us here," he said. "It helps keep our doors open, helps to pay our bills and our employees."

Visiting sailor Gabriel Velazquez, originally from California, said he was more than willing to spend a few dollars on his short visit to Guam. Haven Music was the first store he hit after stepping off a chartered bus. He also spent part of the day buying T-shirts for fellow shipmates who were on duty and couldn't leave the ship.

"I like Guam a lot," Velazquez said. "It's different."

At the Guam Premier Outlets in Tamuning, sailor and Hawaii resident Clinton Washington was on a mission to spend while on Guam.

"I'm just here to just kick back and relax but I'm going to buy myself some slacks and my wife a Mother's Day gift first," he said.

Posted by sr at 8:13 AM | Permalink

ARLINGTON, Va. — The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is expected to arrive in Iraq this summer, officials said.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=45427

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, April 28, 2007

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed orders for the unit to head to the U.S. Central Command theater operations this June for further duty in Iraq, officials said.

The 13th MEU is currently on Guam, according to the Marine Corps.

As of Friday morning Guam time, the unit had not received orders to go to Iraq, said 13th MEU spokeswoman 1st Lt. Pamela Marshall in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

A senior Defense official said Friday that the 13th MEU will head to Kuwait as the next call-forward force.

The unit would replace the 26th MEU, which is currently training in Kuwait for two weeks as the CENTCOM strategic reserve, the official said.

It is ultimately up to commanders on the ground to decide whether the 13th MEU will go to Iraq to replace the 15th MEU, which recently left the CENTCOM area of operations after serving in Iraq, the official said.

In November, the 15th MEU arrived in Kuwait as the call-forward force and was quickly dispatched to Anbar province.

A spokesman for the U.S. commander in Iraq declined to comment Friday on whether the 13th MEU is headed to Iraq.

“Anything with the forces coming in or before they come into Iraq is up to CENTCOM and the services to discuss,” said Col. Steven Boylan in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.

The 13th MEU’s deployment comes as the U.S. is building up its troop presence in Iraq to clamp down on the violence gripping the country.

There are currently 146,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, said Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Ballesteros.

Three of the five “surge” brigades and two additional Marine battalions are already on the ground, and two more brigades are expected to arrive by mid-June, Gen. David Petraeus told reporters Thursday.

Petraeus, commander of Multi-National Force — Iraq, said he will prepare a report in September on how effective the “surge” has been.

“I have an obligation to some wonderful young men and women in uniform, and a lot of civilians, by the way, who are serving in Iraq and who deserve a forthright assessment from the folks at the top about the situation on the ground, and that’s what I’m going to provide,” he said.

Posted by sr at 11:05 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (April 28, 2007) -- First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, has made its home on a small outpost in the western Euphrates River valley, 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, and 50 miles east of the Syrian border.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F579AB466572C206852572CC005BE7AD?opendocument

April 28, 2007; Submitted on: 04/29/2007 12:43:50 PM ; Story ID#: 2007429124350
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

The city of Rawah, the COP’s namesake, acts as a thoroughfare for all traffic to and from the outpost. The city’s, and the outpost’s, defense and safety are the responsibility of Company D, commonly referred to as Diablo, which lives in the center of town.

Diablo uses patrols and evaluations, commonly called surveys, to keep up with the ever-changing city and it’s more than 20,000 citizens.

“A lot of times while we are going through a city we will do a census, or survey, to give ourselves a better handle on who is in our AO (area of operation), and what they are doing,” said Cpl. Zack R. Shook, a patrol leader with Diablo.

The Marines say they have discovered that many times trouble in the city is not caused by locals, but by groups of outsiders.

“We stay on the lookout for migrant workers from other cities who aren’t documented, and we check IDs against a BOLO (be on the lookout) list,” said Shook, a native of San Marcos, Calif.

“If someone doesn’t have an ID, or we suspect its fake, we detain them, so we can find out who they are and make sure they are here for a legitimate reason,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew M. Vanbuskirk, a fire direction control chief with the company.

Diablo’s Marines also said the surveys give them a good chance to constantly update their maps and grids.

“Construction is pretty much constant in the city. We graph new sites and new buildings, so we have a better grasp on what our city looks like at all times,” said Vanbuskirk, a native of Hayward, Calif. “It also gives us a chance to make sure they aren’t using the construction sites for other purposes.”

The surveys allow the Marines to interact and communicate with the local citizens, and strengthen the bonds between the two groups.

“Because we are out so much talking with them, they feel comfortable telling us when something is wrong, or when they think we are in danger,” Shook said.

So far, Diablo has discovered at least one improvised explosive device, and detained numerous suspected insurgents based off the information they receive from the Iraqi citizens.

“Our predecessors (2nd LAR) did a good job with the locals, which set us up for success,” Vanbuskirk said. “We have taken that lead and ran with it, and we are doing a great job keeping the insurgents on their toes and defending the people of this city.”

Posted by sr at 9:23 PM | Permalink

10 a.m. April 28 - The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is scheduled to arrive today for a port visit, according to a Navy news release.

http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070428/NEWS01/70428003

Pacific Daily News

About 6,000 sailors and Marines are aboard the ships. The strike group consist of the USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Denver, USS Rushmore, USS Milius, USS Chung-Hoon, and USS Chosin.

This port visit will be the strike group’s first stop since it left San Diego April 10 for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terror, the release stated.

The service members will tour Guam and participate in community service projects, the release said.

Posted by sr at 8:14 AM | Permalink

MT. VERNON — Marine Kyle Price, who died serving his country in Iraq in January 2006, was known for helping others, whether through kind acts or as a member of the Boy Scouts.

http://www.register-news.com/local/local_story_115124451.html

By MARY KAYE DAVIS
April 25, 2007

And his legacy of helping others lives on through the Kyle Price Memorial Ride which will be held Saturday.

Price, 19, of Woodlawn, the son of John and Cheryl Hunsell, was killed by small ammunition fire on Jan. 13, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, while protecting Marine engineers. He died less than three weeks before he was slated to come home.

This year the memorial ride, now in its second year, will raise funds for The Kyle Price Scholarship Fund, Woodlawn Boy Scout Troop 102, and The Wounded Heroes Fund. Area residents interesting in supporting the causes can purchase T-shirts and other items through the ride’s web site at www.kylepricememorialride.org or at ‘Lil Darlins Gift Shop at Times Square Mall or the Woodlawn Shell gas station.

And, although the event is formally labeled “a ride”, Kyle’s dad John Hunsell said the event is for everyone.

“We want to stress that you do not have to ride a motorcycle to take part in the ride and the fund raiser,” Hunsell said “We want to invite everyone to take part in the day’s events whether you ride your motorcycle or drive a car or just want to come have dinner with us.”

