Marines Sound Off About The Iraq War Options

[Anita Garcia]

Who was recently awarded huge construction and oil contracts in Saudia Arabia, the true subsidizers of al Qaeda? None other than Halibruton! If we look back to Vietnam, who received most of the large contracts to build runways, airports, harbors and highway projects? None other than what is now called Brown and Root. Not only is Brown and Root the world’s largest nonunion construction company, it is a subsidiary of none other than Halliburton.
--Mark James Hankins, USMC, 1977-81, 1984-91

[Marine]

U.S. Marine Corp
Capt. Matthew C. Shortal
by Cpl. James S. McGregor
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. — With possibly the biggest race of his life approaching, U.S. Marine Capt. Matthew C. Shortal was in constant preparation as he eyed his chance to represent the United States of America at a triathlon on foreign soil.

Shortal, 30, is an F-A/18 Hornet flight instructor at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., which happens to be a non-deployable unit. While there, he has also continued to improve on the sport, competition and lifestyle that have made up a great deal of his life over the past five years.

It has all led up to his latest challenge — the 2002 Long Course Triathlon World Championships this week in Nice, France. He qualified for the U.S. National Amateur Team when he raced in San Francisco, Aug. 4, at the Half Vineman race.

The Half Vineman consists of 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run.

To get to this point, however, has taken years of competing and day after day of arduous training.

It all started in high school, when Shortal ran cross-country and track. In 1989 he qualified for the U.S. Duathlon Championships at the age of 16. Since then, he ran track in the Big 10 while attending college at the University of Illinois.

Shortal has been on the All-Marine Triathlon Team for the past three years. The last two years he competed in the World Iron Man Triathlon Championships, the competition he once saw on television that originally got him into triathlons.

Over the years of training and racing, Shortal has developed his physical training regimen, which he calls a periodization-training cycle. During this training cycle, he runs, bikes and swims various distances through the week.

In the first two weeks of the cycle he trains hard. Each of these weeks, he runs 50 miles, bikes 200-250 miles and swims 10,000-13,000 meters.

The third week in the cycle is an easier week, as he works out less and goes for fewer miles. This gives him time to recover from the hard weeks. It is this cycle that prepares him for every race.





Marine Capt. Matthew C. Shortal when he's not in training to represent the Marine Corps in the 2002 Long Course Triathlon World Championships in France. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. James S. McGregor.

Nine days prior to a race, he works out very little, and during the winter he cuts back on the training.

"This training lifestyle is something I enjoy, but I also do it to get ready for a big race," Shortal said. "It's taxing on the home life, but I enjoy being in shape, going swimming and biking with my friends and also on my own," the Chicago native added.

Shortal said hoped that all the miles he has covered will help him in France, because not only will the race be physically challenging, but it is also significant for many reasons. The world championship attracts the best athletes representing more than 50 countries around the world.

The championship consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 78-mile bike ride and an 18.6-mile run.

"During this event I will represent the United States, and it will be the first time for me to wear the U.S. national uniform," Shortal explained. "It's important to me because I'll be racing in Nice, France, on the French Riviera, and some of the roads I'll be on are part of the Tour de France.

"It will be an honor for me," he added. "My goals are to have fun, do as well as I can and improve on my personal records time-wise."

[Marine]

Marine Sgt. James D. Clarke, a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, inspects his recruits’ rifles to ensure that there are no rounds remaining in them. Clarke’s military career began with eight years in the Navy as a nuclear machinist’s mate. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Kester

U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. James D. Clarke
Sailor Joins Corps after 8 Years in Navy
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brian Kester / Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — He was once a sailor. Now, he is a Marine.

This dramatic change in lifestyle has taken Sgt. James D. Clarke, a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, from a life aboard an attack submarine to turning recruits into Marines.

Clarke was born in Twentynine Palms, Calif., the son of a Marine. It seemed his life was destined for the Corps from the beginning, although his career did not start that way.

"I had always planned on joining the Marine Corps," he said. "However, when I was about to graduate from high school I got a letter about the Navy's nuclear-power program. They said they had looked at my grades, and I was interested in science, so I made a split decision. I joined the Navy, where I served the next six years as a nuclear machinist's mate."

Starting in 1988, Clarke spent the next four years stationed in Charleston, S.C., on an attack submarine. He served his term of service on active duty and followed that up with a two-year stint in the Naval reserves.

