Sgt Grit's Marine BS Iraqi War Volume 15

On Our Way

Here is a pic of myself on the flight and of all the Marines from OMC(-) before we left for the airport for Iraq.

Cpl Braden Bergman

On Patrol

My son-in-law is just back from his second deployment to the middle east. His first tour was at Camp Fallujah in Iraq. He sent many interesting photos, but one in particular stood out. He said he came across these two cars broken down by the side of the highway one day as they were out on patrol - he said it was the way some of the Iraqi's transported food from the market. I have enclosed it, and also a picture of Brent Brumfield in back of his trak. To all the Marines who are serving our country, I want to say thank you. You and your families are in our prayers daily.

Maureen Innis, Kalispell, Montana

LCpl Ramcharan

My son is a 19 year old active duty Marine, deployed to Iraq. When he was in boot camp he got the Expert level in the Rifle Qualification, and the pin to wear that goes with it. When he came home on leave he found his grandfather's Expert Rifleman pin, from WW II, the same exact one he was given. It's in mint condition and he checked to see if he could wear it and was told "By All Means, Marine!". His grandfather passed away, but when I think of how proud he'd be of his Grandson, well, there aren't words to describe.

This face should be on a recruiting poster!

Adopted Marine

Ma’am,

I want to let you know that CLB 8 appreciates the packages coming. The Marines love them!!! I got one from Elizabeth Wigley of Albuquerque, NM. These are items I will keep the rest of my life. Here are a couple in pics; I am the one on the right. I am a huge fan of Sgt Grit’s Magazine and please tell everyone there THANK YOU.

V/R
Sgt Snook EJ
Ammo Chief CLB-8

Sheepdog Number 9

First row, squat on the ground, Lance Corporal Jake Stark, Sheepdog Number 9
My Grandson in Iraq

Saying Goodbye

This is my wonderful husband, telling our 4 year old, Gracie, goodbye. He left Sep. 4, 2007.,for Iraq. I think this picture shows how much our men give up and leave behind. We have 4 children, And the best daddy in the world went to fight for our country. I would have it no other way!

~Proud wife of Ssgt. Wysong

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Greet Marines in Iraq

Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders visit the Marines in Iraq. Cpl Marks with knows how to roll! That's my boy - a chip off the old block!

David Marks Plano, Texas

My Nephew

My Nephew is in the Marines!!! He sent these pictures to me. The first one gives me chills. He's the Marine on the right.

CDunn

Back in Iraq!

Don, David Tosh here the bug man from OKC. Greetings from Iraq Just dropping you a line, thought you might like hear about my ‘TAD’ to Iraq. I received a call from a DOD recruiter In dire need for licensed pest control professionals to support the troops in Iraq. I asked for and was assigned to a Marine base, the job is to easy other then just being in Iraq. Better then in ’90-’91, no weeks on end eating nothing but MRE’s. I have two helpers from Nepal who do all the heavy lifting. The terrain is rough sand dunes with a lot of 4x4 roads. On about 13000 acres. We run about 30 traps around the fence line mostly. So far a lot of foxes and wild dogs. There are 130lbs Hyenas that we trapped. Got a hedge hog and Hugh 10lbs lizard! We take care of rodents and flies at the 4 DEFACs (Dinning Facility) and everything else is service requests when someone has a problem in their area. A few hundred buildings! Some snakes and those Camel spiders which are big and nasty looking. First night here I spend in a leaky tent and it poured rain for 2 days and flooded and soaked my stuff. So we build a nice A/C hooch at our bunker where the Iraqis used to keep tanks and such. It is hardened so I don't have to run for a bunker in case of a motor or rocket attack. Vector has their own bunker for chemical storage and such. As of yesterday I am the head Pest man on base. The other one headed back to Texas. So I'm left in charge with 5 days training. Not much to it except learning where everything is. I'm very glad to have been assigned to a Marine base.

