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| Friday, 3-Feb-2006 22:45 |
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Company E tribute to LCpl Butler
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http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/20062265528
Company E remembers loss of fellow Marine
Submitted by: 2nd Marine Division
Story Identification #: 20062265528
Story by Pfc. Christopher J. Ohmen
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- He had many good qualities that he shared with his fellow Marines, one of the most important was he always made time for the ones he loved.
Second Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, said goodbye to five excellent Marines who were lost in the line of duty, Oct. 21 and 29. One of them, Lance Cpl. Kenneth J. Butler, a 19-year-old Rowan, N.C., native, was a good friend and a good brother.
Upon learning of Butler’s passing, the Marines of Company E were left speechless. Despite the tragic loss of a good Marine, all that knew him agree that he has moved on to a better place.
The Marines from the company gathered in the battalion’s Motor Transportation building along with friends and guests from other units aboard Camp Fallujah.
At one end of the building, emblems were placed in memory of Butler. As the Marines’ Hymn played, an M-16A4 service rifle with bayonet was inserted by one Marine into a small pile of sand bags. A second Marine placed a Kevlar helmet on the butt stock of the down-turned rifle and hung a set of dog tags from the pistol grip. The last emblem to be placed was a pair of boots at the base of the sandbags.
Following the invocation by Navy Lt. Teddy L. Williams, the battalion chaplain, Lt. Col. James J. Minick, the battalion’s commanding officer, continued with comments about Butler.
“We honor these men who answered their county’s call and selflessly gave their lives so others may live in peace,” said Minick. “Thomas Paine said in 1776: These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
“Honor, courage, commitment, loyalty, selfless service. Marines and sailors of Company E and Task Force 2/2, these are the words I hear from you,” stated Capt. Timothy S. Brady, Butler’s company commander. “Listening to you speak of your brothers in arms, I know of their character and of their heart.”
As the words of Brady lingered with the Marines, Lance Cpl. Robert P. Backus, Butler’s friend and fellow member of the company, stepped up to the podium to say goodbye to his comrade in arms.
“Jay was like a brother to me, as I am sure he was to many of you,” Backus stated. “He was a good Marine and an even better friend. What we must do now rather than drown in our sorrows at the loss of a friend; we should honor him by living every one of our lives the best that we can. This is what Jay would want. He will be missed.”
Following the kind words of Backus, Company E first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Dalton V. Pinnock called role with three Marines answering ‘Present!’ Then he called Bulter’s name.
“Lance Cpl. Butler…Lance Cpl. Butler…Lance Cpl. Kenneth J. Butler!”
There was no reply.
“Present Arms!” commanded Brady to the company.
The rest of the Marines saluted, as “Taps” was played to honor their fallen comrades.
“Dismissed!” commanded Brady.
The Marines quickly formed a line to say personal farewells to Butler before the emblems at his memorial. Many of the Marines snapped a salute and touched his Kevlar helmet to show their respect.
“They embodied everything it means to serve your fellow Marines, your unit, and your country. I am humbled to have had the opportunity to serve amongst such men,” Brady stated.
Marines from Company E place the down-turned rifles into the sand bags during the Nov. 3 memorial service for the fallen Marines and sailor of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.
Photo by: Pfc. Christopher J. Ohmen E tribute to LCpl Butler
Lance Cpl. Robert P. Backus, friend and fellow Marine, says some words about Lance Cpl. Kenneth J. Butler during the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment memorial service, Nov 3.
Photo by: Pfc. Christopher J. Ohmen E tribute to LCpl Butler 2
The Marines of the battalion show their respect to the fallen Marines and sailor by placing their hand on top of the Kevlar following the memorial service, Nov 3.
Photo by: Pfc. Christopher J. Ohmen E tribute to LCpl Butler 3
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| Wednesday, 1-Feb-2006 03:24 |
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Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat V!
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LCpl Michael McGraw
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http://www.defendamerica.mil/profiles/jan2006/pr013106tj1.html
U.S. Marine Corps
Lance Cpl. Michael McGraw
Marine’s Actions Help Save Platoon
By Cpl. Athanasios L. Genos
2nd Marine Division
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Jan. 31, 2006 — There they were, moving into an area known to be a hot spot for insurgent activity when it happened Oct. 2, 2005. Gunfire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades began flying around them as they took cover and started their assault on the enemy’s position in Karmah, Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Michael A. McGraw, a 20-year-old automatic rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, stood up early on in the attack to begin the movement on the enemy when he was struck in the lower leg by heavy machine gun fire.
McGraw was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat "V" Jan. 25 in a ceremony here for his actions in the face of danger.
