Marine Corps News Room

USS TORTUGA, Coral Sea – For more than two weeks, USS Tortuga (LSD 46) along with embarked Marines as well as Midshipmen on summer cruise have been conducting Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07) alongside their Australian counterparts.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/ts07/News/26.htm

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brandon A. Myrick, USS Tortuga Public Affairs
posted: June 30, 2007

Tortuga Sailors began the backload of the 3d Expeditionary Brigade’s 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the ship June 28, putting a final stamp on what has been a successful scheme of maneuvers to put forces ashore in order to conduct exercise objectives.

Throughout the exercise, Tortuga Sailors operated soundly within the combined sea echelon by launching and recovering Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) and handling both U.S. and Australian helicopters. The overall impact was getting people and cargo where it needed to be and showcasing interoperability between the forces, according to Tortuga’s senior leaders.

Exercise TS07, a U.S. / Australian- led joint task force operation preparing both militaries for crisis-action planning and execution of contingency operations. More than 20,000 U.S. and 12,000 Australian personnel participated in the military training exercise and each branch of the military trained together to enhance their combined and joint war fighting skills.

Tortuga Sailors trained side-by-side with the Australian military and providing an opportunity to practice working together in a combined and joint environment, test interoperability and refine procedures and doctrine.

“Training along side the Australian military was an opportunity for the Sailors to receive the training they require being on a forward-deployed ship,” said Tortuga’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Todd A. Lewis. “I commend ‘Team Tortuga’ for all their hard work and dedication.”

Tortuga’s well deck and flight deck were always ready to go throughout the exercise, as personnel and cargo were in constant motion. Even with the operational tempo high, Tortuga Sailors rose to the challenge—safely and proficiently.

“The evolutions were conducted safely and flawlessly throughout the entire training cycle,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW/AW) Earnest C. Pippen. “I give the credit to the training teams designated to train junior Sailors, and the junior Sailors hard work and willingness to learn.”

Highlighting the evolutions required of the ship during the exercise, was a refueling at sea with an Australian refueling vessel, sustaining Tortuga at sea and war fighting capabilities.

“Deck Department ensured the highest level of readiness while conducting the various training exercises,” said Pippen. “The crew always kept a positive attitude even with the high demands of this exercise.”

Quartermaster Seaman Kevin Bell, who was able to observe and work within combined ships movements as part of the navigation team said, “It was an honor to work with [the Australians] and I learned so much about how they operate.”

Tortuga embarked several Midshipmen who received first hand training on what a forward-deployed ship such as Tortuga does and how much work goes into a training scenario such as TS07.

“Deck Department assisted with providing us LCAC rides, small boat transfers and tours in various helicopters exercises,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Brittney Lambert. “I appreciate all their effort and I had a great time on board Tortuga.”

Exercise TS07 is designed to maintain a high level of interoperability between U.S. and Australian forces, demonstrating the U.S. and Australian commitment to their military alliance and regional security. The exercise also supports increased flexibility and readiness, which are force multipliers in winning the global war on terrorism.

USS Tortuga (LSD 46) is a dock landing ship serving under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. ESG 7/Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

USN

Posted by sr at 9:55 PM | Permalink

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (June 29, 2007) -- Marines hit hard and hit fast. Whether attacking as a squad on foot, rolling in with a convoy of up-armored humvees, or barreling through the streets in a M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, Marines can always be counted on to get into the fight. But when Marines are needed immediately, they take to the skies where no road block or improvised explosive device can slow them down.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/64EAFE0974635BE685257309007A9D73?opendocument

June 29, 2007; Submitted on: 06/29/2007 06:19:16 PM ; Story ID#: 2007629181916
By Cpl. Scott M. Biscuiti, 11th MEU

The Marines of Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit loaded up on CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters recently conducted heliborne raids to sharpen their skills as the ground combat element’s helo company.

The company attended classes that covered everything from calling in air support to conducting sensitive site exploitation from June 25-30 at Fire Base Gloria, here. They executed two raids, one day and one night, in preparation of their upcoming deployment later this year.

For Marines like Lance Cpl. Cesar Flores, a Woodburn, Ore., native, the training served as a refresher, but for many of the Marines new to the unit, flying in a helicopter was a new experience.

“It was the first time for the company as a whole to fly into an objective and assault it,” said Flores, a rifleman with 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon.

Flores said, aside from the actual assaults, calling in air support on the radio was one of the most helpful parts of the training, and something that most junior Marines don’t know how to do.

Like most of the Marines in Company C, Flores said he enjoys being in the helo company because of the speed at which they can conduct missions.

“When we do an assault it is a hard hit,” he said. “We land fast, move fast, and leave fast.”

Though rehearsing for raids might seem monotonous, the I Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group kept the Marines engaged with surprises at every turn.

“One of the things I didn’t experience last year were the explosions,” Flores said. “They had simulated (rocket propelled grenades) and (improvised explosive devices) going off all around us during the raids. It got me all pumped up and was a total surprise.”

Sgt. Nicholas Boire, a Minnetonka, Minn., native, said he was impressed with the high level of aggressiveness that the Marines of the company displayed during the raids and seeing the small unit leaders grow.

“Some of the positive things I saw was the fighting spirit of the Marines,” said Boire, 1st Squad Leader, 1st Platoon. “During the raids you can really see the fire team leaders coming into their own and making important decisions. They weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, kill the bad guys, clear rooms and take prisoners.”

Posted by sr at 4:04 PM | Permalink

When Sgt. Patrick Campbell returned to law school after serving a tour in Iraq, his student lender told him that he was defaulting on his payments. Due to his deployment to Iraq, he had used up all of his permissible grace period. Unlike his non-veteran classmates, the lender was going to require Patrick to start repaying his loans the day after graduation. Finally, after writing dozens of letters and spending hours on the phone, he was told that the only way to restore his pre-deployment status would be to rewrite the laws. So he did just that. Patrick spent his final year in law school writing the Veterans Education Tuition Support Act (VETS) to help returning student-soldiers.

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,140675,00.html

Paul Rieckhoff | June 28, 2007

Today that bill was introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) and Representative Susan Davis (CA). This new legislation will fix the loopholes that were punishing young Iraq vets like Patrick. The Veterans Education Tuition Support Act, or VETS Act, will:

Require colleges to refund tuition for service members who deploy (or provide future credits)

Restore veterans to their academic status when they return

Cap student loan interest payments at 6% while the student is deployed

Extend the period of time a student-soldier has to re-enroll after returning from abroad

Patrick's story is reality for the thousands of other National Guardsmen and Reservists who are also college students. For these troops, deployment poses extra financial burdens - including thousands of dollars in lost tuition and overdue student loans.

Sgt. Todd Bowers, IAVA's Director of Government Affairs, experienced this first hand. When he was activated on his second deployment to Iraq, Todd was forced to withdraw from his university only two weeks before finals. After he returned from Iraq, the school would not allow him to take his finals or finish his classes, and they refused to refund his tuition. Only after local media picked up on his story did the university permit Todd to finish his finals and complete his classes.

We at IAVA are incredibly proud of Patrick for pushing to make this bill a reality. He has shown how one motivated young veteran can make a difference. The VETS bill will help reassure men and women in uniform that serving their country opens doors to higher education, instead of closing them. Join us now in making sure it gets passed. You can learn more now at www.iava.org. Tell your members of congress that college students shouldn't be punished for deciding to serve their country.

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 7:59 PM | Permalink

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia (NNS) -- Nearly $14,000 raised through a “gold coin” fund-raiser was donated June 25 to Legacy, an Australian nonprofit veteran's charity, during a reception for Talisman Saber 2007 dignitaries in Rockhampton.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30310

Release Date: 6/28/2007

By U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gloria Wilson, Combined/Joint Public Affairs Rockhampton, Australia

The gold coin donations were given as part of Talisman Saber’s Open Day, when the local community met exercise participants to see equipment normally kept behind military gates.

A number of people were delighted with the amount raised.

