Marine Corps News And Topics Of Interest

Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 16:08:09 -0700

Subject: America mourns victims of terrorism

Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story by Lance Cpl. John R. Lawson, III


HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS, WASHINGTON, D.C.(September 14, 2001) -- Jets
landing at Washington's Reagan National Airport typically approach by flying
over the Potomac River, so Cpl. Nicola Morrison couldn't figure out why a
Boeing 757 belonging to American Airlines was flying perpendicular to the
river and low.

Corporal Morrison was standing at a bus stop outside the Pentagon Tuesday
morning when one of the four jet airliners hijacked by terrorists made its
suicide run and claimed the lives of an estimated 190 people.

"I said, 'Oh my God, the plane is going to crash into the Pentagon!" Cpl.
Morrison recalled.

As soon as Cpl. Morrison realized what was about to happen, she did as all
Marines are trained to do when an explosion is imminent. "I dropped to the
ground," she said.

"I thought it was an accident," Cpl. Morrison said, recalling her first
impression.

"It took me a minute to [collect] myself," Cpl. Morrison continued. Once she
sorted out her thoughts and had a chance to talk with some people, she
realized that she had witnessed part of the terrorist attack that included
the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Corporal Morrison works in the Marine Corps's aviation office, which is in
the Pentagon. Until last week, Cpl. Morrison's unit had its office near the
Pentagon's west side, where the terrorists crashed the hijacked plane. As
fate had it, Cpl. Morrison, a resident of Adelphi, Md., and her fellow
Marines were relocated over the weekend to office space on the opposite side
of the Pentagon.

As soon as the shock wore off, the Jamaican born corporal began to seethe.

"Basically, I was angry," she said. "I don't think it's fair for people to
take innocent lives like that."

While no Marines were killed, 64 blameless people on the airliner and
approximately 126 military personnel and supporting civilians working in the
Pentagon lost their lives.

The Army was hit especially hard.

Glen Davis is a logistics contractor who works with Marine Corps Systems
Command in Quantico, Va. His daily work gives him a strong bond with the
Marines, but only a year ago he retired as a lieutenant colonel with 20
years of service in the Army.

His last station had him working with the Deputy Undersecretary of the Army.
Consequently, he worked right near the impact area. "I know of a couple of
people who are still missing," Davis said.

Shortly after the attack, Davis requested and got a week off from his job so
that he could come to the Pentagon and perform his duties as a Red Cross
volunteer. "Marine Corps Systems Command was very generous in letting me
go," he said.

Now, operating with little sleep, he is helping to ensure that victims of
the attack and workers at the crash site get any food, clothing, or
counseling that they might need.

"Everyone who is a United States citizen is upset and wants to do
something," Davis said.

Helping hands have come from far and wide, with the Salvation Army and even
McDonalds providing comfort for those affected by the horrendous attack on
the Pentagon.

Volunteers have come from as far away as Spruce Pine, in western North
Carolina. Eddie Williams, a former Marine, and about 30 of his friends with
the North Carolina Baptist Men left home Tuesday night. By Wednesday
morning, they were providing hot meals for workers and victims at the site.

Williams entered the Marine Corps in 1968 and left the Corps in 1976 after
finishing a recruiting tour.

"We're trying to take care of those who are doing the rescue," he said.

On Thursday, Marines recovered a Marine Corps flag from the impact area that
- strangely - went untouched. Seeing a Marine proudly carry the red and gold
flag away from the rubble moved Williams.

"That kind of touches you," he said.

Then he added, "Once a Marine, always a Marine."

Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 16:11:34 -0700

Subject: Navy-Marine Corps Teams Assists in Rescue at World Trade Center

Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story by Sgt John Neal


NEW YORK(September 12, 2001) -- When two airliners impacted the Twin Towers
of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, fire and rescue teams from
across New York City rushed to aid the victims of an act of terrorism.
Following the collapse of the Twin Towers, those who were doing the rescuing
suddenly found themselves needing to be rescued.

In addition to more fire and rescue teams from the five boroughs, 14 Navy
corpsmen called up from the reserves by 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines here in
Garden City, N.Y., and one Marine gunnery sergeant, loaded two vans with
first aid supplies and meals-ready-to-eat, and headed for the ruins of the
World Trade Center.

For the sailors and Marine who rushed to lower-Manhattan, the scene at
"ground zero" was surreal; especially for those who had been to the World
Trade Center prior to the attack.

"I was there a couple months ago," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander
Valdez, a naval reservists from New York. "I went to this beautiful mall
there, and now it's ... it's unbelievable."

Other, more veteran sailors likened the experience to another infamous
terrorist attack in American history.

"I was in Beirut and this looked just like it," said one corpsman. "It looks
just like what happened 20 years ago."

For nearly 24 hours, the sailors and Marine assisted rescue workers with
their injuries, and helped in searching for survivors as well as recovering
bodies.

"I hooked up with the firemen and searched the mall area by crawling around
in the debris with a flashlight," said Gunnery Sgt. John M. Leech, a prior
service recruiter stationed in Garden City. "There was all sorts of debris
and smoke, and alarms and buzzers were going off, but we didn't find anyone."

Adding to the confusion brought on by the debris, smoke and noises that
filled the World Trade Center, Leech says rescue workers had to work through
myriad of feelings and emotions.

"Everyone was in awe, complete shock," said Leech. "Everyone was real
somber, real sad."

While the Navy-Marine Corps team worked to recover survivors of the attack,
another group of Marines in Staten Island were helping victims to shore off
the ferryboats from Manhattan. Marine Staff Sgt. Matthew Olivolo, the
marketing and public affairs representative for Recruiting Station New York,
and recruiters from Recruiting Substation Staten Island, were among those
who helped attack victims disembark the ferries.

"There were a ton of people there," said Olivolo the day after the attack.
"A ton of firemen and rescue workers after the towers collapsed, too. They
all had the same look on their face - utter shock."