Hunsell said the mission is simple, and that is to remember the sacrifices of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. “The ride is in Kyle’s name, but the ride is in memory of all who are serving or have served.”

The all-day event begins 8:30 a.m. with a gathering at the Chapman Sports Complex in Woodlawn, according to Hunsell. The procession will leave there at 9:30 a.m. and will proceed to the Centralia Veterans Memorial at the city’s park where Sonic of Centralia will provide free biscuits and gravy to participants and a brief ceremony will be held.

The group is expected to leave Centralia at 11 a.m. and then head to the Veteran’s Memorial in Salem. There will be a “pit stop” in Flora, and the group will then proceed to the Veteran’s Monuments in Fairfield and Mt. Vernon. The group will leave Mt. Vernon around 5 p.m. and return to Woodlawn where a dinner fund raiser will be held.

Hunsell said he anticipates many riders will stay in the Jefferson County area and head to the Blessing of the Bikes at Bald Knob Cross which is Sunday.

The event is a true community effort, Hunsell said, citing the example of Jefferson County Sheriff Mulch who volunteered to coordinate a police escort through the five counties the ride will meander through.

“That effort means a lot to us,” Hunsell said.

But he added that the entire area has been very supportive of the family ever since Kyle’s death and the ride is a way to help repay that gratitude while at the same time keeping alive the memory of Kyle and other servicemen and women.

“Kyle would think this ride is just great. The ride is all about what he stood for — he loved to help others and he also liked motorcycles,” Hunsell said. “He loved life a lot. We miss Kyle every day of our lives and I know it will be that way forever.”

Posted by sr at 5:45 PM | Permalink

I mentioned earlier that I attended the Marine Parents Conference in St. Louis last week. It was an honor for me to be included and I have a wonderful time. As I walked around the conference I noticed something extraordinary about the hundreds of Marine parents who had come together. They were proud. Everywhere I looked there were yellow ribbon pins, pins that read “My son is a Marine,” moms and dads were wearing t-shirts printed with photos of their Marine and everyone had a photo of their Marine in his dress blues. I couldn’t help but be awed by the force of the pride in the room.

http://www.sgtstryker.com/?p=49

By SgtStryker | April 24, 2007

The conference had breakout sessions for specific discussions. There were discussions on boot camp, preparing for deployment, how to send car packages, how to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. There was a meeting for parents who had lost their Marine and a group for spouses of Marines. There was also an element of Marine Corps tradition involved. The first dinner opened with the parading of the colors and the parents loved it. The second dinner was a formal night that reminded me of a Marine Corps ball. They were suddenly a part of the strange world their sons and daughters had joined.

But the real learning experience for me came in the free time at the conference. When the parents came together in the hallways and restaurants and elevators and started talking about their children. This was true pride. Men and women who had never met each other, came together because their children were serving together. There was no discussion of the politics of the war, no praise or criticism of the President or Congress. They wanted to talk about the day their son graduated boot camp, or the day their daughter was commissioned. They shared stories of getting the news that their child was going to war and stories of the finally being able to breathe a sigh of relief when he or she came home safely. Parents of fallen Marines came together to talk about how much their missed their sons, but how proud they were of his desire to serve his country.

As I left the conference, I knew that I had witnessed the real meaning of “support our troops.” These parents knew that the war was being fought by sons and daughters of the United States. They knew that politics have no place in supporting the troops. These parents were proud because their son or daughter had been willing to serve when others wouldn’t. They were proud because their child was a Marine.

Posted by sr at 8:46 PM | Permalink

RAWAH, Iraq – (April 24, 2007) -- At the edge of the Euphrates River, on the outskirts of the prospering, valley town of Rawah, Iraq, 10 Marines and a lone corpsman have positioned themselves atop a small hill to provide a better way of life for the local civilians. For one Marine corporal, it is his duty to lead, delegate and look after his squad of warriors while they oversee the daily progress of Iraqi Police operating roadside checkpoints, controlling the entrance to a town full of markets and businesses.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/1C8AC7AF352EAE45852572C70034CF3F?opendocument
Click this link for photos at the end of the article.

Submitted by: II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
Story by: Computed Name: Cpl. Ryan M. Blaich
Story Identification #: 200742453649

For Cpl. Brandon Bailey of Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, Regimental Combat Team 2, Multi National Force-West, his unique position as noncommissioned officer in charge is considered atypical by some of his peers because of his rank. However, it is enough to impress both general officers and high-ranking enlisted Marines. Bailey, an infantryman, simply views it through modest eyes, merely as a Marine doing his duty.

“I don’t really think about it that much,” he said of his uncommon role, which usually is reserved for those of a higher pay grade. “It was just a situation that fell into my lap.”

Bailey, a soft-spoken and humble individual, and his fellow Marines play a mentor-type role for the Iraqi forces, who prevent the entry of smuggled goods into the area. They spend each day assisting Iraqi Police with vehicle and personnel searches of those crossing the bridge into Rawah, providing a safer environment for the Iraqi people.

“We were put into an over watch situation, watching the IPs (Iraqi Police), making sure they do their job,” he said. “I’m also here to fortify this position, which was not fortified when I took control of it.”

Although the city presently seems secure, Rawah was once a place where some of the most wanted insurgents, such as Sadam Shihab Ahmad who was killed by Iraqi policemen last September, used as a haven. With this in mind, making sure the police are doing their job to provide security for locals is just part of Bailey’s goals. He also cares deeply about the well-being of his Marines and corpsman.

“One of my missions is to make sure we have the safest living area that we can have, because who knows how long we’re going to be out here,” Bailey said. Enhancing the area has been a focus point for Bailey who added, “it was a pitiful place and now it’s somewhat better.”

Bailey, from Monterey, Calif., and his diverse squad of infantryman, mechanics, engineers and a medic were put together just a few weeks prior to deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I tell you, we were seriously put together two weeks before we deployed,” he said. “We are cutthroat, we get the job done, we work well together as a team and we’ve accomplished everything we’ve set our goals on.”

The sudden orders for deployment were not only a surprise for Bailey and his men, families were involved. Bailey, who only has five months remaining on his military contract, has a wife and a child in California awaiting his return. Thoughts of his family are entrenched in the foreground of his objective and getting back safe and sound is something he thinks about each day.

“I’m all about surviving, so why not have the guys around me survive as well,” he said of his leadership goal. “If someone is not doing their job, I take charge. I don’t think about it as ‘Wow, I’m a corporal in charge of a bunch of people.’ I’m just a Marine surrounded by a bunch of other Marines trying to make the best out of the situation.”