“Legacy is a volunteer nonprofit organization that sees to the welfare of widows and dependants of deceased Australian veterans who have died as a result of war,” said Allan Fuary, Legacy representative and one of the Talisman Saber's Open Day coordinators. “The amount raised at open day was absolutely outstanding and will go to good use.”

All of the money that goes into Legacy is spent on the ground level, said Fuary. Nothing goes into the state coffers and, with volunteers doing the work, money is maximized and goes where it should -- to veterans’ families in need.

Janet Boyd, coordinator of city governance and personnel assistant to Rockhampton’s mayor, said the amount exceeded their wildest dreams. The event itself took a lot of hard work and involved everyone pitching in.

“It was a team effort,” Boyd said of the fund-raiser that involved Australians and Americans coming together. “We all made friends along the way.”

Such an effort coincides with the goal of interoperability between the two nations, which is a large part of Talisman Saber’s purpose. Rear Adm. John Hines Jr. pointed out how successful the exercise’s planning stage went in May.

“But here is where the live portion of the exercise takes place; here the important relationship building between two countries and their branches of service happens and now during the exercise is the right time,” said Hines, the U.S. Director, Combined Exercise Control Group. “A real-world event is not the time to exchange business cards.”

Business cards, however, were exchanged during the reception’s social time, when attendees mingled and got to know each other more.

“Even this event is about interoperability,” said Ian Power, Legacy treasurer.

When the evening formalities started, Royal Australian Army Brig. Gen. David McKaskill, Australian Director, Combined Exercise Control Group, helped set the stage for the official check handover. He thanked both military and civilians for their contributions to open day and to the exercise overall.

McKaskill said their combined efforts not only gave non-participants an inside view of Talisman Saber, but also helped raise money for an important cause. He said Talisman Saber participants were honored to give back to the community.

The gratitude continued as Peter Lindsey, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Defence, thanked the community and military for their commitment and support.

“Whether it’s at Open Day or in the field, we work together well and we all share the common interest of making the world a better place,” he said.

Talisman Saber 2007 is a biennial U.S.- and Australian-led joint task force exercise designed to prepare both nations for crisis action planning and execution of contingency operations and maintains a high level of interoperability between the forces, demonstrating commitment to regional security and the U.S. and Australian military alliance. The exercise also supports increased flexibility and readiness, which are force multipliers in winning the global war on terrorism.

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 7:16 PM | Permalink

RAWAH, Iraq (June 28, 2007) -- Some people would agree that if a sport had to be chosen which embodied freedom of oppression and represented overcoming fear of insurgency in order to continue a normal life, soccer might be the number one choice. Football, basketball and wrestling would probably be lucky enough to make the top five also.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ad983156332a819185256cb600677af3/84717d583f00a9e4852573080047ec2c?OpenDocument

June 28, 2007

By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

In a small town of over 20,000 people which overlooks the Euphrates River, a volleyball game marked the end of an era of fear, and the beginning of freedom for the villagers and Marines who call Rawah, Iraq their home. Iraqi civilians showed up in the dozens for the first time in months, if not years according to a local interpreter, to cheer on their local team against the Marines.

On the evening of June 16, 2007, Cpl. Christopher J. Clark, a light armored vehicle gunner with Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, and several of the Marines in his company started a volleyball game with some of the city’s local civilians.

“It was a great experience, we knew we were safe, so we just went out there to gain their trust and have fun,” said Clark, a Livermore, Calif., native. “We want the locals to see we aren’t faceless people who invade with no hearts, we are regular guys, just like them.”

According to the players, the games gathered nearly 100 civilian spectators around the court to watch as the Marines, who had taken off all their gear for the occasion, tried to keep up with the more experienced locals.

“We had over a platoon on watch total,” said Gunnery Sgt. William J. Gwaltney, the company gunnery sergeant. “We had some guys up in over watch positions, we had others roaming around, a complete cordon, plus two LAVs nearby. And the court was one of the most defensible positions around, I think we looked at nearly a dozen different volleyball courts, but the position of this one just couldn’t have been better.”

The court was set on a small flat in the side of a bowl-like valley, cradled next to the river on the eastern edge of the city. Roads and alleys crisscrossed the high ground surrounding the valley, and the court was lit by several street lights.

“We were on patrol one night, and I just decided to stop and talk to the guys we saw playing ball,” said 1st Lt. Josh L. Schneider, a platoon commander with the company. “They said they always played at the same time, so I figured why not join them sometime. After our company and battalion commanders approved it, we went out, secured the sight, and had some fun.”

The Marines all agreed the impact on the populace was staggering once word got out of the game.

“Someone said there were over 100 people there watching, plus the ones we couldn’t see on the hills and in the nearby houses. The number one thing we have done since I’ve been here is improve public relations with the citizens of this city. We make ourselves personable, and things like this help show we have common interests, and we really are human,” said Gwaltney, a Kenosha, Wis., native.

Gwaltney went on to say the event’s success was due to human nature. He said sports and competition are the things anyone, anywhere, from any culture have in common and can enjoy and understand.

“I think this shows the populace we aren’t afraid of the bad guys, and they shouldn’t be either,” said Schneider, a Long Island, N.Y., native. “People need to know we have taken a town where insurgency ran rampant, and people were afraid to leave their houses, and turned it to the point where we can have guys in the open having fun and laughing while being surrounded by locals doing the same thing. Not one person was thinking, ‘What if...,’”

The Marines lost three of four games, to the loud cheers of the spectators, but by the reactions of the group you would think they had shut out the other team.

“I didn’t feel bad at all,” Clark said. “Those guys are out there every night for hours. We had fun, they had fun, and we even won a game, all in all I would say it was a huge success.”

At the end of the game, Gwaltney was jokingly awarded both the titles ‘Most Valuable Player’ and ‘Ball Hog.’

Some of the Marines said they look forward to playing again, and even getting the local Iraqi Police involved in the festivities.

“Next time, who knows, we may even put a few IPs on our side of the court. It might even improve our game,” said Schneider. “We are starting to transition control over to the Iraqi side of the house and showing the civilians who we really are. The more involved we get in their lives, the easier it will be for them to continue once we are gone.”

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 7:11 PM | Permalink

RUTBAH, Iraq (June 28, 2007) -- The rank of corporal has great meaning for a Marine. They proudly brandish the traditional blood stripe, and must take on the great responsibility that comes with the stripe to lead junior Marines.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/90CEAF28FE6B313C8525730800472DC4?opendocument

June 28, 2007

By Lance Cpl. Brian L. Lewis, 2nd Marine Division

For Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Task Force Tarawa, one corporal is making quite an impression and showing what the true value of leadership is.
“I don’t see myself as a leader, but for some reason others seem to,” said Cpl. Travis J. Lambert, a designated marksman with the company. “I just do what I am told; no questions asked.”
Lambert provides a vital resource for the battalion by acting as a designated marksman.

“My job is similar to a sniper, but with less strenuous training,” says the Ocula, Fla., native. “I am there to provide over watch for the safety of the area, as well as acquire accurate targets, so there is less collateral damage.”

Lambert also goes beyond the call of duty, assisting on operations taking place, and often lending his experienced hand by leading patrols and missions in the area.

“It isn’t hard to lead Marines for patrols, you just have to make a mental checklist before you leave,” he said. “Checking for protective equipment, plenty of water and making sure they are in the mindset is a few of the things I remind myself to do.”

Lambert’s proactive attitude has caught the eye of many of his superiors, to which they praise highly.

“He brings so much to the table,” says 1st Sgt. Ramon B. Nash, the company first sergeant. “Just considering his job at hand, he brings vital intelligence reports about the area that allow us to keep operations running smoothly.”

Lambert, who is currently on his third tour in Iraq, has spent great amounts of time learning how to deal with certain situations, and ways to help fellow Marines deployed for their first time. He often reflects on past experiences to help lead others while on patrol.

“I remember my first deployment. Times were so much different than they are (now),” he recalls. “You constantly had to keep your head down. It was nonstop chaos.”

The war has changed much since then, but Lambert still carries himself as if he were still living in the same atmosphere as before.

