The History Of Haditha

Apparently Time couldn't wait until after Memorial Day to get out a story on events involving Haditha, even though the facts remain unclear. Murtha and even Senator John Warner and others are already calling it murder, though no trial has yet to be held. As there will likely be an eventual Courts Martial, one would think government officials who are also lawyers might be concerned about the impact their offcial statements could have on any pending disciplinary action. Already it's clear that certain protections some believe we should apply to terrorists aren't going to apply to suspected war criminals within our own military.

Military sources told TIME that the first probe is focusing on the unit's leader, who was at the scene of virtually every shooting that day in Haditha. Pentagon officials say the sergeant has served more than seven years in the corps and was on his first Iraq tour. At least two other enlisted men may be directly involved, Pentagon officials say, and perhaps as many as nine others in the 13-man unit witnessed the shootings but neither attempted to step in nor reported them later.

Below the fold are dozens of links to stories and images involving operations of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in and around Haditha both before and after the incident. None of them are meant to explain away any wrong doing. But there is a Marine history and a legacy in Haditha that's far from negative when viewed in its totality.

Along with showing how dangerous the environment was, the stories below also depict Marines, Iraqi's and Iraqi Security Forces working in concert to improve security and the quality of life in the city of Haditha both before and after the dates of the alleged incident.

While nothing can ever excuse a potential atrocity, it shouldn't be viewed as the beginning and the end of the story of Haditha and the US Marines. However tragic and deserving of punishment one day's events may prove to be, they should not erase years of dangerous, difficult and truly noble work by an overwhelming majority of good Marines.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - First Sergeant William R. Shaw and other Marines with Mobile Assault Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment bow their heads for prayer during a memorial service for Tiahoga Falls, Ohio native Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray here Nov. 23. Murray, a vehicle commander for the company, was said to be a "Marine's Marine" and will be sorely missed everyone whose life he impacted.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq – Idaho Falls, Idaho native Cpl. Christopher L. Carney, a convoy security element commander for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment keeps convoys safe while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The infantryman turned security commander makes sure the safe transportation of Marines and supplies to their destinations within the battalion area of operations.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Oct. 26, 2005) -- Traveling on the roads in Iraq can be dangerous as insurgents continue placing roadside bombs and targeting Marines and civilians.

On the road everyday, helping keep many of the convoys for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment safe, is Idaho Falls, Idaho, native Cpl. Christopher L. Carney.

The convoy security element commander with the battalion’s motor transport section is seen on nearly every convoy above the first vehicle in the gunner’s seat. Being the first vehicle in the convoy helps him see what lies ahead of the convoy and be the first line of defense against attacks.

“I always try to lead by example and the lead vehicle is the best place for me to be in the event something bad happens,” the 34 year-old said.

The infantryman turned convoy security commander became part of the battalion “Motor T” in July and made an impact as soon as he started working with them. Being the resident rifleman with the section, he was responsible for putting together a training program for the motor transport Marines before they deployed and while in Iraq.

“He has done a great job fostering the warrior attitude in my Marines,” commented 1st Lt. Derek J. Lane, the battalion’s motor transport officer. “He taught the Marines to see themselves as gun fighters and not just Motor T Marines. He brought back the ‘every Marine a rifleman’ concept.”

According to Lane, having Carney around also helps keep the tactical focus of the Marines in motor transport. He provides a point of view not often taken into consideration by the leaders of the motor transport section.

“When we start getting tunnel vision about just (motor transport) things, he becomes the voice of tactical things,” Lane added.

Since arriving in Iraq, the 1988 Ogden, Utah High School graduate has taken on responsibilities other than assisting convoy commanders with safe routes and security elements. He also runs the section’s armory and ensures there is adequate marksmanship training for the gunners in the section.

“I make sure all the weapons and optics are operational and accounted for,” said Carney, who joined the Marines to better himself. “I also take it as my job to make sure of the safety and survivability of the Marines I have with me.”

When on the road, the father of four is constantly seen waving at and giving candy to the children in the streets. Befriending the children in the communities is very important in helping provide a better future for the Iraqi people, commented Carney.

“When the children like you, they will sometimes tell you where (improvised explosive devices) are,” Carney added. “If we make a good impression now, then future generations will like us.”

Since joining the Marines more than nine years ago, Carney has been stationed at numerous bases with many different jobs. Although being with the motor transport gave him a better appreciation of how hard they work, he hopes to go back to his roots in an infantry company when the deployment ends.

“I’m hoping to get promoted soon so I can continue my career in the Marine Corps and continue to serve my country for years to come,” Carney said.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Michael T. Hebert, a Waterbury, Conn. native and assault man with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, holds his rifle, something he may manufacture when he returns to his civilian life. Hebert is currently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Sept. 29, 2005)  -- The Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conducted a company-sized sweep before dawn on Sept. 25 of areas near their home here.

With frequent mortar attacks on the dam, the company set out to sweep suspected areas where most of the attacks were coming from. Their mission: locate and kill the enemy and seize any weapons caches.

They encountered enemy contact shortly after the sweep began. The sound of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades echoed through the little village.

“We knew when they fired at us, we were going after them,” said Cpl. Brenden M. Wright, a Lansing Mich. native and squad leader for the company.

Wright continued, “It was a wake-up call for some of the Marines. Even with a company-sized element there, [insurgents] still fired at us. They obviously mean business.”

After taking fire from houses inside of the village, the Marines maneuvered so they could eliminate the threat in the area. They searched each target house to find any weapons or people responsible for the attack.

“We detained a few people who we believe were responsible for firing at us,” said the 21 year-old Wright. “We also found excess weapons in a few homes.”

Helping the Marines find weapons caches and explosives was Euro, a military working dog trained to find explosives. Also along for the sweep were combat engineers toting metal detectors to search for weapons underneath the dusty ground.

“Our mission was to sweep the palm groves with Company L where there was weapons found recently,” said Lance Cpl. Brandon M. Mitchell, a New London, Wis. native and combat engineer with the battalion. “Even though we didn’t find much, it was still good to get the new guys out there so they can get the experience in a combat environment.”

“The mission was definitely a success,” commented Wright. “We checked out some areas of interest and all of our guys came back safe.”