The sergeant major for the Ground Combat Element, MNF-W, Sgt. Maj. Doug Castle, was instantly impressed with Bailey and the responsibility he has assumed. Upon meeting the young corporal, Castle spoke intimately with Bailey and had a few words of wisdom for the younger Marine.

“You, being a leader, have to adjust the way you speak,” Castle told Bailey. “Not everybody is going to understand the same language. Everybody is different, so you have to learn to say something six different ways, so six different people will understand.”

The way the Corps trains their noncommissioned officers is a major element in what makes Marines different from other military services. Age has never been a part of Marines’ leadership equation. In Bailey’s case, it seems his ability to lead others is parallel to his steadfast commitment to his duty, which is abundantly evident to those around him.

Just before shaking Bailey’s hand and wishing him luck, Castle said quietly, “You being a 27-year-old Marine, and not just a corporal, shows there is something different about you.”

Posted by sr at 9:53 AM | Permalink

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 23, 2007) -- Having played baseball since age 5, Virginia all-state catcher Benjamin Harrelson was recognized as a potential, professional-level athlete on the verge of achieving a dream shared by many sports fans – a shot at the “Big League.”

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F1250A74FBA14F99852572C600498FD8?opendocument

April 23, 2007; Submitted on: 04/23/2007 09:23:29 AM ; Story ID#: 200742392329
By Cpl. Andrew Kalwitz, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

But the Danville, Va., native passed up the opportunity of signing a contract with the Atlanta Braves to instead sign a contract with the United States Marine Corps.

He now serves as a corporal and vehicle commander here with Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward).

“I made my own decision and I wouldn’t change it,” he said.

With two cousins currently serving in the military and a great uncle who served with the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II and the Korean War, it seems Harrelson was following a family trend. But Harrelson said he’s only following his father, who spent much time working to support his family.

“All he wanted for us was a better life,” Harrelson said.

Harrelson’s father, Mark, worked for a newspaper called the Caswell Messenger before becoming editor of the Danville Register. He later began working with Danville’s WAKG radio station and eventually started a second job, part-time, with the U.S. Postal Service in Greensboro, N.C. No longer with the radio station, he now makes the 41-mile trip to his full-time job at the post office where he has worked for almost 20 years.

Harrelson said his dad wasn’t able to spend much time with the family because he spent most of it working.

“I don’t blame him. I did the same thing,” said Harrelson, who has a wife and daughter awaiting his return from his seven-month deployment.

In his younger years, Harrelson never expected to be in his current situation. But he also probably didn’t expect he was meeting the future mother of his child when he met Sherri B. Walker while standing in a band camp formation at age 14.

“Seriously. It really was a formation,” he said, smiling at the thought of a non-military formation. “She stopped right in front of me and looked up at me.”

Harrelson recounted their first conversation.

“She said ‘your shoe’s untied.’ I just cracked a huge smile,” he said. “She asked me why I was smiling and I couldn’t even answer her. I couldn’t really think straight.”

Considering she was about two years older than him, it may have been the intimidation of an older girl that made him four months hesitant to ask her out. Regardless of the seemingly slow start, their relationship lasted beyond high school.

Separation seems to be as much a part of their relationship as anything. After graduating from George Washington High School, Benjamin attended Ferrum College and Sherri went to Virginia Commonwealth University. But the two managed to juggle academics and each other.

Harrelson said despite his passion for baseball, he wanted to further his education to have “something to fall back on.”

But just three months into his first year at the small, private school in the mountains of Virginia, Sherri discovered she was pregnant. He disenrolled after completing his freshman year to support his new family, which now included their newborn daughter, Savana.

“When she told me she was pregnant, I already knew I wasn’t going to stay in school,” he explained. “I was holding down three jobs at one point in time to support them. I would never see her because I was working so damn much.”

But the desire to take care of his family the way his father had done for him was something Harrelson wanted to emulate. Weighing his options, he visited a nearby recruiting office to see if military service might be the answer he was looking for.

Harrelson said he was originally seeking a future in the Air Force. But since the Air Force recruiter wasn’t in his office, a gunnery sergeant from the Marine Corps office next door quickly accommodated him.

“He pulled me into the Marine Corps office for probably a good three hours,” Harrelson said smiling.

He decided he was going to enlist and broke the news to Sherri, who was initially unhappy but supportive nonetheless. He left for basic training November 2004, having to leave 6-month-old Savana behind.

The trials of family separation were to continue for the Harrelsons. Between Marine Corps recruit training, combat training and his job specialty school, Harrelson spent ten months away from his wife and daughter even before deploying to Iraq. Perhaps when she’s older, his daughter will understand his absence as the byproduct of a decision he made for her.

“Every night she has to have a kiss from me and then another kiss from me for him,” Sherri Harrelson said during a telephone interview.

Prior to leaving, Harrelson said he did his best as a father to explain his upcoming, seven-month absence.

“She’s too young to understand,” he said. “I had to tell her I had to help people who were sick. It would have been harder had I not explained it to her that way.”

“Would I change my mind if I could go back?” Harrelson asked himself and sighed. “Probably not. I was just 19-years-old trying to do the best thing I could do for my life. Turns out I was pretty right.”

Harrelson said he can’t help but recall catching for the Braves in the bullpen during their warm ups. He had gotten his foot in the door with the professionals as a high school athlete, but tells few people about those days now.

“Bottom line: family is more important to me than playing baseball,” he said.

Some may say his enlistment contract didn’t satisfy his financial and family-oriented motives to the extent the baseball contract would have. But Harrelson feels that the two life-insurance policies, medical coverage and the college fund he has been able to build for his daughter, who “is healthy as can be,” contradict that claim.

In addition, Harrelson’s decision enabled his wife to pursue a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, N.C., while he is deployed. She said she feels baseball would have gotten them off to a slower start toward stability and kept him from the family for more time than his duties in the Marine Corps.

“My impression of (professional baseball) was unless you’re pretty high up, the money really isn’t that great,” she said. “And it’s not like going to Iraq for seven months. It would have been a more continuous thing. He would’ve been gone a lot; during the off-season too.”

Though Savana may not yet understand her father’s responsibilities, she understands his absence and keeps him close at heart. During a visit to the Easter bunny this past holiday, she was given an American flag, which she told her mother would need to be sent to daddy.

Harrelson said he no longer has time for baseball and he needs to learn to “put that time toward family.”

He was not present for his second marriage anniversary and his daughter’s first Christmas and New Year’s. He also nearly missed her first birthday.