"You always must keep the mindset that you are being watched, especially on patrol,” he said. “I am constantly monitoring the surroundings, constantly looking for a place to take cover in the event of an emergency, and constantly making sure that my Marines are doing the same thing.”

It is this mindset that his superiors believe will be his greatest asset as he climbs into new ranks and is put into a position to lead greater numbers of Marines.

“Since I have been part of the company, I have watched him grow tremendously,” said Nash. “Even to this day, he still asks questions and makes great effort to understand anything available to learn.”

As his deployment nears the halfway mark, Lambert looks to the future with high expectations.

“I hope that the Iraqi Army and Police can achieve a status where they can support themselves,” he said. “I’ve seen too many people lose their lives, and I hope to see it come to an end.”

Task Force Tarawa is part of Regimental Combat Team 2 located in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province.

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 6:56 PM | Permalink

RAWAH, Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- The Iraqi desert has the ability to alter the perceptions of Marines, especially those who have been deployed for a long period of time. Showers are no longer part of the everyday routine, instead they become a luxury. The same happens with food; what used to be considered commonplace is transformed into the extra-ordinary, and the extra-ordinary becomes something else entirely.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ad983156332a819185256cb600677af3/2417aab0c2817acc85257306004ed8db?OpenDocument

June 26, 2007; Submitted on: 06/26/2007 10:21:13 AM ; Story ID#: 2007626102113
By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Downing and Staff Sgt. Barrett A. Kahl spent the entire day recently, learning how to transform their food services into something beyond the normal expectations. They traveled to Camp Kassam, an Iraqi Army base near Rawah, Iraq, in order to observe and help in the day’s food preparation.

“We assisted the Iraqi soldiers in a ‘VIP luncheon’,” said Kahl, the battalion field food service system chief with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2. “It was a traditional Iraqi dinner for the mayors of nearby cities, the regimental commander, the battalion’s commander, executive officer, and sergeant major, as well as several high ranking civilians.”

The day started at about six in the morning, when the sheep was selected and butchered, before being set to boil inside a pot on an open flame.

“We definitely learned a few things. They cook a little differently than we do. They use what the environment gives them, like wood and a hole in the ground for fire, when we would just turn a knob or switch to start cooking,” said Kahl, a Jarrettsville, Md., native.

Downing, a native of Yorkbeach, Maine, agreed, saying the experience gave him a new respect for others in his profession.

“When I see what’s going on around us, I think to myself, ‘We have a long way to go culinary-wise,’ but then after visiting their camp, it definitely gives an appreciation for the tools and supplies we have,” said Downing, who is serving on his second deployment to Iraq.

While the chicken and sheep were boiling, the two Marines spent their time learning how to make traditional Iraqi pita bread.

“To tell the truth we had a bake-off of sorts,” said Downing. “It was just for fun, to see who could make the most dough rolls the fastest. The chef who was showing us seemed like a great guy, even though I think he won.”

The competition lasted roughly ten minutes, each competitor using a different method for rolling the dough. The Iraqi chef tossed the bread between his hands, squeezing out perfect rolls in seconds, while Downing used a putty knife to cut equal portions before rolling them on the table with his palms. Though the competition was close, the Iraqi chef won by four rolls.

“It was a great experience, comparing different techniques and tools, but most importantly we learned how to prepare their style of food. To be honest, I was impressed,” said Downing.

According to the two Marines, this wasn’t just a one-time occasion, they plan on opening the boundaries between the two culinary cultures and hope it will strengthen the bond between the two groups.

“We are going to do this many more times. We even hope to bring their cooks here to watch us sometime, and we want to blur that invisible boundary between us and them. We are all here together supporting the same mission,” Kahl said. “This type of thing builds trust and communication, they see us making an effort, and as a bonus, the final product was amazing.”

The pita-bread was laid out on large bowls and topped first with rice, and then with the boiled lamb and chicken, which was also deep fried briefly, before being finished with green peppers and juices.

“It was very eye appealing, and everyone who gathered to eat raved about the food,” Kahl said.

The two Marines said after a while they forgot the cooks didn’t speak the same language.

“When it comes to culinary arts, communication is just easier because the food does the talking,” said Downing. “We weren’t in a stressed environment, and everyone was doing what they loved. I guess words weren’t really needed.”

The cooks said they will definitely be using what they learned to enhance the battalion’s eating experience in the future.

“We finally figured out the secret of their Chai tea,” said Kahl. “That alone is a huge accomplishment and will be a great addition to the dining experience.”

Posted by sr at 11:14 PM | Permalink

RUTBAH, Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Task Force Tarawa, are leaving their mark in the hearts and minds of the citizens here.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/1BF73EC8814A230985257306004623EB?opendocument

June 26, 2007

By Lance Cpl. Brian L. Lewis, 2nd Marine Division

The company, having been in the area for only a few months, has noticed a change in the people’s attitude toward coalition forces.

“The people here are helping us out with information that is vital,” says Capt. Brent H. McClellan, the company commanding officer. “Especially, ever since the Iraqi police were put in place, we’ve had full support from them.”

The Marines have made strenuous efforts to bring safety to the area for themselves, as well as the Iraqi people.

“Bravo Company is here for one reason, a peacekeeping mission,” said 1st Sgt. Ramon M. Nash, the company first sergeant. “We are here to protect the innocent and one of our biggest concerns is to look out for not just our own, but the Iraqi people’s welfare as well.”

The company is having no trouble keeping that promise to the people, as patrols are kept on a routine basis allowing Marines to constantly be searching for anything that could bring harm to the area.

“We are looking out for them, and because of this we have been well accepted,” Nash said. “Unfortunately, we sometimes have to interrupt their daily routines for a search, for example, but they understand that it is only in their best interest.”

The mission has been highly successful since their arrival, and has only hit a few bumps along the road.

“We have received some problems in the city, but nothing I would have considered dealing with the insurgency,” McClellan said. “Rutbah, like any other city, has criminals, and I believe that is what those problems have been.”

Having met constant success, the company looks toward a bright future for the stabilization of the city and the surrounding areas.

“They main idea is hoping to turn over the entire area to the protection of the Iraqi police, who have done an amazing job, but are not quite ready,” McClellan said. “Until then, we will continue to maintain security in the area for the safety of the Iraqis.”

Task Force Tarawa is part of Regimental Combat Team 2, a Marine Corps command responsible for more than 30,000 square miles and 5,500 Marines, sailors and soldiers in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

Posted by LD for MarineParents.com at 7:04 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST GOLDEN (near Kharma) Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- In a combat environment, smiles can be few and far between … especially when Marines are short on stimulants.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/2007629114323

June 26, 2007; Submitted on: 06/29/2007 11:43:23 AM ; Story ID#: 2007629114323
By Sgt. Andy Hurt, 13th MEU

Enter the Mobile Post Exchange, which brings disposable goods, personal articles, tobacco products and high-octane beverages into forward areas where the precious commodities aren’t normally available.

Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines were recently treated to a visit from the Mobile PX, bringing with it 13th MEU disbursing Marines providing cash withdrawals for purchases.

As it brings goods to forward areas, the Mobile PX crew faces every possible danger its consumers do, including roadside bombs and ambushes. It is the effort of many moving parts to run a single mission, and the PX crew is awarded great satisfaction.

Corporal Kenneth Boyd, a vehicle operator from Combat Logistics Battalion 13, drives the PX trailer from post to post, and said the reaction upon arrival is universal.

“You can really see the Marines’ faces light up,” he said, “It makes them feel better and I really like doing my job.”

Boyd, a native of Lincoln, Ky., said the largest articles of consumption are tobacco products and energy drinks – a direct correlation between the fog of war and 24-hour combat operations.
“This is the kind of stuff that keeps them going out there,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Chandu Malapaka, offering a leadership perspective, said the reason for the visit boils down to hygiene and morale.

“We’re out here in the dust all the time, bloody noses and everything, and we need those basic necessities … It’s like a third-world country out here,” said Malapaka, BLT 3/1 admin chief.
“And at the same time, it’s nice to have the luxury items, too … Really, it’s like a piece of home they’re bringing to us.”