Rescue efforts are still going on in the city, as workers are digging
through the tons of debris in search of survivors. The Marines and sailors,
meanwhile, have resumed a standby position, waiting for command from higher
headquarters to continue with relief operations.

Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 16:16:58 -0700

Subject: Recruit leaves farm field for infantry field

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


MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(Sept. 14, 2001) -- Graduation
seemed almost an intangible dream to PFC Joseph L. Fredricks during the
first few days of recruit training.

When Fredricks entered into the world of recruit training he was a quiet
recruit with little self-confidence and a very timid personality. These
traits made for a tough adjustment to an environment hinged on immediate
discipline, endurance and constant stress.

"I was really wondering what I had gotten myself into when the drill
instructor came on the bus and began his speech. By the time I had made it
to the footprints I was terrified. Everything happened so fast. I was really
nervous and kind of scared," commented Fredricks as he looked back on that
initial night.

After the shock of having his head shaved, his clothes exchanged for
camouflage utilities and his identity, as he knew it, stripped away,
Fredricks got his first taste of military life.

Growing up on a little farm in Alma, Kan., Fredricks woke up to the sound of
a rooster crowing and the smell of livestock. Now he is greeted by the sound
of a trumpet and the musty stench of around 70 recruits.

Fredricks got his incentive to join the Corps from his big brother, LCpl.
Jon F. Fredricks. "I was looking for a challenge in my life and I have
always looked up to my older brother," said the graduating Marine. "He is a
Marine and seems to love being in the Corps. I didn't think that I could go
wrong following in his footsteps."

Once the training had truly begun, Fredricks quickly adapted to the
environment and settled right into the swing of things. He trained hard and
constantly worked to lose the weight he needed to in order to meet the
height and weight standards set for him by the Marine Corps. He was able to
lose more than 45 pounds and improve his confidence dramatically.

Without being told, Fredricks would step up and assist the squad leaders
from anything to barracks cleanup to long humps. He seemed to provide the
driving force and motivation for the platoon and did what he could to help
out his fellow recruits.

Fredricks has shown the most improvement from beginning to end and deserves
to claim the title of United States Marine.

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 08:37:33 -0700

Subject: 50th Streamer added to Marine Corps Battle Colors

Submitted by: Marine Barracks 8th & I
Story by Marine Barracks Washington Public Affairs


MARINE BARRACKS, WASHINGTON (August 31, 2001) -- The Kosovo Campaign
Streamer was added to official Battle Colors of the Marine Corps during the
final Evening Parade of the 2001 season here, hosted by the Commandant of
the Marine Corps, Gen. James L. Jones.

Secretary of the Navy and guest of honor, Gordon R. England, attached the
streamer to the colors, before a crowd of more than 3,000 guests.

The Kosovo Campaign Streamer has two bronze stars representing the two
components of the campaign -- air and defense.

In 1999, Marines participated in an air campaign against the forces of
Slobodan Milosevic, then-president of Yugoslavia. The attacks forced
Milosevic's forces to stop oppressing ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. On
Sept. 24, 2000, he was defeated overwhelmingly at the polls by opposition
candidate Vojislav Kostunica.

Since 1999, Marines have served in Kosovo to cool ethnic strife in the region.

Former President Clinton established the Kosovo Campaign Medal and the
accompanying campaign streamer to recognize those whom participated in
Kosovo operations or provided direct support.

While the campaign revolved around Kosovo, it involved forces that also
operated in or over Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia,
Hungary, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, the Adriatic, and the
Ionian Sea.

The streamer commemorating these actions now joins the 49 other streamers
representing the entire battle history of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The streamers represent the Corps' large actions, such as its battles in
World War II and World War I, and small actions, such as the Barbary Wars
and the Dominican campaign.

Marine Barracks Washington is the home of the official Battle Colors of the
Marine Corps.

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 09:23:05 -0700

Subject: Corps, Lejeune bids farewell to an old friend

Submitted by: MCB Camp Lejeune
Story by Lance Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald


CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(August 29, 2001) -- Fifty years. That's nearly 18,250
days, 438,000 hours or 26,280,000 minutes. If you saved for a retirement
fund $50 a month for 50 years assuming a 10 percent rate of interest, you
could have $866,219.54.

Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Donal L. Yoho, who passed away Aug. 25 after
battling cancer, spent 50 of his 72 years serving the United States
government, including 32 years (nearly 11,680 days) as a supply Marine and
18 years (almost 157,680 hours) as a civil service worker with MILES
(Multi-Integrated Laser Equipment System) here.

Yoho enlisted into the Marine Corps August 1951 and attended boot camp at
Parris Island, S.C.

An avid baseball and soccer fan, Yoho also served from 1966 to 1967 in
Vietnam during the war. He inventoried gear and supplied troops with equipment.

Yoho, and his widow, Betty also called Quantico, Va., Hawaii, Atlanta, Camp
Pendleton, Calif., and Cherry Point, N.C. home during the 32 years Don was
enlisted.

"Don and I were high school sweethearts," said Betty, of Reader, W. Va. "He
was about to be drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict, but he
wanted to be a Marine instead."

"He loved being in the Marine Corps; he loved his job," explained Betty.
"The only reason he retired here in 1983 was because he wasn't able to
extend his enlistment anymore. "I really think I was more upset by his
retirement than he was because I missed the moving around and getting a new
house."

After Don, who stood 6 feet 3 inches, retired he had to wait six months
before he began his civil service job. According to one of their four
daughters, Kami Kennedy, he earned the nickname "Mr. Mom" during this
period, because he cooked the meals and cleaned the house.

"He loved to cook, especially barbecue ribs and cakes. He always inventoried
the items he had in his freezer; if you took something out, you had to log
it in a book," said Kennedy. "He was always a witty guy."

Betty laughed as she added, "Don didn't start logging all his things until
after he joined the Marine Corps. If you moved anything, he would know."

