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July 06, 2004
1/4 Marines update
LtCol John L. Mayer, CO of 1/4 Marines updates us:
Dear families and friends of the Marines and Sailors of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/4;Happy Independence Day and greetings from the USS BELLEAU WOOD, DENVER, and COMSTOCK! As you celebrate this holiday with friends and family back home, your Marines and Sailors continue to prepare for their mission ahead with the steady, determined professionalism of warriors who know their duty. I am very proud of all of them as they are truly the guardians of our country’s freedom.
Of note, the Marines of Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) Bravo eagerly await any and all challenges that lie ahead. Two Marines in particular, Cpl Welch and Lcpl Graf, have done a tremendous job in training, preparing, and mentoring the platoon’s junior Marines. Cpl Welch serves as the platoon’s Marine Corps Martial Arts Program expert and devotes two hours of his day, everyday, to ensuring that the Marines are mentally and physically prepared to accomplish any mission. During this past month, Lcpl Graf has worked with the Navy’s machinists on a daily basis to ensure that the platoon’s weapons and vehicles are fully operational. His efforts have been instrumental to the platoon having a 100% readiness status. These outstanding Marines are typical of the quality of your Marines and Sailors across the BLT and their efforts are only a few of many that make this one of the most technically and tactically proficient BLTs in the Marine Corps today.
In addition to rigorous daily training, the Marines and Sailors of BLT 1/4 have been able to enjoy some of the ships weekly activities. Last week, the Sailors of the USS BELLEAU WOOD hosted a bingo night. Yes Bingo. Prizes included stereo equipment, televisions, gift certificates, and much more. The Marines had an opportunity to purchase bingo cards during the preceding days, and the game was aired on the ships closed circuit television system. This gave everyone on board an opportunity to participate, from every part of the ship. Winners simply phoned in to the broadcast booth to claim their prizes. The day following the bingo night was Sunday, which meant a day of rest and relaxations for all BLT Marines.
A few days later, the ships received mail for the first time since departing Hawaii. Did you ever wonder how we get mail delivered to us while we’re out to sea? It is quite an amazing process. All the mail that you send to your loved ones here on one of the three ships first makes its way to San Francisco. That’s where the Fleet Post Office, or FPO, is located. There, they track the progress of our deployment and promptly deliver mail to the next geographic location that the ships will be passing. These locations include Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Singapore. From there, the mail is brought aboard by one of the numerous helicopters that are deployed with us. The BLT’s outgoing mail is taken ashore in the same manner, delivery to San Francisco, then to its final destination. As you can see, there are many days that the ships don’t receive mail, but we all rest assured that it will be waiting for us at the next port.
Mail equals motivation for most of our troops. Last year, during one of his phone calls, my son told me there was a Marine in his company who had received only one letter in the 4 months since he arrived in Iraq. It was a Dear John letter from his girl. Shane asked if I could write to him and I mentioned it to a few of my friends. Within weeks, this Marine was receiving more mail - letters and packages - than anyone else in his platoon. It was an awesome response from people back home who care.
LtCol Mayer goes on:
I would like to recognize two of many outstanding Marines in the BLT. Lcpl James T. Jenkins, a squad leader in 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal aboard the USS BELLEAU WOOD on 23 June 2004, for displaying exemplary tactical proficiency and leadership beyond his rank while conducting SASO (Stability and Security Operations) in the Babil Province of Iraq during OIF I from 21 April 2003 to 2 August 2003. He also was named the Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG 3) Marine and Sailor of the Quarter, which is a prestigious honor he earned competing against keen competition. The second Marine is Corporal Michael J. Harbour, who is Romeo Battery’s Meteorological Chief. He is our BLT NCO of the Quarter and set professional proficiency standards for his fellow non-commissioned officers to emulate.The pictures on our website capture the spirit of us—-the Marines and Sailors of BLT 1/4--so admirably. Look closely into the eyes of your warriors and you will see the determination, the laughter, the hopes and fears, the camaraderie of shared hardship, and the pride of being the best America has to offer.
Finally, I was deeply touched by the passing of a great President, American, and world citizen, Ronald Reagan. In President Bush’s eulogy to the former President, he wrote:Along the way, certain convictions were formed and fixed in the man. Ronald Reagan believed that everything happened for a reason, and that we should strive to know and do the will of God. He believed that the gentleman always does the kindest thing. He believed that people were basically good, and had the right to be free. He believed that bigotry and prejudice were the worst things a person could be guilty of. He believed in the Golden Rule and in the power of prayer. He believed that America was not just a place in the world, but the hope of the world.President Bush was thinking of Ronald Reagan, but as I read these words I thought of your Marines and Sailors, and this hope of freedom they provide to the people of Iraq and the entire world. Families, please enjoy this Independence Day holiday for all of us deployed and be happy knowing that your loved one is part of a noble cause. As I tell your husbands and sons often, their deeds will echo in eternity and are what makes our Nation standout as “not just a place in the world, but the hope of the world.”
Once again, good health and God's blessing to all of you. As always, your love, support, and prayers are invaluable to us, and we appreciate every thing that you do.
And we appreciate our Marines, more than we can express.
Posted by Deb at July 6, 2004 12:15 AM
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Comments
Would your Marines like cool ties? The Ships Project has, for the past 33 mos., sent handmade "hugs from home" to deployed troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the other 'Stans as well as aboard ships. There is no charge for this as we are all volunteers who feel these kids need and deserve the support of everyone who cherishes the freedoms we have. If you'd like your Marine and his/her unit included while they are deployed, please let us know. Our website is http://www.wtv-zone.com/kjsb/bataan.html, and you can read about the "cool ties" at www.watersorb.com. We've sent more than 115,000 "hugs from home" and are happy to add new units.
Hugs,
Ellen
Posted by: Ellen Harpin at August 1, 2004 06:50 PM