A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day......August 20 & 21-07....Military Tribute

Billie, The Mayor

[Diver Dave]

So sorry to hear that your husband’s reunion wish did not materialize.

I offer up a Salute to his memory.

I’m not sure if you were a Navy Wife, but if so, Thank You for your service to our country. Navy Wives may not wear the uniform, but they serve right alongside IMHO.

Mrsdd became my bride half way through my enlistment. She endured the separations during two of my three six month deployments. We were engaged during my first, so she actually endured all three. She’s my own special hero.

[Diver Dave]

Here's a web site among many on Google listing the USS NORRIS you may be interested in seeing.

I noticed it was sold to Turkey and later scrapped. The same fate of my USS PIEDMONT.

USS NORRIS (DDE-859)

[Dubya]

The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps goes cellular

“The Commandant’s Own” performs at Badger stadium in Madison, Wisconsin
as part of the Drum Corps International finals awards ceremony in 2002.
Earlier in the evening the Marines performed an exhibition for the crowd.
Photo by Sid Unser

WASHINGTON -- By sea and by land and now by cellular telephone, buglers and drummers from the Oldest Post of the Corps have created the most up-to-date setting for Marine music -- the cellular telephone. As the bugle provided the first official form of communication on the battlefield, the Marine Corps musical tradition continues as the premier communicators of our nation contribute to the digital age.

"The Commandant's Own," The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps now features MP3 ringtones, that can be downloaded from any personal computer. As the first in the U.S. Armed Forces to offer cell phone ringtones, the drum & bugle corps personally recorded a diverse mixture of public domain music, to include drum cadences, bugle calls, marches, and their most notable stylings in jazz.

"Marine buglers and drummers have performed standard calls for over 125 years, " stated Drum & Bugle Corps Director Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Dix. "The music that offered command and signal to the troops is short, efficient, and easily identifiable. The ringtones represent our proud heritage, for all service members and fans of the military, not just Marines. This is a perfect match for our drum and bugle corps and 21st century technology!"

[Dubya]

From left: Gunnery Sgt. Angel Barcenas and Sgt. Justin G.
Brown lead a formation of Marines, firemen and policemen
across Manhattan May 24. Barcenas' legs were amputated after
he sustained injuries in Iraq last year. Brown is a liaison with the
Marine Casualty Services Branch at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center.

[Dubya]

This Day in Naval History - Aug. 20

From the Navy News Service

1952 - In inter-service air operation at Chang Pyong-ni, Korea, U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force aircraft destroy 80 percent of assigned area.
1959 - USS Thetis Bay (LPH 6) completes six-day humanitarian operation after floods in Taiwan.
1969 - Navy Seabees and Sailors from Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 8 evacuated 820 people from Pass Christian, Miss., after Hurricane Camille.

[jaycee]

Yes, I was a Navy wife. Learned to iron those”whites”. He was aboard ship the first ten months of our marriage which killed us. Finally, he got shore duty for school and I moved to Portsmouth, Va. for our first little 2 room apt. I thought it was a mansion! Then he was transferred to the U. S. Naval Mine Depot at Yorktown, Va. and we moved there and had our first son at the Fort Eustis Army Hospital. Hubby didn’t sign up after his four years and we moved back to Tennessee. Glad to hear about your lovely mate also! You probably were a “career Navy man”. huh? By the way, he was a Hospital Corpsman.

[Majie Purple]

Thanks for thinking of me, but I only read K J. So I go to KJ only on line Scripture sites...No offence...I’m just explaining is all...since you pinged me.
Just taking the op to explain.

[Dubya]

PRAYING

DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms.

[Majie Purple]

se not ce ...my typo fix...lol!

[gpapa]

[jaycee]

Another note to thank you for this website! Yes, there was his ship! My two sons are going to be thrilled with this! I also want to thank YOU for serving this great country of ours.

[Majie Purple]

Thank You ((((Caring Kitty! Happy You enjoyed that too...SOMEHOW, I knew You would...: )
))))

[jaycee]

Gpapa, Gee, I thank you so much for this picture! As I told Diver Dave, my sons are going to be so proud to see this!!

