Iraq

[Vulture6]

Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 3:16 PM
Subject: General Mattis' Farewell Speech to 1st MarDiv

COMMANDING GENERAL
1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN), FMF
AL ANBAR, IRAQ 20 August 2004

Friends and Comrades:
For two years, the story of the 1st Marine Division has been one of honor. Today, my message is one of thanks:

 Thanks to the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who have stood the test, and proved to the world that our experiment called the United States of America will survive;

 Thanks to our families who have stood with us through thick and thin, and bore unbearable tragedy with a courage that has humbled me;

 Thanks to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing whose warriors have always come through, and painted the Blue Diamond on their wings and carried us in their hearts;

 Thanks to the 1st Force Service Support Group who committed to doing the impossible, and then exceeded the best we could have hoped for;

 Thanks to our Division's veterans, whose spirits have marched with us since we crossed the line of departure, and whose example reminded us that there was nothing the enemy could throw at us that we would not overcome; And thanks to countless others whose commitment and loyalty made us what we are-

o Who allowed us to achieve what we achieved,

o Who allowed us to develop the character of No better friend, No worse enemy.

Today I haven't the words to capture what is in my heart as I look out at these beautiful Grunts who represent thousands of cocky, selfless, macho young troops of our infantry Division-infantry- infant Soldiers, young Soldiers, young Soldiers of the Sea, who have given so much, and who have taught me courage, as they smiled, heading out to risk their lives again, to destroy the enemy.

So lacking the words, I will close with a warrior's prayer from a man who understands:

Give me God, what you still have,
Give me what no one else asks for;
I do not ask for wealth
Nor for success, nor even health-
People ask you so often, God for all that
That you cannot have any left.
Give me, God, what you still have;
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.
I want insecurity and disquietude,
I want turmoil and brawl,
And if you should give them to me, my God
Once and for all
Let me be sure to have them always,
For I will not always have the courage
to ask for them. Amen
Thank you, my wonderful young Soldiers, Sailors and Marines
May God be with you all as you head out once again
into the heat of the Iraqi sun,
into the still of the dark night,
to close with the enemy.

Beside you, I'd do it all again.

Semper Fi.


MATTIS SENDS

[Vulture6]

Alpha Company 1st BN 2nd MAR recounts fire fight in Iskandariyah
Submitted by: 24th MEU
Story Identification #: 20048228584
Story by Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon


FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 17, 2004) -- It started out much like every security and counter-mortar patrol conducted from the forward operating base here. Marines gathered in the tent of the patrol leader to receive the patrol order.

This time, the leader was Sgt. Robert Ballance, 24, a squad leader and Springfield, Ill., native with Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines.

As Ballance went over his patrol route, an area his Marines were familiar with, he told the Marines to pay attention to an apartment complex in Iskandariyah from which several patrols had received small-arms fire in the previous few days.

"When we get by the apartments, we'll see if anyone wants to put their dukes up," Ballance told the Marines who seemed excited about the opportunity to engage enemy Iraqi insurgents.

Six hours later, the Marines from Alpha Co. had already covered much of their route and conducted several hasty vehicle checkpoints along the way. They also uncovered more than 200 empty 155 mm artillery shells, requiring them to provide security around the area until the arrival of Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians.

Now they found themselves on their way to the apartments in Iskandariyah they were warned about earlier. The humvees were on a small dirt road that ran along a canal. It was getting late and becoming difficult to see.

Just as the convoy began slowing down to scout out the apartments, the dark sky around them lit up with tracer rounds from enemy machine gun and small arms fire.

"What the (expletive) was that?" said Lance Cpl. Brad Stringfellow, 20, a Dearborn Heights, Mich., native and mortarman who instantly started returning fire.

The patrol's mounted M-240G machine guns began to unload, sending even more tracers flying across the horizon.

"Lance Cpl. Michael Levinson, 20, a Boston native and the patrol's forward observer, briefly stopped returning fire and got on his radio. "We've been engaged, we've been engaged," he said into the handset.

