tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70880069315834501632024-03-14T10:38:57.994-07:00Marine recruit momMy oldest son has graduated from boot camp and has become a Marine. I never dreamed a child of mine would ever do this so it was quite the shock. But I always said I want for my children that which would make them happy and so ... I share my pride in him for doing what he wants and taking a leap into this new life adventure.Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-91333499195480942062015-11-06T17:30:00.000-08:002015-11-06T17:35:58.000-08:00Marine rank: SergeantSo my Marine has become a sergeant.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr0_JIWg15UnxtFsQiQWG8OxLQiqb8OrrXgxoGXk-3PwZJb9yo7hhGrR_SZmliSF8tUrPksHmk1-B4hTLkRpUeAMZ1bxr_-jtbD2dX5Pr_y22jIJCqNFHAuwUF6L6EaGncyyDaLs7pQI/s1600/chevron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivr0_JIWg15UnxtFsQiQWG8OxLQiqb8OrrXgxoGXk-3PwZJb9yo7hhGrR_SZmliSF8tUrPksHmk1-B4hTLkRpUeAMZ1bxr_-jtbD2dX5Pr_y22jIJCqNFHAuwUF6L6EaGncyyDaLs7pQI/s200/chevron.jpg" width="162" /></a>He is still himself, but he is not. I know that he is someone different with the men around him, with his wife and children, with his brothers and with me.<br />
Here, at his ceremony, he stands out in his field:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVexirAO0JUdiwVCDI13jWkob5zZkCWaKhp_RkQ2xDgdGl4rB7BGDcdDVgLWMzocE4jm0gjzqjAJ6kv2Kjx26ltUMBHTfUQ8urNuIaPRiE_mIoe0u-4ayOaPr6w5wQNJtRWLsCKngART0/s1600/11061295_1032817013405855_4183921315687847182_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVexirAO0JUdiwVCDI13jWkob5zZkCWaKhp_RkQ2xDgdGl4rB7BGDcdDVgLWMzocE4jm0gjzqjAJ6kv2Kjx26ltUMBHTfUQ8urNuIaPRiE_mIoe0u-4ayOaPr6w5wQNJtRWLsCKngART0/s400/11061295_1032817013405855_4183921315687847182_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">"How the Marines promote their enlisted: The E-1 through E-3, the first three ranks are awarded automatically after certain periods of time. The Marines promote their E-4s (Corporals) and E-5s (Sergeants) based on something called a </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">cutting score</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">. Your cutting score is the number of points you have earned based on your time in rank, your time in service, your conduct at your job, your accuracy with the rifle, and physical fitness as well as if you have done any additional training in the form of MCIs. Since time in service and time in rank always go up, assuming you don't drop in your scores in other things you will eventually get a higher score every month and more every quarter." - </span></span><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><a action_mousedown="UserLinkClickthrough" class="user" href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Jon-Davis-10" id="__w2_zzh3EWc_link" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jon Davis</a><span class="IdentitySig ActorNameSig IdentityNameSig" id="__w2_njJ5llG_bio" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">, <span id="__w2_njJ5llG_link"><span class="IdentitySig ActorNameSig IdentityNameSig" id="__w2_njJ5llG_sig"><span class="expanded_q_text" id="__w2_tpuGvvH_text_snip"><span id="__w2_tpuGvvH_text_snip_content">Sergeant of Marines, Iraq vet, weapons instructor.</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
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According to Sergeant Davis, several things are important in getting the score up quickly. 1. The choice of jobs, because some jobs carry more points than others. 2. Doing pull-ups, because physical fitness also earns points. And 3. doing MCIs because the tests are worth cutting points too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oo-rah.com/store/pt/pt0830.asp">oo-rah</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #134f5c; font-family: "robotoregular" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">In the United States Marine Corps, two ranks fall under the wider category of noncommissioned officer: corporal and sergeant. Although a sergeant ranks above a corporal, which is an E4 rank, the duties of a sergeant are similar. The main difference is that sergeants are responsible for a larger number of marines and equipment than corporals are. <a href="http://work.chron.com/duties-e5-usmc-sergeant-21401.html">Chron</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #38761d; font-family: "robotoregular" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">As the highest ranking noncommissioned officers, sergeants are the backbone of the Marine Corps. They are the main link between each marine and the organization's leadership, and they are responsible for implementing the policies and orders given by officers. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #38761d; font-family: "robotoregular" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Sergeants are responsible for the training subordinates in their basic military skills and their respective military occupational specialties. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #38761d; font-family: "robotoregular" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Sergeants respond directly to their commanding officer for the performance of their marines, and must therefore ensure the members of their unit are properly motivated to perform their tasks to the best of their ability. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkU9CfDDxKuZ6N96AzoTpk6XifO-0svOJoTzqs_PNGNPcPjRmktKK4pEDdBlr4SqA4-RSwUojVkgswrdDiX7CIRLQWaUBV6dFGyDat33VhRsM7j6FzLt3m4YqOzSHcz_jVnuJzqg82Y0/s1600/U.S._Marine_Corps_Sgt._Cody_R._Nelson%252C_a_member_of_the_III_Marine_Expeditionary_Force_combat_shooting_team%252C_points_his_M249_light_machine_gun_down_range_and_listens_to_a_range_official_during_an_international_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkU9CfDDxKuZ6N96AzoTpk6XifO-0svOJoTzqs_PNGNPcPjRmktKK4pEDdBlr4SqA4-RSwUojVkgswrdDiX7CIRLQWaUBV6dFGyDat33VhRsM7j6FzLt3m4YqOzSHcz_jVnuJzqg82Y0/s400/U.S._Marine_Corps_Sgt._Cody_R._Nelson%252C_a_member_of_the_III_Marine_Expeditionary_Force_combat_shooting_team%252C_points_his_M249_light_machine_gun_down_range_and_listens_to_a_range_official_during_an_international_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 21.28px; text-align: start;">U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Cody R. Nelson, a member of the III Marine Expeditionary Force combat shooting team, points his M249 light machine gun down range and listens to a range official during an international machine gun shooting match at the 2012 Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) in Puckapunyal, Australia, May 9, 2012. AASAM was an international marksmanship competition that included 16 countries. (</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 21.28px; text-align: start;">TSgt Michael Holzworth)</span></span></td></tr>
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In the meanwhile, this is where my Marine loves to spend his time the most. On the range. Teaching and practicing, Sergeant or not.Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-44941799356788884762015-01-10T08:00:00.000-08:002015-01-10T08:00:54.738-08:00Okinawa<div class="tr_bq">
My Marine and his family are moving - to the other side of the world.</div>
They will be there for three long years. At some point I'm sure I will get there for a visit. When talking walking long beautiful beaches with three amazing grandchildren, I'm on it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4f1KwRkZH3N1k7q9DQakzgcRULMTTh42iXXnThfbdPcSq6ZwNg2FNH84miGcGMv37ol2xlxi9kTiV9SEi1BoQ8ru3tRGk62msmFpNVi36F2zLUvnyntvjnV83r3hsrnZAotL0r68kgo/s1600/japan-okinawa+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4f1KwRkZH3N1k7q9DQakzgcRULMTTh42iXXnThfbdPcSq6ZwNg2FNH84miGcGMv37ol2xlxi9kTiV9SEi1BoQ8ru3tRGk62msmFpNVi36F2zLUvnyntvjnV83r3hsrnZAotL0r68kgo/s1600/japan-okinawa+map.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://chanceencountered.blogspot.com/">Chance Encounteres</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The island of Okinawa is very small, 67 miles long and 2-17 miles wide. Don’t let that fool you, it can take hours to get places. Even though the distance between some of the bases is quite short, traffic can be heavy, the speed is slow, and the roads are very curvy which results in traffic jams and longer commutes.</span><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8;">There are seven USMC camps on Okinawa. Courtney, Foster, Lester, and Kinser are for Marines and families to live. Hansen, Schwab, and Futenma are for Marines to live.</span><span style="line-height: 1.8;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><a href="http://blog.militarymoveguide.com/bases/okinawa-japan.html">Military Move Guide</a>.</span></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGVCyWba-P9DJPo6OkGSFMhJFhcxdnKLnr-GjdtYx40uGdixc6zKoVb-O40fuBz9-Q5zySgEOV6qUXaArTsfcJuNQpH4xXuOuE_IPSCSOZk63s8HNH6t7FqtWzz57iTHpk0F-C0q7Po/s1600/beach_of_Okinawa_GJ019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBGVCyWba-P9DJPo6OkGSFMhJFhcxdnKLnr-GjdtYx40uGdixc6zKoVb-O40fuBz9-Q5zySgEOV6qUXaArTsfcJuNQpH4xXuOuE_IPSCSOZk63s8HNH6t7FqtWzz57iTHpk0F-C0q7Po/s1600/beach_of_Okinawa_GJ019.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.wallcoo.net/">http://www.wallcoo.net/</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #4c1130; color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: 30px;">Weather</span><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8;">We have a very humid climate here because we are surrounded by the water and live in a sub-tropical place. The summer is HOT HOT HOT; more hot than Oklahoma and Vegas but if you are from Texas you’ll do fine! Be prepared to feel moisture and heat when you step outside. The fall is very nice for it is very warm. The winter is mild usually in the 60′s. Spring 60′s and 70′s. People say May-June is rainy season but in my opinion it’s always the rainy season. Typhoon season is from June-Nov. Typhoons cause for a lot of wind and rain and the base will usually shut down. Everything here is built to typhoon standards, so when a warning is issued, everyone goes home. Some typhoons cause more damage than others, but with renters insurance, you will be covered.</span><span style="font-size: 30px;"> </span><a href="http://blog.militarymoveguide.com/bases/okinawa-japan.html">Military Move Guide</a>.</span></blockquote>
The move to Okinawa is not considered a deployment, it is a permanent duty station (PDS). Deployment refers to locations the United States is conducting combat operations and there are no combat operations in Okinawa.<br />
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Base living conditions in Okinawa are comparable to those in the US and families have access to most things they would at home like Internet, shopping and exploring the area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSZLXSl0jp6jF0QmriY4yBPqgeUDR459YUZxyrMf88g2IOlI0QBehKag-QQN82CC6BB_LDHSkD6xS5HamgljOIREu1CEH2PsX4mDhGRZ2cV6WIB039ScEVpX4FYmPfBXf-6c8O7G8CFw/s1600/play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSZLXSl0jp6jF0QmriY4yBPqgeUDR459YUZxyrMf88g2IOlI0QBehKag-QQN82CC6BB_LDHSkD6xS5HamgljOIREu1CEH2PsX4mDhGRZ2cV6WIB039ScEVpX4FYmPfBXf-6c8O7G8CFw/s1600/play.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Capt. Ray Howard, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embark officer, and his 5-year-old son Kelton sprint toward the finish line during a 3-legged race held at the MEU's Family Day celebration June 6, 2009. The Air Force manages more than 8,300 family housing units on Okinawa for all four services</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20090718/NEWS/907180325/Families-headed-Okinawa-must-live-base">Marine Corps Times</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #4c1130;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Basics: </i></span><br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Okinawa, Japan </b>- Eastern Asia<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Capital </b>- Naha<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Bordered by</b> – Island surrounded by Pacific Ocean and East China Sea<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Language </b>- Japanese<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Climate </b>- Subtropical summer 72.3F, winter 60.8F<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">National Disasters</b> - Typhoons and monsoons<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Religion</b> - Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christian<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Population </b>- 127.63 million (2008)<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Government </b>- Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government (May 3, 1947)<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Prime Minister Head of Government</b>- Taro Aso<br />Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested in the Japanese people, and the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the state. Japan's Government is a parliamentary democracy, with a House of Representatives (also known as the Lower House) and a House of Councilors (sometimes called the Upper House). Executive power is vested in a cabinet composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians. The prime minister must be a member of the Diet and is designated by his colleagues. The prime minister has the power to appoint and remove ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members.<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Natural resources</b> - Fish and few mineral resources<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Agriculture</b> - Products--rice, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, silk, fish<br /><b style="line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.11em auto 0px;">Currency</b> - Yen </span><a href="http://www.marineparents.com/deployment/ic-Okinawa.asp">Marine Parents blog</a></span></blockquote>
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Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-67348511182904656362014-02-21T11:45:00.004-08:002014-02-21T11:54:53.834-08:00Every Marine a Rifleman<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoy3qCxkh_QYssQ0jO8egqNPvs6NHSMrNhuw8kofouoAp9u9y0qrrwvOi1b9qG5XkHHq43sDZfY24xW60ASjixTzcKBHpZh71_wkTrrsfVA9h3ZK8SYqePR3ckNkQfIqxfoyASamiM2o/s1600/Al_Gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoy3qCxkh_QYssQ0jO8egqNPvs6NHSMrNhuw8kofouoAp9u9y0qrrwvOi1b9qG5XkHHq43sDZfY24xW60ASjixTzcKBHpZh71_wkTrrsfVA9h3ZK8SYqePR3ckNkQfIqxfoyASamiM2o/s1600/Al_Gray.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">"Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"> - <a href="http://1st-radio-company-usmc.org/member_pages/AL%20GRAY.html">General A. M. Gray</a>,</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">29th Commandant of the USMC</span></span></div>
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Every Marine is trained to take up the rifle, but that is not the only weapon carried by corpsmen. They are trained on many weapons from handheld to those mounted on vehicles and more. Missions that involve urban room-clearing techniques require different weapons than those involving long-distance marksmanship.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/marinecorps">United States Marine Corps</a></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">"The basic infantry weapon of the USMC is the M16 assault rifle family, with a majority of Marines being equipped with the M16A4 service rifle, or more recently the M4 carbine - a compact variant. Suppressive fire is provided by the M249 SAW, which is being replaced by the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, and the M240G machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively. in addition, indirect fire is provided by the M203 grenade launcher in fireteams, M224 60 mm mortar in companies, and M252 81 mm mortar in battalions. The M2.50 caliber heavy machine gun and MK19 automatic grenade launcher (40 mm) are available for use by dismounted infantry, though they are more commonly vehicle-mounted. Precision fire is provided by the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle, which is being replaced by the M110 semi-Automatic Sniper system and M40A3 and A5 sniper rifle bolt action sniper rifle." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weapons_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps">Wikipedia</a></span></blockquote>