I have a 4x4 F250 to work from and have access to all the base unlike most jobs here. Everyone love to see the pest guy! At the outside fence line lives a very poor family so we always take snacks and drinks from the DFAC and throw them over the fence to the kids. It's 112 today but feels no worse then OKC at 85 with 70% humidity! Six of the deadliest scorpions are here so we deal with those also. I started a rider program to give the Marines a little fun break to run the fence line traps. They get a kick out it when we capture a 35lbs porcupine or a Jackal and others. The biggest Hyena has learned our trap runs and has been feeding on captured foxes! See pictures. Love the MARPAT roller duffel I picked up from you.

The wife and kids will come by again soon to send me a few things.

Take care,
Cpl. Tosh, David C.
5th Marines ’86-‘93

SFC McSheffrey

Hey Sgt Grit,
Thanks for all the great stories and great quotes. I've posted some of those quotes in the connex box where my soldiers keep there weapons. The men love them. I am a former Marine currently serving in Baghdad with a deployed National Guard unit. We have several former Marines in the unit. The Marines in Baghdad have been great to my guys. I am a Sergeant First Class (E-7) but all the Marines call me, "Gunny". Enclosed some pics of the Marine Corps Birthday Ball last year in Baghdad and a pic of me at work.

Semper Fidelis,
SFC McSheffrey

Tikrit, Iraq

Just thought you might like to know, there are not only Marines, but retired Marines serving in Iraq as well, such as my husband, who is pictured here, in Tikrit, Iraq, a few days before finally coming home, after a year of repairing helicopters.

He retired several years ago, but like so many of us, he's never been able to feel as if he has left the USMC behind, and chose to serve as a civilian, leaving me chewing my nails to nubs just as I have so many times before.

Happy to say he's on his way back, and should be home tomorrow, thank the All Mighty!
Glynis, Retired Marine, and wife of Bruno, Retired Marine.
Texas

Toby Keith

Dear Grit,

Wanted to get a shout out from Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq and let you know Toby Keith played a concert for all the people on base two days ago, even after the bad guys had lobbed something onto the base, he went on. It was a great show. I am in a "Joint" billet (read: army command with a few Marines to keep things interesting!),and it was nice to hang out with other Marines to watch the show. Keep up the great news letters!

S/F

Jim Chambers Jr
MSgt of Marines
MNC-I PMO
Camp Victory, Iraq

Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 6:16 AM

Classroom who wrote to deployed Marines

I'd like to share these pictures with your readers and especially with the ignorant principal who wouldn't let the children of Connie's class write to soldier's in Iraq .These pictures were in the local newspaper which prompted several other schools to contact these Marines to ask that they speak to their classrooms . They've spent several days of their leave doing just that!

The 2nd grade class pictured is in Spartanburg, South Carolina . They wrote to my son and his buddies while they were deployed, sending goody boxes and letters and cards. Their teacher made it a history lesson, a writing lesson, a spelling lesson, a geography lesson and most importantly a lesson in humanity and love for these children who were THRILLED when the Marines came home and visited their classroom.. That principal should be ashamed of himself! Marilyn Miller, Proud Marine Mom in SC

News From Iraq

Sgt. Grit,

Thought you might enjoy some candid moments of the Marines here in the Anbar Province and at the Security Detachment in Baghdad. I work with the MEF throughout Iraq and will always hold dear the camraderie of the Corps and how the young Marines take care of this 'Old Dog'. Can't go into what I do with the Corps nor where the camps are located but let it suffice for me to say, though it is a different generation than it was in Vietnam all Marines here have the same Esprit de Corps and desire to go out and complete the mission. The old adage of Improvise, adapt, and overcome still holds true for todays Marines who put themselves in harms way everyday.

Semper Fi

Bill Hagee 'Gunny'