"After they opened up on us, all the vehicles spread out and we gained fire superiority over them. I don't run," said Ballance. "We were attacking these guys."

The next thing you heard was the blast from a rocket propelled grenade followed by more small-arms and machine gun fire, which seemed to be coming from both the north and the south.

Then came the dreaded sound of "I'm hit, I'm hit." It was Levinson. He had taken shrapnel in his hand and arm.

Stringfellow also took some shrapnel to his hand. "I was bleeding pretty badly," he said. "That made me mad so I jumped up and kept firing at them."

Levinson then jumped out of the vehicle and ran to a radio to call for artillery illumination rounds over the area. At the same time, Stringfellow and Lance Cpl. Kevan Horn, 23, an Inez, Ky., native and mortarman, grabbed their 60 mm mortar tube and started sending up illumination rounds, making it easier for the other Marines to see what they were shooting at.

The patrol's machine guns continued to light up the area. The enemy fire began to slow down.

The artillery illumination rounds were now overhead and most of the firing had ceased. The Marines waited awhile, then jumped back in their vehicles and sped to the FOB to get their casualties treated.

"That was a prime time for them to attack us. I think everyone did well after the initial shock of getting hit," said Ballance. "Everyone knew their job and went to it.

"I didn't think they would attack us like that," said Horn. "When I looked out and saw all those tracers, I didn't know what we would do."
Ballance and Horn agreed that Stringfellow and Levinson both did an excellent job.

"It was intense" said Levinson. "It all seems like a haze, but it was a rush from hell. I think everyone did a great job. They all knew what they had to do."

The Marines from Alpha Co. all made it back from the fight in Iskandariyah. Stringfellow and Levinson are recovering, but their wounds haven't dampened their spirits. All of the Marines seemed ready for their next patrol.

[Vulture6]

BLT 1/2 Marines get in scrap in Musayyib
Submitted by: 24th MEU
Story Identification #: 20048237389
Story by Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon


FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 21, 2004) -- Iraqi insurgents set off a roadside bomb, then attacked a convoy of Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Aug. 20, as the convoy made its way through Musayyib to Forward Operating Base Kalsu.

The Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, fought with roughly 12 to15 insurgents in the town. The Marines held their own and eventually made it to FOB Kalsu with no casualties.

“We had just made a left turn onto a dirt road in Musayyib when I noticed a man on the left side. He looked liked he was plunging something, so I halted the convoy,” said Staff Sgt. Michael C. Mceachern, 29, a Hyannis, Mass., native and motor transport operations chief. “Some Marines went after the man, but did not catch him. We then made another left turn, and about 200 meters in front of us an explosion went off.”

The Marines then halted the convoy and set up to wait for Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians.


As nearly two hours passed, the streets in the city began to empty and the Marines could hear a person talking on what sounded like a loud speaker. Later on, Marines were told the voice was urging locals to rise up against the Americans.

Soon after that, the Marines began to notice people running away from their area.

“Get ready, something is going to happen,” shouted one of the Marines.

At the same time, a few of the mechanics from the Battalion’s Motor Transport section were working to repair a busted tow-chain on one of the trucks.

“I heard them call for a mechanic, so I went up to look at one of the humvees,” said Mceachern. “I had just said this is not a good time. Then all hell broke loose.”

Two Marines from the convoy were standing in the road searching a pedestrian trying to pass by the convoy went bullets started flying from down the street.

Marines manning the vehicle-mounted M-240G and MK-19 machine guns immediately began to return fire in the direction of the insurgents. Other Marines quickly found cover wherever they could and sent their own lead downrange.

Along with machine gun fire, the insurgents fired a mortar round hitting the top of a building where several Marines had found cover. The Marines continued to return fire.

“When I looked up, all I could see was Lance Cpl. [Rattanak] Yun firing his [M-240G],” said Mceachern. “His truck was taking a beating, but he never flinched and just kept firing that 240.”

