I'm linking to Blackfive's post, but AOSHQ also has a post on it. If Blackfive says it was done with deference and honor to Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, his memory, and to Lt Col Michael Strobl, who escorts his coffin home, then I believe it
Maybe Hell froze over, but we should appreciate it when they get it right
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2009 18:20 ||
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#1
Blackfive has Gen John Kelly's email: From: Kelly BGen John F
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:38 AM
To: Strobl LtCol Michael R
Subject: Trip Report
Mike,
I just read your trip report forwarded to me by CO, 11 th Marines, and having done the kind of duty you report about I know the emotions and pride. I was with the Marine you escorted, nearly right next to him, when he was killed instantly along side a road named ASR San Juan . The closest village is Jurf as Sakhr, and it sits right on the Euphrates River with Fallujah 25kms to the N, and Baghdad perhaps 45 to the NNE. This is an ugly little section of Iraq and full of extremists that hate us for some reason. Dont know why, but thats the way it is. We were in five vehicles and were caught in a complex ambush. They initiated it with an IED that caught the lead vehicle, disabled it, and wounded two of the three Marines inside. After the IED there was immediate massed MG, AK, RPG, and mortar fire that certainly defined for me the term withering. The second vehicle was also caught in the kill zone, but they it did a 180 and out two WIA aboard from the initial volley. The third vehicle was outside the KZ, but seeing #1 disabled and the Marines in extremis drove in, dismounted, set up a base fire, and started to work the comms. The other vehicles dismounted outside the KZ and began to seek the flank of the ambush. Your Marines vehicle was called forward to try and close the back door and prevent the guerrillas escape so we could kill them, and after accomplishing the maneuver and putting his gun in action, he was hit. Over time we shot our way out of it. We collected up wounded, dead, and all equipment from the destroyed HMMWV, then walked out of the KZ shooting the entire time until we were clear. All the Marines in the patrol did what we trained them to do, did it instinctively, and as if they were born to it. Every one of them returned fire, moved to the sound of the guns, and took action. There was certainly nothing special about any of them, by the way, other than they were MARINES.
Your charge started this return home with the same kind of reverence and honor you describe in your trip report, only in a very, very different way. When we rushed into the combat base in Mahmudiyah it wasnt for him, we knew he was already with God, but for the WIAs we had aboard. The entire camp knew he was with us, however, and they all stood tall and were proud to simply be in the same shit hole with him and doing what they joined to do. The Navy Docs went right to it with the WIAs and saved lives, at the same time we removed him from the vehicle its turret having been immediately manned by another Marine whod himself been hit in the face, but pressed with the mission and the gun never went quiet in the process. The dead Marine, only just out of high school last May, was of course filthy dirty and his uniform vastly different than the one you saw him in. He obviously was not wearing any ribbons, but did have his flak and all the other accoutrements of a field Marine on when we removed him. He was also still soaked from the unbelievable sweating a fight brings on. His buddies spent a few quiet moments and we talked about the loss, and what he meant what he was like to them all. Everyone offered a vignette, most were silly or funny, but thats the kind of guy he was. We then withdrew as there was a detailed critique to conduct (actions on contact, who did what, what worked, what didnt work, what could have done better, and all the what ifs that go with learning the trade and getting better), and then the platoon commander (himself quite a guy) got right to it as there were also weapons to clean, and preps to be made for the next patrol. Life goes on doesnt it. This all took place, by the way, at about 1500 local on Good Friday. Thought you should know the rest of the story. Thanks for taking care of our Marine.
Semper Fidelis,
Kelly
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2009 19:06 Comments ||
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#2
I just watched the trailer.
Good Lord. It had me in tears.
First time I've ever wished for an HBO subscription. Hopefully it will come out on video soon. I would feel honored to watch the whole movie.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/21/2009 22:37 Comments ||
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#3
Anyone know how else this can be watched without HBO?
Can we all make a pack, that if you find it is available --- let us all know... I still remember the tears from just reading the entire story....
#5
you can pay per view starting monday. The cost of one months HBO (if you already have cable) is less than $20.00. I didn't want to watch because I was so afraid they would screw it up. But I did and they didn't. It honored the fallen with dignity. Well done.
