Paying the Price

When 250 insurgents ambushed a platoon of U. S. Marines in the Farah Province of Afghanistan, they must have suffered a serious lapse in judgment. According to one (naturally) non-mainstream media source, the city of Shewan is a typical safe haven for insurgents, who use the city to plan and stage attacks against coalition forces in the Bala Baluk district. Elements of the 7th Marines (who typically do not shy away from confronting an enemy force), apparently decided to challenge the insurgents for control of an important supply route.

During a platoon-sized combat patrol encompassing ten kilometers, Marines moved in toward the city of Shewan when suddenly attacked. The Marines encountered a barrage of enemy rocket and machinegun fire. One vehicle was immediately disabled and enemy fire pinned down several Marines within the kill zone. According to Corporal James M. Mercure:

“. . . the Marines dismounted and laid down suppression fire so they could evacuate a Marine who was knocked unconscious from the blast. After recovering the Marines trapped in the kill zone, another platoon sergeant personally led numerous attacks on enemy fortified positions while the platoon fought house-to-house and trench-to-trench in order to clear through the enemy ambush site.”

“The biggest thing to take from that day is what Marines can accomplish when they’re given the opportunity to fight,” a sniper said. “A small group of Marines met a numerically superior force and embarrassed them in their own backyard. The insurgents told the townspeople that they were stronger than the Americans, and that day we showed them they were wrong.”

Corporal Mercure’s report said that during the battle, the designated sniper thwarted a company-sized unit by killing 20 enemy fighters with his devastatingly accurate precision fire. During the encounter, the lone marksman repeatedly and selflessly exposed himself to intense enemy fire during a critical point in the eight-hour battle for Shewan in order to kill any enemy combatants who attempted to engage or maneuver on the Marines.

“What made his actions even more impressive was the fact that he didn’t miss any shots, despite the enemies’ rounds impacting within a foot of his fighting
position.”

After calling for close-air support, the Marine platoon pushed forward and broke the enemies’ spirit as many of them dropped their weapons and fled the battlefield. By the conclusion of the battle, the Marines effectively reduced an enemy stronghold, killed more than 50 insurgents, and wounded several more.

“I didn’t realize how many bad guys there were until we had broken through the enemies’ lines and forced them to retreat. It was roughly 250 insurgents against 30 of us,” the sniper said. “It was a good day for the Marine Corps. We killed a lot of bad guys, and none of our guys were seriously injured.”

This is an oooraaahhh moment. Marines don’t like people shooting at them. People who do shoot at Marines are simply asking to have their asses kicked . . . and that is exactly what happened in Shewan. It doesn’t make any difference how large the enemy force is . . . and this kind of attitude derives from plain-old Marine Corps arrogance.

Hat tip: Woman Honor Thyself

Source of story

Veterans' Day, 2008

The allies of World War I came from all across the free world. They were Albanians, Americans, Armenians, Belgians, and Brazilians, the eight nations of the British Empire, Czechs, Fins, French, Greek, Italians, Japanese, Montenegrins, Portuguese, Romanians, Russians, San Marinas, Serbians, and Siamese. They joined in an effort to stop Germany in its quest for world domination. Here at home, young men from cities and farms, and a myriad of small towns in-between flocked to join the United States Army, Navy, and Marines. Altogether, 5.6 million young men lost their lives; another 12.8 million seriously wounded.

Our Great War veterans fought, and died in such places as Anzac Cove, Liege, Haelen, Lorraine, Basra, Ardennes, Louvain, Guise, Aisne, Antwerp, Delville Wood, Belleau Wood, Romani, Beersheba, Ramadi, Mons, The Marne, Tannenburg, Ypres, Gallipoli, The Somme, Dogger Bank, Verdun, Sari Bair, Tanga, Jutland, Cambrai, Passendaele, and Caporetto. World War I lasted from August 1914, until 11 November 1918, but the greatest tragedy of the First World War was that it didn’t solve anything; it would be necessary for many more millions of young men and innocents to die in a few scant years.

