thedrifter
04-25-06, 11:31 AM
May 01, 2006
Marine News briefs
Hawaii state medal awarded
The Aloha State revealed a new award honoring service members during an April 18 presentation.
During a joint session of the state legislature, the Hawaii Medal of Honor was awarded to 120 troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Established last year, the award was given to service members who were residents of or stationed in Hawaii, or were members of the Hawaii National Guard when they died.
The medal is believed to be the first issued by a state to honor service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Our family is honored and touched by what your legislature has done,” said Marybeth LeVan of Baton Rouge, La., whose son, Cpl. Kyle Grimes, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Jan. 26, 2005.
Brothers sing with legend
Country music legend Charlie Daniels jammed for more than 1,200 service members at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, on April 16, a Marine Corps news release said. And he invited a pair of leathernecks to join him.
Cpls. Daniel and Tim Cord, who are part of the alternative rock band Scarecrow, opened for Daniels and his group.
Daniel, who wasn’t stationed at Taqaddum, was flown in from another base so both brothers could appear in concert, said Danielle Ibsen, the Marines’ mother.
The Cords performed some of Scarecrow’s numbers before Daniels brought them back onstage to perform the rock ’n’ roll hit “Johnny B. Goode” with him.
“Dan’s a really good guitar player, and they said the crowd was really excited to see this Marine take on Charlie Daniels,” Ibsen said.
For the Cords, performing with a living legend was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Daniel said.
“All of a sudden, Iraq isn’t so bad,” Tim said.
The rap on Mrs. B
“We move it all here. Then, we move it all back.
“We truck around the states, over all this land.
“Mom’s a military babe. Dad’s a military man.”
“Mrs. B,” otherwise known as Carri Blake-Brekke, will perform this song, which she wrote specifically for military children, along with other rock, rap and pop tunes in 19 Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany, Italy and Spain from May 8 to June 1. She’ll also have free performances for parents at night.
Blake-Brekke said performing for a military audience “is always an honor.”
She has performed for civilian children in venues around the country, including schools.
She has also performed at Defense Department schools overseas for the last 3½ years, charging them just enough to cover expenses.
The 42-year-old mother of four is the ex-wife of an Army major. She wrote songs for her own children, she said, “about how important they are and the sacrifices they make.” Her 21-year-old daughter is a soldier.
Children at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., performed background vocals on Mrs. B’s “We Are Free (A Military Child’s Song).” The song’s child soloist is Tara Melton, 8, whose father just returned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from Iraq.
The song is not for sale but can be downloaded for free on Mrs. B’s Web site, www.mrsbstorytime.com.
Kasal to get Navy Cross
An infantry unit leader will receive the Navy Cross for his actions during a firefight in Fallujah, Iraq, in late 2004, a Corps spokesman said April 20.
First Sgt. Brad Kasal, who suffered seven gunshot wounds and 40 pieces of shrapnel during the fight, is slated to receive the award at a May 1 ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said 2nd Lt. Lawton King, a 1st Marine Division spokesman at the base.
Kasal was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, at the time of the firefight and is currently serving with the Assault Amphibian School Battalion at Pendleton.
Kasal, then the Weapons Company first sergeant, was traveling with Kilo Company’s combined anti-armor team on Nov. 13, 2004, when it came across a wounded sergeant whose men were caught in a firefight with insurgents. Kasal directed his Marines to help the wounded and went into a two-story house.
It was a close-quarters battle as Kasal and Pfc. Alexander Nicoll stepped into the dark house and were face-to-face with Iraqi fighters.
Kasal was hit by seven bullets, knocking him down. Rounds also struck Nicoll, who fell nearby, and Kasal crawled over to pull him into the cover of a room. Kasal was treating Nicoll’s wounds when he saw a grenade roll into the doorway.
“I rolled over on top of him and kind of bear-hugged him to try to cover him up with my arms and body,” Kasal said in an interview with Marine Corps Times last year. Nicoll survived.
Kasal’s actions might have flown under the radar if it hadn’t been for a photographer who snapped a photo of a bleeding Kasal being carried out of the house with his right index finger still on his pistol’s trigger.
Kuwait doesn’t count
The Pentagon considers Kuwait part of the war zone, but Massachusetts apparently does not.
A soldier was denied a $1,000 bonus that the Bay State is awarding residents who have served in war zones since Sept. 11, 2001, because he spent all his time in Kuwait.
“It’s a political sleight of hand,” Sgt. 1st Class Martin Novia, 44, told the Boston Herald.
The state’s “Welcome Home” law is a $3.2 million bonus program.
The state treasury has said that only those who were stationed within the borders of Iraq or Afghanistan, flew missions over either nation or served aboard ships within 12 nautical miles of the Iraqi coast are eligible.
Corrections
• A story on Marine widow Vivianne Wersel in the April 24 issue, “Survivors need better help, widow testifies,” was accompanied by an incorrect photo of her late husband. Lt. Col. Richard Wersel is shown here.
• A photo caption that accompanied the Frontlines item, “Marines to appear on CSI,” in the April 24 issue misidentified Jeffrey Scheelje’s rank. He is a staff sergeant.
