Marine Corps News And Topics Of Interest

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense


No. 353-01
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2001
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
VIETNAM WAR MIA IDENTIFIED
Remains of a U.S. Air Force pilot missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being returned to his family. The formerly missing serviceman is Air Force Maj. Victor J. Apodaca, Jr. of Englewood, Colo.
"Achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing in action is of the highest national priority," said Alan Liotta, acting deputy assistant secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs. "The support we received from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam enabled us to identify this serviceman, and we look forward to continued cooperation."
On June 8, 1967, Apodaca and Capt. Jon T. Busch were flying an armed reconnaissance mission over Quang Binh province, North Vietnam, when their F-4C Phantom was struck by enemy fire. Other U.S. aircrews in the area reported receiving a radio transmission from Apodaca that he had lost use of the hydraulic system on his aircraft. Soon after, a weak emergency beeper signal was heard, but no aircrew saw where Apodaca's plane might have crashed. A visual and electronic search of the area continued into the next day without results.
In July 1988, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam turned over to the United States 25 boxes of remains believed to be those of missing American servicemen. Among those were remains associated with Apodaca and Busch as well as an identification tag for Maj. Apodaca. From those remains, Busch was later identified, but not Apodaca.
Later that year, a joint U.S.-Vietnamese team led by the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting interviewed inhabitants of Quang Binh province who described a 1967 crash which appeared to correlate to the loss of Apodaca and Busch. One of the witnesses said he had earlier in the year turned over some remains and an identification tag to local authorities. Those were included in the remains repatriated in July 1988. The joint team traveled to the suspected crash site, but was unable to confirm its exact location.
In April 1989, the Vietnamese turned over another 21 boxes of remains and their records indicated that Apodaca's was among them. Another joint team in 1991 examined documents in Quang Binh province that added more detail about the crash, as well as burial information on the two crew members. Over the course of the next decade, search teams continued to investigate leads while scientists worked with the remains that had been turned over by the Vietnamese.
In 1999, CILHI scientists completed a forensic analysis of the remains that were turned over by the Vietnamese in 1989, and confirmed Apodaca's identification through the use of mitochondrial DNA.
Apodaca's remains will returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
-END-


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Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 14:26:59 -0700

Subject: Enlisted Vietnam veteran retires

Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story by Sgt. Richard W. Holtgraver Jr.


MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii(July 17, 2001) -- A Marine reservist was
honored during an outdoor ceremony near the Provost Marshal's Office aboard
MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, July 17, for his service with 3rd Marine Regiment
during the Vietnam War.

Gunnery Sgt. Robert C. Ricks, a reserve military policeman, was honored by
Col. Joseph V. Medina, 3rd Marine Regiment commanding officer, with two unit
coins and a rare 3rd Marines watch for his service with 1st Bn., 3rd Marine
Regiment more than 30 years ago.

The small ceremony caught Ricks by surprise, and after a few words from Col.
Medina to the small group of Marines who had gathered to meet the combat
veteran, Ricks found it hard initially to find the right words to say to the
group.

After a few moments, Ricks told the group about the importance of
remembering what being a Marine had meant to him.

"Think about the Marines and the traditions that have come before you, and
carry them on proudly," Ricks said.

His ability to honor Marines Corps traditions and remember the
"Leathernecks" before him is why, after 34 years of being a Marine, Ricks
will be able to proudly retire.

After more than 21 years of active and reserve duty in the Marine Corps,
Ricks wanted to conduct his last annual reserve training aboard MCB Hawaii,
Kaneohe Bay, with 1/3, because it was with 1/3 that he served during the
Vietnam War.

In February 1967, Ricks graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris
Island, and after completing infantry school, he was sent to Vietnam as a
mortarmen with 1/3. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1971, Ricks remained
out of the Corps for 13 years until he joined the reserves in 1984.

For Ricks, it was a dream come true to conduct his last annual reserve
training in Hawaii and finish his career where it had started.

The soon-to-be-civilian took time during a barbecue, held to congratulate
the efforts of the Provost Marshals Office during BayFest 2001, to converse
with the junior Marines from PMO and pass on some simple guidance that had
helped him during his Marine Corps career.

