thedrifter
09-11-07, 07:37 AM
BA Marines prepare for deployment
by: MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
9/11/2007
BROKEN ARROW -- Two-dozen Marines, along with a Navy corpsman, reported for duty at the Anti-Tank Training Company in Broken Arrow on Monday to prepare for a seven-month deployment to Iraq.
The Marines and corpsman are expected to spend the next day or two doing necessary paperwork and getting medical checkups ahead of their Sept. 17 departure.
From Broken Arrow, the Marines and corpsman will head to the sprawling Marine base Twentynine Palms, Calif., for several months of additional training before they go to Iraq.
According to Marine Reserve officials, the Marines and corpsman will be deployed to the Anbar province of western Iraq.
In Iraq, the Broken Arrow troops will augment Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejuene, N.C.
Broken Arrow's Anti-Tank Training Company specializes in the use of the TOW weapon system.
TOW stands for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided, and the weapon -- normally fired from a Humvee -- is used to pierce enemy armor or a heavily fortified position.
The Broken Arrow company already has 20 Marines and two Navy corpsmen serving in Iraq.
They left in May for several months of training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before heading to Iraq for a seven-month deployment.
They are serving with the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force.
Monday's callup of the Broken Arrow troops is the third in less than 18 months.
In May 2006, 24 Marine reservists from the 1st Battalion of the 24th Marines, along with one Navy corpsman, were ordered for duty in Iraq.
After months of added training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., they were sent to Iraq in September 2006 and returned home in April.
Broken Arrow's anti-tank company has already sent more than 200 troops to Iraq since the war began four years ago.
Three of the company's Marines have been killed in Iraq.
They were Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, 24, formerly of Tulsa, killed on Nov. 8, 2004.
Sgt. James R. Graham III, 25, of Coweta, killed on Aug. 1, 2005.
Cpl. Jared Shoemaker, 29, of Tulsa, killed Sept. 4, 2006.
The Marine Reserve Center out of Oklahoma City has also sent 131 of its troops to Iraq in July.
Those reservists -- all members of Fox Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines of the 4th Marine Division -- are now stationed in Anbar province, and will be there until early next year.
Ellie
by: MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
9/11/2007
BROKEN ARROW -- Two-dozen Marines, along with a Navy corpsman, reported for duty at the Anti-Tank Training Company in Broken Arrow on Monday to prepare for a seven-month deployment to Iraq.
The Marines and corpsman are expected to spend the next day or two doing necessary paperwork and getting medical checkups ahead of their Sept. 17 departure.
From Broken Arrow, the Marines and corpsman will head to the sprawling Marine base Twentynine Palms, Calif., for several months of additional training before they go to Iraq.
According to Marine Reserve officials, the Marines and corpsman will be deployed to the Anbar province of western Iraq.
In Iraq, the Broken Arrow troops will augment Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejuene, N.C.
Broken Arrow's Anti-Tank Training Company specializes in the use of the TOW weapon system.
TOW stands for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided, and the weapon -- normally fired from a Humvee -- is used to pierce enemy armor or a heavily fortified position.
The Broken Arrow company already has 20 Marines and two Navy corpsmen serving in Iraq.
They left in May for several months of training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before heading to Iraq for a seven-month deployment.
They are serving with the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines of the Second Marine Expeditionary Force.
Monday's callup of the Broken Arrow troops is the third in less than 18 months.
In May 2006, 24 Marine reservists from the 1st Battalion of the 24th Marines, along with one Navy corpsman, were ordered for duty in Iraq.
After months of added training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., they were sent to Iraq in September 2006 and returned home in April.
Broken Arrow's anti-tank company has already sent more than 200 troops to Iraq since the war began four years ago.
Three of the company's Marines have been killed in Iraq.
They were Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, 24, formerly of Tulsa, killed on Nov. 8, 2004.
Sgt. James R. Graham III, 25, of Coweta, killed on Aug. 1, 2005.
Cpl. Jared Shoemaker, 29, of Tulsa, killed Sept. 4, 2006.
The Marine Reserve Center out of Oklahoma City has also sent 131 of its troops to Iraq in July.
Those reservists -- all members of Fox Battery of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines of the 4th Marine Division -- are now stationed in Anbar province, and will be there until early next year.
Ellie