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From the very beginning of their training, Marine recruits are instilled as partners to their weapons.<br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">A Marine is first introduced to the rifle in recruit training. From the moment they place their hands on it, their drill instructors stress the importance of understanding the rifle by explaining the different parts, conditions and safety rules of the weapon.<br />The responsibility of maintaining a weapon can be overwhelming for some recruits. For many of them, it’s the first time that they’ve actually held and fired a rifle.<br />“Since it was my first time using a rifle, I was intimidated,” said Recruit Alec Kunesh, Platoon 3214, Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. “But the more I handle it, the more comfortable I am.”<br />Two weeks of recruit training are dedicated to teaching recruits the basics of marksmanship.<br />The first week, known as “Grass Week”, includes classes on trigger control, sight alignment, and breathing, which are the fundamentals of marksmanship. It also covers the different positions the recruits will be shooting in: sitting, kneeling and standing. They practice these positions for several hours a day to learn what works best for them and provide a stable position.<br />Week two is “Firing Week”, which is where recruits can apply what they’ve learned. Basic marksmanship-trained coaches assist them as they go through the course of fire that they will shoot on qualification day. It’s up to the recruit to apply the fundamentals in order to be successful, said Terry.<br />While at the range, drill instructors focus on maintenance and continue to instill weapons safety rules.<a href="http://www.tecom.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/5055/Article/92579/every-marine-a-rifleman-begins-at-recruit-training.aspx">Training and Education Command</a></span></blockquote>
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">"The Rifleman's Creed: This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.</span></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.</span></span></b></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy."</span></span></b></div>
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This is not glorious, or beautiful. I did not choose this for my child, but he chose it for himself and I raised him as a hero - I had no intent that my knight would take up such sword and armor, but can I allow myself to really be surprised? What choice do we really have in what we become? What weapons do we have to guard our hearts from who we really are?<br />
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I could not take up opposition against the structure that makes my child a Marine. I cannot stop those children from becoming warriors or the government from creating a warrior culture to give them homes for their needy bodies. It is human nature to need heroes and human nature to take up arms to protect our families. It is human nature to take lives and survive - or not.Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-10840306011878373432014-02-13T06:54:00.003-08:002014-02-13T07:15:45.498-08:00A Marine remembers Pearl Harbor<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #681f00; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Here is a guest post from my friend, John Larson's, blog, <a href="http://magdalenadispatch.blogspot.com/">The Magdalena Dispatch</a>.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Pearl Harbor is always a strange and horrifying story. I never have been able to understand the things human beings do to one another and the things that happened in the war that ensued are as terrible as any that have ever happened throughout history. From Bataan to Auschwitz, the world was black indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Remembering</b></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">For years Rudy Pina proudly flew the flag of the Marine Corps every day above his home in rural New Mexico. Pearl Harbor Day 2013 was last weekend, and I thought of my late friend.</span></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.54720115661621px;">Rudy Pina at home in 2007</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">He died at age 94 in 2012, but not before he shared with me many of his memories from being stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Enlisting in 1938, the Arizona native was a gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps whose unit was bivouacked at the time in tents near the harbor. But his recollections of the attack begin the week before, on Sunday, Nov. 30, at church.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">“I had went up to church the week before, and sat in the back with another Marine,” he said. “In came a brand new ensign. He had just arrived on the base with his young wife.” After the services the officer approached Pina and his buddy, he recalled. “We got to talking and he said ‘You Marines doing anything? How would you like to take a tour of the island, show us what's what’?” Rudy said. “He said ‘Come with us.’ He and his wife drove us all over the island, up to Scofield Barracks and down to the rest of the island.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">He said their sightseeing tour ended at what Pina called “officers country,” a club not open to non-commissioned officers. “We drove up to a sentry, who was surprised to see us enlisted guys, but the ensign said it was okay,” he said. “So we came in, and sat down at a table. We only had 35 cents to drink with.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Rudy said two nurses on an outrigger moored at the club invited him and his buddy to join them for dinner. “The ensign comes over and said, ‘we’re going to go,” and the nurses said, “we’ll take them home,” Pina said. “We stayed and ate and were swimming, and then dancing in our swimsuits until the place closed at nine o'clock.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">“We told them we lived down at Pearl Harbor, and they drove us down,” he said. The same sentry was surprised to see them this time with the nurses, who told them “never mind, they’re our guests." Before dropping them off at the encampment, Rudy and his buddy tore open their shirts and asked the nurses to smear lipstick on them as a joke "for the other guys to see." The other guys were duly impressed. "A friend asked how did we meet those nurses," Rudy laughed. “At church we said. He said he would be going to church us the next Sunday!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">The next Sunday was December 7.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">"That morning everyone had a hang-over.” Rudy had been out jitterbugging the night before, and a photograph of him dancing with a young woman appeared in the Honolulu Times in the December 7, 1941 Sunday morning paper. He kept a copy of that newspaper.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;" />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">"But I was up and ready to go to church before 8 a.m., but my buddy was slow getting dressed in the tent," Rudy said. Then..."they came from out of the north."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;" />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">“The first Zero came in and just cleared the tent. I could see his face it was so low,” he said. “He had a big grin on his face." That plane hit the battleship California, which was moored at Ford Island. “Two more came in, and I grabbed a .50 caliber machine gun, and shot the third plane down,” Rudy said. “The guys went to where it came down and got to chopping on the pilot.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;" />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">He said while they were shooting at the planes, they were also waiting for orders. “They were dropping bombs and everything else. Sailors were running out in their skivvies. I told them, ‘go in the tent and get what you need’,” he said. “We dragged a couple of guys out of the water and we took some to the mess hall.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Rudy said he finally got orders when an officer came up to him. “He said, ‘Pina get your ass going, we’ve got to get the ammunition out of here!' We pulled out and a Colonel Hall called ahead to arrange the delivery of ammunition to where it was needed around the harbor.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;" />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">“They loaded us up right away and I zig-zaged all the way,” Rudy said. “That was the way to drive the truck around. But one guy got a little piece of shrapnel.” Although the attack lasted about two hours, he said the rest of the day was spent with emergency and rescue efforts. “I had a motorcycle and was sent all over delivering messages and medicine,” Rudy said. “The bike let me get through places a truck or jeep couldn’t. They sent me all over.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">Rudy was also part of an effort to get medical supplies to Ford Island. “They had this tug to get to Ford Island,” he said. “To get there we had to go through a fire so it had four pumps going to get through. We got the medicine over there. They really wrecked that island.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">That was the beginning of the long war for Rudy, who was sent to New Zealand for combat training, and then to Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;" />
<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">"Tarawa was the worst," he said. By the time World War II ended he had been wounded one time. "I did catch a little shrapnel. I was lucky."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #681f00; color: #ffedcd; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.18400001525879px;">His first tour of duty was in Shanghai, China. In early 1941 his unit was split, "one half was transferred to Manila in the Philippines, and my half was sent to Hawaii."</span></div>
Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-41516501122330884012013-12-18T21:09:00.000-08:002013-12-18T21:12:11.208-08:00Marine rank: CorporalAnother rank has come upon my son. Another proud day. I am surprised daily as his nature stays the same. His kindness and humor are as intact as they ever were.<br />
Marines have a reputation (in San Diego at least) of being stuck up, proud of themselves and inconsiderate of others. Mine says he can be that way too, but at least I never see it.<br />
The rank is one implying the command of a section or squad of others. As a Marine corporal an individual is a rifle fire team leader, machine gun team leader, light mortar squad leader and assault weapon squad leader.<br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">"A Corporal in the Marine Corps is a junior noncommissioned officer, and is equivalent in rank to the Army's junior NCO ranks of Corporal and Specialist. Corporals usually command small contingents of Marines in combat and operations, including four-man fireteams (which may also be lead by a Lance Corporal) or eight-man squads comprising of two fireteams.<br />"The Marine Corps specializes in small-unit operations, and as a result Corporals hold a significant amount of authority and resposibility in contrast to the lighter duties of Lance Corporals and Privates. Because of the responsibilities delegated to squad and fireteam leaders, promotion to Corporal is seen as a very significant accomplishment for an enlisted Marine.<br />"Promotion to Corporal is awarded on a rolling basis to experienced soldiers who achieve a qualifying composite or cutting score in a variety of assessments." <a href="http://www.military-ranks.org/marine-corps/corporal">Military Ranks</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Robert%20J.%20Arrotta:%20The%20Mightiest%20Corporal%20in%20the%20Marine%20Corps%20-%20See%20more%20at:%20http://www.mca-marines.org/blog/beth-crumley/2012/01/10/robert-j-arrotta-mightiest-corporal-marine-corps#sthash.TlnLksgL.dpuf">Robert J. Arrotta: The Mightiest Corporal in the Marine Corps</a></span><span id="goog_551796237"></span><span id="goog_551796238"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCtzO1MF-rKEKtfYNOKHT1l728TJ_qKyKB7VldNB5E0Vh6HtxOZGRKA4Z3WHHZwY6LZ9YmaghWFThG-Ue3dxGEtwNSLb-inTvltnUmrNcfbCbeW1duHmr8MIDKfWD2ohv6A9hu_OcGTE/s1600/arrotta-on-radio.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCtzO1MF-rKEKtfYNOKHT1l728TJ_qKyKB7VldNB5E0Vh6HtxOZGRKA4Z3WHHZwY6LZ9YmaghWFThG-Ue3dxGEtwNSLb-inTvltnUmrNcfbCbeW1duHmr8MIDKfWD2ohv6A9hu_OcGTE/s320/arrotta-on-radio.png" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, 'DejaVu Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">Arrotta’s tactical call sign was “India 14” which identified him as the company’s Forward Air Controller. (Courtesy of Joanne Schneider) </span></td></tr>
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Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-33039868072174955462013-10-21T20:30:00.000-07:002013-10-21T20:37:31.954-07:00HomecomingAfter deployment, our Marines come home. Our hearts sing and we fly into their arms. We can only hope the changes wrought inside them are ones that will grow and meld with the family, slide quietly to the side; allow us to sing and meld with our children, husbands, fathers, sisters and brothers. We can hope to be whole again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhek6OEixlnTsHQ2GYH06Aly9CKep4haD_8actIspSTAaEhwq9BZVdnBSjYaHQyhqc7uNga1MS0ZQjqGMg3g9C4ln4CmfhzPI6EuzfHyXIusUiO7fL-FKST-iZJn4h_zjLF-WDN-KD4IGA/s1600/homcoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhek6OEixlnTsHQ2GYH06Aly9CKep4haD_8actIspSTAaEhwq9BZVdnBSjYaHQyhqc7uNga1MS0ZQjqGMg3g9C4ln4CmfhzPI6EuzfHyXIusUiO7fL-FKST-iZJn4h_zjLF-WDN-KD4IGA/s320/homcoming.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://minglecity.com/profiles/blogs/homecoming-how-hard-is-it-to">Homecoming: How hard is it?</a></td></tr>
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And what have they missed, the first teeth, the first school, the children growing and expanding as our Marines expand their knowledge of the world. Their service, their hearts, their own childhoods all creating turmoil within.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcouQPIbzpYaoD6W0XtfW99itgEOGOAeh57pbxVy9UKNXHmTIsileBBpv-AeMP7EXg1-KuHdMpNqHV4mG-XF-fSKkSS2JkuwPTeBv-0rJDz-UNU_gCuN_4-_vKUFRhFRB4RsyuFLATUQ/s1600/homcomin+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcouQPIbzpYaoD6W0XtfW99itgEOGOAeh57pbxVy9UKNXHmTIsileBBpv-AeMP7EXg1-KuHdMpNqHV4mG-XF-fSKkSS2JkuwPTeBv-0rJDz-UNU_gCuN_4-_vKUFRhFRB4RsyuFLATUQ/s320/homcomin+kids.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ureport.foxnews.com/report/7452865?offset=2">Cherry Point</a></td></tr>
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What else will they still face? Will they be greeted by the world at large? Shunned? Accepted? Thanked?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIbL6bkEYn5NdQVvir5oE35Zlae7QYYbhUhWBETKWsdxp71fEMtX-x4ova_QoXenGGYqoNohTAjbixhtMWdVrZ8g9KXcjWkqaWXyHaSZLD1AWWKprNUKMCmAEvyW0f8nUBxPZG58McCg/s1600/homecoming+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIbL6bkEYn5NdQVvir5oE35Zlae7QYYbhUhWBETKWsdxp71fEMtX-x4ova_QoXenGGYqoNohTAjbixhtMWdVrZ8g9KXcjWkqaWXyHaSZLD1AWWKprNUKMCmAEvyW0f8nUBxPZG58McCg/s320/homecoming+cake.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aboveandbeyondcakes.com/our-creations/military/13630902">Above and Beyond Cakes</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2No6jQjjw4csG73sMIHYXsp7UiPpZru69xL4PGXo1-7-Sf0rAU01iIhK6VtluGA0E3kErtDMqaDVP5aw3mJ2StkV2dHSNN6kniFJn6GYZDpg5mGscmpWF8U_z_Oz6Q_0GhgOk1oMGxU/s1600/gay_marine_homecoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2No6jQjjw4csG73sMIHYXsp7UiPpZru69xL4PGXo1-7-Sf0rAU01iIhK6VtluGA0E3kErtDMqaDVP5aw3mJ2StkV2dHSNN6kniFJn6GYZDpg5mGscmpWF8U_z_Oz6Q_0GhgOk1oMGxU/s320/gay_marine_homecoming.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/27/1068849/-Progress#">ProgressNow</a></td></tr>
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And they will continue coming home ... human. Some will come whole, some not. Some to fight on, some to stop. We will take them in our arms and our hands will feel their faces, hair, shoulders. There will be tears and happiness and sometimes loneliness. But for now ... they are home and that is what our smiles wait for. We will welcome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9zsJVo1Qo3ZTQ3RpjxE2vca9dbTWLTvqieC0p_KrZC9Gbw2SxQSTutPeIKIWkM6mxEIKM9QceSi0k8Y3TU3dKeCqlYdxKuIWxz1udHjK2PBlK5i6UX-_7JIqKM-9YQBebH0lElEbu4Y/s1600/homecoming-ts300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9zsJVo1Qo3ZTQ3RpjxE2vca9dbTWLTvqieC0p_KrZC9Gbw2SxQSTutPeIKIWkM6mxEIKM9QceSi0k8Y3TU3dKeCqlYdxKuIWxz1udHjK2PBlK5i6UX-_7JIqKM-9YQBebH0lElEbu4Y/s400/homecoming-ts300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/05/16/marines-welcomed-home-after-deployment.html">Marines Welcomed Home</a></td></tr>
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Sometimes we just wait.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://azdailysun.com/marine-homecoming/collection_481940bc-edeb-11df-a93b-001cc4c03286.html#1">Marine Homecoming</a></td></tr>
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<br />Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-130432586080718512013-05-27T10:46:00.000-07:002013-10-21T20:36:44.182-07:00What use for children?<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://elvasworld.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-use-for-children.html">Children: Friend or foe?</a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="spanCaption">HIT, Iraq (Sept. 15, 2005) - Top photo, Lance Cpl. Randy B.
Lake, a Battle Ground, Wash. native and radio operator with India
Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment talks to some children
during a patrol. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam C.