The Marines worked from dawn to dusk to make the area surrounding the dam a safer place to live for them and the local villagers. This wasn’t the first long day they encountered so far and it won’t be the last.

“We are going to continue to deter the insurgency in this area and make sure this isn’t a stopping point for terrorists moving through the country,” said Wright.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq  - Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, stand outside of a house while searching houses in the village after receiving enemy fire during a patrol her Sept. 25.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Michael T. Hebert, an assault man with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, provides holds at his position during a sweep of a palm grove here Sept. 25. Hebert and other Marines in his battalion swept through the area to find weapons caches and point of origin sites for enemy mortar attacks.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Eric L. Hicks Jr., an assault man with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, provides security from a rooftop here Sept. 25. Hicks and other Marines in his battalion patrolled through the village looking for weapons caches and insurgents who fired on them that day.

HADITHA, Iraq - Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment pull items out of a barrel found hidden underground during operations to clear the city here Oct. 5.

They found an AK-47, grenades, detonators and ammunition inside the buried barrel. Met with little resistance, the Marines and Iraqi security force soldiers are clearing the city of the remains of insurgent activities in the area. In only a few days, they have rid the city of many landmines, weapons caches and improvised explosive devices in an effort to take back the town that in the recent past has killed over a dozen U.S. Marines.

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 5, 2005) -- A day after insugents in the city called for an up rise against U.S. troops, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and Iraqi security force soldiers start Operation River Gate Oct. 4 to gain control of the streets.

The operation, focusing mainly on Haditha, also included the cities of Haqlaniya and Darwana, where approximately 2,500 U.S. troops and 400 Iraqi soldiers cleared the cities of insurgent activity.

As they entered the cities in the early morning hours, the Marines found pamphlets taped to light poles rewarding money for anyone who kills an American. But what they didn’t find was insurgents waiting to fight inside the city.

“We all thought it was going to be close to what Fallujah was last year,” said Lance Cpl. Charles A. Reid III, a Haverhill, Mass. native and team leader for Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. “It definitely wasn’t what we thought it was going to be.”

After breaching the city, they met with little resistance. Immediately they started moving from house-to-house, searching them for weapons.

Almost every Marine could be heard under his breath saying, “This isn’t right, it’s too quiet. Something is not right.”

Even though not fighting the insurgents face-to-face, they are still fighting the battle against mines and improvised explosives devices placed before the Marines arrived. Dozens of the roadside bombs were found and safely destroyed and the number grews each day.

“There are mines and IEDs all over the place here,” commented Reid. “They are everywhere you go.”

Also found around the city were weapons caches and the remains of an insurgency that plagued the town for months.

According to military officials, the insurgents seemed to have left the area suspecting a U.S. offensive in the city. With little to no opposition, the battalion’s mission of clearing the city of weapons caches and other insurgency activities was that much easier.

“Our mission so far has been very successful,” said Reid. “We have cleared the city and we haven’t lost any of our guys, I call that a success.”

Gaining control of the city from masked insurgents is a major goal of the U.S. military in Iraq because of recent violence that killed both Marines and Iraqis. Just months ago, 14 Marines were killed by a roadside bomb that struck an armored vehicle.

The city and its surrounding towns hold about 100,000 people where numerous Marines have set up shop to maintain a stable presence in the area. Military officials said that once established in the city, the insurgents will return to target those areas.

“Us setting up shop in Haditha is going to help deter the insurgency in Iraq,” said Cpl. Brenden M. Wright, a Lansing Mich. native and squad leader with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. “Haditha was a stopping point for terrorists going south, not anymore."

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Nov. 23, 2005) -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment paid respects to and remembered the life of one of their fallen comrades during a memorial service here Nov. 23.

Tiahoga Falls, Ohio, native Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray, a vehicle commander with the battalion’s Mobile Assault Company, was conducting mobile patrols here when a roadside bomb detonated under his vehicle, killing him.

His friends, leaders and fellow Marines packed the chapel here to pay their respects and celebrate the life of this fallen warrior. The battalion’s chaplain, Navy Lt. Philip N. Park, welcomed everyone and started off the service with an invocation.

Murray’s commanding officer, Capt. Eric A. Reid, then provided the opening remarks, talking about his leadership skills and life in the military.

Murray began his military career in 1996 when he joined the U.S. Army. He became an Army Ranger and finished his honorable service with the Army in 1998. Two years later he became one of The Few, The Proud, when he joined the Marines and went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

His first assignment in the Marines was with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. As a young machine gunner, he was attached to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) and participated in many different operations in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Djibouti.

In early 2005, Murray was re-assigned to his current unit and became a vehicle commander, a job with many responsibilities. Murray spent most of his time on the current deployment here patrolling roads to disrupt the movement of insurgents and their equipment.

Next, Gunnery Sgt. Carlos M. Murcia, Murray’s platoon sergeant, commented on how Murray impacted the platoon. One major way Murray influenced his unit was how he always looked out for every Marine.

“Everyone can speak Marine, but Sgt. Murray could also speak Pfc and lance corporal,” said Murcia about how he could relate to every person. “He always took care of his troops.”

After those remarks and some from Murray’s best friend, Sgt. John M. McLemore, roll call was taken by 1st Sgt. William R. Shaw, the Mobile Assault Company first sergeant. A number of names were called off, and a loud ‘here first sergeant!’ came after every name.

Until Murray’s name was read.

“Sergeant Murray…. Sgt. Jeremy Murray,” sounded off the first sergeant. “Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray.”

And again there was no answer.

The silence after Murray’s name brought out different emotions in each person in attendance, as did the sound of Taps, which is a military tradition for fallen service members.

The 27-year-old father of one was the first Marine with the battalion to lose his life during the current deployment. Losing an experienced Marine is especially tough for the Marines, as they have lost a good Marine and good friend.

“He was a Marine’s Marine,” Murcia commented during the service. “We are better people to have served with him.”

Murray is survived by his wife, Megan; son, Ian; mother, Pamela, and father Harold.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - (left to right) Claremore, Okla. native Cpl. Timothy R. Roundtree and Orland, Calif. native Cpl. Joshua E. Thompson, both mechanics for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, have worked side by side since joining the Marines December 2002. Now on their second deployment together, these two Marines continue to work as a fluid team to keep their unit’s vehicles driving on the road.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2005) -- The phrase, ‘It’s a small world,’ is used when people unexpectedly reunite. For two Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, it’s not just a small world, it’s a small Marine Corps.