Family Reunion in Fallujah

Well, where does a father start? I am proud that I have served our beloved Corps for 15 years. 12 of which was on active duty in the Airwing(VMFA-314, VMFA-531, MATSG-90), got out in 1994. Went back in the reserves after 9/11, took over a year to get my waiver but I got it and was reinstated as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, Kilo 3/23 after 9 years broken time. Rare but these things do happen ask my buddy Ernie Hall!! Deployed to Iraq at the first part of the war in 2003. Upon returning home my Son was about to graduate from high school and expressed to me that he wanted to join the Corps. WOW! Outwardly I was very concerned as I had just returned home from a combat tour in Iraq, but inwardly I was bursting with pride that my Son was thinking about joining the Corps. Words could and still cannot describe what that meant to me. You brother Marines out there with Son's and Daughter's that are in the Corps understand. A few weeks before his graduation from recruit training in San Diego, he writes me that he wants me to be in uniform on his graduation day. I wasn't planning on it because I didn't want to take away from his big day so I wrote that back to him, which he quickly wrote back that was all he wanted on his graduation day was to stand on the same parade deck that I did 22 years earlier both of us wearing our uniforms. That was and will always be one of the proudest moments in my life along with the day God brought him into my life. Well it's been almost 3 years since then and he is on his second tour of duty here in Iraq. He spent the better part of 2005 patrolling the streets of Ramadi, and is now back, but this time in Fallujah. With HQ Bat 2/10.

The reason I am referring to him as back over here is that I work for a private security firm now and have been stationed in Baghdad for over a year and pretty much work this local area. Although I can't go into who and what we protect I will tell this great story of How and old Marine and his Son were able to share dinner last Saturday night in Fallujah. Now another one of my most proud moments in my life. To see my Son there doing what other Marines have done for over 231 years. Another "WOW". God has truly blessed my family in ways that only few will ever understand. Fallujah was the second to last stop in a very long day of movements. Thanks to the efforts of a Marine Capt and Lieutenant (I'd love to mention there names but won't for security purpose) who got the ball rolling even before my detail arrived. They found where in the city my son was working and made arrangements for him to be at the main Marine base there for a short visit. There are a lot more details and this letter would be much longer but the long and short of it is, "That Marines take care of there own". Even in a combat environment. When I saw my son last saturday4/14/07, once again my heart was bursting with pride only now I can share it and the people around me understand. They all seemed to be as proud and excited as I was and am. In there own way they were all being reunited with their own Son's or Daughter's or Brother's and Sister's. Here are a couple pictures of that reunion in Fallujah. Thank you for listening to the thoughts and ramblings of a Very Proud Marine Father.

PS: My Buddy Ernie Hall was out for ten years and got a waiver to get back in. Both he and I were able to share our years of experience with the young Marines in our unit. Kilo co 3rd Btl 23rd Marines out of Memphis, TN. He also has a son that is a United States Marine. Lcpl Ernie Hall jr.

Manuel L Saldana "Sgt of Marines"
1982-1994-3rd MAW, MATSTG-90
2003-2006- Kilo co 3rd Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment 4th Marine Div
SemperFi

"Father God please continue to watch over my Son Lcpl Robert L Saldana, and all the other members of our armed forces as they carry our message of freedom and liberty to the people of the world"

Back in the USA

Hi this is my son Brian Desatnik on the left. Brian just returned from Iraq after a 7 month deployment with 2d LAR Charlie Co. I am glad to have him back on USA soil.

Proud Marine MOM
Barb Booker

Back From Iraq!!

This is a picture of some of India 3/12 just returned from Camp Fallujah, Iraq on April 11th as they were greeted by family members at Camp LeJeune. Pictured are Cpl Jimmy Boyle, Sgt Marc Miller and his proud Sister Meghan, and Cpl Jody Grier. A happy day indeed!

Submitted by Sgt Millers Blue Star Mother, Marilyn Miller, Spartanburg SC

Longest Day

Grit,

This is Tim McMahon HMM-262 65-67 RVN 66-67. I read the letter to you titled “Longest Day” in reference to the HMM-364 (Purple Foxes) CH-46 crash. It’s really something how so many are affected by any incident in Iraq. I was with HMM-262 in Nam flying gunner and fixing hydraulic problems on the old CH-46’s which were pretty new then. The guys in Iraq are still flying and fixing the same aircraft somewhat modified now but basically the same birds. Our squadron HMM-262 hadn’t been to war since Vietnam, but are now fighting the good fight. We as “Old Tigers” have been in touch with our younger “Brothers” in the current squadron for years now. We’ve set up a support system to send care packages over to them, and one of our guys Larry Zok thought it would be a good idea to have a squadron coin made up and have them presented to the guys in country. The day before the HMM-364 accident the squadron CO had a formation and he and the SgtMaj presented the coin to every squadron member. The Marines cherished the coins and made a slit to form a pocket in their squadron patch to carry the coin for good luck. Since the squadron just arrived in country they were riding on missions with other squadrons to get the lay of the land (fam flights). It was on one of these fam flights with HMM-364 that one of our Crew Chiefs Cpl Tom Saba was flying when the aircraft was shot down, the day after the coins were presented.

