http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/usmc/ en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:08:32 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416087/posts Like he has on prior trips to Oahu, President Barack Obama got in a morning game of basketball with "friends and staff", this time at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. But, Sunday's round of hoops wouldn't be the President's only outing of the day. Around 11:00 the entire first-family were escorted back onto Base. Despite having his own secured stretch of sand outside of his Kailua beach vacation rental, President Obama and the first family chose instead to spend the afternoon at a more private beach on Base to avoid the crowds. KHON http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416087/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:08:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414179/posts NOW ZAD, Afghanistan I Signs of rebirth are growing in this former Taliban stronghold in Helmand province just days after U.S. Marines stormed it in a ground-and-airborne assault that caught its Taliban occupiers by surprise. In the once deserted bazaar area in the western portion of town, hundreds of men from nearby villages defy Taliban threats and clear debris from fighting in exchange for pay from U.S. troops. In the district center next to the main U.S. military base, more than 100 children attend ad hoc classes in reading and writing. The classes, initially started by Afghan-American interpreters working with... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414179/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:35:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410202/posts Date: Wed, November 11, 2009 3:20 pm. From the Sand Pit. It's freezing here. I'm sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs at the base of the Hindu Kush Mountains , along the Dar 'yoi Pomir River , watching a hole that leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. Stake out, my friend, and no pizza delivery for thousands of miles. (snip) Unknown - E-mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410202/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:59:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2408889/posts U.S. first lady Michelle Obama arrives with a sack of toys as she visits the Marine Corps Base Quantico Toys for Tots Campaign warehouse in Stafford, Virginia, December 16, 2009. In support of the program, Mrs. Obama delivered new and unwrapped toys and gifts contributed by the Executive Office staff. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2408889/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:35:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408169/posts A Marine stationed at Cherry Point air station restrained a man who had allegedly assaulted a Walmart greeter on Monday until New Bern police could arrive at the scene. Nathan Josial was in the store located at 3105 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. with his wife and four children to buy pajamas for his daughter to wear at her school’s pajama day, said his wife, New Bern resident Melissa Wysong. Wysong said they were greeted by the door greeter, John McLean, 83, who had given stickers fto the children and wished them a merry Christmas. Wysong said they heard... http://www.enctoday.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408169/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:38:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407617/posts FOB HASSANABAD, Afghanistan — The young Marines at this outpost could be on a camping trip to Hell. The living conditions in Helmand Province, one of the worst regions for trouble in Afghanistan, are such that most of friends and family in the United States wouldn't consider putting up with them for one day, much less the months these men will be assigned here. It's not even officially winter, yet temperatures routinely fall below freezing at night, and there's no heat in the tents. At night when standing guard in one of the security towers, the Marines put on layer... McClatchy Newspapers http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407617/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:16:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407019/posts U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the military's focus now is the rapid deployment of 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and the initial elements of the surge will begin arriving next week. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Admiral Mullen says orders have been issued to combat infantry, engineers and civil affairs experts to deploy to Afghanistan, with 1,500 Marines expected to arrive in southern Helmand Province next week. Mullen indicated there is a sense of urgency at the Pentagon to implement U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to send tens of thousands of... Defense Talk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407019/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:49:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405914/posts The highest-ranked Marine accused of bungling the military's response to the slayings of two dozen Iraqi civilians after a lethal 2005 roadside bombing displayed substandard performance, but he should not be demoted, a three-member Board of Inquiry ruled Friday. The military board said it will recommend to the secretary of the Navy that Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, with 22 years of service and three tours of duty in Iraq, be allowed to retain his rank and not be demoted to major. "It's been a long four years, but it hasn't been a miserable four years," Chessani told the North County... NC Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405914/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:09:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405588/posts Fifteen-month-old Briana N. Porter, daughter of Maj. Dustin M. Porter stares in awe at five-year-old Nubs during his visit to Camp Pendleton’s Country Store, Dec. 5. The wild Iraqi dog is famous