Even though there are hundreds of units in the Marines, Orland, Calif., native, Cpl. Joshua E. Thompson, and Claremore, Okla., native, Cpl. Timothy R. Roundtree, served together nearly every step of their Marine Corps careers.

Now in Iraq for the second time together, they spend everyday together fixing vehicles for the battalion’s motor transport section. The two are known to complete jobs and each other’s sentences, having worked in the battalion together since August 2003.

“We pretty much know what the other thinks without saying anything,” Roundtree commented. “And when we work together, we can get the job done without saying one word.”

Their ability to work so well as a team has contributed to the success of the section since they arrived here in September. According to Sgt. Kenneth A. Hendrix, the battalion maintenance chief, having good Marines like Thompson and Roundtree in the section is fortunate because it is needed when trying to keep the battalion’s vehicles running.

“I am very fortunate to have them as my mechanics,” Hendrix said. “It seems like one compliments the other, they work so well together.”

Working well together is something they learned to do over the years since joining the Marines on the same day. While in the same platoon in basic training, they never thought it was the beginning of a long-term friendship.

“We graduated and I didn’t expect to ever see him again,” commented the 22 year-old Roundtree.

By sheer chance, the Marine Corps sent both of them from training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. to the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools aboard Camp Johnson, N.C. While in a dining facility there, they reunited and discovered they would be in the same motor transport mechanics class together.

“I was going to camp guard at Camp Johnson and when I turned around there was Roundtree,” said the 21 year-old Thompson. “We got to talking and couldn’t believe we were going to be in the same class, too.”

As they learned to be mechanics in the Marine Corps, they also got to know each other. They found they had a lot in common and became friends during the many weeks spent learning their job.

Their friendship during those weeks in North Carolina was just the beginning. They soon found themselves part of the same unit, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, upon graduation from the course.

“I remember when the instructor said in class, ‘Thompson, Victor 3/1; Roundtree, Victor 3/1,’” added Thompson, a 2002 Orland High School graduate. “We looked at each other and couldn’t believe our ears.”

Since then, the two learned a lot about each other over their first deployment and enjoyed their off time together. They continue to complement each other’s work during their second deployment by filling in where the other falters.

“We are like the ying-yang sign,” commented Thompson. “We go together but we are really different.”

HADITHA, Iraq – A member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, walks where an improved explosive device was disposed of Oct. 13 to hopefully find out what was used for explosives here. Their mission while with the battalion and other units in Iraq is to neutralize improvised explosive devices and disposal of unexploded ordnance or weapons caches.

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 13, 2005) -- Even though the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment aren’t fighting insurgents face-to-face, they are still fighting an explosive enemy that lurks beneath them as they patrol the city.

Helping the Marines deal with this nearly invisible enemy is the four-man Explosive Ordnance Disposal team attached to the battalion.

The team here, made up of Marines and one Navy corpsman, comes from all different duty stations ranging from North Carolina to Japan. Their mission while with the battalion and other units in Iraq is to neutralize improvised explosive devices and to dispose of unexploded ordnance or weapons caches.

“The best part of our job is going out everyday and blowing up stuff that could’ve hurt Marines,” said Sgt. M., a Crestview, Fla., native and technician with the team who didn’t wish to use his full name.

The number one killer of Marines as they continue supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is the insurgent’s use of roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. That is why the team works long hours everyday to keep the battalion safe.

“We’re on call 24 hours a day,” commented Sgt. V., a Jacksonville, Fla., native and EOD technician. “Some days we are not too busy, but others we will be gone doing calls all day long.”

The team conducted more than 30 EOD missions so far since linking up with the battalion for Operation River Gate less than two weeks ago. To be prepared to handle this operations tempo and the different explosive setups used, the Marines spent six months learning how to become EOD technicians.

“We learn how to handle some very explosive stuff and not get hurt,” said Sgt. V. “Our job is pretty dangerous but we have all the training to keep ourselves safe.”

The technicians use the training as they respond to calls received for EOD support. Within minutes of each call, the Marines arrive at the site and assess the situation to determine whether the explosive will be destroyed in place or removed to be destroyed at a later time.

“We will use our explosives to blow it in place if it may be booby trapped,” commented Sgt. V. “We will take it and move it only if it is stable and if we want to gather some information about it for future finds.”

Having experience and enough training is the key to safety for the EOD Marines as the IED-making insurgents use many different techniques. Everything from artillery rounds to propane tanks filled with gunpowder is used to create an explosion big enough to hurt and kill Marines and innocent civilians.

“The insurgents use pretty much anything they can get their hands on to make IEDs,” said Master Sgt. N., the team leader. “Most of them are using long-distance cordless telephones to detonate the IEDs at the right time.”

Before becoming part of EOD, the Marines of the team spent at least four years in other job fields including embarkation, avionics and engineering. They joined their current job field as a bonus when they re-enlisted in the Marines.

“I joined EOD to get out of my previous job,” added Sgt. M. “I wanted to do more stuff on the ground rather than just sitting in an office and stacking boxes all day.”

Editor's Note: The names of the Marines were left out for security reasons

HADITHA, Iraq - (From left) Lance Cpl. Jose H. Garcia Jr., Cpl. Scott K. Jepsen, Lance Cpl. Derrick W. McIsaac, Maj. Dana G. Hyatt, Sgt. Michael T. Lamoureux, Sam Nseir, and Sgt. Ronald R. Roberson Jr. all of the 6th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment Three, Team Five operates in the city here to help the residents rebuild their city to improve the lives of the people.

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 10, 2005) -- Seven members of 6th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment 3, Team 5 spend each day here helping rebuild a war-torn city so people can live normal lives again.

As the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment continue to clear the city of roadside bombs and any remaining insurgent operations, the Marines and interpreter of civil affairs talk with citizens and work on projects to restore their city.

Detachment 3, which is comprised of more than 30 Marines, works throughout the Al Anbar province helping the Iraqi local governments legitimize themselves and also assist the Iraqi people with civil-military operations. These operations include working with local engineers and contractors to repair the city’s infrastructure.