I fired off my whole belt of ammunition,” said Cpl. Andre Queiroga, 21, a Ludlow, Mass., native and a motor transport operator. “The building I was shooting at went up in flames.”

The whole event lasted about 10 minutes, but the Marines continued to hold their position as other Marines from Charlie Company pushed out and began searching buildings in the area around the firefight.

A few shots were fired here and there, but eventually the Marines mounted their vehicles and pushed on to FOB Kalsu.

“All the Marines did a helluva job,” said Mceachern. “They did what they were supposed to do, and no one flinched what so ever. I think they picked the wrong day to mess with 1/2 Motor T.”

[Vulture6]

Marine sniper team foils roadside bomb attack
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200482664525
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes


MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2004) -- On one of the deadliest roads here in Iraq, Camp Lejeune snipers made sure one group of insurgents wouldn't be planting any more bombs.

Improvised explosive devices - roadside bombs - are placed every night along Alternate Supply Route Jackson to hit coalition forces when they pass through, earning it the name 'IED Alley.' The sharpshooters of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crept into position Aug. 23 to stop to the attacks.

"When I saw two Iraqis get out of the van and begin to feed a spool of wire into an abandoned van, I thought 'this is too good to be true,'" said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeff L. Pursley, a corpsman assigned to the battalion's sniper teams. "We made them all sorry they ever thought of trying to set an IED on the road."

Improvised explosive devices are the number one threat on the road for military convoys. Easy to create and employ, they are the insurgent's choice for harming troops.

"Jackson was the alternate supply route until Tampa was closed. Now all convoys travel through it to get where they're going," said Sgt. Devon E. Ambrose, 26, the intelligence chief for the battalion, from Belltsville, Md. "Insurgents know we use the road on an everyday basis and that an IED will affect our convoys in a negative way."

The snipers were out to change that.

The night began as usual for the two sniper teams involved. They hid along the road and waited until they spotted something suspicious.

"We saw a tractor driving down the road with its headlights off ... and then a van that flashed its lights at the tractor," said Pursley, 27, from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. "That alerted us and when the van pulled over next to the vehicle parked on the side of the road we knew something was up."

The two sniper teams confirmed what they were seeing with each other over the radio and then acted. The teams quickly and silently moved in for the kill.

"We were about 75 yards away from their position. I told each man in my team to pick a target," said Sgt. Joshua M. Clark, a 27-year-old sniper team leader with the battalion. "It all happened pretty quickly after that."

The Marines relied on their M-16s instead of the M-60 sniper rifles for the close-quarters combat. The explosions began with a grenade and rifle fire followed as they swept into the insurgents' position.

"We fired a few grenades at them and the vehicle they were prepping. Then we set up a cordon so we could catch any stragglers," Pursley said. "We found one guy hiding in the bushes next to the scene. We detained him and brought him back to the base for questioning."

No bodies were found around the site, although the remains of a bloody firefight were still present when the fire stopped.

"We know we got hits out there, though," said Clark, of Murphy, N.C. "They didn't have time to fire back. It was pretty much one-sided."

The battle for the stretch of highway is an ongoing one for the sniper teams and rifle companies here.

"After what happened, they know if they go out there to cause trouble they'll be taking a chance with their lives," Pursley said.

Clark echoed Pursley's statement with one of his own.

"Word will get out about what happened," Clark said. "We'll be out there again tonight waiting for the next ones to try something like that."

"If (the insurgents) can only remember one thing after what happened, it'll be this: we're always watching," Pursley added.


Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeff L. Pursley (foreground), a Corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment's sniper platoon, and Cpl. Olen P. Thyssen, a 27 year-old scout sniper, took part in an operation that foiled a team of insurgents attempting to set an improvised explosive device on a road near Mahmudiyah, Aug. 23. (USMC Photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes)

[Vulture6]

ING and 24th MEU capture large weapons cache during raid
Submitted by: 24th MEU
Story Identification #: 200483024543
Story by Sgt. Zachary A. Bathon


FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 27, 2004) -- Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, working closely with Iraqi National Guardsmen, conducted a raid in central Iraq Aug. 26, netting a large weapons cache that included dozens of weapons, munitions and explosive making devises.

