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thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:10 AM
'Never so glad in my life to see Marines,' rescued POW says



BY ERIC OLSON : The Herald-Sun
eolson@heraldsun.com; 419-6647
Sep 8, 2004 : 10:48 pm ET

DURHAM -- Shoshana Nyree Johnson used the resolve and fortitude learned from her father and the women in her family to endure 22 days of captivity last year during the Iraqi war.

Speaking to about 300 people at the B.N. Duke Auditorium on the campus of N.C. Central University, the 31-year-old relied on humor and candid observations about herself to explain her capture and subsequent rescue, which garnered worldwide media attention.

"It's hard to believe it's almost been a year and a half," she said. "I still remember my friends who are no longer here joking and laughing. There are plenty of children who will never know their parents, and they were wonderful people."

Johnson, who was born in Panama, said her family moved to the United States to seek better opportunities. After a failed attempt at college, she followed in her father's footsteps and joined the U.S. Army in 1998.

Johnson figured that with her love of cooking, she could use the Army to help pay for culinary school, she said. She wound up as a food service specialist at Fort Bliss, Texas, with the 507th Maintenance Company, 552 Battalion, 11th Brigade.

But by November 2002, Johnson's company had begun to hear rumors that they could be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan, and when the orders came down, Johnson said she got her cocoa butter, hair relaxer and body spray ready for the trip.

"After I packed all of that, then I tried to make room for all the Army stuff," she said with a laugh.

After they landed in Kuwait and saw Humvees fitted with .50-caliber machine guns, however, reality sank its teeth into all of them, she said.

"It was scary, but it was my job," she said.

On March 23, 2003, after hardly sleeping for more than two days, Johnson and her company rolled into Nasiriyah and realized they weren't supposed to be there, she said. At least not at that point.

But when they began turning around to retreat, they heard the popping of gunfire.

"It was the most intense, scariest moment of my life, knowing your friends are dying or already dead," she said. "And then I felt the bullet pierce my skin."

Before long, Johnson and five members of her company were in the hands of the enemy, she said. She just prayed they would treat her the way they were supposed to, she said.

Johnson's captors took care of her wounds as best they could, then blindfolded the group and drove them to Baghdad, she said. There, doctors tried to perform surgery, but, ironically, U.S. bombing runs delayed the operation for two days, she said.

"If they hadn't performed that surgery ... I would have lost my life," she said.

Johnson also praised the U.S. Marines, who rescued her and six other POWs from a house in Samarra, Iraq, on April 13, 2003.

"A wonderful Sunday morning when we heard the door kicked down," she said. "I had never been so glad in my life to see some Marines."

Johnson, the mother of a 2-year-old daughter, also spoke about the whirlwind of activity after the rescue and her shock at learning that the ordeal had received international attention.

"I'm sure you've all seen the picture of me with two Marines at my side and my hair all tore up," she joked. "And somebody in Iraq has my Victoria's Secret body wash. And that stuff is not cheap."

Johnson, however, downplayed the racial divide between the treatment of herself and Pfc. Jessica Lynch, a fellow member of the 507th Maintenance Company who also was wounded and held captive during the war.

"It is not that big of a deal," she said, noting that she and Lynch are friends. "Her wounds were more severe than mine and she deserved her percentage of disability. I just thought I should receive more."

Johnson, who retired from the army in December 2003 and was decorated with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War medals, had her own words of advice for U.S. residents.

"You have certain freedoms in this country, and you need to appreciate it," she said. "You don't realize it until it's gone."

http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-520210.html


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:11 AM
Fightertown Marine awarded for actions in OIF <br />
Submitted by: MCAS Beaufort <br />
Story Identification #: 200498154224 <br />
Story by Cpl. C. Alex Herron <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (Sept. 3,...

thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:12 AM
Marines, Soldiers team up to battle insurgents, destroy weapons cache
Submitted by: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification #: 2004992249
Story by Cpl. Paul Leicht



AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Sep. 4, 2004) -- Following an insurgent improvised explosive device attack on coalition forces here Sept. 3, Marines and Soldiers killed two insurgents and captured four others during operations to destroy a suspected weapons cache.

While transporting casualties stemming from the attack against U.S. military forces near the Euphrates River, an Army UH-60 Blackhawk medical evacuation pilot spotted boats, at least one containing rocket-propelled grenades, fleeing the area and called in their location.

"I thought the boats may have been repositioning themselves to ambush our movement during the MEDEVAC mission," said Army Capt. Michael P. Gill, pilot, 507th Medical Company (Air Ambulance).



Subsequent to Gill's observation, helicopter gunships and fixed-wing aircraft from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing moved in to observe and fire on the boats.

Gill, a Long Beach, Calif., native added that he was happy he could help save the lives of several Marines while helping them get a little "pay back" as well.

Marine close-air support confirmed two boats fleeing the IED site. After firing on one boat containing RPGs secondary explosions were reported.
Moving ashore to unload suspected munitions crates, four men from a second boat then surrendered to pursuing Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment on the river's shores. The weapons cache was then destroyed by Marine close air support.

Applauding the superb air and ground coordination efforts of the Army MEDEVAC (helicopters) and Marine close-air support, Maj. Gen. Keith J. Stalder, commanding general, 3rd MAW, said that through their efforts the insurgents in the boats were detected moving weapons and supplies.