"During that time I was in a Seabee unit, which is kind of the equivalent of a combat engineer for the Navy," said Clarke. "The Seabees worked out in the field with heavy equipment, and we did a lot of training with Marines. That was something that really started making me think seriously about the Marine Corps."

The exposure to Marine Corps training and camaraderie awakened Clarke's past and the prior goal he had not yet attained.

"The Marines really liked the Seabees," he said. "Half of the unit were former Marine Corps grunts. I heard Marine Corps stories all the time and that's when I started thinking about going back on active duty, joining the Marine Corps, and hopefully getting on an air wing."

In 1997, armed with experience and maturity, Clarke set out on a new journey into the Marine Corps with the emotional, and somewhat tentative, support from his family.

"Going into boot camp, my dad had some misgivings," said Clarke. "He asked me quite a few times, 'Is this what you think you ought to be doing at 27 years old?'"

Though he was a 27-year-old recruit, Clarke excelled in recruit training and went from being a squad leader to graduating as the guide.

"(Being in the Navy) prepared me as far as knowing the chain of command and knowing the importance of the chain of command," he said. "So coming into the Marine Corps wasn't that big of a shock. Although boot camp was drastically different than Navy boot camp, all I had to do was polish up a few areas."

He had gotten a foundation from somewhere, and surely he got some of that from the Navy, said Staff Sgt. Justin A. Forbes, a fellow drill instructor.

"I'm sure the Navy gave him some kind of qualities," said Forbes. "He's a little bit older too, a little bit more mature; that had something to do with his success so far."

Overcoming hardships in boot camp is one hurdle, but out of boot camp he was again faced with the adversity and demands of his age.

"I went from being a [petty officer first class] to being a private first class," said Clarke. "That [was tough], but I feel better knowing what it felt like being a 'Pfc.' or a lance corporal in the Marine Corps instead of starting as a corporal or whatever."

Those kinds of experiences are what lured Clarke to the Marine Corps in the first place.

"I liked the more military experience of the Marine Corps," said Clarke. "The Navy is the military and they have a job to do, but the Marine Corps is more what you think of as far as armies go."

Forbes witnesses the adaptation Clarke made from his Naval background to the Marine Corps way of life on a daily basis.

"He doesn't really make reference to it much," said Forbes. "As far as Navy-wise, I don't think he really displays much of that. He is pretty knowledgeable about the Marine Corps and puts forth more of a Marine Corps attitude."

Firmly entrenched in his new world, Clarke set out to succeed in his new job-aviation hydraulics.

"The two jobs were a lot the same," said Clarke. "They are both really technical, and you have a lot of people double-checking that the job is done correctly. If things aren't done right, then the consequences of failure could be really bad. A pilot could crash or, when I was in the Navy, something bad could happen to the reactor."

Clarke seems to thrive on working under extreme circumstances. He exhibits the dedication it takes to do the job proficiently and with speed.

"I think being in the Navy for a time has made me a better Marine," he said. "I have seen the way the Navy operates. They always get their job done, but they don't get it done as efficiently or as quickly as the Marine Corps."
When reflecting on his change of career, Clarke is satisfied with his achievements.

"It has been a success for me in pretty much every direction," he said. "So I feel really good about the decision I made."

When it comes to training recruits, Forbes agrees that Clarke made a sound decision and sees many admirable traits.

"He is a hard worker and is not afraid to do things that he doesn't really know," said Forbes. "He's not afraid to ask questions or put his own spin on things. He is a very well-rounded Marine who is very knowledgeable and is constantly out working with the recruits."

[Anita Garcia]

"Going into boot camp, my dad had some misgivings," said Clarke. "He asked me quite a few times, 'Is this what you think you ought to be doing at 27 years old?'"[emphasis added]



I am a Gulf War Vet, but I did not serve in country. I had been out of active service (IRR) for 18 months and then received orders and an airplane ticket to report to Camp Pendleton. My family has a long record of military service dating back to the Civil War. I now have my own family and understand there is no glory in war. I can't imagine the pain of losing my family. Nor can I imagine bringing that unimaginable pain to a family on the other side of the world. Mr. Bush's bloodlust and inflammatory rhetoric will lead us to conflict where none should exist. His "with us or against us" rants are unnerving. My generation has never experienced such troubled times. It must be our turn. "Peace"
--Curtis Berg, USMC, 4.2 Years

This post has been edited by Anita Garcia: Jul 11 2005, 06:10 PM

[ghostgovt]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050710/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Suicide Attacks Kill at Least 48 in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A man strapped with explosives blew himself up Sunday at an Iraqi military recruiting center in Baghdad, one of a series of suicide attacks that killed at least 48 people and ended a relative lull in violence in recent days.


Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari criticized U.S. and multinational forces for shooting at Iraqi civilians who act suspiciously near patrols or military areas, but a spokesman for the U.S. command blamed the problem on the growing use of suicide car bombs as an insurgent weapon.

[Marine]

Military working dog teams secure the wing
Submitted by: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story by: Computed Name: Cpl. C. Alex Herron
Story Identification #: 2005711134748




AL ASAD, Iraq (July 11, 2005 ) -- When it comes to the security of Al Asad, nothing is left to chance. Cameras, firepower and a team of military working dogs are always ready. The dogs are able to use their noses to sniff out trouble.

The Al Asad military working dog detachment is a joint service unit with Air Force and Marine canines and handlers. The partnership of dog and handler is never ending. When the dog works, the handler works.

“Our job is all about the dogs,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Williamson, one of the Air Force military working dog handlers and Fort Worth, Texas native. “We work daily to ensure our dog is ready for their next assignment. They do all the work. We just take care of them and provide them guidance.”

While aboard Al Asad there is no shortage of work for the dog teams. With security being the heart of all of their missions they can not afford to have a dog sidelined for something as preventable as a heat related injury.

“Once the dogs get acclimated, they work on shifts that are generally a couple hours long,” Williamson said. “Work and rest cycles are the key to ensuring their safety and well-being throughout the hot summer months. They are too valuable to the military to be taken out of the fight prematurely.”

“It comes down to knowing your dog,” said Marine Cpl. Robert La Place, a military working dog handler and Sacramento, Calif., native. “If your dog starts to act different from his normal behavior, something is usually making him feel uncomfortable.”

The military working dogs and their handlers work side by side during the day at various security points and flightline. The team also conducts security sweeps special events.

“We ensure the safety and security of buildings, luggage, and vehicles as part of our different missions,” La Place said.

Being able to work with the dogs daily allows the handlers to witness how their partners’ skills far exceed their expectations.

“Our dogs are dependable partners,” Williamson said. “They are aware of things well before the average person is. They are loyal partners who will do anything they can to please us.”

Just having the dogs around makes everyone feel safer and helps deter any suspicious behavior, according to the team.

“I think having us around makes everyone feel more at ease about whatever situation they are in,” Williamson said. “After we check a vehicle, the probability of a foreign substance being on board is greatly diminished. Usually if the dog is acting like nothing is amiss then everyone follows his lead. If something isn’t right the dog will pick up on it well before any of us will.”

The military working dog teams split their time among their various missions they are called two perform. By providing security for all personnel here, they are proving to be an essential part of the Al Asad security team. They allow others to concentrate on their jobs without worrying about their basic safety and help the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing continue the mission of supporting ground units throughout the Al Anbar province.


*For more information about this story please contact Cpl. Herron at herronca@acemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil*

[Marine]

26th MEU troops enjoy slice of home
Submitted by: 26th MEU
Story by: Computed Name: Gunnery Sgt. Mark E. Bradley
Story Identification #: 200571073320




ABOARD USS KEARSARGE(July 9, 2005) -- As the Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) continue distributed operations from the north Arabian Gulf, members of the aviation combat element received a special treat from the home front thanks to the technology of video teleconferencing, or VTC as it is commonly called.

In all, 22 Marines and sailors from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-162 (Reinforced) had five minutes each to sit down and have a live conversation from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) directly to their loved ones gathered aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C.

A video screen about the size of a large computer monitor and camera were set up in the ship’s main briefing room with a satellite link to Camp Lejeune where there was a similar set up. The system works much the same as a webcam allowing the two parties to have a face-to-face conversation despite the thousands of miles between them.

"I think this is a great opportunity to give them a slice of home," said Lt. Col. Kurt E. Diehl, commanding officer of HMM-162 (Rein). "They get a spring in their step and a smile on their face when they get to see [and talk] to their wives and kids. And from what I hear from the other side, it’s the same thing there."

For one avionics technician, the VTC was more than just a chance to see his family; it was the closest he has come to meeting its newest member. Staff Sgt. Cory J. Lenkowski’s wife gave birth to their third daughter June 23.

"When I first saw her through the VTC, she was crying and she bought a huge smile to my face. I just wanted to reach into the monitor and hold her," he said. "My wife has sent me plenty of pictures of her, from the time she was born until now, but nothing beats seeing her move and hearing her cry for the first time."