“Just like this guy right here,” he said pointing to one of two Marines in the dusty, Fallujah living quarters with him. “His wife is pregnant and about to have a baby any day. And Clark – his wife is in labor right now… You know what they say though – absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

The Harrelsons both agree being apart has been difficult. Though Sherri said she would prefer to be near her husband, she is proud of what he is doing and respects him for it.

“I think that anyone who can go over to Iraq is incredibly brave,” she said. “And he’s had nothing bad to say. Everything he’s said has been really positive. He seems to have gotten more spiritual and has a better value of life.”

Her husband’s change may or may not have occurred if he had chosen the baseball route, but she said she’s happy with his choice. She was only unhappy with her involvement, or lack thereof, in his decision to turn down a contract with the Braves.

“She didn’t know until well after I got to the fleet. I didn’t want her to think I was giving up on my dream so I could be with her,” Harrelson said. “My dream was being with her.”

So far, it appears Harrelson’s dreams have come true, which he credits to his decision to serve.

“There are a lot of ups and downs in the Marine Corps,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of those ups. The Marine Corps did a lot for me.”

Harrelson said he is very content serving in the military, which has given him “so many opportunities.” But regardless of the honor there may be in his decision, a Marine is human and can’t help thinking, what if?

“When baseball comes around, I still think, ‘What if I would’ve done that?’” he said. “My philosophy on life is you can’t look at the past. If you do, you’re just going to get stuck there.”

So instead, Harrelson looks to the future.

When he returns from deployment this fall, the Harrelsons said they will buy a house and pay off their vehicle and any bills that may have been accrued. Sherri said she hopes to become an elementary school teacher and get a master’s degree so she can become a college professor.

But they are once again faced with the same question – How will they make this happen? Fortunately, it requires the same solution.

“I’m going to re-enlist,” Harrelson said.

Posted by sr at 11:19 PM | Permalink

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF. -- Salutes, softball and a brass band -- the 1/24th Marine Reserves are back in America.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/NEWS05/704230316/1001/NEWS

Click on the above link for photos and a video link to the right of the article.

April 23, 2007
BY JOE SWICKARD
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

"You're on the bus from the air base and you look out the window and -- wow! We're home," said Cpl. Steven Oliver, 23, of Plymouth.

After seven months of patrolling and fighting in and around Fallujah, the unit headquartered at Selfridge Air National Guard Base returned in a series of flights leading to Twentynine Palms, the sprawling base in the Mojave Desert where it trained for its mission to Iraq.

And along the way the Marines, whose deployment has been chronicled as Michigan's Band of Brothers in the Free Press, saw that America is glad to see them and other troops returning from Iraq.

Veterans arrived to salute and shake their hands during 3 a.m. layovers in Bangor, Maine.

Laura Froehlich, 58, who has personally sent off and greeted home more than 175,000 troops, hugged the Weapons and Charlie Company members at March Field in Riverside, Calif.

The Marines emerged from the plane after nearly a full day of flying, red-eyed and tired, but even the overcast, chilly weather couldn't dim their grins.

They were greeted by commanding officer Col. Harold VanOpdorp and they juggled their weapons and bags in order to shake hands. Emergency vehicles serenaded them with sirens and fire trucks saluted them with arches of water.

There have been no plans announced for redeployment, but Reservists who remain in the Corps could be called to serve another tour.

But this week, there will be picnics and softball tournaments to pass the time until they fly back to Michigan on Sunday and disperse to their company bases at Selfridge, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw and Perrysburg, Ohio.

But it won't be all hurrahs and hellos. During their seven months in Iraq, snipers, booby traps, ambushes and hidden bombs took a toll on men and nerves. The unit of more than 1,000 men had 22 members die and about 45 others so severely wounded they could not return to action. At least four of those injured lost limbs.

A good portion of the week goes to screening and sessions to ease the transition from combat back to civilian life. Just as they were tuned, screened and prepped before shipping out to Iraq, returning Marines go through a multistage demobilization.

"Our No. 1 concern is to make sure our Marines are taken care of psychologically, medically, administratively and financially," said Maj. Christopher Kolomjec.

Some of the men have accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in active combat pay and are being counseled to handle it wisely and avoid spending sprees when they get home.

Officials say they want to make sure the Marines reintegrate slowly and smoothly into a slower-paced civilian life because they have come from an extraordinarily high-stress situation, where each decision could have dire consequences.

"In Iraq, everything was all laid out for us," said Cpl. Nick Smith, 26, of Toledo. "It's like going from being a 6-year-old to an adult, making decisions we'll be held accountable for."

In Iraq, they often lived in makeshift quarters, working 18-hour days and lugging 60 pounds of body armor, weapons and ammo wherever they went. Marines like Lance Cpl. Shane Peltier of Bad Axe want to sleep late under their own roofs, play with their dogs and flat-out relax.

This week, the Marines also will receive advice on reuniting with family members. Just as they've changed and grown, so have their families during their absences. Wives and girlfriends may have assumed new responsibilities, and children have grown and matured.

Much of the counseling is going to focus on taking things slowly and giving everyone time to get reacquainted.

Or in some cases, maybe to meet a new family member. Sgt. Martin Gonzales, 30, of Saginaw is eager to get home.

"I have a baby that was due two days ago. I think she's holding back till I get there," he said.

The Marines want the men to be as successful in their home life as they were on their tour of Iraq. Service members can ask for additional counseling to deal with potential problems or experiences that they had in Iraq.

"We've learned a lot of lessons from the Vietnam era," said Kolomjec, 38, of Grosse Pointe Farms. "The men are going from what can be an overly disciplined environment to one of almost unlimited choices. We want to make sure people are able to cope successfully going from one extreme to another."

The Marines also will receive medical evaluations.

Navy Capt. Lee White, a doctor attached to the 1/24th during its deployment, said the "biggest concern is spotting injuries and conditions incurred in the line of duty and getting them documented to make sure they get the care they need when they get home."

And getting home is what counts.

"Once we pulled up in Bangor and I saw all those veterans lined up waiting for us, it felt good," said Sgt. Richard Bonner, 24, of Detroit. "It felt like a job well done."

Posted by sr at 9:40 PM | Permalink

ST. LOUIS — Patricia Fry, whose son is a Marine infantryman, was explaining the fine art of creating a scrapbook to Rita Swift, whose son is a Marine helicopter pilot.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-parents23apr23,1,4837381.story?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=true

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer
April 23, 2007

"I think the blue looks great because it brings out the blue in the flag," Fry told Swift as she arranged a picture of her son, Maj. Mike Swift, on a page in her book.

The scrapbooks have a dual purpose: They keep parents busy during the anxious days of their son's or daughter's deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. And, should the worst happen, the scrapbooks will be a memorial to a lost loved one.

