If you want to, read about this man:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Kasal

But here's the award citation I'm having trouble dealing with:

The President of the United States
Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Navy Cross To

Bradley A. Kasal
First Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as First Sergeant, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 13 November 2004. First Sergeant Kasal was assisting 1st Section, Combined Anti-Armor Platoon as they provided a traveling over watch for 3d Platoon when he heard a large volume of fire erupt to his immediate front, shortly followed by Marines rapidly exiting a structure. When First Sergeant Kasal learned that Marines were pinned down inside the house by an unknown number of enemy personnel, he joined a squad making entry to clear the structure and rescue the Marines inside. He made entry into the first room, immediately encountering and eliminating an enemy insurgent, as he spotted a wounded Marine in the next room. While moving towards the wounded Marine, First Sergeant Kasal and another Marine came under heavy rifle fire from an elevated enemy firing position and were both severely wounded in the legs, immobilizing them. When insurgents threw grenades in an attempt to eliminate the wounded Marines, he rolled on top of his fellow Marine and absorbed the shrapnel with his own body. When First Sergeant Kasal was offered medical attention and extraction, he refused until the other Marines were given medical attention. Although severely wounded himself, he shouted encouragement to his fellow Marines as they continued to clear the structure. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, First Sergeant Kasal reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Now this sounds awesome, right? Well here's my poll. 

The motion to kick a Marine recruiting station out of Berkely, CA may be kind of old news, but I just came across this interview done by The Daily Show's Rob Riggle, a former Marine. This just about sums the whole thing up. Definitely worth watching.

Another great fucking day for Marines. Some fucking moron decided it would be cool to fucking throw puppies while on patrol in Iraq, consequently killing them. Not only that, but he POSTED IT ON YOUTUBE. I'm not hosting the video in my blog because it's fucking disgusting to me, but if you don't believe me you can check for yourself, or just wait until CNN talks about it. I swear to god, this is the first year I've really regretted being in the Marine Corps. All the bullshit that's happened recently is just too embarassing.

 http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/01/16/marine.friend/index.html 

I don't know how much of this story you good folk out there in LJ land know, but this guy is a 0121. He's an admin clerk. This is what we refer to in the Marine Corps as a POG (Person other than Grunt). This means that he is not the next Jason fucking Bourne! Yes, he murdered another human being. Yes, he's probably off his fucking rocker. However, he is NOT MacGuyver. 

This is why I hate people misinterpreting Marines in the public eye. Two weeks ago, a Petty Officer First Class in the Navy got busted by Perverted Justice! HE WAS TRYING TO FUCK WHO HE THOUGHT TO BE A 14 YEAR OLD! Let me know if you heard about that one. Don't worry. I'll wait. Do people do around bad mouthing sailors, saying that they're all child molesters now? NO! But I bet that anytime someone mentions that they're a Marine now, they'll have to hear some smart ass comment like, "Oh watch out! He'll rape you then cut your throat and set you on t3h fyrez! HURRRRRRR!"

Bullshit.

And now we're all trained killers. Folks, if you're not an ifantry man or recon, you're not trained to kill with anything other than a rifle. God. Damn.

So here is a pretty damn good quote that sums up what any Marine would have to say to anyone that questions what they do:

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to." -Jack Nicholson, "A Few Good Men"

As a safety measure for the holidays, everyone in my command had to fill out a risk assessment sheet to evaluate risks, and how to reduce them over the holidays. Mine went something like this:

Operation phase 1: driving to/from the airport.

Risks: car crash

Causes: Drunk drivers, fatigue, drunk driving

Risk Assessment Code: 1

Control Measures: Rest before driving, avoid drinking 8 hours before driving.

Residual RAC: 1

Operational Phase 2: Flying

Risks: plane crash, terrorists

Causes: bad plane parts, Jihad

Risk Assesment Code: 1

Control Measures: Pray, call Chuck Norris

Residual RAC: 1

 Beirut Memorial Article.

I have to get up ass early to stand securiity for the President's visit to Newport tomorrow. Lame...

What Is A Marine?

The USMC is over 220 years of romping, stomping, hell, death, and destruction; the finest fighting machine the world has ever seen. We were born in a bomb crater, our mother was an M-16 and our father was the Devil. Each moment I live is an additional threat upon your life.

I am a rough looking, roving soldier of the sea. I am cocky, self-centered, overbearing, and I do not know te meaning of fear, for I am fear itself. I am a green, amphibious monster, made of blood and guts who arose from the sea, festering on anti-Americans throughout the globe. Whenever it may arise, and when my time comes, I will die a glorious death on the battlefield, giving my life to Mom, the Corps, and the American flag.