Schnell). Bottom photo, <a href="http://justoneopinion.com/it%E2%80%99s-not-about-the-war-it%E2%80%99s-about-the-warrior">It's about the warrior.</a></span>
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<a href="http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20121203/NEWS/212030312/Some-Afghan-kids-aren-t-bystanders">Some Afghan kids aren't bystanders</a><br />
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By <a href="mailto:dlamothe@militarytimes.com?subject=Question%20from%20AirForceTimes.com%20reader">Dan Lamothe</a> and
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — When Marines in Helmand province
sized up shadowy figures that appeared to be emplacing an improvised
explosive device, it looked like a straightforward mission. They got
clearance for an airstrike, a Marine official said, and took out the
targets.<br />
It wasn't that simple, however. Three individuals hit
were 12, 10 and 8 years old, leading the International Security
Assistance Force in Kabul to say it may have "accidentally killed three
innocent Afghan civilians."<br />
But a Marine official here raised
questions about whether the children were "innocent." Before calling for
the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System mission in mid-October,
Marines observed the children digging a hole in a dirt road in Nawa
district, the official said, and the Taliban may have recruited the
children to carry out the mission.<br />
The incident underscores a
continuing problem across Afghanistan. The use of children by the
Taliban — through recruitment and as human shields — complicates
coalition forces' efforts to eliminate enemy fighters from the
battlefield without angering civilians.<br />
The New York Times
reported that the dead children's family members said they had been sent
to gather dung, which farmers use for fuel. Taliban fighters were
laying the bombs near the children, who were mistakenly killed, they
said.<br />
Regardless, it's one of many times the children have been
involved in the war. In a case this year, Afghan National Police in
Kandahar province's Zharay district found two boys, ages 9 and 11, with a
male 18-year-old carrying 1-liter soda bottles full of enough potassium
chlorate to kill coalition forces on a foot patrol.<br />
"It kind of
opens our aperture," said Army Lt. Col. Marion "Ced" Carrington, whose
unit, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was assisting
the Afghan police. "In addition to looking for military-age males, it's
looking for children with potential hostile intent."<br />
There were
316 documented cases of underage recruitment in the war last year, most
of them attributed to the Taliban and other armed groups like the
Haqqani network, according to a U.N. report released in April. Eleven
children, including an 8-year-old girl, were killed in Afghanistan last
year carrying out suicide attacks, the report said.<br />
Marines in
Helmand say the Taliban regularly recruit children to serve as spotters,
letting armed insurgents know when U.S. or Afghan forces reach
designated points on a patrol so they can prepare an ambush.<br />
An
ISAF spokesman, Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, said insurgents continue to
use children as suicide bombers and IED emplacers, even though Taliban
leader Mullah Omar has ordered them to stop harming civilians.<br />
<i>Lamothe reported from Afghanistan. Gould reported from Washington.</i></blockquote>
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</span>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-60448402350546322672013-04-10T23:48:00.003-07:002013-04-10T23:52:16.292-07:00Camp Leatherneck<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">Camp Leatherneck is a 1,600 acre United States Marine Corps base located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The site is located mostly in Washir District and is conjoined with Camp Bastion, the main British military base in Afghanistan. It is the United States Marines base that is the home base of most Marine operations in Afghanistan. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"> </span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Camp Leatherneck was officially dedicated on May 29, 2009, and originally housed around 4,000 marines and civilians in large tents with hundreds of cots in each one. Camp Leatherneck is now home to 10,000 to 20,000 Marines and civilians, and many upgrades to the camp have been made. There are now one story pre-fabricated buildings that can house about 2,000 people in each building, which is certainly an upgrade to the 20 man tents this base started out with.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"></span><span style="color: #93c47d;">One of the major upgrades to Camp Leatherneck was a new 3,828 yard runway. The runway is actually built at the adjacent Camp Bastion a British base, but will allow for larger planes such as the 747 passenger planes and the C-5 cargo planes. This extended runway with a capacity for larger planes will help keep the troops better supplied since they will no longer have to rely strictly on smaller supply planes.</span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"></span><span style="color: #93c47d;">Another upgrade is more gym space. In the beginning, Camp Leatherneck had only one gym, and though it was open 24 hours a day it was always overcrowded. Now there are four fitness facilities each devoted to a specific use. There is now a gym for weight-lifting, CrossFit training, cardiovascular health, and one general use gym with a variety of exercise equipment.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"></span><span style="color: #93c47d;">One of the most popular upgrades to Camp Leatherneck is their dining system. In the beginning there was only one chow hall, and now there are two each capable of serving 4,000 Marines per meal. Camp Leatherneck has also received a new PX. Before the PX had only 3,000 square feet of sales floor which was not nearly enough for the large number of Marines on base. Now they have a much larger building with roughly 10,000 square feet of display area, plus more storage to help keep the shelves fully stocked. <a href="http://militarybases.com/overseas/afghanistan/camp-leatherneck/">Camp Leatherneck</a></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSUPcvbTj4mgWo6LNQA4wbl2-Grr-G-izSvGBpEUV5Fvf69z5eQhkPmLHxJI_9cJgvCgW6kVEnM72rMTbRpgpJtjtPFRuxz-mKU221QumOXdRLUAPpwOac9dvFnKXpDtHz_9sbx-j8dQ/s1600/leatherneck+food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSUPcvbTj4mgWo6LNQA4wbl2-Grr-G-izSvGBpEUV5Fvf69z5eQhkPmLHxJI_9cJgvCgW6kVEnM72rMTbRpgpJtjtPFRuxz-mKU221QumOXdRLUAPpwOac9dvFnKXpDtHz_9sbx-j8dQ/s320/leatherneck+food.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.1875px; text-align: start;">CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (Nov. 26, 2009) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus serves turkey to Marines and Sailors Thanksgiving Day at Camp Leatherneck. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien</span></td></tr>
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If my Marine son were there in 2009 this could be what he would have been doing -- </div>
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pulling these trucks out of the mud:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33p3RQDiotsRk292ZBTvxNcuB-UHImu_XNcfCk8B0SO2DWzDRIOrhc1tDW468xTbJm-lbnYwvEJ2CYI4kbI0uSgluOoBVaWu1_6nMf0rXv6rFB4GvryiKSy1ovOenmNhtVRAOuEIR85w/s1600/leatherneck+swamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33p3RQDiotsRk292ZBTvxNcuB-UHImu_XNcfCk8B0SO2DWzDRIOrhc1tDW468xTbJm-lbnYwvEJ2CYI4kbI0uSgluOoBVaWu1_6nMf0rXv6rFB4GvryiKSy1ovOenmNhtVRAOuEIR85w/s320/leatherneck+swamp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">“The Marines and I were stuck in Leatherneck for 3 days due to heavy rains and severe weather until it cleared enough to finally receive the trucks. The next morning after the weather passed, the team and I began the start of the mission out of Leatherneck by pre-starting and performing preventive combat maintenance on the vehicles. Within the first hour of the journey, one of the trucks in the convoy became stuck in the mud. After multiple times of vehicles becoming stuck in the mud, the truck that would always save the day by pulling us out earned the rightful name of Hercules by the convoy team.” <a href="http://nmcb11.navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/04/17/a-journey-into-garmser-district-with-steelworker-1st-class-coogan-j-kennedy/">Oops</a></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaOraBV4dTZcxhC-aFDMzJCUdKPjCVE-K5owStPbsOSXqgkR4zgAU-10htf0naH_Mj__wK1roUWDE4vHhJYM_ZLwDFU6T2IN8J-My0jeSwXv_oHBXhXgaSjh3O6q8gydVf5_cgpQ-sX4/s1600/leatherneck+trucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaOraBV4dTZcxhC-aFDMzJCUdKPjCVE-K5owStPbsOSXqgkR4zgAU-10htf0naH_Mj__wK1roUWDE4vHhJYM_ZLwDFU6T2IN8J-My0jeSwXv_oHBXhXgaSjh3O6q8gydVf5_cgpQ-sX4/s320/leatherneck+trucks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then of course a dip into Marine humor is needed:</div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Deployed U.S. service members in Afghanistan put up with a lot. Not only is there the threat of improvised explosive devices, small-arms ambushes and indirect fire attacks, there’s the lousy food, hostile weather and lack of plumbing. <a href="http://blogs.militarytimes.com/battle-rattle/2012/10/22/marines-post-port-a-crapper-rules-for-afghanistan/">Crapper rules</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Photographer Colin Kelly spotted the poster depicted above at Camp Bastion, the British base in Helmand province that is home to thousands of deployed Marines in aviation units. Clearly, a frustrated Marine leader somewhere decided the best way to crack down on messy port-a-johns was to post some rules of the road. And if you’re going to lay the law of the lavatory down, a little sarcasm and blunt talk never hurt.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYIlW7yJbywPlYm2UXCYBhSCczQnDK0u0fS9udt4rXcgMpCJgegw2zTgMtN4-3RAI5j03MJ-OpwoWDvvJ0JFWbk8GPrpG8o9FLW5SEyA1j25qoA279kIDYTlWChwIQ_p_ZiZAWbje0IE/s1600/leatherneck+portapotty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYIlW7yJbywPlYm2UXCYBhSCczQnDK0u0fS9udt4rXcgMpCJgegw2zTgMtN4-3RAI5j03MJ-OpwoWDvvJ0JFWbk8GPrpG8o9FLW5SEyA1j25qoA279kIDYTlWChwIQ_p_ZiZAWbje0IE/s400/leatherneck+portapotty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;">Ooooo-Rah!</span></div>
<br />Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-78502571258268305562013-01-30T18:14:00.001-08:002013-01-30T18:14:29.683-08:00Just running around<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Marine Sgt. on Cross-Country Run Stops in New Mexico</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> “The Run for Veterans” 3,600 Mile Journey Aimed at</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Calling Attention to/Raising Money for Post-Combat Veterans’ Issues</span></i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9SulEo3jOIwf5EyIKXRkuSXQ6DoJM5n-FUJeyZIcUcJi8UaV7Ek0rLJR5jgGKXFAnSogR6FaRephdTaHVrc4oV2YuHUHB1JvdnLq8EmMFarbMqADavm14xitSQi5vXntCWNgRbEKRNE/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #783f04; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9SulEo3jOIwf5EyIKXRkuSXQ6DoJM5n-FUJeyZIcUcJi8UaV7Ek0rLJR5jgGKXFAnSogR6FaRephdTaHVrc4oV2YuHUHB1JvdnLq8EmMFarbMqADavm14xitSQi5vXntCWNgRbEKRNE/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px;">New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services Secretary Timothy Hale presenting a state Flag to Brendan O'Toole in front of the <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Eternal Flame Monument</i> at the Bataan Memorial Building in Santa Fe.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">A Marine Sergeant on a cross-country run to help call attention to veterans’ issues has stopped in New Mexico for a few days—catching his breath and visiting with New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Secretary Timothy Hale before heading back on the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">24-year old Brendan O’Toole—a native of Alexandria, Virginia—began <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Run for Veterans</i> last Veterans’ Day from Oceanside, California (near Camp Pendleton just north of San Diego) on a 3,600-mile journey to Portland, Maine. His goal is to finish sometime near the end of the year and to raise $2 million for to help Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">O’Toole served two tours with the Marines; first in Haiti and Somalia, and then Afghanistan—finishing his second tour last spring. It was here during “down time” while watching the movie <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Forrest Gump</i>--the Oscar-winning movie starring Tom Hanks about a Marine who ran across the country after serving in Vietnam--that the seed was planted to one day do the same.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">When O’Toole returned home to Virginia, he began noticing that a lot of friends who also served in Afghanistan and Iraq were having a hard time re-adjusting to “normal” civilian life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">“For whatever reason, a lot of my friends were not handling their new lives very well,” explained O’Toole when meeting with NMDVS Secretary Hale to explain his mission. ”They were abusing alcohol or drugs, tuning people out—just having a lot of personal issues going on.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">O’Toole had also decided to take up running to “de-compress” after his latest tour in Afghanistan. When one of his ex-combat friends who had been having a particularly difficult time readjusting to life back home committed suicide, O’Toole recalled a promise he made to that friend: Running across the country “like what Forrest Gump did.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">O’ Toole found his new post-military mission: A cross-country run--not only to see the sights—but with a purpose: Calling attention to the need to help our newest generation of veterans cope with life after service</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">He created a website to solicit pledges—with all money after gas, food and lodging expenses are deducted going to three agencies which provide physical, mental and social support for soldiers and veterans: <i>Give an Hour; Team Red, White & Blue; and the USO.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">“The respect for military service and veterans is amazing here in New Mexico,” said O’Toole. "Only three weeks into this, I think I have noticed that the farther you get our from the cities, the more in-tune people are with military members. It almost seems like outside of the cities is the heart of America." </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">For more information about <i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">The Run for Veterans</i> and to pledge a donation, go to </span><u style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><a class="yiv1414793680moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.therunforveterans.org/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">http://www.therunforveterans.org</span></a></span></u></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #660000; line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f9cb9c;">This story was provided by the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services.</span></i></span></div>