Staff Sgt. Johnny R. Akers with the maintenance admin section echoed Lenkowski’s view. "The best part was getting to see them in real time," he said. "Even if you have a digital camera, it’s not the same."

The teleconference was also a special moment for Akers, whose wife is recovering well from a recent surgery. He said she looked really good, and his two boys talked a lot about what they were doing to help their mother. "My oldest is really helping out - like mowing the grass and taking out the trash - and my youngest is just staying out of the way, which is a big help," he said.

CH-46 pilot 1st Lt. Zack R. Webb was also moved by the experience. "That was awesome," he said afterward. "The last time I saw my baby girl she wasn’t even crawling. Now she is all over the place."

He said the best part of the experience was interacting with his wife and two daughters and "just being able to see the expressions on their faces."

The VTC was just one of several the MEU has conducted for all the elements of the command since departing the coastal waters of North Carolina in March. There are more scheduled in the future. It’s one way the modern Marine Corps and Navy are reaching out to help families stay connected during the long separations brought on by deployments.

The 26th MEU will continue its current mission as the theater reserve in the Central Command area of responsibility before returning to the Mediterranean Sea next month.

The unit is scheduled to make the trans-Atlantic voyage back to Camp Lejeune in the early fall when the Marines and sailors here won’t need a video screen to see the expressions on their loved-one’s faces.

[Anita Garcia]

As a combat wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, I believe that we have a moral obligation to all veterans past and present to voice our opposition to an illegal, unjust and immoral war. For veterans to stay silent on this war with Iraq, would be to give tacit approval and support to those who would rush to war without contemplation of the disasterous affects that it will have on us and the world.
--Jaime Vazquez, USMC, 1966-1969

[Marine]

United States Marine Corps
Press Release
Public Affairs Office
2nd Marine Division; Camp Blue Diamond, Ar Ramadi, Iraq; 2nd Marine Division, Camp Blue Diamond, Ar Ramadi, Iraq


cepaowo@cemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
Contact:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Release # 0711-05-0923

Operation Qmtia update
July 10, 2005

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Ar Ramadi, Iraq -- Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces are continuing Operation Qmtia (Scimitar) in the Zaidon region, southeast of Fallujah.

During the early hours this morning, an improvised explosive device detonated near a military vehicle and a second IED was discovered during a security patrol.

Marines also discovered two weapons caches in Zaidon that included mines, bomb-making material, rockets and assault rifles.

In the past several weeks, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion discovered numerous weapons caches and bomb-making materials in the Zaidon region.

Operation Qmtia follows a series of counter-insurgency operations initiated by Marines in Al Anbar. These operations are designed to disrupt insurgent activity and help end the campaign of fear and intimidation against Iraqi citizens.

[flydangler]

Wonder how they feel about the Iraq war TODAY

Methinks 'twould help if you'd give some indication what you're respondin' to, for context if nothin' else. The forum tools make it easy to use quotes, provide a link or whatever, eh? There be plenty of folks here willin' to help you learn to use them if needed, just ask.

[Marine]

Johnny, an interpreter with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), returned to Iraq April 30, 2005, after fleeing to the United States as a refugee in 2001. Working in the S-4 office, Johnny translates documents and helps bridge the communication gap between Marines and local Iraqis. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan

U.S. Marine Corps
Johnny

After Long Road to Freedom, Interpreter Returns to Iraq

By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Evan M. Eagan
II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)

FALLUJAH, Iraq, July 15, 2005 — After fleeing from his native Iraq in 2001 and embarking on a journey, which took him through five different countries and eventually to the United States as a refugee, an interpreter with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), has returned home to aid Marines in the rebuilding process in the city of Fallujah.

Johnny, a name he uses in place of his birth name to keep his identity hidden, works in the S-4 shop of the II MHG headquarters office, translating documents and helping bridge the communication gap between Marines and local Iraqis.

Born in Baghdad, Johnny had a passion for cooking, which led him to attend culinary school in Al Qanat, Iraq. Upon his graduation from the school he was required to fulfill a mandatory military service, putting his personal plans of working as a chef on hold.

“You are only required to do 36 months in the Iraqi military, but in Iraq under Saddam (Hussein) you never knew how long they would keep you,” he said. “One of my brothers was in for 15 years and another was a prisoner of war in Iran for 10 years.”