While expressing condolences to the families and friends of the fallen Marines, Stalder also noted that every Marine and Sailor on the 3rd MAW team must continue to observe everything to "stay steps ahead of the insurgents."

Flying more than 1,300 hours since February, the Army 507th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), based in Fort Hood, Texas, is supporting I Marine Expeditionary Force operations in the Al Anbar Province.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20049923624/$file/040901-M-0484L-cache-money1LR.jpg

A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter belonging to the Army's 507th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) flies to Al Asad, Iraq, after completing a medical evacuation mission in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq Sept. 1. During a MEDEVAC mission two days later near the Euphrates River, another of the Army unit’s aircraft reported insurgent activity, which lead to the destruction of enemy weapons, enemy kills and captures by U. S. Marines. Photo by: Cpl. Paul Leicht
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/34423AB90E224AC185256F0A00232BDB?opendocument


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:14 AM
Marines repair flight equipment in Iraq
Submitted by: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification #: 2004993413
Story by Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri



AL ASAD, Iraq (Sep. 7, 2004) -- While in Iraq, the Marine Corps has been taking advantage of their air superiority in the fight against terrorism.

The ability to use Marine aircraft for reconnaissance, support of ground troops, and attack has been invaluable for U.S. commanders and although pilots traditionally receive the lion's share of the glory for their heroic exploits, there are leathernecks behind the scenes who keep Marine aircraft flying high.

The Marines of Ground Support Equipment, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, don't rest until all the equipment needed to assist aircraft is in proper working condition.

"We fix and maintain all the gear that supports the aircraft," said collateral duty inspector, Staff Sgt. Brian M. Rioux, support equipment technician, MALS-16.

The amount of equipment needed to support an aircraft is vast and a lot of hard work goes into its repair. It is Roiux's job to make sure it's done right.

"This isn't an easy job," said the 26-year-old native of Lucie, Fl. "The training alone is over a year long. We have electricians, mechanics and cryogenics specialists who work with nitrogen and oxygen for the pilots (to breathe) while in the air."

Because of the magnitude of expertise the Marines of GSE possess, there have been numerous projects assigned to them; some even requiring they go above and beyond their usual duties.
"We normally only work on things like tow trackers, cranes, generators and weapons loaders," said Rioux, "but we've also had to work on trucks and other things that need to be (fixed) on base."

Located in the Western Iraqi Desert, where the harsh sand and extreme heat can take a heavy toll on equipment, the GSE Marines must be flexible and able to adjust to their surroundings in order to keep equipment in a ready status.

"Stuff is breaking down all the time," said Rioux. "Sand clogs filters and the heat breaks down mechanics, but we learn to adapt to our environment and so far we've been pretty successful."

The Marines who work in this job field have to stay focused and keep sharp to ensure that equipment that requires repair is fixed in a timely manner.

"Sometimes we have to fix stuff on demand," said 26 year-old, Rochester, Mich., native Sgt. George R. Singer, support equipment technician, MALS-16. "Something might break down right there on the flight line and we'll have to repair it."

Fortunately, the enthusiasm and commitment the ground support equipment Marines show toward their jobs is high; especially given the significance of their occupational specialty.


"I love being able to do what I was trained to do," said Singer.
"(Ground support equipment repair) is a pretty important job, added 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Jason M. Yost, support equipment technician, MALS-16, "Without working gear, the planes wouldn't even be able to fly."

According to Yost, the opportunity to serve in a real war zone has allowed him to gain more knowledge about his job than he ever could have in garrison.

"I've learned a lot more out here then I ever did back in the rear," said the Hollywood, Fla., native.

Even though their duties are challenging and they perform them with little or no fanfare, 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Laura A. Clark, support equipment technician, MALS-16, and Tucson, Ariz., native is able to stay motivated and keep her morale up.

"I know that what we do out here is important," said Clark, "and that alone is enough to keep me going."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004993506/$file/040907-M-2789C-001-GSE-LR.jpg

Sgt. George R. Singer, support equipment technician, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing tests a vehicle battery at Al Asad, Sept. 7. The 26 year-old, Rochester, Mich., native is a member of the ground support equipment section, responsible for helping repair essential gear that allows aircraft to fly. Photo by: Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/91A0CD6A380984EF85256F0A002A35DA?opendocument


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:14 AM
Schiff returns from Iraq trip
Representative visited troops in Afghanistan, Iraq; he sees progress in both countries but problems, too.

By Josh Kleinbaum, The Leader


PASADENA — Rep. Adam Schiff couldn't resist. A handful of pilots on the U.S. aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy, deployed in the Arabian coast to support coalition forces in Iraq, sat down for a midnight meal and a poker game late one night. They asked Schiff, part of a five-man congressional delegation to the Middle East, to join them.

A few hours later and a few dollars poorer, Schiff went to sleep.

"I'd like to say that I threw the hands, but they took me," Schiff said in his Pasadena office. "I think they enjoyed beating a congressman."

Clearly, Schiff (D-Burbank) enjoyed losing to the pilots, too. But his weeklong trip to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bahrain was not all fun and games. In Iraq, he avoided a rocket-propelled grenade attack by about 500 yards. The Marines canceled a trip to Fallujah because of security concerns, and they told Schiff they had never before restricted a congressional delegation for security reasons.

Schiff found mixed results in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In Iraq, Schiff said that the number of enemy forces has increased significantly since his last trip there, one year ago, especially with foreign fighters. He attributes that to poor planning for the post-war phase by the Bush administration, which has led to shaky security.