“I thought I was fine when it first happened,” explained the native of Clarence Center, N.Y. “I thought I had gotten hit by a brick or something until I tried to get up and my leg crumbled beneath me.”
McGraw knew what he had to do when they were attacked, he said. He stood up and began providing suppressive fire as the enemy was attacking his platoon’s position.
McGraw’s bravery enabled his platoon to move safely away from the main sectors of fire and mount a counter offensive.
“When I stood up, I took a round through my lower leg that ended up shattering both bones in my leg,” the 2004 Clarence Central High School graduate said.
McGraw’s actions permitted his fellow Marines movement to close with and destroy the enemy. He was pulled off the line of fire by his squad leader and was tended to by his corpsman during the first few moments of the firefight.
Currently, McGraw is recovering and walking with a cane, and remains thankful to be alive, he said. He is hoping for a full recovery from his wounds and continues enjoying his job as an infantryman, he said.
“I have always known that I was supposed to be here doing this,” McGraw said.
Many of McGraw’s commanders praise him and his fellow Marine’s efforts fighting the global war on terrorism.
“It’s the (privates first class) and lance corporals who are out there doing the job and getting it done,” explained Maj. Christopher Dixon, executive officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. “I am impressed with his (McGraw’s) actions out there.”
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| Tuesday, 31-Jan-2006 18:49 |
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Rolling tribute to LCpl Patrick Kenny!
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LCpl Patrick Kenny Bumper Sticker!
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Tricia, Chuck, and Molly Kenny at ARL Trucking ceremony!
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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06031/646973.stm
Trucking company will honor fallen Marine
Vehicles will bear decal of Emsworth soldier
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rolling memorials to Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Kenny will touch just about every U.S. highway.
American Road Line, a trucking company based in Moon, announced yesterday that it is placing decals of Cpl. Kenny on its 550 semi tractor-trailers, which haul goods to and from most major cities.
Cpl. Kenny, 20, of Emsworth, died Oct. 6 in a roadside bombing near Al Karmah, Iraq. Three other Marines were killed in the attack.
Ron Faherty, president of American Road Line, said Cpl. Kenny's short life and death in service to his country should not be forgotten. After talking with his sister, Cindy Lioi, who knows the Kenny family, Mr. Faherty proposed using his fleet for an ongoing tribute. The Kennys agreed.
"We'll never forget our son. But we're so humbled that others wanted to make sure he is remembered," Cpl. Kenny's mother, Tricia, said after a ceremony unveiling the decal, about the size of a car window.
It shows Cpl. Kenny in combat gear and carries a simple heading -- "Some Gave All."
Molly Kenny, 22, one of his three sisters, wept as the decal was made public. But she said she felt happy because the decals on wheels will help keep his memory alive.
"I'm overwhelmed. My worst fear was that people would forget about him," she said.
Mr. Faherty had the same concern. He said reports of a handful of war casualties each day can be numbing, causing the public to see the fallen servicemen as statistics instead of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.
Relatives said Cpl. Kenny's ambition from boyhood was to serve in the military. So gung ho was Cpl. Kenny that he inspired his younger sister, Katy, to follow him into the Marine Corps.
She completed boot camp about two weeks before he was killed. Katy Kenny now is a private stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
In addition to American Road Line's fleet, Emsworth's five fire trucks will carry the decal of Cpl. Kenny. He lived across the street from the firehouse.
Bumper stickers depicting Cpl. Kenny also are available for purchase through American Road Line and the Emsworth Volunteer Fire Department. All proceeds will go to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Cpl. Kenny's father, Chuck, said helping injured Marines is a cause his son would have embraced.
Mr. Kenny said people usually want to talk about the politics of the war in Iraq, but he refuses to discuss that topic.
"The question I get most is 'What do you think of us being over there?' I say it doesn't matter. We're there and our young men and women aren't coming home until it's over."
To order a bumper sticker of Cpl. Kenny by e-mail, write cindy@1stoutspecialty.com. The cost is $5 each or three for $10.
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(Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1956.)
Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette
Tricia Kenny, Chuck Kenny and their daughter Molly Kenny, listen to speakers during a ceremony honoring their son, Lance Cpl. Patrick Kenny, who was killed in Iraq last year. The ceremony was held at ARL trucking company in Moon. The company is placing decals with Kenny's picture on 550 of its vehicles.
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| Monday, 30-Jan-2006 22:05 |
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Warlords receive awards!
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Warlords form up for award ceremony!
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LCpl Matthew Crowe receives Purple Heart!
