Marine Corps pictures from Afghanistan as well as some comments direct from those so bravely serving our country during Operation Enduring Freedom. Semper Fi Sgt Grit

Marine Corps BS Afghanistan Volume 1

Lcpl Joshua Townsend

Just want to give a big shout out to our son LCPL Joshua Townsend of the 1/3 who has just completed a 7 month deployment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. We would also like to acknowledge all our military personnel and we really appreciate all their efforts and sacrifices especially our Marines. We wish and pray all have a quick tour and safe return. Attached is a photo of Josh and fellow Afghan soldier.

Phillip Townsend

2010 Deployment

This picture shows all the Sacrifices made by our Marine Families!!!! SSGT. Bernard J. Coyne and his wife Kathryn Coyne SSGT Coyne's MOS is EOD, and he is stationed at Camp Lejune, NC. Kathryn lives in Jacksonville, NC with their three children, Julianna, 9, Cadence,3, Bernard III, one year old SSGT. Coyne left Jan 19th aboard the Mesa-Verde. diverted to Haiti, on it's way to the Middle East.

Mother of a Marine,
Christine Coyne

Fallen Marine

The family of Marine Staff Sgt. Matt Ingham comfort one another as his casket arrives at the Altoona-Blair County Airport in Martinsburg. on Monday, Jan. 18. Sgt. Ingham, 25, Altoona, was killed in action in Afghanistan.

My husband Sgt. Whalen

Hello Sgt. Grit

My name is Emily Whalen, I am happily and proudly married to Sgt. Skyler Whalen. We get alot of things from your very nice online store you have put together. He is home for about 10 more days and then he is going back to afgan I couldnt live without your store I could build a dog house from all the nik-naks I got. I had an old marine salute me yesterday he saw me emlem on every window of my truck and it just made me feel like shouting out to you were getting Skyler a Marine Corps Saddle made for christmas his 2 most loved things n one i will send you an image of what it looks like you might get a kick out of it.

Sincerly Emily Whalen

Artillery Tale

Hey Grit,

July, 1969, An Hoa Combat Base, I CORP, 3rd 8 inch How. Btry (SP) Capt. Hudiberg was our CO......I'm a FNG 0811 learning the A gunner job on gun 1. During a fire mission one night, after loading a round and powder charge, I had closed and locked the breechblock, was leaning down and inserting a primer when we had a rocket hit just outside the gun pit (charles was returning fire). Not sure if the concussion from the explosion or him just ducking down, but the gunner accidently depressed the hydraulic lever that operated the ramming chain at the precise moment that my hand was down in front of the breech block. Result: squashed hand...several broken bones and a puncture wound.(no purple heart, heh). Medivaced to 1st MED in Danang and got it wrapped and set, to return a week later with a NO DUTY CHIT. In typical Marine Corps fashion, the powers that be decided that I was of no use to the gun platoon, so I was transferred back to the Northern Artillery Contonement (HQ Btry) to be the S-3 Admin. as a typist.....go figger. Hunt and Peck for 3 months before the wrapping and cast removed from left hand. All my whining to no avail....never did get sent back to the guns. Ended up on the Battery REACT squad.

I'm currently a contractor in Afghanistan (starting my 5th year) at F.O.B. Organ-E. These young hard chargers are still getting it done. Cmdnt Conway and the Sgt Major came to our camp last year(when I was at Kandahar) and I got my picture taken with them and got a coin from each. I can now die happy! OOORAH!

Photo L to R.... Me, Sgt. Major, 1st Sgt Leon Wright (retired), the Commandant, M/GySgt Fred Coburn (retired)

Deck, A.C., 2504732 USMC NCOAD (not currently on active duty)

A C Deck

My husband Sgt. Whalen

Merry Christmas to all!

To all our friends and family back home,

Merry Christmas from Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan!