"Do your job to the best of your ability," said Ricks. "And be proud of
being a Marine."

From: "Don Masztak" <marine@buckeye-express.com>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: Fw: C/1/1 - Fw: Navajo Code Talkers MARINES HYMN 1944
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 10:18:07 -0400
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200
X-Rcpt-To: <tmatye@hughes.net>
X-DPOP: Version number supressed



----- Awhile back we saw a photo of the Martine Corps Hymn from the Navajo Marines. I received this from another list and had to share it with you all....Flames Out!




THIS is absolutely POWERFUL...really need to share this with rest of the List, which I'm doing now




All of this discussion on the Navajo Code Talkers brings to mind an incident I think you would enjoy hearing about. We don't need much reminding of the close bond we Marines have with this particular WWII group, but this will cement it even more, and I dare say you will not have heard of a similar story.

Several years ago my Vietnam battalion, 3/3, a very tight group consisting of some legendary Marines we've all heard of, had its reunion here in Washington. We had met here before but decided to come back because one of our members agreed to be the honored guest and speaker for the banquet; a former Company Commander, now CMC, named Krulak. All of the usual events were planned; a visit to the Vietnam Memorial (where, remarkably, the Park Service permitted us to have a Battalion formation with wreath-laying, etc. -- a first), the Friday night parade, a visit to the Museum here and other Marine Corps related events. I organized a separate, special event as the reunion coordinator. This was a personalized, Marine Corps oriented tour of the Arlington National Cemetery with our own private trams and exclusive access to off route locations the general public doesn't see. Its a pity that more people don't do this, as I have done for over 30yrs for private groups. It is one of the most beautiful, moving, poignant and proud events you can imagine; impossible to describe. One of our purposes was to see and decorate the graves of the former 3/3 CO's all of us had at one time or another served under, and we are very well represented there. Joe Muir, the first battalion commander KIA in Vietnam; Josh Dorsey, later to become the Senior Marine Advisor during my year as an advisor; Jim Marsh, a great Marine by anyone's standards; and Dutch Schultz, for whom all of the previous superlatives can be said. None of these Marines need embellishment or introduction, and they are all there in Arlington.

We were enroute to Jim Marsh's gravesite when we passed two quite senior men in Navajo dress walking slowly on this very hot summer day. They waved politely and I stopped the tram to offer assistance. They wanted to know the location of Ira Hayes grave. We would be going there at our next stop after paying respects to Jim Marsh, but they preferred to walk. We carried on to Col Jim's grave site (the columbarium) and spent some time there as most of us had either served with him or knew him. Leaving this site we proceeded to Ira Hayes grave which was central between Dutch Schultz and Josh Dorsey. On arriving there we saw the two men we had passed earlier. Although they were tired from the long walk in the hot sun, it was easy for my party of 200 plus Marines to see that something had happened, just looking into the faces of these old warriors. They had created an air of dignity and reverence that was thicker than armor. At first we would not disembark from the trams and go up the short hill to the grave because it was obvious that we were intruding on something solemn, something of great meaning. They had decorated the grave with stones, feathers and what looked like beads, painted sticks, etc. Seeing us there they motioned us forward and we reluctantly, slowly approached; surrounding them and the grave. What happened next is hard to describe

These men spoke English, somewhat imperfectly, but their meaning was clear. They knew we were Marines and were pleased that we would join them, for "it gives great honor to our brother Ira". Already my eyes were getting that familiar sting and I wasn't alone. Then for the next 10--20 minutes they went through a prayer ritual that was so beautiful, so moving and poignant that we stood there transfixed, speechless. They picked up rocks from the headstone where they had placed them and gestured toward the sky, and then other artifacts as well. They swept their arms slowly around and over the grave while softly, respectfully incanting their prayers and singing; all in their own language. The meaning, however, came through profoundly to all of us. By this time we --all of us-- were sobbing openly, and then the real surprise came. They began to look directly at us and ever so often we would hear "semper fidelis" or "Marines", and one one occasion "they look after Ira". We were all to pieces, and not the least bit ashamed. Indeed, we were damned honored that they would include us.