The raid, led by the MEU’s Force Reconnaissance Platoon and members of Delta Company of the Iraqi National Guard, initially began at a different target. The Marines from the Force Reconnaissance Platoon went in and secured the buildings, which later led them to a second target where the cache was found.

At the second objective, the Force Reconnaissance Platoon secured the building and began to exploit the site with help from the ING, combat engineers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and members of an interrogation team. Marines from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, set up blocking positions, allowing no one to enter or exit the area around the site.

Combat engineers armed with metal detectors cleared the site and began finding weapons and ammunition, which had either been buried or camouflaged in the surrounding area.

“This was a lot of hard work for everyone out there,” said Capt. Billy Ray Moore, a New Castle, Ind., native and company commander of Alpha Company.

The raid turned up a laundry list of items that included everything from small arms and machine guns to mortars, rockets and bomb-making materials, some of which were rigged to explode.

The items found included Rocket Propelled Grenades and launchers, rifle grenades, hand grenades, 167 mm ammunition, 57 mm rockets, 120 mm mortars, 89 mm rockets, electric blasting caps, detonation cord, 30 mm cannon parts, a Dragonov rifle, AK-47 assault rifles and several other small arms and light machine guns with ammunition.

“That was a pretty good haul for the day,” said Moore. “[The raid] went extremely well. We found an extremely large weapons cache. All the units out there acted very professional.”

“The Force Platoon is phenomenal,” he added. “They are smooth, fast and know how to do business.”

Moore also gave credit to the ING company. “The ING was very flexible and extremely motivated,” he said. “They were about getting the job done and getting these weapons out of the hands of the enemy.”

Once everything had been found, the EOD technicians consolidated the items and prepared them for demolition. With everything in place, the techs blew all the ammunition and explosives, creating a massive blast.

The ING and the MEU will continue to conduct raids in the area to uncover weapons and bomb-making material. Their work is part of an ongoing effort to take weapons and ammunition off the streets.


Iraqi National Guardsmen provide security during a raid Aug. 26.
The raid was conducted by the Iraqi National Guard and Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 24th MEU is currently conducting security and stability operations in the Northern Babil province of Iraq. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Smith

[Vulture6]

Thundering Third conducts 'Clean Sweep' near Fallujah
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 20048315636
Story by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 30, 2004) -- The battalion known as the Thundering Third came down hard on enemy safehavens around Fallujah in their to-date largest operation alongside Iraqi forces recently.

3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, alongside Iraqi Specialized Special Forces, conducted Operation Clean Sweep Aug. 23-24 in areas east of Fallujah.

The operation was designed to hinder enemy movement to and from the city and eliminate any possible safe havens in the vicinity.

"We're basically sweeping rural open areas because we're suspecting terrorists are transporting and selling weapons, shooting mortars and attacking our firm bases," explained Sgt. Edgar O. Payan, a platoon guide with Company K.

"Terrorists are moving through areas like crop fields as they come and go out of Fallujah, so we're hoping we nab some suspects and find their weapons," added Payan, a 25-year-old from Pomona, Calif.

The 48-hour operation kicked off in the early hours of Aug. 23. By the end of the first day, Marines had arrested two suspects for stowing munitions in their homes.

Clean Sweep not only called for Marines to search homes for weapons, but to walk the land around the target areas, looking for anything out of the ordinary. The Marines were especially on the lookout for materials used to create improvised explosive devices.

"We found five caches of significance, which contained IED making materials, propaganda material, many types of small arms, and even several sets of SCUBA gear buried in the ground," said Lt. Col. Willard A. Buhl, the battalion's commanding officer. "We also detained a number of suspected terrorists."