We try to send a representative of HMM-262 Vietnam Veterans Association to all funerals where an HMM-262 Marine has passed. Cpl Saba was from Toms River, NJ and I’m from Trenton. Tom grew up in Staten Island and that’s where his funeral was. As a representative of HMM-262 VVA I attended Tom’s funeral and it was as if I had known him all the time. He was a “Brother” just like the “Brothers” I lost in Nam and I felt the loss that his family and friends felt. I presented Tom’s Father with another coin to replace the coin lost in the accident and it was an honor for me to attend the services. Taps to my “Brother”.

Semper Fi,
Tim McMahon

Friends Forever

I just wanted to share this photo with everyone, this is a picture of my son and some of the men in Fox Company the morning they were getting deployed to Iraq. He has been gone for about a month and we all miss him so much. It is going to be a long road ahead of us and for everyone that has someone gone. Please keep all the prayers and blessings going out to all that are serving our country so well. There is not a day or moment that goes by that I don’t think of these Men and hope they are all safe.

Thank you, Mother of a Marine in the 2/7 Fox Company 3rd Platoon

Mother of Two Marines

I am the Mother of not one but two Marines. LCpl Justin A. Baker & his brother Pvt. Tyler J. Baker. Justin just started his 2nd tour in Iraq in January of 2007. We have a special place in our garden to celebrate all the men and women who serve in the military. The boys grandfathers on both sides are military men. Their maternal grandfather was career Air Force and their paternal grandfather a Marine. Oh, even me their Mother wore combat boots, I served in the Army were I married their father 29-years ago this year! This site brings me great comfort and joy. Of course we are proud of both of our Marines!

Phyllis

Story About Coming Home

This happened to me on August 5, 2003.

I served as a Marine air traffic controller in Vietnam. My son, Austin, is currently in the Corps. He has had 2 tours in Iraq. Currently, he is enroute to Camp Butler, Okinawa.

This story is about how Austin let me know he was back in the United States from his first tour in Iraq.

At the time I was an air traffic controller at Tucson Approach Control. I have since retired. I was a controller for over 35 years.

I was working one of the radar positions that provide arrival sequencing to Davis-Monthan Air Force base. I was talking to a variety of military and civilian aircraft.

Out of the blue comes this transmission "Tucson Approach, this is Delta 9546". I was somewhat puzzled because it was not one of the normal Delta call signs that arrive in Tucson. Nevertheless, I answered "Delta 9546, Tucson Approach, go ahead".

The next transmission was "Is Ron Gagner working". Now I was really puzzled because how did this pilot know to ask for me! I said "you are talking to him".

Five seconds later this transmission came over the radio "Hi, Dad, I'm home". For a few moments I was speechless. My son was flying over Tucson on his way to March AFB. Tears began to flow as I tried to say something. For the first time in 30 years I could not say anything. Finally, I regained some composure and asked him a few questions.

Needless to say, air traffic services were momentarily delayed. The military pilots on the radio probably realized the importance of this radio transmissions. After a few moments of talking to my son I said to the pilots "sorry for the delay guys but my Marine son was calling me on the radio. He is returning from Iraq".

Several of the planes had a few comments but the one that was the most important came from a Navy pilot who said "Semper Fi, Marines".

My thanks to the Delta Airlines pilot who, when my son told them I was a controller at Tucson Approach Control, knew what to do. The picture is an actual picture of my son talking to me.

We owe the men and women of our armed forces a lot of thanks. My son gave me something that will always bring a tear to my eyes. He is proud to be one of "the few, the proud, the Marines".

Ron Gagner
Tucson, AZ

Message for John Kerry

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