Grace and Peace,
Chaplain Andrew Wade
RP1 Rodney Bracey

Fallen Hero in Afghanistan 11/07/09

Funeral services will be held today, 11/16/09 in Union Bridge, MD for Fallen Hero Sgt. Charles Cartwright, 26 yrs. old, who was killed in action on 11/07/09 in Afghanistan, while serving with the 1st MSOB. Cartwright was on his 5th combat deployment, since enlisting into the Marine Corps in 2001. He was the receipient of 2 Purple Hearts, as well as, numerous declarations for valor.He served with my son, Lt. Clayton Anderson, USMC, in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. Clay, along with many former 1/5 Marines will attend the funeral. Charles leaves behind his wife, Marissa, of 11 months, his parents, and one sister. He paid the ultimate sacrifice and we thank him for his service to his country and our Marine Corps. Please pray for his wife and family that he leaves behind. Semper Fi, J. T. Anderson, USMC. '71-'73

PFC Jack D. Ferguson

PFC Jack D. Ferguson
National Cemetery Houston, TX
Christmas Morning, 2008
He was home on leave and wanted to remember those who had fallen protecting America

He is now LCpl and serving in Afghanistan.

Thank You

Sgt. Grit, my name is Dennis Francis and I am 47 years old. I tell you that because I am now a security contractor in Afghanistan and have been for the last three years. I was a Marine in H+S Company 1/2 from 1980-85 and was a police officer for 22 yrs before coming to Afghanistan. I am writing this letter to thank you for your support and dedication to Marines everywhere, because I want you to understand how much you mean to all of us. I have had the pleasure of being embedded with Golf Company 2/7 and working with the Marine Special Operations Command and I have to tell you that they do " still make em like they use to ". I had to train hard just to keep up with them and I was proud to be allowed to operate with them. Their courage and bravery brought tears to my eyes during many battles and it was an honor to be excepted by them. By the way, I was affectionately labeled " old dude". They loved your products, the baseball caps and all of your stuff but were especially proud of the EGA patch that I proudly displayed on my combat uniform.

You are truly a hero to all of us and I just want to take this time to personally say a heartfelt " thank you".

Semper Fi,
Dennis Francis

Marine Husband

I'm so proud to have the Eagle Globe and Anchor sticker on my vehicle, an elderly gentleman saluted me today. This is my husband who is coming home from Afghanistan, hopefully soon. I enjoy your website, Semper Fi.

Our Marine

Our son, Clint Thomas, was promoted on or about 2 August 2009 to Master Sergeant, USMC, while in Afghanistan with 2Bn 3rd Marines. We couldn't be prouder.

Wayne & Debi Thomas

L/Cpl James B. Wolter Jr.

My youngest son L/Cpl James B. Wolter Jr. is serving with 2nd LAR in Afghanstan. I sent him my American Flag thinking that he would keep it safe in his gear. I wanted him to have it as a daily reminder of just what they were fighting for. Little did I know that he would honor his old man in such a way. See, I carried this flag through my 4 years as a MARINE also. Do we need a better recruiting poster? I have this picture as my computer wallpaper, as my home screen on my Blackberry, frames at work and another at home. People now run and hide as I pull out my Blackberry uttering the famous words, " Have I shown You my Sons Picture?" Proud Papa??? You think?

Semper Fi
Jim Wolter
1969-1974

LCpl Wharton

Hey, Sgt, Grit.

Thought you might like some pics of my son, Jesse in Afghanistan. The group pic is of his embedded training team, ETT 5-4. 4 of them, including himself, are training the ANA or Afghan National Army and the rest are assigned to humanitarian teams throughout Aghanistan. The other pic is of him playing football with our army. Who says our marines and army can't get along? LOL!

He has been stationed in the Kunar Province which is on the border of Pakistan since November.

Thanks for all of your support for our brave men and women....I call his ETT pic "The band of Brothers".

SEMPER FI....
Kelly Sekuterski

My Son in Afghanistan

Hey, Sgt. Grit!

Just thought I would share a few photos of my son, Jesse. He is currently deployed in the Kunar Province of Aghanistan....

