thedrifter
05-22-03, 06:49 AM
A First Sergeant's Timeless Advice to Fellow Marines
BY DAVID WOOD
c.2003 Newhouse News Service
En route home from combat in Iraq, the Marine first sergeant sat down and began to make a list.
"Carry as much ammo as you can," he wrote from a cramped cubbyhole on the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship.
To protect against incoming fire, "Dig holes. Dig many of them." He paused, and later added: "No one has too much rank to dig."
It's a love letter, of sorts -- to the men he served with and to the many who will follow. A list of things he's learned the hard way, none of it from books.
America's military has awesome high-tech weapons. The reach of its firepower is unequaled in the history of warfare. But its genius lies in its small-unit leaders, the sergeants and lieutenants whose fierce devotion is reflected back from their men in courage, endurance and sacrifice.
First sergeants who led men at Bastogne, at Iwo Jima, at Khe Sanh would recognize this list.
"Watch your Marines' eyes. They will tell you everything."
"Know first aid. Teach your Marines how to give IVs."
"Driving or walking ensure you are looking up, down, left and right at all times."
"Use the SAT (satellite) phone. Forget the cost. Grab a few young Marines when you can and let them call home. That Marine could lead the entire Bn (battalion) after he talks to his wife after a fire fight."
A first sergeant, in the Marines, is the top enlisted guy in a company of roughly 200 men.
This first sergeant is Paul Berry, who is 34, grew up in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and has been a Marine since 1986 -- Sept. 9, to be precise, as Marines are about the day they become Marines.
Berry and his men comprise Weapons Company of the 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, they sailed from North Carolina last August on a six-month mission that took them from peacekeeping duties in the snow-covered mountains of Kosovo to the dust storms of the Persian Gulf.
The 24th MEU was turning for home when the Iraq war started. They stopped and geared up, storming ashore in Kuwait and fighting their way north.
Now, they're en route home again. They will be four months late. Many of them had signed up for a four-year tour, a mark that passed some months ago.
"Sure it sucks, but they've driven on with it," Berry said in a telephone interview from the Nassau as it steamed through the Arabian Sea.
At home, Berry and his wife Mary have two children: 10-year-old Matthew, and Marianna, 6.
In the Marines, Berry has 200 such responsibilities.
"Never baby your Marines," he wrote in his list, which is being passed around on a listserv for retired military. "Expect the world from them. Never back off.
"Ask questions. Marines will not tell you they are sick until they go down hard. They are a proud bunch."
Berry's weapons company has 81 mm mortars, heavy machine guns, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and scout-sniper teams. The men travel in a variety of vehicles, often in fast-moving convoys.
"Strip everything off your vehicles that you don't need. Hang the packs on the sides and get as many rifles pointing left and right as you can," he advised.
"Big convoy on the hardball (paved road)? At night? Turn the lights on and go (as) fast as the slowest vehicle. Point a few dozen machineguns outboard and drive like hell.
"Plan for a react force for any major event. Have that reserve ready. Even five trucks of HQ type guys with SAWS (light machine guns) is better than nothing."
On the phone, Berry explains: "It's always about the little stuff. The importance of little things is ... " He looks for the words. "Big things are just going to happen. It's the succession of little things that give you the end result. So I only paid attention to the little things."
He wrote: "PM (preventive maintenance) everything as time permits. Our vehicles never ran better because the Marines did not want to get stuck on the side of the road."
"Get your Marines mail, even if it means shooting your way to them. ... They get mail and they will do anything for you."
After he apologized for the long list, Berry wrote his editorial:
"I can't even begin to say what an honor it was to serve beside these young Marines," he said. "They did everything asked of them and asked for more. True professionals. No stupid mistakes. ...
"We are bringing every Marine and sailor home. Someone was looking out for us on this one."
(David Wood can be contacted at david.wood@newhouse.com)
Sempers,
Roger
BY DAVID WOOD
c.2003 Newhouse News Service
En route home from combat in Iraq, the Marine first sergeant sat down and began to make a list.
"Carry as much ammo as you can," he wrote from a cramped cubbyhole on the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship.
To protect against incoming fire, "Dig holes. Dig many of them." He paused, and later added: "No one has too much rank to dig."
It's a love letter, of sorts -- to the men he served with and to the many who will follow. A list of things he's learned the hard way, none of it from books.
America's military has awesome high-tech weapons. The reach of its firepower is unequaled in the history of warfare. But its genius lies in its small-unit leaders, the sergeants and lieutenants whose fierce devotion is reflected back from their men in courage, endurance and sacrifice.
First sergeants who led men at Bastogne, at Iwo Jima, at Khe Sanh would recognize this list.
"Watch your Marines' eyes. They will tell you everything."
"Know first aid. Teach your Marines how to give IVs."
"Driving or walking ensure you are looking up, down, left and right at all times."
"Use the SAT (satellite) phone. Forget the cost. Grab a few young Marines when you can and let them call home. That Marine could lead the entire Bn (battalion) after he talks to his wife after a fire fight."
A first sergeant, in the Marines, is the top enlisted guy in a company of roughly 200 men.
This first sergeant is Paul Berry, who is 34, grew up in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and has been a Marine since 1986 -- Sept. 9, to be precise, as Marines are about the day they become Marines.
Berry and his men comprise Weapons Company of the 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, they sailed from North Carolina last August on a six-month mission that took them from peacekeeping duties in the snow-covered mountains of Kosovo to the dust storms of the Persian Gulf.
The 24th MEU was turning for home when the Iraq war started. They stopped and geared up, storming ashore in Kuwait and fighting their way north.
Now, they're en route home again. They will be four months late. Many of them had signed up for a four-year tour, a mark that passed some months ago.
"Sure it sucks, but they've driven on with it," Berry said in a telephone interview from the Nassau as it steamed through the Arabian Sea.
At home, Berry and his wife Mary have two children: 10-year-old Matthew, and Marianna, 6.
In the Marines, Berry has 200 such responsibilities.
"Never baby your Marines," he wrote in his list, which is being passed around on a listserv for retired military. "Expect the world from them. Never back off.
"Ask questions. Marines will not tell you they are sick until they go down hard. They are a proud bunch."
Berry's weapons company has 81 mm mortars, heavy machine guns, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and scout-sniper teams. The men travel in a variety of vehicles, often in fast-moving convoys.
"Strip everything off your vehicles that you don't need. Hang the packs on the sides and get as many rifles pointing left and right as you can," he advised.
"Big convoy on the hardball (paved road)? At night? Turn the lights on and go (as) fast as the slowest vehicle. Point a few dozen machineguns outboard and drive like hell.
"Plan for a react force for any major event. Have that reserve ready. Even five trucks of HQ type guys with SAWS (light machine guns) is better than nothing."
On the phone, Berry explains: "It's always about the little stuff. The importance of little things is ... " He looks for the words. "Big things are just going to happen. It's the succession of little things that give you the end result. So I only paid attention to the little things."
He wrote: "PM (preventive maintenance) everything as time permits. Our vehicles never ran better because the Marines did not want to get stuck on the side of the road."
"Get your Marines mail, even if it means shooting your way to them. ... They get mail and they will do anything for you."
After he apologized for the long list, Berry wrote his editorial:
"I can't even begin to say what an honor it was to serve beside these young Marines," he said. "They did everything asked of them and asked for more. True professionals. No stupid mistakes. ...
"We are bringing every Marine and sailor home. Someone was looking out for us on this one."
(David Wood can be contacted at david.wood@newhouse.com)
Sempers,
Roger