Recuperating Marines want to return to fight
Submitted by: I Marine Expeditionary Force
Story Identification Number: 2003330114958
Story by Sgt. Joseph R. Chenelly



LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AREA VIPER, Iraq(March 28, 2003) -- Amid a grimy, gritty battlefield, wounded Marines are receiving medical care in a sterile environment. The contrast between the surrounding filth and the stark-white gauze symbolizes the difference between the Marines' appearance and morale.

The sight of bloodied, bandaged Marines laying on flimsy, green cots in southern Iraq was a disheartening scene, March 27. But the wounded wouldn't let their misfortune get them down.

First Sgt. Bruce H. Cole, shot in a fierce firefight just three hours earlier, couldn't sleep because of his thoughts about "my boys" with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Lance Cpl. Roche L. Rodriguez grunted as he strained to sit up. The Navy doctors said his left leg may be broken and his shoulder is separated, but the reservist rifleman with G Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, claims he will return to action soon.

These two Marines are among the many combat-scathed leathernecks in the 60-bed facility, which was established by Combat Service Support Group 15 during the first few days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A few Marines with a unit near the hospital, Combat Service Support Battalion 18, have come over with the intention of helping keep wounded troops in good spirits.

"We've seen a lot of medevacs coming in," said 1st Sgt. Reginald P. Kier, 41, who is from Texas. "Our captain thought it would be a good idea to come over to talk to some of the Marines. We want to be there in case they want or need to talk about what they've been through."

The visiting Marines found morale already high.

"They might be motivating me more than I can help them," Kier said. "It is impressive that so many want get back to the fight.

"They've gone through a lot. They're in pain now, yet they're not brushing us off or showing their pain."

Some of the stories heard in the recovery ward were harrowing stories of deadly shootouts and terrible accidents.

First Sgt. Cole is a 39-year-old from Beaumont, Texas. He was with 2/5 spearheading an attack northward on Iraqi Highway 1, March 27, when he ran into sporadic but heavy small arms fire from Iraqi soldiers dressed as civilians.

"The terrain was kind of restrictive," Cole said. "We had to stick to the MSR (main supply route), which gave the enemy the advantage. It allowed them to just lie behind numerous berms that run parallel to Route 1, up and down, some as close as 50 meters off the route.

"It was very difficult because it was a moderately populated area," he continued. "There were many houses along the MSR. A lot of civilian men, women and children were standing outside their little houses watching what was going on. The next thing you know more men popped up with rifles and started shooting. It is hard to pick the good guys form the bad guys."

Second Tank Battalion was screening 2/5's movements, but they were restricted to the MSR as well.

"The only engagements the armored had were with people stupid enough to shoot at them with their rifles," he said staring at the green, canvas ceiling in the medical tent. "Softer vehicles within the attack, the humvees, were just easy targets for them."

The first sergeant was in a humvee shooting back.

"We were cruising and fighting from our humvees, trying to get through the ambush sites as quickly as possible.

"We were taking some pretty intensive 7.62 (millimeter rounds) from the right flank," he said. "I was returning fire, engaging some targets that were entrenched 100 meters off the MSR. As I was returning fire, he was returning fire."

An enemy's bullet found its way into Cole's lower right arm and exited near his tricep. His troops immediately brought him to an armored ambulance. Shortly after, he was in the recovery tent at Logistical Support Area Viper.

From his cot, which didn't even have a pillow, Cole acknowledged his true fortune.

"A gunny from combat engineers, who was with us, was shot and killed just before I was hit. I know I'm lucky."

Cole said he couldn't stop thinking about his Marines. He wonders, "How did that battle finish? Who else was hit? How are they? What follow-on missions have my boys been tasked with?"

It may be some time before he can get those answers. Navy corpsmen say he'll leave Iraq soon.

With a bit of emotion in his voice, Cole asked to send his Marines still fighting a simple message, "Charge on!"

The message was sent to his battalion via radio traffic March 28.

First Lt. James R. Uwins is a 26-year-old Truck Platoon commander. He was attached to Headquarters Co., 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. Now he is laid up with shrapnel wounds on his face, shoulders, arms and legs. The native of South Pasadena, Calif., was moving vital combat supplies March 26.

"We had just set in for the night when a security patrol on the perimeter was ambushed," Uwins said. "About half of a dozen vehicles were taken out by small arms fire, RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and motors."

Artillery and mortars began impacting 100 yards from his position. He was hit several times. Initially, he thought he had been shot. "I was relieved to find just shrapnel wounds."

Uwins, along with his Marines immediately returned fire, he said. "They helped spread-load the ammo as needed when people started running short. I want them to know that they've done a great job so far, and I am proud of them. I know they'll keep it up.

"It's a dirty battle out there. My Marines are ready to kick more ass. I know they will fight with a vengeance."

Lance Cpl. Rodriguez is a 22-year-old reservist rifleman who may be going home to Los Angeles before he is ready.

Riding in the back of a seven-ton truck just south of the Iraqi city of Al-Kut, Rodriguez's early morning, March 27, was violently turned upside down.

"It was so dark you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face," he said. "It was about two in the morning. I was half asleep. Before I knew it there were sandbags from the truck flying through the air. We were all flying through the air."

When the truck, which had just rolled off a bridge, came to jarring halt, Rodriguez knew he was going to make it, but he wasn't so sure about his buddies.

"I was very worried about one of my fellow Marines to the left of me," he said. "He was motionless. I was very afraid something serious had happened to him. I also was worried about the rest of my fire team. I'm just happy everyone is still alive."

Rodriguez was transported to the field hospital by an Army Blackhawk helicopter. Doctors believe his left leg is broken. He also separated his shoulder.

"I don't believe that anything is broken," Rodriguez said. "I'm just anxious to get back with my unit. I've trained with these guys for four years. I want to be with them now."

The reserve infantry unit 2/23 has been mobilized since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Rodriguez and his fellow Marines acted as the anti-terrorism force for more than a year at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

They deployed to the Middle East in November 2002 to serve as the security element for Camp Commando, Kuwait. Now they are taking part in combat operations in the war against Saddam Hussein's regime.

The war may be over for Rodriguez. He was flown to another medical facility outside Iraq March 28.

Sgt. Christopher Merkle, a machine gunner, is also a reservist with 2/23. He is a 31-year-old who lives in San Clemente, Calif., when not deployed.

Merkle was in the same truck as Rodriguez when it rolled.

"We were on a counter attack movement," Merkle said. "There was no natural illumination. The bridge wasn't on the map. We plunged over, but we really lucked out. We missed the water by five feet."

The sandbags that line the bottom of the truck to protect from mines went flying. "They buried us. It took me five minutes to get myself free, and I was one of the first out. We just started digging people out."

Merkle suffered a sprained neck and back. Injures sustained by other Marines included a crushed pelvis and several broken bones.

He is eager to return to the fighting. Before the crash, he saw enemy forces use appalling tactics.

"We've seen the bad guys (regime death squads) throw children out of windows at us," Merkle said shaking his head in disbelief. "Then they actually fired at the children's feet to make them run at us. They'd use the running kids as shields while they'd move to another defensive position. They're monsters.

"We've got a lot of young Marines in our unit," he continued. "I really hate being away from them, especially at a time like this."

He left the hospital March 28 and finagled a ride from I Marine Expeditionary Force's command element back to his unit the next day.

"These men have showed real spirit and heart," Kier said. "It makes me proud to be a Marine. These Marines are giving all they have to give."


Sempers,

Roger