SWCC’s and SEAL’s meet Skye in Philadelphia.

Commodore Evin Thompson, along with 25 elite Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) were present for a special visit to Philadelphia on Memorial Day. The event is called “Schuylkill Banks Navy Appreciation Days,” and it remembers all those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Spending time with these soldiers, it became quite apparent that these men are not only highly trained professionals, they are also world class gentlemen.

Photos and videos of the event can be found on my Flickr account.

Technorati Tags: Navy SEAL's, SWCC's

Memorial Day isn’t just barbecues and 4 day weekends. There’s a reason why we are able to enjoy such things; and it has to do with those who are willing to serve and sacrice; who risk all to preserve the freedoms we often take for granted.

Previously:
Memorial Day Tribute to Fallen Heroes (2007)

I just learned about Mark Metherell through Hugh Hewitt:

Mark Metherell was a Wheaton graduate, a former Navy SEAL, and a civilian training the Iraqi Security Forces when the evil guys got him and his trainees in an IED attack in Baghdad.

I have met some of Metherell’s extended family over the years in Orange County, california. He is part of an extraordinary band of servant leaders, and his commitment to the new Iraq does not surprise given the family in which he was raised. He was a graduate of Wheaton College, and at the memorial site his friends have created for his wife and little girl, his platoon commander from SEAL Team Five has written a memorial that you ought to read.

It is so obvious from the memorial site that Mark Metherell was back in Iraq because he loved the Iraqi people and wanted them to remain free. He is an example of the very best that our country produces, and the piece by Michael Yon in Friday’s Wall Street Journal on the extraordinary progress being made in Iraq is a testament to the significance of the sacrifice made by Mark Metherell and his family.

Do read the Michael Yon, WSJ piece and spread it around, by email, by flyer, by word-of-mouth.

What? Too lazy to click the link? Maybe this teaser will help:

when David Petraeus came to town it was senators – on both sides of the aisle – who battled over the Iraq war of 2004-2006. That war has little in common with the war we are fighting today.

I may well have spent more time embedded with combat units in Iraq than any other journalist alive. I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.

The change goes far beyond the statistical decline in casualties or incidents of violence. A young Iraqi translator, wounded in battle and fearing death, asked an American commander to bury his heart in America. Iraqi special forces units took to the streets to track down terrorists who killed American soldiers. The U.S. military is the most respected institution in Iraq, and many Iraqi boys dream of becoming American soldiers. Yes, young Iraqi boys know about “GoArmy.com.”

From his former SEAL platoon commander’s post:

Many times I thanked God for Mark- and this was before I became a Christian. He was always unflappable, always on top of things, never complaining, always upbeat and ready for anything. The nicest guy in the world but tough as nails. I later came to realize that a big reason he was different was his Christian faith. He was down to earth, easy going, but at the same time his actions were without reproach, both on and off the job. I’ve had several friends who were killed in the past 6 years, but hearing about Mark hit me particularly hard. He was a great man, a shining light in a dark world, and will be missed.

This forum pointed me to a temporary blogsite and website dedicated to his memory.

The memorial service for Mark will be at Mariners Church in Irvine, California this coming Saturday, April 19th, at 10am in the main sanctuary. Please visit http://www.marinerschurch.org/ for directions.

The family has requested that people attending the service dress casually, NO SUITS, and if you must wear shoes, please wear flippity floppities, or flip flops as they are commonly called.

A paddle-out at Brooks Street to Second Reef in honor of Mark is planned for Saturday around 4pm. Please meet at the Vanderveen’s home, 494 Brooks Street, with your board or at least a set of trunks (we have some extra surfboards) to help us remember Mark in the water on a reef he knew well.

The family has asked that donations in honor of Mark be made to either:
1. Naval Special Warfare Foundation: http://www.nswfoundation.org—This is a fund for the widows and orphans of Navy Special Forces veterans killed while serving their country

If I can get time off from work, I’d very much like to pay my respects there. Please check out the website. It is full of details on the life of a man who represented and embodied the best of who we are as a nation.

Sorry for the blurry photo…yes…that is yours truly posing with the well versed Bellavia at CPAC earlier this year.

Iraq Veteran and author of House to House, David Bellavia announced today that he is filing the necessary paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to form a campaign committee. The move allows Bellavia to begin raising money for his much anticipated Congressional campaign. Read the rest of this entry »

By way of Michael Totten:

Saman Kareem Ahmad is an Iraqi Kurd who worked as a translator with the Marines in Iraq’s Anbar Province. He was one of the few selected translators who was granted asylum in the U.S. because he and his family were singled out for destruction by insurgents for “collaboration.” He wants to return to Iraq as an American citizen and a Marine, and has already been awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and General David Petraeus wrote notes for his file and recommended he be given a Green Card, but the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) declined his application and called him a “terrorist.”

