News:
04 DEC 07
Letter from Roger (Iraq)
We got
everyone out of Iraq and in Kuwait. Our lead company arrived
back in 29 Palms last night. These next few days will mark the
end of a remarkably successful deployment to Iraq.
Unfortunately, the story is not being told in the mainstream
press but we are winning the fight in Iraq decisively. The
changes in Iraq are revolutionary--not incremental as some in
the press are describing it! The population finally saw the
terrorists for what they are and joined with the Marines to get
rid of them.
We we arrived
in April, the fighting was just wrapping up so many of the
people were still very skeptical and very scared of the
Marines. The city was destroyed by bombs, IED craters, and 4
years of anarchy. All of the city's services were inoperable;
there was no city government, no department of municipalities,
and all of the city's equipment had been destroyed or stolen.
The police were a group of local men that decided they had had
enough of the terrorists coming into there neighborhoods and
killing people. They stood with a small group of police that
were extremely brave and the Marines to rid their area of the
terrorists. They had no formal training, no uniforms,
weapons... They did know that the commitment they made was for
good and that if the terrorists returned, they would all be
killed along with their families.
The
Marines of 3/7 attacked these problems with enthusiasm, finesse,
skill, and an unbelievable work ethic. The police were our
first priority. We partnered with them in every station. In
all cases, the Marines lived with them and became brothers with
them. They did this will full knowledge that some of the police
this year were fighting us last year. With maturity and
professionalism they understood that if you are going to win a
counter insurgency you will have to work with the enemy at some
point to be successful. They patrolled the streets with the
police, built their checkpoints to our standards, protected
their stations to our standards, reacted when they were in
trouble... They ate most every meal with them, drank chai,
smoked cigarettes until they were part of the family. The
police were from the neighborh oods and once we won them over,
winning the community was easy. We trained the police how to
patrol like Marines, act like Marines, stand post like Marines,
collect evidence, treat detainees, and take care of their
equipment like Marines. Also, we were able to get the rule of
law reestablished in the city. The new Iraqi judges emerged and
their system of district attorneys and courts emerged and became
the standard. We mentored them through this process which
was difficult most of the time. By the time we left, the police
were doing most of the work themselves. Their intelligence
network is amazing, yielding terrorists nearly everyday that
were trying to get back into the city.
The city's
services were our other big area of focus. We saw the lack of
services as a gap that if left unresolved, would lead to a
reemergence of the terrorists. During our deployment, we
saw terrorists groups try to emerge as "aid" organizations to
try a beat us and the Iraqi government at providing for the
people. Fortunately the people saw these attempts for what they
were and did away with them.
The mess was beyond comprehension. All the fire
trucks were gone and the stations looted. All
the trash trucks were gone and the trash was
piled all over the streets from 4 years of
neglect. The sewage flowed in the streets; many
streets were literally knee high in sewage
water. The hospital had no doctors, no power,
and patients were uncared for. The water system
did not work and were it did it was
not-potable. The power lines were down all over
the city, transformers were shot up, power
stations looted... Again the Marines of 3/7
rose to the occasion and attacked these problems
like it was their own homes and neighborhoods.
Fortunately, we were empowered with a great deal
of money and we completed 350 projects to fix
these issues. We spent millions of dollars and
made remarkable progress to "stop the bleeding
in the above areas." Once we had the bleeding
stopped, we turned our attention to
developing the city's capacity. We worked in
each area of the city's services to not only fix
the problem, but also to lave a lasting capacity
to maintain the progress we made. Although
there is still much work to be done in these
areas, all of the above services
improved significantly as did the attitude of
the population. We also did a number of large
employment programs, small business grants, and
vocational training programs that gave the
people real opportunity and jump-started the
economy.
The combined effects of what the Marines did
were remarkable and truly awe inspiring. They
became one with the communities they lived
in. They were referred to as Sheiks by the
people. By the end of our deployment, the
Marines had become the most respected
institution in Ramadi. As we left, there were
parties, feasts, and many tears. This
movement in Iraq is grass roots, genuine, and
runs through every aspect of society. We know
that this movement is solid across Anbar and has
spread to Baghdad and other areas. Even with
nearly 1000 Marines deeply deployed into a large
Iraqi city, we were blessed on this deployment
not to suffer a single casualty.
The Marines of the Battalion clearly
demonstrated their will to get the mission
accomplished regardless of what is required. In
addition to what I discussed, it is still a very
dynamic and remarkably complex situation. The
Marines distinguished themselves each day during
many high stress missions: capturing terrorists,
finding enemy cache', patrolling endlessly, and
manning thousand of logistics support missions.
