One Marine's View

Top brass crush career of Army officer who warned of jihadists

In light of the recent terrorist bombing in Boston, national attention is refocused on the case of TMLC client, Army LTC Matthew Dooley.  In 2012, Dooley was fired from the National Defense University’s Joint Forces Staff College for teaching an elective course on Radical Islam because it was offensive to Muslims.

The Distinguished Warfare Medal - comming to a drone hooch near you

You know when your kid registers to join a team sport, ya know like soccer or whatever else non-contact touchy feely sport and they give trophies at the end of the year even though the team sucked and didn’t win a freaking game? Vomit. “We want everyone to feel like winners” a coach told me when I asked why they were getting trophies. I just stood there and looked at him with my cigar in my mouth and thought to myself, “you got beat up a lot as a kid didn’t you”.  

Get Over It! We Are Not All Created Equal

The Marine Corps tested females in front line combat units aka Infantry. The Marine Corps did not lower the standard and allowed females to participate and qualify for the infantry officers course. The Marine Corps passed to congress and higher that it would not be a good idea ton implement women into the infantry. What does the Marine Corps know?  They only have been fighting our nations wars, that's all. Well, to already cluster strike an idea that apparently everyone in the room already knows the results except those in DC, a female Marine gives her two cents. But hey, it’s only another Marine telling everyone, it’s a bad idea. Let’s do it anyway!!! Brilliant.

What whoop asss looks like - Combat Update

An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, with Alpha Company, 1st Tank Battalion, moves into position during a firefight in the town of Zamindawar, May 27, 2012. The tanks support Marines with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during Operation Jaws.

In 2011 The Marines Corps implemented tanks into Afghanistan. There wasn’t an enemy tank threat, the tanks were simply used to direct fire into the enemy when mortars or close air support couldn’t while at the same time minimizing civilian casualties.  Try being a bad guy, shooting at Marines and having a tank respond to your machinegun fire(chew on that bad guys).

 In the second picture you will see Marines. This is what the inside a can of whoop ass looks like. They are dirty, mean and  combat proven. Notice many of the weapons are condition one (magazine loaded) because they are ready to fight even within their outpost which is most likely shared by Afghan Army.

 

(click on the picture to enlarge)

These are just a couple pictures of your Marines at war, yes America, we are still at war!

 

Time for a CGar!

COMBAT UPDATE

After reading the articles below, one might get the idea that we are winning in Afg. Go figure!

Face of Defense: Sailor Earns Bronze Star

 A Navy corpsman didn't expect hundreds of Marines clad in camouflage utilities to fill an entire field house just for him- but they did.

 Court Martial May Consider Death Penalty for Hasan

Hasan is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder

US to reposition forces near Libya

 

US to reposition forces near Libya. There is no surprise that we are moving forces near and around Libya, which also happens to be right next to Egypt and yes other significant economic areas like the Suez Canal. With the significant unrest and destabilized events that are occurring n that region one would expect the US to get involved to assist in “humanitarian” operations or “other” operations if required. (take the poll)

Combat Update

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Antwone Dunlap (left), a sniper team spotter, and Airman 1st Class Ricky Smith, a sniper team shooter, both assigned to the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, prepare to provide cover fire for airman during an urban operations training demonstration at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., on Feb. 10, 2011.  DoD photo by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

• Pirates hate these guys

Afghanistan:

• Taliban tactic fizzles in Garmsir

• Marine units prepare for deployment:

• Corporal John Noh provides overwatch during a patrol through the bazaar

• Airstrike Kills More Than 35 Insurgents in Kunar Province

  World:

• Protests in China

• Wisconsin

• Bahrain

• US Govt shutdown

• Wrap up of all riots

 Technology:

• Download the Experience MARINES magazine on the iPad

 Not a good idea

• Mexico is Still a Hot Spring Break Destination, Despite Violence

COMBAT UPDATE

Small unit tactics continue to win the war in Afg. Continued “out with the people” attitudes by commanders on the ground continue to win over the general populace.

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Elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Afghanistan during their winter campaign

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Winning the locals “vote” is key while compounded intimidation and additional complicated friction points make the commander’s job difficult. When you have the locals on your side, they become your best weapon against countering IEDs Afghan elders determined to rid country of insurgents 

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Marines describe first three days of combat in Marjah - "Well, it's seven-thirty in the morning and we're here, sitting in an open field in Marjah and we're slowly being surrounded,"

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31st MEU departs for tour of Asia-Pacific

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U.S. Commander: Taliban 'Not on the Ropes Yet'

 

 

NSN-No Shit News

Good comments left by readers like YOU!