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http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/2006127105842
2nd Marines leathernecks recognized for sacrifice, valor
Submitted by: 2nd Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2006127105842
Story by Cpl. Mike Escobar
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2006) -- In 1943, the 2nd Marine Regiment spearheaded the battle to take the Japanese-held Tarawa atoll, a series of islets in the central Pacific, as U.S. forces pressed toward the Land of the Rising Sun. The Corps lost more than 1,100 men as they were cut down by Japanese machine gunners on the shores and beaches, while of the 4,700 Japanese defenders, only 17 survived.
Sixty-three years later, the regiment’s reputation for courage and tenacity under fire continues in the desert and urban battlefields of Iraq, embodied in the fighting spirit of the Marines and sailors who risk their lives everyday fighting in the Global War on Terrorism.
On Jan. 25, eight such warriors with the 2nd Marine Regiment received Purple Heart Medals here Jan. 25 for wounds suffered during combat operations in Iraq throughout the past year. Another was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device.
Presenting the Marines their awards was Col. George P. Garrett, 2nd Marine Division’s chief of staff.
“I want to thank you all on behalf of the commanding general for putting it all on the line,” Garrett said to the assembled Marines after the awards presentation. “We’ve treasured the sacrifices you all have put forth.”
For Marines like Lance Cpl. Matthew Crowe, a squad automatic weapon gunner with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and one of the Purple Heart recipients, the fight for freedom abroad came at no light cost.
The 19-year-old Ligonier, Penn. native was serving as a vehicle gunner aboard a re-supply convoy Dec. 1, 2005 when his near brush with death occurred. His unit had been operating in Karmah, a city located near Fallujah, Iraq.
“The convoy was hit by an IED (improvised explosive device) while we were coming back, and shrapnel blew through the humvee, hitting me three times in the left leg,” Crowe explained. “Two of the pieces went through and broke my fibula, and I was knocked out from the blast.”
“I woke up, and I saw my leg all mangled up and bleeding,” he continued. “It just felt like we’d been hit out of nowhere.”
Crowe received what medical care he could in Iraq before being rushed back to the U.S. for further treatment.
“I couldn’t walk for the first month,” said Crowe, a 2004 graduate of Ligonier Valley High School who played quarterback for his football team. “It really sucked for that first month, because I was used to being active and running a lot.”
Crowe currently continues to recover from his wounds, and looks forward to continuing his career in the military.
“I think everything will go back to normal,” he stated. “This really hasn’t changed anything. I still have a lot of pride in being a Marine.”
To senior commanders like Garrett, this can-do attitude has and always will be the hallmark of every Marine. The Corps stands resolute to continue the fight on terrorism abroad, he said.
“This generation has stood up to the hardest test the Marine Corps has ever had,” Garrett stated. “It’s something that the whole country is extremely proud of.”
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines with the 2nd Marine Regiment stand at attention as Col. George P. Garrett, 2nd Marine Division’s chief of staff, presents them their Purple Heart Medals here Jan. 25. Eight of the regiment’s Marines were awarded these medals for injuries suffered during a recent deployment to Iraq, while another leatherneck was presented a Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device for displaying courage under enemy fire. Photo by: Cpl. Athanasios Genos
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Lance Cpl. Matthew Crowe, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, is presented his Purple Heart Medal here Jan. 25. The 19-year-old Ligonier, Penn. native broke his let fibula Dec. 1, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy in Karmah, Iraq, and peppered his leg with shrapnel.
Photo by: Cpl. Athanasios Genos
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| Monday, 30-Jan-2006 01:38 |
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Karmah, Iraq OIF4!
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And you want me to wear side armor too?
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OK, didn't get this Grunt's name. Help me out!
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Just a walk in the park!
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Just some random pics. Patrolling with IA 1-4-1. The first stand alone Iraqi BN in theater! 
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| Tuesday, 24-Jan-2006 12:00 |
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Sgt Sean H. Miles
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Sean died doing what he said he would do, "Bring his Marines home!". God Bless Him! Fair Winds Sgt!
There is an excellent slideshow of Sean on the link in the first story below. - JHD
Marine Came From Military Tradition
Sergeant's family proud of their Marine
BY MEREDITH BONNY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Friday, January 27, 2006
Sean Miles knew every Star Wars movie by heart.
In high school, he hated homework and relished football. As a fullback at Clover Hill High in Chesterfield County, Miles dreamed of becoming a professional football player.
He loved the Redskins, but he lived the Marines.
A black-belt, martial-arts instructor, the 28-year-old Marine Corps sergeant couldn't sit through an episode of "Cops" if children were involved in the plot.