Whether he was at work or at home, Don always went out of his way to make
sure the job was done properly the first time, said Kennedy.

A ceremony to honor Don's hard work throughout his 50-year career of
government service was held Aug. 29 at John A. Lejeune hall here. Don was
originally to accept his own awards; however, he passed away somewhat
unexpectedly prior. Betty accepted the awards on Don's behalf, which
included a coin and letter in which Don was thanked for his service by Gen.
James L. Jones, commandant of the Marine Corps.

Although Yoho's passing is a loss to the Corps, the impact has already been
felt here locally. "Mr. Yoho demonstrated a superior degree of
professionalism, loyalty and dedication to (our mission)," stated Jim
Helring, range control officer at the Range Operations Division. "He will be
sorely missed, and his vast experience and knowledge will be difficult to
replace."

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 09:24:09 -0700

Subject: Into the frozen tundra

Submitted by: MCAS Iwakuni
Story by Cpl. Joe Lindsay


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI(August 31, 2001) -- The old adage that
Greenland is ice and Iceland is green may be true, to an extent. Just don't
tell that to anyone who's been sent to start a tour in Iceland during the
middle of winter.

"It was nothing but snow, ice and 40 degrees below zero when I got there,"
said Gunnery Sgt. Lisa Streicher, Command Service Support Squadron supply
chief, of her initial arrival at Naval Air Station Keflavik in February
1993. "I was thinking, 'my god, what have I gotten myself into.'"

Not only was Streicher thrust into a new and foreign frozen world, but she
was also doing it with the distinction of being the first female Marine ever
stationed at NAS Keflavick.

"I was assigned as the supply chief for the Marine Security Forces stationed
there," said Streicher. "I think they were shocked when they found out I was
a woman."

According to Streicher, it took two long months for her to feel like she was
accepted there.

"I really had to prove myself as a Marine and as a leader," said Streicher.
"Once they accepted the fact that I could PT with them and stay right with
them during their forced snow marches and that I took my job as seriously as
they did, then everything fell into place."

The primary mission of the MSF at Kevlavik is to protect NATO assets in the
region.

"Due to classified restrictions, I can't go into much detail about it, other
than to say it had to do a lot with anti-submarine warfare," said Streicher.
"We were tasked with protecting a lot of high dollar security items and a
lot of vital assets. It was an important job and we did it well. The Marines
are very squared away in Iceland because they have to be."

Despite the serious nature of her job, Streicher also found time to enjoy
Iceland during her three-year tour, providing it wasn't pitch black and
snowing outside.

"There are only two seasons in Iceland," said Streicher, "winter and summer."

During the peak of summer, there can be as much as 21 hours of sunlight a
day in Iceland, though the reverse is true during the long winter months.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Iceland is 75 degrees, and
temperatures in the 50's actually would bring service members outside to
sunbathe, noted Streicher.

"Once you get past the cold and the dark, its actually a very beautiful
country," said Streicher. "They key in Iceland, just like Japan, is to get
off base and explore the country."

Streicher also drew other similarities to life in Iceland and Japan,
especially when it came to food.

"Like sushi is to Japan, lamb is to Iceland," said Streicher. "Unless you
pack your own food, your going to have to get used to lamb over there.
They've even got lamb hot dogs."

But unlike Japan, Streicher says the Icelandic people don't appear to be as
friendly at first.

"In Japan, the people are so nice, they'll just open their homes and hearts
to you," said Streicher. "In Iceland, they're a lot more standoffish. You've
really got to make an effort and get to know them before they open up to
you. Once you do though, there's not a better or nicer group of people on
the earth."

According to Streicher, despite the possibilities of new friendships, the
abundant travel opportunities throughout Iceland and Europe, and the chance
to experience a different culture, one of the issues harped upon at Keflavik
the most was suicide prevention.

"The command was very concerned about service members killing themselves due
to the depression many felt as a result of the long winters and dark days
and nights," said Streicher. "It's all about adjustment. My father is a
retired Marine, and I've had to adjust to different places and circumstances
all my life, so it wasn't a problem for me. A lot of people can't take
Iceland though."

Streicher also credits her smooth adjustment to the fact she had her
husband, Petty Officer 1st class James Streicher, and their infant daughter
Brittany, now age 9, were with her.

"My husband is a real outdoors person, and every chance we got we were out
exploring Iceland, whether it was hiking, camping or off-road driving," said
Streicher. "That made the tour all the more satisfying."

Her husband James said he couldn't agree more.

"The people who have a hard time in Iceland don't take the time to explore
the beauty around them," said James. "I'd go back in a second. Just like
anything else, you need a positive attitude. Iceland can be as good or bad
an experience as you let it be."

As for Streicher, there's little doubt as to where she stands on her time in
Iceland.

"It was a wonderful experience, and one that not many people get a chance to
experience," said Streicher. "There's really no place like Iceland"

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 09:26:13 -0700

Subject: MOUT critical training for all Marines

Submitted by: MCAS Iwakuni
Story by Cpl. Kurt Fredrickson


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI(August 31, 2001) -- Eight Marines from the
Station Finance Office kicked in the door of a building on the North side of
the Station in an attempt to take it over Aug. 16.

However, no crime was committed. The Marines were conducting Marine
Operations in Urban Terrain to sharpen their skills for the constantly
changing battlefields of the 21st century.

"Every Thursday we have a training day, and once a month that training day
is dedicated to non-military occupational specialty, non-technical type
proficiency training," said 1st Lt. Christopher Gigliotti, Finance Office
travel officer. "Once a month we try to have something tactically oriented
so we conducted basic missions on urban terrain."

Long before the Finance Marines began kicking in doors and shouting,
"clear," they had to learn the basics of MOUT. During a 30-minute class at
the finance office, they learned hand signals and movements like the "button
hook" and "cross." These simple hand signals would later prove to be vital
for the four man teams while engaging their simulated enemies with surprise
in the fire-training tower.

