Task Force Tarawa Marines, lost but not forgotten

[thedrifter]

Task Force Tarawa Marines, lost but not forgotten

The Globe
Staff reports

The desire to commemorate important anniversaries is not unique to the Marine Corps. March 23 marks the one year anniversary of what the Deputy Commander, Combined Forces Command called “the sharpest engagement of the war” - the fight for the bridges in An Nasiriyah, Iraq.

The Marines of 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment lost 14 Marines that day; 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion lost two Marines, and 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, and 3rd Battalion, 2d Marines all lost one Marine each. Many others were wounded in the valiant effort to secure the bridges over the Euphrates River and the Saddam Canal.

The anniversary of this fight brings back a number of memories for all Marines there that fateful day - some good and some not so good. “The things I saw young 18 and 19 year old Marines still sends chills up my spine,” said Chief Warrant Officer David R. Dunfee, regimental gunner, 2d Marine Regiment. “Not once did I see a Marine or Sailor not do what was asked of them. In fact they went above and beyond.”

Officials also recognized the severity of what the Marines were engaged in. “Combat operations have met with resistance in a number of locations, the most notable of which is in the vicinity of An Nasiriyah,” said Lt. Gen. John Abizaid, deputy commander of Combined Forces Command, last year.

The battle would see the Marines involved in combat for hours but as the sun set on March 23 a year ago – the Marines held the bridges enabling 1st Marine Division to pass through the city on their way to Baghdad. “We would not have taken those bridges if it had not been for those young men. It was their fight to win or lose and they performed magnificently,” Dunfee said. “I can not tell you how honored I am to be in their company and to have served with them.”

Camp Lejeune Marines and Sailors know what it feels like to be depended on. They know sacrifice, loss and pain. They have seen their brothers die in battle and have come home with memories many would like to soon forget. They are true warriors and whenever wherever they are deployed around the world, America can be sure they are giving their all, just as the Marines listed here did March 23, 2003.

Marines lost March 23, 2003 were:
1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment
Gunnery Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan
Sgt. Brendon Reiss
Cpl. Jose A. Garibay
Cpl. Jorge A. Gonzalez
Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon
Cpl. Randel K. Rosacker
Lance Cpl. Brian R. Buesing
Lance Cpl. Tamario Burkett
Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr.
Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley
Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum
Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams
Pvt. Johnathan L. Gifford
Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings

1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment
1st Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney

2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair

2d Assault Amphibian Battalion
Sgt. Michael E. Bitz
Cpl. Kemaphoon A. Chanawongse

3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment
Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson

“The faces of the Marines we lost are always with us,” Dunfee said. “They gave their last full measure for the man on their left and their right.

On the first anniversary of the fight for the bridges of An Nasiriyah those who experienced the battle will spend it in different ways. “I will pull out the names of all the Marines we lost, were wounded, and came through the fight with me and I will remember them, Dunfee said. “Who they were, what we laughed about, what we cried about, everything. I will do that from now until the day that I go to meet them again.”

A year later but not so long ago for the Marines, Sailors and family members of those lost. These young men made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone’s freedom. “ In my mind, to honor them is to remember them,” Dunfee said.

http://militarynews.com/globe/news.html


Ellie

Rest In Peace

[MillRatUSMC]

HONOR, COURAGE AND COMITTMENT...

A long time ago when a Marine that had survived an ambush in Sumar while on patrol, there said this'
"Gentlemen rise, He served in Sumar."
Now some might say of those that survived the battles for the bridges at An Nasiriyah, Iraq.
"Gentlemen rise, he served in An Nasiriyah, Iraq."
The U.S Army War College asked the question;
"Why do the armed forces of the U.S. A fight?"
These young men made the ultimate sacrifice for everyone’s freedom.
“ In my mind, to honor them is to remember them,” Dunfee said.

Marines lost March 23, 2003 were:
1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment
Gunnery Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan
Sgt. Brendon Reiss
Cpl. Jose A. Garibay
Cpl. Jorge A. Gonzalez
Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon
Cpl. Randel K. Rosacker
Lance Cpl. Brian R. Buesing
Lance Cpl. Tamario Burkett
Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr.
Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley
Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum
Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams
Pvt. Johnathan L. Gifford
Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings

1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment
1st Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney

2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair

2d Assault Amphibian Battalion
Sgt. Michael E. Bitz
Cpl. Kemaphoon A. Chanawongse

3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment
Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson

“The faces of the Marines we lost are always with us,” Dunfee said.
“They gave their last full measure for the man on their left and their right.
That why the armed forces of the U.S A fight...
They will live forever as long as there's a United States Marine Corps...

"A man or woman is measured
by the footprint,
he or she leaves behind"

"They were the best you had, America,
and you turned your back on them".
~ Joe Galloway ~ Speaking about Vietnam Veterans

TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS MAY SAY PROUDLY
I AM A MARINE

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[bobpage]

From one of RCT1 that was there, you will NEVER be forgotten.

[TFTReunion]

This March 23 will be 10 years.

We are planning a reunion of all those who were at An-Nasiriyah. A few of the companies are planning individual dinners the night before we all get together. Check out the reunion website for more information or email us at tftreunion@gmail.com. Semper Fi.

http://www.tftreunion.org

Task Force Tarawa - 10 Year Reunion
The Battle of An-Nasiriyah
March 23-24, 2013
Quantico, Virginia