for making a 70-mile journey through the Iraqi desert to reunite with Maj. Brian P. Dennis, aircraft maintenance officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, 3rd Marine Air Wing, after the two bonded during Dennis’s 2007 deployment. The recently published story, “Nubs: The True Story of a Marine, a Mutt and a Miracle,” has already made the New York Times’ children’s best seller list and is expected hit... United States Marine Corps http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405588/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:57:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2402348/posts From the Podium: J. D. Pendry, Retired Sergeant Major, USMC Jimmy Carter, you are the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home, and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You're the "runner-in-chief." Bill Clinton, you played ring around the Lewinsky while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses to the USS Cole and the First Trade Center Bombing and Our... Notoriously Conservative http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2402348/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 22:11:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402572/posts FORWARD OPERATING BASE HASSANABAD, Afghanistan -- In the middle of a foot patrol Saturday through what may be the most dangerous part of the most dangerous province in Afghanistan for U.S. troops, Staff Sgt. John Nickerson peered through the scope of his assault rifle at a group of Afghan men who were rolling a wheelbarrow toward him. Suddenly, he had to switch gears to the gentler form of counterinsurgency. "Hold," Nickerson said into his hand-held radio, lowering his gun. "We've got some men with a kid in a wheelbarrow trying to get our attention. Where's Doc at?" In the barrow... Miami Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402572/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 03:22:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401057/posts Commandant of the Marine Corps awarded French Legion of Honour by French Army Chief of Staff 12/4/2009 By Sgt. Rocco DeFilippis, Marine Forces Europe PARIS — Gen. James T. Conway, the 34th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, was awarded France’s National Order of the Legion of Honour during a military awards ceremony at the historic Les Invalides here Dec. 1. The Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration, is usually limited to French citizens, however French law allows non-citizens who have served France, or the ideas it upholds, to receive the award. The Chief of Staff of the French... United States Marine Corps http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401057/posts#comment Sat, 5 Dec 2009 18:09:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2399837/posts Listen up y'all. I just heard from dirtyharryy2k and he is in California, as we speak, welcoming his Marine son HOME from Afghanistan. More pics on the bottom of his profile page at the link above.I am so happy for him and his family. Please help me welcome him home with open arms and grateful prayers.WELCOME HOME, MARINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. MestaMachine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2399837/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 01:35:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401487/posts It’s 3/4 Marines* and 3rd Recon, working on both ends of Helmand’s Now Zad valley with a Taliban concentration, communication and supply lines in the middle. It’s the first large unit combat use of Ospreys, used along with helicopters to drop Marines behind the Taliban at the north end of the valley while other Marines push north from their base in the tonw of Now Zad at the south end of the valley Jules Crittenden http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401487/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 14:49:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401336/posts CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Military officials say a decorated Marine from Minnesota has been killed in a parachute training exercise at Camp Pendleton. A Marine Corps statement says Corporal Ryan L. Pape died Thursday night from injuries sustained during a low-level static line jump. StarTribune.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401336/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 03:54:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400287/posts KABUL (AP) -- U.S. Marines and Afghan troops Friday launched the first offensive since President Barack Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said. Hundreds of troops from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and the Marine reconnaissance unit Task Force Raider were dropped by helicopter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft behind Taliban lines in the northern end of the Now Zad Valley of Helmand province, scene of heavy fighting last summer, according to Marine spokesman Maj. William Pelletier. A second, larger force pushed northward from the Marines'... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2400287/posts#comment Fri, 4 Dec 2009 16:51:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2398969/posts http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/use-of-marine-corps-trademarks/ Also posted above url Marine Corps Trademark And Licensing Program http://www.marines.mil/unit/divpa/tmlo/Pages/faq.aspx Other info: SEE ALSO: http://forum.zazzle.com/misc/product_removal_usmc?m=222621 and... http://rovinghistorian.blogspot.com/2009/12/marine-corps-restricts-use-of-emblems.html -- ********** USMC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2398969/posts#comment Thu, 3 Dec 2009 02:50:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398213/posts CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Only a handful of the thousands of troops in the U.S. Marines' main base here thought it worth the effort to get out of bed for President Barack Obama's speech on Afghanistan, which began at 5:30 a.m. local time. In the workout gym — one of the few