But he also saw cause for optimism. He considers Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to be the right man for the job, a free thinker with refreshing bluntness.

"The Iraqi government now has an Iraqi face," Schiff said. "A lot of Iraqi people think he's a pawn for the United States. He doesn't come across as a pawn for anybody.

"Be prepared for another three or four months of rough news. We probably won't turn the corner until they have elections. Ultimately, the fight will have to be won by Iraqis."

In Afghanistan, Schiff said soldiers felt forgotten. One described Afghanistan as "the third front in a two-front war," behind the war in Iraq and the global war on terrorism. But he said troops were uplifted by the clear progress being made. With democratic elections scheduled for October, 10.5 million people have already registered to vote, with 42% of them women, Schiff said.

"In the Taliban regime, they weren't allowed to leave the house," Schiff said.

Schiff is concerned that the country could turn into a drug haven. Opium is one of Afghanistan's chief products, and production has gone up significantly in the past two years. Local warlords intimidate farmers, Schiff said, forcing them to grow opium.

But Schiff said Afghani officials do not consider warlords or the Taliban the biggest threat. Rather, they are concerned about neighboring countries, including Pakistan, often the forgotten player in the terror mix.

Schiff sees Pakistan as a volatile nation that could explode. The country is a nuclear power without stable leadership — there have been several attempts on President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's life in the past year. The country has a significant radical Muslim population, and Schiff believes it is still harboring members of the Taliban regime.

"It's hard to imagine a more dangerous mix of elements," Schiff said. "It deserves a lot of time and attention."

Schiff and the rest of the delegation met with Foreign Minister Mian Kursheed Mehmood Kasuri, who assured them that the United States could trust Pakistan. Schiff is still skeptical.

"Pakistan has made the effort to crack down on Al Qaeda," Schiff said. "There's a significant question of how much they've cracked down on the Taliban. They still find refuge in the border areas. It occurs to me that Pakistan could be looking down the line to what happens when the coalition forces pull out of Afghanistan. Pakistan could exert its influence on shaping Afghanistan."

Schiff, who is facing reelection in November, said he made the trip to show support for the troops.

He has gone to either Iraq or Afghanistan each year since taking office in 2000.

Harry Scolinos, Schiff's Republican opponent, called the trip little more than a ploy to give voters the appearance that Schiff is strong on national security.

"Let's call it like it is," Scolinos said. "Being in Iraq and Afghanistan means nothing to me, especially when he didn't vote to help the troops."

Scolinos pointed to Schiff's vote against $87 billion in supplemental funding for the Iraq war. Schiff said he favored a similar package which appropriated more money to the troops and less for reconstruction.

"I have voted for each of the last three defense budgets as proposed by the administration, and those were the largest in history," Schiff said. "I've gone to visit troops every year in office, whether it's an election year or a nonelection year."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/burbank/news/la-blr-schiff08sep08,1,802799.story


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 06:16 AM
Issue Date: September 13, 2004

Teaming up in Najaf
Army, Iraqi troops join 11th MEU Marines

By Matthew Cox
Times staff writer


NAJAF, Iraq — In the hours before dawn, infantrymen from the 1st Cavalry Division hunkered down in a filthy, ground-level room inside a two-story building.
Periodic bursts of AK47 fire in the distance didn’t bother them anymore. After two weeks of continuous street fighting against Mehdi army militants loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, such sounds were more annoying than frightening.

Just hours earlier on Aug. 26, those troops had seen some of the heaviest fighting so far while securing their position in the ring of U.S. forces around Sadr’s stronghold inside the Imam Ali Mosque.

The men were exhausted but couldn’t sleep yet. Soon, rocket-propelled grenades began to explode.

The enemy was setting up a position in a building across the street, and it had to be cleared out. A Bradley fighting vehicle rolled up and prepped the target by firing its 25mm cannon into the door.

A handful of soldiers stacked up outside the door and rushed into an explosion.

“We were trying to hurry up in the door when my squad leader caught shrapnel in the arm and stomach,” recalled Spc. Abel Garces, an M249 squad automatic weapon gunner.

The soldiers cleared the building while others pulled the wounded back to a nearby casualty collection point.

Later that day, Sadr’s forces would put down their weapons and leave the sacred Shi’ite shrine, but not before mounting several more attacks, against U.S. and Iraqi security forces, that stretched beyond the formal cease-fire agreement.

Although final negotiations ensured a peaceful ending to the standoff, Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and other U.S. commanders credited 1st Cavalry soldiers, Marines and Iraqi security forces with handing the interim Iraqi government its “first strategic victory.” It was the final encirclement of the mosque that tightened the noose around Sadr and his group, and convinced him to capitulate.

“When it came down to negotiating the last deal, he had no more cards on the table,” Casey told soldiers from 2/7 during a visit on Aug. 29 to a small camp outside Najaf. The visit came as U.S. forces began pulling back from positions inside the holy city.

Soldiers from 2/7 deployed Aug. 8 out of Camp Cook in Taji, a camp 15 miles north of Baghdad, and traveled about 105 miles south, where they were assigned to the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit here.

On Aug. 12, leathernecks with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, attacked the southern and southeastern portions of the city as part of a coordinated operation with soldiers from the 1st Cavalry’s 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, and several hundred Iraqi army troops.

For the next 15 days, Army Lt. Col. Jim Rainey’s soldiers would fight a day and night urban battle against a determined enemy.

