thedrifter
06-05-09, 08:14 AM
Marine meets extended family while deployed in Cambodia
6/5/2009 By Lance Cpl Stefani Pupkiewicz , Marine Corps Bases Japan
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia —
It has been almost 65 years since 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, landed on the shores of Okinawa, Japan. During the bloody battle that ensued, seemingly average young men became heroes in the face of immense danger.
Among them was 24-year-old Pfc. Albert E. Schwab, a flame thrower operator who single-handedly destroyed two machine gun emplacements in order to allow his fellow Marines a chance to advance.
While in the process of laying siege to the second emplacement, Schwab received fatal wounds from enemy fire. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave actions.
This past Memorial Day weekend, three of Schwab's nieces and nephews, all from Tulsa, Okla., visited his namesake camp, Camp Schwab, for the first time.
"It has been a lifelong dream for us to come here," said Jeff Carlson, one of Schwab's nephews. "It's overwhelming and very humbling to finally be here."
The three siblings spent their childhood years hearing stories about their uncle's heroism, said Janie Brady, Schwab's niece.
"It was always important to our family to know what it meant to be a hero," she said.
The siblings' parents did not talk much about the war, said Jim Carlson, Schwab's other nephew.
"But the stories we did hear, were about our uncle, and they helped instill a sense of honor in us," he explained.
"Mom was 14-years-old when her big brother (Schwab) went off to war," Jeff said. "She idolized her brother. In her eyes he could do no wrong."
While attending a wreath-laying ceremony at their uncle's grave in Tulsa last year, they met Sgt. William Edwards, a former Marine with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Edwards, who was previously stationed on Camp Schwab was training reserve units in Oklahoma and helped the three plan their trip and arrange for transportation to Okinawa.
"It was the right thing to do to get them here to pay tribute to their uncle," said Edwards, a Fredericksburg, Va., native, while on island with the siblings.
The three siblings spent the weekend at SchwabFest, touring the base and getting to know the Marine Corps way of life.
It has been the journey of a lifetime for them, Jeff said.
The fact their uncle is still remembered and revered by Marines is good to know, he added.
"He (Schwab) is a treasure whose memory needs to stay alive," Brady said. "We're so proud to be part of his family."
Ellie
6/5/2009 By Lance Cpl Stefani Pupkiewicz , Marine Corps Bases Japan
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia —
It has been almost 65 years since 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, landed on the shores of Okinawa, Japan. During the bloody battle that ensued, seemingly average young men became heroes in the face of immense danger.
Among them was 24-year-old Pfc. Albert E. Schwab, a flame thrower operator who single-handedly destroyed two machine gun emplacements in order to allow his fellow Marines a chance to advance.
While in the process of laying siege to the second emplacement, Schwab received fatal wounds from enemy fire. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave actions.
This past Memorial Day weekend, three of Schwab's nieces and nephews, all from Tulsa, Okla., visited his namesake camp, Camp Schwab, for the first time.
"It has been a lifelong dream for us to come here," said Jeff Carlson, one of Schwab's nephews. "It's overwhelming and very humbling to finally be here."
The three siblings spent their childhood years hearing stories about their uncle's heroism, said Janie Brady, Schwab's niece.
"It was always important to our family to know what it meant to be a hero," she said.
The siblings' parents did not talk much about the war, said Jim Carlson, Schwab's other nephew.
"But the stories we did hear, were about our uncle, and they helped instill a sense of honor in us," he explained.
"Mom was 14-years-old when her big brother (Schwab) went off to war," Jeff said. "She idolized her brother. In her eyes he could do no wrong."
While attending a wreath-laying ceremony at their uncle's grave in Tulsa last year, they met Sgt. William Edwards, a former Marine with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Edwards, who was previously stationed on Camp Schwab was training reserve units in Oklahoma and helped the three plan their trip and arrange for transportation to Okinawa.
"It was the right thing to do to get them here to pay tribute to their uncle," said Edwards, a Fredericksburg, Va., native, while on island with the siblings.
The three siblings spent the weekend at SchwabFest, touring the base and getting to know the Marine Corps way of life.
It has been the journey of a lifetime for them, Jeff said.
The fact their uncle is still remembered and revered by Marines is good to know, he added.
"He (Schwab) is a treasure whose memory needs to stay alive," Brady said. "We're so proud to be part of his family."
Ellie