He vowed his son, 2½ year-old Tyler, would grow up strong.
This week, Miles died proving what strength means.
Fewer than two weeks before he was due to wind up a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq, Miles was killed in action Tuesday in the Iraqi town of Karmah, about 50 miles west of Baghdad.
"He lived and breathed being a U.S. Marine platoon sergeant, and he died pulling a fellow Marine to safety," said Michael Miles, Sean's father.
Yesterday, Miles' parents, who live in Chesterfield's Woodlake subdivision, spent the day at Camp Lejeune, N.C., with Miles' widow, Genevieve, and their grandson.
They shared stories about their son.
"He was a tough guy on the outside but such a softie on the inside," Miles' mother, Debbie Miles, said with a laugh. "I never thought Sean would be ready for fatherhood, but he grabbed the bull by the horns."
"Tyler was the love of his life. He was his daddy's little boy," she said. "We will make sure he knows everything he needs to know about his father, even the silly things."
Miles, who came from a family with a military tradition, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He died as a result of small-arms fire, a Department of Defense news release said.
Miles joined the Marines in October 1996, the year he graduated from high school. Before deploying to Iraq, he did two tours in the Pacific Rim, following in the footsteps of an uncle, Regi Miles, a Marine gunnery sergeant who died in 1988 during a training exercise in Okinawa.
Sean Miles named his son, Tyler Regi Miles, after him.
"He looked up [to his uncle] all the time," said Henry A. Miles Jr., Miles' grandfather and a World War II Navy veteran who served with the Seabees in Okinawa.
"For us it's like it's happening all over again," the grandfather said.
Sean Miles was born in Long Island, grew up in Virginia and was stationed at Camp Lejeune. He will be buried in San Antonio, his wife's hometown.
"We want him to be with her and his son," Debbie Miles said, adding that a memorial service would be held in the Richmond area next week.
Miles, a middle child, moved to Chesterfield in 1990. He attended Swift Creek Middle School and graduated from Clover Hill.
"He wanted to play football more than anything in the world," his mother said, adding that on the gridiron her son had more heart than skill.
"He was decent," she said, chuckling.
Ted Salmon was Miles' varsity football coach.
At 168 pounds, "he was not big . . . but he was an outstanding young man who played with a lot of heart," Salmon said. "He was the kind of player you really enjoyed having. He played with a lot of desire."
Erin Miles, Sean's sister, got emotional yesterday when she talked about her older brother.
The two were born just more than a year apart and looked alike.
"We grew up so identical," she said. "I always tagged along with all of his buddies. He always looked out for me."
She laughed as she recalled how her brother would sniff out the Christmas presents and torment her with the details.
"He would say: 'I found Mom's hiding spot. Do you want to know what you got?'"
But just minutes after laughing, Erin Miles started to cry.
She was going to miss him, she said.
More importantly, she wanted people to know just how good her brother was and how proud she was of him.
"There was nothing about him that was not a Marine," she said. "I want people to know that.
"I want them to know what an outstanding Marine he was. With all this anti-war talk, I want them to know how proud we are of his service. There will never come a day that we will regret it."
Contact staff writer Meredith Bonny at mbonny@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6452.
Staff writer Holly Prestidge contributed to this report.
This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833681372
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012502613.html
Va. Marine Dies 3 Weeks Before Iraq Tour Was to End
By Allan Lengel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 26, 2006; B03
Sgt. Sean Miles was a tough Marine with a soft heart.
Last summer, just before shoving off for Iraq, Miles phoned his older brother back home in Virginia and asked him to "keep an eye" on his 2 1/2 -year old son, Tyler, in case the unthinkable happened.
"I didn't want to talk about it," said Christopher Miles of Midlothian, where the family had moved in 1990 from New York. "I felt talking about it would jinx it, but it was something he wanted to talk about."
On Tuesday, the unthinkable happened.
Sean Miles, 28, was killed by small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Karmah, Iraq, just three weeks before he was scheduled to complete his seven-month tour.
He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Among his decorations were the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Yesterday, family and friends gathered at his home in North Carolina, where his wife, Genevieve, and son had been anxiously awaiting his return. The family chose brother Christopher, 30, the oldest of three siblings, to speak about Sean.
"He was one of those people everyone seemed to know," Miles said. "We keep having people come up to us and say they knew him or say they went to school with him. I can't imagine the number of friends he had. I'm the introvert of the two of us. I'm envious of the lives he touched."
Miles said his brother loved sports and excelled in varsity football at Clover Hill High School in Midlothian, west of Richmond.
"He was the jock of the family," Miles said. "He loved to live and relive those glory days."