Currently, the members of Team 5 are working with residents in the former insurgent-controlled city repairing water pipes, a hospital and creating employment for the people. With the upcoming elections, the team is also on hand to assist the Iraqi people with security needs during the elections if requested.

“We are supposed to be completely hands off, but available if they want help organizing or providing security for it,” said Sgt. Michael T. Lamoureux, a Santa Ana, Calif. native and civil affairs team noncommissioned officer for the detachment.

Lamoureux added that after the insurgency in Haditha scared off local tribal, religious and political leaders months ago, the team is attempting to find and bring back the leaders, letting them know that Marines are working in the city.

“We talk with local leaders to find out their needs and concerns,” said Lamoureux. “They are really the voice of the people.”

Meeting with the leaders and talking with other people in the city also brought up other concerns that the team is trying to address. One such concern is just being able to go to work each day, something that most people around the world take for granted.

“The dam manager let us know his workers couldn’t get to work some days, so we arranged buses to bring them to the dam,” said Sgt. Ronald R. Roberson Jr., a Greensboro, N.C., native and the team’s chief. “We are also helping the dam workers get parts for the dam so they can keep things operating there.”

Before arriving to Iraq to provide civil affairs support, the team went through months of training to learn about the religion, culture, history and language of Iraq. The Marines were also put through training that dealt with certain situations they would encounter while in Iraq.

Even with extensive training, being able to assist the people here can be a problem due to the language barrier. Alleviating this problem is the team’s interpreter, Sam Nseir, who acts as the voice of the team.

“Having an interpreter is a huge asset, without Sam we wouldn’t be able to do any of this,” commented Roberson. “The people really like him and he lets us know how people feel about us being here.”

According to Nseir, most people in the communities here are happy to see the Marines in the city and the insurgents gone. As each day passes, the people become more used to the Marines patrolling the streets and feel they can go on with their daily lives.

“They are still a little uneasy about us,” commented Roberson. “So each time we go out, we bring soccer balls, toys and candy to give to the children.”

Roberson continued, “Spending time talking with the kids is also the most rewarding part of the job out here."

After months of training in Hawaii and southern California, the battalion flew in from their home base over the past several weeks to replace the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 5, 2005) -- A day after insugents in the city called for an up rise against U.S. troops, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and Iraqi security force soldiers start Operation River Gate Oct. 4 to gain control of the streets.
The operation, focusing mainly on Haditha, also included the cities of Haqlaniya and Darwana, where approximately 2,500 U.S. troops and 400 Iraqi soldiers cleared the cities of insurgent activity.

As they entered the cities in the early morning hours, the Marines found pamphlets taped to light poles rewarding money for anyone who kills an American. But what they didn’t find was insurgents waiting to fight inside the city.

“We all thought it was going to be close to what Fallujah was last year,” said Lance Cpl. Charles A. Reid III, a Haverhill, Mass. native and team leader for Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. “It definitely wasn’t what we thought it was going to be.”
After breaching the city, they met with little resistance. Immediately they started moving from house-to-house, searching them for weapons.

Almost every Marine could be heard under his breath saying, “This isn’t right, it’s too quiet. Something is not right.”

Even though not fighting the insurgents face-to-face, they are still fighting the battle against mines and improvised explosives devices placed before the Marines arrived. Dozens of the roadside bombs were found and safely destroyed and the number grews each day.

“There are mines and IEDs all over the place here,” commented Reid. “They are everywhere you go.”

Also found around the city were weapons caches and the remains of an insurgency that plagued the town for months.

According to military officials, the insurgents seemed to have left the area suspecting a U.S. offensive in the city. With little to no opposition, the battalion’s mission of clearing the city of weapons caches and other insurgency activities was that much easier.
“Our mission so far has been very successful,” said Reid. “We have cleared the city and we haven’t lost any of our guys, I call that a success.”

Gaining control of the city from masked insurgents is a major goal of the U.S. military in Iraq because of recent violence that killed both Marines and Iraqis. Just months ago, 14 Marines were killed by a roadside bomb that struck an armored vehicle.

The city and its surrounding towns hold about 100,000 people where numerous Marines have set up shop to maintain a stable presence in the area. Military officials said that once established in the city, the insurgents will return to target those areas.

“Us setting up shop in Haditha is going to help deter the insurgency in Iraq,” said Cpl. Brenden M. Wright, a Lansing Mich. native and squad leader with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. “Haditha was a stopping point for terrorists going south, not anymore."

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (March 1, 2006) -- For more than six months, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment has brought stability to the people of western Iraq by training Iraqi Army soldiers and ridding the region of anti-Iraqi forces.

With more than 350 enemy weapons caches found and 12 counter insurgency operations under their belts, the Marines and sailors of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based battalion are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel – most of them will be back in the United States by early spring.

Although still focused on their mission of combing the streets of this once insurgent-heavy area, the Marines do occasionally think about their eventual return to southern California. Thoughts of home cooked meals and time with families and loved ones are beginning to creep into the minds of the more than 1,200 service members deployed here.

Lance Cpl. Casey W. Beeman of Fort Worth, Texas, can’t wait to see his girlfriend and family, he said – a thought shared by many in the unit.

“When you go from seeing them everyday to not at all for seven months, it takes a toll on you,” said Beeman, a mortarman with I Company in Haqlaniyah. “I just can’t wait to see them.”

During their tour in western Al Anbar Province, the battalion has spent their time stabilizing the region. In the past five months, they’ve captured more than 200 insurgents. What once was an insurgent hot zone is now a relatively quiet Euphrates River Valley region where people, in places like Haqlaniyah, play volleyball in the streets to pass the time.

“You can definitely tell a difference from the time we got here to now,” said Beeman. Before, no one would come out of their houses in fear of getting shot and now things are pretty quiet and people come up and talk to the Marines without fear of retribution from the insurgents.

But the Haditha Triad area along the upper western Euphrates Valley has not always been so quiet.

Before the Marines’ arrival, daily news reports of deadly insurgent attacks against coalition forces in this once-volatile area highlighted a need for new strategies. With that on their minds, the already battle-tested Marines, many of whom took part in Fallujah combat operations in 2004, set out to rid the area of insurgents that plagued the streets for months.