During his time in the service, Johnny was part of a recon unit during Operation Desert Storm in the early 90s, and fought in northern Iraq against the Iranians and Kurds.

After five years and eight months, Johnny was released from duty and he decided there were not many opportunities to better his life in Iraq. After a run-in with a federal agent under Saddam's regime, he decided it was time to leave the country and go to the United States.

“He ([federal agent) made a big order at the restaurant I was working at and tried to leave without paying for it,” said Johnny. “Then he told me, because I am a Christian, I don't need the money because I have family in the U.S. sending it to me. I got so mad that I punched him in the face and knocked him down.”

As a result, Johnny was taken to prison, where he was interrogated and tortured because the agent said he was talking bad about Saddam's regime.

Although his brothers posted his bail 12 days later, he vowed he would get out of Iraq and make a better life for himself no matter what he had to do.

“When I was in Iraq I was nothing because of the government,” said the 34-year-old. “I had no future there. There was nothing I could do.”

When he got out of prison, Johnny obtained a fake passport and fled to Jordan, where he bought a fake visa in order to take a flight to Yugoslavia.



From Yugoslavia he walked across the border to Hungary with a small group of people.

“We were captured in Hungary and put in a camp kind of like a jail,” he said. “They were going to do health examinations on us and other examinations which would have taken months, but I was in a hurry. Me, my nephew and two other guys escaped by jumping a fence of the camp. Once we got away we walked across the border to Austria where a charity made a meeting with the U.S. consular for us.”

Johnny met with the consular at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria and told him his story.

“I received a phone call the next day and he (the consular) congratulated me on being a refugee to the United States,” he said with a smile. “I got a visa and took a flight to the United States on April 25, 2001, and went to Madison Heights, Mich., to live with my sisters.”

Shortly after arriving in the United States, which Johnny refers to as his rebirth, he found a job in a bakery working with two of his cousins.

“I liked working at the bakery because I had family there, but I quit after a year because they didn't know English,” he said. “I wanted to learn but I knew that I wouldn't be able to do it there. I quit there and got a job at an Italian restaurant working with Americans and I started going to college to learn English and computer information science.”

From the end of 2002 until late 2004, Johnny studied English, through college classes and conversations with co-workers, until he heard about an opportunity to work in Iraq as a translator for the U.S. military.

After six months of screening, Johnny was chosen for the position.

Arriving in Iraq April 30, he is proud to be back to see how his country has improved.

“This is a really good experience for me,” he said. “I am so happy they got rid of Saddam. After 35 years of destroying the country, it will take time to be rebuilt. Everybody is happy, but many are still scared because of the insurgents. I can see that they want to help the Americans but they are afraid to do it because of the insurgents.”

Looking back on his long road to the United States, and back to Iraq, Johnny said he has no regrets.

“I think it was all worth it,” he said. “I would do it all over again in a second if I had to. I want to thank every American who came here and left their country to help the Iraqi people. I really appreciate that.”

[cardinal]

As a combat wounded veteran of the Vietnam War, I believe that we have a moral obligation to all veterans past and present to voice our opposition to an illegal, unjust and immoral war. For veterans to stay silent on this war with Iraq, would be to give tacit approval and support to those who would rush to war without contemplation of the disasterous affects that it will have on us and the world.
--Jaime Vazquez, USMC, 1966-1969

Page 2 of 5

VAIW

[underbear1]

Tharp died in a training pool at Parris Island, South Carolina, from what the Marines described as "complications in the water," the day after a camera crew from WIS-TV in Columbia -- at Parris Island to shoot a story on basic training -- shot video showing a drill instructor grabbing and striking him.

Another instructor told the crew that Tharp had been refusing to train.

Tharp's parents told WIS their son joined the Marines to get money for college, but was miserable in boot camp and wanted to quit. While they said they were not certain there was any connection between Tharp's death and what happened on the tape, they were upset by the way their son -- who they said did not swim well -- was being treated.

A Marine spokesman at the Pentagon said the actions by the drill instructors seen in the video appear to violate regulations for dealing with recruits.

"The latest suspensions are based upon statements made to investigators by other members of Tharp's platoon, and alleged improper contact by the three drill instructors during previous training," Friday's Marine statement said.

"If the allegations are substantiated, the drill instructors will be held accountable for their actions as directed under the applicable laws and regulations."


How' this whole investigation -thingy going, anyone charged with drowning this kid?

[Marine]

A Family's Sense of Service
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2005 – "It just felt like service was something everyone was supposed to do," Marine Sgt. Mandy L. McCammon said in Utapao, Thailand, recently.