After a game, if he had made any outstanding plays, he liked to watch the video. Sometimes, he watched the videos "years after the fact," Miles said.
In 1996, as graduation approached, his brother was set on joining the Marines.
"I think he didn't consider anything else but the military," said Miles, who served in the Navy.
"When he put on the uniform, he was 100 percent Marine," Miles said. "He was the poster child for the Marine Corps. He lived and breathed the Marine Corps. He had such pride in wearing the uniform."
Miles said his brother trained Marines at Camp Lejeune before heading to Iraq. He felt the need to go there.
"He wanted to be able to say he'd been there and served," Miles said.
This month, Sean Miles belatedly received a Christmas package from home filled with goodies and gifts, including videos of Redskin football games his father had taped.
"His big concern was the Redskins," Miles said.
Yesterday, in the face of loss, Miles said that "as upset as we are," the family does not regret Sean Miles's service.
"He believed in what we were there for," his brother said.
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| Sunday, 22-Jan-2006 12:00 |
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Advance returns and Da Grunt comes home!
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It was a grand Homecoming last weekend. Small but glorious nonetheless! I'd like to take a minute and thank Golf CO's lovely wife, Lisa, for doing such a great job keeping us informed and coming out to meet the bus on such a blustery evening! There were only a small few Golf Marines and we sincerely thank you for helping make the Homecoming even more enjoyable! 
Won't be long now 'til the Main Body hits the deck onboard CL! 
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| Sunday, 15-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Commander's Update!
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15 January 2006
Warlord Family and Friends,
We are two weeks into our New Year and I hope this letter finds you happy and healthy. The Men of Task Force 2/2 continue to perform magnificently and make me proud through their selfless duty. We continue to grow closer to the completion of our deployment and mission accomplishment. Our top priority remains the development of the Iraqi Army. Over the deployment, we have continually worked to develop and improve our fellow battalion, 1-4-1 Iraq Army. They were the first to assume their own battlespace in the Al Anbar Province. Now they have moved to a new and more difficult town, assuming independent control. In doing so, they have shown their character and determination to take control in securing Iraq’s future. This success exemplifies the hard work of the entire Task Force to achieve a significant goal. It required continual, daily dedication to training and mentoring along with original thinking to work through emerging problems. In all cases, the Marines’ performance was fantastic and they can be proud of this accomplishment.
With this achievement, we continue to press hard and keep the enemy on its heels so they don’t have time to catch their breath. Even with the end in sight, we must maintain pressure and remain disciplined and dedicated to the mission. Ours is one piece of a much larger puzzle and we have to do our share so that the Division and Coalition can achieve its goals in Iraq.
I look forward to getting the battalion home and out on some well deserved leave. The leave period will begin somewhere around 21 February and continue to approximately 20 March 2006. The start date will not be firm until after flight dates are validated. As we get closer, we’ll provide greater fidelity on the official leave dates. In that, please do not commit yourself to plans that cannot be changed. I feel safe in saying you can commit to plans with a start date of 28 February and an end date no later than 12 March. Be sure to plan smart in order to get your Marine back from leave on time.
When we return, the Main Body will arrive at Geottge Field House (we’ll post directions on the website). This is a change from last year, when it was at the battalion CP. Camp Lejeune weather in January can be harsh so we are planning on having a warm, dry location big enough for the families and friends to wait for our arrival. Please do not go to Cherry Point in hopes of meeting your Marine there. He will not be allowed to join family and friends until after we all arrive at Camp Lejeune. This is for accountability and security reasons. Please be patient. Upon return, your Warlord will get the rest of the arrival day off as well as the day after arrival. We will then return to work to complete post-deployment requirements. By taking only one day off, we can begin our leave period sooner.
Information on the arrival of the Main Body can be obtained by calling our 1-800 number. We will also publish the number of our Command Post (CP) on this website in our last newsletter, February 1st. At our CP, a Marine will be able to provide an approximate arrival date and time of your Marine or Sailor at Camp Lejeune. You must know his full name.
We are all very excited to get home to our loved ones. It becomes increasingly difficult to think of much else. However, the importance of our deployment and lethality of the enemy keeps our focus on each patrol and mission. I’ll continue to reinforce the importance of remaining vigilant and disciplined down the “home stretch”. Please assist my leaders by reminding your Warlords the dangers of becoming complacent in the final weeks.