Like most of us I have attended more than my share of funerals, in and out of uniform, and each have been meaningful, dignified and memorable. But nothing in my entire life was like this, and all of us said so. We returned to our tram and carried on with the tour, but we were emotional basket cases. It took me weeks to recover, and the memory of that quiet, dignified moment on a lovely Arlington hillside will never leave me.

We belong to a proud Corps. I have often said that pride is the high octane fuel of the Marine Corps. If you can't be proud, you can't be a Marine. I thought about that as I stood there with those humble, respectful warriors, tears running down my cheeks, my shirt and damn near to my shoes. Most Americans have no idea of the meaning of pride; the kind of pride that comes not from what you do, or who you are, but because you belong to something so much greater than the individual himself -- our Corps. And it is this Corps that produced such men as Ira Hayes, and the two lonely warriors that came all the way from Arizona at no small expense just to pay homage to their fallen brother. God bless these wonderful Marines. They gave us Vietnam vets a dose of pride that will last a lifetime.
 

From Bill Wright

Jim,


I forwarded Colonel Riply's story to the alt.war.vietnam newsgroup and got
this story in return. Got to tell you, Jim, the responses I hear from the
Army, Navy and Air Force are those of absolute amazement. They can't
believe that Marines really do look out for each other to such an extent.


Received from an old Marine pilot buddy............................. He
received it from an Army Special Forces friend.
========================


