thedrifter
08-15-05, 07:12 AM
Marines sample life at the Legion
Fun was the order of the day for Bossier City's Bravo Company.
August 15, 2005
By John Andrew Prime
jprime@gannett.com
A company-sized reconnaissance in force for Bossier City's Bravo Company, 1/23rd Marines, ended their first monthly drill since returning from Iraq on a fun note Sunday.
There were no casualties at a special "thank you" and family day staged by American Legion Lowe-McFarlane Post 14 on Cross Lake. But an hour or so into the event, it seemed that most of the 100-plus Marines present -- and a fair number of their wives, girlfriends and children -- ended up getting captured by the ambience of the lakefront hall.
"I plan to keep coming back," said Jacobie Richardson, a sergeant from Bossier City, who like most of the company members endured months of often intense combat. But for him, the appeal of the lake was secondary to "being with the older Marines. We saw a little action, but they saw so much. We're a very young unit, and they have so much life experience they can share with us."
Cpl. Sean McKamie and his wife, Katie, were in from Texarkana. With them were their three sons, 15-year-old Jacob, 12-year-old Joseph and 9-year-old Sonny.
"It's fun, but they need more kid stuff," said Joseph McKamie. His suggestions -- noted by Legionnaire Ed Jackson, part of a committee brainstorming ways to grow the post membership -- were a pool and a TV/arcade room with PlayStations.
Another suggestion from one of the first Marines inside was for a sandy area to play volleyball. That drew a laugh from Sean McKamie, who said he's one of the few Marines who doesn't play that much.
"But Marines love volleyball," he said. "That would be popular."
The day began with presentation of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, with combat "V" device to Sgt. Jose Delacruz of Dallas for heroism in November in the Fallujah peninsula. After a pair of roadside bombs detonated simultaneously, injuring his squad leader and a number of fellow Marines, Delacruz took command of the squad and led it through the night's action successfully.
U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery and his wife, Johnette, also paid tribute to the Marines, as did Liz Swaine, representing Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower, and Pam Glorioso, representing Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker. U.S. Sen. David Vitter was also represented by a staffer.
For the children, there was a carnival-style moonwalk outside, and the attraction of Cross Lake. The adults enjoyed the lake, too, and strolled the pier. Everyone ate barbecue and listened to music by a live band. There was lots of cold beer, too, which the Marines liked.
The family day was more than a thank-you for the Marines. Like other posts across the nation, Lowe-McFarlane has provided returning veterans with a paid first-year membership to introduce them to the American Legion. Faced like other veterans organizations with a graying membership, it hopes to entice younger people, and their families, aboard.
Maybe it will work. Pierce Cooper, 21, a lance corporal from Minden attending college in New Orleans and cross-training to join the Air Force -- he'd like to pilot B-2 bombers some day -- enjoyed his visit.
"This was my first time experiencing the American Legion, but I wasn't in the door three minutes and I met a variety of interesting people, all combat veterans who had life experiences I could now relate to," he said.
Ellie
Fun was the order of the day for Bossier City's Bravo Company.
August 15, 2005
By John Andrew Prime
jprime@gannett.com
A company-sized reconnaissance in force for Bossier City's Bravo Company, 1/23rd Marines, ended their first monthly drill since returning from Iraq on a fun note Sunday.
There were no casualties at a special "thank you" and family day staged by American Legion Lowe-McFarlane Post 14 on Cross Lake. But an hour or so into the event, it seemed that most of the 100-plus Marines present -- and a fair number of their wives, girlfriends and children -- ended up getting captured by the ambience of the lakefront hall.
"I plan to keep coming back," said Jacobie Richardson, a sergeant from Bossier City, who like most of the company members endured months of often intense combat. But for him, the appeal of the lake was secondary to "being with the older Marines. We saw a little action, but they saw so much. We're a very young unit, and they have so much life experience they can share with us."
Cpl. Sean McKamie and his wife, Katie, were in from Texarkana. With them were their three sons, 15-year-old Jacob, 12-year-old Joseph and 9-year-old Sonny.
"It's fun, but they need more kid stuff," said Joseph McKamie. His suggestions -- noted by Legionnaire Ed Jackson, part of a committee brainstorming ways to grow the post membership -- were a pool and a TV/arcade room with PlayStations.
Another suggestion from one of the first Marines inside was for a sandy area to play volleyball. That drew a laugh from Sean McKamie, who said he's one of the few Marines who doesn't play that much.
"But Marines love volleyball," he said. "That would be popular."
The day began with presentation of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, with combat "V" device to Sgt. Jose Delacruz of Dallas for heroism in November in the Fallujah peninsula. After a pair of roadside bombs detonated simultaneously, injuring his squad leader and a number of fellow Marines, Delacruz took command of the squad and led it through the night's action successfully.
U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery and his wife, Johnette, also paid tribute to the Marines, as did Liz Swaine, representing Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower, and Pam Glorioso, representing Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker. U.S. Sen. David Vitter was also represented by a staffer.
For the children, there was a carnival-style moonwalk outside, and the attraction of Cross Lake. The adults enjoyed the lake, too, and strolled the pier. Everyone ate barbecue and listened to music by a live band. There was lots of cold beer, too, which the Marines liked.
The family day was more than a thank-you for the Marines. Like other posts across the nation, Lowe-McFarlane has provided returning veterans with a paid first-year membership to introduce them to the American Legion. Faced like other veterans organizations with a graying membership, it hopes to entice younger people, and their families, aboard.
Maybe it will work. Pierce Cooper, 21, a lance corporal from Minden attending college in New Orleans and cross-training to join the Air Force -- he'd like to pilot B-2 bombers some day -- enjoyed his visit.
"This was my first time experiencing the American Legion, but I wasn't in the door three minutes and I met a variety of interesting people, all combat veterans who had life experiences I could now relate to," he said.
Ellie