For more information about the warriors of BLT 3/1 and the Fighting 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visit the Unit’s Web site at www.usmc.mil/13thmeu.

Posted by sr at 9:12 AM | Permalink

BAGHDAD — U.S. Marines continued counterinsurgency operations in Haditha Sunday in an effort to win the hearts and minds of Iraqi citizens.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12524&Itemid=1

Monday, 25 June 2007

"Showing a presence in the area does a lot more than people would think,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joseph A. Cervantes, squad leader, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2. “We mainly do two types of patrols, one being security patrols, which are designed to have a deterrent effect on anything that happens in the area.”

Marines assigned to 1st Sqd., 3rd Plt., conduct up to three patrols a day. Patrols allow Marines to find the enemy and learn about the populace.

“We also do ‘meet and greet’ patrols. We go out and meet the families, and we start a relationship with them,” said Cervantes. “We speak to them and get their feelings on current situations and take their suggestions on what could be done differently in the city.”

The locals warmed up to the Marines, and now talk to them regularly.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Edward G. Martin, an automatic rifleman in the unit, said the people didn’t act this way upon their arrival late March 2007.

“They seemed a little distant and cold at first,” said Martin. “They’ve always been friendly, but you can tell we’re now winning them over. They’re beginning to trust us and (they’re) glad we’re here.”

Martin recalled a recent 16-hour operation when the Marines were welcomed with open arms by the locals.

“The people were running out and giving us cold water and allowing us to come into their houses and rest,” he added. “This is what lets me know they’re thankful.”

Due to the large amount of patrols, Marines who patrol the area have begun to recognize people in the area.

“We went firm in a house one day and the locals working there recognized us because we stopped at their house earlier in the week,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan A. Fanning, an automatic rifleman in the unit. “He said he remembered us because of how respectful we were with him and his property.”

The friendliness and openness are a growing trend in the region. Numerous battalions have deployed to the Haditha region and experienced daily fire fights, sniper attacks, improvised explosive device explosions, and other friction, said Martin.

“I thought at first it was going to be non-stop fighting, but I’m glad it’s not. After being here, it’s a lot more fulfilling to be helping out in the way that we are,” he said.

Cervantes believed the area has completely turned around.

“The locals used to be very standoff-ish, but now they’re a lot more vocal,” said Cervantes. “I think they’re starting to realize we sacrifice a lot to come out here and help them. They are grateful, but they would still like to see their own army move in. It would help with their national pride a lot to see the Iraqi Army out here.”

While an Iraqi battalion is deployed in the region, they are not permanently positioned in the area.

Cervantes expects it to keep getting better throughout the remainder of the deployment.

“I hope things continue to go smoothly for the rest of the time we’re out here, but I’ll just take it patrol-by-patrol and day-by-day,” said Martin.

(U.S. Marine Corps story by Cpl. Rick Nelson, Combat Correspondent)

Posted by sr at 6:11 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST GOLDEN, Al Anbar Province(June 25, 2007) -- Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, are making serious headway conducting counter-insurgency operations in support of Operation CHINA SHOP.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/8C4A0EBBBC4FE0EC85257306004265B0?opendocument

Submitted by: 13th MEU
Story by: Computed Name: Sgt. Andy Hurt
Story Identification #: 20076268514

Beginning June 24 elements from the battalion, including Light Armored Reconnaissance platoon and Weapons Company, began a large-scale sweep throughout Iraq’s Al Anbar Province intending to disrupt insurgent networks.

The first day of the operation turned up two large vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (car bombs) under construction in a factory, along with a handful of explosive devices already placed on roadways within the area of operations.

Continuing the sweep this morning, the BLT discovered three large weapons caches.
The first cache reportedly contained more than 121 IEDs, more than half of which were already armed. The devices included “speed bump” IEDs, often placed or buried in roads. A shallow grave was also reported in the vicinity of the cache, although battalion staff members are not certain if any human remains were found.

The second find was the largest of the three. A house search uncovered a room containing a high-explosive stack nearly three feet high draped in a United Nations flag. Battalion personnel estimate the material could have been used to construct more than 80 large IEDs. An F-18 Hornet dropped a GBU-12 (500 pound) bomb on the house, uncovering more materials which are currently being handled by Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians from Combat Logistics Battalion 13.

The third cache was discovered in a house pointed out by interpreters because a bus, reported stolen, was parked outside. In the house, Marines discovered various small arms munitions, a rocket-propelled grenade, 10 pressure plate IEDs and other bomb making material.

Lieutenant Col. Phillip W. Chandler, battalion commander, described the day’s finds as “exceptional.”

“We came here to take the accelerants away from the enemy, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said, “Each one of those devices was meant to kill a Marine or a Soldier.”

Operation CHINA SHOP is part of ongoing operations in the Al Anbar Province designed to sever insurgent supply routes and safe houses. Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, will continue operations as long as necessary to accommodate future Coalition Force capabilities in the Province.

“It was a big day,” said Chandler, “and I’m extremely proud of the boys out there.”

For more information about the warriors of Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and the Fighting 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, visit the unit's Web site at www.usmc.mil/13thmeu.

Posted by sr at 3:03 PM | Permalink

Devin Klein and Heidi Mauch, native Charlotteans both, married on Saturday.

http://www.charlotte.com/mobile/story/172875.html

DAVID PERLMUTT
dperlmutt@charlotteobserver.com
Mon, Jun. 25, 2007

Uncle Will from Austin, Texas, flew in for the wedding at the Red Fez Shrine Club on Lake Wylie.

So did Aunt Kathy from Seattle.

Cousins Brian, Kevin and Joel drove up from Atlanta.

Everyone was there -- except for the bride's brother, Weston Mauch, a Marine lance corporal serving his second tour in Iraq.

But the Marines -- along with a band of homefront "conspirators" -- were determined to get him there some way.

The newlyweds, both 24, met a year ago at WBTV, where he's a director and she's a producer. They announced their engagement May 6.

"Heidi's family was so sad that Weston couldn't be here," said the groom's irrepressible mother and lead conspirator, Moira Quinn, an executive for Charlotte Center City Partners. "A lightbulb came on -- maybe he could be."

Easing separation pains

Hooking up troops on the battlefield with their families -- especially for significant events -- is one way volunteers across the country are helping ease separation pains.Three weeks earlier at an April event, Quinn had met Jessica Howerton, an agent manager at the telecommunications company Paetec. With Paetec's encouragement, Howerton volunteers setting up video conferences between Marines and relatives through an Internet network provided by the nonprofit Freedom Calls Foundation.

Howerton jumped at the chance to help Quinn bring Weston to the reception on a two-way video hook-up.

"I have a lot of relatives in the military, and I know it's hard on the family at home when a loved one is deployed," Howerton said. "Peoples' lives continue. Babies are born. Kids have first birthdays. It goes a long way if they can talk to and see each other."

The first issue: the Red Fez needed a powerful DSL (direct satellite link) to make the connection from Iraq. After Quinn contacted club officials, they boosted their DSL. Technical support at AT&T was so moved by the story, they placed a rush on the installation so the link could be tested, Quinn said.

Meanwhile, she had to clue in Weston to the surprise.

Without blowing it, she sneakily got his e-mail address from Heidi. Weeks passed and she heard nothing. So she e-mailed Sgt. Maj. James Thetford, a Marine recruiter she'd met recently.

He wanted specifics about Weston's unit. She finagled from another of Heidi's brothers that Weston is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. So Thetford sent Quinn's request to a sergeant major in the 2/6. Hearing nothing, she called a friend, Marine Maj. Ed Moen, at Camp Lejeune and begged his help.

That was on June 14. Two days later, her request was granted.

"Anyone who saw me on Tryon Street when I got the message on my BlackBerry must have thought I was crazy," Quinn said. "There it was: If the Marine Corps said it was going to happen, it was going to happen."

A toast from Fallujah

And so it did.