And they accomplished just that. Perhaps most notable of the Marines’ achievements here is the 36 captured insurgents and more than 25 IEDs netted during a two-week counterinsurgency operation they and Iraqi soldiers conducted in the Triad this past August, dubbed “Quick Strike.”

“Since we got here we’ve been able to neutralize enemy cells within the city and forced the insurgents to go somewhere else,” said Capt. Jeffrey S. Dinsmore, a Seattle native and target collections officer for the battalion.

The battalion’s operations have so far successfully cleared out insurgents in the “Triad” region - Haditha, Barwanah, and Haqlaniyah – and kept them out.

More importantly, the Marines have managed to maintain a presence in the area with support from Iraqi Security Forces. In fact, the Marine Corps-trained Iraqi Army soldiers have served alongside the Marines on every operation here.

“We have a permanent combined presence with Iraqi and American forces now in 15 towns throughout the region, where we had none when we came here a year ago,” said Col. Stephen Davis, commander for Regimental Combat Team-2 during a Pentagon press briefing earlier last month.

Some Iraqi forces in western Al Anbar are already conducting operations on their own, a sign of continuing progress, said Davis.

“You will not confuse them with United States Marines, but they are making good progress when you consider what it takes, especially to stand up a nation's military essentially from scratch in the course of a year, year and a half,” he said.

“The [Iraqi soldiers] are really good to have with you on patrol,” said Lance Cpl. Eric Zermeno, a rifleman with I Co. and Santa Ana, Calif., native. Zermeno has worked side-by-side Iraqi soldiers on everything from daily patrols to large-scale operations, such as Quick Strike. “They are really professional and know what they need to do out on patrol with us.”

Now, Marines and Iraqi soldiers are wiping out the last remnants of anti-Iraqi forces by targeting the enemy’s logistics capabilities and actively searching for weapons caches. In less than a month, the battalion has found and disposed of more than 300 weapons caches, ranging from assault rifles and other small arms to a variety of ordnance.

“Simply put, if you take away his bombs he can’t blow you up,” said 1st Lt. T. Ryan Sparks, a San Diego native and L Co. executive officer. “It takes a lot of money to buy stuff like that, and if we take it away from [the insurgents], it makes their whole structure collapse.”

While Marines here see the progress they’ve made in the area, the past five months have given some, like Beeman, a better appreciation for what they’re missing back home.

The battalion’s Marines will continue their daily patrols and other activities in the area, until it’s time to leave their Iraqi counterparts. Before they depart, they’ll be replaced by another Marine infantry battalion.

Eventually, the Marines and sailors of 3rd Bn., 1st Marines will return to the United States. Thoughts of the homecoming will become a reality - hugging children and spouses; traveling in regular, unarmored vehicles, going to the movies, and eating that “first meal” away from a military chow hall.

“Besides confidence and day-to-day practical skills, I’ve gained a lot of experience when dealing with the locals and realize how well we really have it in the States,” said Beeman. “I’ve gained a lot of great experience and will be able to use it when we deploy again.”

Local children look into a bag of gifts  as members of the 6th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment Three, Team Five, hand them out in Haditha, Iraq, Oct. 10, 2005. The civil affairs team is attached to Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment which has spent the past six months conducting counterinsurgency operations and providing stability to the “Triad” area of Haqlaniyah, Barwanah and Haditha. During their tour here, the Marines found more than 350 enemy weapons caches and conducted more than 12 counterinsurgency operations.

Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and Iraqi Army soldiers get ready to enter a house during counterinsurgency operations in Haditha, Iraq Oct. 5, 2005. The Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based battalion has spent the past six months conducting counterinsurgency operations and provides stability to the “Triad” area of Haqlaniyah, Barwanah and Haditha. Operation River Gate was the largest offensive conducted by Marines and Iraqi soldiers up to that point. In only a few days, they rid the city of landmines, weapons caches and improvised explosive devices in an effort to take back the town which was the site of multiple U.S. casualties. During their tour here, the Marines found more than 350 enemy weapons caches and conducted more than 12 counterinsurgency operations.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Sergeant John M. Mclemore pays respect during his best friend, Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray's memorial service here Nov. 23. Murray, a Tiahoga Falls, Ohio native and vehicle commander for Mobile Assault Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment was in his vehicle when it was struck by roadside bomb on Nov. 16 near Haditha during mobile patrols in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Nov. 23, 2005) -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment paid respects to and remembered the life of one of their fallen comrades during a memorial service here Nov. 23.

Tiahoga Falls, Ohio, native Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray, a vehicle commander with the battalion’s Mobile Assault Company, was conducting mobile patrols here when a roadside bomb detonated under his vehicle, killing him.

His friends, leaders and fellow Marines packed the chapel here to pay their respects and celebrate the life of this fallen warrior. The battalion’s chaplain, Navy Lt. Philip N. Park, welcomed everyone and started off the service with an invocation.

Murray’s commanding officer, Capt. Eric A. Reid, then provided the opening remarks, talking about his leadership skills and life in the military.

Murray began his military career in 1996 when he joined the U.S. Army. He became an Army Ranger and finished his honorable service with the Army in 1998. Two years later he became one of The Few, The Proud, when he joined the Marines and went to recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.

His first assignment in the Marines was with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. As a young machine gunner, he was attached to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) and participated in many different operations in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Djibouti.

In early 2005, Murray was re-assigned to his current unit and became a vehicle commander, a job with many responsibilities. Murray spent most of his time on the current deployment here patrolling roads to disrupt the movement of insurgents and their equipment.

Next, Gunnery Sgt. Carlos M. Murcia, Murray’s platoon sergeant, commented on how Murray impacted the platoon. One major way Murray influenced his unit was how he always looked out for every Marine.

“Everyone can speak Marine, but Sgt. Murray could also speak Pfc and lance corporal,” said Murcia about how he could relate to every person. “He always took care of his troops.”

After those remarks and some from Murray’s best friend, Sgt. John M. McLemore, roll call was taken by 1st Sgt. William R. Shaw, the Mobile Assault Company first sergeant. A number of names were called off, and a loud ‘here first sergeant!’ came after every name.

Until Murray’s name was read.

“Sergeant Murray…. Sgt. Jeremy Murray,” sounded off the first sergeant. “Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray.”

And again there was no answer.