I feel very blessed to command such a group of
men who are loved, missed, and supported by
remarkable families at home.
.
30 AUG 07Lincoln Highway – MVPA "Motor Train" – 2009
In May of 1913 the Lincoln Highway Association was
incorporated in Detroit, Michigan. The founding officers were Henry Joy, Carl
Fisher (Fisher Bodies), Roy Chapin, John Willys (Willys Motors), Frank
Seiberling (Goodyear Tire), Albert Gowen (Cement). Based on the lessons of WWI
in Europe, the War Department realized that America needed the ability to move
military forces from coast to coast for the defense of the continent, this then
required not only the development of modern motor vehicles, but a road to drive
them on. Senator Charles Townsend of Michigan introduced a bill in Congress to
build a national system of highways to defend against "Mexican bandits on the
border and the Japanese menace on the Pacific coast. There were immediate moves
to draw in local governments along the route and commercial enterprises related
to the new automobile business to provide funding.
On July 7, 1919 a convoy of 81 military vehicles set off from
the White House grounds to cross the continent. 3,250 Miles ahead (of which only
650 was paved) was California and the Pacific coast. There was no road at all
West of Omaha, Nebraska. The story behind this achievement is typical of the
America of that day, optimism, innovation and the can-do spirit of the pioneers.
One of the Army officers selected to go along was Captain
Dwight David Eisenhower of the Tank Corps. Thirty-seven years later as President
he would sign the Interstate Highways Act to build the national highway system.
The convoy was to include almost all the auto industry names,
some of which are still familiar today. There were Dodge, White, Garford,
Packard, Bikers and Four Wheel Drive trucks, General Motors ambulances, White,
Cadillac and Dodge passenger cars, Indian and Harley Davidson motorbikers and a
monstrous support truck called the Militor. The route proceeded due West from
Washington through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,
Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California. They crossed the Continental Divide at
9,247 feet of elevation and entered California in 57 days. On September 6 the
convoy closed at San Francisco with all but 6 of the original 81 vehicles,
having covered 3,251 miles at an average of 6 miles per hour, including 230
accidents.
2009 will be the 90th anniversary of that Army
achievement, which might not have been done without military equipment and
discipline. What better event could the MVPA find to dramatize the history of
military vehicles and draw attention to the mission of our organization? The
Board of Directors of MVPA is currently involved in the early planning stages of
recreating that "motor train" in 2009 using our vehicles. This would be our
answer to "Normandy" and "Winter of 44" events in Europe. The route will follow
the original as well as possible, vehicles and support will have to come from
local Chapters, and Headquarters will have to coordinate the entire effort
through committees yet to be appointed. Sponsors and Donors must be recruited
and encouraged to provide finances. In the end this could be the greatest
membership recruiting program we could possibly arrange, and a once in a life
time experience for those of us who drive it.
Tony Chandler #4696
Lone Star Chapter MVPA
Austin, TX
salvarinc@mindspring.com
Notes:
AMERICAN ANSWERS
(Copied from an e-mail forward) 28 OCT 07
------------------------------------------------
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was
asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an
example of 'empire building' by George Bush.
He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return."
It became very quiet in the room.
**************
Then there was a conference in France where a number of
international engineers were taking part, including French and American.
During a break one of the French engineers came back into the room
saying "Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has
sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What
does he intended to do, bomb them?"
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: "Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are
nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore
facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed
3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand
gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry
half a dozen
helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and
from their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France
have?"
Once again, dead silence.
*****************
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.
At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone
was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but
a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas Europeans
learn many
languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is
it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than
speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe its because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have
to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop!
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Nonsense:
MV Men are Happier People (28 Oct 07)
(adapted from an e-mail forward) by Ev Harless, Jane Hunt and
Lacy Smith
MV Men are those men that restore, collect or simply have a passion for military
vehicles. MV men are often, but not always, military veterans. MV Men are just
happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures???
* The question MV Men ask of their prospective bride is *Do you like military
vehicles?* If he doesn't ask, one of his MV buddies will. If the answer is
negative, he will soon be searching for another lady friend. A positive reply
will make for a compatible couple. Wedding plans have to be scheduled around
this Rally or that Convention. Often instead of a tux he wears a military dress
uniform and they drive away from the wedding in an MV. (A wedding dress is
$5,000 * the dress uniform he already owns, or a tux rents for $100.00) His last
name stays put.