USMC remembers


Experienced a rich blessing today. I met my wife in 1988 through a Marine
pilot
married to her sister. He died in a crash in Oct 1991, just weeks after
returning from Desert Storm. The crash was caused by a maintenance
contractor
using a batch of oil that had caused a previous crash and was supposed to
have
been destroyed. Senseless tragedy. I was able to give their son Sean, now
13,
a tour of the Pentagon today. The best part was the Marines gave him a tour
of
the Commandant's office, then
presented him with the letter below, signed by the Commandant. Sean says it
was
the best part of a 2-week trip to the East and on the way to the airport was
treating that letter like it was the Hope diamond. I'm just awestruck once
again, by the human compassion, grace and goodness displayed by the Marine
Corps.


~~~~~~~~~~~~


16 July 2001


Dear Sean,


You have lived ten years - most of your boyhood - without your
father's
presence. You and your mother are commended for a difficult job well done.
In
the next ten years you will face the greater challenge of becoming a man.
Your
father loved to fly and it was his dream to be a good pilot and a good
Marine.
In the coming years, you must also discover what you love and strive to do
it
with excellence.


Marines are built through the ethos of struggle and sacrifice. Many,
like your father, have sacrificed all. The nation expects her Marines to
succeed under the most trying conditions in some of the toughest places on
earth. From deserts, to jungles, to mountains and war-torn cities, we must
be
rugged and strong to persevere, but we don't stand alone. We persevere and
succeed as a team. As you grow up without your father, you too live daily
with
struggle and sacrifice. I charge you to grow rugged and strong through
this,
but with the knowledge that you don't face these struggles alone. Walk with
people who help you learn to thrive in the tough places.


Your father succeeded in becoming a good pilot, a good Marine, and a
good
man. As you grow into manhood, seek out and listen to good men who can help
you
along the path you have chosen. Find friends who are also committed to
becoming
good men, friends that can walk the path with you.


Your father loved, respected and cared for your mother. He was the
man
of your family, and your mother trusted him above all men. Now you are the
man
of the family and are charged with loving, respecting and caring for your
mother, and earning and guarding the trust she places in you. Remain
faithful
to the service and sacrifice and courage your father valued. That is his
dream
for you.



Semper Fidelis.
/signed/
JAMES L. JONES
General, U.S. Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps

Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 16:25:58 -0700

Subject: Night Vision Goggles Give Marines Combat Edge

Submitted by: MCLB Albany
Story by Colie Young


MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga.(July 19, 2001) -- A dozen Marines
from the Supply Chain Management Center's Ground Ordnance Section recently
received high praise from Brig. Gen. Richard S. Kramlich, Marine Corps
Logistics Bases commander, for saving the Marine Corps more than a quarter
million dollars for their outstanding efforts.

Led by project leader Staff Sgt. John Tate, the Marines completed a limited
technical inspection of 1,568 night vision goggles that would have cost the
Corps more than $313,000, plus the cost of parts, if the manufacturer had
worked all the items.

"There were several back orders from the Fleet for the NVGs," said Judy
Butt, NVG item manager. "The manufacturer's warranty for these items had run
out and since we are responsible for sustaining these items, we had to
ensure they were usable."

The NVG is a hand-held, head-mounted or helmet-mounted night vision system.
When worn [or used like binoculars], the device enables Marines to see
clearly during nighttime missions.

Tasks such as walking, driving, firing weapons, conducting short-range
surveillance, reading maps, administering first aid and performing
maintenance on vehicles can be done routinely with the NVGs using only
moonlight or starlight.

The system allows for vertical adjustment [by using head straps],
fore-and-aft adjustment, objective focus, eyepiece focus and eye span
distance adjustment.

The NVG is also equipped with an infrared source and a low-battery indicator.

Although Marine Corps Systems Command buys the Corps' initial issue
[approximately 40,000], the SCMC ensures the equipment remains operational
for the Fleet Marine Forces, according to Judy.

"Looking at the back orders, I needed to get an idea of what the cost would
be to get the goggles inspected and repaired," the item manager said.

"The first thing I did was have the Marines do a commercial master work
schedule with either Litton [Litton Electro-Optical Systems] or ITT [ITT
Industries] because those were the two companies that manufacturer the night
vision goggles," Judy said.

The reason the item manager sought a price quote from the manufacturers was
because the night vision goggles have an image intensifier installed that
Marine Corps Logistics Bases' depots cannot repair. What she discovered was
alarming.

"ITT wanted to charge us $200 per NVG just to look at them, and then we
would have to pay for the parts too," Judy said. "After doing the math
[stocking more than 1,500 NVGs], I searched for a different avenue to take."

The item manager looked to the Marines of the Ground Ordnance Section.

"Here's what we had," contractor Jim Corbett revealed, "there were about
1,500 of these items that were improperly condition coded - we didn't know
what was what."

"We figured the Marines could go through the equipment, find out how many we
could turn into condition code "B" and then only send the ones that really
needed repair to the manufacturer," Corbett said.

