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Good News From The Marines
With Veterans Day observances over the next few days and several movies in theaters or releasing this coming week end that deal with the war in Iraq, we felt it would be appropriate to hear from someone who actually knows what is going on. I'm not suggesting, of course, that Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, among others are not experts on both public policy and the military, but felt that an actual marine might be equally qualified.
I received the following from a reader of this web site. I found it both enlightening and encouraging. I'm sure you will as well.
Gary,
I had to write you and tell you about my encounter with a Marine Staff Sergent today.I met him at a local store in Tacoma, Washington, and during a wait for his order learned from him that he is in charge of recruiting for the Marines in the area. I asked him how recruiting was going, and if all the "doom and gloom" reports of no interest in the Marines was true. He energetically told me that not only was it untrue, they have not missed a recruiting goal since long before the Iraq war. In fact interest is very high, yet not everyone can qualify, as the requirements are high both physically and mentally. As we talked, he shared with me some other facts that we will not see on ABC, NBC, CNN, or CBS tonight. I will summarize below:
1. As of our talk today there has not been a single Marine death in Iraq or Afghanistan since 10/8/07. The longest period since the war began. Any celebration of the good news?
2. The year prior to the Iraq war, there were more injuries to Marines via auto accidents, sickness, recreational vehicle accidents, and other factors, than all the years of the Iraq war combined. Yes, combined. I asked him to repeat this just to make sure I understood him correctly. He attributed this to the focus, discipline and teamwork that is part of the Marine unit once deployed on a mission.
3. He and his battalion are not only proud to be Marines, proud to serve in this mission, but thoughtfully and willingly serve our country and believe in protecting our interests and our freedoms. He assured me the Marines are neither helpless victims who have been duped into serving, or brainless fighters who have no other options in life.
I was inspired by the clarity of his look, his thoughtful, poised responses, and his passion for our country.I thanked him for his service.What we all hope for in our Veterans, I experienced today.
God bless America and all who serve their country in the military.
___________________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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10 Comments:
Wow Gary, anyone passes on second-hand information that you find politically pleasing and you pass it along without making the slightest effort to verify it's accuracy. I think you owe your readers an apology. Not only is a discussion focusing solely on the Marines, and attempting to use that as a refutation of issues about the ENTIRETY of our armed forces in Iraq & Afghanistan, but it is also inaccurate as shown below:
"I asked him how recruiting was going, and if all the "doom and gloom" reports of no interest in the Marines was true. He energetically told me that not only was it untrue, they have not missed a recruiting goal since long before the Iraq war."
From an article dated 3/10/2005:
"The Marines fell slightly short of a key recruiting goal in January and February, breaking a 10-year string of meeting their quotas for signing up prospective Marines, Lt. Gen. Jan Huly said Thursday. "
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20050310-1509-cnsmarines.html
1. Cpl. Erik T. Garoutte 22 1st Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Company, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Santee, California Died in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 19, 2007 (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/2007.10.html)
So the Marines went 11 days without a member dying in Iraq. In that time 16 members of other branches of the Armed forces died. And this person is expecting a celebration of this "good news"?
2. Of course those deaths in Iraq are additional to deaths from other causes. Or are you claiming that the # of Marines dying annually has decreased substantially since the war began? I'd love to see some figures to back that up.
3. I don't know that anyone is claiming that Marines are "helpless victims" nor "brainless fighters" can you provide some examples? Or is this just a straw man for you to tear appart and appear to be actually making a point?
Other points to consider:
There are more National Guard and Reserve troops in Iraq than there are Marines. (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat.htm)
This past year has been the deadliest year for US forces in Iraq. (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkx-3oYeFwuWKCusr2jrojs98w8wD8SOER3O0)
While all branches of the active military did meet their recruitment goals this year, the national guard, who are increasingly relied on for troops in Iraq, failed to meet theirs.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1024250220071010)
Also, while the Army did meet its goals for this year, they did so by lowering their standards; admitting a total of 12,057 people (18% of all recruits for the year) who required "moral character" waivers - 1,620 of whom had been arrested and convicted of felonies (which would make them ineligable to vote in WA state).
Yes, that quite a pretty picture you and your anonymous friend are painting, unfortunately for our nation, it bears little resemblence to the truth.