"I'm looking for ways to stay busy, to make it easier," said Swift, of Palos Heights, Ill. Her son has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and may return to Iraq once his tour as a test pilot is complete.

The scrapbook session was part of the second annual national convention of Marine Parents.com, a nonprofit, nonpolitical support group for parents of Marines, particularly those with a son or daughter in Iraq or Afghanistan.

For three days of seminars, which ended Sunday, several hundred parents gathered here to learn coping skills for themselves and strategies for helping their sons and daughters once they return home.

Parents learned about military benefits, psychological counseling for returning veterans, volunteer groups that send packages to deployed troops, the Purple Heart Society for service members who have been wounded, and more.

From across the country, the parents came looking for kinship. The military has programs to provide emotional support for the spouses and children of deployed troops, but parents are largely left on their own.

Most do not live near military bases. Their neighbors, even those who try to be sympathetic, do not really understand their strain and the fear. Or if they do, they can quickly tire of being supportive.

"My Marine son went three times to Iraq and my Army National Guard son went once," said Jeannine Hubbell of Lathrop, Mo. "I'm looking for a connection to people who understand, who can relate."

Like Hubbell, Kay Hale of Richardson, Texas, has a son in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment based in Twentynine Palms, one of the Marine Corps' most deployed battalions. "We're 3/7 moms," Hale said. "It's not like Vietnam: We have a limited supply of bodies, and they're using the same ones over and over again."

Retired Navy Cmdr. Michael Colson, a chaplain who is now a counselor with the Seattle Vet Center, advised parents to give their returning sons and daughters a certain latitude because their language and behavior will have changed.

"Don't ask them about their dreams," Colson said. "Dreams in a combat environment are vivid and intense, and they don't make any sense."

Still, parents should be on the lookout for signs of reckless or dangerous behavior, he said, or signs of depression, which is common among combat veterans.

In a session devoted to the parents of Marines killed or wounded in combat, Cyd Deathe of Tampa, Fla., talked of her son, Lance Cpl. Adam Sardinas, who lost four buddies in a roadside bombing in Ramadi and later was injured himself.

"He doesn't want to live without them," said Deathe, tears filling her eyes. "He's going through horrible survivor guilt and PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. I'm supposed to be able to take care of him because I'm his mom."

Deathe was embraced by Georgette Frank of Elk Grove Village, Ill., whose son Phil was killed near Fallouja, and by Rich and Christine Dybevik of Coos Bay, Ore., whose son Gary Van Leuven was killed in Husaybah.

Frank led a prayer. Christine Dybevik talked of the helplessness felt by many mothers. "You hear your son is injured and the mom instinct kicks in: I've got to fix it," she said. "But in these cases, you can't fix it."

MarineParents.com was started in 2003 by Tracy Della Vecchia of Columbia, Mo. What began as a diversion has become a full-time undertaking, with three staff members and dozens of volunteers. The website gets millions of hits a week.

"It just got huge," said Della Vecchia. Her son, Cpl. Derrick Jensen, has made three tours to Iraq and just received a letter indicating that, as a reservist, he could make a fourth.

The group began as MarineMoms.us but switched names nine months later to encourage participation by dads. Still, mothers far outnumbered fathers at the convention.

Jackie Parker of Kingston, Mo., said she has endured four deployments to Iraq: one by her son in the Army, two by her son in the Marines, and one by a daughter-in-law in the Army.

"If it wasn't for Marine Parents.com, I wouldn't have made it through," she said.

The website offers news, links to other support groups and projects, message boards, and chat rooms, many tailored to specific battalions.

Many of the mothers had been communicating on the chat rooms for months and felt like old friends even before they arrived here. "We have an online community but we've never really met before," said Joni Dafflitto of St. Louis.

Fry's scrapbook classes were filled with discussion of how to use different kinds of tape and stickers and how to do captions and where to buy the best supplies. But there was a serious undercurrent.

"It's therapy," said Fry, of Menomonee Falls, Wis. Her son, Lance Cpl. Erich Fry, will soon return to Iraq.

"Doing a scrapbook," she said, "is like you're with your kid, with your Marine."

Posted by sr at 8:29 PM | Permalink

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 23, while enroute to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28999.

Story Number: NNS070423-14
Release Date: 4/23/2007 4:51:00 PM
From USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs

BHRESG is a rapid response strike group available for humanitarian or non-combatant evacuation operations.

While operating in the 7th Fleet AOR, the BHRESG will conduct drills and exercises to prepare for operations in the Persian Gulf.

The strike group proved their many capabilities prior to deployment by successfully completing their Composite Training Unit and Joint Task Force exercises.

“Throughout our strike group integration, Composite Training Unit and Joint Task Force exercises, the Sailors and Marines of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group have been training to support fleet requirements,” said Capt. Bradley D. Martin, commander of BHRESG and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7. “Today we are a joint, seamless strike group properly trained, capable and ready to flex to the fleet commander’s mission tasking.”

BHRESG is comprised of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), and USS Chosin (CG 65). The strike group also includes PHIBRON 7 and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The BHRESG serves under the Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

Posted by sr at 5:35 PM | Permalink

QUARRYVILLE -- Faith Aukamp was moved. As a Marine mom, wanted to do something to help out our men and women overseas. With the help and blessing of the real estate firm she works for, held a Care Package Drive Saturday out front Ferguson & Hassler's in TownsEdge Shopping Center.

http://solanconews.com/Features/2007/070423_MarineMom.htm
Click on the above link for photos.

By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
April 23, 2007

Yellow signs, like the one on the left, were hung with pride around the area inviting people to donate an item or two. The community supported the Care Package Drive, donating bags and boxes full of items to be sent overseas. Aukamp sat next to big banana boxes full of various items while her eyes glistened as she said how overwhelmed she was at the response from the community.

Anyone who has a son or daughter serving should call Aukamp at 717-341-8160 or email her at faukamp@yahoo.com to ensure he or she receives a package.

Area restaurants also supported this program. Aukamp said she has received commitments from the Quarryville Family Restaurants, Sam's Pizza, Son's Ice for various condiments and individual items. Dr Regan, a dentist in Quarryville, donated toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Numerous people simply made monetary donations. Monetary donations will help with shipping costs. Each care package costs $7.70 to ship using USPS flat-rate boxes.

Joining her Saturday were Doug Chase, Debbie Sheets, T.J. Aukamp, Matt Close, and Brittany Rhineer. Chase is the office manager for Beiler Campbell's Quarryville office. Sheets is the Administrative Assistant there.

Aukamp said she would most likely be holding another Care Package Drive in the future but that the Beiler Campbell offices were still accepting donations as well.