The silence after Murray’s name brought out different emotions in each person in attendance, as did the sound of Taps, which is a military tradition for fallen service members.

The 27-year-old father of one was the first Marine with the battalion to lose his life during the current deployment. Losing an experienced Marine is especially tough for the Marines, as they have lost a good Marine and good friend.

“He was a Marine’s Marine,” Murcia commented during the service. “We are better people to have served with him.”

Murray is survived by his wife, Megan; son, Ian; mother, Pamela, and father Harold.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Sergeant John M. Mclemore gives a speech during his best friend, Sgt. Jeremy E. Murray's memorial service here Nov. 23. Murray, a Tiahoga Falls, Ohio native and vehicle commander for Mobile Assault Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment was in his vehicle when it was struck by roadside bomb on Nov. 16 near Haditha during mobile patrols in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

A Marine throws a Frisbee to waiting children in Haditha, Iraq, Oct. 10, 2005, at a site under repair with the help of Detachment Three, Team Five of the 6th Civil Affairs Group. The civil affairs team operates in the city here to help the residents rebuild their city to improve the lives of the people. The civil affairs team is attached to the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which has spent the past six months conducting counterinsurgency operations and providing stability to the “Triad” area of Haqlaniyah, Barwanah and Haditha. During their tour here, the Marines found more than 350 enemy weapons caches and conducted more than 12 counterinsurgency operations.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Television host and Former NFL cheerleader, Bonnie Jill Laflin, signs an autograph for a Staff Sgt. Paul E. Haley, a Ventura, Calif., native and Marine with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, during a Super Sunday Tour visit here, Feb. 4. NFL celebrities like Byars, Nick Lowery, Christian Okoye, Bryan Cox and Bonnie Jill Laflin, spent the day with U.S. Marines and sailors of the Camp Pendleton, Ca.-based infantry unit. The former sports stars signed autographs, posed for photographs and spoke with troops in an effort to show support for those serving abroad in the Global War on Terror. The Marines spent the past five months routing out insurgents and providing stability in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Television host and Former NFL cheerleader, Bonnie Jill Laflin, kisses Lance Cpl. Christopher A. Gass, a Wichita, Kan., native and Marine infantryman with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment during a Super Sunday Tour visit with here, Feb. 4. NFL celebrities like Byars, Nick Lowery, Christian Okoye, Bryan Cox and Bonnie Jill Laflin, spent the day with U.S. Marines and sailors of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based infantry unit. The former sports stars signed autographs, posed for photographs and spoke with troops in an effort to show support for those serving abroad in the Global War on Terror. The Marines spent the past five months routing out insurgents and providing stability in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province.

HADITHA, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2005) -- Exactly a year after the infamous day that brought down the World Trade Center buildings in New York, a man left his hometown of Miami knowing he would deploy overseas to rid the world of terrorists.

However, what he didn’t know was how important he would be while supporting 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment as their only electrician while deployed here.

Lance Cpl. Roly Ramos, an electrician attached to the battalion, works at all hours of the day and night keeping the battalion powered both while at the Haditha Dam and the command post inside the city.

“I handle everything that deals with power for 3/1,” said Ramos, a Michael Krop High School graduate. “I run power cords, install power converters and air conditioners, and keep everything working so they never lose power when they need it.”

When the battalion made their present home the Haditha Dam, the hardest part of the planning process was ensuring there was enough power for more than 1,000 Marines. According to Chief Warrant Officer Paul T. Pritchard, executive officer for the battalion’s Headquarters and Service Company, the dam was not originally made to provide power to that many people inside the dam.

“Ramos worked with the dam electrician to see how much power was at his disposal and how to fix it to make sure that the power didn’t go out all the time,” said Pritchard, a Dallas native. “He had to work 18-hour days for a while and never complained once about it. He knows his stuff and got us up and running when we needed it the most.”

With his experience and electrical proficiency, he was able to provide power to each company’s command center so they could run operations effectively. He also set up many sleeping areas inside the dam with air conditioners to keep Marines cool in the Iraqi heat.

Ramos didn’t think he would be hooking up air conditioners and running power for Marines when he joined the Marine Corps in 2002. In fact, he had no idea what his job was going to be.

“I went to boot camp on an open contract,” commented the Bolivia-born Marine. “When I got told I was going to be an electrician, I thought to myself, I don’t know anything about electricity or power, how am I going to be a electrician. But the school taught me everything I needed to know.”

Since that school, which was taught aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., he was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan and went on deployments to Korea and Fuji. These deployments helped prepare him for his current assignment.

A week before his deployment to Iraq supporting 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, his wife gave birth to his daughter. Having only a week to spend with the new addition to his family, the thought of getting to know her is one of the only things keeping him going during the long days.

“I can’t wait to spend some time with them when I get home,” Ramos commented.
Once back in the United States, Ramos has only a few months left before getting out and heading to his hometown to study for a civil engineering degree from Miami Dade College. He also plans to take over his father’s upholstery company when he retires.
“Every time I go home he talks to me about retiring. So I think he is waiting for me to get out of the Marines before retiring and hand over the company to me,” said Ramos. “That is probably what I will do for a while when I go home.”

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Norwalk, Calif., native, Cpl. Jason M. Farias, and the lead vehicle gunner for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment’s Personal Security Detachment, spends each day working as the first line of defense for the battalion's commander as he travels to visit Marines in the area.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Jan. 16, 2006) -- The job of lead vehicle gunner for a convoy in Iraq is one of the most dangerous and demanding jobs for a Marine, as insurgents continue to place roadside bombs aimed at injuring Marines, Iraqi soldiers, police and civilians.

Norwalk, Calif., native, Cpl. Jason M. Farias, isn’t just the lead gunner on some convoys, he is the first line of defense for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment’s commander as he travels to visit Marines in the area.

With his M-240G machine gun, he sits high above the lead vehicle to provide fire support for the convoy and protect the convoy from roadside bombs and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices used to attack the convoys. With his bird’s eye view of the road ahead, he is responsible for stopping the vehicles when he feels the convoy is in danger.

“I have to make sure I stop any vehicles coming toward us and watch for IEDs and people in the streets,” commented the 21-year-old Farias.