Posted by: Bill Croluper8091 ||
02/21/2009 23:10 Comments ||
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#4
Maybe we can re-open those stores as ammo reloading plants and gun stores, and shooting ranges. They're they one area of the economy that's thriving. (But they'd be 'unsafe' and 'un-environmental', so the answer is no.)
Well, it may be an indication that the recession may soon end. There won't be enough room in America's existing closets to hold all those clothes the significant others are going to harvest from all those square miles of women appeal departments. Just shift the construction trade from new homes to expansion of existing homes to handle it all. /sarc off
#7
Just goes to reinforce my belief that mergers and acquisitions build single points of failure. "Macy's" today includes not only R.H. Macy's, but also May Co. and about a half dozen other regionals. They're all combined into one to gain "economies of scale," and now they're all going down together.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/21/2009 14:14 Comments ||
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#8
Don't know about others, but I can barely remember when I last bought clothes or much of anything else in a store. Isn't that what G*d made the Internet, credit cards and Fed Ex for?
#9
I can't remember the last time I went to a department store. I can't afford their prices. I do like to try on clothes before buying, though, so my favorite affordable "designer" is Wal-Mart (and occasionally K-Mart for blouses and jeans). I'll occasionally buy something from Penney's, too, but Macy's, Dillard's, etc.? Nyet. Money spent wasted there is money I can't spend on something that actually matters.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/21/2009 18:05 Comments ||
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#10
Well, Sears does have good tools and appliances, and tools. Did I mention tools?
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/21/2009 18:28 Comments ||
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#11
Craftsman, for those of us who can't afford Snap-On
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2009 18:29 Comments ||
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#12
I buy most of my clothes at Tractor Supply. They gots all kinds of other neat stuff, too.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/21/2009 18:32 Comments ||
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#13
Farm and Fleet is good, too. And they still give decent customer service. #3 Daughter, boot size 5, needed work boots and the smallest women's work boot size was 6 1/2. Muck boots just weren't warm enough for a barn at 8 am in subzero. The young lady helped Daughter find a pair that actually fit; thick socks helped.
#14
The only thing I ever got from Macy's was a Lionel Train Set in 1954.
Posted by: Rednek Jim ||
02/21/2009 19:45 Comments ||
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#15
Neiman Marcus, Tiffany, Zales, et al, sell NO NECESSITIES
Perhaps not Neiman Marcus, and definitely not Zales, but Tiffany? Bite your tongue, Frank! Even if I've never gotten anything from there, a girl must have hope. ;-)
Barbara dear, give it six months, and things at Macy's will cost about the same as Kmart and WalMart. The Sak's outlet in my area is selling winter styles at 75-90% off, if I read their latest email correctly.
Only the crazies are happy with the First Poseur. And, as the title says, markets continue to sink
Last Oct. 13, in trying to explain why the market had sold off 30% in six weeks, we acknowledged that the freeze-up of the financial system was a big concern. But we cited three other factors as well:
The imminent election of "the most anti-capitalist politician ever nominated by a major party."
The possibility of "a filibuster-proof Congress led by politicians who are almost as liberal."
A "media establishment dedicated to the implementation of a liberal agenda, and the smothering of dissent wherever it arises."
No wonder, we said then, that panic had set in.
Today, as the market continues to sell off and we plumb 12-year lows, we wish we had a different explanation. But it still looks, as we said four months ago, "like the U.S., which built the mightiest, most prosperous economy the world has ever known, is about to turn its back on the free-enterprise system that made it all possible." Obama administraion: Insanity driven by a sense of entitlement and a strong ego
#1
Market is going to 5500. No confidence. Santelli may have started a fire but between MSM and Obama's hard knocks Chicago anarchistic politics it will be tough to maintain a revolution. But then they said that about other movements in Prague, Philippines,Berlin, et.al. So it could work - let's hope so.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
02/21/2009 9:30 Comments ||
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#2
It will take many fires in a lot of places. Then they'll have to link up in bigger and bigger movements with multiple spokesman/key figures who mostly agree with each other.