We stole the Eagle from the Air Force, the Anchor from the Navy, and the Rope from the Army. On the 7th day, while God rested, we overran his perimeter and stole the globe. We've been running the show ever since.

We live like soldiers, talk like sailors, and slap the hell out of the both of them. Soldier by day, lover by night, drunkard by choice and Marine by the Grace of God.

The VTech shooting came as a shock. It's sad that those days aren't behind us. You'd think that we had enough trouble with other countries wanting to kill us, that people on the homefront would realize we need to unite as a nation. My heart goes out to them.

On a lighter note, since I have a little time to make a real post, I have returned from North Carolina. As I had said before, I enjoyed being around Marines, and it was a refreshing experience for me. But now I'm back, and just in tiime for the New London High School JROTC to come to our base. One of my favorite tiimes of the year, because I get to be their tormentor for three days, along with a handful of other Marines. We made three girls cry, and I made one kid hate being there.It's fun making them test their bodie to the limit, and even more fun coming up with creative ways to do it. for example:

Me: Do we all want to hear a joke, since no one could come up with one of their own? ::Silence from the cadets:: Good. Knock knock.

Cadets: Who's there?

Me: PUSH!!

::Cadets drop to do push-ups, hilarity ensues.::

Good times...gooooooooooooooood tiiiiiiiiimes.

I've been in North Carolina since yesterday afternoon. I had forgotten what it's like to be around Marines all the time. I still don't like Jacksonville, though. This place just kind of whores out the Marine Corps image for profit. I had planned on making a detailed post about this, but the indignant mood has come and gone. Oh well.

Respond to this post and...

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll challenge you to try something.
3. I'll pick a color that I associate with you.
4. I'll tell you something I like about you.
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something I've always wanted to ask you.
8. If I do this for you, you must post this in your journal

Two years in the Marine Corps today. Where does the time go?

R 191555Z JAN 07
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL ALMAR(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 002/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/EVERY MARINE INTO THE FIGHT COMMANDANTS INTENT//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.PURPOSE TO PROVIDE DEPLOYMENT AND
ASSIGNMENTGUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF CURRENT COMBAT OPERATIONS.
2.BACKGROUND/INTENT A.THE MARINE CORPS REMAINS ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY. MARINES, BY THEIR PERFORMANCE IN IRAQ
ANDAFGHANISTAN, HAVE ADDED NOTABLY TO THE LEGACY OF OUR
COLORS. FREQUENT DEPLOYMENTS AND SHORT DWELL PERIODS HAVE
BEEN THE NORM, YET OUR MARINES HAVE RESPONDED MAGNIFICENTLY
WITH UNWAVERING DETERMINATION AND COMMITMENT TO WIN THE LONG
WAR FROM THE VERY OUTSET. WHEN THEY JOIN OUR CORPS MARINES
EXPECT TO TRAIN, DEPLOY AND FIGHT. THATS WHO WE ARE; THATS
WHAT WE DO; AND WE MUST ALLOW EVERY MARINE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
B.AS OUR CORPS POSTURES FOR THE LONG WAR, AND IN ORDER TO
HELP MEET THE CHALLENGES OF FREQUENT DEPLOYMENTS, I WANT OUR
CORPS LEADERSHIP TO INITIATE POLICIES TO ENSURE ALL MARINES,
FIRST TERMERS AND CAREER MARINES ALIKE, ARE PROVIDED THE
ABILITY TO DEPLOY TO A COMBAT ZONE.
3.ACTION
A.CMC (DC M&RA). REVIEW CURRENT PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT
POLICIES TO ENSURE MAXIMUM ASSIGNMENT FLEXIBILITY WITH AN
ORIENTATION TOWARDS GETTING ALL MARINES TO THE FIGHT.
SPECIFICALLY,
(1)AS FEASIBLE, REASSIGN MARINES THAT HAVE YET TO DEPLOY TO
ROTATIONAL UNITS, BUT LIMIT THE IMPACT ON UNIT COHESION.
(2)INCREASED TIME-ON-STATION WAIVERS ARE AUTHORIZED IN ORDER
TO EFFECTIVELY REDISTRIBUTE MARINES AFFECTED BY THIS GUIDANCE.
(3)AS REQUIRED, MODIFY THE III MEF ASSIGNMENT POLICY.
B.COMMANDERS
(1)REVIEW INTERNAL COMMAND ASSIGNMENTS TO IDENTIFY MARINES
WHO HAVE NOT YET DEPLOYED TO A COMBAT ZONE AND FACILITATE
THEIR REASSIGNMENT TO ROTATIONAL UNITS.
(2)COORDINATE, AS NECESSARY, WITH CMC (M&RA) TO ENSURE
DEPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT EQUITY AMONG ALL MARINES.
(3)SUPPORT A MARINES REQUEST TO DEPLOY.
4.COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
A.THIS ALMAR APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE MARINE CORPS.
B.ENSURE ALL MARINES ARE COGNIZANT OF MY INTENT.
5.SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S.
MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//

What does all of that garbage above mean, you may wonder? It means that first term Marines like myself, who are stuck on non-deployable bases, may very well get the opportunity to rotate to the big sandbox before they reenlist! This is awesome. This rocks harder than anything has every rocked before.

