thedrifter
05-30-07, 06:11 AM
Dad Wants Better Tools For Son In Iraq
Posted by: Josh Boose, Reporter
Created: 5/28/2007 8:35:46 PM
Updated: 5/30/2007 5:39:07 AM
Mark McMahon has never served in the military, but he’s serving as a vice commander at American Legion Post 735 in West Seneca. He’s stepping in for his 21 year old son, Michael. "He's in the United States Marine Corps currently serving in Iraq in his second tour of duty," said Mark McMahon.
Michael McMahon is recently married. He's devoted to his family and a hardworking soldier. But all you have to do is look at his dads face to know something is wrong. "Michael told me that while he was in 29 pounds, desert training, he heard about a new vest that was approved for the Marine Corps," said McMahon. "But they were told that if they wanted it, they would have to buy it themselves."
It's then that Mark became concerned for his son's safety and offered to buy him a new bullet-proof vest. "Michael wasn't really concerned too much for himself, he said he would be able to afford it, he's a lance corporal," said McMahon. "But he had two members of his firing squad, privates, which couldn't afford the vests."
So before Michael went off to war for the second time, Mark met his son at his base in North Carolina. He arrived with three vests; one for his son and two for his son's comrades. Mark bought the vests himself at $275 each. "They told me there were 20 other members of his platoon that didn't have the vests," McMahon added.
So Mark went to the people he knew he could count on; his friends at the American Legion.
"We're glad to do it," said American Legion 735 Commander Charles "Phil" Kodos. "We hope it will help somebody from being injured."
The post purchased 20 Spartan 2 vests for Michaels platoon. But before they were sent, Mark heard from his son, the Marines weren’t allowed to use the new vests.
According to the U.S. Marines body armor policy issued in April, 2007, "Individual Marines/Sailors may not use commercial PPE in lieu of government tested, approved and issued ones."
That frustrated this dad, who's also a police detective, and believes the Spartan 2 is better than the vest his son is using now. "It offers more protection," said McMahon. "Safety, the most important thing is the safety of our troops."
2 On Your Side’s Josh Boose asked McMahon, "If you could talk to somebody in the defense department about this, what would you say? I mean, not only is the community here helping, but you shelled out your own money to purchase three. What would you say to the people funding our marines?" "Get your act together," McMahon replied. "Get your act together."
Channel 2 contacted the Marines and scheduled an interview. They accepted, but cancelled the day before we were to talk. When we asked them why, they pointed to a story on our network, NBC, which also investigated body armor for soldiers. In an email, reporter Josh Boose was told, "We feel that the issue has been covered sufficiently by NBC". Boose told them the network's report focused on the Army and a vest called Dragonskin. Mark McMahon was talking about the Marines and a vest known as Spartan 2.
The last we heard from the Marines was in an email saying, "Decisions conducting any body armor interviews will be made after the NBC piece airs."
It aired May 17th. Despite calls and emails, we’re still waiting to hear back.
Boose asked McMahon, "What’s your biggest concern with your son being over there?" "Coming home in one piece," McMahon replied.
That’s all Mark McMahon wants, to keep his son safe. He prays his son will return home to his loving family, his new bride and his friends at the American Legion. Until then, he’s holding out hope his son will be better protected with the equipment needed to continue fighting in Iraq.
"It’s ridiculous," said McMahon. "There’s so much money being wasted in Iraq, mismanaged, not accounted for, it’s ridiculous."
Mark McMahon says his son is scheduled to return from Iraq in September. But there are already redeployment orders. According to Mark, his son will return for a third tour of duty next Spring.
Ellie
Posted by: Josh Boose, Reporter
Created: 5/28/2007 8:35:46 PM
Updated: 5/30/2007 5:39:07 AM
Mark McMahon has never served in the military, but he’s serving as a vice commander at American Legion Post 735 in West Seneca. He’s stepping in for his 21 year old son, Michael. "He's in the United States Marine Corps currently serving in Iraq in his second tour of duty," said Mark McMahon.
Michael McMahon is recently married. He's devoted to his family and a hardworking soldier. But all you have to do is look at his dads face to know something is wrong. "Michael told me that while he was in 29 pounds, desert training, he heard about a new vest that was approved for the Marine Corps," said McMahon. "But they were told that if they wanted it, they would have to buy it themselves."
It's then that Mark became concerned for his son's safety and offered to buy him a new bullet-proof vest. "Michael wasn't really concerned too much for himself, he said he would be able to afford it, he's a lance corporal," said McMahon. "But he had two members of his firing squad, privates, which couldn't afford the vests."
So before Michael went off to war for the second time, Mark met his son at his base in North Carolina. He arrived with three vests; one for his son and two for his son's comrades. Mark bought the vests himself at $275 each. "They told me there were 20 other members of his platoon that didn't have the vests," McMahon added.
So Mark went to the people he knew he could count on; his friends at the American Legion.
"We're glad to do it," said American Legion 735 Commander Charles "Phil" Kodos. "We hope it will help somebody from being injured."
The post purchased 20 Spartan 2 vests for Michaels platoon. But before they were sent, Mark heard from his son, the Marines weren’t allowed to use the new vests.
According to the U.S. Marines body armor policy issued in April, 2007, "Individual Marines/Sailors may not use commercial PPE in lieu of government tested, approved and issued ones."
That frustrated this dad, who's also a police detective, and believes the Spartan 2 is better than the vest his son is using now. "It offers more protection," said McMahon. "Safety, the most important thing is the safety of our troops."
2 On Your Side’s Josh Boose asked McMahon, "If you could talk to somebody in the defense department about this, what would you say? I mean, not only is the community here helping, but you shelled out your own money to purchase three. What would you say to the people funding our marines?" "Get your act together," McMahon replied. "Get your act together."
Channel 2 contacted the Marines and scheduled an interview. They accepted, but cancelled the day before we were to talk. When we asked them why, they pointed to a story on our network, NBC, which also investigated body armor for soldiers. In an email, reporter Josh Boose was told, "We feel that the issue has been covered sufficiently by NBC". Boose told them the network's report focused on the Army and a vest called Dragonskin. Mark McMahon was talking about the Marines and a vest known as Spartan 2.
The last we heard from the Marines was in an email saying, "Decisions conducting any body armor interviews will be made after the NBC piece airs."
It aired May 17th. Despite calls and emails, we’re still waiting to hear back.
Boose asked McMahon, "What’s your biggest concern with your son being over there?" "Coming home in one piece," McMahon replied.
That’s all Mark McMahon wants, to keep his son safe. He prays his son will return home to his loving family, his new bride and his friends at the American Legion. Until then, he’s holding out hope his son will be better protected with the equipment needed to continue fighting in Iraq.
"It’s ridiculous," said McMahon. "There’s so much money being wasted in Iraq, mismanaged, not accounted for, it’s ridiculous."
Mark McMahon says his son is scheduled to return from Iraq in September. But there are already redeployment orders. According to Mark, his son will return for a third tour of duty next Spring.
Ellie