public places with TVs — only two Navy Seabee engineers were watching when the speech began, and they were sharply divided on the wisdom of the president's plan. "I didn't really hear a good reason," said E3 Steven Lewis, 23, of Boise, Idaho. "I think it's all gone... McClatchy Newspapers http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398213/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 05:08:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398006/posts Four members of a Camp Pendleton squad convicted of taking part in the kidnapping and murder of an Iraqi civilian in 2006 have been ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to be removed from the military. Secretary Ray Mabus also directed the Marine Corps to demonstrate why a lieutenant who oversaw the unit and acknowledged abusing detainees should be allowed to stay in the service. The sweeping order requires the administrative separation within 10 days of "Pendleton 8" defendants Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Tyler Jackson, Jerry Shumate and John Jodka III. Mabus, who has the authority to remove enlisted... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398006/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 23:53:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2397392/posts Arthur Colby arrives at Quantico Marine Base by way of Groton boarding school and Dickinson College -- exclusive, private institutions that aren't exactly pipelines to the military. Officer Candidates School, he knows, will be unlike anything he's faced in his young life. At 20, Colby has a résumé crammed with hallmarks of the young and ambitious -- president of Dickinson's freshman class, internships with the Bush and McCain campaigns, a stint with a high-powered Washington consulting firm. He'd be well on his way to a bright future without the Marines. Instead, he's expecting six hellish weeks. Predawn hikes, obstacle courses,... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2397392/posts#comment Tue, 1 Dec 2009 04:56:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397148/posts An inquiry board will convene Wednesday morning at Camp Pendleton to decide if a Marine Corps officer should be demoted for his actions after the shooting deaths of 24 Iraqi men, women and children four years ago. At issue is whether Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, who commanded the Camp Pendleton unit that carried out the slayings, engaged in misconduct in handling the incident. The inquiry board is the final step in Chessani's case; prosecutors earlier this year dropped two counts of criminal dereliction of duty. If the board finds there was no misconduct, the case will be closed. If it... N C TIMES http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2397148/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:57:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396317/posts President Obama is expected to announce Tuesday an additional 30,000-35,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan, which reportedly may start with 9,000 Marines being deployed to southern Afghanistan followed by 1,000 Army trainers in February. The Washington Post reported Sunday that final preparations for the 9,000 Marines will commence as part of a deployment aimed at Helmand province, where the Taliban stronghold has been partly gutted by an additional 10,000 Marines sent earlier this year. "The first troops out of the door are going to be Marines," Gen. James T. Conway, the Corps' top officer, told Marines in Afghanistan on Saturday, according... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396317/posts#comment Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:06:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2396269/posts There is no yelling. No invective. No spittle-laced derision. Instead, there is a soft, warm welcome for the dozens of young men and women reporting to Officer Candidates School at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia. Arriving in polos and khakis, they check in at their leisure, anytime between 8 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., filing off buses or dropped off by well-wishing parents at what could just as well be the first day of college. This is no Parris Island, the legendary boot camp in South Carolina where the drill instructors' ferocity explodes almost the instant recruits arrive. But for the... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2396269/posts#comment Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:54:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2392243/posts On a crisp fall day in a cemetery in Queens, a Marine Corps honor guard blew taps over the country's oldest female Marine. Sgt. Miriam Cohen did not die jumping on a hand grenade, or storming the beaches of Normandy or battling the Japanese on Iwo Jima. Most appropriately, she died on Veteran's Day, one day after the 234th birthday of the United States Marines Corps. Cohen lived nearly half as long: She would have been 102 on Dec. 13. When World War II threatened civilization, this beautiful, gutsy Brooklyn gal answered the call of a bugle, just like the... The New York Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2392243/posts#comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:40:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391592/posts CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines treated at Camp Lejeune for post-traumatic stress had to undergo therapy for months in temporary trailers where they could hear bomb blasts, machine-gun fire and war cries through the thin walls, according to servicemen and their former psychiatrist. The eight trailers were used for nearly two years, until a permanent clinic was completed in September in another location on the base, said a Camp Lejeune medical spokesman, Navy Lt. j.g. Mark Jean-Pierre. The noise from training exercises "shook me up real bad. I couldn't take it. I almost ran out of there a couple of... military.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391592/posts#comment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:43:08 GMT