Again, I’m pleased to announce another addition to our Warlord family. LCpl Brian Kline and wife Angela are proud to report the birth of their daughter Isabella. I’m happy to say baby and Mom are both doing well. They soon will all be together and we wish them all the very best
It remains my humble pleasure to Command your husbands, sons, brothers and friends. I will never be able to express my appreciation for your support over the course of this demanding and noble deployment. Your generosity and assistance has been overwhelming. A special appreciation goes out to Jayme Alexander, Erin Dixon and their team of KVN coordinators, along with all the Warlord KV’s. You are awesome!! Our final Newsletter will hit the web 1 February. Until then, Take Care and God Bless.
I remain Semper Fidelis,
James J Minick
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| Monday, 2-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Commander's Update!
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1 January 2006
Warlord Families and Friends,
Happy New Year! The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines rang in the New Year by continuing combat operations. With the world celebrating the turn of a new year, the Marines, Sailors, and families remained vigilant to the continuing operations in Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. I include all of you because families bear a great burden themselves in support of the Marine Corps’ mission. While we have been deployed during five months of 2005, you have been at home supporting us and for that we are grateful. The success of the Global War on Terrorism resides, in part, on the support and hard work of the families back home. You too play a part in this fight to rid the world of terrorism and you bear a great burden yourselves. This burden and the importance of solid support from home are largely unrecognized by those outside the military. I want you all to understand that we know and appreciate that you are every bit the patriot as the Marines and Sailors of this magnificent Task Force.
The most anticipated information of any Newsletter during this deployment will invariably be scoop on return dates. I’m going to qualify all information upfront: 1st- Due to Operational Security I can not be very specific. 2nd - All dates are subject to change due to mission requirements.
Please be tolerant and patient with the conditions we must operate under. Obviously we are making the run towards redeployment and excitement will build quickly. I will continue to remain firm that the Marines and Sailors stay focused on the mission at hand. They will not be allowed to waiver or relax until they are on the plane and flying home to ensure their safety and the success of our mission. With that said, I will give you all the information I can. We expect the advance party to arrive the last week in January and the mainbody Mid-February. We will update the 1-800 number as we get closer to the end of the deployment with specific dates of our return. This is always a frustrating time and I can understand the angst this vague information causes. Nevertheless, for reasons of security we cannot provide complete fidelity on arrival dates.
Of critical importance will be the reunion and subsequent leave and liberty period following our return. I want you all to enjoy the reunion and spend time getting to know one another again. There will be a lot of emotion and it will take some time to adjust to each other and family routines. Patience and understanding by Marines, Sailors and family alike, will be critical so that we all can get back to our regular routines. It is nothing to fear but something to be aware of.
Just as critical will be safety during the leave period. I do not consider our mission complete until all Marines, Sailors and families have returned safely from post-deployment leave. A normal reaction will be to make up for lost time of celebration and attempt to cram more activities into a short time span than reasonable or responsible. Please encourage your Warlord not to overdue his travel plans and TAKE THEIR TIME. Vehicles and alcohol will be of major concern to me and I ask all involved, Marines, Sailors, families and friends, to think twice and to look out for one another. It would be tragic to lose a member of the Task Force after he successfully finished seven months of combat operations in Iraq. Other units returning have suffered such tragedy with Marines killed or seriously injured from preventable accidents due to vehicles and alcohol. Take time to adjust, enjoy the reunion period and remember to celebrate wisely and safely.
Our plan is to conduct a block leave after required transition training is complete at CLNC. The leave period is four weeks long. I expect to publish a ten day period in the next Newsletter that is in the center of the leave period. This will allow families to plan vacation trips and look for good travel deals. From experience I know that schedules can change due to unforeseen events. Please wait until dates and events firm up.
Mail should not be sent to Task Force 2/2. We have reached a point when you risk him not receiving the package or mail before our departure. He will still receive mail but it will be processed here in Iraq and forwarded back to Camp Lejeune, greatly extending the total mailing time by probably four to six weeks. The Camp Lejeune mailing addresses for each company are listed on this website.
I’m pleased to announce the arrival of more “Baby Warlords”. All “Baby Warlords” are special and each one is a terrific Blessing. However, yesterday I learned of one birth that has special significance to many of us. Katherine Cathey, the wonderful wife of the late, 2nd Lieutenant James Joseph Cathey, gave birth to James Cathey Jr. on December 22nd 2005. Although, “Cat” never had the opportunity to hold his son we all know James Jr. has an Angel watching over him. The legacy of this brave “Lieutenant of Marines” lives on in James Jr. Katherine, please know you are special to the Warlord family and you are never forgotten. Congratulations also to 2nd Lt Joseph and Tara Seykora with the arrival of their son Thaden Ty Seykora.