The Marines conducted missions like placing a remote detonated bomb on each
floor, or killing all the terrorists hiding in the rooms, all in a matter of
six minutes. Because the terrorists had the upper hand, teamwork was paramount.

"In the beginning, it was a little bit difficult for all of us, but as the
day progressed we became more experienced at handling the situations," said
Cpl. Christopher Graham, finance technician, as he clutched his rubber
rifle. "The need for a sense of urgency and a sense of communication were
the two most important skills that we learned out there."

Some may ask why Marines here bother training for MOUT, but the answer is
simple.

"MOUT is important because the majority of future land battles will occur
within urban terrain," Gigliotti said.

"Eighty percent of the worlds major cities are located within 50 miles of
the sea, and being that we are the nations amphibious force in readiness,
nine times out of 10, any action that we conduct as a Marine Expeditionary
Unit, is going to involve missions on urban terrain."

For the Marines, the real world significance may not have been as important
as the fact that they got out of the norm, and got some.

"It was us verses a group of terrorists," Graham said. "Our purpose was to
come in here and clear out that building. I think this was very effective."

The purpose of the MOUT or any non-MOS training, is not necessarily to get
out of the office and have fun, but rather to give Marines what they deserve.

"Non-MOS training is critical. If we have a technically proficient Marine,
we are doing him a great disservice by not ensuring he is tactically
proficient," Gigliotti said. "The big thing we want is well rounded Marines.
It's something we preach in the office all the time. They have to be good at
their jobs, but also good at the other things that make them special as
Marines."

By the end on the day, the Marines had developed a "special" way of saying
hello to a potential terrorist threat in a building. A boot to the door,
toss in a grenade and wait for the explosion. Then rush in and clear the
room. It only takes seconds, but the team quickly learned from failure that
taking longer could mean death for the team.

"When we were going through there we had to make sure everyone had contact
with each other," said Cpl. Floyd McMahan, finance technician. "You can't be
shy and you can't be timid in there or everybody is likely to be killed."

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 09:27:08 -0700

Subject: Taking guesswork out of transition

Submitted by: MCAS Iwakuni
Story by Cpl. Joe Lindsay


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI(August 24, 2001) -- A workshop given by the
Iwakuni Relocation Assistance Office here is providing valuable information
to service members and their families who will soon make a Permanent Change
of Station.

The "PCS with Success" workshop helps service members and their families by
letting them know what to expect at their next duty station.

"One of the most difficult times in military life is moving to a new duty
station," said Gene Clark, relocation specialist. "Here at the Relocation
Assistance Office we help people plan their PCS move by giving them the
necessary information about their next duty station, so that the move is
easier and less stressful on them."

The workshop is held every other month, except during the summer, when it is
held every month.

"The workshop is beneficial to all service members, regardless of their rank
or time in service, because no matter how long you?ve been in, it's always
good to be prepared," said Clark.

"The class was really helpful and provided me with the information I needed
to help make my move to Yuma easier," said Master Gunnery Sergeant James
Palkowski, a 27-year veteran and course graduate.

The class is mandatory for service members PCSing within 90 days, and Clark
says it can aid service members in having a smooth move.

The Relocation Office's goal is to help all service members in transition,
whether they are coming or going, said Clark.

"At the Relocation Assistance Office we have other resources available, such
as the welcome aboard packets and video tapes of all the Marine Corps bases
and some of the Navy installations that individuals can check out," he said.

According to Clark, guest speakers also provide valuable information about
other duty stations, including phone numbers, information about housing, and
even local maps.

"When people attend the workshop it gives them more confidence about their
next duty station," Clark said. "It's kind of like a 'Heads Up' class.
People need to be prepared before they reach their next duty station. That's
what the class is here for."

The next workshop is scheduled to be held today from 1 to 4 p.m. in Building
411, Room 117. For more information call 253-3311.
 

Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2001 09:28:29 -0700

Subject: MCAS first to get CLAWS in Corps

Submitted by: MCAS Iwakuni
Story by Cpl. Kurt Fredrickson


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI(August 17, 2001) -- Marine Corps Air
Station Iwakuni recently received the new Cordless Land Air Wildlife System
to help clear the runway of birds and wildlife that have the potential to
damage arriving or departing aircraft.

This is the first air station in the Marine Corps where the CLAWS system has
been installed. The system is the newest tool in the Station's Bird Air
Strike Hazard program.

"We wanted to do something more proactive that would reduce the possibility
of bird strikes," said Capt. Tim Baughman, aviation safety officer.

Most of the bases in Korea and Japan are on the water where many birds live,
noted Baughman, so it is imperative that the Station do all it can to
prevent a strike.

Nine CLAWS systems have been installed along the runway to provide added
prevention.

"What makes our system unique is that it is self contained and has sound
effects in addition to a propane cannon," said Dexter Bowden, Avians Systems
senior service engineer. "There are different sounds like a man yelling,
banging pots and pans, shotgun blasts, helicopters and distress calls of
birds. It's stuff to confuse and harass them."

The rotating propane cannon, which produces a loud concussion, has loud
speakers mounted on top of a stainless steel box. The box is big enough to
contain the 25-pound propane tank, radio signal receivers, 12-volt battery
and tape deck. The battery charges by a solar panel on the side of the unit.

The units are 11,000 - 12,000 feet apart to effectively cover the entire
runway, according to Bowden. No matter where the systems are located, they
can all be controlled from one location. Air traffic controllers in the
tower can set off the CLAWS systems by remote control using a computer.
Although the tower has primary control, the stations can also be activated
by ground personnel with hand held radios set to the specified frequency.
The stations can be set off in any combination for any period, according to
Bowden.

"Because the system is remote controlled there is no set time when the birds
could acclimate," Bowden said. "That is a problem with a lot of other
systems. They are stationary and someone comes out and sets them off at a
designated time."