Marine Sgt. Mandy L. McCammon, with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base at Camp Butler in Okinawa, was deployed to Utapao, Thailand, in support of the Combined Support Force organizing the relief effort. She said that as she grew up, it seemed service that services was something everyone was supposed to do. Photo by Samantha Quigley
(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.

Her mother, a Canadian citizen, instilled a sense of service in her, McCammon said. She was encouraged to give back to others through church and community, but not military, she added.

But she followed the lead of her grandfather, a World War II veteran and her brother who served in the military for 12 years.

McCammon, however, said conveying the message of why she serves isn't always easy when she's talking to civilians. "It's hard to explain to people who don't serve," McCammon said. "I really like the responsibility."

She's assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base at Camp Butler in Okinawa, where she is the central bureau chief for the Okinawa Marine newspaper. Her deployment to Utapao was in support of the Combined Support Force offering relief to the tsunami disaster victims.

McCammon wasn't always been in the news business, however.

At 22, she became a Marine Corps combat instructor, an assignment she said she took very personally. "Teaching young Marines to survive combat," she said, made her "very proud."

Though she's been a Marine for seven years, she doesn't anticipate making it a career.

"I have two kids now, so I feel like my priorities are shifting," she said.

The Utapao deployment was the first away from her children.

"It's really hard to explain to the kids (when they ask) 'Why do you have to leave me to go help somebody else?'" McCammon said.

But she said her deployment – helping the disaster victims – would help her explain. The stories she gathered from her time in Thailand would add to stories from her years in the Marine Corps that she would tell her son, 5, and her daughter, who is about to celebrate her first birthday.

http://www.dod.mil/news/Feb2005/n02142005_2005021402.html

[Marine]

Lieutenant Enjoys Contributing to Society
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD, Jan. 31, 2005 -- "That I contributed something meaningful to society, that I didn't just sit back and watch and say, 'I could have done something,'" is what Marine 1st Lt. Marc Lewis's service means to him.

Marine 1st Lt. Marc Lewis is an intelligence officer with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard. Lewis said it felt good to help people through his role in the tsunami disaster relief effort. Courtesy photo
(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.

As an intelligence officer for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Lewis is responsible for assisting the aircraft operators in completing their missions.

He got lots of practice with that while the USS Bonhomme Richard was supporting tsunami relief efforts off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. That mission was another reminder to Lewis of why he serves.

"I feel good having a chance to help," Lewis said. "I felt the same way last year, except I was getting shot at." Last year he was in Iraq, sharing a 16-man tent with 27 colleagues.

"Ever since then I've been real close with a couple of them," he said, adding that he hasn't had friends like that since high school.

Lewis said he enjoys working with the people in his shop. "If you're in a bad mood, they make you smile," he said. But even if coworkers don't always see eye to eye, they still respect each other. "You might not always get along with each other, but when it comes down to it, we look out for each other," he said.

Lewis, who said he would probably make the Marines a career, took a winding path to end up in the Corps. Initially he taught school in California. Special education, bilingual special education and physical education all hold space on his civilian resume.

But when it came down to it, he couldn't escape the family business. But even that took some testing of the waters, so to speak, before he settled on the Marine Corps. While most of his relatives have served in the military, Lewis began a new chapter in that part of the family's history.

"I wanted to do something different," he said. "Everybody in my family was either Air Force or Army." Lewis, who has an 8-year-old daughter from a previous marriage and is expecting a baby in June with his current wife, spent a year and a half in the Naval Reserve before enlisting in the Marine Corps.

But deciding on a service different from the majority of his family wasn't the end of wanting to be different. Lewis, who was first a teacher, has become a student. "I'm kind of an anomaly," Lewis said. "I've been to every school (in the military) you can think of."

Overall military life agrees with him. "It has its ups and downs, but a lot more ups than downs," he said.

Those "ups" have, in the recent past, come from strangers, he said, noting the gratitude he experienced in Iraq. "When people write you notes in different languages or just walk up and say thank you," it is another reinforcement of his reason for serving, he said.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2005/n0...2005013103.html

[Anita Garcia]

Marine Sounding off about the war and patriotism:

Once again we are called to serve, let it be for peace this time! It is not only our right, but our duty to dissent against a government that has gone mad. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield -- all chicken hawks! -- are the real axis of evil.
--Guy A. Mcwilliams, USMC, 1969-1971
[emphasis added]

http://www.vaiw.org/vet/modules.php?op=mod...d7fe54750b1d6d6

[Pie]

After reading most of this thread, I am wondering what, if any, progress is being made here. It would appear that we have two passionate members, both patriotic, who merely approach things from a different perspective.