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Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-1538866742327988112012-11-26T19:01:00.001-08:002012-11-26T19:27:36.210-08:00Marine Corps: Born in a bar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FDci-U0_g4-CszoJVoGwDOvzmvDI7hCqOhYWECEK9bsttMv9gckQY7GuGsJb4jJAbkOvuhNjExqGz-1fsPNMRx0Yx9dOl2h-YLJ1gwI4RRGM1pOnzisOg3MrXBG_sRBES2SYLSESgzg/s1600/tunlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FDci-U0_g4-CszoJVoGwDOvzmvDI7hCqOhYWECEK9bsttMv9gckQY7GuGsJb4jJAbkOvuhNjExqGz-1fsPNMRx0Yx9dOl2h-YLJ1gwI4RRGM1pOnzisOg3MrXBG_sRBES2SYLSESgzg/s320/tunlogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.usmarinesbirthplace.com/Tun-Tavern.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">U.S. Marines Birthplace</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">The U.S. Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10, 1775, the day the Second Continental Congress passed the Continental Marine Act of 1775, ordering, “That two battalions of Marines be raised…” The Continental Marines disbanded in 1783, and was formally reestablished in 1798. The first Marines enlisted at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, which is considered the birthplace of the Marine Corps. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/150626#ixzz2DNvgTMa6">mentalfloss</a> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">Tun Tavern is where the Marine Corps held its first recruitment drive during the american Revolution. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjForcKW7a_8bNS3aV3NlvOwCranvYvdqEBe3c3eUEOi5Xrez9XM1U1sh7xiIaTpvbp78bJaIERB09Xvqck2YD07NSDtB3-4hlSe27QDn8h18CogCU04SWyJ8LWjF0QfMlloRwNb03Ik/s1600/Sketch_of_Tun_Tavern_in_the_Revolutionary_War.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjForcKW7a_8bNS3aV3NlvOwCranvYvdqEBe3c3eUEOi5Xrez9XM1U1sh7xiIaTpvbp78bJaIERB09Xvqck2YD07NSDtB3-4hlSe27QDn8h18CogCU04SWyJ8LWjF0QfMlloRwNb03Ik/s320/Sketch_of_Tun_Tavern_in_the_Revolutionary_War.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f6b26b;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"> </span></b></span></span>In the year 1685, Samuel Carpenter built a huge "brew house" in Philadelphia. He located this tavern on the waterfront at the corner of Water Street and Tun Alley. The old English word <i>tun</i> means a cask, barrel, or keg of beer. So, with his new beer tavern on Tun Alley, Carpenter elected to christen the new waterfront brewery with a logical name, <i>Tun Tavern</i>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;">In 1756 Col. Benjamin Franklin organized the Pennsylvania Militia. He used Tun Tavern as a gathering place to recruit a regiment of soldiers to go into battle against the Indian uprisings that were plaguing the American colonies. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Continental Congress later met in Tun Tavern as the American colonies prepared for independence from the English Crown.</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New'; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"> </span></b>On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines. That very day, Nicholas <i>set up shop</i> in Tun Tavern. He appointed Robert Mullan, then the proprietor of the tavern, to the job of chief Marine Recruiter -- serving, of course, from his place of business at Tun Tavern. Prospective recruits flocked to the tavern, lured by (1) cold beer and (2) the opportunity to serve in the new Corps of Marines. So, yes, the U.S. Marine Corps was indeed <i>born</i> in Tun Tavern. Needless to say, both the Marine Corps and the tavern thrived during this new relationship. <a href="http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm">USMC Heritage</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Tun Tavern burned down in 1781, near the end of the American Revolution.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allthingsmasonic.blogspot.com/2009/11/tun-tavern.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">All Things Masonic</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_the_Marine_Corps" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="National Museum of the Marine Corps">National Museum of the Marine Corps</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantico,_Virginia" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Quantico, Virginia">Quantico, Virginia</a> contains a Tun Tavern-themed restaurant with a lunch menu, alcoholic beverages, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #fce5cd;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_pudding" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none;" title="Bread pudding">bread pudding</a>.</span> The decor of the tun tavern restaurant features a large painting depicting famous Marines from the founding of the corps to the present day.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://roamingtheplanet.com/2011/11/national-museum-of-the-marine-corps/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Roaming the Planet:: The museum’s Tun Tavern captures the warmth of the original and features food inspired by the Colonial era.</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">There is even a Tun Tavern Marines Motorcycle Riding Club.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tuntavernmarines.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">Tun Tavern Marines</span></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">But then again:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>From the book, The Marine Corps Story, by J.</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Robert Moskin, 1992, Little, Brown and Company</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>"...The two battalions were never raised; but on</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>November 28, the Congress commissioned thirty-two</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>year old Capt. Samuel Nicholas, a Philadelphia</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Quaker, and innkeeper and a blacksmith's son, as</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>the first Marine officer. A hundred volunteers,</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>recruited in Rhode Island, arrived at</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Philadelphia by December 5...probably signed up</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>in Robert Mullan's Tun Tavern."</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>And, from the book, The United States Marines A</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>History, by Edwin Howard Simmons. 1998, Naval</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Institute Press</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>"...According to legend, the recruiting redezvous</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>was Tun Tavern, but it is more likely that it was</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>the Conestoga Wagon, a tavern owned by the</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Nicholas family on Market Street between Fourth</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>and Fifth Streets."</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>And, from the book, Marine Corps Book Of Lists,</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Albert A. Nofi, 1999, Combined Publishing</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>"...Eight Hoary Old Marine Corps Legends That Are</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Not True. </big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>1. The first Marine recruiting station</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>was established in Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia,</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>the proprietor of which was so adept at securing</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>recruits, by liberally plying them with drink,</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>that he was made a captain in the Corps. Alas for</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>"romance," the story is untrue. It probably got</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>its start from the fact that Samuel Nicholas,</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>effectively the first Marine Commandant, actually</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>did own a tavern in Philadelphia, the Conestoga</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Wagon, which apparently served as his</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>headquarters for a time. However the owner of the</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>Tun Tavern did become a Marine officer, about a</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>year after the creation of the Corps, which</big></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><big>probably gave rise to the legend. <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ca/dickg/tuntav.html">Legends and Myths Of The Corps</a></big></span></span></span></blockquote>
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Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-52136394318505185382012-06-09T09:50:00.000-07:002012-06-09T09:57:04.045-07:00Surviving DepressionThere are many stories of those who don't survive once they come home and try to live normal lives.<br />
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<em><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">"About one out of every five veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have some form of PTSD and depression, according to a federal study. Last month (January 2010), the Department of Veterans Affairs said the suicide rate among veterans between 18 and 29 years old climbed 26 percent from 2005 to 2007. The VA also said 20 percent of the 30,000 suicides reported in the U.S. are committed by veterans. The suicide rate among veterans is nearly twice the rate for civilians, according to reports." </span></em><a href="http://hiddenwounds.org/2010/02/02/marines-suicide-shines-light-on-depression/"><em><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Hidden wounds</span></em></a></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SRltmDGss8N-E64GqQtT-IhRh_YVA0JK0kcdWxie1ePUdPxkWTf_QvExRiKNLLkeYDWWGPbubiwvid0DvbCaZOP6KjcVMahqgBvATLiAmz3pY8MMgJmYv78OYNWC9ci9NjgjJurd_-Q/s1600/Sad+Bighams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SRltmDGss8N-E64GqQtT-IhRh_YVA0JK0kcdWxie1ePUdPxkWTf_QvExRiKNLLkeYDWWGPbubiwvid0DvbCaZOP6KjcVMahqgBvATLiAmz3pY8MMgJmYv78OYNWC9ci9NjgjJurd_-Q/s320/Sad+Bighams.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna and John Bigham hold a photo of Lance Cpl. Mills Bigham, Anna’s brother and John’s son. The 23-year-old Marine committed suicide in October (2009). His family has founded Hidden Wounds, a nonprofit organization based in Columbia that provides temporary support to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. – C. Aluka<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #073763;"> </span><a href="mailto:Berry/caberry@thestate.com"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #073763;">Berry/caberry@thestate.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #e06666;">"Mills Bigham wrote about his first kill in his journal on Oct. 3, just 16 days before he took his own life.Bigham said he wanted to tell the story “so you can understand the way death may or may not affect the living party. “As he approached the fallen attacker, Bigham said he could see “it is abruptly clear he is leaving his world, and soon. 'He is suffocating in his own blood. He is blowing blood bubbles through his red teeth. He is crying. There are bubbles coming from the two holes in his chest. One to the left of his heart, and the other to the right. Death took him and there were no new bubbles. He cried no more. I checked his ID. He is 12. I wept that night.'"</span></blockquote>
But while PTSD and returning from the field is a dramatic and tragic path into pain and sadness, it is not the only path of depression in the Marine Corps. Simpler, more mundane problems can drive the mental health of these young people. Isolation from their families, family problems and lack of stimulation take their toll as well. Marine leaders are encouraged to be observant and react in a "convincingly and genuinely concerned" manner."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjESjaSRVsb1TStibdzzNJgQBB_W9mfIS0nahc0II0vKSV6ueDDh9tUlWdEg2YKeb5ahNbbJpGgVkNpOJRyxtavI6RH42949m0q1MhMjoPF3MXPU_CNMs3b3gZtMBjCjLjxG2sYGWsto/s1600/depression.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjESjaSRVsb1TStibdzzNJgQBB_W9mfIS0nahc0II0vKSV6ueDDh9tUlWdEg2YKeb5ahNbbJpGgVkNpOJRyxtavI6RH42949m0q1MhMjoPF3MXPU_CNMs3b3gZtMBjCjLjxG2sYGWsto/s320/depression.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">"When a Marine appears depressed, anxious or isolated, it is a red flag that something needs to be done. Getting help before the problem becomes too big can get a depressed or anxious Marine back on track and help unit readiness at the same time."</span> <a href="http://www.usmc-mccs.org/leadersguide/emotional/mhproblems/depressed.htm">Leader's guide</a></blockquote>
Depression takes many forms and has warning signals to watch for. But when it's internalized, blown over and ignored, it can be internally and externally very destructive.<br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><em>"Darren Evans, the Marine facing charges in the beating death of Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, had been suicidal but allowed to drink by leaders, witnesses said in military hearing Thursday. "</em> <a href="http://camppendleton.patch.com/articles/mario-arias-darren-evans-marine-camp-pendleton-beatin-murder-death">Camp Pendleton Dispatch</a></span></blockquote>
Ultimately it takes observation, peer support and compassion to identify depression issues in Marines. Vigilance is required on the part of officers, family members and fellow Marines to identify and help those who may need a little support to survive.<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>“In the combat lifesaver course, one of the things the instructors teach you to do in combat situations is self-aid (providing medical attention to yourself), buddy-aid (assistance from a fellow Marine) and then corpsman-aid (assistance from a Navy corpsman),” said Sgt. James A. Lyon. “When it comes to depression, Marines can’t do it alone. That’s why it’s very important for all Marines to look out for one another.”</em> </span><a href="http://www.dvidshub.net/news/88268/marines-protect-marines-prevent-suicide"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Marines protect Marines</span></a></div>
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</div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-56426345545863802862012-05-10T10:24:00.000-07:002012-05-10T10:24:32.414-07:00Marine Ranks: Lance CorporalMy Marine, and most of the India Company he graduated with, is now a lance corporal, or E-3. Congratulations to all of them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqWuENxEqXsOppvzK7d823y8ajiJwQTUwTc8E1wW4G39SxMoHRSYl4wTcwVKBn2daSH6Y-qjwUzZ91_6NVzUixOYCaEDt1SCNAqW1RzTIizx0CRqz7baUTuwhfhw5dNLW4z4VxSzu8QM/s1600/Marine-Lance-Corporal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqWuENxEqXsOppvzK7d823y8ajiJwQTUwTc8E1wW4G39SxMoHRSYl4wTcwVKBn2daSH6Y-qjwUzZ91_6NVzUixOYCaEDt1SCNAqW1RzTIizx0CRqz7baUTuwhfhw5dNLW4z4VxSzu8QM/s200/Marine-Lance-Corporal.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">It is equal in rank to Crewman in the Navy, Private First Class in the Army, and Airman First Class in the Air Force. A Lance Corporal is above a Private First Class, but under a Corporal in the Marine Corps. Generally, a Lance Corporal has no command authority until he or she reaches the rank of Corporal. <a href="http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Lance_Corporal">Wikia</a></span></em></blockquote>
The USMC is the only component of the U.S. Armed Forces to currently have lance corporals. Promotion to lance corporal, is based on time in-grade and the conduct of the Marine. Further promotion to the NCO ranks (Corporal and above) is competitive and takes into account the individual service record of the Marine. There can only be a certain number of Corporals and Sergeants in each MOS, so even with a qualifying cutting score promotions may be delayed due to an excessive number of corporals occupying billets in a certain MOS.<br />
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The "Lance Corporal Underground" is the term for the network for information to be transmitted as it becomes known across the ranks.<br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Term used in the Marines to refer to the gossip passed around by those of a lower rank (usually lance corporals) about deployments, promotions, and any other topic pertaining to a unit's agenda.</span></blockquote>
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<em><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Lance Corporal: So, I heard through the Lance Corporal Underground that we are going to Okinawa in May.<br />Other Lance Corporal: STFU I'm peeing. <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lance%20corporal%20underground">Urban Dictionary</a></span></em></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAO75-YTsxM5nS80FiRg5zhHQkXftnObFtrJ6LY0v5BB2kY21N41uUoQBRqi-qNzB8_MGBhxm1ZmGUmRUrZRHJZAOcHJR9uVsf9GyeW9wRvZvEPZzjls_VOutdvEiQpRQcVBBOUlrvMMM/s1600/terminal+lance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAO75-YTsxM5nS80FiRg5zhHQkXftnObFtrJ6LY0v5BB2kY21N41uUoQBRqi-qNzB8_MGBhxm1ZmGUmRUrZRHJZAOcHJR9uVsf9GyeW9wRvZvEPZzjls_VOutdvEiQpRQcVBBOUlrvMMM/s320/terminal+lance.gif" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lance Corporal Underground is a powerful force within the Corps. It acts as an information superhighway as fast as any internet connection, phone line or otherwise for your inter-company and battalion rumors. It’s remarkably accurate for the most part–that is, unless you are unable to filter out the things that get tacked onto the rumors like <em>titties and beer</em>. <a href="http://terminallance.com/2011/04/19/terminal-lance-120-the-lance-corporal-underground/">Terminal Lance</a></td></tr>
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The Urban Dictionary also has an entry under Lance Corporal, but I can't share it in public.<br />