"That way we don't spend $200 a shot just because we have a piece of rubber
missing off a battery cap strap," said Corbett.

"We figured if we could get some of the Marines to LTI the goggles, we
wouldn't have to send the entire stock for repair," said Corbett.

Corbett explained that each piece of equipment that comes into the
Maintenance Centers has to have a condition code assigned to it that
determines what potential it has for rework.

These codes reveal what level of repair is required for a piece of
equipment, and how much money is needed to fix that equipment.

Condition codes are assigned letters from "A" to "H," with "A" being a brand
new piece of equipment. An item with a condition code of "B" is fully
operational and can be used in the Fleet, according to Corbett.

The idea to have the Marines perform the inspections panned out, with the
total project lasting approximately two weeks. At the conclusion, the
Marines had performed far beyond all expectations.

"The Marines who worked this project helped us determine exactly what assets
we could use to replenish about 500 backorders we had down here," Corbett said.

"Because of these Marines, we now have all the assets and more.

"Judy [Butt] is the one who blessed this," Corbett added. "She gave it the
green light, and the rest is history."

"We took our time to check everything possible," said Sgt. Jimmy Wheeler
Jr., commodity inspector.

"This was a great opportunity for us because we realize that we are not
going to be in Albany [Ga.] forever. One day we may have to use this
equipment [in the field], and we do all we can to ensure it's in proper
working condition."

"The technical training we received at Camp Pendleton [Calif.] really came
in handy," added Sgt. DeWayne Sankey, commodity inspector.

"Some of the goggles were only missing battery cap straps or other small
items. Our training helped us determine exactly what the deficiencies were,
thereby preventing the Marine Corps from spending thousands of dollars
sending all of them back to the manufacturer for repair."

"There's really nothing more for me to say other than those Marines did a
fine job," the item manager concluded, "simply outstanding!"

Marines who worked the project were: Gunnery Sgt. Douglas Derosia, Staff
Sgts. Alan Duhon, John Tate, Rene Uribe, and Shawne Washington, and Sgts.
Christopher Ashby, Ryan Burns, Adam Draisen, Joseph Flemings, Stephen
Martin, Sankey and Wheeler. -30-
 

Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2001 13:10:42 -0700

Subject: Drill Instructor strives for perfection

Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story by Cpl. Kimberly S. Leone


MCRD San Diego(July 6, 2001) -- Perfectionism: A propensity for setting
extremely high standards and being displeased with anything less.
Perfectionist (n) see most parents, bosses and Marine Corps drill
instructors, specifically Senior Drill Instructor SSgt. David Robinson,
platoon 1067, Delta Co. (If he's too busy training recruits, his wife or
sister can quickly detail his fastidious nature.)

"I am definitely a perfectionist," Robinson said. "Just ask my wife or my
kids."

Sitting casually in a green chair outside of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
San Diego, Post Exchange complex, 31-year-old Robinson has the sweet-eyed
charm of a young child talking his mom into buying that new bike. It is this
charm accompanied by a soft arrogance, earned through experience and
education, that help Robinson get what he wants out of life and out of his
recruits...in due time.

"But I'm also a big time procrastinator," he added, as though mentally
checking off his strengths and weaknesses. "Fortunately, the deadlines are
so tight here that I can't really give in to this weakness."

When Robinson joined the Marine Corps 13 years ago, he wasn't headed down a
road littered with crime, violence or drugs. He was an honor student and a
varsity wrestler at his Omaha, Neb. Everyone who knew the lanky, soft-spoken
high school graduate thought he was headed to college.

"Everybody pretty much thought I was crazy for not going to college," he
said, laughing as he remembers scholarships turned down and fraternity
parties never attended. "When I graduated high school I was just tired of
books and studying."

Robinson first fell for the distinctive Marine Corps dress blue uniform. He
signed his contract after learning the Marine Corps was considered the
toughest of the U.S. military services and selecting a military occupational
specialty he felt had potential outside of the Corps.

"When I first joined I wasn't thinking 'career,'" he said. "I decided to be
an 1141, an electrician, because I knew I would have job opportunities
outside of the Corps."

The pride, discipline and financial security that are part of being in the
Marine Corps motivated Robinson to make the Marine Corps his life.

"My wife sometimes struggles with the amount of time I have to spend away
from home, especially as a DI," he said. " I try to bring the kids to the
Depot sometimes. They get a kick out of seeing the DIs yell at the recruits
and watching the recruits do drill."

He pauses a moment and smiles.

"Well, I don't think the 17-month old really cares much," he adds.

Robinson's home away from the Depot is full of the rambunctious activity of
his 17-month-old son, Diego Sierre', 6-year-old son, David II and 8-year-old
daughter, Dasia Symone'. The children keep his wife of more than eight
years, Deidre, on her toes.

"I try to spend as much time as possible with my family," he said, adding
that his wife's continued support and understanding has helped him achieve
success in his career.

That successful career has afforded Robinson the opportunity to spend the
past two years on the drill field at the Depot and given him the chance to
work with Marines he describes as extremely motivated and dedicated to the
