Marine General Thanks Sailors for Support

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	030924-N-9109V-001 Portsmouth, Va. (Sept. 24, 2003) -- Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski (right), Commanding General of the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade, presents an AK-47 rifle to Capt. Chris Hase, the Commanding Officer of USS Saipan (LHA 2), in appreciation for the support the crew gave Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The rifle was confiscated from an Iraqi enemy prisoner of war during the bloodiest day of battle in March of 2003. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kyle Voight. (RELEASED)

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Marine General Thanks Sailors for Support
Story Number: NNS030926-17
Release Date: 9/26/2003 10:46:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Sean Spratt, USS Saipan Public Affairs

USS SAIPAN (NNS) -- Commanding General, Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski presented an AK-47 to Capt. Chris Hase, commanding officer, USS Saipan (LHA 2), Sept. 25 aboard the ship.

“This is a weapon that was captured in An Nasiriyah (Iraq) during some of the heaviest battling of the whole war,” said Natonski.

The rifle was presented in appreciation to the officers and crew of Saipan for their support of the Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Similar rifles were also presented to Commander Amphibious Group 2, USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Ashland (LSD 48).

“What stands out as a real testament of your support, was when I heard the Navy wanted to send all the amphibious ships home as soon as the war was over. But every captain in Amphibious Task Force East said ‘We’re not leaving. We’re staying and sailing back with our Marines,’” said Natonski.

The crew of Saipan made a real commitment to this statement. While Marines were ashore in Kuwait and Iraq, Saipan would not pull into a liberty port even though the opportunity was there, Natonski remarked. Saipan spent 148 days out to sea without a port visit of any kind in support of the Marines who were fighting ashore.

“During the war, Saipan was an invaluable platform for the Cobras (helicopters) that were flying close air support for the Marines,” said Natonski. “The Cobras flying off this ship made a difference in the ability to execute our fight against the enemy. One of the most important aspects of this war was the teamwork that developed between the Sailors and Marines. I saw things I have never seen before as the MEB Commander. Captains were letting Marines execute live fire exercises with their weapons, which allowed the extra training they needed before heading into the war.”

Natonski praised the great teamwork that developed between the two services during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

For related news, visit the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cv67.

Thanks, Tonkin!

1 posted on 09/27/2003 1:43:00 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl

To: MJY1288; Calpernia; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; Ernest_at_the_Beach; BOBTHENAILER; ...

“What stands out as a real testament of your support, was when I heard the Navy wanted to send all the amphibious ships home as soon as the war was over. But every captain in Amphibious Task Force East said ‘We’re not leaving. We’re staying and sailing back with our Marines,’” said Natonski.

Hey, AMERICA'S press told the world our troops wanted to come home, fire Rumsfeld and impeach Bush!

Ping for truth, justice and our American heroes.

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

2 posted on 09/27/2003 1:48:06 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("#1, they didn't want the UN, #2..they wanted US (troops)." ~ Lt Gen. T. McInerny, re. Tikrit, 9/27)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

3 posted on 09/27/2003 1:52:08 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Guns!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

4 posted on 09/27/2003 1:55:32 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (THANK YOU TROOPS, PAST AND PRESENT)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

5 posted on 09/27/2003 1:56:47 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Yikes!

Didn't anyone inform the General, that Marines TRADE captured weapons to the swabs for "trade goods"...

A captured Chinese made AK47 was worth a couple bottles of whisky.. A captured Czech AK47 was worth twice that.

How the hell are the working grunts going to stay in booze or fresh fruit if the General horns in on their trade turf?

Semper Fi

6 posted on 09/27/2003 2:19:12 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)

He's just giving away the demo model. Wouldn't want the squid skipper to hurt himself.

Continue trading as usual. I'll be in the area all day!

Semper Fi

7 posted on 09/27/2003 2:26:09 PM PDT by JoeSixPack1 (POW/MIA Bring 'em Home, Or Send us Back!! Semper Fi)

Roger your last!

Semper Fi

8 posted on 09/27/2003 2:28:58 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Now that is one classy one star!

9 posted on 09/27/2003 2:50:04 PM PDT by 2timothy3.16

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Ping for truth, justice and our American heroes ~ Big Bump!

10 posted on 09/27/2003 3:05:23 PM PDT by blackie

To: skull stomper

You won't catch me throwing rocks at the Navy...
Too many relatives (black sheep) and friends served/serving....in the Navy.

At the moment - we have an F/A 18 Hornet jocky on his way home aboard the USS Nimitz after flying over Iraq...
His last tour was attacking ground targets in Afghanistan..

Semper Fi

12 posted on 09/27/2003 4:55:43 PM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)

I have four years Navy enlisted, a tour and a half in Viet Nam in 1966-68. I have a very soft spot for Marines, and will not tolerate disrespect for the Corps.

It is sometimes fun to tease Marines about their paychecks being signed by the Secretary of the Navy, though! The Navy and the Corps are like the fists of a boxer, the right fist and the left fist. Often the big right fist is the Corps, often it is the Navy. If it comes to battle at Taiwan, the Navy will pay a big price. This can happen any time.

An old Battle of Okinawa marine, who was always square with me, and was a friend (since deceased - rest in peace, Deano) told me he would not tolerate disrespect for the US Army. (I had been out of line.) The Army and the Corps worked as one on Okinawa.

(Old Deano would sometimes talk bad about the swabbies, as was his right, and I always came back that a lot more swabs than Marines were killed at Okinawa, which is the case. Old Deano would come back that that was because there are so many Navy guys you just can't help but find them an easy target! Not saying old Deano wouldn't have called anyone out who talked bad about the Fighting Navy.)

A man as good as I ever saw, Air Force pilot, flew MISTY FAC missions in Viet Nam, an amazingly difficult and dangerous job. The Air Force PJs, pararescuemen, have never recieved the honor due them. Only recently did Pitsenbarger, "Pits", get the Medal of Honor he deserved. The Freeper Foxhole recently did a good job telling Pits' story, I suggest visiting the thread to all.

So old military men tease each other some, but if someone who hasn't earned the right tries putting his oar in, and playing the fool, I do not tolerate it.

13 posted on 09/27/2003 6:34:30 PM PDT by Iris7 (Victory, always Victory, at any cost, though the beasts of Hell march against us!!!!!)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

14 posted on 09/27/2003 9:15:32 PM PDT by MEG33

To: skull stomper

the US MARINE Corps. is PART of the US NAVY! Otherwise you'd be in the US ARMY!...

True, the U.S. Marine Corps is a Dept. of the U.S. Navy.

The Men's Department!

Ooh Rah

15 posted on 09/27/2003 9:15:51 PM PDT by JoeSixPack1 (POW/MIA Bring 'em Home, Or Send us Back!! Semper Fi)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

16 posted on 09/27/2003 9:50:40 PM PDT by windchime

At the moment - we have an F/A 18 Hornet jocky on his way home aboard the USS Nimitz after flying over Iraq...

Well given the source of my screen name

VFA-14 "Top Hatters" on the USS Nimitz

17 posted on 09/27/2003 10:08:24 PM PDT by tophat9000 (I guess it 's now Free Republicans vs Vichy Republicans currently under Democrat occupation)

Our guy is in VFA-94.

Welcome Home!

Semper Fi

18 posted on 09/28/2003 7:34:37 AM PDT by river rat (War works......It brings Peace... Give war a chance to destroy Jihadists...)

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