Marines Sound Off About The Iraq War Options

[piccadilly]

I thought I'd give you a brief update on 1st Sgt Brad Kasal.
...
He is such an inspiring individual.

There's obviously nothing I can add to this. Semper Fi.

And which accomplishments of 1st Sgt Brad Kasal inspire you so much, Marine ?

This post has been edited by picadilly: Jun 11 2005, 07:30 PM

[Desron]

The Marines have missed their recruiting goal for 5 straight months.

What do you think the reason for that could possibly be?

The Marines missed their goal in the first four months but met it in May.

The Marine Corps slightly exceeded its goal, getting 61 more recruits than the 1,843 it had set as May's goal.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8172384/

[Marine]

And which accomplishments of 1st Sgt Brad Kasal inspire you so much, Marine ?

Every one of the stories of the Marines I've posted on this board I find inspiring duck. This thread is about real Marines sounding off, I have a few more Marines wanting to voice their opinions so excuse me.

[big sky brad]

The Marines missed their goal in the first four months but met it in May.

Absolutely not true!

The Marines met their reduced goal for the month of May.

The Army and the Army National Guard didn't even do that!

[Desron]

Absolutely not true!

The Marines met their reduced goal for the month of May.

The Army and the Army National Guard didn't even do that!

I've read many articles on this and not one said the Marines reduced their recruitment goals. Do you have a link to a site that would support your statement?

Unlike the Army, the Marine Corps, with a smaller share of the Iraq ground troops, exceeded its May recruiting goal and was 2 percent ahead of its year-to-date target toward an annual goal of 39,150 recruits. The Navy and Air Force also were on target.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10648244.htm

[Desron]

I know that I've said on many occasions that I had served in the Navy. If you had been following this particular issue closely, why did you then make this false statement?

The Marines have missed their recruiting goal for 5 straight months.

What do you think the reason for that could possibly be?

When I qouted sites that said the Marines met their goal in May, you changed your statement to this:

Absolutely not true!

The Marines met their reduced goal for the month of May.

The Army and the Army National Guard didn't even do that!

When I asked you for a link to a site that would verify your claim that the Marines reduced their goal in May, you say you can't come up with one. So how did you get your info?

[big sky brad]

I saw it on teevee. It's not a false statement.

[Marine]

I saw it on teevee. It's not a false statement.

Well brad I saw on teevee the Marines exceeded their goal by 2%.

You want to read about some more real Marines sounding off about Iraq? I got a bunch more to post when you've caught up reading the fifty or sixty I already posted.

[Desron]

I saw it on teevee. It's not a false statement.

Is it your arguement that what you heard or may have heard on TV is without question factual?

[big sky brad]

Desron, it was on teevee last week. What you choose to believe is up to you.

This post has been edited by big sky brad: Jun 13 2005, 06:30 PM

[Sandra]

I've edited the topic title from

Real Marines Sound Off About The Iraq War to

Marines Sound Off About The Iraq War.

The reason for doing this is simple...in keeping with the rules of the U.S. Military Issues forum, we intend to end this ongoing debate about who is and who is not a "Real" Marine. There is no way to know, nor is it any of our business to have the proof of anyone's service to our country. This forum is open to all -- Military and non-Military -- to discuss military issues which affect ALL Americans. As stated above, disparaging comments about others' service to our country and personal attacks are not welcomed, nor will they be tolerated.

Thank you,
The Administrators

[big sky brad]

This thread was started by a Marine about Marines!

You couldn't have picked a better example of a real Marine to diss on your forum!

This post has been edited by big sky brad: Jun 13 2005, 10:13 PM

[Acebass]

This thread was started by a Marine about Marines!

You couldn't have picked a better example of a real Marine to diss on your forum!

Sorry Brad I don't think you'll win this one. Just let it ride, you know who you are and thats what matters.

[big sky brad]

Yeah, I know, you say it's not your forum all the time.


But, as an administrator of this forum you are just as responsible for the content of this forum as the owner.

[big sky brad]

Sorry Brad I don't think you'll win this one. Just let it ride, you know who you are and thats what matters.

I was willing to let it ride, Ace.

But, when someone comes out here and publicly trashes me I think you should be aware that sh*t is not going to sit well with me.

[Marine]

Lance Cpl. Peter W. Duffy is reposnsible for preparing almost 1,000 Marines for the possibility of a chemical attack. The North Hampton, Mass. native trains the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment for defense against nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Conducting training exercises like this one is just one part of his job against the war on chemical weapons. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

U.S. Marine Corps
Cpl. Peter W. Duffy

High School Chemist Now Helps Marines
Survive Chemical Attacks

By Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes / Combat Correspondent
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Feb. 8, 2005 – Playing with chemicals has always been a passion of Lance Cpl. Peter W. Duffy. He never could have imagined that his love for chemistry in high school would bring him to Iraq, where he would use his interest in science to protect more than 1,000 Marines from chemical weapons.
“A lot of countries have chemical weapons and the means to use them,” said Duffy. “It’s my job to make sure the Marines here understand and are prepared for that.”

The soft-spoken 20-year-old from North Hampton, Mass. added, “There isn’t a lot of time for infantrymen to think about chemical threats when they’re out there fighting, so I make sure they’re prepared before they leave for the fight.”

While deployed to Iraq last summer, Duffy’s actions earned him a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat distinguishing device.