Initially known as Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first observance in 1919 with these words: “To us in America, the reflections of armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

In 1920, France and the United Kingdom joined the United States in observing Armistice Day. In 1921, Congress approved the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; November 11th was chosen as the day to observe Armistice Day because the “Great War” was ended on the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. Armistice Day didn’t become a federal holiday, however, until 1938.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to honor Americans who served in World War II and the Korean War. Veterans Day honors all Americans who served their country in military uniform, distinguished from Memorial Day, which is a day set aside to remember those who gave up their lives for their country.

Freedom is not Free
by Ashley Persyn

There is a price we pay for freedom
For it is not truly free
But rather paid for by the contributions of veterans
To buy our liberty

As their blood drains from their body and runs like a river through the grass
Over the years it's forgotten, war is placed in our past
I don't think we all realize the importance veterans play
as they voluntarily serve America each and every day

We should honor the veterans for they act like a shield
Protecting us from danger, keeping America healed.
So if you would take a second to commemorate
You will instantly see
We owe veterans our gratitude
For they are the reason we are free

Something to think about on this Veterans Day, 2008; if you are reading this, you can thank your teacher; if you are reading this in English, thank a veteran.

Resolved

10 November 1775

That two battalions of Marines be raised, consisting of one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors, and other officers as usual in other regiments; and that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken, that no persons be appointed to officer or inlisted into said Battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to the advantage by sea when required; that they be inlisted and commissioned to serve for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress, that they be distinguished by the names of the first and second battalions of American Marines, and they considered as part of the number which the continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.

10 November 2008

Today, American Marines continue to exhibit patriotism, valor, and fidelity as they have for the past 233 years. They are dedicated to a sense of honor; to a life of courage, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. They have always defended this nation . . . and each other. They still do. They belong to an organization that places a high value on such concepts as duty, honor, and country.

Our Marines have fought their country’s battles in the air, on land, and at sea; every war, at every latitude, and at every place America’s enemies have gathered, from the far off snow of northern lands, to sunny tropic scenes, to the arid deserts of the Middle East and North Africa. Today, our Marines continue to accept the challenges offered by the extreme hostility of combat and a ruthless and determined enemy. Our Marines succeed in such environments because they do possess good character, keen intelligence, uncommon strength of body and spirit, and because they maintain faith with one another.

Not everyone measures up to these high standards; it is, as it should be, because our Corps is a unique fraternity. Those who pass the crucible have earned the title, United States Marine. It is a lifetime appointment; there are only two kinds of Marines: those who are living, and those who are dead.

Therefore, to all my brothers and sisters who share with me the title United States Marine — past or present — I say . . . Semper Fidelis.

Fallen Warrior

John Walter Ripley
Colonel, United States Marine Corps (Retired)
1939 — 2008

Rest in Peace, Sir
_____________________________________

Colonel Ripley enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1957; within a year, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps, and after completing The Basic School, he joined the Marine Detachment on the USS Independence.

Completing he tour of sea duty, he joined the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. In May 1965, Ripley was transferred to the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, and after training he deployed to Vietnam with his platoon.

In October 1966, Col. Ripley joined the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines in South Vietnam, I Corps. He served as company commander of Lima Company, which became known as Ripley’s Raiders. He was wounded in action, but returned to active duty and completed his combat tour.

During his two years of Vietnam service, Ripley participated in 26 major operations. In addition to numerous decorations, Ripley was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism in destroying the Dong Ha bridge during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive.

Following service in Vietnam, Riply served with Marine Force Reconnaissance, was an exchange officer with the British Royal Marines, commanded 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, and the 2nd Marine Regiment. His final tour in the Marine Corps was as Officer in C harge of the NROTC Detachments at Oregon State University and the Virginia Military Institute, and as Senior Marine Corps instructor at the U. S. Naval Academy, where he taught English and History. Colonel Ripley retired after 35 years of active duty service in 1992.

In addition to the Navy Cross, his personal decorations include the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals with Combat 'V', the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the South Vietnamese Army Distinguished Service Order, 2nd Class, and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.

During his post-retirement years, Colonel Ripley was president and chancellor of Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia and subsequently as president of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. He was selected by the Marine Corps Commandant in 1999 to be the director of the Corps' History and Museums Division.

In October 2006, John Ripley returned to the site of the Dong Ha Bridge to film a documentary of his exploits. The documentary was hosted by Oliver North, and was shown on November 12, 2006 on Fox News.