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Its pretty clear the Lance Corporals of the Marine Corps take the bulk of the risk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLHNxyl3XoyOxaZwsqPKY6GhMsOg0wI9EAUhpurcdsjkMgh3TrbTDDVWLuUsOCJixofSRpDoCIUicP2dMy1qeEdt6cFoFbTO972FnwkLKINZgIAblwUrYZJKocYIkrea06MVbLxogxIs/s1600/opium-fields3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLHNxyl3XoyOxaZwsqPKY6GhMsOg0wI9EAUhpurcdsjkMgh3TrbTDDVWLuUsOCJixofSRpDoCIUicP2dMy1qeEdt6cFoFbTO972FnwkLKINZgIAblwUrYZJKocYIkrea06MVbLxogxIs/s320/opium-fields3.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="wp-caption-text">
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Phillips crosses a poppy field as Marines conduct a security patrol outside Forward Operating Base Hanson, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. The security patrol was done in order for Marines to inspect the well being of a nearby village. Phillips is with Guard Force, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alberto B. Vazquez/Released) <a href="http://publicintelligence.net/even-more-photos-of-usnato-troops-patrolling-opium-poppy-fields-in-afghanistan/">public intelligence</a></div>
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<br />And the bulk of the casualties.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0edFQ80z9dTAbK92PizlDdJKA1711xpb9hHdaeS1RvAL6fipZUSXMqDm7F166Nuz90qqD0KQzpixfwCyEWhwmGRbywBQPDdj6Jl-YYot3fQwBclki081lJmblLNpdSwCEhuKB6dh5nPk/s1600/cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0edFQ80z9dTAbK92PizlDdJKA1711xpb9hHdaeS1RvAL6fipZUSXMqDm7F166Nuz90qqD0KQzpixfwCyEWhwmGRbywBQPDdj6Jl-YYot3fQwBclki081lJmblLNpdSwCEhuKB6dh5nPk/s400/cross.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Members of Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt's platoon who recently returned from Afghanistan pose at Camp Pendleton, Calif. with a cross they made as a memorial tribute. Placement of religious symbols at the base has been prohibited while the Marine commandant considers the issue in light of a complaint last year by an atheist group. COURTESY PHOTO <a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/military/article/Dispute-grounds-10-foot-cross-3517059.php">My San Antonio</a></div>
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</div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-85059302528731509682012-04-24T18:30:00.000-07:002012-04-27T11:48:19.195-07:00Marine Special OpsThe U.S. Marine Corps has several Special Operations units functioning These are the basics: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6NuzeffLe0KgwFtD9GFIghPjs4BolBbktjC32xUPIyzvhdZKAst-XRpEH6IuNCXNgWvrmqcCbLarhJSqoh9BKQQI3sXdPkjtx3rbvDahD2tfsjl17wHrGFXjCBzXL2pBlYwFqdxFek4/s1600/250px-MARSOC_LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6NuzeffLe0KgwFtD9GFIghPjs4BolBbktjC32xUPIyzvhdZKAst-XRpEH6IuNCXNgWvrmqcCbLarhJSqoh9BKQQI3sXdPkjtx3rbvDahD2tfsjl17wHrGFXjCBzXL2pBlYwFqdxFek4/s1600/250px-MARSOC_LOGO.jpg" /></a></div>
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* US Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC): Marine SOF under a new command structure <br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">Marine RECON and MARSOC – Changes in Structure / Operations In the past few years, as the United States has ramped up its battle against terrorists worldwide, the special operations community has grown and changed to better prepare our special operators to do their mission. The Marine Corps has also changed the way they do business on the special ops side of the house. With the development of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC), the Marine Corps joined forces with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to perform a variety of special operations missions around the world, including foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action and other missions. <a href="http://www.military.com/military-fitness/marine-corps-special-operations/usmc-recon-fitness-training">Marine RECON and MARSOC</a></span></blockquote>
* Force Recon: Elite Reconnaissance Marines who carry out deep reconnaissance operations <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">The primary role of Force Recon marine is to gather intelligence in support of USMC operations. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Amphibious operations: scout swimming, beach/coastline reconnaissance, small boat operations; deep reconnaissance; unconventional warfare; foreign internal defense (FID); special reconnaissance; direct action; and counter-terrorism. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Force Recon Marines are trained in parachuting, including high altitude techniques, skiing and amphibious techniques, including working with SCUBA gear. .<a href="http://forcerecon.americanspecialops.com/">Force recon</a></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkFU_RywszcmDBTWDAw57NFHqSE3TWZZyLxQ9nduTKpiQdkvJtKWX7TNpoBY1hResGB_Bgr_PARptLR2191aemuSVHorNLBdVpB_b0cgdv4p0urJSxMc5w25czPWcoWJtxf5bcvTSk7A/s1600/force-recon-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkFU_RywszcmDBTWDAw57NFHqSE3TWZZyLxQ9nduTKpiQdkvJtKWX7TNpoBY1hResGB_Bgr_PARptLR2191aemuSVHorNLBdVpB_b0cgdv4p0urJSxMc5w25czPWcoWJtxf5bcvTSk7A/s320/force-recon-water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And more of the same ...<br />
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* Division Recon: Highly trained Recon Marines <br />
* Maritime Raid Force; USMC counter-piracy specialists <br />
* Maritime Special Purpose Force: Marine Expeditionary Unit special ops <br />
* Scout Snipers: Elite Marine snipers <br />
* ANGLICO: Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company - elite USMC JTAC / JFO unit <br />
* Radio Reconnaissance Teams: Marine Corps tactical SIGINT specialists <br />
* Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team: An elite cadre of Marines, tasked with security operations <br />
* Recapture Tactics Team: Elite Marine security team <br />
* Special Reaction Team: Specialized USMC S.W.A.T. team<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FgSzyxS0mYZo_8SGABA5fAmzjUTBT5UF-CFv9CvOLLAQSSMDQ82WuF06gkgrzDlol452RKS3ixnYnyT10aj0YVOZUgyL6E03S0wFFW3HhWeWgqpZaRNO92N2ewMDGlQMmTUHljojaaI/s1600/recon-marines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FgSzyxS0mYZo_8SGABA5fAmzjUTBT5UF-CFv9CvOLLAQSSMDQ82WuF06gkgrzDlol452RKS3ixnYnyT10aj0YVOZUgyL6E03S0wFFW3HhWeWgqpZaRNO92N2ewMDGlQMmTUHljojaaI/s320/recon-marines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Here is a quote from a Marine lieutenant who is considering attending MARSOC in the near future: </span><br />
<em><span style="color: #ffe599;">"MARSOC likes for you to be (at least a noncommissioned officer) before you can tryout, which means that you have to do about three years or two deployments before you can tryout. The tryout consists of a pool portion to see if you know what you are doing in the water. Then, you take a (physical fitness test) and see between the two of those if you can go to the three-week screener. They give you a packing list and do not tell you much more than that - you just go and have fun for three weeks. Similar to the Army's SFAS and BUD/S Indoc, which screens you prior to entering, the MARSOC training school is the goal of the screener. I think that it is more intimidating than anything else, as I hear that it is physical, but if you can run a 300 PFT you will do well physically, but you still need to be able to learn new operations and tactics."</span></em></blockquote>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-48344082416733983142012-03-28T08:35:00.001-07:002012-03-28T08:43:07.803-07:00Guest post: Support military wives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29jw9jd0UuUXjMOO9ZmHP1yQehxxTrP3GqrJN6_bDDH_M5mhyphenhyphenkB2vHnhaP_prYaiVJknFrf7v5X8xPfPtVWEtzlUECxUHJ2Z_7pJGc_NofspoLttAQdK_mK5lU7fPChd97apUs9BgAKM/s1600/marine+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29jw9jd0UuUXjMOO9ZmHP1yQehxxTrP3GqrJN6_bDDH_M5mhyphenhyphenkB2vHnhaP_prYaiVJknFrf7v5X8xPfPtVWEtzlUECxUHJ2Z_7pJGc_NofspoLttAQdK_mK5lU7fPChd97apUs9BgAKM/s200/marine+wife.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In honor of my Marine's wife who chooses to live this way </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and take care of business as needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzuY2Lo2sI1mI0DINCoI6_LXdxBRAbA4LPmNdb8R151rrrDl54Km_zUs0CU8eq6tIygk1Dm-NPO-1YhB4z31RmulGwkof1zgEI6izHDzx6B9f_q8Kk_d9uAOZ_Xq1ozjv_19qyc0fIM0/s1600/support-military-wives1%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzuY2Lo2sI1mI0DINCoI6_LXdxBRAbA4LPmNdb8R151rrrDl54Km_zUs0CU8eq6tIygk1Dm-NPO-1YhB4z31RmulGwkof1zgEI6izHDzx6B9f_q8Kk_d9uAOZ_Xq1ozjv_19qyc0fIM0/s1600/support-military-wives1%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-74562745421903858182012-03-20T09:27:00.001-07:002012-03-20T09:37:45.587-07:00HeroesMy children, all three of them, are my heroes. The Marine is my knight, my warrior, my amazing shining beacon. My middle son is my humor, my baby, my support, my gentle man. My small son is my future, my energy, my thinker, my scientist, my bundle of potential.<br />
These are my heroes. The people who lend me strength, heart, inspiration and motivation to do what is right and what is next in the order of my life.<br />
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Marines are heroes to many, those of other armed forces, those of other countries -- all heroes to somebody.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf5gpK6pqwf8QF_RAI-dxWz0Kn6ZFjI94dLtuA3ufpqZTtTDMqbk10LMyePwhCk1edXRwHro2nKiDjQVOIXvP6sM0MULs21YEYDqebXvI4uU9Jhzwec8VScJT3C0zTiIt9rz0ApBhaSM/s1600/11-marines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtf5gpK6pqwf8QF_RAI-dxWz0Kn6ZFjI94dLtuA3ufpqZTtTDMqbk10LMyePwhCk1edXRwHro2nKiDjQVOIXvP6sM0MULs21YEYDqebXvI4uU9Jhzwec8VScJT3C0zTiIt9rz0ApBhaSM/s320/11-marines.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Heroes are individual to we who see them, who regard them and know them as such. Heroes are those who protect us, inspire us, impress us and encourage us to reach our potentials as human beings and connect with who we are individually. <br />
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Others don't have the right to tells us who are heroes should or should not be.<br />
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And so, while personally not especially inspired by Whitney Houston, I don't feel that any one of us has the right to say others should not regard her as a hero, or mourn her as one. While it is indeed wildly inappropriate to move flags to half-staff for her, it is also not ours to judge her personally and comparing one person to thousands is also wildly inappropriate. Certainly there are individual Marines who share her battles with addiction and life. You cannot match an individual and a whole corps of individuals, that is absurd.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3HGCSocZiMsgVv7KWLRoLtsPmIs57shjdVq0uGK2WY_fc_cUDytsH1ZS3KcJPh2jwyBxoyh7HLMV_hW3KZycHWLTPpo2mr5PmgurHf6ojgr8Lltm-sxwH7Zp07_IsiHG3ceA2YzYh20/s1600/whitney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3HGCSocZiMsgVv7KWLRoLtsPmIs57shjdVq0uGK2WY_fc_cUDytsH1ZS3KcJPh2jwyBxoyh7HLMV_hW3KZycHWLTPpo2mr5PmgurHf6ojgr8Lltm-sxwH7Zp07_IsiHG3ceA2YzYh20/s1600/whitney.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My friend Phyllis Galvan McGeath has created a petition, which I wholeheartedly support, about the choice of flying the flag at half-staff</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <em><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The flag should be flown at half-staff through out the entire state for active duty military, law enforcement and firemen, and people elected to public office who serve our country. <br />
This honor and sign of respectful mourning should be reserved for those who actually serve our communities and country by remembering the sacrifice they made and paying respect for their devotion to America!NOT Based on Fame, Fortune or Talent. <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/all-americans-ask-your-congressmen-to-amend-the-half-staff-flag-code">Flag petition</a></span></em></div></blockquote><br />
In the mean time, this is MY Marine Hero, and I'll stick with him, thank you:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rrgyb-s3ty-RAqfmzDgIUJugdC5mtcRMfNMXXQB9JfubykysagT7NbUSZs0_06-TWn7Intss3pO60iEruXCFl-VCYI9bhBPDkBajjvxyk5vc_laaugITPq-QiuxFBdHSvX2oyzATO4c/s1600/my+marine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rrgyb-s3ty-RAqfmzDgIUJugdC5mtcRMfNMXXQB9JfubykysagT7NbUSZs0_06-TWn7Intss3pO60iEruXCFl-VCYI9bhBPDkBajjvxyk5vc_laaugITPq-QiuxFBdHSvX2oyzATO4c/s320/my+marine.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
... and I will be sad for the loss of an amazing and inspiring voice and the family members who are still missing her. RIP Whitney.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8QaI-M9sxW4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-44975352499478297242012-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:002012-02-01T08:37:10.326-08:00Working Marines: USS Bataan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pPou6llkCvrF7U7OAW4T4P4XJ-PJfp0yDgrkpOgJkU7GbkemOzc3UYh2N4z3w5npkHKtecZgpHjo6pDxn_0QNSgRXOrYfw5ofwpIo_rviRf0q5hcEo1jRdDf4ZSalaQjKAJkSTE3qUQ/s1600/bataan+embark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pPou6llkCvrF7U7OAW4T4P4XJ-PJfp0yDgrkpOgJkU7GbkemOzc3UYh2N4z3w5npkHKtecZgpHjo6pDxn_0QNSgRXOrYfw5ofwpIo_rviRf0q5hcEo1jRdDf4ZSalaQjKAJkSTE3qUQ/s320/bataan+embark.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="wp-caption-text">MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (March 28, 2011) Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) embark aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is deploying to the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Julio Rivera (Released) <a href="http://outontheporch.org/2011/04/29/marines-embark-aboard-uss-bataan/">Marines embark</a></div></td></tr>
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<strong>USS <i>Bataan</i> (LHD-5)</strong> is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1997. She is named to honor the defense of the Bataan Peninsula on the western side of Manila Bay in the Philippines during the early days of US involvement in World War II. Ship's Sponsor, Linda Sloan Mundy, wife of former Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr., christened the new ship "in the name of the United States and in honor of the heroic defenders of Bataan." <br />
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She served in the Iraq war between 2003 and 2007; provided relief services to victims of Hurricane Katrina; served as a testbed for the V-22 Osprey; assisted in humanitarian relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake; and on On March 23, 2011 was deployed to Libya to assist in enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bataan_(LHD-5)">Wikipedia</a><br />
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The mission of Bataan is to enable the Navy and Marine Corps team to accomplish a seamless transition “….from the sea” to the land battle, as the lead ship and centerpiece of an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG). A multi-mission ARG is capab<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">le of amphibious assault, advance force, and special purpose operations, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian assistance missions. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USSBataan#!/USSBataan?sk=info">USS Bataan on facebook</a></span><br />