“We fought through a 100,000 [inhabitant] urban area, 2½ kilometers by 3 kilometers, against a pretty committed enemy,” Rainey said during an Aug. 29 interview inside an Iraqi police station here.

U.S. forces fought with M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and dismounted infantry, backed up by Air Force and Navy fixed-wing aircraft and Army AH-64 Apache and Marine AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter gunships.

Mehdi militia, dressed in black with red scarves and carrying AK47s, soon countered with heavy mortar fire, RPGs and improvised explosives.

“Thank God we had tanks,” said Army Maj. Tim Karcher, operations officer for 2/7. “The enemy was firing down alleys less than 100 meters away.”

On Aug. 23, 2/7 units, along with other U.S. ground forces, penetrated Sadr’s inner defenses and began forming a ring around the mosque.

U.S. forces had killed several hundred Iraqi militants, but the enemy was still not ready to give up. The fighting intensified as 2/7 units got into position about 300 meters from the mosque. The soldiers saw prepared enemy fighting positions and greater evidence of more professional command and control in the defenses, Rainey said.

Some of the heaviest fighting continued even after the Aug. 27 cease-fire agreement.

“Even when we were told to cease operations, if you were a young infantryman in a rifle squad, you didn’t know the difference,” Rainey said. ;

Matthew Cox covers the Army.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-MARINEPAPER-334294.php


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 07:04 AM
Marines vital skills keep communication open
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 20049812957
Story by Cpl. Randy Bernard



CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (Sep. 5, 2004) -- Communication is vital when two very different worlds try to work together. However, there are times when translators are not available.

During those crucial moments, Cpl. Garrett A. Barton, a machine gunner with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, has been able to step in and fill the communication gap for his unit.

"I've helped Iraqis explain to our corpsmen their injuries," said Barton, 22, of Gowanda, N.Y. "I've spoken with local children and asked them about terrorists, and if there are weapons hidden. (I) found out that this one town didn't have water because of a broken pipe."

Barton started his education in the Arabic language prior to this deployment, learning his first words and phrases from a sailor that was born in Kuwait.

"He taught me a little bit," said Barton. "After that I started listening to Arabic (compact discs)."

"It is impressive," said 2nd Lt. Ryan M. Hunt, a platoon commander with Company A. "He has learned this all on his own. While back at Camp Lejeune, they sent him to an Arabic language class, and he was already ahead of his peers.

"He helps us accomplish our mission when we are not able to make contact," added Hunt. "He helps us speak to the indigenous people, lets them know what we are doing there, asks them where the bad guys are, and if the government is providing the people with everything that they need."

Lance Cpl. Rob B. Glasgow, a mortar man with Company A, recalls how Barton's ability to speak Arabic has helped the company accomplish their mission.

We manned a border control point and stopped a vehicle. I didn't know how to tell the Iraqis that they were on a road restricted to coalition personnel, said Glasgow, 21, of Orlando, Fla. They were scared and I tried to speak with them. Cpl. Barton took control of the situation and told them why we were there, why they weren't allowed to be on the road and to stay off of the road from now on.

"There aren't many translators available, and there are times that I don't know what to say, but he is there to back us up," said Glasgow.

Barton also recalls a time when he was able to assist his company by communicating with the town's people.

"We were down in the villages near Fallujah," said Barton. "The Marines down there had found mortar rounds and other weapons. They were having problems finding out (whom) the house belonged to. I found a 15-year-old (Iraqi) to tell us who lived there."

Barton has since improved his Arabic through the translators that are attached to his unit.

"I've walked into his room, and he is in there with the translators, picking their brains," said Glasgow.

Barton even uses his talents to help train Iraqis and his fellow Marines.

"I've given crash courses to (Iraqi National Guardsmen) about how to search vehicles," said Barton. "And I've also given a couple of classes for the platoon."

According to many of the Marines that he has worked with, Barton has proven himself time and time again and will continue to be an invaluable asset to the team.

"His skills are vital for us," said Hunt.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200498104019/$file/TRANSLATOR1lr.jpg

Cpl. Garrett A. Barton, 22, of Gowanda N.Y., explains to Lance Cpl. Rob B. Glasgow the proper way to tell an Iraqi to put their hands in the air. Barton is a machine gunner with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. He also serves as a self-taught translator for the Marines of his company.
(Official USMC photo by Cpl. Randy L. Bernard)
Photo by: Cpl. Randy Bernard

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/BC1612CFF0E58DF785256F09001E3576?opendocument


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 07:44 AM
A Marine Regimental Commander's Eye-View Of Iraq

===============

Subject: 7th Marines - Letter from Col Tucker

21 August 2004

The last month has been a busy time of change in the RCT-7 AO; a trend that
will continue as the battalions that arrived with us last February are replaced


by newcomers. TF 3/4 was replaced in July by TF 1/8 out of Camp Lejeune NC.
As I write, the advance parties for the Battalions coming in to replace TF 2/7, 3/7,
and 1st LAR are on board. Over the next month we will assimilate our new
brothers-in-arms, and continue to march forward with the same lines of operation
and successes that have characterized our operations thus far.