For the sanity of some of us, let's see if we can find some common ground here.

Correct me if I am wrong but I am going to make a stab at pointing out some things that might break this impasse. Can everyone agree that:

- Those who serve our military are patriotic and are to be to commended for their service. There are only rare instances where individuals fail to meet this standard.

- Those who protest war peacefully are patriotic and feel they are serving their country as well. There are only rare instances where individuals fail to meet this standard.

- All persons who love this nation should show respect to all others who love this nation by
engaging in civil discourse and discussion.

- Taking time to try and understand where others "are coming from" is usually a productive
exercise.

- Merely posting re-cycled quotes from others avoids reaching common ground. Similarly, cynical remarks and snide remarks do nothing to increase the chances of making any progress
toward having a civil discussion on the actual merits of the original post.

Now, have at me if I have missed something here.

[TheRestofUs]

After reading most of this thread, I am wondering what, if any, progress is being made here.  It would appear that we have two passionate members, both patriotic, who merely approach things from a different perspective.

For the sanity of some of us, let's see if we can find some common ground here.

Correct me if I am wrong but I am going to make a stab at pointing out some things that might break this impasse. Can everyone agree that:

-  Those who serve our military are patriotic and are to be to commended for their service.  There are only rare instances where individuals fail to meet this standard.

-  Those who protest war peacefully are patriotic and feel they are serving their country as well.  There are only rare instances where individuals fail to meet this standard.

-  All persons who love this nation should show respect to all others who love this nation by
engaging in civil discourse and discussion. 

-  Taking time to try and understand where others "are coming from" is usually a productive
exercise.

- Merely posting re-cycled quotes from others avoids reaching common ground.  Similarly, cynical remarks and snide remarks do nothing to increase the chances of making any progress
toward having a civil discussion on the actual merits of the original post.

Now, have at me if I have missed something here. 

As usual, you are right on Pie!

This post has been edited by TheRestofUs: Jul 14 2005, 12:17 PM

[Marine]

U.S. Marine Corps
Cpl. Brian H. Walker

Houston Marine Jumps on Board, Wins Honors

By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Juan Vara
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

AL ASAD, Iraq, July 14, 2005 — A graduate of Texas Tech University, Cpl. Brian H. Walker enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 2003 to repay a personal obligation to the United States.

“We all have a debt to our country,” he said. “We all have to make a sacrifice for the freedoms we have and the lives we live. Some repay that debt by serving their country and others just take it for granted. I didn't want to be one of those. As a Marine I can go on with my life with no regrets.”

An intelligence systems analyst with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, Walker, from Houston, recently won the noncommissioned officer of the quarter board for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

Quarterly boards stimulate competitive spirit among Marines and provide recognition and reward for those who demonstrate outstanding military leadership, appearance, job knowledge, and performance of duty.

To be selected for this honor Walker first faced keen competition in his squadron and won the squadron-level board. A few days later he competed against some of the finest noncommissioned officers in the entire Marine Aircraft Group 26 and won the group-level board. After competing against a handful of the best noncommissioned officers in the forward deployed wing he came out triumphant.

“After winning the squadron board I knew the competition was going to be good,” said Walker. “I actually thought I had lost the group board since my sergeant major didn't tell anything until about an hour after it had ended. At no time I thought it would be a given, there are too many good Marines around for me to have thought that.”

And boards are something he's familiar with. Walker won the noncommissioned officer of the quarter board in his squadron last October, and when he graduated basic training he competed in and took the honor graduate board, which earned him a meritorious promotion to the rank of lance corporal.

But even after earning all these accolades, he remains humble and acknowledges the assistance provided by others to get him where he is today.

“The (noncommissioned officers) in my shop helped me understand how the boards would be and what to look for,” said Walker, who's currently carrying out anti-terrorism and force protection duties. “My fellow Marines on duty spent hours and hours helping me get ready.”

Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Wagner, from Fort Smith, Ark., is one of Walker's friends from basic training and serves with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, a squadron that's also deployed here. By luck of the draw, Wagner and Walker met again.

As a coincidence, Wagner competed and won the Marine of the quarter board in his squadron. He and Walker helped each other prepare for the next boards and they advanced to and won the wing-level boards.