Anthony Beiler, broker for Beiler-Campbell, has opened up all the area offices to be used as drop-off locations, said Aukamp. Offices are located in Chadds Ford, Longwood, Oxford, Avondale, as well as Quarryville. Aukamp works out of the Quarryville office, which is located at 229 W. 4th Street in Quarryville. Drop-offs to the other offices should be marked with Aukamp's name and marked for the Quarryville office.

Posted by sr at 4:04 PM | Permalink

recently had the privilege of attending the annual conference for MarineParents.com. The conference was in St. Louis this year and I was invited to make the trip out by the founder of Marine Parents, Inc. I should mention here that I am not the parent of a Marine, but I do know the organization quite well. Tracy Della Vecchia started Marine Parents when her son was deployed to Iraq at the start of the war. He went back two more times before getting out of the Marine Corps. As the mother of a Marine in harm’s way, Tracey was desperate for answers. She wanted to get information, she wanted to find support, she wanted to know everything there was to now about the Marine Corps. But as she looked online, she didn’t find any organizations dedicated to helping the parents of those who serve. So Tracy took matters into her own hands and started MarineParents.com.

http://www.sgtstryker.com/?p=48

By SgtStryker | April 22, 2007

It started out as a website with information about her son’s unit. She got in touch with the rear party for the battalion and got information updates, she worked with the battalion commanding officer (who was in Iraq at the time) and she worked closely with the battalion Key Volunteers. Tracy, who is a website developer by trade, made MarineParents.com an invaluable resource for parents who were looking for information on their sons. It also became a virtual support group for mothers and fathers who were sitting in their homes across the country worried about their children.

As the years went on, Tracy’s dream for Marine Parents has grown by leaps and bounds. The organization has gone from being a resource for parents of one unit to being an official non-profit organization run by over 100 volunteers across the country. It is truly an incredible resource for all parents of Marines. There are messages boards and chat rooms for parents whose children have just gone to boot camp and support forums for parents whose children have just deployed. The organization runs a care package project to send packages to Marines overseas and a Gold Star parents project to provide support and comfort to parents who have lost their Marines. They have also grown to include local support groups, an online store and a project to help wounded Marines called Operation Prayers and Letters that allows people to offer prayers or send letters to wounded Marines.

Tracy and her organization is an amazing example of how one proud mother can make a world of difference in the war on terror. She is fighting just as much as her son fought, though she would blush and deny it if you said that to her face. You can visit the Marine Parents website at marineparents.com. Semper Fi, Tracy.

Posted by sr at 8:37 PM | Permalink

FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 22, 2007) -- Sparks fly as the flame from a blow torch slices through the material with ease. It’s not obvious yet, but this sheet of metal will soon be used to stop bullets and shrapnel from injuring or killing coalition forces.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/200742753139

April 22, 2007; Submitted on: 04/27/2007 05:31:39 AM ; Story ID#: 200742753139
By Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Marines at the Metal Shop, Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), save the lives of their brothers-in-arms in a different way than most.

These Marines come up with innovative new ways to protect other Marines by using the equipment and materials only they have.

“We make anything out of metal,” said Cpl. Adam S. Achterberg, a machinist and Wausau, Wis., native with the shop, pointing to a hand-crafted component on a nearby air compressor.

“We’re the MacGyver for metal,” he said referring to the television show of the same name. Except they deal with more than just paperclips.

"We can fabricate and repair just about anything that has to do with metal," said Sgt. Carlos A. Lemus, the shop’s noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "Anything from a little crack to up-armoring vehicles."

Personnel in the area come to these Marines with their requests for specially designed fabrications they need in a hurry.

“To modify a piece of gear to best suit the purpose, you can’t wait for someone to manufacture it,” said Lemus. “It would take so long to get made and mailed from a manufacturer, when we can do it in a matter of days.”

The Metal Shop has both machinists and welders working together to meet the needs of Regimental Combat Team 6 and Marines throughout the Fallujah area.

"Even though we're two different (military occupational specialties), we basically go hand-in-hand," said Lemus, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native. "Our mission here is to provide and fabricate whatever is needed to assist the mission of RCT-6.”

Although not every Marine goes on combat missions or participates in operations, Cpl. Rogelio R. Quintero, a welder with the shop, said they are all just as important.

“Every MOS makes a difference out here. They’re all necessary,” said the Calexico, Calif., native.

Quintero said although he doesn’t leave Fallujah, his job is a very gratifying one.

“It feels pretty good to know you’re helping,” he said. “(Marines) come in and ask for things and two days later come in to thank you personally, because they got hit and what you did saved them.”

Some of the recent projects the shop has taken up include brainstorming ideas for machine gun turrets and other modifications on existing gear. One such product is a more enclosed turret, which makes use of ballistic glass to stop sniper fire and shrapnel.

“It’s all so the life expectancy of a gunner will be that much higher,” Lemus added.

Lemus also said anyone outside the camp can depend on them to continue their high quality of work for the entirety of the deployment.

"Whatever it is someone needs, we try to get them the best quality product," he said. "We take pride in our work. If it comes from here, it's going to be of a high quality. We're giving people outside the wire a better chance of survival. There's not one person in this shop that isn't thinking about that."

Posted by sr at 6:15 PM | Permalink

EWING -- As they neared the waiting crowds, subdued anticipation turned instantly to sheer joy. As they entered the airport, the screams were deafening.

http://www.trentonian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18245017&BRD=1697&PAG=461&dept_id=44551&rfi=6

JOE D’AQUILA, Staff Writer

04/22/2007

They were U.S. Marines, back from Iraq, and the awaiting mob was made up of the friends and family members who’ve missed them for months.

The fighting men and women arriving in buses at the Trenton Mercer Airport yesterday were the Marine Reserves of the 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment’s Golf Battery, and the scene was a heartfelt one.

Signs, in hands, on cars and affixed, contained messages like: "Thank you for fighting for our freedom," "Semper Fi," and simply "Welcome Home."

Their motor-coaches were preceded by a miles-long motorcade of motorcycles that came roaring in to announce their arrival.

Grown men wept openly upon the first sight of the Marine packed buses, and husbands and wives embraced with salty, tear-streaked kisses as relief kicked in with the realization that the safety was real -- their children were home.

"Oh my God!" some screamed. "There they are!"

They’d been back in country, back from Iraq, at Camp LeJeune, N.C., for about a week, and now they were finally coming home.

As the buses pulled in through the flag-waving crowd, only the outlines of standing Marines were visible through the blackened glass windows.

Bus occupants and the waiting loved ones sought that long-awaited connection.