A convoy drove Weston to the Chapel of Hope in Fallujah. At 6 a.m. Sunday Iraq time, 10 p.m. Saturday Charlotte time, he sat in front of a camera rehearsing his toast and waiting to see family.

What he didn't know: Internet disaster had struck at the Red Fez. The DSL link died.

"As the reception was going on, we were all frantically running around trying to get the link restored -- and not give away the surprise," Quinn said.

Yet by 10:25 p.m., as Howerton and husband Jeremy worked to resuscitate the link, Quinn took a microphone and told the reception of 200 guests what the band of conspirators had spent weeks trying to put together.

So, by cell phone, Weston talked to his family. His sister, moved to tears, got on first.

"I love you. I miss you. I can't believe I'm talking to you tonight on my wedding night," she said.

He talked to other siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles -- most from Charlotte's Steele Creek section.

His tearful mother, Lou Ann, hugged Quinn and Howerton: "Thank you for bringing my son to my daughter's wedding."

By 11:30 p.m., Weston had his orders to return to the battlefield. His sister cried all the way to her honeymoon suite at the Duke Mansion.

Posted by sr at 10:22 AM | Permalink

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (June 25, 2007) -- Marines of Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines spent June 13-20 sweeping for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and setting up observation posts during their initial push through northern Al Anbar Province.

http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20076308647

June 25, 2007; Submitted on: 06/30/2007 08:06:47 AM ; Story ID#: 20076308647
By Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Stewman, 13th MEU

Putting in long hours and enduring the scorching Iraq heat, vehicle-mounted patrols swept up and down streets, looking for IEDs and any other potential threats to the Marines and their mission.

“It’s important when first entering a new area of operations that you become aware of your surroundings and know what you are up against as far as the enemy goes,” said Cpl. Daniel Poulsen, a mortar man with weapons platoon.

When something suspicious was discovered, the Marines cordoned off the area until Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel arrived and provided security while the threat was eliminated.

“When we cordon off the threat area, it prevents any of our guys or innocent bystanders from getting hurt or killed,” said Poulsen.
Because EOD is responsible for the safe handling of ordnance in a vast battle space, it can often take hours for a possible IED to be disposed of.

As the sun goes down, the days in the desert are far from over. Battle-weary Marines set up for the night in over watch positions or observations posts that will keep eyes on the enemy. Mission accomplishment takes priority over rest, and BLT 3/1 sets a high standard while conducting counter-insurgency operations.

“It’s extremely important for us to keep watch of our surroundings during the night,” said Pvt. Jesse Dorris, weapons platoon squad automatic weapon gunner. “They will try to take advantage of limited visibility during the night so that makes over watch that much more important.”

“That’s what our goal is while we’re out here: eliminating threats and helping those who are unable to help themselves.”

As the Marines of BLT 3/1 continue operations in Al Anbar Province, the actions made during the initial push set the tone for the duration of time here.

Posted by sr at 9:05 AM | Permalink

June 21 (Bloomberg) -- The three U.S. Marines in Lance Corporal Justin Moyer's Humvee shook their heads at the news on their radio phone.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=email_en&refer=europe&sid=aPWYAn_dkGAQ

By Daniel Williams

Iraqi police had just found some explosives hidden in blocks of ice at an ice-making factory in Fallujah, long one of Iraq's most rebellious towns. The explosives were raw material for a roadside bomb, the Marines figured, to be provided to insurgents disguised as a delivery of ice.

``These Iraqis aren't stupid,'' said Moyer, 19, halfway into an eight-month tour of Iraq. ``They'll try anything once. Who would think to inspect ice? It's hot here. Everybody loves ice.''

A day spent with Moyer and his comrades of the Marine 6th Battalion, 2nd Regiment highlights the chronically tenuous security situation in Fallujah. The city is one of the areas targeted by President George W. Bush's 20,000-strong troop ``surge'' designed to bring security to Baghdad and western parts of Iraq this summer.

As such, it will be one of the exhibits in a military and political progress report due for delivery in September by General David Petraeus, the commander of the U.S. forces. The report may set the stage for a U.S. withdrawal over time.

Few places have resisted pacification more than Fallujah, just 45 miles (70 kilometers) west of Baghdad on the road to Syria. Insurgents here fought U.S. troops soon after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and hosted foreign fighters affiliated with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda global terror network. In 2004, U.S. forces assaulted the city twice to clean out rebels and holy warriors.

Sealed Garrison

Compared with then, the town is quiet; it's practically a sealed garrison. Hundreds of Iraqi police and members of the Iraqi army help keep Fallujah under guard. Entry is limited to residents holding special passes. Vehicles travel into the city only under police escort. At least half the population of 350,000 has fled, city officials say.

U.S. commanders say that many insurgents from Fallujah and the rest of Anbar province in Iraq's west have fled eastward to areas where Petraeus mounted a major offensive this week to root them out. The U.S. military said late yesterday it killed at least 41 insurgents in an operation codenamed ``Arrowhead Ripper'' in and around Baquba, northeast of Baghdad.

``The insurgents seek the path of less resistance,'' Colonel Richard L. Simcock, who commands the 6,000 Marines in charge of Fallujah, said in an interview. ``They try to go where we're not.''

The six-Humvee patrol was tasked with clearing main city roads of possible explosives and providing a show of force.

`Something to Look At'

``We like to be part of the scenery,'' said Lance Corporal Mitchell Penny, 21, from North Carolina. ``Give the bad guys something to look at.''

No sooner had he spoken than a distant explosion and a puff of smoke broke over the horizon to the north. The radio said a pickup truck had blown up next to a mobile-phone tower.

The convoy moved slowly down Fallujah's main boulevard. Ruined monuments from past battles lined the road: mosques with chunks out of their domes, collapsed houses, smashed storefronts.

A voice on the radio said that, due to the phone-tower explosion, all civilian car traffic in Fallujah was prohibited. Women in long black shrouds -- pious Islamic dress in much of Iraq -- walked along the roadside.

`Shouldn't Be There'

``There's a pickup truck ahead,'' said Moyer, who's from Ohio. ``Shouldn't be there.'' Penny, sitting above the Humvee in a turret, spun round and pointed a machine gun at the truck. An Iraqi police van pulled up and shooed the vehicle off the road.

The convoy pulled into a barricaded fortress for a break. Layers of barbed wire and concrete barriers protected a Marine base, a police headquarters and Iraqi army barracks, along with municipal buildings.

Two Iraqi soldiers in greenish camouflage approached. They were Shiite Muslims from the far south. Under Hussein, the Shiites were the repressed majority in Iraq. Now they control the government. Fallujah is populated by Sunni Muslims, formerly the politically dominant group.

``Fallujah, no good,'' said one of the Shiites. ``They don't like us here.'' He moved his hands outward as if shovelling forward a large ball and made a ``bam'' sound. ``They like to bomb.''

Rocket Grenade

The convoy moved back out. It passed a kebab restaurant that had reopened just two weeks ago only to shut down again after reverberations from a rocket-grenade attack on a similar Marine patrol shattered its new windows.

The convoy traced loops around the city, sticking to main roads. ``We don't go into the back alleys unless the Iraqis need us for something,'' said Lance Corporal Michael Driscoll, 20, from Connecticut, who was sitting in the back seat.

The Humvees headed out of town. A big line of trucks awaiting escort stood at Fallujah's east end.

Suddenly a big gasoline tank truck made a U-turn and appeared to be coming into the military convoy's path. Penny in the turret tried to wave it off.

``Let's not play chicken with it,' Moyer said, and Penny fired a round from his machine gun. Then another.

The truck lurched to a halt, the warning shots having caught the driver's attention.

``That's good,'' said Moyer.

On the radio, word came that no vehicle traffic was visible in Fallujah and that, by order of the Iraqi army, the ice factory was closed until further notice.

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Williams in Fallujah, Iraq, at dwilliams41@bloomberg.net

Posted by sr at 5:06 PM | Permalink

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Marines in Japan are under new leadership after a change-of-command ceremony here Wednesday evening.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=46836

By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, June 22, 2007

Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Weber turned over command of III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Bases Japan and Marine Forces Japan to Lt. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer.