The AO has been relatively quiet over the last weeks. The enemy still engages
in cowardly attacks against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi Security Forces, and the
Marines employing IEDs and indirect fire. But we continue to rock him on
his heels with precision raids, tighter control of the border areas, and the
professional presence of Marines providing security alongside the ISF for the
people in these communities. Since my last letter, we have seen promising
progress in the eastern portion of the AO. A Police Academy and Border
Police Academy have been established at Al Asad; a corrupt mayor and corrupt
police chief have been forced out of their jobs through pressure applied by the
citizens of the communities involved. The Iraqi National Guard continue to grow
in competence and professionalism. Local citizens live free of fear from
terrorists and criminal overlords. Kids go to school [and play on swing sets
provided by Marines], markets are busy and, in a promising development,
political parties are beginning to coalesce. This is what victory in
counterinsurgency looks like.

In the western portion of the AO we continue to succ! essfully capture and
kill terrorists and violent criminals. TF LAR, TF 3/7, and 1st Force Recon
have had remarkable success working their way up the terrorist cell structure.

All of these battalions will depart here justifiably proud of their accomplishments.
I am in absolute awe of these young men; the deed of the sons have
exceeded the deeds of the father, and these men and these units will march
into a proud history unencumbered by the dynamics of political agendas and
press profits.

I speak to every Marine of the arriving Bns. Their intelligence, sense of duty,
and perspective are remarkable. They ask questions ranging from small
tactical issues to large and significant strategic issues. They fully understand
the complexities of U.S. policy and their own role in the future of Iraq.
We are striving to establish the rule of law in a country where terror,
intimidation, and fear once ruled. A daunting task. But day-by-day, we
see progress.


How far that progress extends will rightly depend on the will of American
people. I was asked by a young Marine yesterday to encapsulate our tasks
in a few words. My response: Provide a bulwark against the instruments of
terror to allow the rule of law to take root; train the Iraqi Security Forces to do
what we are doing now and kill anyone who has a problem with that; accomplish
all three of those tasks without harming a single innocent Iraqi and without a
single Marine in this RCT losing his moral compass. We continue to march
forward on those tasks. Given time that success will be complete.

RCT-7 remembers the sacrifices of

Cpl T.J Godwin, 1st&nb! sp; Bn 8th Marines, killed in action on July 20, 2004
vic Fallujah, Iraq;
GySgt E.P. Fontecchio, 3d Bn 7th Marines, killed in action August 4,2004
vic Husaybah, Iraq;
LCpl J.L. Nice, 3d Bn 7th Marines, killed in action August 4, 2004
vic Husaybah Iraq;
LCpl K.M. Funke, 2d Bn 7th Marines, killed in action August 13, 2004
vic Hit, Iraq;
and
Sgt R.M. Lord, 1st Bn 8th Marines killed in action August 18, 2004
vic Haditha, Iraq.

Please remember their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Share your Courage.
------------------------------------------------


Semper Fidelis, Gerry

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have made a difference in the world. Marines don't have that problem."
Ronald Reagan


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 10:10 AM
Two Utah Marines Killed in Iraq Car Bomb Attack
LAST UPDATE: 9/8/2004 3:57:49 PM



Two Utah Marines were among the seven killed Monday in a car-bomb attack near Fallujah, Iraq, their families said.

They were Lance Cpls. Michael Allred, 22, of Hyde Park and Quinn A. Keith, 22, of Blanding.

The military has not yet released the identities of the seven victims and could not confirm the families' reports.

Allred had been scheduled to leave the Marines in January after his four-year term expired, said his older brother Brad Allred, 26.

He said his brother had always wanted to be in military service or law enforcement, and died doing something he loved.

"He was looking forward to coming home and being done, but he didn't regret his service," he told The Associated Press Tuesday. "He was happy to serve, and he knew what he was doing was right."

Allred said the family was still trying to plan memorial services, and has had "a nonstop stream of visitors" at their home in Hyde Park, about 70 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Allred said he wasn't sure what his brother had planned after he returned home in January, but that he had talked about buying a motorcycle and traveling with a family member.

He said the family was mourning, but taking the loss well because Michael so firmly believed in serving.

"Knowing that he believed in what he was doing, and he was where he wanted to be - that makes it a little better," he said.

Keith, a weapons specialist, joined the Marines fresh out of school in Page, Ariz., where he was active in wrestling, relatives told the Deseret Morning News.

Keith was a Navajo and belonged to the Towering House clan and then to the Bitter Water clan.

"He was willing to go to war to sacrifice his life for his country and his reservation," said his younger brother, Chad.

He was scheduled to end his tour in Iraq in just a little more than three weeks and planned to serve the remainder of his time in California.


http://www.4utah.com/local_news/local_headlines/story.aspx?content_id=3B181306-DFE3-459C-90ED-546A6B972A26


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 12:10 PM
September 08, 2004

Four survive helicopter crash near Baghdad

Associated Press


BAGHDAD, Iraq — A U.S. military helicopter crashed Wednesday west of Baghdad, but all four personnel aboard survived, the U.S. command said.
A terse statement from the Marine Corps base at Camp Fallujah gave no precise location, no time of the crash and did not say what type of helicopter was involved nor whether it was downed by hostile fire.

“All four personnel aboard a Multinational Force helicopter that crashed ... were evacuated from the crash site,” the statement said. “None of the personnel have life-threatening injuries and all are expected to fully recover. The cause of the crash is under review.”

U.S. officials refused to provide more information.

However, residents of the area said the crash occurred about 20 miles south of Fallujah, controlled by Sunni Muslim militants.

“The helicopter is still burning and warplanes are flying over the area,” one resident, Ahmed Mosleh, told The Associated Press. “A military convoy is heading in the direction of the crash.”