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The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit works ... and plays hard, on and off the USS Bataan.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWv3OycxebBpzV5ilZD9NvjNm7RgPLDfKdmbb05G8vicoGLXButo-Hx4u11KYJrIYv8tbAJMkGflg7NNBkoL8EfWf0pUz8onEMJDxFNLadXjecPeN_C7OikSuWFJsIQkpEk8dPDMgspCs/s1600/ussbataanfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWv3OycxebBpzV5ilZD9NvjNm7RgPLDfKdmbb05G8vicoGLXButo-Hx4u11KYJrIYv8tbAJMkGflg7NNBkoL8EfWf0pUz8onEMJDxFNLadXjecPeN_C7OikSuWFJsIQkpEk8dPDMgspCs/s320/ussbataanfire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lt. Col. David Monroe, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit executive officer, inserts a large torch into a boiler aboard USS Bataan, Jan. 30, 2012. The ship’s boilers are used to generate electricity and hot water. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are currently deployed with Amphibious Squadron 6 aboard the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission, capable force, comprised of an Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); a Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its Command Element. Photo: Staff Sgt. Wayne Campbell <a href="http://www.marines.mil/unit/22ndmeu/Pages/photos.aspx">22ndmeu</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9t1KX1kPoq8IQ56A999_t9FqBLR28sROTCjGdYkxibokBZUmf881RRA6YkX9Sj0E-3Ad3o1eUogSjznwZowegME2eba1mxW3Pr9K3DmeRjpEQKx8TkXDcwdg37C4SJus-EmDys6Db4U/s1600/bataan+soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9t1KX1kPoq8IQ56A999_t9FqBLR28sROTCjGdYkxibokBZUmf881RRA6YkX9Sj0E-3Ad3o1eUogSjznwZowegME2eba1mxW3Pr9K3DmeRjpEQKx8TkXDcwdg37C4SJus-EmDys6Db4U/s320/bataan+soccer.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The USS Bataan soccer team, comprised of Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and USS Bataan, play soccer against a Portuguese team during a Lisbon, Portugal, port visit, Jan. 24, 2012. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bataan is 844 feet long, with a beam of 106 feet. Her well deck is 267 feet long and capable of holding three LCACs. Two steam propulsion plants, developing a combined 70,000 horsepower, drive the 40,500-ton ship in excess of 20 knots. The ship's living areas can accommodate approximately 3,200 crew members and embarked troops.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4sMNJ96_78tQLnhFS7TMrR28oWTljfcmBNJU0FQ5iNhxlhfHLnff94JBL4fl5N0WamR0OoCjMjkqLcRZDPLVWqfSVaiCd3U5iZRWvvEXPBzFIXSW4QoY57bSOS4aZ4RjC80CqwfvQJE/s1600/USS_Bataan_(LHD-5);10080504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4sMNJ96_78tQLnhFS7TMrR28oWTljfcmBNJU0FQ5iNhxlhfHLnff94JBL4fl5N0WamR0OoCjMjkqLcRZDPLVWqfSVaiCd3U5iZRWvvEXPBzFIXSW4QoY57bSOS4aZ4RjC80CqwfvQJE/s1600/USS_Bataan_(LHD-5);10080504.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">USS Bataan is the Navy's first amphibious assault ship designed and built from the keel up with accommodations for female sailors. This "Women at Sea" modification provides it with living areas for nearly 450 female officers, chiefs, enlisted personnel and embarked troops.</span> </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZemUiYEiXrNazXnVWbn_4BHJ3bEojoQdVx-OZo_vP9JHOCd4wRI-7Edu1OG_gJZy_fA20Tc9CtgVOhdFNX81amDInxjc8NzdTENu7Cw3NZdhQPt0udGno4ZLwEm4SNMp4VrbrpGWf00/s1600/uss+bataan+women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZemUiYEiXrNazXnVWbn_4BHJ3bEojoQdVx-OZo_vP9JHOCd4wRI-7Edu1OG_gJZy_fA20Tc9CtgVOhdFNX81amDInxjc8NzdTENu7Cw3NZdhQPt0udGno4ZLwEm4SNMp4VrbrpGWf00/s320/uss+bataan+women.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GULF OF ADEN-Female Marines and Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) conduct weapons handling exercises as part of female search team training, Aug. 17-20. The 22nd MEU is currently deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) as the U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, also providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility., <b>Sgt. Amber Blanchard, 8/18/2011 3:49 AM</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-57679096451831564152012-01-25T08:02:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:02:02.092-08:00Rest in Peace Corp. McGeath<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must -- at that moment -- become the center of the universe."<br />
<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span></span></em><span class="text_exposed_show"><em><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> -Elie Wiesel at Nobel Peace Prize presentation. (copied from Philip McGeath's facebook quotes)</span></em></span></blockquote><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Corporal Philip D. McGeath, killed in action Feb. 18, 2012, Kajaki, Afghanistan</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq36GvNx6BeIxLcHX8JmVmJb46rUfD9q783iEyv9PzNppf1Sm3-Qnn5_Kr9aoJU5eNcbjkyHhhfD1sSlxc4Ba0kjScMU59bkadvH-NsJNxxfPTd8tP9cpeseZpzu9zBINhFHHwT85Rac/s1600/mcgeath+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq36GvNx6BeIxLcHX8JmVmJb46rUfD9q783iEyv9PzNppf1Sm3-Qnn5_Kr9aoJU5eNcbjkyHhhfD1sSlxc4Ba0kjScMU59bkadvH-NsJNxxfPTd8tP9cpeseZpzu9zBINhFHHwT85Rac/s320/mcgeath+baby.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1N66Qm56p2BQAm8faFcuSdqUCCXpxcPOwVOBe2gTtg_kCa289q7bl8SDXvBPudqOrBIWc9xLLDvx9Soe349Zarna3KEkjgu0KKrhddLZuONVKWcGZo1DtgY6VAS6VJx-PYxw0UgP3jw/s1600/McGeath+coffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1N66Qm56p2BQAm8faFcuSdqUCCXpxcPOwVOBe2gTtg_kCa289q7bl8SDXvBPudqOrBIWc9xLLDvx9Soe349Zarna3KEkjgu0KKrhddLZuONVKWcGZo1DtgY6VAS6VJx-PYxw0UgP3jw/s320/McGeath+coffin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="text_exposed_show">Phyllis's baby died in Afghanistan last week. I would like to hold that mom in my arms and ... I don't know what. Nobody can make it better. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I know this family because when my Marine went to boot camp, I became part of a parents', loved ones' group and we shared and supported one another there. This young man is the brother of one who graduated from boot camp with my son. He was killed by suicide bombers in Afghanistan. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/6671705-arlington-family-mourns-loss-of-a-son-in-afghanistan/#.Tx_t_vyKNo0.facebook">Arlington Family Mourns Loss Of A Son In Afghanistan </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In his profile on facebook Philip said, "If you're in the arms of a Marine you're either in the last moments of your life....or the safest place you'll ever be."</div><div style="text-align: left;">An anti-tank guided missilman, he liked bodybuilding, running and Peyton Manning. He was a member of Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.</div><div style="text-align: left;">He had a wife Sarah, an older sister and was the oldest of six brothers, three of whom were Marines.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiem-HQR42DdBI8ulXGm7R3ZpP8AzXDPAEs-xgrWtrjjV98p6pZvqRUi9WhqjdO0Ap09OcYhr9bL29UrexQU4EDuxm5_i_2ZIoGs8K72WKBRcTHVHINzsh9K3-_j5Gaq94uPLb8L8LIE/s320/mcgeath+poster.jpg" width="251" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/In-Memoriam-of-Marine-Cpl-Philip-Daine-McGeath/123777781077081">In Memoriam of Marine Cpl. Philip Daine McGeath</a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9qzm7tSiJyyKEsERUCiutDBAnO0ypf1NOjZH_1KHhLWTin1rrqWMrUnMMCMlvfx5vNWw6c1RpqM8JtCl3kTDQO8UKTL3-m9RHhASroYI4cU-043GiTOrqY-htl8JMeIc3HBNptJLP8/s1600/McGeath+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9qzm7tSiJyyKEsERUCiutDBAnO0ypf1NOjZH_1KHhLWTin1rrqWMrUnMMCMlvfx5vNWw6c1RpqM8JtCl3kTDQO8UKTL3-m9RHhASroYI4cU-043GiTOrqY-htl8JMeIc3HBNptJLP8/s320/McGeath+wife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-60930575528387225892012-01-19T00:40:00.000-08:002012-01-19T00:40:17.180-08:00Marines in the sky <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UnuUspL1B0mfUB-5cCSRRPXWy49pQrk374PH6ewS2rF9YTDmoEy6yW-jUoGU4_fEs2-WR56kHrx-6u1viK2ZVpkHj1xc9hbcalHOZcAbJx1oMuh4q8PaBvnHLth6O8e64s3hu188Oog/s1600/f35_takeoff_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UnuUspL1B0mfUB-5cCSRRPXWy49pQrk374PH6ewS2rF9YTDmoEy6yW-jUoGU4_fEs2-WR56kHrx-6u1viK2ZVpkHj1xc9hbcalHOZcAbJx1oMuh4q8PaBvnHLth6O8e64s3hu188Oog/s320/f35_takeoff_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/03/marine-takes-fl/">Marine makes debut flight</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/r1UpwAJuS6k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #ffe599;">Marine Corps aviation had its inception on 22 May 1912, when Lieutenant <br />
Alfred A. Cunningham reported to the Naval Aviation Camp, Annapolis, Maryland. <br />
The following July, he was ordered from Annapolis to the Burgess Company plant <br />
at Marblehead, Massachusetts, where actual flight training was conducted. He <br />
soloed on 1 August 1912, after 2 hours and 40 minutes of instructions. Thus <br />
Lieutenant Cunningham, whose Naval Aviator Number was 5, became Marine Aviator <br />
Number 1. <a href="http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/aviation.txt">A brief history of Marine Corps aviation</a></span></em></div></blockquote>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-37696132323293187142011-12-26T21:24:00.000-08:002011-12-26T21:26:52.567-08:00Celebrating Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>"You can give your heart to Jesus but your ass belongs to the Corps."</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.military.com/video/forces/marine-corps/the-usmc-hristmas-carol/1338244049001/">Marine Corps Christmas Carol</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Marines can dig up the Christmas spirit just about anywhere in the world it seems.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgA-QsHgfLU/TvlKUrPWYRI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/CIMh67z4oI4/s1600/Christmas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgA-QsHgfLU/TvlKUrPWYRI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/CIMh67z4oI4/s1600/Christmas+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sgt. Maj. Wayne Rumore, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment sergeant major, and Staff Sgt. Kyle Provencher, jump platoon commander, 3rd Bn., 23rd Marines, gather around a Christmas tree, Dec. 25, 2008, at Expeditionary Patrol Base Tanner. Marines living in austere conditions still found a way to celebrate the holiday with minimal assets. <a href="http://192.156.19.109/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ad983156332a819185256cb600677af3/ac4e1577b7f90e4d852573c40029db94?OpenDocument">Marine Corps News</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">At home, these Marines work pretty hard at Christmas too. In case you haven't seen it on TV yet ...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/1_YmgrkxZTk/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1_YmgrkxZTk&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1_YmgrkxZTk&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It looks like my Marine and his family have a nice bright town to hang in for the season ... seems a lot of people have gotten into the spirit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lN09gVT0Lbg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">President Barak Obama visited the Marines in Hawaii on Christmas day wishing them both Merry Christmas and "Mele Kalikimakas" (Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.). The family attended the Kaneohe Marine Base chapel service, chatted with Marines and Obama played with babies, including one who stuck his hand in the president's mouth. The photo is from last year, but they did this again this year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpcIBlUMCW8/TvlWJAV3nNI/AAAAAAAAARM/sv9OAkNQav4/s1600/obama-christmas-marines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpcIBlUMCW8/TvlWJAV3nNI/AAAAAAAAARM/sv9OAkNQav4/s320/obama-christmas-marines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e06666;">Semper Fi and Good Night<br />
Written by Jessica, Wife of a 1/7 Marine </span></em></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e06666;">Twas the nite before Christmas,<br />
they lived far from home, <br />
in dark,sandy quarters, <br />
but not all alone <br />
<br />
After clearing the checkpoints,<br />
and with presents to give, <br />
I wanted to see the Marines <br />
Who in these quarters did live. <br />
<br />
As I looked all about, <br />
an awesome sight I did see, <br />
some of the few and the proud, <br />
U.S. Marines <br />
<br />
Some young, some old, <br />
with boots full of sand, <br />
Marine Corps brothers <br />
with rifles in hand. <br />
<br />
Seeing bravery, courage, <br />
and toughness of mind, <br />
a sobering thought came thru my mind <br />
<br />
For these quarters were different, <br />
housing hardcharging Marines; <br />
Who make it through <br />
with various routines <br />
<br />
The only easy day was the one they just got thru;<br />
Uncommon valor, still a common virtue <br />
<br />
Yet their spirits were high, <br />
Minds and bodies were strong; <br />
Despite the months <br />
that were trying and long<br />
<br />
These were the heroes <br />
of whom I had read; <br />
Whose main purpose was <br />
to make the enemy dead <br />
<br />
I knew the Americans <br />
who i saw on this night <br />
owed their lives to these men,<br />
the first ones to fight. <br />
<br />
Soon 'cross the country, <br />
Americans would rise; <br />
ready to celebrate <br />
with joy in their eyes <br />
<br />
Each one enjoyed freedom, <br />
each day of the year; <br />
because of Marines... <br />
like the ones I saw here <br />
<br />
I had to wonder <br />
how many deeds went uknown,<br />
of the men spending Christmas <br />
in a land far from home <br />
<br />
Thinking of this, <br />
brought tears to my eyes;<br />
my knees hit the deck, <br />
and i started to cry <br />
<br />
Some Marines turned to me, <br />
saying "santa don't cry," <br />
"We're here for a purpose, <br />
we'll get these bad guys" <br />
<br />
We fight for freedom, <br />
each other, the Corps; <br />
and for this reason, <br />
we'll win this war <br />
<br />
Before turning away, <br />
they said "This is our job."<br />
I couldn't control it, <br />
I continued to sob <br />
<br />
I continued to watch <br />
and silently weep; <br />
seeing the esprits de corps<br />
that ran so deep <br />
<br />
I wanted to stay <br />
on that cold desert night,<br />
with these warriors for freedom,<br />
so willing to fight <br />
<br />
But a Marine came to me, <br />
eyes steady and voice sure, <br />
"It's Twenty-five December, <br />
So carry on Santa, All is secure."<br />
<br />
In that instance I knew, <br />
the cause was just and right, <br />
"Merry Christmas Marines; <br />
Semper Fi and good night" </span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="author"><em><span style="color: #e06666;">Posted by Sgt Grit Staff</span></em></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span class="author"><a href="http://www.grunt.com/">http://www.grunt.com/</a></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13A9Uv02Jlk/TvlSmRy37VI/AAAAAAAAARA/kZTZkKOSUiY/s1600/Devil+dog+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13A9Uv02Jlk/TvlSmRy37VI/AAAAAAAAARA/kZTZkKOSUiY/s320/Devil+dog+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/usmc_devil_dog_christmas_card-137448841231070411"><span style="color: #741b47;">Devil Dog Card</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-78145928398577596742011-12-15T07:30:00.000-08:002011-12-15T07:30:36.512-08:00Leaving IraqFor better or worse its over.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Marine Corps wrapped nearly seven years in Iraq on Saturday, handing over duties to the Army and signaling the beginning of an accelerated withdrawal of American troops as the U.S. turns its focus away from the waning Iraqi war to a growing one in Afghanistan. </em></span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/23/world/main6132794.shtml"><em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Marines leave</span></em></a></blockquote><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZps6d_pEB5Btqjmu6mrrwERQFj3k1WV0c9xB8GNKGVZsn4_IcMIjuc54GENsxCw7ANaZI87xZg1j9eZ7dquPkYmyoCobcrUnMHJrPrON6_jQa7VnVdfBDzz2jRtRRr2suGLjBYnqwHs/s1600/marines-fallujah-iraq-12-nov-2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZps6d_pEB5Btqjmu6mrrwERQFj3k1WV0c9xB8GNKGVZsn4_IcMIjuc54GENsxCw7ANaZI87xZg1j9eZ7dquPkYmyoCobcrUnMHJrPrON6_jQa7VnVdfBDzz2jRtRRr2suGLjBYnqwHs/s320/marines-fallujah-iraq-12-nov-2004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://madmikesamerica.com/2010/01/marines-end-role-in-iraq/">Marines end role in Iraq</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Now the withdrawl is done, the flag is down and who knows what will come.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><em>The U.S. military officially ended its war in <span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1323955688_0">Iraq</span> on Thursday, rolling up its flag at a low-key ceremony with Defense Secretary <span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1323955688_1">Leon Panetta</span> nearly nine bloody years after the invasion that ousted dictator <span class="yshortcuts cs4-ndcor" id="lw_1323955688_6">Saddam Hussein</span>.<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> </span></em></span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/panetta-iraq-close-u-war-102108022.html"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">U.S. withdraws</span></a></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkaDOQZ52XI63haJNDlm_1X4LxI5wtf-moKDmylTDebN-f17CprzGEKb0L7jLAGyrAJIgqOtOVTAuAUzuBXO0kuaFPFD7wTxS4-0xcXkWnYk6IPswO5BBS2tpavGlHzc861k0mwiWphs/s1600/casing+of+the+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkaDOQZ52XI63haJNDlm_1X4LxI5wtf-moKDmylTDebN-f17CprzGEKb0L7jLAGyrAJIgqOtOVTAuAUzuBXO0kuaFPFD7wTxS4-0xcXkWnYk6IPswO5BBS2tpavGlHzc861k0mwiWphs/s320/casing+of+the+colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of the U.S. military retire its ceremonial flags signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Baghdad December 15, 2011. The U.S military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, packing up a military flag at a ceremony with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. This ceremony is called the "casing of the colors" and signifies the departing and inactivation of the U.S. military's presence in Iraq. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>The </em></span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>U.S.</em></span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em> war in Iraq — a conflict that killed more than 4,500 American troops, cost $800 billion and divided the nation — officially ended with a ceremony held under tight <nobr>security.</nobr></em></span><br />