I got to pin on two more Marines today. They asked for me by name. I can tell it pisses my commanding officer off, because the first time he made me hurry, and this time he actually stepped in so he could pin them on too. Even my Gunnery Sergeant was a little offended. No matter. At least I know I'm seen as a good role model for the Marines around me, and that's all that matters in my heart.

There have been a few topics buzzing around in my head the last couple of weeks, the biggest one being America's attitude towards its military. Some people are still ignorant enough to talk bad about Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers alike. They still blame us for what's been going on. Have they all forgotten that it's the President who tells us where to go and who to fight? Even still, some call us sheep for following orders we're paid to follow. It's in our contracts, ladies and gentlemen.

Why am I thinking about it so much? I was reading a Rolling Stone Article recently about one Jeff Munson, a fighter in the UFC. He anti-Bush, and anti-war. These things I can understand. I know a lot of people in the military who don't like Bush or the war. But what irritates and hurts me on a deep level is that he's anti-troops. He's publicly called us "sheep", and on one occasion organized a protest in his hometown to prevent supplies from reaching our troops overseas.

If you don't like the military then fine. That's your deal. But don't give into ignorance, and potentially hurt troops because you don't agree with what they're doing. You're only making more problems.
Unless you've been in a branch of the military or have been close to someone who has, you don't understand the first thing about the judgements you make on us.

I wouldn't write any of this down if it weren't for an extremely moving series of events I experienced this weekend passed. I personally met six survivors of the battle in Iwo Jima. There are only twelve survivors in the state of Rhode Island. It was truly an honor to meet men who fought such a traumatic and horrific war. These men watched their friends get slaughtered, and their bodies heaped carelessly into piles as the battle raged on, and they have to live with those images everyday. I was also told a story this weekend by a Marine Colonel who has less than a month to live. He's dying of cancer. I'll share that story with you as best as I can remember.

( Read more... )

That story is truly what it is to be in the military, and I truly feel sorry for the people who are too ignorant to realize that there is more to being troop than pointing a big gun. We're humans with real problems, fears and families.

On Saturday night, we retreived the remains of two Marines killed in
Iraq.
I am providing the Wake and Funeral information for anyone who would
like to
come out and show the family the support of what their son's sacrafice
represents. The other funeral for LCpl Patrick Gallagher is TBD at this
time. Please disseminate to all-hands.

Corporal Brian Robert St. Germain
18 July 1983 - 2 April 2006

To all hands that are interested in showing your respects to Corporal
Brian
R. St. Germain and his family, the following information is provided.
If
there are any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at:
First Sergeant Parisi at (401) 529-6092.

For condolence purposes in the form of mail only, I am providing the
following addresses for both Dad and Mom:

Mr. Robert St. Germain Mrs. Lynn St. Germain
85 Carlson Circle 77 Harris Avenue
West Warwick, RI. 02893 West Warwick, RI. 02893

The WAKE will take place at: Iannotti's Funeral Home on Tuesday,
11 April from 3-8pm. The address is as follows:
Innotti's Funeral Home
415 Washington Street
Coventry, RI. 02816

The CHURCH Service will be held at Holy Apostles on Wednesday, 12 April
at
1000. The address to the Church is as follows:
Holy Apostles Church
800 Pippin Orchard Road
Cranston, RI. 02921

Edit: Please, send a letter to the family of this fallen Marine. I'm sure that you all know at least one person in the military that if they died, it would crush you. I'm fortunate enough to be nin-deployable for the next few years. My brothers in arms, however, are not so lucky. PLEASE show your respects to this family in any way you can because you know you would want the same comfort god forbid this ever hit your home.

Memes out of boredom...Today is also my one year mark in the Corps. ERR...

( Read more... )

The link below is for my duty station. For those of you who want to see what we do in RI, check it out. Also, my picture will be up in a few days. Enjoy.


http://www.nwc.navy.mil/marines/

I really love the Silent Drill Team in the beginning.

http://images.military.com/Video/060203_marines.mov