Marine Corps Bases Japan and Marine Forces Japan include Marine units on Okinawa as well as Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and Camp Fuji on mainland Japan.

In the ceremony at the Camp Foster parade field, Weber thanked assembled troops from III MEF, 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Corps Base Camp Butler for their dedication and sacrifice over the last two years.

In that time, III MEF deployed more than 8,000 Marines to Iraq and Afghanistan, participated in 180 exercises and operations in 18 countries and provided assistance in the aftermath of mudslides, earthquakes and other natural disasters throughout the Asian Pacific.

“Everything the MEF has accomplished has been on the shoulders and backs of the Marines and sailors (MEF officers) have led,” Weber said. “This MEF is ready to go to hell and back. You just tell them when.”

He assured the formation that Zilmer “is a great commanding general and you are in excellent hands.”

Zilmer just returned from Iraq’s Anbar province, where he was the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) commander from February 2006 to February 2007.

Weber is slated to lead Marine Forces Command, based at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Zilmer, who was promoted to his present rank at Camp Courtney on Wednesday morning by visiting Army Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander, told the formation that his first duty station was with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, based at Camp Hansen in 1975.

He described that tour as a challenging time during which his unit deployed to Vietnam to help withdraw U.S. forces there.

Now, 32 years later, duty on Japan is still exciting and demanding, he said.

“I look forward to the challenges to come in the days and months ahead and I challenge you to think smart and think big to meet those challenges.

Posted by sr at 11:02 PM | Permalink

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- Australia and U.S. forces officially began the field training phase of Talisman Saber 2007 on June 19, transitioning from work-up-like integrated training to a combined force executing within a simulated scenario.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=30196

Story Number: NNS070622-27
Release Date: 6/22/2007 3:02:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

The scenario-driven exercise will involve sea, land and air field training as well as crisis-action planning to successfully complete mission objectives.

The biennial exercise, which will bring together nearly 30,000 military personnel from both forces, is meant to improve U.S.-Australia military interoperability and in turn enhance regional stability.

According to Vice Adm. Doug Crowder, Commander U.S. 7th Fleet and the combined task force commander, the exercise is important because of the necessity for combined training in the types of missions that may be needed to sustain peace in the region.

“The United States and Australia have a long-standing relationship: we are strong allies and have a special partnership in the Pacific,” said Crowder. “This exercise is about strengthening that relationship by building personal and professional relationships between our military members. This is an incredible opportunity, to work as a combined force, developing shared warfighting proficiency needed to combat the global war on terror[ism].”

Crowder is embarked on the flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), which pulled into Sydney just prior to the beginning of the field training portion.

Involved naval assets will be 7th Fleet’s Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group and Expeditionary Strike Group 7, which are bringing more than 20,000 U.S. military personnel, 15 ships and 100 aircraft to the combined battle space. Australian forces participating in the exercise include 20 ships, 25 aircraft and 7,500 personnel.

The field training phase of the exercise follows what was an eight-day force integration training phase between ESG 7 ships and their respective counterparts in which the forces worked through a series of mission-focused evolutions, including air, surface and subsurface defense.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Royal Australia Army 3rd Brigade also completed combined training and even cross-attached companies to further facilitate integration; members of 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment moving to USS Juneau (LPD 10) and members of 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit moving to HMAS Kanimbla (LPA 51).

Prior to the force integration training, the Australia and U.S. staffs participated in a command post exercise off the coast of Japan in which the given scenario was played out in a computer-simulated format.

With both of these build-up activities, senior commanders of both forces feel that there is a high level of integration.

“I think it’s been a great learning experience for everyone involved, from the top on down, since our Soldiers are working right next to the U.S. Marines,” said Australian Army Brig. Gen. John G. Caligari, Commander of Combined Force Land Component Command, referring to the company cross deck that took place. “As we now move ashore, we’re more than prepared to complete our mission as a combined force. I feel confident in our ability to work together to achieve what is set out for us here.”

That integration was tested on the opening day of the field training exercise when a full sweep of ship-to-shore movements via a number of sea-based platforms brought U.S. Marines and their Australian Soldier counterparts to the beaches of Shoal Water Bay Training area. Helicopter insertions, assault amphibian vehicles and landing craft utilities were all utilized in the landing.

“The execution of the landing was flawless, with safety being paramount in its completion,” said Capt. Anthony J. Pachuta, commodore, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11. “It has been a true pleasure to work with our Australian counterparts thus far, due to the relationships and professional exchanges that have been fostered. Sound combined planning was the essential element to the landing, and we now turn our attention to providing the support from sea to ground forces ashore.”

Once on the ground, Marines and soldiers will continue to work in tandem out of a combined operating center and work to complete objectives side-by-side. Ships will provide logistical support to ground forces in the form of aerial sorties launched from flight-capable ships while also delivering general resources like food, water and fuel.

Senior commanders are positive that the two forces can work strongly together as a combined team, resulting in more military unity after the exercise.

“I have seen the integration firsthand during the force integration training phase and it has been phenomenal,” said Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, Commander, ESG 7 and Deputy Commander, Combined Force Maritime Component Command. “As military members, we have a high level of professionalism and sense of mission, that carries through no matter what uniform we wear and for what nation we wear it. Vice Adm. Crowder stated it well: ‘By achieving training objectives here, we are more capable of achieving real world peace-sustaining objectives that may arise in the future.’”

Commander, 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 in Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan. The 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

Additional information on the exercise is available on the U.S. 7th Fleet Web site at http://www.c7f.navy.mil or through a link from the Australian Defence Force site at http://www.defence.gov.au/globalexes.cfm.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.

Posted by sr at 4:53 PM | Permalink

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan has rechristened the island of Iwo Jima, site of one of World War II's most horrific battles, with its pre-war name in an attempt to rectify a misnomer proliferated for a half-century by such movies as Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/06/21/japan.jima.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

POSTED: 6:04 a.m. EDT, June 21, 2007

The new name, Iwo To -- pronounced "ee-woh-toh" -- is the same as that used by the island's original inhabitants and the one still preferred by residents in the area. It was adopted Monday by the Japanese Geographical Survey Institute in consultation with Japan's coast guard.

The change was championed by surviving islanders evacuated during the war, who wanted to reclaim an identity they said had been hijacked. But others said the overhaul cheapens the memory of a brutal campaign that today is inextricably linked to the words Iwo Jima.

Back in 1945, the small, volcanic island was the vortex of the fierce World War II battle immortalized by the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal of The Associated Press showing Marines raising the American flag on the islet's Mount Suribachi.

But before the war, the isolated spit of land was called Iwo To by the 1,000 or so civilians who lived there. In Japanese, that name looks and means the same as Iwo Jima -- or Sulfur Island -- but it has a different sound.

The civilians were evacuated in 1944 as U.S. forces advanced across the Pacific. Some Japanese navy officers who moved in to fortify the island mistakenly called it Iwo Jima, and the name stuck. After the war, civilians weren't allowed to return and the island was put to exclusive military use by both the U.S. and Japan, cementing its identity.

Locals were never happy the name Iwo Jima took root.

But the last straw came this year with the release of Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Flags of Our Fathers," twin war films that only reinforced the misnomer.

In March, Ogasawara, the municipality that administers Iwo To and neighboring islands, responded by adopting a resolution making Iwo To the official reading. Ogasawara residents and descendants of Iwo To evacuees petitioned the central government to follow suit.

"Though we're happy for Iwo To, which has been forgotten by history, the islanders are extremely grieved every time they hear Iwo To referred to as Iwo Jima," the local Ogasawara newspaper quoted the resolution as saying of the Eastwood movies.

The government agreed; an official map with the new name will be released September 1.

Still, Iwo Jima is the only name that clicks with most Japanese not from the remote island chain, some 1,120 kilometers (700 miles) southeast of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean.

Even some veterans, like 84-year-old Kiyoshi Endo, who heads an association commemorating soldiers killed in the battle, feel uncomfortable about the switch.