· "Eighteen American soldiers died in May, the lowest total of the war and an 86 percent drop from the 126 who died in May 2007."

·  It will be an interesting campaign if the Dems continue to pull the get out of

Iraq because we are losing schpeel - - just wonder if any journalist will have the guts to say, "Um, excuse me, last we checked, we're winning."

·  The surge didn’t work in Iraq …………….no really, they said that, or should I say continue to say that.

COMBAT UPDATE-Darkhorse Marines engage enemy in Habbaniyah

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq -- Marines of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment engaged insurgents in direct firefights twice in three days at Observation Post Bears along a main route through the city.

The battalion recently built new observation posts along the highway connecting Fallujah and Ramadi, an area near the Euphrates River with no distinct city lines or local government.

Pfc. Matthew Donnelly, an infantryman attached to I Company, was standing post when the first attack broke out June 10th.

“The next thing I know machine guns start opening up on the posts, including mine,” said the 19-year-old from Salem, Ore. “I got down and got my weapon to start shooting.”

Most of the Marines in the house were resting when the attack started, preparing for such an occasion. Bullet ricochets and rocket-propelled grenades broke their slumber.

“I was sitting down listening to my music when suddenly I hear rounds impacting and bouncing off the wall,” said Lance Cpl. Nicholas Garlich, an infantryman from Kansas City, Kan. “I put on my gear and ran to the post at the north and an RPG hit the window. I was inside the room by myself. I got a little wound on my arm.”

After a quick bandage was applied to his left shoulder, Garlich ran to the rooftop to join the rest of the Marines already returning fire with their M-16’s and one special surprise – a shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon.

“The Marines fired a SMAW and the enemy went away,” Donnelly said. “They called in an air strike and the tanks helped out. They blew up the house they were shooting from.”

Everything was quiet on OP Bears until dusk two days later.

Donnelly was asleep downstairs when the enemy came back to the house with RPGs and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. A blast quickly opened his eyes.

“I got up and ran for my flak,” he said. “They laid a heavy suppression while the VBIED snuck up on us.”

He got a step out of the room when the vehicle exploded and knocked him off his feet. The insurgent driver killed himself in the attack.

“I saw the door blow open and it looked like slow motion,” Garlich said. “The windows blasted out and everyone tried to get on their gear as fast as possible.”

The fighting lasted all of ten minutes until the insurgents were driven away. Two Marines were injured and were rushed down the road to a nearby position for a helicopter medical evacuation. One Marine was still alert and able to stand, but both needed medical attention.

Navy Seaman Brandon Van Wagoner, a hospital corpsman for K Company, was waiting and ready with a stretcher. He only had moments to treat the Marines before they were flown to Camp Taqaddum for follow-on treatment.

“As soon as we got him strapped in, the helicopter was landing,” said the 20-year-old from Fostoria, Mich. “It was the fastest air support I’ve ever seen.”

“He looked all right, but pretty shaken up,” added Navy Seaman Enoch Sitzo, a hospital corpsmen for I Company. “We didn’t have time to do a really thorough assessment, but they took him to TQ really fast, so he’s in good hands.”

Within a span of minutes, additional air support finished off the insurgents’ position down the road with an earth-shaking explosion.

“We dropped a 500-pound bomb and leveled a building,” Donnelly said. “When I heard the missile going overhead, I opened my mouth, plugged my ears and felt the house shake. It was very loud.”

The battalion recently shifted its area of operation west into Habbaniyah after five months of relative peace near Fallujah and Amiriyah. Like many Marines, Garlich has mixed feelings about his first heavy combat experience.

“To tell you the truth we were hoping for a fight, but when rounds are coming downrange, the whole scenario changes,” he said. “The second one was definitely more nerve-racking than the first because a few people got hurt.”

Marines since returned to their companies, expecting a full recovery from their concussions.

“At the time we didn’t know how bad they were, so we were worried for them,” Garlich said. “It was one of those experiences you wish would never happen again, but in a way you do, because we kicked some ass.”