Sgt Grit's Marine BS Iraqi War Volume 13

Marine and Devil Pup

Marine and his Devil Pup

Marine and Kitten

I don't know if you are still looking for pictures for a calendar, but this picture of my son who is a Lt., to become Captain upon his return from his third deployment says it all. This man is a beloved leader to his men, a tough but caring boss, he earned the Navy & Marine Corps medal for combat valor on his second tour. The title of this pic is "What I do while the platoon chases insurgents". I just love it because it shows a tough marine, with a tiny kitten in his gloved hands. All that equipment gently holding the small animal. Hope you enjoy it.

Mary
Proud mom of Rich

Recent Iraq Picture

Here is the most recent picture my husband sent to me from Iraq.
- Semper Fi

Combatload

Thank you so much for carrying the red rubber band bracelets that state "U.S. Marines" on them. My son and son in law are Marines. I bought enough of the braclets for my nephew class at a Christian school. I know that the more prayers going up for my boy in Iraq the better. My nephew handed out the braclets to his classmates and they all said thank you. Then he pulled out a picture of my son in full combat gear. WOW! Were they impressed. They now wear their braclets proudly and our Marines have twenty more prayers going up for them.

S. Cates
Marine Mom

25 Lessons Presentation

25 Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan

Injured Marine Pics

5/13/05 - Wounded Marine receives a purple heart.

My nephew, our hero.

Best Jet in the Marine Corps Today

Mother's Day Present

5/09/05
Hello, attached is My Mothers day present! Thought I would share, I was so happy!!!

LtCol R. Smith of 3/10

5/10/05
I am the C.O. of the 3d Battalion, 10th Marines. I am 3 months into a 12 month tour of duty in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

The picture in Fallujah was taken in February 2005. Disregard the date on it..the guy who took it did not have his camera programmed correctly.

Fallujah Dust Storm

4/27/05
My son is in Fallujah with the II MEF (Forward) Unit 73920 out of Camp LeJeune, NC. He sent these pictures of a "dust devil" taken recently. It is amazing the weather conditions our troops are facing over there. Certainly nothing like we have here! Picture 5 shows the "inside" of the dust storm.
Best regards,
N. Owens

Latest, greatest and last Project from the Parent Group for 1/3

Just thought I would pass this site along (www.one3quilts.com) to show the progress the Parent Group of 1/3 has accomplished on our most recent project in support of our Fallen Marines and their Families. The Comfort Quilts for our Fallen Marines will be presented to their families, then the quilts for our wounded will be started. Its quite amazing what can be accomplished when everyone works together. A large number of The Parent Group will also be arriving and may be able to present them to some of the families that will be returning in early May.
Besides our most recent project, the Parent Group made and stuffed approximately 1500 cool ties for the hot climate the troops were enduring. They then provided 7000 warmers when the climate changed. Christmas time brought 1500 plus stockings stuffed with goodies. Many schools, boy scout troops and individuals wrote letters to boost their morale and make them smile. Our largest project was Project Camelbak. At the time our Marines were deployed they were issued camelbaks. Shortly after their deployment, Camelbak Corporation's technology evolved and the Camelbak was made to be biological and chemically resistant. Through the amazing efforts of the Parent Group and all of America, we were able to purchase Camelbaks for every Marine and Sailor in and/or attached to the BLT 1/3.
Through the generosity of Camelbak and their professional staff we were abe to accomplish this. Without their gung-ho attitude and willingness to work with us on different issues, this project would never have been possible. To them -- the Parent Group is forever grateful.

Special thanks to Brad, only the Lord knows how many were saved.

We were also able to elevate a very important issue to the Commandant's Office where it was rectified in less than 24 hours and a Fellow Marine was able to attend his best friend's funeral who gave his life in Fallujah. His parent's had made a plea, on CNN, for the Marine to attend their son's funeral -- it was their son's wish. He had discussed it with his parents while he was deployed and fighting in Fallujah. At a time when their grief was insurmountable, they found themselves fighting red tape to get LCPL Howard home. Needless to say, the call came, that LCPL Howard was on his way and would be there for the funeral. He was not in a battle zone at the time. It was such a delight to encounter such a wonderful and compassionate leader when it counts. He will always be thought of with fondness.
Phone cards and care packages were abundant. We didn't want our Marines to go without anything -- and if they had one -- we wanted them to have two. The Parent Group worked hard and we all kept each other sane.
I could go on and on about The Parent Group of 1/3 but I think you get the picture. They poured their hearts and souls into our numerous projects -- asking nothing in return -- except maybe to talk to someone who was going through the same experience. Through the ten months, tears were cried, late night phone calls were made, frustration was vented, loved ones anxiously awaited the worst and lasting friendships were formed. The Parent Group was the most positive, motivated, loving and kind group of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents and girlfriends I have ever had the honor of working with. I am so excited to meet everyone this weekend.
May the Lord grant us World Peace soon or at least tell my husband to retire.

Sharon

P.S. For any of those who think any of our projects and actions were an indictment against our Commander in Chief. I can honestly tell you it was an act of love and kindness. To bring sanity to an insane situation -- besides they didn't have the technology when our Marines left.

Sadr City

This picture was taken in Sadr City (a Baghdad suburb) at the end of the first major offensive against Iraqi forces and insurgents.

These are 0311 marine scouts with a mechanized marine infantry unit with RCT 5. 6 ended up being wounded!!!

How Many Were At Parris Island on 9-11-01?

Sgt Grit,
Have been reading several of the notes in the newsletter that I receive. Only have to ask, how many of our family members were in boot camp on 9-11-01?

My son Michael was one of the ones that went from the frying pan into the fire. The frying pan was high school, where he too was not recognized for going delayed entry into the USMC. One of the things that I had done for my son prior to boot camp? Drained my IRA to let him have 2 weeks away from MOM before going off to boot camp. To this day he still doesn't know that I done this for him.

Anyway, he graduated from high school May 2001, boot camp at PI was July 2001 - October 2001. What most folks didn't know was this young man was only 17 when he graduated from high school, only 17 when he started out in boot camp, was only 17 on 9-11-01 and turned 18 in boot camp! Yes he was deployed to the sandbox for a period of 9 months. He was there when most of this current skirmish started.

What have we done as his parents since his being a Marine? We've added a flag pole to our front yard, in which we fly the US Flag and the USMC flag. Became part of a "Welcome Home" group in our local area to welcome home all area soldiers, sailors, airmen and yes MARINES from the sandbox. Our City and County officials decided that it was too dangerous to allow police and emergency personnel to continue with our escort parades. After welcoming home over 17 HEROES our group disbanded due to lack of support from the community. Talking with members of our Police and Emergency personnel, they wanted to continue to welcome home our Heroes against their superiors wishes. We acquired a nice Frontier pick up truck and decked it out with the large USMC Sticker on the tailgate, the large USMC Magnet on the hood, as well as several troop support ribbon magnets on the sides in addition to the branch of service flag for the honorees! Our little truck stood out! Attaching a photo of our truck decked out for proof!

Thank You All
Semper Fi!

Carol
PMM Michael (now stateside)
Baxter TN

Only a Marine

A friend of mine sent this photo of his son swearing in one of his troops in Iraq. Only a Marine would re-up in a combat zone. Semper Fi

No Words

Gentlemen as hard as this is to look at, I will bet that all of us could put a name of someone we knew on these guys.
Semper Fi,
God Bless and Taps
Ron

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