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[Marine] Combat leader shines in Nasiriyah
Marine Corps News ^ | 21 April 2003 | Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

Posted on 04/23/2003 5:02:47 PM PDT by COBOL2Java

Combat leader shines in Nasiriyah
Submitted by: 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Story Identification Number: 2003422845
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

AN NUMINIYAH, Iraq (Apr. 21, 2003) -- To see him for the first time, you wouldn't expect the 27-year-old man, slim and quiet, to be a battle-tested warrior. The blond hair and blue eyes make him seem like the all-American, probably the star of a small town high school football team in his youth, but his travels have led him around the world.

Cpl. Dana W. Perkins, a team leader with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, had his nerve and courage put to the test when he was faced with a decision, many of us hope we never have to make - to kill a man firing at you and your friends, or risk you and your comrades being killed.

Experiencing combat can be a jarring experience for anyone, but for an infantry leader, the stress is multiplied with each man under him. An infantry leader puts the lives of the Marines under him first and has to worry about their lives and his own. For the Lancaster, N.H. native, the test came quickly and left little time to weigh the options.

"We'd just established our position outside of An Nasiriyah, and immediately started taking fire from the tree line," said Perkins. "I made sure my team was in position, and then sighted in where the fire was coming from."

The 150-pound Marine had the training of an expert marksman, and it was here it was put to the test.

"We saw three people run from where they were firing, and I sighted one in and pulled the trigger," Perkins stated solemnly. "I shot him from 350 yards away, and hit him center mass, in the middle of his chest."

Perkins added that when it comes between him and his Marines; he has no problem pulling the trigger. He would rather see someone shooting at him brought down then to see one of his Marines lying in the dirt.

"Perkins has always been a natural leader, as long as I've known him. He's a little older than most of the Marines in his platoon and he has their trust and respect,' said Staff Sgt. David L. Parker, Perkins' platoon sergeant and native of Indianapolis, Ind. "It's hard to know what to do when the people attacking you aren't in uniform, but Perkins made his decision based on the training he had received, and he made the right choice." Perkins' leaders all agree they have an exceptional Marine on their hands.

"When you judge the quality of a team leader, you can do it one on one, but ultimately it's the performance of the team that counts. Perkins has built an outstanding team," said 1st Lt. Jonathan L. Foreman, Perkins' platoon commander and native of New York, N.Y. "These Marines are placed in a difficult position where a timely decision often means the difference between life and death."

One of the people instrumental in training Perkins is Sgt. Paul A. Wimbush, a native of Clinton, Md., and Perkins' squad leader.

"When I first saw him, I thought 'That boy is country.' But I learned what a good Marine and leader he was, and now he is my right hand man, the backbone of my squad," said Wimbush. "If I had to name anyone else to take my place as squad leader, it would be Perkins, without a doubt in my mind. He makes me proud."

Perkins said his father was a Marine who served in the Korean War. He said his father didn't talk about his time there very much, and he now understands why.

"There's things you see and do in war that are better left where they happened. I know I'm not going to be telling my children about this. All they need to know is I did the right thing."

Perkins said he has learned a lot from the Marine Corps, and it has given him a lot. Along with the discipline and learning experiences, he said it was a great way to get his life started. He has no plans to re-enlist, but is looking forward to returning to and spending time with his wife.

"I've really enjoyed spending time with good Marines. Even the bad experiences draw us closer together into a family, a true band of brothers."


AL NUMINIYAH, Iraq - Taking up one of the infantry's defensive formations, Cpl. Dana W. Perkins, a team leader with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and native of Lancaster, N.H., scans the area for signs of danger. His team kneels behind him in the background, awaiting his orders. Perkins recently saved the lives of his team members by shooting an enemy firing at them. The shot was made at 350 yards, which would be a challenge for many marksmen but is just part of basic training for Marines.
Photo by: Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes

Click on photo for high-resolution image


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alnuminiyah; danawperkins; embeddedreport; marines; usmc
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1 posted on 04/23/2003 5:02:47 PM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: COBOL2Java
Cpl. Perkins has my gratitude and admiration.
2 posted on 04/23/2003 5:06:30 PM PDT by MEG33
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To: COBOL2Java
Did anyone ever figure out why Dowdy was relieved of command? Was it connected in any manner with the KIA also named Dowdy? Anyone in the know?
3 posted on 04/23/2003 5:30:47 PM PDT by Liberals are Evil Socialists!
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To: COBOL2Java
He would rather see someone shooting at him brought down then to see one of his Marines lying in the dirt.