In closing, I want to remind all family and friends we will not allow your Warlord to get distracted from his mission. We must remain vigilant and focused on the threat and mission. Although, nothing sounds more enjoyable than our upcoming reunion, we must stay focused and fight complacency until we are safely out of theater. Please reinforce this message when you communicate with him via phone or email. As always, thank you for your tremendous support during our deployment.
I remain Semper Fidelis,
James J Minick
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| Friday, 30-Dec-2005 00:00 |
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2nd Battalion 2nd Marines Company G December 2005 Newsletter
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Thought y'all might like to read the December newsletter for Da Boys of Company G! - JHD
2/2 Company G Raiders - December Newsletter
COMMANDING OFFICER’S CORNER
Company G Friends and Family,
It is great pride that I begin this newsletter with the news of the achievements of your Marines. The Marines of Company G, as part of the Coalition Forces in Iraq, helped secure the country of Iraq to facilitate safe and free elections for the people of Iraq. As we are a little “out of the loop” on news and current events and not able to know what is being said in the news, I can confidently tell you the elections were seen as a tremendous success by the people in Al-Karmah, Iraq. Your Marines have helped write a chapter of history that will forever been spoken about in the classrooms all over the world. While, such an achievement has not been without sacrifice, I hope we may all take solitude in knowing those sacrifices were not in vain and that we have truly made a difference for a nation of people that never even knew they could have a choice of government.
As the days and months have gone by, we have all kept a quiet count of the months and days remaining until we would reunite with our loved ones. As that day approaches, I ask for everyone’s understanding of the fact that the actual date of our return will be safeguarded for operational security purposes. As soon as it is safe to release the date, the date will be passed onto your Marines and to you. Currently, we are expected to return on or about the date that we were originally scheduled to return on. I also would like to ask all families and friends to not fall prey to the “rumor mill” of a return date. This will only cause those here and at home confusion about the real date of our return. I apologize for not being able to provide you with more information in which to make plans for the return, but rest assured I will keep you informed as we get more information.
I would also like to extend our “thanks” to all those who have supported us while deployed. The Marines have received a tremendous amount of letters and care packages. I could not have asked for more support for your Marines and it has certainly made life a little more bearable during their times away from family and friends.
I do not know if this letter will be received before Christmas and New Years, but from all the Raiders of Company G, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years. See you soon.
GOD BLESS the USA and Semper Fidelis !
Captain Joel F. Schmidt, USMC
1stSgt’s Corner
The Marines of Company G have relocated to the city of Al Karmah and are now operating from 3 patrol bases known as OP3, Camp Delta, and temporarily the Iraqi Police Station. They completed an enormous amount of work at all three places in order to improve force protection and quality of life. I am impressed daily by the efforts of your sons and husbands. As a result of their tireless efforts the National Elections were a huge success and we had over 70 % voter turn out in our area of operations.
We would like to send our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and all are looking forward to our return in the New Year.
Congratulations to the following Marines that were promoted to their present rank on December 1st: Corporal’s Dix, Perry, Groves, Westfall, Mendoza, and Park. Lance Corporal’s Brush, Burdick, and Boggs, M. In addition we frocked Hospital Corpsman Third Class McMillan and Nieves to their present rank. Corporal Jesse Hill (G4) was promoted meritoriously on December 2nd. 1stLt Mulvaney, LCpl Brooks, and LCpl Csira were awarded the Purple Heart medal.
"This country was founded and built by people with great dreams and the courage to take great risks."
Operations and Events
As December comes to and end and I begin to summarize how much the Marines did during the past month, I can hardly believe we were able to do it all. We participated in four battalion-level operations, managed to significantly improve the force protection and quality of living conditions at our new OPs, train with and incorporate the Iraqi Army Battalion into the city of Al-Karmah, and continued to maintain a very intensive patrolling schedule in order to provide security to the people of Al-Karmah, Iraq.
During the first couple of weeks in December the Marines focused on conducting operations that disrupted the enemy within our new AO of Al-Karmah, Iraq. Part of the disruption of the enemy in our AO includes conducting combat patrols of the streets and alleyways of Al-Karmah in order to show the people they are safe from enemy intimidation. As a result of our patrolling efforts we have seen the local people begin to assist us in attempting to capture the enemy. It is a very difficult to convince the people to help us due to their fear of reprisal from the enemy, but we have made significant headway in interacting with the people in order to help them provide security for themselves.
Our efforts during the first weeks of December were successful well beyond our expectations. The people of Al-Karmah, despite the enemy’s best efforts, came out in record numbers to vote for their national leadership. We conducted several patrols during the day of elections at it was a amazing to see how proud the people were of their inked fingers, signaling that they voted.