[Majie Purple]

Gorgeous presentation of that awesome pic of the rainbow; chopper;sea!!!

[Dubya]

Nice site.

[Majie Purple]

Re:#29 Wow! Just,Wow! The story/explaination/the timing/the pic...all of it!!!!

[Dubya]

Soldiers in combat are facing danger every day and there are many untold stories of valor that deserve recognition. The stories on this page capture some of those that have displayed heroic courage through their actions in the face of a lethal enemy.

In addition to the Medal of Honor award is a hierarchy of medals that can be awarded for varying acts of valor and bravery— The Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with "v" device, the Purple Heart, even Commendation Medals with "v" device. Each is an example of ways Soldiers are recognized by their Chain of Command for documented acts of valor in combat.

UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AWARDS, DECORATIONS, CAMPAIGN & SERVICE MEDALS

[Dubya]

Maori welcome Airmen to New Zealand

8/20/2007 - Maj. Bill Eberhardt touches noses with a Maori warrior during a Powhiri, or traditional welcoming ceremony Aug. 18 at Christchurch, New Zealand. The touching of noses signifies a mingling together in peace of "two sides," in this case, the Maori and Airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. The Airmen are at Christchurch to begin the annual winter fly-in, known as WinFly. During these flights, aircrews transport scientists, support personnel, food and equipment for the U.S. Antarctic program at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. WinFly is the opening of the first flights to McMurdo station, which closed for the austral winter in February.

(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

[Dubya]

Coast Guard Rescues 5 After Long night at Sea

MIAMI - The Coast Guard rescued five people 23 miles southwest of Cape Romano, Fla., Sunday, after their vessel began taking on water Saturday night.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday, a commercial salvage company had been assisting two vessels that had reportedly run out of gas.

Upon towing one of the vessels in, when the salvage company returned to tow the other vessel in they were unable to relocate the vessel and then notified the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard immediately launched an HU-25 Falcon jet from Air Station Miami and diverted the Cutter Dependable to begin searching.

The crew of the Falcon located a 25-foot vessel with one person aboard and dropped food, water and a VHF marine radio.

Upon establishing communication with the individual through the use of that radio, the person informed the Coast Guard that his vessel began taking on water last night and four people had decided to abandon the vessel around midnight.

The Falcon dropped the person a raft and immediately informed search and rescue coordinators at Sector St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Dependable launched its Miami deployed HH-65 helicopter to search the area for the missing four.

The helicopter crew searched until they located four people wearing life jackets in the water approximately one mile south of the boat just before 9 a.m.

The tired, but uninjured people were picked up by the Dependable’s small boat and taken back to the cutter.

A 33-foot rescue boat from Station Fort Myers, Fla., rendezvoused with the cutter and returned the people to the Caxambas Park Boat Ramp near Marco Island, Fla., where they had originally departed from.

“It is never a wise decision to leave your vessel while in distress,” said Sean Connett, the command duty officer for the Coast Guard’s Seventh District Command Center. “We are fortunate that the helicopter was able to locate the survivors in the water when their only survival equipment was floatation devices. These four survivors are very fortunate to be alive and should have never decided to leave their vessel or the fifth person behind.”

The Dependable is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Cape May, N.J.

###

Saving lives since 1790 — the United States Coast Guard
More than one million lives saved.

[Dubya]

Sergeant returns to new Iraq

Aug. 20, 2007; Submitted on: 08/20/2007 07:30:57 AM ; Story ID#: 200782073057

By Cpl. Rick Nelson, 2nd Marine Division

BARWANAH, Iraq (Aug. 20, 2007) — In the Fall of 2004, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines fought in the Battle of Fallujah. It experienced some of the Marine Corps’ most intense urban fighting since Vietnam’s Hue City. That deployment left a lasting effect on this battalion and the individuals involved. Although they are mostly stationed elsewhere or out of the Marine Corps, 1/3 still has a few of its Fallujah Veterans through its ranks and companies. These Marines bring much knowledge and determination with them, and they play a large role in the success this task force has achieved in the Hadithah Triad.

Sergeant Adam R. Morrison, a squad leader with 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, decided to enlist into the Marine Corps in Sept. 2002 after speaking to a recruiter.