Farias and the rest of the battalion’s Personal Security Detachment are on the road everyday escorting the battalion’s commander, sergeant major and other VIPs traveling to areas in the region. The detachment sometimes spends the entire day on the road traveling to the battalion’s bases so the commander can talk to his Marines.

“Some days, we have to go to each of the bases,” Farias said. “During the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, we spent a lot of time on the road.”

On a recent mission through the desert to see Marines on an operation, the PSD had to make their own path and Farias acted as the eyes of the convoy. He helped them make a safe passage through the rocks and hidden ditches as the vehicles crossed the unknown desert terrain.

Like many of the Marines in PSD, Farias was assigned to the battalion after serving on Marine Security Forces duty. Farias was with Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Va., where he went on a couple deployments and performed much of the training he uses today.

“This is my second time to Iraq, but I have also been to Chile and Cuba,” commented Farias. “In Chile we trained with their military; that was an unforgettable experience.”
Before deploying to Iraq, the PSD conducted training to improve their skills while operating in the area as the commander’s security.

“Most of us had the same training in Marine Security Forces, so applying that training to our PSD was the way to go,” commented Farias.

With less than eight months left on his active-duty contract, Farias is still undecided on what is in his future. But the time spent working as personal protection in Iraq is something that Farias would like to make a career, whether in or out of the Marine Corps.

“If I get out, I’d like to continue to do something like PSD as a civilian,” Farias said. “I’ll probably be back here as a civilian contractor providing personal security for the military.”

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Alexandria, Va. native Sgt. Christopher J. Hennig, puts the final touches on a wall painting outside of the chow hall here Dec. 21. Hennig, a police sergeant for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, painted the mural to keep the Marines motivated while operating here.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Jan. 10, 2006) -- When Staff Sgt. Barrett A. Kahl was a recruiter in South Boston, Va., he talked with prospective enlistees about the Marine Corps being the smallest, yet most respected organization in the U.S. military.

Little did he know that one day those words would apply in his own life when he got the chance to reminisce with one of his recruits while deployed to Iraq.

“I saw him here one day standing in the chow line,” said Kahl, a Jarrettsville, Md., native. “It was weird how we were stationed at the same base in Iraq.”

His former recruit, Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Fallen of Halifax, Va., is also serving here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While Fallen works as a machine gunner for the Dam Security Unit attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Kahl makes sure the DSU and other units attached to the battalion receive the food that keeps them going.

“I knew I would see him out here once he was done with recruiting duty,” said 21-year-old Fallen.

In early 2003, Kahl first met Fallen and knew he was different than other future Marines. Graduating in the top five in his class at Halifax County High School, Fallen could have been accepted to any college but instead chose to go into the Marine Corps.

“Since I’ve known him, he has always had a lot of heart,” Kahl said. “Even out here, I see it because he volunteered to come out here when he didn’t have to.”

Like most recruiters and their enlistees, they keep in contact with their Marines once they graduate basic training and go on to their units. Fallen kept in touch with his recruiter all the way through his enlistment and showed up at Kahl’s office each time he went home on vacation.

“When he got back from Iraq the first time, we got together and had dinner,” said Kahl, a mess chief attached to the battalion. “We have done lots of things together since he enlisted in the delayed entry program.” Before crossing paths in Iraq, the two were both stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Once again, they would run into each other on a regular basis much like they do now in Iraq.

“It is really nice seeing him out here,” Kahl said. “He brings a little taste of home whenever I see him.”

HADITHA DAM, Iraq - Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlos A. Lopez, a Santa Ana, Calif. native and corpsman with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, spends each day treating Marines and sailors while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lopez, also a physical therapy technician, helps Marines get back in the fight who suffer from muscle-skeletal injuries while in Iraq.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Dec. 27, 2005) -- Known as one of a Marine’s best friends, the Navy field corpsman spends most of his time keeping Marines healthy and battle-ready while operating in the most hostile combat environments.

Santa Ana, Calif., native, Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlos A. Lopez, not only spends his day performing basic corpsman duties but also keeps Marines in the fight as a physical therapy technician.

“Muscle-skeletal injuries are my bread and butter,” said the 26-year-old Lopez. “It is a great feeling when you see a Marine who was hurt but after a treatment plan, is back to doing everything they did before they got injured.”

As a physical therapy technician, Lopez treats patients on an almost daily basis for common injuries in Iraq, dealing with knees, ankles, and lower back problems. The amount of patrolling with more than 50 pounds of combat gear keeps the corpsman gainfully employed.

“I have three patients I see regularly right now,” Lopez commented. “But with Marines out at the bases all the time, some of my other patients I don’t see except every once in a while.”

When a Marine comes into the battalion aid station with a muscle-skeletal injury, they see Lopez, who spends time taking down symptoms, performing a physical exam and then coming up with a treatment plan. After talking with the medical officer and gaining approval, Lopez puts his treatment plan into affect, hopefully bringing the Marine back to 100 percent combat effectiveness.

“Seeing people progress from an injury to being 100 percent again is what makes the job great,” said Lopez, a 1997 San Marcos High School graduate.

Becoming a physical therapy technician in the Navy takes weeks of training. Because it was something Lopez really wanted to do, he got his chance to see what the therapy course had to offer after going on a deployment and being part of two different Marine units.

The eight-year Navy veteran got to test his skills as a physical therapy technician right after graduating the course. He was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill., where he worked for almost three years with Navy recruits performing initial training.

“It was there that I really found out physical therapy was my thing,” he commented. “It was most rewarding actually seeing the recruits fully recuperate, graduate and become a part of the Navy.”

Along with his physical therapy technician duties, Lopez treats sick and wounded Marines who come from the field. He also helps treat Iraqi civilians and ensures the battalion’s area is free of insurgent activity.

“When a wounded Iraqi civilian comes in and has to be treated, I don’t see any difference than any other patient we have in here,” Lopez said. “To me, a patient is a patient, there is no difference.”

While treating patients on a daily basis, Lopez also takes time to help the junior corpsmen with any questions they might have. His collateral duties also include filing daily reports on patients and helping the medical officers with many matters that affect the BAS.

Helping the medical officers is something Lopez would like to do once done with his deployment. His plans include finishing his associate’s degree and putting in a package to be a physician’s assistant, which will further his career that he hopes lasts longer than 20 years.

