thedrifter
06-13-06, 06:30 AM
Retired Marines meet ‘kids' at Calif. base
By JOSIE SCHLINK
Monday, June 12, 2006 9:07 PM PDT
The Daily News
BULLHEAD CITY - The Colorado River Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association landed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 1 to invade the Marine Corps Base's mess hall.
Despite the large buffet-style supply of fried chicken, stir-fry, turkey and roast beef, the luncheon's true purpose served as a casual meeting that spanned generations.
Retired Marines of Colorado River area, along with two division chapters from Southern California and one from Phoenix, spent the afternoon with 50 younger veterans who had each earned the Purple Heart award after being wounded in Iraq.
“We needed to make this trip to show the kids that we support what they are doing and the sacrifices that they made,” said Larry Greenwood, vice president of the chapter, which is based in Bullhead City.
And ‘kids' is not a word Greenwood uses without reason.
“The vast majority of them are 18, 19, 20 year-old kids,” he said.
Greenwood expressed discontent with the negative images portrayed in the media of the Iraqi war, one of the reasons he said the troops must be reminded of their support.
“The news just shows the bad things (such as) casualties,” he said. “They don't show the good things. It makes me kind of angry.”
For instance, soldiers stationed in Iraq have given that country's citizens tremendous amounts of food and medical care, he said.
Retired Marine Lisa Jennings agreed that the young veterans deserved recognition for their hard work and determined spirit.
“The young Marines were fabulous and covered the whole concept of what the Marines were doing in Iraq,” she said in a press release for the event.
After leaving Iraq with experiences that left them wise beyond their years, Greenwood felt the younger luncheon attendees were the perfect recipients of the Purple Heart, awarded to soldiers who were wounded in combat.
The award is a purple ribbon with a purple heart and a small picture of George Washington, one of its founders.
Greenwood ate next to four younger Marines who had been wounded by an individual explotive device (IED) but were on their way to a full recovery. And all of them showed plenty of respect for their elders, he said.
“They were so motivated,” he said. “They were really pleased that ... we took time out of our schedules to come out.”
The veterans stayed June 2 for a “Marine Corps-style” breakfast before leaving for a nearby training facility, where they watched a training demonstration on fighting technique.
Colorado River chapter members are currently planning a similar luncheon for sometime during the fall.
“We're going to set it up again sometime before they go back (to Iraq),” Greenwood said.
The Colorado River chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association meets the third Thursday of each month at varying locations. The organization is involved with several children's charities and other non-profit activities, such as a “Support the Troops” rally May 2003 during the outbreak of the war in Iraq.
The chapter is accepting new members. Those interested must be active or former Marines or supporters. “You know the old saying ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Greenwood said. “Well, I live and breathe that.”
For more information, call Greenwood at 928-768-6635.
Ellie
By JOSIE SCHLINK
Monday, June 12, 2006 9:07 PM PDT
The Daily News
BULLHEAD CITY - The Colorado River Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association landed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., June 1 to invade the Marine Corps Base's mess hall.
Despite the large buffet-style supply of fried chicken, stir-fry, turkey and roast beef, the luncheon's true purpose served as a casual meeting that spanned generations.
Retired Marines of Colorado River area, along with two division chapters from Southern California and one from Phoenix, spent the afternoon with 50 younger veterans who had each earned the Purple Heart award after being wounded in Iraq.
“We needed to make this trip to show the kids that we support what they are doing and the sacrifices that they made,” said Larry Greenwood, vice president of the chapter, which is based in Bullhead City.
And ‘kids' is not a word Greenwood uses without reason.
“The vast majority of them are 18, 19, 20 year-old kids,” he said.
Greenwood expressed discontent with the negative images portrayed in the media of the Iraqi war, one of the reasons he said the troops must be reminded of their support.
“The news just shows the bad things (such as) casualties,” he said. “They don't show the good things. It makes me kind of angry.”
For instance, soldiers stationed in Iraq have given that country's citizens tremendous amounts of food and medical care, he said.
Retired Marine Lisa Jennings agreed that the young veterans deserved recognition for their hard work and determined spirit.
“The young Marines were fabulous and covered the whole concept of what the Marines were doing in Iraq,” she said in a press release for the event.
After leaving Iraq with experiences that left them wise beyond their years, Greenwood felt the younger luncheon attendees were the perfect recipients of the Purple Heart, awarded to soldiers who were wounded in combat.
The award is a purple ribbon with a purple heart and a small picture of George Washington, one of its founders.
Greenwood ate next to four younger Marines who had been wounded by an individual explotive device (IED) but were on their way to a full recovery. And all of them showed plenty of respect for their elders, he said.
“They were so motivated,” he said. “They were really pleased that ... we took time out of our schedules to come out.”
The veterans stayed June 2 for a “Marine Corps-style” breakfast before leaving for a nearby training facility, where they watched a training demonstration on fighting technique.
Colorado River chapter members are currently planning a similar luncheon for sometime during the fall.
“We're going to set it up again sometime before they go back (to Iraq),” Greenwood said.
The Colorado River chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association meets the third Thursday of each month at varying locations. The organization is involved with several children's charities and other non-profit activities, such as a “Support the Troops” rally May 2003 during the outbreak of the war in Iraq.
The chapter is accepting new members. Those interested must be active or former Marines or supporters. “You know the old saying ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Greenwood said. “Well, I live and breathe that.”
For more information, call Greenwood at 928-768-6635.
Ellie