The INS says Ahmad “conducted full-scale armed attacks and helped incite rebellions against Hussein’s regime, most notably during the Iran-Iraq war, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom” while a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Read the rest of this entry »

Motoring south to DC , I wasn’t sure what to expect this past weekend outside of meeting Sunlitknight, Snooper and Paul Couturier. Between the three of us, we planned to cover the IVAW events and the pro-troop rally sponsored by Eagles Up, Move America Forward, and Gathering of Eagles. My work schedule only permitted time for me to follow the Pro Troop rally in DC. Read the rest of this entry »

After yesterday’s rare, yet honest display of open hostility towards the Marines, by representatives of Code Pink and Veterans For Peace. I present you with a clip from a panel discussion I attended at CPAC. The speaker is SSG David Bellavia and he is describing the importance of Iraq and Afghanistan to him and his three fellow panelists.

There is no pithy commentary that I can compose that can improve upon David’s statements:

Sounds as though the group that strapped bombs on the two women purported to have Down’s Sydrome have been killed at the expense of two SEALs. It’s a bit ambiguous, though, whether or not the account from the soldier in Iraq is speaking of terrorists in general, or if the ones they killed were, in fact, the ones who specifically set up and detonated the two mentally disabled women.

Read the rest of this entry »

The other night at the Florida Republican debate Mitt Romney made a great statement:

“What an audacious and arrogant thing for the Democrats to say as Hillary Clinton did that they are responsible for the progress that the surge has seen by virtue that they are trying to pull out so quickly. Look, the success over there is due to the blood and courage of service men and women and to General Petraeus and to President Bush and not to “General” Hillary Clinton.”

Undoubtedly, at the forthcoming State Of The Union address, President Bush will mention the success of the new direction in Iraq which he started a year ago. That new direction was a new SecDef, a new CENTOM commander, a new Iraq commander, new forces sent to Iraq, a new strategy in Iraq focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-Al Queda operations. This new direction has led to a dramatic decline in violence in Iraq, a decline in American casualties, a rise in American prestige around the world, and in well over half of the arbitrary political benchmarks that the Democratic Congress imposed. When they are told of this successful effort on the part of American troops, will Democrats applaud? Will they rise up in appreciation of the men and women of our armed forces, the efforts they’ve made, their heroism, and their sacrifice? OR will the Democrats sit quietly? Will they boo? It will be interesting to see how much they physically support the troops by merely standing or sitting, by clapping or hissing.

Technorati Tags: american casualties, counter insurgency, democratic congress, dramatic decline, florida republican, general petraeus, hillary clinton, new secdef, republican debate, violence in iraq

Everything we have in this country, we owe to the brave men and women who have lived- and who have sometimes died- wearing the proud uniform of the U.S. military. Our prosperity is made possible, because they stand in the way of those who would do us harm.

Take nothing we have for granted.

I’d like to share with Curt’s readers, a letter written in the tradition of a soldier in wartime, writing to his sweetheart back home. It comes courtesy of Michael Medved. Mr. Medved did not source the letter; and Google has come up empty. So I transcribed it myself, from his radio broadcast. I get choked up everytime I listen to it; the same way my eyes can sometimes water when I look at the American flag for too long.

Dear Angela,

This is by far the most difficult letter I shall ever write; what makes it so difficult is that you’ll be reading it in the unhappy event of my death. You’ve already learned of my death. I hope the news was broken to you gently. God, Angie, I didn’t want to die. I had so much to live for; you were my main reason for living. You’re a jewel; a treasure. Please don’t hate the war because it has taken me. I’m glad and proud that America has found me equal to the task of defending it. Vietnam isn’t a far off country in a remote corner of the world. It is Sagamore, Brooklyn, Honolulu, or any other part of the world where there are Americans. Vietnam is a test of the American spirit. I hope I have helped in a little way to pass the test. The press, the television screen, the magazines are filled with the images of young men burning their draft cards to demonstrate their courage. Their rejection is of the ancient law that a male fights to protect his own people in his own land. Does it take courage to flaunt the authorities and burn a draft card? Ask the men at Dak To, Con Thien, or Hill 875: they’ll tell you how much courage it takes.

Most people never think of their freedom; they never think much about breathing either, or blood circulating, except when these functions are checked by a doctor. Freedom like breathing and circulating blood is part of our being. Why must people take their freedom for granted? Why can’t they support the men, who are trying to protect their lifeblood- Freedom?

WE MUST DO the job that God set down for us. It’s up to every American to fight for the freedom we hold so dear. We must instruct the young in the ways of these great United States; we mustn’t let them take these freedoms for granted.