“Lance Corporal Wagner and I got all the knowledge we could find and had the goal to go as far as we could,” said Walker. “Whenever we were lifting weights we would quiz each other between sets.”



U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Brian H. Walker, an intelligence systems analyst with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, recently won the noncommissioned officer of the quarter board for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), in Al Asad, Iraq. Walker, from Houston, is a 2003 graduate of Texas Tech University and has bachelor's degrees in history and economics. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Juan Vara


A college graduate with bachelor's degrees in history and economics, Walker had the option to never have to worry about these types of boards. He could have joined the military as an officer, like two of his friends from high school.

Army Capts. Doug Adams and Sam F. Harms, who Walker said he admires, are Houstonians who graduated with him from Cypress Creek High School in 1996. When they were commissioned as Army officers, Walker was still in college unsure of what he wanted to do with his life.

When his friends deployed to Iraq in support of the global war on terrorism he realized he wanted to serve in the armed forces.

“I felt like I couldn't look them in the eyes and not feel like I wasn't doing my part for our country,” said Walker, who joined the Corps as an enlisted Marine to gain knowledge and experience and plans to transition to the officer ranks.

“It's said that to be a good leader first you have to follow,” he said. “I've earned the respect of the Marines and I've become a noncommissioned officer. It is an honor to be in the best fighting force in the world and if I'm lucky to become an officer that will help me out a lot.”

Walker said he'd like to serve as an infantry or intelligence officer but in the mean time he'll continue to do his best supporting his squadron as an enlisted Marine.

“No matter what I do I want to continue to learn from the Marines around and above me,” he said. “I credit them with my growth from a selfish college student to a Marine.”

[Marine]

U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Travis J. Antoine

Drum Major Leads Way for High School Students

By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jennifer Antoine
Parris Island

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., July 19, 2005 — While many people only see the drum major of the Parris Island Marine Band during recruit graduations, military ceremonies or parades, three seniors from Samuel W. Wolfson High School, Jacksonville, Fla., were afforded the opportunity to learn from him during a two-day crash course in what it takes to be a drum major.

Staff Sgt. Travis J. Antoine, drum major, Parris Island Marine Band, took time from his schedule to teach the students mace movements such as basic spins and pump, as well as commands such as forward march, mark time and horn movements. These commands are important for a band drum major because most of the time, vocal commands are not effective and everything must come from the mace.

"If mace signals are not precise or given at the improper time, it causes confusion within the band," said Antoine. “Everyone must be together, and if the mace signals are unclear, the musicians will interpret the signal differently, which could lead to half the band doing one thing and half the band doing another."

Ernie R. Lombardi, director, Samuel W. Wolfson High School Band, and a former Marine musician, is beginning his second year at the school and is hoping to enhance their performance ability. Lombardi wanted his drum majors to learn from Antoine because he said he felt his band was lacking the discipline and structure needed to look professional and visually appealing.

"I wanted the students to get a first-hand experience in what it takes to run a band during day-to-day evolutions," said Lombardi. "I wanted them to learn Marine Corps drill; go back to the basics of 'Esprit de Corps.'"

Warrant Officer Christian E. Flores, band officer, Parris Island Marine Band, says that a strong drum major is important for many reasons.

"The drum major embodies what the Marine Corps represents,” said Flores. “When on the march, he inspires the Marines in his charge to march straight and be proud. The silent commands are an extension of his will and lay the foundation of motivating performances."

After two days, the students felt the instruction from Antoine was well worth the five-hour drive from Jacksonville.

"I learned a lot, and as soon as I get home, I am going to practice much more," said Luis Costoso, associate drum major, Samuel W. Wolfson High School.


U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Travis J. Antoine, drum major, Parris Island Marine Band, demonstrates how to do basic spins with the mace to Brittany Evans, head drum major, Samuel W. Wolfson High School, during a two-day training with Antoine. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jennifer Antoine


The students were using the mace for the first time and starting from scratch, said Antoine, but they picked it up quickly.

A drum major for a Marine Band does more than teach students and keep his Marines looking sharp on the field, that is just one of his responsibilities.

"The drum major is also in charge of training," said Flores. "He is the ambassador for the unit, command and the Marine Corps."

Antoine wanted to stress to the students the importance of having command and confidence while in front of their band.

"The drum major is the first one people see when a band is marching down the street. If he or she looks bad, the band looks bad," said Antoine.


http://defendamerica.mil/profiles/July2005/pr071305a.html