In addition to the successful elections, Company G has been working with the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Division (1-4-1) of the Iraqi Army in order to prepare them for assuming their own AO within our Battalion’s AO. This is a monumental achievement for the Marines of Company G, the Battalion, the United States of America, and Iraq because it is a sign that the Iraqi Army is gaining proficiency and is preparing to take over the security of their own nation.
I am also happy to mention that your Marines were able to get their first break in a couple of months by returning to Camp Fallujah for more than just a few hours. Their return to Camp Fallujah allowed them to get a warm shower, hot chow in a chow hall, have access to computers and phones, and generally just relax a little bit. It was a well deserved break, and one that we should be able to maintain, so they are only out in the AO for about 8 days at time, then back at Camp Fallujah for four days. Again, a well deserved break.
As our date of return gets closer, I will continue to get more current information back to the Raiders’ families and friends about our date of return. I know all the Marines look forward to returning to the Good Old USA and spending time with family and friends.
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SEMPER FIDELIS !
KV Corner
I am very pleased to announce the birth of James Jeffery Cathey Jr. He was born on December 22, 2005. Weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and is 21 inches long. Mom and son are both doing well. Many have expressed their want to donate to the family and I will be glad to forward on any gift cards, checks, or gifts to Katherine Cathey. Please send them to my home address at 304 King Richard Court Jacksonville, NC 28546.
Time is getting closer to our Marines coming home! ? I am sure you are as excited about this as my children and I! I know it is difficult to not have an exact date, especially for those not here in Jacksonville. I also wanted to let everyone know that stop mail for our men will be on January 1st. I know that this news may be getting to you late, but I received it after the last newsletter went out. Sorry for this. I hope some of you have already heard this due to the marine parents web sight or from hearing it from others.
Please remember that Extreme outfitters in Jacksonville has a lot of Raider clothing and hats at a discounted price to family members. If you would like to show your support to our Raiders by wearing their logo for the homecoming this is the place to get it. Their phone number is (910) 355-2118.
I would like to thank everyone who sent me Christmas cards. I enjoyed reading all the wonderful words you have written me. I feel honored to help with this newsletter and be a support to the families of these fine warriors. Please let me know if I can assist you in any way in the future. May your New Year be filled with happiness and prosperity. God Bless you and yours,
Lisa Beth Schmidt
Comments from the Crowd
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” – LCpl Pope, LCpl Taylor
“Roll Tide” – LCpl Maples
“Perfection is just a drink away, Happy New Year” – LCpl Rogers
“Shakamaku” – LCpl Story
“Thank you for supporting us and Merry Christmas” – Sgt Bynum
“Raiders” – LCpl Brooks
“Happy Holidays” – LCpl Powell, LCpl Wilhelm, LCpl Marx, HN Hinson, LCpl Minks, HM3 Creager, Pvt Garcia, LCpl Lichty, LCpl Mullins, LCpl Nathaniel, LCpl Griffith, LCpl Milrot, and LCpl Walton.
“Happy Holidays and have a great year, love ya mom” – Justin (LCpl Herrington)
“Wishing you were here, just kidding, see you soon” – Lt Welch
“Well at least this year I have a real excuse not to visit the in-laws. War Eagle!” – SSgt Steiner
“Go Bangels” – Cpl Westfall
“Holidays are about celebrating with those you love. We are in your hearts and mind, that’s all you need to celebrate the holidays.” – Sergeant Donnelly
“I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” – Cpl Giusiti
“I would like to wish everyone back home a Happy Holidays” – LCpl Patterson
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All” –LCpl Jacquemin
“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Kristen, Mom, Dad, Nick, Kelly, and Grandma.” – LCpl Corder
“The envious hate the excellency they cannot achieve.” – Cpl Wade\"
“Merry Christmas Everyone” – LCpl Woods
“Dear Family, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love you and miss you.” –Austin Collom
“Happy New Years and Reyes to Santiago Family.” –Cpl Santiago
“Merry Christmas to all.” –LCpl Muentes
“Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.” –Green, J.K
“Merry Christmas to all and all your family.” –Terrano, P.M.
“Merry Christmas to the Kefalides family, I miss and love all of you.” –Kefalides, N.G.
“Merry Christmas. Wish you were here with me.” –Morgan, T.W.
“Merry Christmas, where’s the mail.” –Wallace, L.A.
“To my beautiful wife Amanda, Merry Christmas! I love you babe !” Love, Tim Devine
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...just got in from my excellent mystery adventure and I'm wiped out, 