One of the main benefits of the system, according to Bowden, is the manpower
previously used in the BASH program can now be redirected to other areas.

"This cuts back on personnel," Bowden said. "You had take people who were
critical to another mission, and pull them off of that to go scare birds
away. If the tower sees birds, they can take care of it rather than call
safety."

The cost of the system was approximately $40,000, but compared to the cost
of repairing aircraft or losing life, it's just a drop in the bucket,
Baughman noted. "Last year we had close to 30 bird strikes, everything from
helicopters up to the freedom bird," Baughman said. "Hopefully we can
prevent anything like that from happening again."

The new system will be low maintenance and portable in the event of a
typhoon, according to Bowden. If birds regroup in another area, the units
can be picked up and moved. Another good aspect of CLAWS is that it can be
moved to the new runway when it is completed.

"It may not be 100 percent fool proof," Baughman said, "but it's definitely
a huge step toward improving what we had in the past."

Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 08:23:56 -0700

Subject: LABOR DAY SAFETY MESSAGE

R 231630Z AUG 01 ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N05000//
ALMAR 037/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/LABOR DAY SAFETY MESSAGE//
RMKS/

1. LABOR DAY WEEKEND IS APPROACHING, AND FOR MANY, AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE FINAL SUMMERTIME GATHERING. DO NOT ALLOW
THIS FINAL SUMMERTIME WEEKEND TO BECOME THE FINAL WEEKEND OF YOUR
LIFE. ENSURE THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE THIS
HOLIDAY MEMORABLE.

2. LAST LABOR DAY WEEKEND, FIVE MARINES DIED IN TWO DAYS. THREE
DIED IN CAR RELATED INCIDENTS, ONE DROWNED, AND THE FIFTH MARINE
LOST HIS LIFE WHEN HE WAS RUN OVER BY A FIRE TRUCK DURING CRASH,
FIRE AND RESCUE TRAINING. STATISTICS PREDICT THAT TWO MARINES WILL
DIE IN PMV ACCIDENTS THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

3. PROVE THE STATISTICS WRONG. AS MARINES, WE ARE REKNOWNED FOR
TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN. PROVE IT THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. DON'T
ALLOW A SINGLE FAMILY MEMBER, MARINE, OR SAILOR TO DIE ON YOUR WATCH
OR AT YOUR PARTY. BE AWARE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT AND TAKE PROPER
PRECAUTIONS. DROWNING REMAINS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY, PARTICULARLY
FOR INEXPERIENCED OR INTOXICATED SWIMMERS. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OR
GET IN A CAR WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN DRINKING.

4. ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF WHILE TEMPERING IT WITH RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, YOUR MARINES AND YOUR FAMILIES, AND COME BACK
TO WORK ALIVE, INTACT AND READY.

5. COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES HAVE READ THIS ALMAR.

6. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
BT

Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2001 08:26:04 -0700

Subject: No place like home

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


MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(Aug. 23, 2001) -- Finding SSgt.
Scott D. Grade, platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Amphibious
Assault Battalion, among the thousands of Marines stationed on the West
Coast isn't as difficult as it would seem, he always ends up at Camp
Pendleton, Calif. or right next door at Camp Del Mar.

Grade's life and Marine Corps career have been Dorothy-style with Camp
Pendleton being his Kansas and B Co., 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion his
home.

In fact, Grade was born here, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. thirty years ago to
a Marine sergeant.

"Growing up in the lifestyle of the Marine Corps motivated me to join,"
Grade said, leaning casually against the side of an amphibious assault
vehicle. "I wanted the camaraderie and the chance to work outdoors."

Challenge and the opportunity to work outdoors lead a younger Grade to sign
up as an infantryman, but during his Marine Combat Training the Gulf Wars
broke out. The call of 'Amtrackers needed' went out.

"I didn't even know what an amtrack was," he said. "They just told us it was
a vehicle that moved from ship to shore. I thought, 'that's gotta be better
than humping,' and I volunteered."

Grade left MCT and headed just next door to Camp Pendleton to Camp Del Mar,
home of the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion.

Grade never faced combat in the Middle East. He did check into B Co., 3d AAV
just in time to unload the gear for Marines returning from the desert
conflict. Even as he was tossing filthy seabags from five-ton trucks, he was
trying to clear his head and figure out how he got from the Marine Corps
Recruit Depot San Diego to a motor-pool filled with 26-ton floating monsters.

"Even as I was checking in with Bravo Company, I was thinking 'I'm going to
be a grunt,'" a reminiscent Grade said.

Now 11 years into his Marine Corps career, Grade finds himself enjoying a
Meal-Ready-to Eat on a troop bench in the back of one of those 26-ton
floating monsters, more affectionately known as Amtracks or even hogs.

The only tornado to blow him away from his Kansas in those 11 years was an
assignment he begged for, a three-year stint on the drill field where his
Marine Corps career was born.

"I asked for drill instructor duty repeatedly even after being selected for
recruiting duty three times," Grade said. "I have a lot of respect for the
job the recruiters do, but I was really glad my job needed me too much to
let me go as a recruiter."

The career-savvy Cpl. Grade knew he would never see staff sergeant if he
didn't add a B-billet to his resume. He had almost given up on being a drill
instructor and possibly another promotion when a sergeant major with his
Devil Dogs' well-beings in mind took Grade's predicament in hand.

"Sergeant Major Bell got me in to see the special assignments monitor and
one year later I had drill instructor school, something I had been wanting
for about two years," Grade said. "I just really wanted to see if I had what
it took to be a D.I. I was always told only the top three percent of Marines
were good enough to be drill instructors. I wanted to know if I was that good."

When Sgt. Grade graduated D.I. school on June 16, 1998 he had it easy, he
got to be there for the pick-up of a brand new platoon, unlike his fellow
Amtracker and former drill instructor, GySgt. William C. White.