This strikes me as a rather obvious point. One would hope that this perspective is not an uncommon one among Marines.

4 posted on 04/23/2003 5:33:51 PM PDT by Prince Caspian (Don't ask if it's risky... Ask if the reward is worth the risk)
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To: COBOL2Java
These men sure make you proud.
5 posted on 04/23/2003 5:36:53 PM PDT by McGavin999
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To: COBOL2Java
350 yards.........wow! I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a howitzer at 50 feet!!!!!
6 posted on 04/23/2003 5:37:41 PM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: COBOL2Java
Expert shooter BUMP
7 posted on 04/23/2003 5:39:01 PM PDT by MudPuppy (Semper Fidelis!)
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To: COBOL2Java
The blond hair and blue eyes make him seem like the all-American

What a stupid thing to write, in an official government publication, no less.

8 posted on 04/23/2003 5:40:11 PM PDT by xm177e2 (Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)
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To: COBOL2Java
*Salute* Mr. Perkins.

You have the undieing gratitude of a greatful nation.

9 posted on 04/23/2003 5:44:53 PM PDT by ChadGore (Freedom is as natural as a drawn breath.)
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To: COBOL2Java; All
Good article. Too bad he does not want to stay.

On another note, what are the black boxes on the top of their barrels...anyone know?
10 posted on 04/23/2003 5:47:13 PM PDT by sit-rep
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To: Liberals are Evil Socialists!
The word I got from my contacts at Quantico (peers of Dowdy) is that he wasn't moving fast enough. I don't know if his concerns were flanks or logistics, but the CG didn't want to hear excuses.
11 posted on 04/23/2003 5:48:58 PM PDT by IGOTMINE (He needed killin')
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To: xm177e2
Well, if it was a black only rag, you may have read..."...that blue eyed devil...". Would this be better?
12 posted on 04/23/2003 5:50:32 PM PDT by sit-rep
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To: Sunshine Sister
Ya, but you'd have a whole lotta fun tryin'!
13 posted on 04/23/2003 5:52:39 PM PDT by sit-rep
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To: COBOL2Java
Bravo Zulu
14 posted on 04/23/2003 5:53:09 PM PDT by Tango Whiskey Papa
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To: All
Somthing alot of folks dont know is that part of the basic Marines marksmanship program is proficiency with his weapon (M-16A2)while engaging a man size silhuette from 500 yds. 200 and 300 yds shots are considered the money makers or the easy ones (half silhuetts). Submitted for your SA.
15 posted on 04/23/2003 5:53:51 PM PDT by TheGunny
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To: Sunshine Sister
350 yards.........wow! I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a howitzer at 50 feet!!!!!

I'll bet you could with a "scoped" M-16. They are very accurate.

16 posted on 04/23/2003 5:58:54 PM PDT by PhilipFreneau
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To: COBOL2Java
Thanks!
17 posted on 04/23/2003 6:05:30 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Liberate Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, NK, Cuba...; Support the Troops!)
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To: IGOTMINE
Yes, that seems to be what this site says: http://nuance.dhs.org/lbo-talk/0304/0483.html

Seems the other Dowdy was Army and possibly unrelated?
18 posted on 04/23/2003 6:11:25 PM PDT by Liberals are Evil Socialists!
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To: TheGunny
SOME of us, are old enough to remember having to qualify with the M14 at 1000 yards..in the prone position with no rest bags --- just the body, the ground and the leather sling around your upper arm...

The fear of seeing "maggie's drawers" at 1000 yards was enough to encourage each Marine to study the wind socks, tighten the sling, mold into the earth, draw a breath, exhale slightly and SQUEEZE the trigger until the shot came as a surprise...

That damned bulleye looked as small as fly shit at 1000 yards.

Semper Fi
19 posted on 04/23/2003 6:34:23 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)
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To: COBOL2Java
350 yard shot at with a center mass hit using iron sights on a moving target I assume. Very impressive Cpl Perkins, very impressive.
20 posted on 04/23/2003 6:42:50 PM PDT by semaj
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