thedrifter
07-31-07, 07:46 AM
"As Long as it's the Marine Breed!" [W. Thomas Smith Jr.]
AL QAIM — When referring to whether or not the new breed of Marine was as tough as those who had served in the Old Corps (and what is or is not the Old Corps depends upon one's frame of reference), the legendary Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller once said, "Old breed. New breed. There's not a damn bit of difference as long as it's the Marine breed!"
At o'dark thirty this morning, I flew in with a grizzled old Marine master sergeant, who looked as if he had stepped straight out of central casting: Between 55 and 60-years-old. Tall. Lean. Jut-jawed, craggy features, and sporting a shaved head. He carried his gear and rifle as if he were still a 19-year-old lance corporal.
He told me he had joined the Corps in 1968. Got out after Vietnam. Then came in as a Reservist. He's in Iraq now (been to Afghanistan). I mentioned to him that the Marines I see operating out here today are every bit as tough as the young men I went through boot camp with in 1983.
"Oh, hell yes," he exclaimed. "They're the same as the ones I came in with in 1968. Marines are Marines: They always have been. If anything, they have one up on us in that they're all computer whizzes today on top of that toughness."
***
On another note, I spoke with some Marines earlier in Al Asad about rules of engagement (ROE). They told me there was this always-conscious low-grade concern among many Marines in combat today whenever they prepare to fire at the enemy. "Whenever I raise my weapon, sir, I sometimes wonder if I will fry [be punished] for this," one said.
This concern, which — in my opinion — could easily morph into a second of hesitation, could also easily result in Marines and soldiers being killed.
Also, the comment itself — "I sometimes wonder if I will fry" — are hardly the words or fears of what many on the Left would say are "cold blooded killers."
There is so much more to this story, and I will be talking with Marines about ROE in greater depth over the coming days.
***
This morning, I was briefed by and then had lunch with my host out here on the ends of the earth, Lt. Col. Jason Bohm, the task force commander of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (Task Force 1/4).
Bohm is a deadly serious Marine officer who prays openly, stops to chat and shake the hands and pat the shoulders of his junior-most riflemen (even when no one is watching), and is generally so comfortable with his men — almost as if they were his sons — that it bolsters a battalion-wide sense of confidence that I've seen reflected in the faces and conversations of every single Marine, sailor, and detached soldier I've met under his command.
In Bohm's command operations center we had coffee while poring over the most detailed regional map of Al Anbar I've ever seen: Listing every hill, ridgeline, draw, finger, road, river, and U.S. Marine battle position (BP) and combat outpost in the Al Qaim sector. The BP's are all named for famous Marine expeditions and battles, like Beirut, Hue City, Tarawa, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Belleau Wood.
Over lunch, Lt. Col. Bohm, his artillery officer — 1st Lt. Jason Grim (who has served as my escort here at Al Qaim) — and I chatted about everything from Iraq to Bohm's area of operations to mutual friends we know in the Corps to where-we-were-when, and a little USMC history. This guy knows his stuff.
I depart on an infantry operation within hours. Will be offline for about two days.
Semper Fi.
W. THOMAS SMITH JR.
Ellie
AL QAIM — When referring to whether or not the new breed of Marine was as tough as those who had served in the Old Corps (and what is or is not the Old Corps depends upon one's frame of reference), the legendary Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller once said, "Old breed. New breed. There's not a damn bit of difference as long as it's the Marine breed!"
At o'dark thirty this morning, I flew in with a grizzled old Marine master sergeant, who looked as if he had stepped straight out of central casting: Between 55 and 60-years-old. Tall. Lean. Jut-jawed, craggy features, and sporting a shaved head. He carried his gear and rifle as if he were still a 19-year-old lance corporal.
He told me he had joined the Corps in 1968. Got out after Vietnam. Then came in as a Reservist. He's in Iraq now (been to Afghanistan). I mentioned to him that the Marines I see operating out here today are every bit as tough as the young men I went through boot camp with in 1983.
"Oh, hell yes," he exclaimed. "They're the same as the ones I came in with in 1968. Marines are Marines: They always have been. If anything, they have one up on us in that they're all computer whizzes today on top of that toughness."
***
On another note, I spoke with some Marines earlier in Al Asad about rules of engagement (ROE). They told me there was this always-conscious low-grade concern among many Marines in combat today whenever they prepare to fire at the enemy. "Whenever I raise my weapon, sir, I sometimes wonder if I will fry [be punished] for this," one said.
This concern, which — in my opinion — could easily morph into a second of hesitation, could also easily result in Marines and soldiers being killed.
Also, the comment itself — "I sometimes wonder if I will fry" — are hardly the words or fears of what many on the Left would say are "cold blooded killers."
There is so much more to this story, and I will be talking with Marines about ROE in greater depth over the coming days.
***
This morning, I was briefed by and then had lunch with my host out here on the ends of the earth, Lt. Col. Jason Bohm, the task force commander of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (Task Force 1/4).
Bohm is a deadly serious Marine officer who prays openly, stops to chat and shake the hands and pat the shoulders of his junior-most riflemen (even when no one is watching), and is generally so comfortable with his men — almost as if they were his sons — that it bolsters a battalion-wide sense of confidence that I've seen reflected in the faces and conversations of every single Marine, sailor, and detached soldier I've met under his command.
In Bohm's command operations center we had coffee while poring over the most detailed regional map of Al Anbar I've ever seen: Listing every hill, ridgeline, draw, finger, road, river, and U.S. Marine battle position (BP) and combat outpost in the Al Qaim sector. The BP's are all named for famous Marine expeditions and battles, like Beirut, Hue City, Tarawa, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Belleau Wood.
Over lunch, Lt. Col. Bohm, his artillery officer — 1st Lt. Jason Grim (who has served as my escort here at Al Qaim) — and I chatted about everything from Iraq to Bohm's area of operations to mutual friends we know in the Corps to where-we-were-when, and a little USMC history. This guy knows his stuff.
I depart on an infantry operation within hours. Will be offline for about two days.
Semper Fi.
W. THOMAS SMITH JR.
Ellie