"Naval maps have long used the name Iwo Jima," Japan's Sankei newspaper quoted Endo as saying. "We should respect that history."

Today Iwo To's only inhabitants are about 400 Japanese soldiers.

In the U.S., Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes, who was a 24-year-old captain in the regiment that raised the flag on Mount Suribachi, was surprised and upset by the news.

"Frankly, I don't like it. That name is so much a part of our tradition, our legacy," said Haynes.

Haynes, 85, heads the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima, a group of about 600 veterans that travels back to the island every year for a reunion. He is currently working on a book about the battle called "We Walk by Faith: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Battle of Iwo Jima." He doesn't plan to change the name.

"It was Iwo Jima to us when we took it," said Haynes. "We'll recognize whatever the Japanese want to call it but we'll stick to Iwo Jima."

The 1945 battle for Iwo Jima pitted some 100,000 U.S. troops against 22,000 Japanese deeply dug into a labyrinth of tunnels and trenches. Nearly 7,000 Americans were killed capturing the island, and fewer than 1,000 of the Japanese survived.

The Americans occupied the island after the war, and returned it to Japanese jurisdiction in 1968. The U.S. Navy still uses an Iwo To airstrip to train pilots who operate from aircraft carriers.

Posted by sr at 10:38 PM | Permalink

TOKYO — Japan has returned to using the prewar name for the island of Iwo Jima — site of one of World War II’s most horrific battles — at the urging of its original inhabitants, who want to reclaim an identity they say has been hijacked by high-profile movies like Clint Eastwood’s “Letters from Iwo Jima.”

http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/103388.html

By Hans Greimel - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated: 06/21/07 6:43 AM

The new name, Iwo To, was adopted Monday by the Japanese Geographical Survey Institute in consultation with Japan’s coast guard.

Surviving islanders evacuated in the war praised the move, but others said it cheapens the memory of a brutal campaign that today is inextricably linked to the words Iwo Jima.

Back in 1945, the small, volcanic island was the vortex of the fierce World War II battle immortalized by the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press showing Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi.

Retired Marine Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes, who was a 24- year-old captain in the regiment that raised the flag, was surprised and upset by news of the name change.

“Frankly, I don’t like it. That name is so much a part of our tradition, our legacy,” he said.

Haynes, 87, heads the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima, a group of about 600 veterans that travels to the island every year for a reunion. He is writing a book about the battle called “We Walk by Faith: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Battle of Iwo Jima.” He doesn’t plan to change the name.

“It was Iwo Jima to us when we took it,” he said. “We’ll recognize whatever the Japanese want to call it, but we’ll stick to Iwo Jima.”

Even some Japanese veterans, like Kiyoshi Endo, 84, who heads an association commemorating soldiers killed in the battle, feel uncomfortable about the switch. “Naval maps have long used the name Iwo Jima,” he said. “We should respect that history.”

Before the war, the isolated spit of land was called Iwo To by the 1,000 or so who lived there. In Japanese, that name looks and means the same as Iwo Jima — Sulfur Island — but it has a different sound.

The civilians were evacuated in 1944 as U.S. forces advanced across the Pacific. Some Japanese navy officers who moved in to fortify the island mistakenly called it Iwo Jima, and the name stuck.

After the war, civilians could not return, and the island was put to exclusive military use by both the United States and Japan, cementing its identity.

Locals were never happy the name Iwo Jima took root. But the last straw came this year with the release of Eastwood’s “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Flags of Our Fathers,” war films that only reinforced the misnomer.

In March, Ogasawara, the municipality that administers Iwo To and neighboring islands, responded by adopting a resolution making Iwo To the official name. Ogasawara residents and descendants of Iwo To evacuees petitioned the central government to follow suit.

The government agreed; an official map with the new name will be released on Sept. 1.

Still, Iwo Jima is the only name that clicks with most Japanese who aren’t from the remote island chain, some 700 miles southeast of Tokyo.

The battle pitted 100,000 U.S. troops against 22,000 Japanese dug into a labyrinth of tunnels and trenches. Nearly 7,000 Americans died and under 1,000 Japanese survived.

Posted by sr at 10:35 PM | Permalink

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq - (June 21, 2007) -- “Contact from the front!” yelled Cpl. Kevin Knight, an assault team leader with Quick Reaction Force, Headquarters and Support Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/5B276775E08001FE852573010057B569?opendocument

June 21, 2007; Submitted on: 06/21/2007 11:58:00 AM ; Story ID#: 200762111580
By Cpl. Eric C. Schwartz, 2nd Marine Division

Marines dismounted from their vehicles ready to perform suppressive fire on the enemy during the sustained machine gun training and the Multiple Grenade Launcher 32, familiarization, fire and movement exercise they recently completed on the ranges at Camp Al Qa’im, Iraq.

“That was the first time I actually got to fire the M-32 (multiple grenade launcher),” Knight said.

Learning every Marine’s weapon is just as important to understanding their own during battle.

“You never know who’s going to get hurt in any given situation,” Knight said. “You have to have the confidence to use your weapon system and everyone else’s effectively.”

The M-32 MGL has many types of uses such as breaching and destroying barricades and bunkers.

“If a door is locked, we can blow a hole to create our own entry point,” Knight said.

The M32 was used for suppression fire during the exercise. Its operators were unsure, at first, how to quickly reload the weapon, but it soon became second nature to them.

“It has more control than the M-203 grenade launcher and its sight is better making it more accurate,” said Lance Cpl. Richard Rosales, a rifleman with QRF, Headquarters and Support Company, TF 1/4.

“I know I’ll do better next time I use it because I now have experience with it,” Rosales said. “You can always improve.”

Another grenadier provided suppressive fire while Rosales reloaded his M32. Knight would purposely pause firing, telling Rosales to “hurry up” adding stress to him while reloading.

“Once you get into a stressful situation, your normal job gets harder, and I want my Marines used to handling stress,” Knight said.

Grenadiers, riflemen and machine gunners all took turns firing at the targets downrange conserving ammunition but also keeping the enemy pinned down.

“That’s called ‘talking guns,’” said Pfc. Michael Cuellar, a machine gunner with QRF, H&S Company, TF 1/4. “It’s almost like a drawn out heartbeat. You’re in the moment, times frozen and all you hear are the guns talking.”

Talking guns not only conserves ammunition but allows Marines to move toward the enemy while the suppressive fire keeps the enemy from moving.

“This keeps the enemy scared giving us the psychological advantage making them think we are bigger than we really are,” Cuellar said. “Even though we are already bigger than we really are.”

The exercise was completed with a final debrief on how everything went.

“Overall the exercise went well,” Knight said. “It could’ve been better, but it can always be better. My Marines are going to perform and that’s the way it’s always been.”

The QRF’s self-criticism and constant willingness to seek self-improvement greatly enhances their ability to complete their assigned missions.

“We’re going to complete the mission, whatever it takes,” Knight said. “We are going to eliminate whatever stands in our way.”

Many tribes in Al Anbar have joined in helping the coalition forces combat terrorism thus minimizing firefights and attacks especially in the Al Qa’im area. Knight, as well as the rest of his Marines, understands that their posture must change accordingly. However, they are always ready should the situation require it.

“We’re not fighting every day, but we’re doing whatever it takes to get the job done,” Knight said. “If that means helping the people and the Iraqi Army, then by any means necessary, that’s how we’ll do it.”

Posted by sr at 10:30 PM | Permalink

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (June 21, 2007) -- Many Marines sign up for four years of service, complete one or two tours, then get out and take the knowledge the Marine Corps has taught them into the civilian world to prosper and flourish. Others stay in for 20 years, lead thousands of Marines, and serve upward of a dozen tours of duty.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/3868FE4A930018B785257301005DCE79?opendocument

June 21, 2007; Submitted on: 06/21/2007 01:04:37 PM ; Story ID#: 200762113437
By Cpl. Ryan C. Heiser, 2nd Marine Division

There is a special breed which fits neither category. The warrior who has served his four years, completed his tours, and although he plans to get out, will carry the Corps with him forever; he just isn’t ready to do it yet. He feels he has more time left in him, so he extends his commitment, and shoulders his pack one last time for the Marines to his left and right.