“I would like to become a physician’s assistant, who is basically alongside the doctor at all times,” commented Lopez. “It is something I have wanted to do for a while now.”
And all the experiences he has had with the battalion while in Iraq may give him that chance to see another aspect of being a Navy corpsman.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq – Lance Cpl. Jose N. Loya, an Amarillo, Texas, native and bow gunner for the Dam Security Unit, operates the M-240G machine gun during a patrol Dec. 9. The unit, currently attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, is made up of mainly reservists who saw being part of a boat unit a great opportunity.

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Dec. 9, 2005) -- In Iraq, a land made of mostly sand, rock, and extremely hot temperatures, the average person might not think that there was much need for boats in this austere climate.

The two major rivers that run through Iraq, Tigris and Euphrates are the life blood of this arid land. In addition to water for irrigating the crops, the rivers support several hydroelectric plants like Haditha dam and boats are an important part of keeping the dam safe from insurgents.

That’s why more than 80 Marines with the Dam Security Unit patrol the waters around the hydroelectric power plant everyday. Thanks to them, the dam continues to supply power to thousands of Iraqi people and safely house Coalition Forces operating in the area.

“We patrol the water around the dam at least once or twice a day to make sure there is no illegal boat traffic or vessel-born [improvised explosive devices] that could damage the dam,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Lockwood, a Galveston, Texas native and section leader for the unit.

The Marines’ boats operate on both sides of the dam. They have a team that operates on the Euphrates River and one that operates on the man-made reservoir called Lake Qadisiyah.

Currently attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, the unit is made up of mostly Reservists, hailing from Reserve Stations all around the country and from all different job fields, who volunteered to operate the boats.

“In this unit, we have trackers, gunners, mechanics, operators, supply guys, optics techs, lots of different talents,” commented 26 year-old Lockwood. “It is great because people also use their civilian careers to help the mission. We are a self-sufficient unit.”

The unit also has a few active-duty Marines that help the unit accomplish their mission. Four of them were actually part of an active-duty small craft unit that operated in Iraq before it was decommissioned a few months ago.

“The small craft guys bring expertise to the unit because they have been doing it for some time,” Lockwood said. “The same guys that are here with us were ones that taught at the school where we all learned how to operate the boats.”

Before the unit deployed to Iraq, they traveled from their hometowns to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., for training. They spent more than three months learning how to operate, maintain, and perform missions aboard the $750,000-dollar boats.

“We learned how to perform combat missions and do evasive maneuvers with the boats,” Lockwood said. “These boats are pretty amazing in the water.”

The boats come with twin, turbo-charged diesel engines that give the boats more than 850 horsepower. At full throttle with a combat load, the Riverine Craft can do a speed of about 40 mph.

“Even though the boats are really heavy, we can go from full throttle to a complete stop in three boat lengths,” added Lockwood

Even though everyday has become a kind of routine for the Marines, many of them really enjoy being a part of this unique unit. For Marines like Lance Cpl. Jose N. Loya, an Amarillo, Texas, native and bow gunner for the unit, coming out to Iraq to be part of the DSU has been a once in a lifetime experience.

“Who would’ve thought someone from Amarillo, Texas, with no bodies of water for hours, would be spend seven months in Iraq doing boat missions almost everyday,” said Loya.

HADITHA, Iraq (Nov. 29, 2005) -- Marines with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment pay respects to and remember the life of one of their fallen comrades during a memorial service here Nov. 29.

El Paso, Texas, native, Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, a 20 year-old rifleman with the company, was conducting mobile operations near the town of Haditha when a roadside bomb detonated near the vehicle he was driving, killing him.<br /><br />

Friends, leaders and fellow Marines of Terrazas’ packed a small room at the base here to pay their respects and celebrate the life of the fallen warrior. The battalion’s chaplain, Navy Lt. Philip N. Park, welcomed everyone and started off the service with an invocation.

Terrazas’ commanding officer, Capt. Luke McConnell, gave the opening remarks by talking about his leadership skills and life in the military.

Terrazas began his military career when he enlisted in the Marine Corps on Aug. 11, 2003. He went to basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif. where he made the transformation to a Marine.

After graduation, his next stop was the School of Infantry-West aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. It was there that he learned the basic skills needed to be a rifleman.

Terrazas didn’t have to go far when he received orders to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, a unit just up the road from the infantry school. He became a part of Company K where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice. He was known in his company for his marksmanship expertise, tactical proficiency and impressive courage.

Other leaders, fellow Marines and friends spoke about their comrade they recently lost. One was Lance Cpl. Roel R. Briones, a close friend of Terrazas.

“He was like a brother to me,” commented Briones. “If I ever needed to talk about something or someone to help me out when I was in a jam, he was always there for me.
“He was one hell of a shot. I’ve known him for about a year and a half, and I’ve never seen him miss something he was aiming for.”

After remarks from friends, 1st Sgt. Albert Espinosa, the company first sergeant, took roll call. A number of names were called off, and a loud ‘here first sergeant!’ came after every name until Terrazas’ name was read.

“Lance Cpl. Terrazas ... Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas,” sounded off the first sergeant. “Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas.”

And again there was no answer.

The silence after Terrazas’ name brought out many different emotions in each person in attendance, as did the sound of Taps, which is a military tradition for fallen service members.

Terrazas was the first Marine with his company to lose his life during the current deployment. Losing his experience was especially tough for the Marines, as they have lost a good Marine and good friend.

“He was a man of heart,” commented Terrazas’ platoon sergeant Staff Sgt. Travis M. Fields. “He always brought a smile everywhere he went. He is the kind of guy you can say will never be forgotten.”
Terrazas is survived by his mother, Gabrielle and father, Martin Terrazas Sr.

Comments

[Tincan Sailor]

I DID THIS POST ON B-5 today and with a little cut and paste here you are

Ive posted this before and I'm going to do it
again!! Back in 75 I had this T-shirt that said,
"Vietnam, if you wern't there keep your mouth
shut" The same thing goes for Haditha!!!!

[Calgacus]

Well done - you're apologising for the rape and murder of a 15 year old girl and her family as the marines responsible have now admitted their guilt.

Those are meant to be American values are they? Don't think so - luckily there are a lot of Americans a hundred times more decent than you'll ever be.