West Point speaker was the ‘tip of the spear’ into Iraq

Army News Service ^ | Feb. 25, 2004 | Joe Burlas

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

West Point speaker was the ‘tip of the spear’ into Iraq

By Joe Burlas

Lt. Col. Rock Marcone, commander of the lead 3rd Infantry Division task force into Iraq last March, shares his units accomplishments with the West Point cadets in the class of 2005.
USMA courtesy photo

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 25, 2004) -- When the U.S. Military Academy asks somebody to speak to cadets at a formal function, it is normally a well-known retired or active-duty general officer. But a relatively unknown lieutenant colonel was the guest speaker to the USMA class of 2005 at the end of January.

As the junior class at West Point marked the passing of the 500-days-to-graduation mark with a formal dinner, Lt. Col. Rock Marcone shared tales of the hardship and bravery of his Soldiers as they lead the 3rd Infantry Division attack into Iraq last spring.

A 1985 West Point graduate, Marcone commanded Task Force 3-69 Armor during major hostilities in Iraq. Composed of two armor companies, two infantry companies, two engineer companies, a headquarters and headquarters company, a field artillery battalion in direct support and an attack helicopter company in direct support, TF 3-69 had more than 1,800 men at its peak.

Between March 23 and April 4, 2003, the task force drove 350 miles, fought seven major battles and destroyed six Iraqi brigades, Marcone said. Two of those battles required deliberate river crossings involving rubber boat assaults, he said, the only such assaults he is aware of since World War II.

The task force was the first U.S. unit to enter Saddam International Airport. During the night battle to enter the airport, two TF 3-69 tanks -- one being towed by the other due to mechanical failure from an earlier rocket propelled grenade attack -- ran into an Iraqi armor platoon. The U.S. tanks destroyed the Iraqi armor as the crew of the disabled tank engaged the enemy by manually traversing the turret.

As the sun rose over the airport the next morning, Marcone said he noticed that one of his infantry platoons was parked in the middle of a trench complex still filled with Iraqi troops.

“I didn’t even have time to click the radio mike to order them to dismount because the (Bradley Fighting Vehicle) ramps were already coming down,” Marcone said.

While 3-69 Soldiers garnered a bevy of medals for their heroic deeds during the advance into Baghdad, the unit lost two killed in action.

“If you take nothing else away from what I have to say to you here tonight, always remember that Soldiers follow you because they trust you and you have demonstrated a genuine concern for their welfare,” Marcone said. “With that in mind, the toughest part of being an officer, a leader, and a warrior during combat is your ability to deal with and overcome the loss of Soldiers and subordinate leaders. If you have done your job correctly, you have trained the next Soldier in line to step up and take charge.”

Marcone offered advice to the cadets as they prepare for commissioning as second lieutenants in less than 500 days:

o Young leaders must study the psychology of war and learn the effects of combat on Soldiers and leaders.

o Combat is exacting of leaders -- it requires physical fitness and a warrior ethos that leads from the front.

o Nothing challenges you more than combat -- training has to be tough, well thought out and resourced.

o Risk-taking must be taught, cherished and reinforced in young leaders at all levels.

o The Army needs critically thinking, agile, adaptive and aggressive warriors as leaders.

o Take care of Soldiers -- train them, reenlist them, challenge them.

o Don’t wait to be told what to do –- reach out and make a difference.

“What you are doing for your country is special and very important for the survival of our way of life,” Marcone told the cadets. “You are the future of a secure America, and in two short years, the mothers and fathers of this great nation will entrust in you their most precious resource -- our nation’s most coveted treasure -- the sons and daughters of America. Embrace it, cherish this honor, and if you are called into harm’s way, lead!”

[shrinkermd]

If you take nothing else away from what I have to say to you here tonight, always remember that Soldiers follow you because they trust you and you have demonstrated a genuine concern for their welfare,”

The ultimate task of being a leader. Bump

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Marcone offered advice to the cadets as they prepare for commissioning as second lieutenants in less than 500 days:

(concluding) “What you are doing for your country is special and very important for the survival of our way of life,” Marcone told the cadets. “You are the future of a secure America, and in two short years, the mothers and fathers of this great nation will entrust in you their most precious resource -- our nation’s most coveted treasure -- the sons and daughters of America. Embrace it, cherish this honor, and if you are called into harm’s way, lead!”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

~ To America's Soldiers ~

 An open letter by Barbara J. Makuch

 

I want to thank you for my existence. I want to thank you for your sacrifices, and for your courage, because without your heroism, this world would indeed be a different place. Were it not for the brave soldiers who liberated my father from Dachau, and my mother and her family from the Nazi slaveholders, I would not be here today. Nor would millions of others, all of whom remain indebted to you.

My mother and her family lived under the boot of the Soviets, then became slave laborers for the Nazis. Beaten, starved and terrorized, they could only hope for freedom. My father died a young man. Four years of terror and torture in Dachau left its mark on him. My uncle died at the hands of the Soviets, a bullet in his chest because he refused to remove a cross from the wall. My grandfather died in the U.S.S.R., never having been allowed to leave. He never saw his wife, children or grandchildren again.