Payan gives much credit for the battalion's success to the younger Marines, who have proved effective and eager.

"I'm glad we're doing this mission because I want to get these bastards," said Lance Cpl. Ryan M. Voeller, a 20-year-old rifleman with Company K.

"We've been doing really good because so far we've found a bunch of weapons the enemy can't use anymore," added Voeller, from Sinclair, Minn.

Buhl noted the teamwork between his troops and the Iraqi forces conducting Operation Clean Sweep.

"Our Iraqi partners were up front developing the tactical situation for their Marine counterparts," explained Buhl. "Their ability to gain intelligence on suspected enemy caches was invaluable and continued to build trust between our two fighting organizations - I expect our capabilities to increase commensurately," Buhl added.

Buhl, along with Sgt. Maj. Edward T. Sax, battalion sergeant major, took time after the operation to praise the Marines for a job well done.

"Our Marines and Sailors performed at the 'Three-One Standard,' accomplishing the mission above expectations," said Buhl, 41, of Los Gratos, Calif.

"Sergeant Major Sax and I couldn't be more proud of them, as should our families and friends back home - we're doing great things for our nation, the Marine Corps and the Iraqi people," said Buhl.

A Marine with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, keeps watch of a window while his fellow infantrymen search for hidden weapons inside the building during Operation Clean Sweep recently. Clean Sweep is the battalion's largest combined operations to date, designed to cut off terrorist supply lines to and from Fallujah. (USMC Photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen)


Cpl. Richard Gonzalez, an assaultman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, makes his way through a corn field east of Fallujah, in search for hidden enemy munitions. The battalion conducted its largest combined operations to date Aug. 23-24, dubbed Operation Clean Sweep. (USMC Photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen)

[Vulture6]

Injured Marine wants to stay in Corps
Submitted by: MCAGCC
Story Identification #: 2004813165516
Story by Lance Cpl. Heidi E. Loredo


MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2004) -- I am sad, but I don't think about it that much," said Lance Cpl. Ryan Logan, crewman, Weapons Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. "Maybe I don't want to. Maybe I just don't feel like I need to. People say I'm a hero. I don't think I am. I didn't do anything to be a hero. I just did my job. That's all I had to do. If that makes me a hero-OK. I don't think so. I'm the guy that got hit and then was able to go home."

On June 7, around 6:30 p.m. in the city of Ramadi in the Al Anbar Province, 20-year-old Logan and his crew were the lead light armored vehicle in a convoy during a route recon when an improvised explosive device went off on the right side of his vehicle.

"I was sitting down inside the LAV, and my friend Bowman was blown out of the vehicle," said Logan, who's been a Marine for two years. "[Killed in action] instantly. There was nothing we could do for him. After the IED went off we started to get engaged by small arms fire from the right side of the road. We were the only vehicle hit."

Logan suffered extensive damage in his legs that doctors say will leave him with a permanent limp and scars to remind him of that dreadful day.

"I got hit in the knee and the thighs here," said Logan as he slightly pulled up his red shorts to reveal bandages on both legs. "It goes all the way up to my hip. At Pendleton it got infected. They had to cut all the skin off and let it sit in open air. Altogether I was hospitalized for a month."

The impact of the explosion was almost unreal to Logan.

"The bomb went off and it was like the animation in cartoons when a character gets blown up and turns to ashes and they blink for a second before they realize what happened. That's kind of how it was. I looked around, and after the smoke cleared I noticed Bowman lying on top of the vehicle. His legs were in the way and I couldn't shut the door so I yelled, 'Hey Bowman. Hey man, move your feet.'"

At that moment, Logan felt a paralysis that left him confused.

"I didn't know I was hurt," said Logan. "I didn't feel anything. I reached for my weapon because they asked me to get out and provide security. I said, 'Yes, I could do it. I'm fine.' I touched my thigh, and that's when the pain kicked in, and I realized what happened. My friend, Jonathon, got hit in the shoulder. I told him I couldn't move, and he took off."