Preparing the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment is a full-time job. Duffy, with the help of another lance corporal and a chief warrant officer, is responsible for educating and training 1,000 Marines.

“There’s a lot to know about chemical weapons and things are always changing in that field. I have to keep on top of it so my Marines can too,” he said.

The most hands-on many Marines get with chemical weapons is an annual trip to the gas chamber, where they are exposed to orto-chlorobenzylidene-malononitrile (tear gas).

This chemical causes severe burning sensations on the skin, eyes and throat. It is necessary for the Marines’ safety despite its physical discomfort.

“It’s a confidence exercise. We do this so the Marines know what it’s like to be exposed to a chemical agent,” Duffy said.

Once inside the chamber, only Duffy’s 5-foot-11-inch frame can be seen through the fog of gas. His hazel eyes stare out from the lenses of his gas mask as he runs Marines through the drills in the chamber numerous times a year.

“Duffy is good at reading a crowd, so he can figure out the best way to grab their attention,” said Lance Cpl. Austin B. Glover, a nuclear, biological and chemical specialist with the unit. The native of Los Gatos, Calif. added, “That comes in handy when the platoon you’re talking with just finished a five-mile hike and all they want to do is sleep.”

It’s important that Marines pay attention inside the chamber. Panic can take hold of a Marine in an instant, which is why Duffy and the unit’s corpsmen are always ready to offer assistance.

“Duffy definitely knows what he’s doing. He’s very forthcoming with his knowledge because he realizes the threats against his Marines,” Glover said. “He’s good at his job because he loves the subject.”

Duffy plans on taking his experience in the NBC field to a profitable job someday.

“I plan on majoring in engineering and I can take that degree and work for Homeland Security as a consultant,” Duffy said. “But until then, my job is here, preparing Marines for what they could face.”

[big sky brad]

I have to go to Specialist Carrie French's funeral tomorrow, Sandra.

I'm not going to debate the fact that she was killed in the Iraq War with anyone here.

I have to go to Lance Cpl. Dustin V. Birch's funeral next week after his body is returned to the States.

I won't debate the fact that he was killed in the Iraq War with anyone here, either.

This post has been edited by big sky brad: Jun 14 2005, 10:09 AM

[Desron]

I have to go to Specialist Carrie French's funeral tomorrow, Sandra.

I'm not going to debate the fact that she was killed in the Iraq War with anyone here.

I have to go to Lance Cpl. Dustin V. Birch's funeral next week after his body is returned to the States.

I won't debate the fact that he was killed in the Iraq War with anyone here, either.

A couple of comments about Specialist Carrie French and Lance Cpl. Birch:

French's family has declined to speak with the media, but have released a statement saying, "Carrie was a fun-loving young woman with a warm heart and a desire to serve. She was loved by everyone who knew her and she will be dearly missed."

http://www.pigstye.net/iraq/article.php/FrenchCarrieL

"He was very happy to serve his country," Oveson said. "He was just glad to be part of it."

http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dl...EWS01/506110332

[real_democrat]

Hmmm, its not all Flowers and love in Iraq for us?
'Good and honest' Iraqis fighting US forces

A senior US military chief has admitted "good, honest" Iraqis are fighting American forces.

Major General Joseph Taluto said he could understand why some ordinary people would take up arms against the US military because "they're offended by our presence".

In an interview with Gulf News, he said: "If a good, honest person feels having all these Humvees driving on the road, having us moving people out of the way, having us patrol the streets, having car bombs going off, you can understand how they could [want to fight us]."

He said: "There is a sense of a good resistance, or an accepted resistance. They say 'okay, if you shoot a coalition soldier, that's okay, it's not a bad thing but you shouldn't kill other Iraqis.'"

[Marine]

Marine Cpl. Justin Morris, with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, waits for the next group of servicemembers to check in at the military's registration desk at the Ambassador City Jomtien hotel in Pattaya, Thailand. Morris has deployed to Thailand to participate in support of the military's efforts in the disaster relief operation. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley

U.S. Marine Corps
Cpl. Justin Morris
Movie Influences Marine's Decision to Enlist

By Samantha L. Quigley / American Forces Press Service
UTAPAO, Thailand, Jan. 21, 2005 — "I made the decision to come in (to the Marines) in 10th grade," said Cpl. Justin Morris of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. "But they wouldn't take me until I was a senior."

The influence that drove Morris to join the Corps is a bit unusual.

"I saw 'Born on the Fourth of July,'" Morris said. The movie flipped a switch. "It was something in Tom Berenger's speech at the beginning of the movie." The 1989 film was about a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran who became an anti-war activist.

Currently stationed at Okinawa, Morris, originally from the Pittsburgh area, is on orders to Thailand to assist in the tsunami relief effort. Oddly enough, Thailand is part of the Marine's favorite memory of his service. He was sent here in 2003.

"I'd never been out of the country," Morris said. "(The military) sent me to Okinawa and then Thailand. It blew my mind."

But his favorite part of his job as an administrative clerk is "the Marines I work with," he said, noting it's "just the atmosphere that's provided being there."

While Morris has decided not to make the Marine Corps a career -- he's due to separate in July -- he said it's given him great opportunities to develop his interests.

"You spend a lot of time by yourself," he said. And he's used that time to write. He is planning on attending Bowling Green State University in Ohio beginning in August. Morris said he chose that school in particular because it has a good creative writing program.