"If you come in half-way as a new DI the recruits know you are new and
they'll try you," Grade said.

White caught up to his first platoon as they headed into final drill
competition and struggled with his nerves and shyness as a new drill
instructor.

"I spent some time as 'Bob-run-around-new-hat," White said, now a platoon
sergeant , 2nd Platoon, B Company, 3rd AAV Bn. "By the end of my first
complete cycle I could see why Marines put so much into being drill
instructors, you really get to see the rewards toward the end."

White's Wizard of Oz tale from the Kansas of Del Mar to the tornado of drill
instructor duty at MCRD San Diego and back to Del Mar again, takes a spin in
a different direction than Grade's. White spent a large part of his early
career as a Marine wrestler and had given little thought to B-billets when
he got orders to the drill field.

A wrestling heartbreak actually lead White to the Marine Corps initially in
1985 when he lost a wrestling scholarship.

"I was walking down the street after getting word that I hadn't qualified
for the scholarship and I was pretty bummed out," White said. "I saw the
recruiting office sign, walked in and signed-up."

Following boot camp, he joined 3rd Battalion at Del Mar., but would be on
and off the beach fulfilling his duties as an All-Marine Wrestling Team
member. He would make it all the way to the 1988 Olympic Trials before
returning to the Amtracks full time.

Both Marines credit the time the spent on the drill field as making them
better Marines and more appreciative and giving family men.

"The biggest sacrifice of being a drill instructor is the time spent away
from family," Grade said. The soft-spoken man smiles as he thinks of his
wife of five years, Christine, and their 10-month old baby.

White describes himself as first and foremost a "family man," and strongly
felt the time spent away from his wife and children.

"My first year on the drill field my wife, Marilynn, and my kids were asleep
when I went to work in the morning and asleep when I came home at night," he
said.

Yet both men suffered the loss of family time with ironclad conviction to
succeed at their duties as drill instructors.

White left the drill field having been trained eight cycles in a row and
being designated a series gunnery sergeant. Among those platoons were two
honor platoons, three high physical fitness test platoons and four
quality-training awards.

He also got a good laugh out of the funnier things recruits do while caught
up in the three-month tornado of Marine boot camp.

"Recruits get so nervous they put their shoes on the wrong feet and then are
two scared to fix 'em," he said. "I had recruits marching around the grinder
with their shoes on the wrong feet."

Grade can add to the humorous stories with a few tales of his own, including
the time when? "I had a recruit I told to get in the head and 'get all the
hair off his face.' He came back with no eyebrows," Grade added. "They do a
lot of funny things, but you can't laugh or at least you can't let them see
you laugh."

Both Marines also have those moments when they as exuberant drill
instructors did some not-so-drill-instructor kinds of things.

White was walking intently toward a recruit intending on correcting the
wayward young man when he lost his footing and fell on his rear.

Grade was stomping across footlockers lined up along the wall when he lost
his balance and about went out the window.

"It was only two-stories up, so I probably would have been okay," he
laughed. "I just started pointing and yelling, like a recruit down on the
sidewalk had done something wrong. Really there wasn't anybody out there."

Catching the two staff non-commissioned officers back at home on Camp Del
Mar, they describe the better Marines they are now after working on the
drill field.

"I'm a lot more patient now," Grade said, scanning the line of AAV's perched
on the firing line of a Camp Pendleton range. "I used to be a little high
strung?a definite micromanager. Now I use my resources more effectively. And
I'm better able to help my junior Marines develop when I see some of my
pre-DI traits in them. I learned to work more closely and more effectively
with fellow Staff NCOs," he said. "I now know to use their experience, to
learn from them, to help myself and my Marines."

White believes his time as a drill instructor helped him gain a more
objective perspective about his junior Marines

"I am a lot less critical of new Marines," White said, leaning casually back
in his chair behind a pleasantly cluttered desk in the B Co. office. "Once
the drill instructors have done their part to create a basically trained
Marine, it is up to the Marines in the fellt to further develop that Marine."

Both men are soft-spoken and admit to not being "born" as drill instructors.
A lot of self-pride and confidence is earned alongside the recruits,
according to the White.

The journey from MCRD to Del Mar to MCRD and back to Del Mar has been a
whirlwind of learning and rewards for White and Grade. Neither Marine
harbors regrets toward the commitment they've made to the Corps and each
believes a good Marine can be a good drill instructor, good staff
non-commissioned officer in the Fleet marine Forces, good teacher at an MOS
school,?for them, it's part of the title.

"A good drill instructor never loses their desire to learn and improve."
Grade said. "They never lose their dedication to duty. It's the same for a
good Staff NCO leader in the fleet. If a Staff NCO, or if any Marine ever
loses that dedication or that desire, it's time to move on."

The following account was written by a former Marine who commanded a rifle company at Camp Lejeune in 1954. Suffice it to say that they don't make them like Chesty any more! One can only imagine what the folks at the Pentagon would say if they heard a General officer say something like that today! S/F

=====================================================
In October 1954, Chesty Puller was the base commander at Camp Lejeune. I was the commanding officer of A-1-2. In those days (and maybe now) we had a rifle company on each coast that was combat ready and on alert to fly anywhere on a couple of hours notice. The duty or alert fell to one company for a period of time, then to another. In early October 1954, Able Company was the "clutch company" when the panic button was pushed. I was called to battalion. The battalion CO and I then rushed to regiment. We picked up the regimental CO and sped to division, straight to the war room. In the war room was the division commander, the G3, G2 and an awful lot of brass. And, in the back of the room sat Chesty Puller. The briefing started. First, one Colonel, then another, briefed on where we would be going and why, how soon we had to be in the aircraft, initial destination, and all that. Maps were brought out, various opinions offered, and contingencies discussed. As I recall, when the division commander asked if I had any questions, I was so overwhelmed that I did not. Then, the division commander turned toward Chesty Puller in the back of the room. "General Puller," he asked. "Is there anything you would like to say?" Chesty looked at me for what seemed an eternity, then said rather quietly and very seriously, "Son, if they give you any shit, level the place."