About 25 U.S. military helicopters have crashed in Iraq since May 2003, of which some 15 were brought down by hostile fire.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-343604.php


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 02:10 PM
Issue Date: September 13, 2004

Posthumous Silver Star
Marine killed in ’03 Iraq ambush earns military’s 3rd highest award

By Laura Bailey
Times staff writer


A Camp Lejeune, N.C., Marine killed during last year’s bloody battle for Nasiriyah, Iraq, was awarded the Silver Star, the military’s third-highest medal, Sept. 3.
Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, 32, was serving with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, as part of Task Force Tarawa when he was killed March 23, 2003. He was one of 18 combat deaths the battalion suffered in what was one of the bloodiest days of the invasion of Iraq.

As Marines began an intense four-hour battle around the city, Bitz was attached to Charlie Company as a crew chief and assistant section leader of an assault amphibian vehicle section.

The company was near the northern part of the city when a rocket-propelled grenade hit Bitz’ vehicle, setting it on fire and wounding four Marines. Bitz maneuvered the vehicle to the company’s defensive perimeter and immediately began to help move the wounded to safety, exposing himself to flames and explosions, said Charlie Company commander Capt. Dan Witnam.

With that accomplished, under “unrelenting” small-arms and artillery fire and without a vehicle to command, Bitz chose not to join another vehicle, instead picking up his rifle and joining an infantry platoon in an assault, his citation reads.

“He just fell in step and joined the infantry platoon,” said platoon commander Capt. Conor Tracy.

Tracy said his unit, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, had been attached to 1/2 for only two weeks.

“He could have moved to another amtrac. Instead he chose to help the Marines he was with,” he said.

As Marines in the platoon began to run short on ammunition, Bitz made repeated trips under fire to collect replenishments from a vehicle about 300 meters away.

“The fact that he was running ammo back and forth and helping infantry on the line was above and beyond his job,” Tracy said.

During the attack, Bitz and several members of the platoon were wounded. Bitz ignored his own shrapnel wounds to help load casualties onto an evacuation vehicle. Under unrelenting fire, he mounted another vehicle to provide security for the casualties, his citation says. It was while he was escorting the wounded that an RPG came crashing down upon his vehicle, killing him.

Bitz’ actions in the battle amounted to a display of “decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of enemy fire and utmost devotion to duty,” said his award citation.

At the morning ceremony at Lejeune’s Ellis field, Bitz’ wife, Janina Bitz-Vasquez, who has since remarried, accepted his certificate, and his mother, Donna Bellman, accepted the Silver Star medal, presented by Brig. Gen. Maston Robeson, commanding general of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism).

Bitz, originally from Wishek, N.D., enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1995. He was the father of four young children, including twins who were born just weeks before his unit entered Iraq, Tracy said.


http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-MARINEPAPER-332857.php


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 04:56 PM
Issue Date: September 13, 2004

Pushed too far?
Low morale spurs retention worries in the reserves

By Vince Crawley
Times staff writer


National Guard and reserve members say their morale and willingness to continue serving have declined over the past year, mainly due to the Iraq war, according to a recent Defense Department survey that officials are keeping under wraps.
“We take these results very seriously, and we plan to take vigorous action,” said John Winkler, the Pentagon’s chief of manpower and personnel for reserve affairs.

To address morale concerns among reservists, the Defense Department has proposed several improvements in pay and benefits as part of the fiscal 2005 defense spending bills being negotiated by Congress, Winkler said.

The survey, conducted regularly as a morale benchmark, describes sharp declines in such “leading indicators” as reservists’ desire to stay in uniform, satisfaction with military life and personal and unit readiness.

The survey was done in May by the Defense Manpower Data Center. Marine Corps Times obtained a copy of a 48-page summary dated July 26.

Compared with a similar survey in May 2003, reservists say their “intentions to stay in the military have … significantly declined,” a reflection of “the impact of military operations on reservists and their families,” according to the survey summary.

Figures worse for Iraq vets

The overall percentage of reservists who say they intend to stay in the military has dropped from 73 percent to 66 percent over the past year. Figures are even worse for those who have served in Iraq, where fewer than half of Army and Marine Corps reserve component members say they are “likely” or “very likely” to stay in uniform.

Even nondeployed units show fewer people interested in staying in. The Army National Guard and Army Reserve show the biggest drops, but all services show eroding morale compared to a year ago. In nearly all areas, this May’s responses were also lower than a benchmark study in 2000, just before President Bush took office but during a time when the then-candidate described the military as “overdeployed and underpaid.”

Also, compared to a year ago, significantly fewer Guard and reserve troops say their spouses and other family members have favorable opinions toward military service.

The findings are part of a series of Web-based questionnaires called Status of Forces Surveys. More than 50,000 reservists are periodically asked a series of questions that reflect morale and readiness attitudes.

The most recent survey was done from April 26 to June 3, as the insurgency in Iraq flared. Previous surveys were done early last fall, when setbacks in the Iraq mission were first translating into longer combat tours and extended reserve mobilizations, and in the spring of 2003, when defense officials still anticipated a quick reduction of postwar forces in Iraq.

In the Pentagon summary, the survey results are also compared to a “paper and pencil” survey of reserve personnel conducted from Aug. 11 to Dec. 29, 2000, during the presidential election season, when the Bush campaign voiced regular criticism of how U.S. troops were being deployed.