mission of making Marines.

"The difference between my job as a senior drill instructor and the job of
the drill instructors is in our focus," he said. "I focus on the safety and
well-being of the recruits and the DIs during training. The drill
instructors focus, almost single-mindedly, on training. I have absolute
confidence in the Dies abilities to accomplish their mission."

While overseeing the safety of the DIs and the recruits, Robinson also
serves as mentor. He strives to instill in his junior drill instructors and
the recruits an enduring sense of self-pride and good citizenship.

"The former commandant directed that recruit training not only create a
good, basically trained Marine, but that the process also returned good
citizens to society," he said. "While not every recruit will graduate boot
camp, everybody who comes here can leave as a better citizen."

Robinson works to teach his drill instructors the importance of building up
recruits after the initial phase of boot camp has introduced them to the
Marine Corps way of life. As a young drill instructor himself, Robinson
learned from his own "overzealous perfectionism" and a little memory lapse.

"The most common mistake I made as a drill instructor was forgetting the
recruits are human," he said, a reminiscent smile on his lips. "I was so
focused on mission accomplishment by any means necessary that the 'means'
weren't necessarily always the right means."

Having overcome his perfectionist streak and moderated his zeal, Robinson
focuses on creating drill instructors who expertly balance compassion with
professionalism and recruits who leave boot camp as proud, confident
basically trained Marines.

The rewards of his effort can be seen in the performance of his drill
instructor team and the recruits he proudly marches across the parade deck
on graduation day.

"The one thing I hope the recruits and even the drill instructors take with
them after training with me is a hard, strong work ethic and self-pride," he
said. "These traits will help them succeed in the fleet because if they take
pride in their appearance and performance, they'll look good and if they
look good, they'll feel good about themselves, and their performance will
reflect this self-pride."

Most frequently, moments when Robinson knows he is accomplishing his mission
happen during drill instructor dinners. Parents, especially mothers, who
haven't seen their sons for three months will walk right past their child,
not recognizing him after his transformation from civilian to Marine.

Once the parents figure out which clean-shaven, clear-eyed recruit is their
son, they come to the proud senior drill instructor with tears, hugs and
"thank-yous."

He blushes slightly as he describes tears left on Creighton blouses and
endearing hugs from trembling moms.

"That's when I'm sure the sacrifices Marine drill instructors make are worth
it," he said.

Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2001 13:12:51 -0700

Subject: Marine Recruits learn early the significance of the words 'Corpsmen Up!'

Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story by Cpl. Christopher A. Raper


MCRD San Diego(July 6, 2001) -- Navy Corpsmen have been working, living and
dying alongside Marines for more than 100 years. During that time corpsmen
have earned 21 Medals of Honor, 174 Navy Crosses, 942 Silver Stars and 1,554
Bronze Stars. Many Marines owe their lives to the corpsmen who went to
combat with them. Approximately 2,000 of corpsmen gave their lives in the
last century while fulfilling their duty of maintaining the combat readiness
of the Marines in the units they were assigned to.

"The price of your dedication has been high," said John H. Dalton, former
Secretary of the Navy, in a birthday greeting to the Navy Hospital Corps.
"Beyond the courage of caring for the wounded in combat, hospital corpsmen
have borne the responsibility of ensuring day-to-day health of the Navy and
Marine Corps in peacetime."

Aboard the Depot, the company corpsmen, affectionately known as "docs,"
determinedly fulfill their peacetime duties by attending to the health needs
of Marine recruits.

The corpsmen's counterparts in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego's
branch medical and dental clinics tend to the clinic patient load focusing
on Depot tenant command personnel and fleet Sailors. The company corpsmen
endure the intense training schedule, the high expectations of Marine drill
instructors and the occasionally unforgiving Southern California sun in
order to maintain the safety and health of young men training to be Marines.

Not only is it their duty as Navy Corpsmen, but the Recruit Training
Regiment command has stated, "no corpsmen, no training."

It all began in 1997, when the Navy decided to take medicine to the
deckplates of recruit training. With corpsmen alongside the recruits during
their training, a means of increased access to quality medical care was
provided.

As recruit training is a young Marines first taste of the Corps, corpsmen
are often their first introduction to the working relationship between the
Corps and the Navy. This exposure to Navy personnel not only aids in recruit
training, it helps strengthen the Navy/Marine Corps team.

A typical training day for the corpsmen starts around 5:45 a.m., shortly
after the recruits climb out of their rack. Twenty-six corpsmen ensure that
the 12 Recruit Training Regiment companies don't have to waste time during
training to send recruits over to Branch Medical Clinic when they can treat
many of the recruits' problems at the training site.

"Our job is simply to provide medical care for the recruits," said Navy
Petty Officer Third Class Rebecca L. Frerichs, Hospital Corpsman, Echo
Company. "But we also provide a go-between for the drill instructors and the
recruits. We are out there to represent the recruits' health."