Semper Fi!

Proud Marine Mom

LCpl Wharton

My son Lcpl. Wharton who is on his first deployment in Afghanistan. I am so proud of our Marines, thanks for your newsletters all the information is so helpful to our family.

Semper Fi
VPMM Lcpl. Nathan

LCpl Wilson

Hello I just placed an order and feel it is right of me to inform you of the recent loss of my son, LCpl Wilson, Ivan I . He was KIA in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on July 21, 2008... all so fresh in my mind, from the 5 am knock on the door to now as I simply write this. I ordered some items and wanted to share with you this. I am attaching a pic of him just sent to me from his Marine buddies from the sand!

Thanks again, Denise Wilson A Very Proud Marine Mom

Master Gunns Holy

Sgt Grit,

I was looking at your page and noticed the section you had about Afghanistan, and seen that MgySgt Holy had sent in some photos of him and some of the Marines there at Bagram. I had the pleasure of meeting MgySgt Holy and from the minute I met him I knew he was one of those old war dogs that led from the front. He came out to our FOB in Asadabad to visit and meet the Marines out there. While he was there he wanted to go out on one of our missions with our unit. When we were conducting the convoy brief and letting everyone know what vehicle and where they were going to be during the mission. The Master Gunny had a complaint about just ridding in the humvee, he told us "he was sure he could shoot better then anyone there and that he would be better off manning the 50cal instead of just riding in the damn humvee." I was there in 2005 and was injured by a ied blast. After I got hurt he made sure that while I was in Afghanistan that a Marine would be right beside me at all times incase I woke up that way I wouldnt be alone. He even kept my family up to date as to when I would be getting back state side, and has kept in contact with me ever since. I attached a picture of me receiving my Purple Heart from General Hagee and a couple other ones.

Semper Fi Cpl Epperson

Tun Tavern Afghanistan

Sgt. Grit, the gear you sent is a great addition. Please feel free to use them . If there is anything I can do for you please let me know. Thank You Marine!

Semper Fidelis
MGySgt Holy

Just got back from Afghanistan

I just got back form Bagram/Kandahar, Afghanistan. Took some pictures a Marine monument of their dead killed in Afghanistan. I thought I would share it with you.

Out Here,

Norman W Crowe
SSGT USMC 68-78
Vietnam- 69-70, H&S Co 1st Tanks/Co F 2nd Bn 1st Marines

25 Lessons Presentation

25 Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan

Meeting GySgt Ermey

Hey. I've been an avid visitor and buyer of your products on your website for the past two years since I joined the beloved Corps and REALLY appreciate what you do for us there. Thank you. Little story about this picture. I'm a Reservist out of NAS Atlanta assigned to MAG-42. Last April on my drill weekend we were shipping out the 2nd wave of HMLA-773 to Trashcanistan to go sling lead and death upon those little sh** stains that started this. That Saturday one of my shopmates told us that Lee Ermey was coming in the next day to travel with the group and do another season of episodes for "Mail Call" on the History Channel with them. We were like "You're kidding right?" Well, the next day someone said that he was in our main hangar so we all ventured over there. Sure enough, there was THE drill instructor himself, Gunny Ermey. The entire group gathered 'round as he told his VERY colorful story of his tour in Iraq doing the documentary with our guys and gals. He summed it up pretty well. "WHAT A SH***Y PLACE TO PUT A CITY!" He told of us making great progress there, contrary to the news media (such as the "Communist News Network" CNN) bashing us about our presense there, bashed movie stars such as Sean Penn and Tim Robbins (rightfully so), and said that we were kicking ass and taking names. I had to get a picture of this rare moment of me with probably the only Marine just as popular (if not more than) as the Commandant.

Semper Fi,
Lcpl. Jacob Allen
MALS-42 MAG-42 NAS Atl
On Time, On Target Baby!

Just back from Afghanistan

Me at Lejuene getting my first NAM from Col Kahn

View Volume 2

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