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 13:36:23 -0700

Subject: Makin Raiders laid to rest

Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story by Lance Cpl. John R. Lawson III


ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY, Arlington, Va. (August 17, 2001) -- On this
date in 1942, two companies of Marine Raiders attacked the Japanese on the
Makin Atoll, and 30 of them didn't return.

Today, at Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps paid its respects
with a ceremony it had been waiting and hoping to give for 59 years.

When the Makin Raiders gave their lives, they proved that they were "always
faithful to each other, always faithful to the Corps, and always faithful to
their country," said the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James L. Jones.

General Jones addressed a standing-room-only crowd of approximately 700
people in Ft. Myer Chapel during a service that preceded today's graveside
ceremony.

"Marines of today draw inspiration from the 'Greatest Generation,'" Gen.
Jones said. "We learn from their courage."

General Jones recounted how the raid lifted American morale early in the war
and reassured everyone that America was ready and willing to take the fight
to the enemy.

The "fog of war" was very much a factor during the raid. That's why 19
Marines disappeared for 57 years, nine Marines were captured and executed,
and two Marines remain missing.

The remains of all of the Marines had seemed hopelessly lost, especially
after an unsuccessful search in the late 1940s.

However, what Gen. Jones referred to as "the spirit of Semper Fidelis" is a
two-way street. When U.S. Army technicians got a lead in 1999 on where
island natives might have buried 19 of the bodies, it was only a matter of
time before this group of missing Makin Raiders would get their belated
homecoming. They had been faithful to the Corps, and the Corps would be
faithful to them.

The Army's Central Identification Laboratory, with assistance from many
other government agencies, conducted exhaustive identification procedures at
Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. Finally, the checks were complete, and the
time had come to show gratitude.

The families of six of the Marine Raiders elected to have private burials.
The remains of the other 13 Raiders arrived for burial at Arlington National
Cemetery on Thursday. A Marine Corps KC-130 transport plane flew the remains
from Hawaii to Edwards Air Force Base in Maryland.

The Marine Band, more popularly known as "The President's Own," and a
detachment of Marines from the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.
participated in a ceremony on the tarmac.

"Thank God they're home," said Col. Joe Griffith, USMC (Ret.). Colonel
Griffith is the oldest surviving participant of the Makin raid. He had just
been promoted to captain at the time of the mission.

Colonel Evans Carlson was the architect behind the Marine Raider concept as
well as the raid on Makin. His son, Evans Carlson, who retired as a Marine
colonel, also attended Thursday's tarmac ceremony.

"I'm awfully glad to be here," Col. Carlson said. "For me, it's a very
moving experience."

Colonel Carlson said his famous father would have been pleased as well. "Dad
regretted every casualty, however they were caused, wherever they occurred,"
he said. "His feelings about this were extremely strong."

Friday's ceremony, which also featured the Marine Band and a detachment from
the Marine Barracks, showcased the appreciation the Corps has for its fallen
warriors.

A 21-gun salute climaxed the ceremony for these Marines:

Capt. Gerald P. Holtom, Palo Alto, Calif.;
Sgt. Clyde Thomason Atlanta, Ga.;
FM1 Vernon L. Castle, Stillwater, Okla.;
Cpl. Daniel A. Gaston, Galveston, Texas; Cpl. Edward Maciejewski, Chicago, Ill.;
Cpl. Robert B. Pearson, Lafayette, Calif.;
Pfc. William A. Gallagher, Wyandotte, Mich.;
Pfc. Kenneth M. Montgomery, Eden, Wis.;
Pfc. John E. Vandenberg, Kenosha, Wis.;
Pvt. Carlyle O. Larson, Glenwood, Minn.;
Pvt. Robert B. Maulding, Vista, Calif.;
Pvt. Franklin M. Nodland, Marshalltown, Iowa; and
Pvt. Charles A. Selby, Ontonagon, Mich.

Sergeant Thomason distinguished himself during the raid as the first
enlisted Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II.

Melvin D. Heckt, the president of the United States Marine Raider
Association, had these words for the Raiders lost during the attack: "We
salute you, comrades. We salute you as Raiders, as Marines, as Americans, as
men."

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2001 13:39:47 -0700

Subject: MCT instructor recognized for heroism at grenade range

Submitted by: MCB Camp Lejeune
Story by Sgt. Bobbie J. Bryant


CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Aug. 10, 2001) -- In the face of danger, Marines are
trained to react swiftly, accurately, and confidently in order to survive
the mission.

Marine Combat Training Battalion instructors stare danger in the eye, every
time they step into the grenade pit at range K-405 in the Verona Loop area.
At times, approximately 400 students per day enter the pits to throw a live
M67 fragmentation grenade.

On June 21, danger reared its ugly head causing one instructor to take
immediate action. Corporal Chad A. Wheatley, an instructor with Echo
Company, MCT Bn., School Of Infantry, Camp Geiger, caught a live grenade in
mid-air and threw it into the impact area where it safely detonated,
according to Lt. Col. David B. Hall, battalion commanding officer.

"It started out as a normal day," Wheatley said. "I was the pit
non-commissioned officer assigned to pit two.

As the student approached the pit, I was looking at his body language and
state of nervousness. Safety is paramount in the pits. We want the Marines
to be calm and relaxed so they won't be as likely to make a mistake. When
they get nervous, they become what we call a 'shaky Jake.' They don't make
eye contact and start fumbling and twitching."

The student approached the pit and took a knee, Wheatley stated. "He looked
fine to me. I asked him if he had any questions and he said 'no,'" the
instructor from Saltsburg, Pa., continued. "I told him to listen to my
instructions and everything would go smooth."

Students are taught to repeat each command the instructor gives them prior
to performing the action, he added.

