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thedrifter
12-04-05, 07:15 AM
Ten Marines based locally killed in Iraq
Initial reports said fallen were attached to Camp LeJeune
Darrell Smith
The Desert Sun
December 4, 2005

TWENTYNINE PALMS - Outside Realistic Tattoo on Adobe Road, the shop's glass door bears the Marines seal.

Inside, photos of the shop's work show tattoos that read "USMC" and "Home of the Free Because of the Brave."

Ten of this town's brave died Thursday in Iraq, killed by a familiar weapon in this war, a roadside explosive.

The oldest was 29, the youngest, 19. The Marines were walking along a road on combat operations outside Fallujah when the device detonated.

Their unit, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, deployed in July and was in the fifth month of its tour in Iraq. Most Marine tours are seven-month stints.

The Twentynine Palms death toll now stands at 75 Marines and sailors.

And the tattoo shop's owner, "Catfish" Carl, said he feels for every one, the 10 who died Thursday, the 65 who preceded them.

"They're our bread and butter doing a job that no one wants to do, and that they're from this base, it's a little bit closer," Carl said.

Another 11 Marines were wounded in the deadliest day for Twentynine Palms Marines since the war began.


Base officials, citing medical confidentiality laws, would not say whether the wounded were also from the Marine Air Ground Combat Center.

Carl is close to the Marines and sailors here. For years he had a shop in Long Beach, but when the Navy pulled out, he moved to the high desert and has seen two wars' Marines head to battle, first in Kuwait, now in Iraq.

"I saw ones go into the first one in Kuwait, and now there's a whole new branch," Carl said. "We try to keep a special place in our shop and our heart for these folks."

Though the town 60 miles from Palm Springs was quiet Saturday, the mood on the base was grim but focused, base spokeswoman 1st Lt. Christy Kercheval said.

"The loss of any Marine life is always tragic it makes for a somewhat somber mood," Kercheval told The Associated Press. "But at the same time, just as the president said in his recent speech, the best way to honor the loss is to carry out the mission that they defended."

The Marines of the 2-7 were attached to Regimental Combat Team 8 based at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. Initial reports were that the men were from the North Carolina base.

"Words will never describe accurately the honor, courage and commitment of these fallen Marines and sailors," Col. William Crowe, the 7th Marine Regiment's commanding officer, said in a statement released by the base. "Seventh Marine Regiment is deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. These men did not give their lives in vain, and we will not soon forget our fellow brothers."

Over on Twentynine Palms Highway near the intersection of Adobe Road, K.U. Macon, the man friends call "Brother Bear," had set up a makeshift barbecue stand in the parking lot of an auto detail shop.

With a grill, a table and a few plastic chairs for ambiance, Macon filled up a plate heavy with sausage, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, potato salad and sweet potato pie and smiled a smile that belied his feelings about the grim news and the war.

"They need to bring those people home and let (Iraqis) handle their own business," Macon said. He said he was worried about the mounting death toll, domestic woes - homelessness, the hurricanes that battered the Gulf coast, the economy.

At least 2,124 U.S. troops have died since the war began, according to an Associated Press count.

"Look at how many people here are homeless - that's the way to look at it," Macon said. "We're U.S. citizens, and (the government doesn't) want to give us a helping hand."

Farther down Twentynine Palms Highway, a corporal's dress blues hung on a post in front of Lance Cpl. Brian Jackson's home. Jackson, 24, of the base's 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, has 30 days left of a six-year hitch, and the yard-sale sign was out. Soon, he'll be back home in Tucson, Ariz., looking for a new start. But first came more news about the war.

A reporter told him of the 2-7's loss, and Jackson closed his eyes.

He said he had stopped checking on news sites like CNN.com and watching the news, hoping to avoid reports of deaths in Iraq.

"It's a depressing war," he finally said. "My friends say there's so much red tape that they can't do anything about. I feel for the guys out there."

Jackson talked about comrades who've had trouble sleeping upon their return stateside, another who watched a friend killed by an explosive while on patrol.

"It's sad," he said, then groaned softly. "Just like every other war."

Ellie