The reunion had been delayed, and their arrival in Ewing was about three hours later than expected. The anticipation was only heightened though, and spirits were never dampened.

But there was one more hurdle.

After getting off the bus, the Marines stood in formation, the crowd circling in around them, eager to pounce with hugs and kisses.

As they stood though -- the tension building to unbearable levels -- local politicians sought to "show their support" by making welcome home speeches.

"Come on," people shouted from the crowd, as the pols pontificated. "Let them go already."

Then, all in one great whoosh, the celebrations were finally underway, as the Marines in the center of an ever collapsing circle welcomed this type of attack.

For one Marine, 33-year-old Sgt. Jason Rivers, his homecoming was filled with surprises.

Rivers’ entire family came up from Philadelphia and the surrounding area to surprise him as he got off the bus, but he had been under the impression he’d be greeted by a much smaller party, according to his mother Ida Harris.

"I told him just me and his kids were coming to pick him up," Harris said. "It ended up being seven carloads. I knew it was going to be seven cars, the whole family came, and he was really, really surprised."

Harris said it had been nine months since she saw her son and she was relieved that he was back at home.

"I was overwhelmed," she said. "I just cried and cried and cried. I just thanked God that he came home safely to me."

For one group in attendance though, there would be tears, but no tearful reunion.

The homecoming for this particular Burlington County family should have come two years ago, but in May of 2005, 33-year-old Sgt. Anthony Goodwin, was killed in action.

But Goodwin’s mother, Brenda Cheney, wouldn’t have missed yesterday’s event for the world.

When her Anthony was taken from her, she said it was First Sgt. Rufino Mendez who was saddled with the task of bringing the news.

"Ever since then, Sgt. Mendez has been just like family to us," Cheney said.

She said they stayed in touch, and the Marine’s mother eventually took to mothering the men and women of 14th Regiment.

"When I heard that his reserves were going over, I said, ‘well put me in touch with them,’" she said.

Yesterday, Mendez said he was glad to be home, and said his Marines wouldn’t be heading back to war anytime soon.

"We’re not going anywhere," Mendez said. "These boys and girls are done."

He also spoke of Goodwin’s family and what they had come to mean to him.

"These folks are a class act," he said. "I had to be the one to go over there and tell them, and they welcomed me with opened arms."

When Cheney offered to help Mendez’s reserves group, he put the grieving mother in touch with another First Sgt. Daniel Manriques, of Fresno California.

Manriques, though he never knew Cheney’s son, knew his reputation, and he had nothing but praise for the fallen sergeant.

"Her son was just a Marine’s Marine," Manriques said.

The 18-year Marine Corps veteran said his role was mainly an administrative one for the 3rd Battalion, where he at times serves as anything from legal advisor to marriage counselor.

He said that when he got in touch with Cheney it was clear that she just wanted to help The Corps, and care packages that she sent to Iraq, made life a little more comfortable in a difficult situation.

"People are dying over there," he said. "They’re dying, sometimes, and its an invisible enemy. You don’t see them.

"You’re just waiting for your turn. When is it your turn to roll over a mine? When is it your turn?"

Manriques said he knew the 3rd Battalion had lost some of its Marines during its latest tour in Iraq, though he wasn’t sure how many. He said though that the 220 members of the Golf Battery were all OK, and 107 members came home yesterday, as others serving in the Battery were allocated from other units.

Manriques said that after he helps the Battalion’s reservist make their exit from the service, he’ll attempt to make his own homecoming in California, where his wife and two children are -- including a four-month-old boy he has yet to meet.

"I can’t wait to see my son," he said.

And while she couldn’t see her own son, Manriques said he believed Cheney used her continued involvement with the Marines to help her throughthe pain of her loss.

For Cheney, she said she feels she’s now part of a larger family.

"They treated me with such respect, that I felt it was just right for me to be here when they came back," Cheney said. "They’ve been there for me, I want to be there for them.

"I know that I have no one coming home, but I do have someone coming home. The Marine Corps, we’re family, and Marines take care of Marines."

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 6:05 PM | Permalink

Lance Cpl. Brandon Morgan seemed a little disoriented Saturday afternoon as he stepped onto the lawn at his wife's grandmother's house in Red Bank.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=14221&zoneid=77

Sunday, April 22, 2007

By Mary Fortune
Staff Writer

"It's kind of weird. It's crazy being home," he said, looking around. Then he repeated the word slowly, nearly whispering: "Home."

The 22-year-old is one of 29 Marines in the Chattanooga-based Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, who returned from seven months of service in Iraq on Saturday.

For hours before the bus arrived carrying the Marines from Camp Lejune, N.C., friends and family from across the region crowded the grass and the parking lot around the Marine Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway.

The roadsides and parking lot were decked in signs, balloons and banners welcoming the Marines home. People waited under shade trees and tents they had brought, tending babies and clutching cell phones as the bus carrying their Marines made its way down the interstate. The bus left Camp Lejune at 5 a.m. and arrived at the Riverpark more than 10 hours later, escorted by police and Patriot Guard motorcycles.

Everyone who waited had a story:

Jamie Dean, 20, will marry her fiancé, Lance Cpl. James Olmeda, on Aug. 25. He proposed the week before he left for Iraq.

Carrie Byrne was behind an effort to get signs bearing the name of her son, Lance Cpl. Justin Schultz, hung all over the area -- including on an overpass above Amnicola Highway.

Lance Cpl. Schultz's sister, Lindsey Harp, got married in October while her brother was still away. "He was supposed to be the best man," she said.

Terri Williams has two sons in the Marine Corps. Her 20-year-old, Lance Cpl. Kevin Williams, came home Saturday. Waiting with her was her 19-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Bryan Williams.

"I'm the happiest you could ever be," she said, both her sons at her side.

The day of homecoming was difficult, however, for Robin Patterson. Her son, Lance Cpl. Kristopher Cody Warren, 19, was killed in November during his service in the Anbar province of Iraq.

Mrs. Patterson brought her 3-month-old son, Dylan, to the homecoming. Lance Cpl. Warren had told his mother during a phone call from Iraq that he wanted his baby brother to be named Dylan. The baby was born two months after his big brother died.

"It's very hard to be here," Mrs. Patterson said. "Cody would have wanted me to."

As the Marines stepped off the bus into the waiting crowd, she handed each of them a rose and told them she was Cody's mom. Many of them embraced her as she wept.

Lance Cpl. Morgan's mother, Debbie Morgan, said she worried constantly about her son while he was gone -- and about all the men and women in harm's way.

"Every time there's a fallen soldier, they belong to someone," she said.