Pentagon officials say they use the surveys to carefully monitor attitudes among troops. However, the last time Pentagon officials publicly discussed survey findings was the summer of 2002, in the lull between the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, when they said recent polls of active-duty personnel showed notable improvement since 2000.

Since then, survey data for both reserve and active-duty troops have not been publicly released.

Winkler said surveys of intentions and attitudes don’t always translate into action. For example, he said, during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, large numbers of reservists said they intended to get out of the military. However, once it was time to re-enlist, Winkler said, only “16 percent of the people who said they were going to leave actually did.”

He also acknowledged that “these are different times” from 1991’s swift rout of the Iraqi army, followed by a large-scale U.S. withdrawal from the region and victory parades back home.

“What’s notable about these surveys is that for each time it’s been done, the stated retention is falling,” Winkler said. However, he added, “it looks like it’s stabilizing and rebounding a bit among those who have served.”

He said he thinks the shock has worn off and troops are now coming to terms with the reality of lengthy combat deployments.

As of Sept. 1, more than 163,000 Guard and reserve personnel were mobilized for worldwide missions, and they constitute about 40 percent of all U.S. troops in Iraq.

The next Guard and reserve survey is slated to take place in November.

Tom Bush, director of program integration and intergovernmental affairs in the Pentagon’s reserve affairs office, said the May 2003 survey kicked off a twice-a-year survey program that will allow officials to better track changes in attitudes. In the past, surveys were conducted once or twice a decade.

“The world changes faster than that,” Bush said. “These smaller, periodic surveys really allow us to measure the pulse of what’s going on and take action more quickly.”

Retention worries

In May, 66 percent of all reservists “indicated a desire” to stay in the Guard or reserve, the summary said — a drop of 7 percentage points from a year before.

Among reservists taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the drop was 13 points, to 54 percent — but the overall average for deployed reservists in all four services masks deeper disenchantment among deployed soldiers and Marines.

Just 48 percent of Army Guardsmen who have deployed said they intend to stay in uniform, down from 65 percent a year before. For deployed Army Reserve troops, the figure was 45 percent, down from 62 percent a year before.

In comparison, 76 percent of deployed Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel expressed a desire to stay in the military. And for the Naval Reserve, the figures actually rose — 82 percent of deployed sailors voiced a desire to stay in uniform in the May survey, up from to 77 percent a year before.

The Marine Corps also had a slight increase in deployed personnel wanting to stay in. In May, 44 percent of Marine reservists who have served in Iraq indicated a desire to stay in, compared to 43 percent in May 2003. For nondeployed Marines, 52 percent said they plan to stay in.

Overall, most reservists — 68 percent in May, down from 74 percent a year ago — still say they’re satisfied with military life. But just 56 percent of deployed reservists say they are satisfied, compared with 71 percent of those who aren’t deployed. The figures for deployed troops, however, had a margin of error of 11 percentage points.

Morale remains relatively low among Army reservists deployed to Iraq, although the figures actually climbed a bit from September 2003 to this past May.

In September 2003, 40 percent of Army Guard and 44 percent of Army Reserve members in Iraq said they were satisfied with the military. In May, the figures were 51 percent and 46 percent.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-MARINEPAPER-336612.php


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 05:21 PM
SportsCenter to Air From Kuwait Beginning Sept. 11
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2004 – If the troops can't get to ESPN, then ESPN will go to the troops.

The cable sports network's "SportsCenter" show will broadcast from Kuwait beginning Sept. 11. "It's our way of honoring the troops," said ESPN spokesman Dan Quinn.

The network is setting up a full studio in a warehouse at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. "We'll have a complete studio and bleacher seating for about 700 soldiers," Quinn said. Among those attending the shows will be 2,000 members of the 1st Armored Division just out of Iraq.

Stuart Scott will anchor the shows from Kuwait. He will be joined by Lisa Salters, Steve Levy, Kenny Mayne and Sean Salisbury. The 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time shows will be broadcast entirely from Kuwait.

For other broadcasts, SportsCenter will air segments showing the life of servicemembers in the region and how they accomplish their missions. It will also broadcast segments featuring notable military athletes serving in the region, and the sporting accomplishments of the sons and daughters of servicemembers.

The program will show daily flag football games in the sands of Kuwait and will follow units as they do their daily physical training. The show also will highlight to the folks back home just how tough duty is for Americans in the region: One planned segment is to buy an ice cream cone and show how fast it melts in the 120-degree heat servicemembers work in.

SportsCenter will close its Middle East bureau on Sept. 17.


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 09:09 PM
Defense officials name seven Pendleton Marines killed in suicide attack




ASSOCIATED PRESS
1:19 p.m. September 8, 2004

CAMP PENDLETON – Seven Marines who were killed this week in a suicide-bomb attack west of Baghdad were based at Camp Pendleton, including four men who were on their second deployments to Iraq, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

The Marines died Monday when a bomb-laden vehicle was detonated near a U.S. military convoy outside of Fallujah, in the restive province of Anbar.

The Marines were identified as: Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, 22, of Hyde Park, Utah; Pfc. David P. Burridge, 19, of Lafayette, La.; Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, 20, of San Juan Capistrano; Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, 21, of Page, Ariz.; Lance Cpl. Joseph C. McCarthy, 21, of Apache, Ariz.; Cpl. Mick R. Nygardbekowsky, 21, of Concord; and Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, 20, of Lawton, Okla.

Allred, Keith, McCarthy and Nygardbekowsky were on their second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to a statement from Camp Pendleton.