Sgt. David M. Breen, a vehicle commander and squad leader with Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, is one of these special warriors.

“I love America, I love the Corps, and I believe in the cause,” said the Kansas City, Kan., native. “I just didn’t feel like I was done and it wasn’t my time yet, so I decided to come over (to Iraq) again, play my part and do whatever I could in order to help out.”

The 25-year-old decided near the beginning of the year to extend his contract 10 months, so he could serve a third deployment in Iraq.

“The extension is a testament to Sergeant Breen’s character, it shows you what type of person, what type of leader, he really is,” said Cpl. Chris J. Pumroy, a light armored vehicle gunner in Breen’s platoon. “He did it just for us, his Marines, and it proves that he isn’t just a hard worker, he doesn’t just keep morale high, and he doesn’t just accomplish missions. He has the whole package. He is the epitome of a great Marine.”

Cpl. Thomas C. Dunn, also a LAV gunner with the platoon, agreed, “He felt like he needed to be here for us and that just proves what he is like. Words can’t describe his character nearly as well as his actions have.”

Breen, who joined the Corps right out of high school, said he feels like he is helping the country by being in Iraq.

“We all know it is a slow, ongoing process, but we are making a big difference. The Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police are stepping up, taking charge and following our example. And even though the locals like us here and feel safer, I think they would also like to see us go home, so they can resume their normal lives and continue on a better path,” Breen said.

Dunn, an Austin, Texas, native, said he learned a lot about leadership and personal responsibility from Breen.

“He truly feels for the cause. He is a great Marine and an asset not only to the Corps, but also to Iraq and its citizens. No matter where you put him, he is going to do, and has done, a great job,” said Dunn.

The Marines who look up to Breen said his commitment inspired them, and for many of the ones who have never deployed, it gave them the strength and courage to face the hardships of an overseas tour.

“He deserves to be honored for this, like so many others, and it just doesn’t happen enough. People need to understand this isn’t his job anymore, he could be at home in Kansas right now,” said Pumroy, a native of Tri-cities, Wash. “He’s not here for the money, it’s not because he plans on re-enlisting, and it’s not because he likes Iraq. He did it for his Marines, to make sure the mission gets accomplished and we all come home alive.”

Posted by sr at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Col. William B. Crowe relinquished command of the 7th Marine Regiment to Col. Bryan P. McCoy, in a change of command ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field June 1.

http://www.op29online.com/articles/2007/06/08/news/news02.txt

Thursday June 21, 2007
Combat Correspondent

With three tours in the ranks of 7th Marines, first as a captain, then lieutenant colonel and most recently as a colonel, Crowe said it is a sad day for the Crowe family and he will miss the regiment.

“This is my third tour with 7th Marines,” said Crowe. “My current tour as regimental commander began July 7, 2005.”

Crowe’s previous command tours were as commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, from May 2000 to May 2002 and was operations officer and CO of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, from June 1989 to June 1991.

Crowe will now take command of Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., a position selected directly by the commandant of the Marine Corps. This will be Crowe’s second “colonel-level command,” which he says is a unique honor.

Crowe began his career in the Marine Corps when he was commissioned a second lieutenant on August 14, 1981, and was designated an infantry officer. Crowe speaks highly of his time in the Corps and of 7th Marines.

“Prepare to March,” said Crowe, reciting 7th Marines’ slogan. “Prepare to march is not a bumper sticker, it implies that this regiment and its four infantry battalions are ready to deploy combat ready forces at a moment’s notice in support of our nation,” said Crowe. “If the Marine Corps’ is America’s 911 force then 7th Marines is the Marine Corps lead, quick response regiment.”

Crowe said he enjoyed his time with 7th Marines and reflected on what he learned from his junior Marines, and from being the commanding officer.

“I have learned that the Marine Corps as an institution is strong,” said Crowe. “I have been very impressed with the officers, Staff NCOs [staff noncommissioned officers], and Marines assigned to the regiment and its battalions. They are among our best and brightest.”

“I have enjoyed watching our Marines and sailors do amazing things every day, 24/7 in Iraq,” he added. “We have four outstanding battalions, not a weak one in the pack. Each one is unique, but all are top rated units in their own right.”

As Crowe passed the command to McCoy, he commented that he was getting an outstanding regiment and that he was sad to leave his home. With an emotional goodbye, Crowe, his wife, Lynn, and two daughters, Caitlin, 19, and Amanda, 18, prepare to make their trip to D.C.

“Who would have ever thought 16 years ago that I would be given the privilege, honor and awesome responsibility to lead such a historic regiment?” said Crowe. “This is my home. This is where my heart is. Prepare to march!”

McCoy started his tour in the Marine Corps when he received a commission in May 1984. His most recent assignment was CO of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment with which he served two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the ceremony McCoy made a promise to the regiment and shared his thoughts on taking command.

“Marines and sailors, I couldn’t be more proud than to be among your ranks again,” said McCoy. “I promise you as your CO I will give you my very best every day.”

As both Marines assume command of different units, they both said that they were ready to take command and serve their junior Marines.

Posted by sr at 10:07 PM | Permalink

Marines are getting too comfortable at their dug-in bases in Iraq, the Corps’ top officer told an audience at the Naval War College on June 13.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/marine_conway_070619/

By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 21, 2007 5:57:26 EDT

“Due to the available infrastructure in the Al Anbar and the longevity of our presence, Marines are getting used to living at fixed bases and with more comforts of life than we really need,” Commandant Gen. James Conway said in comments provided to Marine Corps Times.

Larger, more fortified Marine bases in Iraq, such as Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province, have amenities that stand in stark contrast to more remote outposts. Those amenities include a post exchange, fast-food restaurants and a movie theater.

Keeping the Corps light and agile in combat is an increasing challenge, Conway said.

“Because of the force-protection requirements in the Middle East, we are getting ‘heavier’ in terms of vehicle weight and equipment,” he said.

Conway’s comments point to thinking beyond Iraq, said his spokesman, Lt. Col. T.V. Johnson.

“The comforts and the infrastructure of large bases in Iraq are a byproduct of our sustained presence there, and certainly do contribute to the morale of our Marines. However, Marines must guard against complacency and the expectation that tomorrow’s fight be marked by equally hospitable operating bases,” he said.

“The ability to operate, fight and win in austere environments is a Marine hallmark,” Johnson said. “We can ill afford to lose that edge.

“We have to ensure the gear we procure today marries up well with the methods of transporting it to tomorrow’s fight in significant quantities,” Johnson added. “We must incorporate the lessons learned in Al Anbar while thinking and planning beyond Iraq.”

Conway has expressed concern over the Iraq war’s effect on the Corps’ traditional missions, saying the focus has shifted almost entirely to counterinsurgency. In his remarks, he admitted that “current operations have produced a strain on our people and our institution as a whole.”

Later that day, Conway met with spouses of deployed leathernecks at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., and conducted similar town hall meetings last Thursday in Jacksonville, N.C., and Beaufort, S.C.

During his first few weeks as commandant, Conway visited with Marines at a number of facilities, Johnson said.

“Now, he wants to talk to the spouses who have been doing the heavy lifting while the Marines have been gone,” he said. “It’s a good chance for him to hear their concerns and address them.”

Posted by sr at 6:34 PM | Permalink

FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 21, 2007) -- “Shukran,” an Iraqi soldier said after a Marine handed him a sandbag. “You’re welcome,” the Marine responded. Even though the two can’t completely understand each other, their comments are genuine. Taking little notice to the language barrier, their work remains steady because they are, after all, working side-by-side in 110 degree heat.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/E1286889C6B434B18525730100572A19?opendocument

June 21, 2007; Submitted on: 06/21/2007 11:52:04 AM ; Story ID#: 200762111524
By Cpl. Joel Abshier, Regimental Combat Team 6

Over the past week, Marines with G Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, and Iraqi soldiers worked diligently together to fortify an abandoned Iraqi home that later beca