Worried that his crewmate abandoned him, Logan was relieved shortly after to see his friend return with help.

"That's why he took off-he didn't leave me there," said Logan. "The corpsman came and pulled me out, and that's when I saw more of Bowman on the vehicle."

Logan was unaware that his friend did not survive. While bullets almost grazed him, Logan could only think of his friend's safety.

"I had no idea he was dead," said Logan. "I thought he was unconscious. I didn't find out until I arrived in Germany. I thought he was all right. He was lying there, and I thought the corpsman would take care of him, but when the enemy started to shoot at us I was thinking, 'Bowman's laying up there exposed; somebody should get him down.' But the
corpsman looked at him and didn't do anything. I thought, 'Bowman's up there, he's fine, he's just unconscious. Well, if he's unconscious then why doesn't anybody pull him off of there in case he gets hit again?' The corpsman can only treat the wounded."

In the meantime, Logan knew the enemy was approaching when he noticed the corpsman pulled out his 9 mm pistol and returned fire.

"I looked around; I could see bullets hit the dirt," said Logan. "I'm getting hit with the dirt, and I'm thinking, 'I'm going to die. This is it. Why do I have to die in the middle of Iraq in the middle of a road?' Then all of a sudden the enemy stopped for some reason. Another corpsman came to help, and the enemy started to shoot at us again. One of the corpsman fell on top of me to cover me. I thought he had been hit because I heard rounds and the bursts of
a machine gun. He got up, and they put me on a gurney."

Now that he is on convalescent leave in the home he grew up in, Logan only wishes he could walk normally again and go rock climbing. He walks with a limp assisted with a cane and does not have full mobility of his right foot.

"They said it's going to be permanent, but then they said I wouldn't be able to walk for six months," said Logan. "When you tell a Marine he can't do something what is he going to do-he's going to do it."

It didn't take long for Logan to get back on his feet. In a short amount of time he was walking around the hospital ward.

"Now I can walk around the hospital ward. It took 30 minutes to get around the whole ward but I made it."

The idea of going back does not cross his mind anymore, although he admits he wanted to when he returned to the states.

"I thought about the Marines a lot," said Logan. "I saw them on TV a couple of times. I recognized them. When you're around the same group of guys for five months you have your close set of friends, but you know everybody. When you're fighting alongside the same group of guys for five months you know everything about them."

Now that he is home, Logan is subjected to anti-war propaganda but encourages people to voice their opinion.

"I have nothing to say to them," said Logan. "Look at the book I'm reading right now," he said as he pointed to a book that displays a photo of Michael Moore. "The way I look at it is they can say whatever they want to say but it's OK because I give them the right to say that. Bowman gave them the right to say that. Marines gave their lives for people to say whatever they want. I don't support them, but I'm not against them."

Logan will undergo a medical board to determine if he is fit for duty. He is hopeful he will return to active duty with his unit upon their return from Iraq.

"I said I was going to do four years," said a determined Logan. "I'll do four years whether I'm behind a desk or doing my job. Afterward, if I can stay in I'll reenlist if I can't I don't know what I'll do."

[Brad]

Thanks to all these men. My admiration for the Marines continues, if possible, to grow.

[Vulture6]

11th MEU combat in Najaf: A fireteam's tale
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification #: 20049284211
Story by Cpl. Matthew S. Richards


FORWARD OPERATING BASE HOTEL, Iraq (Sept. 2, 2004) -- Early August, the world watched as Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) battled against Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia in the opening days of a tough fight in a huge cemetery sacred to the Shia Muslims.

By August 6, the struggle was well known as it flashed across television sets around the globe, but the story of the men wedged inside this vicious fight was untouched by the eyes of the world.

These Marines and sailors trained for many months before this day arrived. Infantrymen and corpsmen participated in the battle, along with many other Marines from varying technical specialties. All, however, walked in the fo