Gardner was assigned to Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Marine Division. The other Marines were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. The division is part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

–Allred was a rifleman and squad leader who joined the Marine Corps Jan. 8, 2001. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

–Burridge was a machine gunner who joined the Marine Corps Oct. 28, 2003. His personal awards include the Purple Heart and the National Defense Service Medal.

–Gardner was a motor vehicle operator who joined the Marine Corps on July 22, 2002. Her personal awards include the Purple Heart, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

–Keith was a rifleman who joined the Marine Corps Sept. 18, 2001. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

–McCarthy was an assaultman who joined the Marine Corps Sept. 13, 2001. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

–Nygardbekowsky was an assaultman who joined the Marine Corps on Oct. 16, 2001. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

–Wilson was a rifleman who joined the Marine Corps June 2, 2003. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and the National Defense Service Medal.


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20040908-1319-ca-iraq-marinecasualties.html


Ellie

thedrifter
09-09-04, 09:25 PM
Officers Cite Overwhelming Iraqi Support for U.S. Forces
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2004 – More than 90 percent of the Iraqi people support the efforts of U.S. forces in their war-torn country, a panel of Army and Marine field commanders told the House Armed Services Committee here Sept. 8.

All five officers based their estimates on personal observation.

Army Col. Michael Linnington, who commanded a 101st Airborne Division brigade in Iraq before assuming his current duties on the Joint Staff, told the committee he found the Iraqi people to be committed to the same objectives as his soldiers.

"I spent a great deal of time my last eight months in Iraq meeting daily with Iraqi governmental and ministerial leaders, tribal elders and border, customs and security officials," he said. "We used all of these opportunities to work together to identify issues, come up with joint solutions, and work together for the betterment of the people of Iraq.

"In all of these interactions I had, 99 percent of the Iraqis I met with were happy for American presence, concerned with improving the quality of life for their citizens, and dedicated to the future prosperity of their country."

Linnington acknowledged the difference between Iraqis he worked with and those he didn't, but said he still believes U.S. forces do enjoy overwhelming support in the country.

"I'd say from my contacts, being up north in Nineveh province, it was about 99 percent looking at us as liberators vs. occupiers," he said. "Of course, those that saw us as occupiers were usually trying to kill us, so I didn't see very much of them. I would say if you took the Iraqi people in whole, it had to be greater than 90 percent saw us as liberators. And they were routinely happy for our presence."

Maryland Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett asked the other officers to provide their views on Linnington's estimate of Iraqi support, based on their own experiences.

"I would say well above 95 percent," said Marine Corps Capt. Morgan Savage, who served two tours in Iraq as a company commander with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. "And if ever there was a perceived indifference from the Iraqi people, that can be (attributed) to a spike in anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi force activity – essentially, an element of coercion perhaps changing the perception of the Iraqi people. But they understood why we were there, and it was to help them, and it was as liberators, not conquerors."

Savage said that since he returned from Iraq on July 12, media coverage he has seen has depicted an Iraq quite unlike the one he saw firsthand. "I haven't seen any good news stories about what soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are doing," he said.

Army Capt. Patrick Costello, who commanded an air defense artillery battery in Iraq, agreed. "In the six months that I've been back from Iraq, I find it very difficult to watch the news, because I think it's a complete misrepresentation of what is actually going on there on a day-day-day basis," he said. Having told the committee he believes about 90 percent of Iraqis sees U.S. forces as liberators, he noted his belief that media coverage in the United States paints the opposite picture. "It makes it seem like it's 90 percent of the Iraqi people don't appreciate what has happened for them, and see us as occupiers," he said. "Every experience that I had in Iraq was completely to the contrary."

Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Springman, who commanded the 3rd Battalion in support of the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq, served in an area notorious for attacks against U.S. forces. "I served in the Sunni Triangle," he said, "and even there I would agree with the 90 percent figure seeing us as liberators and as the best hope for the future, working with us."

He concurred that the good news from Iraq wasn't being reported. "I also agree that while I served there, I don't think the good news was being put out," he told Bartlett and the committee. "There was a lot more good news than bad news, that's all. And I wish, you know, the news media could have seen the towns that we went into as we went into them, and then a year later when we left to see how active business was and how secure they were compared to the time we moved in, sir."

Marine Corps Lt. Col. Bryan P. McCoy commanded the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and served on two Iraq deployments. He acknowledged that the Iraqi people, as any people would, wanted their country back, but said they understood that U.S. forces were trying to make that happen.

"I would say in excess of 90 percent saw us as liberators, not occupiers," he said. "They very well saw what we were providing for them and were happy to have us."

Savage recalled the Iraqi people's reaction when they were first liberated from Saddam Hussein's regime. "At that time, the Iraqi people, regardless of what they had suffered for many years, were in a state of euphoria," he said. "This is demonstrated by the fact that as we patrolled the streets of Baghdad, we would constantly be met by Iraqis, be it vendors or families coming out of their homes, to offer us fresh-baked bread, sodas or artifacts from their personal life – things from their personal life that told us a story.

"And sometimes they didn't even have to offer us anything; we could look at them and see perhaps that either through service to their country or through torture what some of their experiences had been," Savage continued. "As we operated in Baghdad, the Iraqi people were also willing to help us locate enemy forces, which demonstrated the fact that they understood our intent and what we were trying to do, and for the common Iraqi person, we were there to help them."

Ellie