I want you to go on to live a full, rich, productive life, Angie. I want you to share your love with someone. You may meet another man and bring up a family. Please bring up your children to be proud Americans. Don’t worry about me, Honey; God must have a special place for soldiers. I’ve died as I’ve always hoped, protecting what I do hold so dear to my heart.

We will meet again in the future. We will. I’ll be waiting for you that day. I’ll be watching over you Angie; and if it’s possible to help you in some way, I will. Feel some relief with the knowledge that you’ve filled my short life with more happiness than most men know in a lifetime.

The inevitable? Well, the last one: I love you with all my heart; and all my love for you will survive into eternity.

Your Joey

Joseph E. Santoni (I am doubtful that I have this right; but from listening, it’s the closest I could make out; if anyone knows better, please let me know) is one of the 58,000 names on the Wall in Washington. He died less than a year after writing these words.

You can listen to the letter in Part II of Michael Medved’s “The 3 Big Lies about the Vietnam Battle”. Part I is here. Please take the time this weekend to listen. Download it. Burn it to disc. Listen to it in the car. Vietnam and the Iraq battle are two different wars; but there is still much relevance of yesterday’s war to the one we fight today.

Important now, as it was then, to shed some light:
The Press at War
Myths and facts on who is volunteering
Who are the Recruits?

Also blogging:
Midnight Blue has the moving letter of Army Capt. Jeffrey P. Toczylowski, killed in action in the current war.

When I think of those in military uniform, I think of heroes. Men and women brave enough to serve in order to protect our way of life, our liberties, our beliefs, our friends and families. Our fellow countrymen. With all our various differences- too numerous to name, we do share a thing in common: and that is, we are united as Americans. As Michael Medved might say, proud citizens of this, the greatest nation on God’s, green earth.

*UPDATE*

Curt’s detective work seems to have uncovered the correct name of the author if this letter: Joseph Santori. Thank you, Curt! And Happy Veterans Day!

In addition, I ran a Google search and found this about him:

Joseph Santori was born March 22, 1947 and lived in Keyport, NJ. He served in the US Army where he attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).

On April 23,1968 Santori was killed in action. He was 19 years old.

Michael Medved says he’s a New Yorker; but everything I find on Joseph Santori lists him as being from New Jersey. So likely it’s him; just not with a 100% certainty.

Got a few updates on this story. First off Senor Lechero (a friend of his) has a post up about the injuries Sgt Kasal sustained and his recovery:

The injuries to 1st Sgt Kasal's right leg were severe. 5 or 6 rounds from an AK-47 completely shattered (read destroyed, obliterated, disintegrated) both bones about 6" below his knee. The doctor's at Bethesda were able to save his leg and set him on a course for recovery. That course consists of an incredibly painful devise ("far more painful than being shot") which is "transporting" his leg bone. In a previous update I said his leg was being "stretched", but that is not entirely correct. What is happening is this…… 1st Sgt Kasal's leg bones were sawed in half, in two locations (above and below the injury). The two sections of leg bone are being transported by an "Excursion" devise which has screws that actually move the bones inside Brad's leg. The device consists of 4 halos, and 16 pins, some 1/4" thick, protruding through his skin and muscle into his bones. The transporting which is taking place is closing the gap from the original injury while widening the gap from the doctor created injuries, which are filling in with naturally regenerating bone. This is being done to get his leg ready for a bone graft surgery. He still has a little over an inch to go, which will take a month or more to accomplish. The doctors expect Brad to walk again, but not run. Brad says……"If I can walk, I'll run:" I for one believe Brad. The doctor's can diagnose a body's condition, but not a man's will. 1st Sgt Kasal is a man of extremely strong willpower, and I'm betting on him being able to run again someday, and pass the Corp's PFT (physical fitness test) The story of how 1st Sgt. Kasal was injured is very interesting, and someday it will be told in it's entirety. Brad told me that he went into that building "because his marines were in there". One of "his marines" was Sgt. Norwood, whom President Bush honored at the State of the Union Address. Sgt. Norwood was killed in that building where such incredible damage was done to 1st. Sgt Kasal, PFC Nicoll, and 6 other brave US marines.

Also, NPR has some audio interviews with the photographer of the famous picture and more. And finally Lisa Hoffman wrote a excellent article entitled "Roster of American Combat Heroes in Iraq is Rich" which detailes a bit about Sgt Kasal and Sgt Peralta, whom I have blogged about extensively:

Though most have won little note outside their own units and hometowns, dozens of GIs - many brand-new to adulthood - have distinguished themselves with extraordinary valor in what for many were their last moments of life.

One was Sgt. Rafael Peralta, 25, of San Diego, a Mexican immigrant who joined the Marines the day after he got his "green card." A platoon scout who didn't have to go on the dangerous Nov. 15 mission, Peralta volunteered to join a "stack" of five Marines hunting insurgents house-to-house in Fallujah.