According to Wheatley, he instructed the Marine to stand. "Take grenade," he
said and the student repeated, "Take grenade." "Thumb clip," he said and the
student said, "thumb clip." "Pull pin," Wheatley said and the student said,
"Pull pin."

"That is when everything went wrong," he said. "The student went straight to
the prepare to throw position without my instruction. He started to milk
(release) the spoon, which is the final safety before the grenade detonates.
I told him to stop. He looked at me and I said 'relax.' He was still milking
the spoon, so I told him to stop a second time and he let go of the grenade!

The spoon flew in the air and the grenade fell," Wheatley said.

At this point, the grenade was armed and set to detonate in three to five
seconds, according to Hall, of Bellefonte, Pa., employing split-second
reflexes and without regard for his own life, Wheatley caught the grenade in
mid-air and threw it into the impact area, while at the same time, pulled
the student safely to the ground.

"As soon as the grenade went over the wall it detonated!" Wheatley said. "I
looked up at the tower and the CO (commanding officer) and OIC (officer in
charge) were already on their way down to the pit. They didn't know if we
were alive.

After that, they pulled me from the pit to relax and they had a little talk
with the young Marine," he said.

Hall has recommended that Wheatley receive the Navy and Marine Corps Medal
for his heroism that day.

Wheatley believes that serving with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Force in
1999 prepared him for the incident.

"When I was in Bahrain, we were in the trenches throwing grenades on a
training exercise and the last man didn't throw his grenade," he said. "We
were told the trenches were clear and to start policing the area. As we were
moving toward the next trench he threw his grenade. We hit the deck when it
was in mid-air and it detonated about 20 meters away. Like I said, safety is
paramount. When you're dealing with weapons that kill people there is no
room for error." Wheatley concluded.

Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 17:43:39 -0700

Subject: Fallen Marines receive proper burial

Fifty-nine years ago, a group of U.S. Marines died in one of America’s first
offensive actions of World War II, and Friday those brave young men finally
received the proper burial denied them all these years.

Full Story at:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/615614.asp

RON RAPOSA
> Staff Writer, North County Times
>
> OCEANSIDE ---- Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James L. Jones and Rep.
> Randy Cunningham, R-Escondido, will meet this week to discuss
> Cunningham's suggestion that Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego
> could be consolidated into much larger Camp Pendleton if base closures
> are needed.
>
> Jones is expected to discuss the proposal with Cunningham while Jones is
> visiting San Diego this week, Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Patrick
> Gibbons, said Friday.
>
> Any decision on moving the recruit depot, located next to Lindbergh
> Field and near the San Diego Harbor, would require extensive study,
> Gibbons said. Cunningham also has said he is not yet convinced any
> closures will be needed.
>
> "It's something he thinks bears looking at, but he wants to consider all
> the possibilities," Cunningham's press secretary Harmony Allen said
> Friday.
>
> Up to 6,000 recruits at a time undergo 13-week basic training at the San
> Diego facility, one of two Marine "boot camps" in the country. The San
> Diego depot trains Marines recruited west of the Mississippi before
> sending them to Pendleton for advanced infantry training.
>
> About 15 percent of the recruits who go through the recruit depot in San
> Diego eventually are stationed at Pendleton. The recruit depot covers
> 388 acres. Pendleton, where 37,000 Marines and family members are based,
> covers 125,000 acres.
>
> Cunningham raised the possibility of merging the two a week ago,
> following the Pentagon's announcement that it would request a commission
> meet in 2003 to consider another round of base closures and
> consolidations.
>
> Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, whose district includes Pendleton, said
> Friday that he, like Cunningham, is not convinced that base closures are
> needed.
>
> If base closures are necessary, he said he's "quite confident that
> Pendleton can absorb the soldiers" from the recruit depot.
>
> The Pentagon's Efficient Facilities Initiative could result in the first
> base closures and consolidations since 1995. The Bush administration has
> suggested that some closures might be needed. In the last round of base
> closures, 97 bases were shut down, 29 of them in California, which has
> 60 remaining.
>
> The Bush administration has estimated that closing 25 percent of the
> nation's remaining bases could save $3.5 billion a year. The money could
> either be passed on as savings to taxpayers or used for Strategic
> Defense Initiative programs, including the "Star Wars" missile shield,
> administration officials said.
>
> Cunningham, who has a strong pro-military record, initially suggested
> that the military should develop a list of bases that are too important
> to close, and that the list should include Miramar Marine Corps Air
> Station.
>
> Cunningham also said he would not oppose incorporating recruit depot
> operations in San Diego into Camp Pendleton, clearing the way for an
> expansion of Lindbergh Field onto what is now the adjacent base site.
>
> "This would affect the whole Marine Corps," said Capt. Wes Hayes, a
> spokesman at Camp Pendleton. "I think a major study would be needed."
>
> Hayes said that following the meeting with Cunningham, Jones would "give
> his input to the Marine Corps and our commanding general. Then it would
> be a better time to comment on this."
>
> Rep. Susan Davis, a Democrat whose district includes the recruit depot,
> has said she would oppose the closure.
>
> Erin Hunter, press secretary for Davis said Friday: "The people at (the
> recruit depot) think they're very effective and there's no need to
> consolidate. There is no sense at this point as to whether MCRD would be
> targeted."
>
> Hunter also said that closing the San Diego facility and relocating its
> operations to Pendleton would be extremely costly.
>
> Lt. Perry Haralson, a recruit depot spokesman, said it was too early to
> speculate on Cunningham's comments.
>
> "The process has only begun and a comprehensive review using specific
> selection criteria must be completed," Haralson said. "We have a long,
> rich history here in San Diego and we will continue to work with the
> community as good neighbors."
>
> Steve Jepsen, the city manager of Oceanside, which is adjacent to the
> base, took no position Friday on Cunningham's suggestion.
>
> "Whatever is good for the Marines is good for us," he said.

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