“I was originally going to go to college to wrestle but that fell through,” said Morrison. “A gentleman who used to come to our wrestling matches was a Marine Corps recruiter, so I spoke with him and signed up as a 0311 infantryman.”

Morrison described himself as an indoor person before joining the Marine Corps and didn’t know what to expect from bootcamp and the School of Infantry.

“When I enlisted, it was during (Operation Iraqi Freedom) I, so my mother was really worried,” said the Puyallup, Wash. native. “My father, on the other hand, knew it would be a good experience for me and would help me in the long run.”

Upon completion of boot camp, Morrison began training at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then checked into 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, where he was assigned to 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Alpha Company.

“I’ve been with my squad since I got to the fleet,” said the 22-year-old. “I remember when I first checked in, I had a platoon sergeant that wanted nothing but combat. I never had it too bad when I first got there because I always did what I was told and tried to improve myself.”

Morrison soon deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The battalion was conducting training in Japan when it was ordered to sail to the Persian Gulf in order to support Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The sudden change took the Marines of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment to Fallujah.

“It was a shocker, and I’ll admit I was a little nervous when I found out,” he added. “I look back at it now, and the lack of sleep stands out a lot. We were always on the move. The first couple of weeks we were there was like hell on Earth. I can say now, it was the worst time in the world, but at the same time we got to be Marines and do what we were trained for.”

Morrison said many events happened during the deployment he will always remember, but one stands out among all others.

“November 14, 2004, that’s the day I’ll always remember. It puts chills down my spine when I think of it,” said Morrison. “It was the day Sergeant Peralta gave his life for the rest of us. When we cleared a room, it all happened so fast. Before I knew it, Peralta had taken the grenade and saved the rest of us. I know if it wasn’t for him, the rest of us would’ve been injured a lot worse and some probably wouldn’t have made it out.”

Morrison described Peralta as a hero and said he may not be here today if it wasn’t for his bravery.

Peralta is currently being considered for the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

“I think being in the Battle of Fallujah as my first deployment put thing in perspective for me. I now relate everything to combat and trying to keep my Marines safe,” said Morrison.

Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Telles, a team leader in Morrison’s squad, said it’s comforting to know his squad leader has experience in Iraq and trusts him completely.

“He’s a hands down grunt and knows what’s going on. He knows how do get the job done,” added Telles, an El Paso, Texas, native.

After returning from his first deployment to Iraq Morrison returned to Hawaii and began training with his squad for his next deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and departed with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines in January 2006.

“Afghanistan was a lot different because we were constantly hiking up mountains. It was a different world compared to Iraq,” said Morrison.

While in Afghanistan, Morrison’s squad was involved in Operation Mountain Lion and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor for their actions during the operation.

“A deployment is a deployment, but I liked Afghanistan better because I felt like we had more of a reason to be there because of the attacks on Sept. 11,” he added.

After Afghanistan, Morrison returned to Hawaii and had to decide if he would extend or reenlist and report somewhere else.

“I originally reenlisted and wasn’t going to deploy with 1/3 again. However, I cancelled my orders to deploy with 1/3,” he said. “I did it for my Marines. I wanted to help them out because I was expecting the next deployment to be similar to the first. It feels good when you put your training to use. In combat you’re never going to know how exactly to act, every situation determines how you react and training plays a big role in that.”

Currently in Barwanah, Morrison is assisting in the fight to help the Iraqi people achieve a state of self-governance.

Morrison said the toughest part of the deployment for him is making the transition from combat to winning the hearts and minds.

“I recently reenlisted to be a Mountain Warfare instructor at Bridgeport, Calif.,” he said. “I’d like to deploy again to Afghanistan when I get there, but we’ll see.”

After his next enlistment, Morrison said he would like to be part of the Special Weapons and Tactics team for the Seattle Police Department.

“I’m unsure if I’ll stay in the Corps or not right now, I’m just going with the flow,” he added. “I will admit though, there’s no better job then being a squad leader. If you have a good squad leader then you’ll have good Marines. It’s an NCO war, so I can’t think of anything else I’d want to be if I stay in.”