Ellie
Marine News briefs
Hawaii state medal awarded
The Aloha State revealed a new award honoring service members during an April 18 presentation.
During a joint session of the state legislature, the Hawaii Medal of Honor was awarded to 120 troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Established last year, the award was given to service members who were residents of or stationed in Hawaii, or were members of the Hawaii National Guard when they died.
The medal is believed to be the first issued by a state to honor service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Our family is honored and touched by what your legislature has done,” said Marybeth LeVan of Baton Rouge, La., whose son, Cpl. Kyle Grimes, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Jan. 26, 2005.
Brothers sing with legend
Country music legend Charlie Daniels jammed for more than 1,200 service members at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, on April 16, a Marine Corps news release said. And he invited a pair of leathernecks to join him.
Cpls. Daniel and Tim Cord, who are part of the alternative rock band Scarecrow, opened for Daniels and his group.
Daniel, who wasn’t stationed at Taqaddum, was flown in from another base so both brothers could appear in concert, said Danielle Ibsen, the Marines’ mother.
The Cords performed some of Scarecrow’s numbers before Daniels brought them back onstage to perform the rock ’n’ roll hit “Johnny B. Goode” with him.
“Dan’s a really good guitar player, and they said the crowd was really excited to see this Marine take on Charlie Daniels,” Ibsen said.
For the Cords, performing with a living legend was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Daniel said.
“All of a sudden, Iraq isn’t so bad,” Tim said.
The rap on Mrs. B
“We move it all here. Then, we move it all back.
“We truck around the states, over all this land.
“Mom’s a military babe. Dad’s a military man.”
“Mrs. B,” otherwise known as Carri Blake-Brekke, will perform this song, which she wrote specifically for military children, along with other rock, rap and pop tunes in 19 Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany, Italy and Spain from May 8 to June 1. She’ll also have free performances for parents at night.
Blake-Brekke said performing for a military audience “is always an honor.”
She has performed for civilian children in venues around the country, including schools.
She has also performed at Defense Department schools overseas for the last 3½ years, charging them just enough to cover expenses.
The 42-year-old mother of four is the ex-wife of an Army major. She wrote songs for her own children, she said, “about how important they are and the sacrifices they make.” Her 21-year-old daughter is a soldier.
Children at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., performed background vocals on Mrs. B’s “We Are Free (A Military Child’s Song).” The song’s child soloist is Tara Melton, 8, whose father just returned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from Iraq.
The song is not for sale but can be downloaded for free on Mrs. B’s Web site, www.mrsbstorytime.com.
Kasal to get Navy Cross
An infantry unit leader will receive the Navy Cross for his actions during a firefight in Fallujah, Iraq, in late 2004, a Corps spokesman said April 20.
First Sgt. Brad Kasal, who suffered seven gunshot wounds and 40 pieces of shrapnel during the fight, is slated to receive the award at a May 1 ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said 2nd Lt. Lawton King, a 1st Marine Division spokesman at the base.
Kasal was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, at the time of the firefight and is currently serving with the Assault Amphibian School Battalion at Pendleton.
Kasal, then the Weapons Company first sergeant, was traveling with Kilo Company’s combined anti-armor team on Nov. 13, 2004, when it came across a wounded sergeant whose men were caught in a firefight with insurgents. Kasal directed his Marines to help the wounded and went into a two-story house.
It was a close-quarters battle as Kasal and Pfc. Alexander Nicoll stepped into the dark house and were face-to-face with Iraqi fighters.
Kasal was hit by seven bullets, knocking him down. Rounds also struck Nicoll, who fell nearby, and Kasal crawled over to pull him into the cover of a room. Kasal was treating Nicoll’s wounds when he saw a grenade roll into the doorway.
“I rolled over on top of him and kind of bear-hugged him to try to cover him up with my arms and body,” Kasal said in an interview with Marine Corps Times last year. Nicoll survived.
Kasal’s actions might have flown under the radar if it hadn’t been for a photographer who snapped a photo of a bleeding Kasal being carried out of the house with his right index finger still on his pistol’s trigger.
Kuwait doesn’t count
The Pentagon considers Kuwait part of the war zone, but Massachusetts apparently does not.
A soldier was denied a $1,000 bonus that the Bay State is awarding residents who have served in war zones since Sept. 11, 2001, because he spent all his time in Kuwait.
“It’s a political sleight of hand,” Sgt. 1st Class Martin Novia, 44, told the Boston Herald.
The state’s “Welcome Home” law is a $3.2 million bonus program.
The state treasury has said that only those who were stationed within the borders of Iraq or Afghanistan, flew missions over either nation or served aboard ships within 12 nautical miles of the Iraqi coast are eligible.
Corrections
• A story on Marine widow Vivianne Wersel in the April 24 issue, “Survivors need better help, widow testifies,” was accompanied by an incorrect photo of her late husband. Lt. Col. Richard Wersel is shown here.
• A photo caption that accompanied the Frontlines item, “Marines to appear on CSI,” in the April 24 issue misidentified Jeffrey Scheelje’s rank. He is a staff sergeant.
Ellie