When American and Allied forces bombed Nazi Germany, the slaves, prisoners of war and concentration-camp inmates cheered. They were forced to work the fields and in the factories even as the bombers flew overhead. Yet they cheered. They knew that their liberation was at hand. Even as they knew they might not live to see their freedom, they cheered. The miserable existence that they endured under the boot of the Nazis and the Soviets would not break their spirit or resolve, or their love of the soldiers who were losing their lives to liberate them. They prayed for their liberators, never faltering in the belief that they would succeed.

I asked my mother what she thought of war. "It is a terrible thing, but if it means freedom to those who have none, if it means safety for the world, then there is no question what has to be done," She said. "Those who have not suffered under the terror of oppression, those whose lives have been privileged and free, will never understand the sacrifices of those who died for liberty and freedom. It is easy to criticize our leaders from the safety, warmth and comfort of their homes and mansions. While they eat the bread of America, and benefit from the democracy and freedom of speech afforded us by this great nation, they show the ultimate disrespect toward our President and our troops."

An elderly and wise woman, my mother is forever grateful for her life. She is ill, her body ravaged by the hell she went through as a young woman, yet she still has the fight in her that kept her a survivor. The values she instilled in me gave me the courage to serve my country, giving back a small part of what had been given to me.

I remember, as a child, the packages of aid that came to our refugee camp in Germany. Huge tins of processed cheese, warm blankets, dried milk and sometimes chocolate. When the soldiers came, they would give us a stick of gum, a huge smile and a wink. I remember their uniforms; they were handsome and oh so dashing! We were a poor bunch of little kids, but we giggled shyly and tried to communicate. They patted our heads or picked us up to hug us. It wasn't occupation, it wasn't arrogance, it wasn't domination; it was kindness, it was dedication to their cause of freedom, and it was their love of humanity. And it left a lasting impression on me.

As I look upon the faces of our military today, these courageous men and women, brave, compassionate yet fierce in their cause to liberate the Iraqi people, I pray for them all. American, British, Australian, Polish and the scores of others who are facing yet another tyrant. My heart swells with pride and love for those who have given up so much to make this world a better place.

There is no country in the world that can say Americans, when they came to liberate a land, forced our language, culture or religions on anyone. Those of us who chose to embrace this wonderful land do so wholeheartedly, without coercion or force. We do it because we are true patriots. We know what sacrifices were made for our freedom.

May God protect and keep you in his care so that you return to your loved ones. May your families have the support and love of this country we call land of the brave and the home of the free, and may the people of the world never forget the ultimate sacrifice of our troops.

Ms. Makuch received the FBI's Lewis E. Peters Memorial Award in 1992 for her two decades as a double agent spying on the Soviets.

 Thank you, Lt. Col. Rock Marcone.

[billorites]

‘tip of the spear’ Oooh!

[SAMWolf]

I asked my mother what she thought of war. "It is a terrible thing, but if it means freedom to those who have none, if it means safety for the world, then there is no question what has to be done," She said. "Those who have not suffered under the terror of oppression, those whose lives have been privileged and free, will never understand the sacrifices of those who died for liberty and freedom. It is easy to criticize our leaders from the safety, warmth and comfort of their homes and mansions. While they eat the bread of America, and benefit from the democracy and freedom of speech afforded us by this great nation, they show the ultimate disrespect toward our President and our troops."

Perfect description of the Liberals and Hollywood crowd

[McGavin999]

That letter is incredibly moving.

[USMARINE6]

Thanks for your post. Not often enough do we hear from those who we owe so much.
I'm reminded of General McArthur's words to the Corps of Cadets: "Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government. Whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing indulged in too long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as firm and complete as they should be. These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor, Country."
The General's address to the Corp of Cadets at West Point, in 1962
http://www.keytlaw.com/Greatwords/macarthur.htm
http://www.west-point.org/real/macarthur_address.html
(This last one has real audio version. Click on the speaker in the upper left.)

[Prodigal Son]

Good post.

[Valin]

Bump!

[Yasotay]

Go Rock! "For Excellence We Strive -1985"

[RightOnline]

lol...........now that's just wrong.........funny, but wrong............

[Molly Pitcher]

Thanks for the post! Thank you SO much!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You are very welcome.

It is so easy and right to stand up for our awesome troops, especially when they are being misrepresented by our own free press, pols, and profs here on the homefront again today.

[prognostigaator]

bump

[Coop]

It is so easy and right to stand up for our awesome troops, especially when they are being misrepresented by our own free press, pols, and profs here on the homefront again today.

Yep. It's like our armed forces are fighting on two fronts, and it's sickening.

But they shall endure and overcome. God bless our troops!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

#7 = good advice!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor, Country."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your service, and for your wise words.

I wonder whether school children are being taught that our military and elected officials swear an oath to defend the Constitution, and why.

---

"God Bless
Those with the backbone and courage to honor this oath!"  

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; AND THAT I WILL OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORDERS OF THE OFFICERS APPOINTED OVER ME, ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS AND THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.  SO HELP ME GOD.                                        http://www.patriotwatch.com/

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ terrorists and the democrats are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[VOA]

bump for publicity!

[windchime]

Bump!