Three enemy fighters waited behind a closed door. When Peralta opened it, he was hit in the head and chest by a close-up fusillade of AK-47 fire.

His Marine mates fought on, until one of the insurgents rolled a grenade toward Peralta, who lay bleeding on the floor. To save his nearby comrades, Peralta reached for the explosive and tucked it under his stomach, where it exploded. He was the only Marine to die.

"This champion of men made the split-second decision to sacrifice his life for his men," Julie Snyder, a Snohomish, Wash., mother of a Marine saved that day, wrote in an online tribute to Peralta. "The words don't exist to describe what's in my heart for this man."

…

So did 1st Sgt. Brad Kasal, 38, who led a half-dozen Marines into an insurgent-held house in Fallujah in November last year to rescue three wounded leathernecks trapped inside. When the mission was over, Kasal had been shot seven times and punctured by 40 pieces of shrapnel, which he absorbed when he used his body to shelter an injured comrade from an enemy grenade. Kasal survived, as did all but one of the other Marines.

Previously: A True Hero - First Sgt Kasal A True Hero - First Sgt Kasal Part II

Just a little update on Sgt. Rafael Peralta. PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. has established the PacifiCare Freedom Award which is a annual $50,000 scholorship in honor of Sgt Peralta:

The award is a $50,000 annual scholarship to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that, according to PacifiCare Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard Phanstiel, "have demonstrated tremendous sacrifice and commitment to make a positive difference in our communities." The award was inspired by the heroic actions of U.S. Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta who was killed last November by enemy action in Iraq. Fighting alongside his fellow marines in Falluja, Peralta, wounded by gunshots, reached out for a grenade that was hurled by an insurgent and cradled it to his body to protect others from the blast. His heroism saved the lives of five of his fellow Marines. Touched by his story and his ultimate sacrifice, PacifiCare has dedicated the inaugural 2005 PacifiCare Freedom Award in honor of Sgt. Peralta. For this year, PacifiCare is expanding its Latino Health Scholars program to include — in addition to the 70 $2,000 scholarships the company will award this fall — two $25,000 scholarships for the most deserving bilingual and bicultural students dedicated to pursuing careers in health care. "This year, we would like to dedicate the PacifiCare Freedom Award on behalf of Sgt. Peralta and all of the men and women of the armed forces who have given their lives to promote freedom and liberty throughout the world," said Phanstiel. "Through the Latino Health Scholars program, we are looking for students who share the kinds of qualities exemplified by Sgt. Peralta, and who demonstrate the values we cherish at PacifiCare to make people's lives better. "What counts a great deal in life is what we do for others," Phanstiel added. "Sgt. Peralta's sacrifice will certainly be marked by the lives he saved and the inspiration he offers to so many others. Our contribution is small by comparison, but in the years ahead will hopefully serve to ensure this man's incredible bravery is well remembered."

I think he would be proud that his actions not only saved the lifes of his fellow soldiers but will give a kid a good start at college also. My other posts on this hero can be found here….Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6, and Part 7.

Many thanks to Bigenwald Family Adventures for bringing my attention to another blog with some great and valuable information on Sgt Rafael Peralta. The blog is Danz Family and he was able to contact and communicate with some friends of Sgt Peralta. He learned a little bit more about him and was able to get some pictures other then the Marine Corps one below. The one all of us Marines are familiar with, taken during boot camp.

Don had this to say

It's easy to read about the events surrounding Rafael Peralta's life–and his death–and to look at his stoic image with his Marine cover pulled down to just above his eyes and conclude that there was something special or different about this man and that his final act of heroism was simply an expected act in keeping with his nature. However, I believe this diminishes the significance of his actions. I also believe placing Rafael Peralta on a pedestal apart and above ourselves is a defense mechanism. This way we can say to ourselves, "of course, he did that, he was different than you and me." This way we can avoid the self-realization that, no matter how much we'd like think that we would act as Sgt. Peralta did, there is very little likelihood that we would have actually done what he did.

Couldn't agree more. During my career in law enforcement I have had the privilege of serving with more then a few hero's. I have attended way too many funerals for fellow cops killed in the line of duty. Some day I will write about them so that their stories too will be remembered. But for now I am blogging about Rafael. The reasons why I am keeping Sgt. Peralta' story alive are twofold. I respect what he did when faced with the certainty of his death, plus I respect that he was a immigrant who came to this country and loved this country. He got his green card and became a citizen legally all the while serving his new country. For either one of those actions he should be remembered. The below pictures are the one's Don was able to post which show Rafael with friends. They show him in a more human light.

For the lives he saved that day, for the love he had for his men and his country he will always be remembered. My other posts on this hero can be found here….Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6.