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<div class="inside-copy"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>"To be sure, the cost was high — in blood and treasure for the </em></span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>United States</em></span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em> and also for the Iraqi people," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called. "But those lives have not been lost in vain."</em></span></div><div class="inside-copy"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><em>The fighting resulted, Panetta said, in a "free and sovereign Iraq." <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/story/2011-12-15/Iraq-war/51945028/1">U.S.A Today</a></em></span></div></blockquote>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-38147356402877688382011-12-08T07:14:00.000-08:002011-12-08T07:19:23.962-08:00Pearl Harbor DayI am a day late I know. But this is one of those days that can't be left behind easily. Another day that is remembered and soon is not remembered. It's like Sept. 11, or landing on the moon, or ... But now it has been 70 years and those people who can say exactly where they were that day are rare now. In fact, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association is disbanding, only 120 people attended the commemoration ceremony of the organization this year.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">"The 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Wednesday drew fewer people to Honolulu than for the 60th or 50th anniversaries.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #ea9999;">The main reason — there are far fewer survivors of the attack who are still alive today, and they are now in their late 80s and 90s." <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/12/07/pearl-harbor-survivors-association.html">Pacific News</a></span></em></blockquote><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX13NRI-UE1VkTR-Uy7XigwP6yax19A0prHphcJlJltRWydgdJkggIp7YtEKy8FiPkkxWCObqJDaZH8z3gW3oLlcRn6Xv9F1rnulDCEoyRCq9y3jx4YfZn_ebUkTRrLKjlOYQbISptcI/s1600/USMC-C-Pearl-0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX13NRI-UE1VkTR-Uy7XigwP6yax19A0prHphcJlJltRWydgdJkggIp7YtEKy8FiPkkxWCObqJDaZH8z3gW3oLlcRn6Xv9F1rnulDCEoyRCq9y3jx4YfZn_ebUkTRrLKjlOYQbISptcI/s320/USMC-C-Pearl-0.gif" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Pearl.html"><span style="color: #660000;">Infamous Day</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><em><span style="color: #ea9999;"></span></em></blockquote>The United States Marine Corps, of course, was right there too.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">The Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor comprised a Barracks Detachment and two companies, A and B, the men living in a comfortable three-story concrete barracks. Company A manned the main gates at the Submarine Base and Navy yard, and other "distant outposts," providing yard security, while Company B enforced traffic regulations and maintained proper police and order under the auspices of the Yard Police Officer. In addition, Marines ran the Navy Yard Fire Department. Elements of Marine defense battalions made Pearl Harbor their home, too, residing in the several 100-man temporary wooden barracks buildings that had been completed during 1940 and 1941. Less commodious but no less important was the burgeoning airbase that Marines of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 2 (later 21) had hewn and hammered out near Barbers Point -- Ewa Mooring Mast Field, home for a Marine aircraft group consisting of fighting, scout-bombing, and utility squadrons. <a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Pearl.html">Infamous Day</a></span></em></blockquote><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8CtJ8zbo5QlMWeh8m5NS3j68VMx4aqUgfyixvS22X3HYiicu7udcdedurmgZKloVCyiucRhxlFA-r7Q90mvojKx2xNSviq6l326t35jB1lgk4tWH3J138TVnd3y7ZBQEVpd7h8_XPDw/s1600/USMC-C-Pearl-34.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8CtJ8zbo5QlMWeh8m5NS3j68VMx4aqUgfyixvS22X3HYiicu7udcdedurmgZKloVCyiucRhxlFA-r7Q90mvojKx2xNSviq6l326t35jB1lgk4tWH3J138TVnd3y7ZBQEVpd7h8_XPDw/s320/USMC-C-Pearl-34.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 5-inch/25-caliber open pedestal mount antiaircraft gun -- manned here by sailors on board the heavy cruiser<span style="color: black;"> </span><a href="http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/CA/CA-34_Astoria.html"><i><span style="color: black;">Astoria</span></i></a> (CA-34) in early 1942 -- was the standard battleship and heavy cruiser antiaircraft weapon at Pearl Harbor. The mount itself weighed more than 20m000 pounds, while the gun fired a 53.8-pound projectile to a maximum range (at 45 degrees elevation) of 14,500 yards. It was a weapon such as this that Sergeants Hailey and Wears, and Private First Class Curran, after the sinking of their ship, <i>Oklahoma</i> (BB-37), helped man on board <i>Maryland</i> (BB-46) on 7 December 1941.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">At Ewa every Marine plane was knocked out of action in the first attack. Two squadrons of </span></em><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">Japanese fighters swept in from the northwest at 1,000 feet and dived down to rake the aircraft parked near the runways with machine-gun and cannon fire. Pilots and air crewmen ran to their planes in an attempt to get them into the air or drag them out of the line of fire, but the Japanese returned again and again to complete the job of destruction. When the enemy fighters drew off at about 0825 they left behind a field littered with burning and shot-up aircraft. The men of [Marine Aircraft Group] MAG-21 recovered quickly from their initial surprise and shock and fought back with what few rifles and machine guns they had. Salvageable guns were stripped from damaged planes and set up on hastily improvised mounts; one scout-bomber rear machine gun was manned to swell the volume of antiaircraft fire. Although the group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Claude A. Larkin, had been wounded almost as soon as he arrived at the field that morning, he continued to coordinate the efforts to meet further enemy attacks. <a href="http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-7.htm">Navy History</a></span></em></blockquote><br />
Another day in the life a warlike species, another day to "never forget."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif38tinj7L9wDxqH9feYGpJdW2f7Hv5NiTloY8nqtrlCfV0FukN0P4JH2-WncaEpqjAELBKNJMAtDxBnh4nYraD95_mItlpoAooHItA3xOdSZ6Wkhu08kFMinPCGWUPQ5-SDjFx5JSuCE/s1600/ships+afire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif38tinj7L9wDxqH9feYGpJdW2f7Hv5NiTloY8nqtrlCfV0FukN0P4JH2-WncaEpqjAELBKNJMAtDxBnh4nYraD95_mItlpoAooHItA3xOdSZ6Wkhu08kFMinPCGWUPQ5-SDjFx5JSuCE/s320/ships+afire.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941</strong>View of the Parade Ground at the Pearl Harbor Marine Barracks, between 0930 and 1130 hrs. on 7 December 1941, with smoke in the background rising from burning ships.<br />
Note armed Marines at left, awaiting the possible return of Japanese aircraft.<br />
<a href="http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h50000/h50927.jpg">Navy photos</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-90797904708998523202011-11-23T10:12:00.000-08:002011-11-23T10:20:36.375-08:00Famous MarinesSome surprises here, and some where you just have to say, "well that clarifies a lot." Actually, there are so many on the list, I have only listed four, Wickipedia has a great list, interesting ... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marines">wikipedia list of famous United States Marines</a><br />
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<div><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Hussein Aidid </span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Current Leader of Somali</span></b></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rHtpiFE8PKzfdZmqvKjaGUZsMt4mJEpXRtVJ8_G_4eCcNGO2hjGtua_7tYRCogy9HtAYCm3m-C9dVzrefQijRXZS5xE4v6jJdUCDeO1gL8NuchSBs15V2cuVWtOXUjhl9-KXXhFbw3A/s1600/Hussein+Aidid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rHtpiFE8PKzfdZmqvKjaGUZsMt4mJEpXRtVJ8_G_4eCcNGO2hjGtua_7tYRCogy9HtAYCm3m-C9dVzrefQijRXZS5xE4v6jJdUCDeO1gL8NuchSBs15V2cuVWtOXUjhl9-KXXhFbw3A/s1600/Hussein+Aidid.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">"One of the many oddities in this battered capital is that a son of Gen. Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the Somali faction leader who humiliated the United States in 1993, was a naturalized American citizen, not to mention a U.S. Marine. </span></div><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">But that bizarre footnote took on a new dimension after the general died of gunshot wounds he had received in battle. His clan elders, meeting behind closed doors, selected the same 33-year-old son, Hussein Mohamed Farrah, to become the new president of Aidid's self-proclaimed republic. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">It was a strange choice. Farrah was living an obscure and mundane life in a Los Angeles suburb, going to school part time and working as a clerk in the West Covina engineering department for $9 a hour. The closest he had come to his father's way of life was when he served as a corporal in the Marine reserves......" Read more at: </span><a href="http://www.netnomad.com/aydiidyounger.nyt.html" target="_top" title="http://www.netnomad.com/aydiidyounger.ny"><strong><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">How a U.S. Marine Became a Warlord in Somalia</span></strong></a><br />
<div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><div><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Bugs Bunny</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsHBKVtsgLI3VIQVVqaF_VEKY4fZO0e-cc3Snua58jR07qL4MqcpccBvLpbRw-2jaR_THKyoE9_p3Kq3Bqj4jqk6mtbcRD_xpBtUgOo0IzOz5I5X4g_qb11n89RG3InNN0k5OebsOqBw/s1600/bugs+bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsHBKVtsgLI3VIQVVqaF_VEKY4fZO0e-cc3Snua58jR07qL4MqcpccBvLpbRw-2jaR_THKyoE9_p3Kq3Bqj4jqk6mtbcRD_xpBtUgOo0IzOz5I5X4g_qb11n89RG3InNN0k5OebsOqBw/s1600/bugs+bunny.jpg" /></a></div></div><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">The U.S. Marine Corps was so flattered that Bugs Bunny decides to become a marine in the Supper Rabbit film that they insisted that the character be officially inducted into the force as a private, which was done, complete with dogtags. The character was regularly promoted until Bugs was officially "discharged" at the end of World War II as a Master Sergeant</span>. <a href="http://www.usmchangout.com/usmc/misc/famousmarines/b/index.html">Famous Marines B</a><br />
<div> </div><div><span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><strong>Gene Hackman </strong>Corporal</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJwjRabPT4R4MfMM6GDtLt4rbwewgHvhC-IzFaZMLP8vHA-bNusDp7S3Z44QXAAdKOdwPPUk0BQZpSGw1kmUa9iOri5BFMze5NnmR9rdJyloGIAdXsWIO1tZ9kY9FUl35vx104M3jZiY/s1600/genehackman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJwjRabPT4R4MfMM6GDtLt4rbwewgHvhC-IzFaZMLP8vHA-bNusDp7S3Z44QXAAdKOdwPPUk0BQZpSGw1kmUa9iOri5BFMze5NnmR9rdJyloGIAdXsWIO1tZ9kY9FUl35vx104M3jZiY/s320/genehackman.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">(1930 - ) Biography from Baseline's Encyclopedia of Film </span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Occupation: Actor </span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Birth Name: Eugene Alden Hackman</span><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Born: January 30, 1930, San Bernardino, CA </span><br />
<div><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Hailed by The New York Times Magazine as "Hollywood's Uncommon Everyman," Hackman is a formidable American character actor turned leading man. Like Spencer Tracy, his "regular guy" looks and manner make it easy for men to identify with his persona of outraged common sense. Hackman's performances are consistently natural, and he excels at playing ordinary men caught up in moments of unexpected crisis. He has been one of America's leading film actors since the 1970's. </span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Hackman quit high school at 16, lied about his age and joined the Marines. He was trained as a radio operator before being shipped overseas. When his unit's announcer was injured, Hackman stepped in and found radio a hospitable medium. After his discharge, he studied journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. Hackman moved to New York and attended the School of Radio Technique, supporting himself through a succession of odd jobs. He next worked as an announcer at small radio and TV stations across the country. Hackman did not decide on an acting career until, at age 30, he realized that his announcing skills would help him in the profession.</span> <a href="http://www.usmchangout.com/usmc/misc/famousmarines/h/index.html">Famous Marines H</a></span></div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><div><b><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Lee Harvey Oswald </span></b></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Accused John F. Kennedy Assassin</span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7pAk8yCdHMq6FQfMazJ6XDc0eQDGZElrJy6mV_R-SISekqepIc_ZJAFWAsAvWk0EIJGg22vydiMdCU93ABcI6jXHKoM0ylnUnDCjr7_3Gt-WJ1IP85VN5jQvCfg3XUMiIt_5R_Ku22U/s1600/lee+harvey+oswald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7pAk8yCdHMq6FQfMazJ6XDc0eQDGZElrJy6mV_R-SISekqepIc_ZJAFWAsAvWk0EIJGg22vydiMdCU93ABcI6jXHKoM0ylnUnDCjr7_3Gt-WJ1IP85VN5jQvCfg3XUMiIt_5R_Ku22U/s320/lee+harvey+oswald.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Oswald was shot to death in the basement of Dallas Police headquarters while being transferred to the Dallas County Jail on November 24, 1963, by Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner with significant political, police and organized crime connections. As a result, Oswald was denied his Constitutional right to a trial, which would have allowed him to defend himself against the murder charges and expose the conspirators. Oswald's body was ordered exhumed in 1981 after author Michael Eddowes brought suit in Texas to determine who was actually buried in Oswald's grave. The pathologists assigned to the case officially identified the body as Oswald's. However, the funeral director who originally buried the body insisted it could not be the same since the one he buried clearly showed a craniotomy, which had been done during autopsy, and the exhumed skull showed no craniotomy. Also, the pathologists used dental records to identify the corps, but ignored the fact that Oswald had lost a front tooth in a fight in high school (there is a photo of him in class with a gap-tooth smile, and many classmates remember the fight and the missing tooth). The exhumed skull had a full set of natural front teeth. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Oswald left high school at age 17 to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Oswald enlisted in the Marines on October 24, 1956, six days after his 17th birthday. In boot camp, Lee was soon ridiculed for his bad marksmanship. His fellow Marines also nicknamed him "Oswaldkovitch" because of his open, apparent support of communism. That did not prevent the Marine Corps, however, from giving this unusual 17-year-old soldier radar training, security clearance and an assignment at Atsugi Air Base in Japan, the CIA's main station of operation in the Far East. The base was home to top secret U2 aerial surveillance spy missions over Russia. Although he was court-martialed twice in 1957, once for unauthorized possession of a pistol and once for pouring a drink on a sergeant, his "punishment" was minor and allowed him to be separated from his normal duties for a total of 48 days. On February 25, 1959, Oswald was given a Russian language test by the Marines. Seven months later, he was on his way to "defect" to the Soviet Union after several strange circumstances resulted in his rapidly obtaining a passport, discharge, unscheduled flights and visa. After AP and UPI wire service news stories appeared about her son's "defection," Lee's mother became convinced that he was working undercover as a U.S. agent.</span> <a href="http://www.usmchangout.com/usmc/misc/famousmarines/o/index.html">Famous Marines O</a></span><br />
