Marines in Iraq: The Warriors' Way(Great Read! In the L.A.Times no less.)

The Los Angeles Times(no less) ^ | June 6, 2006 | David J. Danelo

[kellynla]

ON APRIL 6, 2004, Cpl. Jason Howell, a Marine squad leader who had arrived in Iraq three weeks before, was enduring his baptism of fire in what later became known as the "first battle of Fallouja." Howell, who had not eaten in 18 hours or slept in 36, was running on nothing but adrenaline. His dehydrated spittle, caked around the side of his mouth, was dirty white. Kneeling on a roof, he saw a flash of movement. An Iraqi child put his face out the window.

Exhausted, Howell found himself unable to process the Arabic word he had learned for "stop." Without thinking, he screamed. The child pulled the curtains as Howell automatically raised his weapon to shoot. Then Howell blinked. An instant later, clarity returned to his thoughts. The corporal, who was in his first of what would become many days of combat, had almost shot an innocent.

"I don't know exactly why I didn't pull the trigger," said Howell, who now serves with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. "It all happened so fast. It was a combination of training, instinct and luck."

As the furor grows over allegations that Marines killed 24 Iraqi civilians last November — including women and children — the origins of Howell's discipline are worth examining.

The Corps is the smallest of the United States' military services, and it also has the highest enlisted-to-officer ratio (about 10 to 1). Because of this, a much higher level of responsibility is placed on corporals and sergeants, or noncommissioned officers. In each Marine infantry battalion, which is the primary combat element, an average of 60 noncommissioned officers lead squads or a unit of similar size. As squad leaders, they assume responsibility for the lives — and split-second decisions — of about a dozen men.

[kellynla]

"Accuracy in the application of deadly force is the foundational creed for any who protect and defend their society. Discerning combatant from innocent is the greatest challenge for all who have engaged in this kind of war. Like spiritual perfection, the warrior ideal is often an impossible thing to fully achieve."

DAVID J. DANELO, a former Marine officer and Iraq war veteran, is the author of "Blood Stripes: The Grunt's View of the War in Iraq."

[kellynla]

When the Haditha investigation is completed and these Marines are exonerated; we can only hope for the sake of the families of Marines especially those who have paid the ultimate price that the MSM will publish the results on their front pages.
But we Marines won't be holding our collective breath.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[jazusamo]

L.A. Times gets it right.

[kellynla]

Would you ping my fellow Marines.
Thanks

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[stylin19a]

Well, they get it right for printing this OP-Ed.
Some ombudsman must have slipped up.

[neodad]

Howell, who had not eaten in 18 hours or slept in 36, was running on nothing but adrenaline. His dehydrated spittle, caked around the side of his mouth, was dirty white.

Reminds me of that picture of the Marine smoking a cigarette during Fallujah.

[kellynla]

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks for the ping! Refreshing to see a little sanity.

[MudPuppy]

'Marlboro Marine': Home Front Woes

Pray for our troops!

[SandRat]

Devil Dogs

[magslinger]

But we Marines won't be holding our collective breath.

None of us are holding our breathes. Keep the faith, brother.

[nicollo]

**bump**