kentmitchell
01-05-04, 07:32 AM
Excerpted from Sgt. Grit's American Courage Newsletter:
Sgt Grit,
The recent post to the last newsletter concerning
LTC Al West, USA prompted me to write and give your
readers a little more background on him.
Al West took command of a MLRS battalion after completing
a tour with the Marines of II Marine Expeditionary Force,
based at Camp Lejeune, NC (II MEF has a Force Fires exchange
billet filled by an Army Artillery Officer). While there,
he consistently displayed an exceptional level of
professionalism, competence, and ability while serving
as the II MEF Deputy Force Fires Coordinator and then
Force Fires Coordinator. One key project that he got off
the ground was the return of live Naval Gunfire training
to the G-10 range at Camp Lejeune. He received an
end-of-tour award (an MSM, I think) for the outstanding
job he did with us.
My own impression of Al was that he was a superb officer,
highly professional, devoted to his job and his family,
and highly qualified for command. He was certainly on a
par with the best Marine Corps officers I have served with.
Having known and served with Al West, I truly believe he
was doing everything he could do to protect his troops.
I also believe his actions would have never resulted in
such a ridiculous prosecution if he were in or serving
with the Marine Corps.
I hate to say it, but I think Al's tour with us at II MEF
made him think more like a Marine than a soldier, particularly
in 4th ID, which (in spite of recent successes) doesn't have
a stellar reputation. As an aside, 4th ID didn't make much
of an impression when they arrived in Iraq; the Brits
requested that they never transit their zone again. While
conducting the RIP, they also fired on Marine LAVs (didn't
know what that LAVs belong to us, not the Iraqis).
In summation, when you think of Al West, know that he served
with us and did great work - he is an outstanding officer
and soldier and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
Semper Fi,
MAK
Sgt Grit,
The recent post to the last newsletter concerning
LTC Al West, USA prompted me to write and give your
readers a little more background on him.
Al West took command of a MLRS battalion after completing
a tour with the Marines of II Marine Expeditionary Force,
based at Camp Lejeune, NC (II MEF has a Force Fires exchange
billet filled by an Army Artillery Officer). While there,
he consistently displayed an exceptional level of
professionalism, competence, and ability while serving
as the II MEF Deputy Force Fires Coordinator and then
Force Fires Coordinator. One key project that he got off
the ground was the return of live Naval Gunfire training
to the G-10 range at Camp Lejeune. He received an
end-of-tour award (an MSM, I think) for the outstanding
job he did with us.
My own impression of Al was that he was a superb officer,
highly professional, devoted to his job and his family,
and highly qualified for command. He was certainly on a
par with the best Marine Corps officers I have served with.
Having known and served with Al West, I truly believe he
was doing everything he could do to protect his troops.
I also believe his actions would have never resulted in
such a ridiculous prosecution if he were in or serving
with the Marine Corps.
I hate to say it, but I think Al's tour with us at II MEF
made him think more like a Marine than a soldier, particularly
in 4th ID, which (in spite of recent successes) doesn't have
a stellar reputation. As an aside, 4th ID didn't make much
of an impression when they arrived in Iraq; the Brits
requested that they never transit their zone again. While
conducting the RIP, they also fired on Marine LAVs (didn't
know what that LAVs belong to us, not the Iraqis).
In summation, when you think of Al West, know that he served
with us and did great work - he is an outstanding officer
and soldier and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
Semper Fi,
MAK