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</div></div></div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-73047781757691881812011-11-10T09:21:00.000-08:002011-11-10T09:42:04.545-08:00Happy Birthday Marine Corps, older than the countryThe Marine Corps is celebrating 236 years today.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfKj1pTUXteoD0UV656hDBrYeuPjuugFI3AMxEWwzRS8yDhpM6Sj9OZ_Cr3lsV-eQO7wcQpWExLGCxQ5-2GinBraFTpIxKNFyydQIxZKBeqgGV8CPWbhx3ir_N1VyZtI9TNAKMpkpZjE/s1600/birthday+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfKj1pTUXteoD0UV656hDBrYeuPjuugFI3AMxEWwzRS8yDhpM6Sj9OZ_Cr3lsV-eQO7wcQpWExLGCxQ5-2GinBraFTpIxKNFyydQIxZKBeqgGV8CPWbhx3ir_N1VyZtI9TNAKMpkpZjE/s320/birthday+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">11/8/2011</span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"> By </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">Headquarters Marine Corps</span></span></em><span style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; width: 373px;"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos cuts the Marine Corps birthday cake during the cake cutting ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington Nov. 8. A sword is used to cut the cake to remind Marines that they are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword so that the nation may live in peace.</span></em></span></div></blockquote>The founders of the United States of America made many decisions during the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence being known by most people. Now, the founding of the Marine Corps is not known by most people. It was during the American Revolution that a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, to write a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. Approved on November 10, 1775, this resolution officially formed the Continental Marines.<br />
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</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;"><strong>In 1921 Gen. John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. </strong><span style="font-family: "Times New"; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><strong>Gen. Lejeune's order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It further directed that the order be read to all Marines on 10 November of each year to honor the founding of the Marine Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thereafter, 10 November became a unique day for U.S. Marines throughout the world. </strong></span></span></em></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: -1.0in -.5in .05pt 8.4pt .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in 6.5in 7.0in 7.5in 8.0in 8.5in 9.0in 9.5in 10.0in 10.5in 11.0in 11.5in 12.0in 12.5in; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New"; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soon, some Marine commands began to not only honor the birthday, but celebrate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></em></span></b></div></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Times New"; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoIkWlPQ3fPH14F-V16rTQwjMbnGDDZzZXAOdxo1UEzMWczE9gh2IraGYUekvaC6bSOp-8zK578mf89-8VNNbxBUxFGJQSkwHLPd7wMTg_IJ76pQHwIQTbtnbDulkIFx9hMntpG4fXZk/s1600/ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieoIkWlPQ3fPH14F-V16rTQwjMbnGDDZzZXAOdxo1UEzMWczE9gh2IraGYUekvaC6bSOp-8zK578mf89-8VNNbxBUxFGJQSkwHLPd7wMTg_IJ76pQHwIQTbtnbDulkIFx9hMntpG4fXZk/s320/ball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Times New"; font-size: 12pt; text-shadow: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">The first "formal" Birthday Ball took place on Philadelphia in 1925.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Over the years the annual Birthday Ball grew and grew, taking on a life of its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1952 the Commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony and other traditional observances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, Marine Corps policy now mandates that the first piece of cake must be presented to the oldest U.S. Marine present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second piece goes to the youngest Marine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the many such mandates is a solemn reading of the Commandant's birthday message to the Corps. <a href="http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/marine_corps_birthday.htm">Marine heritage</a></span></span></em></span></span></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MHxT-gCHqDfQCexefKyKdDWSSyO04SfoV651ud7Gpbquo5uGbFpdVnS4BbJ8Qj320e0hd2uVXcCmlXQPj-2ba0gn6qW0uykn3HUGC0oVeU6q_ih6NUKAge06GtUxf-2spXPMsLOs3lU/s1600/mm_happy-birthday-usmc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MHxT-gCHqDfQCexefKyKdDWSSyO04SfoV651ud7Gpbquo5uGbFpdVnS4BbJ8Qj320e0hd2uVXcCmlXQPj-2ba0gn6qW0uykn3HUGC0oVeU6q_ih6NUKAge06GtUxf-2spXPMsLOs3lU/s320/mm_happy-birthday-usmc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-38284920035248127652011-11-07T08:54:00.000-08:002011-11-07T08:54:06.767-08:00Working with the worldThe U.S. Marines don't often work with the forces of other countries, less than some other branches of the armed services like the Air Force and the Army, but sometimes the work with others pretty well. <br />
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As part of the United States Militery Training Mission to Saudi Arabia:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">"The U.S. Marine Corps Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT), is based in the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Headquarters, Riyadh. The TAFT provides advisors to both Saudi Marine Forces Brigades in Jubail and Qadimah. Additionally, they provide technical advice to the Director of Marine Forces Schools at Ras al Gar. Advisor duties reflect the full range of combat skills to include field exercises, CPX, assault support training, and live-fire for individual, crew-served, and TOW missile systems. Organized to support Saudi Marine Forces Brigade Commanders, they provide advice and recommendations to both the Eastern and Western Fleet Commanders. " <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/">http://www.globalsecurity.org/</a></span></em></blockquote>And the Scottish, March 2011:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkylOVmjFgyoO-4pPpCFbgIyzGTtl3tmbyznMAku_WCjEwld6uojGuDYS3u915QUNFTh9SrTKgxsJtqEip7n1t25IwV_61LFUXbOzFuxvonhOX3gET-mr66Jt2M6yPNGCrvhSXJkV-34/s1600/5_scotts_and_us_marines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkylOVmjFgyoO-4pPpCFbgIyzGTtl3tmbyznMAku_WCjEwld6uojGuDYS3u915QUNFTh9SrTKgxsJtqEip7n1t25IwV_61LFUXbOzFuxvonhOX3gET-mr66Jt2M6yPNGCrvhSXJkV-34/s320/5_scotts_and_us_marines.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bfbs.com/news/england/scottish-soldiers-and-us-marines-mark-historic-relationship-45497.html">Scottish soldiers and US Marines mark historic relationship</a></td></tr>
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In fact there is a whole Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program. <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">"<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program (MCFPEP) is a means of continuing a long-term, selectively visible presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation." <a href="http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation/Pages/PersonalExchangePrograms.aspx">http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation/Pages/PersonalExchangePrograms.aspx</a></span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">"The MCFPEP began during combined operations in World War II when a critical need to exchange and standardize operational doctrines between allied forces was identified, according to Marine Corps Order 5700.4E. More recently, a reduction in U.S. military presence in several regions around the world has created a need for closer relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners. MCFPEP is one means of continuing a long-term presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation.<br />
The MCFPEP began during combined operations in World War II when a critical need to exchange and standardize operational doctrines between allied forces was identified, according to Marine Corps Order 5700.4E. More recently, a reduction in U.S. military presence in several regions around the world has created a need for closer relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners. MCFPEP is one means of continuing a long-term presence and association among military counterparts to enhance worldwide security cooperation." <a href="http://www.marines.mil/unit/3rdmaw/Pages/USMarineMajorFliesWithBritishArmyAirCorps.aspx">US Marine major flies with Royal Navy forces in Afghanistan </a></span></em></blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ct1iLVi2_paHbXKqxRmPaA4yzqRxJqMcfPTHeTokcrBsP3vA3wZLwbTM1Adb_k-aTUTCjiUlr6d_wJ8jVQwhhKhGMtCfXvcSF6yf6sZQzb-0CLeCv3QLCHH6dCP6vI0ZJoMTj2ImNeY/s1600/Sea+King+pilot.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ct1iLVi2_paHbXKqxRmPaA4yzqRxJqMcfPTHeTokcrBsP3vA3wZLwbTM1Adb_k-aTUTCjiUlr6d_wJ8jVQwhhKhGMtCfXvcSF6yf6sZQzb-0CLeCv3QLCHH6dCP6vI0ZJoMTj2ImNeY/s320/Sea+King+pilot.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">9/15/2010</span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"> By </span><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Deanne Hurla</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;">3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)</span><br />
<span style="display: inline-block; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; width: 373px;">U.S. Marine Maj. Joshua Nelson, an Mk4 "Sea King" pilot with 846 Naval Air Squadron, Commando Helicopter Force in the Royal Navy, is participating in the Marine Corps Foreign Personnel Exchange Program. Nelson is a CH-46E "Sea Knight" pilot for the Corps, but has flown the Sea King for a year and a half with the Royal Navy. The MCFPEP was created during World War II to keep close relationships between friendly nations and coalition partners.</span></td></tr>
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And of course they can come to us as well:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily3u9kPcm3JFk2k4bxraciYizwFr6KtT4Y_FsXCk_drhaj69LJOyBtQwtg-2emEGU5vecyTKFKfEFaJwu8WGj0G-XF99g-IQQE5xd5fGq5K758sKmE0aCYRsDy62bDjEuHZB0DWh9hDc/s1600/on+american+soil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEily3u9kPcm3JFk2k4bxraciYizwFr6KtT4Y_FsXCk_drhaj69LJOyBtQwtg-2emEGU5vecyTKFKfEFaJwu8WGj0G-XF99g-IQQE5xd5fGq5K758sKmE0aCYRsDy62bDjEuHZB0DWh9hDc/s1600/on+american+soil.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">British Troops on US soil "sharing through "Foreign Exchange" program. Image: US Marines, sailors share "best practices" with Malaysian Rangers <div class="field field-name-image-credits field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix field-bundle-photo"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/">http://www.examiner.com/</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Why?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1w70ZIIbSOkz3NkuGfKFztbzYWJjn3r-TSatXSm2Ri3pz3xZwK8zEScR0CqSVLIRIsYFOO9dXUuW1Tnc5kEGMlUIJUROkwenNhP55-RsC3eMURRetMJaGq3N_ESstIbnKcOrDyeqvdo/s1600/ROK+marines.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1w70ZIIbSOkz3NkuGfKFztbzYWJjn3r-TSatXSm2Ri3pz3xZwK8zEScR0CqSVLIRIsYFOO9dXUuW1Tnc5kEGMlUIJUROkwenNhP55-RsC3eMURRetMJaGq3N_ESstIbnKcOrDyeqvdo/s1600/ROK+marines.gif" /></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Training with allied forces on foreign terrain introduces new obstacles and allows for the development of new war-fighting tactics, or the honing of existing doctrine specific to a region. Joint training also enables the sharing of tactics between U.S. service members and ally counterparts. Strength through unity is at the heart of this concept. <br />
Military forces of allied nations training side-by-side enhances military interoperability and strengthens the allied fighting forces as a whole. <a href="http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/South-Korea/blog-460333.html">http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/South-Korea/blog-460333.html</a></span></em></blockquote>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088006931583450163.post-5611040636401962372011-11-01T00:14:00.000-07:002011-11-01T22:57:41.822-07:00Twentynine Palms, Cali.It's a long dry road to Twentynine Palms but beautiful, magnificent and mesmerizing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtn4va_H2n9tK-XUBs0nLSfBfjs-Bkom2Zj9Dx2fC9EzeuY8iu1CZ3uTnNbEBkUbsvzKgwXWqkFPoVht4uQzDi1XOeR-nZTysd8MMOZQlCs8UXku_afasMbqVhbExrAaFOKjsb3JF8yw/s1600/on+the+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtn4va_H2n9tK-XUBs0nLSfBfjs-Bkom2Zj9Dx2fC9EzeuY8iu1CZ3uTnNbEBkUbsvzKgwXWqkFPoVht4uQzDi1XOeR-nZTysd8MMOZQlCs8UXku_afasMbqVhbExrAaFOKjsb3JF8yw/s320/on+the+road.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And once you get there there really are palm trees.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtHfjKoTPUKqrZ-9JKF1rBAx-rk_rbCB8MU26hEqtdqzyl7_0WkppbYTUL00m7wA-OSRQEC9heMeVvx7_AknXD059VM2Gyc6IeSm_dmPpI7uwqiLOO5TRajXmm23Pofew9gdj-Q-KN7E/s1600/in+town.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtHfjKoTPUKqrZ-9JKF1rBAx-rk_rbCB8MU26hEqtdqzyl7_0WkppbYTUL00m7wA-OSRQEC9heMeVvx7_AknXD059VM2Gyc6IeSm_dmPpI7uwqiLOO5TRajXmm23Pofew9gdj-Q-KN7E/s320/in+town.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Twentynine Palms, Calif. is all about Marines. The main streets are lined with tattoo parlors; auto sales and repair shops; and little this and thats. Beautiful murals decorate every couple of blocks, Marine murals about pride and flags and wars, native plant murals about the beauty of the desert and historical murals about the history of the city.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5qE4X6Uon-tePtNZv-ksqwVcC1kzkQVjv7O8Q6pkkxlzxanEgbqk9zNJhZuCVUlrTPx2TS8S6zWGNUhrtDd4TY0nQzgghKMM4744BPYGuLXl_6R74-0qgFDc2N-2_twUgxnnWWPnXXM/s1600/muralb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5qE4X6Uon-tePtNZv-ksqwVcC1kzkQVjv7O8Q6pkkxlzxanEgbqk9zNJhZuCVUlrTPx2TS8S6zWGNUhrtDd4TY0nQzgghKMM4744BPYGuLXl_6R74-0qgFDc2N-2_twUgxnnWWPnXXM/s320/muralb.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The only theater is a drive-in, first movie family oriented, second movie for the adults. SUVs and trucks with kids in PJs cuddled in the back fill the parking spaces except for the occasional older couple holding hands in their fold-out chairs.<br />
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The newspaper is about Marines and they have an entire television station devoted to Marines.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">"Twentynine Palms was named for the palm trees located in the Oasis of Mara, at the Joshua Tree National Park headquarters. When the area was settled by gold miners in the late 19th century, there were 29 palm trees growing in the oasis, most of which are still standing today.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #ea9999;">After decades as a rest stop for wagon travelers on what's called the "Utah Trail" named for a group of Mormon discoverers, the town was established in the 1920s.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #ea9999;">There's a small Indian reservation belonging to the Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians. The nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms was founded in 1952." </span></em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentynine_Palms,_California"><em><span style="color: #ea9999;">wikipedia</span></em></a></blockquote><br />
My Marine, when asked if he likes it there, shrugs his shoulders and says, "It's just like home."<br />
Really the only difference between Twentynine Palms is that they have Joshua Trees and we, in southern New Mexico, have mesquite.<br />
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There are two movies called Twentynine Palms, both look very different, yet both seem to use the place as sort of an allegorical desolation and distance, an application of the desert to the human soul.<br />
I haven't seen either of them yet but plan to. They are not about Marines.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">"What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote." -Edward Abbey</span></em></blockquote>And too there is Robert Plant - 29 Palms - again into a human desert, more internal than not:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHRcKD8T17g?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #f6b26b;">"Taking me back down the road that leads back to you<br />
29 Palms - I feel the heat of your desert heart" - Robert Plant</span></em></div></blockquote>Echohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07466468984748143382noreply@blogger.com0