Taking care of the recruits' health does not equate to being their buddies
or helping them find ways to get out of training. The Corpsmen are keenly
aware of their role as health providers in a recruit training environment.

"We respect them as patients, but you must always remember that they are
recruits," said Navy Petty Officer Third Class Trevon M. Thompson, Hospital
Corpsman, Echo Company. "We can't provide a shoulder for them to cry on.
They are in training."

While providing professional health care and limited compassion, the
Corpsmen help the drill instructors meet their training mission by
disbursing motivation along with aspirin and band-aids.

"A lot of the recruits don't know how to push themselves," said Navy Petty
Officer Second Class Frank C. Cannon, Hospital Corpsman, Alpha Company.
"They are still young and they don't know what their bodies can take. They
learn that with training. They learn what they can and cannot do and what
their limitations are."

The physical demands of recruit training can and do lead to injuries, but
the Corpsmen are quick to help the drill instructors determine which
injuries will limit a recruit's ability to train or are possibly more mental
than physical. Often the reassurance from a 'doc' that an ankle "sprain" is
actually just a tired ankle or a "broken" finger is just a minor jam, is all
it takes to get a recruit back into the training regime.

"The corpsmen are just as hard core as the Marines," said SSgt. Cody D.
Stewart, senior drill instructor, plt. 3088, Lima Co., 3rd Recruit Training
Bn. "The corpsmen are on the runs and hikes with the recruits. They are
always present to answer questions about the physical well-being of the
recruits."

The answers provided by the corpsmen help the drill instructors determine
when a recruit is giving all he can or is "sandbagging" (malingering), added
Stewart.

From reveille to taps, corpsmen keep a constant vigil over the recruits
within their assigned company. And at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San
Diego, the steadfast sailors who rarely see their blue-side uniforms are
essential to accomplishing the Depot mission of making Marines. The
partnership helps both sides of the Navy/Marine team.

Should the corpsmen ever have to go to combat with a Marine unit, they will
go with confidence knowing they and other corpsmen have tended to the
Marines' health and the Corps has trained them well.

For the Marines, they will have had a Navy Corpsmen tending to their safety
and health since those first days after stepping on the yellow footprints.
The corpsmen will be a familiar face and the Marine, should he need to, can
call for him, that ever-present 'doc.' "Corpsmen up!"

Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2001 14:54:15 -0700

Subject: MPs provide security for ship off coast of East Timor

Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth L. Hinson


OKINAWA, Japan -- Five Marine military policemen from Marine Corps Base,
here, returned to Okinawa June 15 after serving 100 days in East Timor on a
security mission.

The MPs provided shipboard security for the United States Support Group in
East Timor on the Central Maritime Hotel, which is stationed 100 yards off
the shore of Dilly.

USSGET is currently in East Timor planning and directing humanitarian
efforts such as medical, dental and housing projects. Security was necessary
because of criminal and terrorist threats and lack of stability in the area.
The MPs served as armed guards and a protection force for the hotel.

"We were there protecting the people who needed it most, which were the 12
staff members and 19 contractors who were aboard the hotel," said Staff.
Sgt. Jason R. Periard, military policeman, Provost Marshal's Office,
Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base. "They counted on us
to provide the protection they needed to complete their mission."

The Marines volunteered for the mission after a representative from III
Marine Expeditionary Force contacted PMO. After Periard selected the
Marines, they started preparing with protection drills and weapons training.

"I knew I wanted to go and be a part of this exercise when I heard about
it," said Lance Cpl. Ryan M. Gummer, military policeman, PMO. "There's no
way I could pass up the opportunity to visit another country and protect the
people who live there."

At the hotel, the team of Marines rotated 24-hour shifts to ensure there
were two guards on duty at all times. Standing the duty was a challenge for
the team because they only had five Marines.

"Our mission became a mental challenge for us because of the hours we had to
stand guard," Periard said. "We had to be alert and ready for any movement
or emergency that could occur."

The team was also responsible for escorting staff and contractors to and
from the coastline of Dilly. No one was allowed to leave or enter the hotel
without an escort.

While on guard, each MP wore combat gear, such as a flak jacket and Kevlar
helmet, and carried an M-16A2 Service Rifle for protection.

In addition to their guard and escort duty, the Marines volunteered to help
out at the local medical clinic in Dilly. The Marines helped feed and take
care of the patients at the hospital. They also entertained the local
children by spending time with them and sharing stories about the Marine Corps.

"I liked having the children around to talk with," Gummer said. "It's not
every day I get to spend time with other children from other countries. I
believe they really enjoyed us being there."

The mission to East Timor provided knowledge and experience for the Marines.

"All of us gained a lot of experience while we were out in the field,"
Periard said. "I recommend a mission like this to any Marine because you get
to see what your work is doing and how it helps other people."

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