Lance Cpl. Morgan said he conducted more than 347 convoys and patrols during his time in Iraq, and twice his forward operating base was hit by vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

"I had a chance to prove myself, and I stood up to the plate when things went bad, and when things were good I was still there, too," he said.

Lance Cpl. Morgan said he hopes to return to Iraq.

"You want them to have what we have here," he said.

His wife, Tiffany Morgan, 21, said she'll support her husband "in whatever he wants to do." Then she paused and lowered her voice. "But I'm going to try to talk him out of it."

Lance Cpl. Cody Michelena, 21, said he also hopes to return to Iraq.

"It's kind of hard to explain," he said. "It's a gift to be in the military and do what we do."

And, he said, pointing to his best friend, Lance Cpl. Morgan, "Me and him are good at it."

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 5:51 PM | Permalink

April 21, 2007 - This has been an extra special Saturday in Northeast Philadelphia. It was a jubilant homecoming for some 150 Marine reservists.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=local&id=5232107

Very excited friends and family turned out in big numbers here at the Army Forces Reserve Center in Northeast Philadelphia. They came hours early, ready to welcome home from Iraq more than 150 members of the Battalion 14 Marines.

"It was 7 months ... A very long time. You just pray every night that everyone's safe," said Greenbrook resident Kim Rogers.

An artillery unit by training Battalion 14 took on the duties of military police. In places like Fallujah and Ramadi, they went on patrol but also trained local police.

The word came they were getting close and hundreds of motorcycles joined in the police escort up I-95.

And then the Marines arrived.

They were greeted by loud cheers from their families and then long hugs and kisses from those who missed them so very much.

Corp. Brian Slovensky said, "We didn't expect this many people. The whole ride back. It was just unbelievable. We felt like rockstars."

These Marines won't be called up for at least a year, but some have already volunteered to return to duty in Iraq before then.

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 6:10 PM | Permalink

The Marine Corps issued a directive Tuesday restricting the use of store-bought personal protective equipment in the war zone, including body armor, ballistic glasses, armor plates and fire-retardant clothing.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,132837,00.html?ESRC=marine.nl

Military.com | By Christian Lowe | April 19, 2007

Corps officials say Marines may not use such protective equipment in place of gear issued by service. Marines are free to buy and wear their own safety equipment - including body armor- officials explained, but they must also use their issued items and will not be reimbursed for their purchase.

The Army issued a similar message in March of 2006 after controversy erupted over claims that a certain type of body armor vest designed by Fresno, Calif.-based Pinnacle Armor was more effective than service-issued Interceptor vests. But for more than a year, the Corps declined to follow suit.

Read the Marine Corps Directive here.

The so-called "Dragon Skin" vest - which was among the armor banned by the Army - uses interlocking ceramic disks that videos on Pinnacle's Web site claim can absorb multiple AK-47 rounds and 9mm shots without penetration.

The current enhanced small arms protective plate can absorb a small number of high-velocity AK-47 rounds before failure.

"In its current state of development, Dragon Skin's capabilities do not meet Army requirements," the Army's March 17, 2006, "safety of use message" states. "In fact, Dragon Skin has not been certified by the Army for protection against several small-arms threats being encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan today."

"Although this message specifically identifies Dragon Skin, it applies to other commercially available body armor products (such as commercial police vests) that are not Army approved and issued," it added.

At the time, the Marine Corps declined to go along with the Army's ban, saying they preferred to have Marines wear Corps-issued vests but would not issue a formal restriction.

But on April 17, Marine officials reversed their stance, restricting the use of personal protective equipment - including body armor - to those items issued by the Corps.

"Individual Marines [and] Sailors may not use commercial PPE in lieu of government tested, approved and issued PPE," the message states. "Individually-purchased commercial PPE will not be reimbursed by command [or] unit funds."

The message is unclear whether Marines who continue to wear their own protective gear will be disciplined, but the Army has said Soldiers could face disciplinary action if they defy the ban.

"If Soldiers are doing this, they're doing it at their own risk," a top Army acquisition official said announcing last year's ban. "But I can tell you Army Soldiers, at this point in time, based upon the safety of use message that was sent out, are prohibited at this point in time from wearing it - it's a command requirement to basically take care of that."

The marketing and manufacture of after-market military equipment has become a booming business since 9-11, with companies selling a wide range of glasses, goggles, vests and uniforms that troops often find more comfortable and customizable than military-issued gear.

The services have moved in recent months to alleviate concerns over comfort and fit of body armor and other protective equipment, with both the Army and Marine Corps replacing their Interceptor vests with new designs. Soldiers and Marines have also been issued a variety of modern protective equipment through "rapid equipping" and "urgent needs" initiatives.

The Corps' announcement gives some leeway to Marines and their commanders to use non-issued PPE gear, but only "as long as those additions do not interfere with the functionality of approved PPE." Moreover, Marine commanders may not use any funds to purchase unit-specific gear that has not been government-tested and approved for use by the Corps.

The policy also allows Marines to reduce the amount of protective equipment they wear based on the threat and a commander's requirements.

During their deployment to Afghanistan in 2004, for example, leathernecks with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit were authorized to wear plate-carriers in lieu of their full body armor vests given the minimal blast threat where they were operating and to reduce weight in the rugged, high-altitude terrain.

"Commanders who determine that a lower level of PPE is appropriate must receive approval from their respective [Marine] or [joint] commander prior to execution of any change," the Marine message said.

Posted by sr at 8:22 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (April 18, 2007) -- Regimental Combat Team 2 launched operation Valiant Guardian on March 26, 2007. In support of that operation, 1st Light Armored Vehicle Battalion has sent its Marines throughout the western Euphrates River valley to disrupt enemy movement and form communication bonds with the local populace.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ad983156332a819185256cb600677af3/7f5287c3c1efb592852572c10022637f?OpenDocument

April 18, 2007; Submitted on: 04/18/2007 02:15:36 AM ; Story ID#: 200741821536
By Lance Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

In order to effectively accomplish this mission, the battalion needed to create some means of communicating with its units over extremely long distances, and provide additional combat support at the same time.

The answer: a mobile forward combat operations center, also known as a COC.

“All infantry units have forward COCs, ours just happens to be mobile because of the nature of our unit,” said Master Sgt. Albert E. Lopez, the battalion’s assistant operations chief.

The battalion has several units and attachments working together throughout their area of operation, so it is no easy feat to have eyes and ears on everything at the same time.

“We are out here working with Charlie Company, plus they got the quick reaction force, canine units, and all kinds of units with separate missions,” said Lopez, a Costa Mesa, Calif., native. “We direct communication traffic between all of them with higher headquarters.”

Communication is the number one priority of the forward COC, according to Pfc. George