thedrifter
03-19-06, 07:32 AM
Few places feel impact like Lejeune
March 19,2006
CHRIS MAZZOLINI
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Few places have felt the Iraq war’s impact like Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune, and none more than the Marines and sailors who call Onslow County home.
It has been three years since U.S. forces rolled into Iraq, beginning a struggle that has morphed from a lightning-fast invasion to an urban fight haunted by guerilla-like insurgents and roadside bombs. Since then, thousands of Marines have deployed to Iraq from Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station — many, more than once.
Camp Lejeune Marines have been involved in all the war’s key events. They were at An Nasiriyah in 2003, and they battled through the streets of Fallujah in late 2004. They guarded polling places during the latter part of 2005 as Iraqis voted to approve their constitution and elect their parliament.
And they’ve sacrificed.
According to a Daily News count of news releases on the Department of Defense Web site, at least 166 Camp Lejeune-based Marines and sailors have died in Iraq since the war began. Across the entire Marine Corps, 664 Marines have been killed.
Despite that, Col. Dan Leshchyshyn, commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force’s Headquarters Group, who arrived home from Iraq this month after spending a year in Fallujah, said morale among the Marines he was with is fantastic. That sentiment is mirrored throughout the armed forces, according to the Associated Press.
“Marines are finally able to do the things they are adequately and positively trained to do,” he said. “They are excited about doing their job. And that means working with each other and providing a secure environment for the Iraqi people.”
Leshchyshyn said there’s an understanding that the struggle will be long and hard.
“I think the average Marine knows that he wants to finish the job,” Leshchyshyn said. “We don’t want to walk out. We want to see this thing to its conclusion. We saw positive results as a result of the election, we see the Iraqi economy coming along, we see the Iraqi security forces coming along.”
The other factor contributing to high morale, Leshchyshyn said, is improving communications. Deployed Marines now have more access to e-mail and other communication methods than they ever did before.
“The communication for the most part has been pretty darn good,” he said. “Its gotten tremendously better. So that keeps us in contact with our families.”
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 229.
Ellie
March 19,2006
CHRIS MAZZOLINI
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Few places have felt the Iraq war’s impact like Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune, and none more than the Marines and sailors who call Onslow County home.
It has been three years since U.S. forces rolled into Iraq, beginning a struggle that has morphed from a lightning-fast invasion to an urban fight haunted by guerilla-like insurgents and roadside bombs. Since then, thousands of Marines have deployed to Iraq from Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station — many, more than once.
Camp Lejeune Marines have been involved in all the war’s key events. They were at An Nasiriyah in 2003, and they battled through the streets of Fallujah in late 2004. They guarded polling places during the latter part of 2005 as Iraqis voted to approve their constitution and elect their parliament.
And they’ve sacrificed.
According to a Daily News count of news releases on the Department of Defense Web site, at least 166 Camp Lejeune-based Marines and sailors have died in Iraq since the war began. Across the entire Marine Corps, 664 Marines have been killed.
Despite that, Col. Dan Leshchyshyn, commander of the II Marine Expeditionary Force’s Headquarters Group, who arrived home from Iraq this month after spending a year in Fallujah, said morale among the Marines he was with is fantastic. That sentiment is mirrored throughout the armed forces, according to the Associated Press.
“Marines are finally able to do the things they are adequately and positively trained to do,” he said. “They are excited about doing their job. And that means working with each other and providing a secure environment for the Iraqi people.”
Leshchyshyn said there’s an understanding that the struggle will be long and hard.
“I think the average Marine knows that he wants to finish the job,” Leshchyshyn said. “We don’t want to walk out. We want to see this thing to its conclusion. We saw positive results as a result of the election, we see the Iraqi economy coming along, we see the Iraqi security forces coming along.”
The other factor contributing to high morale, Leshchyshyn said, is improving communications. Deployed Marines now have more access to e-mail and other communication methods than they ever did before.
“The communication for the most part has been pretty darn good,” he said. “Its gotten tremendously better. So that keeps us in contact with our families.”
Contact staff writer Chris Mazzolini at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 229.
Ellie