Jack Seattle
Beautiful post - thank you, and God bless our military. If you and your family (or youth group) are looking for a practical way to remember our injured heroes this Veteran's Day or at Christmas, you can send a card to the following:
A Recovering American Solider
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001
Jack, it's sad that you give 'gloom and doom' for our military. To balance the info that you gave, could you not indicate support to these young men who sincerely joined the armed forces --FOR OUR PROTECTION!?
They deserve recognition, and I for one am VERY grateful for their service. The church I attend is near our bases. Thus, I have the opportunity to express my gratitude to them personally! God bless our military!
Yes Jack he is preaching to the choir with a little bit of allusion to a conspiracy to suppress, some 3rd had information that doesn't jive with any researchable data and the usual dose of self-righteousness that is par for the course.
BUT still it is veterans day soon and a time to remember all the good that veterans have done and continually do for this nation. The only problem currently is our military depends on being given ethical commands by like-wise leaders, but lack of those is not our service member's fault, its ours.
Yes in reality:
• Marines have 2x the iraq casualties of the other US services combined.
• 5x as many Iraq casualties are coming home with permanent physical disabilities, and 30% of those brain and spinal in nature.
• 30% of all returning service members are being diagnosed with psychological adjustment problems.
Yes praise those in service and honor them by giving them ethical tasks with ethical limitations and put them in harm's way only when truly necessary.
13 year army veteran
-Seattle
"7:36 PM, November 08, 2007"
Perhaps you could find some time in between your attacks on me to follow the posting guidlines of this site and provide us all with a name and location so that we can have a civil discussion.
I didn't post any "doom and gloom", I merely posted the truth, rather than accept Gary's pleasing falsehoods. Riddle me this, what shows more support for the troops, supporting a ill-concieved war of choice and then making bogus claims of "good news" that minimize the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, or fully acknowledging the challenges they face because of said ill-concieved and ill-managed war?
Expressing my support for our troops and appreciation of their sacrifice doesn't "balance out" information about that sacrifice, it is inherent in the information. How does making false claims that minimize the sacrifice of those troops show support or appreciation?
Jack in Seattle
Yes, we need to remember and salute our vets! We should salute and support all of our military.
But, please don't conflate abusing our military by keeping by it in a endless military occupation with actually supporting them.
Support them by giving them competent civilian leadership. I'm sure that would be of greater value than a ribbon on your car.
Mark in Tigard
Jack, The war in Iraq is for 'our protection'. Fighting the insurgents in the middle East, is better than having to do so HERE!
Besides, the Iraqi citizens are VERY grateful for us being there--I have heard it first hand from our soldiers in our church, who have been there and were told this many times. One Iraqi said over and over--'Thank Pres Bush, please---please!?'
Mark in Tigard - Do you have any idea how intricate any war now days is? To complete the task in an hour or a half hour as is done on TV (except by a series program) is to be programmed by our "fix 'm quick" line of thinking after watching so much TV etc.!
Patience is what we need to understand. Any president knows a long drawn out war is not good business for any nation. So, President Bush isn't just trying to keep this going. The justification for going to war in the first place was well placed no matter how much the liberal element wants to project that it wasn't.
A major war we have to battle is right hear at home! We have lost the ability to discern what is right and what is wrong! The accusations run rampant on both sides, too! Our politicians are great at stirring up trouble!
Our "armchair quarterbacking" that Americans have gotten used to, puts all kinds of incorrect information in the mix! Rumors fly like wildfire! Even when some people check for accuracy, they take the least amount of checking and so are dangerous because they come across as an authority on the small bit of info they come onto!
9:16 AM, November 10, 2007
Your political arguments with regards to the war in Iraq are irrelevant to the issue of the truth with regards to the claims made in Gary's post.
Please do not address me by name, if you are not going to show the courtesy of providing a name as well. It is not only rude but is a violation of this site's posting guidelines. (odd that the moderators didn't catch that)
"The justification for going to war in the first place was well placed no matter how much the liberal element wants to project that it wasn't."
Is that so? So just when and where did they locate those dreaded weapons of mass destruction that Saddam was supposedly ready to hand over to terrorists at any moment? Oh that's right, THEY WEREN'T THERE!!!!
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