* When an MV Man begins thinking of raising a family he hopes for sons that will
learn to help restore his vehicles. If daughters come along instead, he will
teach them the mechanics of his favorite MV. He never has to worry about being
pregnant.
* MV Men own the garage and any extra building their property may hold. The
garage is filled with their military vehicles and parts, while the family car
sets out in the weather. All other outbuildings are filled with military
vehicles in various stages of restoration, along with enough parts to supply a
motor pool. Parts that need special protection are stored in the house, under
the beds and in the closets. Any spare nook or cranny becomes home to a rare
part. The living room is cluttered with parts that will soon be needed for the
current restoration. These must be available on-the-spot. Parts stored in an
outbuilding may disappear into some hidden place or even become home to a mud
dauber*s nest. Heaven forbid!
* Scattered around his easy chair, amidst all the parts, are his favorite MV
magazines (several back issues of the Supply Line, Army Motors and Military
Vehicles); his military technical manuals; parts catalogs and a variety of MV
books. When his wife decides this area must be straightened up she neatly stacks
the magazines and places them on a nearby shelf and carefully arranges all the
MV parts. He now has to search through all the magazines again to find the
article he was reading and he is sure she has misplaced some of his parts.
* When a MV Man comes in the house, his first question is, "Have you seen my
cell phone? I had it an hour ago and must of lost it outside. Come and help me
find it." Of all places, somehow he had left it under the MV he was working on.
All the pictures on his cell phone are of his favorite MV instead of his kids or
grandkids. In fact most of the pictures hanging in his house are of his military
vehicles. If no cell phone is available he asks his wife to cut her conversation
short because he needs the phone for an important call. A supposedly 30 second
phone conversation turns into an hour when the subject of how to adjust the
carburetor on an M 38 comes up.
* An MV Man arranges ALL vacations around the annual International MVPA
Convention. It takes place in a different US state each year, adding a nice
variety of activities and events for the family. He says to pack all of his
things in a small suitcase and bring along just one pair of boots. That*ll be
enough. Suitcases must be kept to a minimum so there will be enough room to
bring home the paint and parts purchased at the Convention. His wife will need
at least 6 pairs of shoes to handle the different occasions and a purse to match
each pair. He needs only one wallet and one color for all seasons. She really
want to talk to him about the vacation she was promised, but he just shrugs his
shoulders and tells her, "Some day it will fit in".
* A MV Man never has a white tee shirt to wear. Somehow, they always end up a
dingy gray, or streaked with hydraulic fluid. Wonder where all that grease came
from? Forget about how his clothes look, because the new ones will only get
grease on them too. About the time you dress up to go somewhere, he says,
"Honey, will you give me a hand. It will only take a minute." Thirty minutes
later she has to go in and change as her clothes because they now look a little
like his. He could care less if his clothes are wrinkled. People never stare at
his chest when talking to him, even if he*s not wearing a shirt at all. He never
has a strap problem in public. Everything on hisr face stays the original color.
Wrinkles add character. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. If
someone forgets to invite him to an event, he or she can still be his friend. MV
Men have it easy!! They only have to shave their face and neck. They have
freedom of choice concerning growing a beard or mustache. They can wear shorts
no matter how bad their legs look. They can "do" their nails with a pocketknife.
Their belly usually hides their big hips. They gets extra credit for the
slightest act of kindness.
* MV men don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. They
occasionally rely on their wife for a third or fourth hand, to hold the
screwdriver on the bolt while they tighten down the nut on the underside of the
vehicle. They expect her to know the different names of all the tools when they
ask for them. They can change their own tires when they have a flat. Car
mechanics tell them the truth.
* Forget looking for a decent restroom. Just any old place will do, even the
side of the road, because the MV Man is on his way to a military auction.
Besides his plumbing is made for quick stops. Men have it made! His occasional
well rendered belch is practically expected.
* A MV Man promises his wife, after purchasing the 3rd or 4th military vehicle,
that this is the final vehicle he will buy. He now has all the green he needs.
Invariably, a very rare vehicle comes along, a real bargain, or a vehicle of
higher quality which could replace his current project. He once again makes the
*final vehicle* promise. They can't read the maps doing 70 MPH, but they can
sure spot an old jeep sitting in the wood or around the corner behind the barn.
Is it any small wonder MV Men are happier?? But, I'll always say behind (or
beside) every good MV Man is a wonderful, loving, kind, gentle caring MV woman
who helps "Keep 'em Rolling".
=============
The Human Mole & Thomas photographs from the WWI era took from
12,500 officers and service men (to form the Eagle) to 30,000 (to form the
U.S. Shield)
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(Updated 06 DEC 07)