#4
A "media establishment dedicated to the implementation of a liberal agenda, and the smothering of dissent wherever it arises."
In other words, journalistic standards at their lowest in the history of the United State...
Posted by: Large Whumble3214 ||
02/21/2009 19:14 Comments ||
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#5
Journalists as Obazero cheerleaders? "Save us, oh Great One!"
Journalists belong to a set of industries that face elimination without a bailout. That is why the fairness doctrine will emerge as the Media Bailout Act of 2010.
It will take $billions from taxpayers to make the NYT competitive with Rush. Think of the billions more just to keep NBC afloat from the attacks of the evil Sean.
Renowned investor George Soros said on Friday the world financial system has effectively disintegrated, adding that there is yet no prospect of a near-term resolution to the crisis that he helped to start.
Soros said the turbulence is actually more severe than during the Great Depression, comparing the current situation to the demise of the Soviet Union. He said the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September marked a turning point in the functioning of the market system.
"We witnessed the collapse of the financial system," Soros said at a Columbia University dinner. "It was placed on life support, and it's still on life support. There's no sign that we are anywhere near a bottom."
His comments echoed those made earlier at the same conference by Paul Volcker, a former Federal Reserve chairman who is now a top adviser to President Barack Obama. Volcker said industrial production around the world was declining even more rapidly than in the United States, which is itself under severe strain. "I don't remember any time, maybe even in the Great Depression, when things went down quite so fast, quite so uniformly around the world," Volcker said.
#4
Renowned investor George Soros said on Friday the world his financial system has effectively disintegrated, adding that there is yet no prospect of a near-term resolution to the crisis.
Actually, George, there is a quick turn around. All it requires is the willingness of those who can to put confidence back into the system by introducing not more money but integrity back into the process. That means firing regulators who failed to regulate. That means telling stockholders and borrowers that they're screwed and they aren't going to be bailed out on the backs of others. And its means that heads have got to roll publicly on the political side of the house, particularly those who interfered in the financial process for both social and individual interests. When that happens, the money will come out of gold and the mattresses and start to flow again in market.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
02/21/2009 9:27 Comments ||
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#6
The economic system needs to return to a non-leveraged state. However, until the wolves of leverage are beaten down, they will fight to keep some means of leverage available so that they personally can still get away with non-productive leveraged wealth expansion.
This means that individuals like Soros are malignant cancers to the world's economy. They undermine the productivity of others by trying to snatch the rewards without doing the work.
#9
Jack is Back:
"Soros is shorting has already shorted America."
Now he is trying to induce panic so he can buy back his shorts at a low price. The "hedge fund" managers tried that a few months ago, selling heavily at the close so the numbers would be widely reported on the evening news. Hopefully people would panic the next morning and the hedge funds could pick up the pieces.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
02/21/2009 12:10 Comments ||
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#10
If the economy is the nations #1 threat then the CIA should have put a contract out on Soros years ago.
They didn't so the government is obviously in on the theft.
#11
I follow Ford's Stock, I've been certain someone huge has been shorting Ford for he last year or more,
I'm holding and waiting, when the stock does NOT go bankrupt all the shorters will be forced to buy-to-cover, that'll make Ford BOOM.
Posted by: Rednek Jim ||
02/21/2009 12:55 Comments ||
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#12
3dc: If the economy is the nations #1 threat then the CIA should have put a contract out on Soros years ago.
They didn't so the government is obviously in on the theft.
______________________________________________
Starting with Congress, K Street, Wall Street and ye olde established Crime Families; Imagine how many Hidden Hands have been washing each other...
Their BLOOD can't run thick or fast enough to ever suit me personally.
:(
Posted by: Red Dawg ||
02/21/2009 18:27 Comments ||
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#13
Ford makes F-150's, like mine. Did I ever tell you about it....
/Drink up, dammit!
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/21/2009 18:28 Comments ||
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#14
No, really Frank? You have an F-150? Is it a good model - do you like it?
#17
War brings out the best and worst in those who live through it. Mr. Soros learnt the worst from those best at it. How many currencies has he deliberately destroyed thus far?
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