thedrifter
09-18-07, 04:53 AM
Amid emotional farewells, Marines set off confidently
150 reservists to train in California before deployment to Iraq
By WILLIAM PETROSKI
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
September 18, 2007 Add comment
Teary-eyed family members and friends waved American flags and shouted good luck wishes Monday as 150 Marine reservists boarded buses at Camp Dodge in Johnston en route to combat training for their deployment to Iraq.
Deb Forsyth of Swisher wore a red, white and blue shirt that read "We Don't Surrender to Terrorists" as she bid farewell to her son, Staff Sgt. Josh Harris, 30, of Des Moines, who has already served one combat tour in Iraq.
Like the other Marines, Harris carried an assault rifle and a camouflage pack as he climbed aboard the chartered bus that was headed to the Des Moines airport.
"I am just so proud of him. They are ready to go, and they have been there before. I know they are going to do a great job defending our country," Forsyth said.
The reservists are members of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, which is based at Fort Des Moines.
Their convoy of four buses was escorted to the airport Monday by Iowa State Patrol troopers, Polk County sheriff's deputies, Des Moines police and the Patriot Guard Riders and Veterans of Foreign Wars motorcycle riders.
The reservists were flown aboard a jetliner to March Air Reserve Base in California. From there, they were to be bused to the Marine Corps base at Twenty-Nine Palms for three months of intensive combat training.
Company E, an infantry unit and the only Marine Reserve outfit in Iowa, was previously deployed to Iraq from September 2004 to April 2005.
The unit is expected to arrive in Iraq sometime in January for a mission expected to last seven to eight months, Marine officials said. Five Navy sailors who are medical corpsmen are attached to the unit.
Amid political debates about the Iraq war dominating the news, the Marines who left Camp Dodge on Monday said they were confident about their mission.
They said they are expecting to see a calmer country than when the Iowa unit was there previously.
"I feel like we have made a lot of strides over there. I believe that if we don't take care of this now, our kids will have to go," said Lance Cpl. Jason Williams, 22, a Des Moines East High School graduate who played football and wrestled there.
His wife, Jessica, was absent at the informal send-off for the Marine unit.
"I said goodbye to her last night. I don't want to have to say goodbye to her three times. One time was tough enough," Williams said.
Staff Sgt. Tim Gnade, 33, of Marion, who works in civilian life for the Transportation Security Administration at the Cedar Rapids airport, is a former active-duty Marine. He previously served in Iraq with the Iowa unit, which is known as Echo Company. He is the father of a 6-year-old boy, Doriann.
Gnade said he is very much aware of the intense debate among Democratic and Republican politicians surrounding the Iraq war.
"My personal opinion, and not the Marine Corps' opinion, is that they need to stay out of it and let us do our job. Give us our funding and let us get the mission done so that we can come home and so we don't have to go back after pulling out, if we do pull out," Gnade said Monday.
Charles and Diane Terrones of Robins, a small town in Linn County in eastern Iowa, gave emotional hugs to their son, Lance Cpl. Aaron Terrones, 21, a student at the University of Northern Iowa. Charles Terrones carried a sign that read "We love you Aaron. God Bless Echo 224," referring to the Marine unit.
"I suppose like any father, I am a little afraid for him. But I know he has prepared well and they train really well. He wants to serve his country, and I am proud of him for that," Charles Terrones said.
Reporter William Petroski can be reached at (515) 284-8547 or bpetrosk@dmreg.com
Ellie
150 reservists to train in California before deployment to Iraq
By WILLIAM PETROSKI
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
September 18, 2007 Add comment
Teary-eyed family members and friends waved American flags and shouted good luck wishes Monday as 150 Marine reservists boarded buses at Camp Dodge in Johnston en route to combat training for their deployment to Iraq.
Deb Forsyth of Swisher wore a red, white and blue shirt that read "We Don't Surrender to Terrorists" as she bid farewell to her son, Staff Sgt. Josh Harris, 30, of Des Moines, who has already served one combat tour in Iraq.
Like the other Marines, Harris carried an assault rifle and a camouflage pack as he climbed aboard the chartered bus that was headed to the Des Moines airport.
"I am just so proud of him. They are ready to go, and they have been there before. I know they are going to do a great job defending our country," Forsyth said.
The reservists are members of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, which is based at Fort Des Moines.
Their convoy of four buses was escorted to the airport Monday by Iowa State Patrol troopers, Polk County sheriff's deputies, Des Moines police and the Patriot Guard Riders and Veterans of Foreign Wars motorcycle riders.
The reservists were flown aboard a jetliner to March Air Reserve Base in California. From there, they were to be bused to the Marine Corps base at Twenty-Nine Palms for three months of intensive combat training.
Company E, an infantry unit and the only Marine Reserve outfit in Iowa, was previously deployed to Iraq from September 2004 to April 2005.
The unit is expected to arrive in Iraq sometime in January for a mission expected to last seven to eight months, Marine officials said. Five Navy sailors who are medical corpsmen are attached to the unit.
Amid political debates about the Iraq war dominating the news, the Marines who left Camp Dodge on Monday said they were confident about their mission.
They said they are expecting to see a calmer country than when the Iowa unit was there previously.
"I feel like we have made a lot of strides over there. I believe that if we don't take care of this now, our kids will have to go," said Lance Cpl. Jason Williams, 22, a Des Moines East High School graduate who played football and wrestled there.
His wife, Jessica, was absent at the informal send-off for the Marine unit.
"I said goodbye to her last night. I don't want to have to say goodbye to her three times. One time was tough enough," Williams said.
Staff Sgt. Tim Gnade, 33, of Marion, who works in civilian life for the Transportation Security Administration at the Cedar Rapids airport, is a former active-duty Marine. He previously served in Iraq with the Iowa unit, which is known as Echo Company. He is the father of a 6-year-old boy, Doriann.
Gnade said he is very much aware of the intense debate among Democratic and Republican politicians surrounding the Iraq war.
"My personal opinion, and not the Marine Corps' opinion, is that they need to stay out of it and let us do our job. Give us our funding and let us get the mission done so that we can come home and so we don't have to go back after pulling out, if we do pull out," Gnade said Monday.
Charles and Diane Terrones of Robins, a small town in Linn County in eastern Iowa, gave emotional hugs to their son, Lance Cpl. Aaron Terrones, 21, a student at the University of Northern Iowa. Charles Terrones carried a sign that read "We love you Aaron. God Bless Echo 224," referring to the Marine unit.
"I suppose like any father, I am a little afraid for him. But I know he has prepared well and they train really well. He wants to serve his country, and I am proud of him for that," Charles Terrones said.
Reporter William Petroski can be reached at (515) 284-8547 or bpetrosk@dmreg.com
Ellie