A Tribute To A Marine Corps Leatherneck Who Stood In The Breach For America In Iraq

Toogood Reports ^ | Dec. 10, 2003 | Lisa Fabrizio ~ aka Freeper LisaFab

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

A Tribute To A Marine Corps Leatherneck
Who Stood In The Breach For America In Iraq

By
Lisa Fabrizio

Toogood Reports [Wednesday, December 10, 2003; 12:01 a.m. EST] URL: http://ToogoodReports.com/ I received some interesting email last week regarding my report on President Bush's Thanksgiving trip to Iraq. Mostly I heard from folks who were thrilled with W's visit, including Marci Warpness, who signed herself, 'A Proud Mother of a Marine': I thought it was wonderful, speaking as a mother of a Marine who was over there and will have to go back. It is just what the men and women of our military need. It's important to show the troops that they are supported by one and all, not just family and friends when they are at war. But Marci was also perturbed by the negative comments coming from the media and certain Democrat presidential candidates who sought to damn George Bush with extremely faint praise: It really galls me that so many people use this time to try to one-up themselves. I have followed the news reports very closely since my son went over to Iraq, and I have to tell you there isn't a day that goes by that I don't weep for someone else's son or daughter. But also knowing my son will be going back terrifies me, and listening to some of the comments made me think about what our country will have to look forward to if any of these people are elected. It is not going to be a pretty sight. In her email, Marci mentioned that her son had been decorated for valor, but that stories like his are never reported. I emailed and asked if she and her son would provide me the details of his award. She replied that her son had agreed to let me use his name as long as I wrote nothing disrespectful of the Corps. Here then, as told by his platoon leader, is the story of PFC Brandon Warpness, U.S. Marine: PFC Warpness was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with combat "V") for heroism while serving as assistant machine gunner, 1st Platoon Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division in support of operation Iraqi freedom on 7 April 2003. A minefield on the west side of the Diyala river impeded 1st tank Battalion's attack on Baghdad. After a mine-clearing line charge was detonated, the minefield remained a formidable barrier of 150 meters of anti-tank mines and grenades rigged as sensitive anti-personnel mines. Abandoning the relative safety of his amphibious assault vehicle, he ran 120 meters down the middle of the minefield through enemy rocket-propelled grenade and machine gun fire. Upon reaching the end of the cleared lane, he manually placed a Bangalor Torpedo into the remaining minefield. This act of Valor was instrumental in breaching the obstacle, while preserving dwindling supplies of mine-clearing line charges. Private Warpness' initiative, perseverance and total dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest tradition of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. His unit was also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. This is the stuff of which the U.S. Marine Corps is made. And as we recently marked the 62nd anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, let us also remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by all soldiers, sailors and airmen who have gallantly worn the uniform of our country. One such of those is an unnamed Air Force captain whose email to a friend has been circulated throughout the web. Writing of his presence at President Bush's Thanksgiving dinner in Baghdad he relates: Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There was not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the cheering, I could clearly see tears running down his cheeks. It was the most surreal moment I've had in years. Not since my wedding and Aaron being born. Here was this man, our president, who came all the way around the world, spending 17 hours on an airplane and landing in the most dangerous airport in the world, where a plane was shot out of the sky not six days before. Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never forget it. He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me and held his eyes on me. Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the soldiers. He slowly worked his way all the way around the chow hall and shook every last hand extended. Every soldier who wanted a photo with the president got one... You could tell he was really enjoying himself. It wasn't just a photo opportunity. This man was actually enjoying himself! He worked his way over the course of about 90 minutes towards my side of the room... I felt like I was drunk. He was getting closer to my table so I went back over to my seat. As he passed and posed for photos, he looked me in the eye and said, "How you doin', captain." I smiled and said "God bless you, sir." To which he responded "I'm proud of what you do, captain." Then moved on. It is said that free men will always prevail against slaves in battle, for they fight to control their own destiny. This is especially true in America, where the commander of those who fight is an elected civilian. And whether some like it or not, that man is George W. Bush. Through his actions he has demonstrated that he, like PFC Brandon Warpness and all his comrades in arms, takes his oath to defend this country seriously. For this they deserve all the support this nation can muster-nothing less will be sufficient in winning the War On Terror. © Copyright 2003 — This report, is submitted by the writer for publication exclusively in Toogood Reports, but remains the property of its author and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the writer's express prior written consent. The opinions and facts expressed herein are those of the writer alone, who is solely responsible for its contents, and does not purport in any way to represent Toogood Reports, its owners or its management. To comment on this article or express your opinion directly to the author, you are invited to e-mail Lisa at mailbox@lisafab.com . December 10, 2003 RECENT COLUMNS: 12/03/03:President Bush's Turkey Trot Runs Afowl Of The Left 11/30/03:Losing Momentum In Iraq? Only In The Mainstream Media 11/19/03:Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied; Bigotry & Obstruction In The U.S. Senate 11/12/03:"Rock The Vote" Debate — That 70s Show 11/05/03:The Democrats' Great Depression: The 2004 Elections 10/30/03:An Execution In Florida - Terri Schiavo On Death Row 10/22/03:Damn Yankees!--A Vast Left Wing Conspiracy 10/15/03:Legends of the Fall--Baseball's Greatest Myth 10/08/03:Confessions Of A Streetwalker--The State Made Me Do It! 10/22/03:Government Creates Group To Stamp Out Annoyance — N.A.N.I. 09/24/03:Liberal Victories Are Defeats For The Constitution 09/17/03:The War On Media 09/10/03:The War On Terror And You 09/03/03:Diaper Dems Will Lead GOP To Victory In 2004 08/13/03:Email From The Front, The Real Story In Iraq? ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Toogood Reports contributor and "Best of the Web" award-winning writer Lisa Fabrizio is a freelance writer and copy editor who lives in Stamford, CT. She is a proud conservative whose aim is to recapture the public from the all-consuming fog of liberalism which seizes them early in school and pervades almost all aspects of their lives. Visit Lisa's website or e-mail her at mailbox@lisafab.com.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, Lisa!

Pic c/o WorldNetDaily

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

In her email, Marci mentioned that her son had been decorated for valor, but that stories like his are never reported. I emailed and asked if she and her son would provide me the details of his award. She replied that her son had agreed to let me use his name as long as I wrote nothing disrespectful of the Corps.

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Freeper LisaFab respectfully giving our awesome troops a voice in the media.
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[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

We sure do have some smart FReepers!!! Freeper Lisa Fabrizio did a wonderful job. And this soldier deserves to have us read about it!!

HERO Ping and a bump!!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Thought you might like this one. FRegards!

[radu]

Thanks for the ping and for posting this wonderful article, RC!
And thank you for writing it, Lisa! I wish TV news would report on our troops this way so EVERYone could hear about our brave men and women in uniform. Too many depend on TV for their news and miss out on so much, especially the positive reports.

Another one bookmarked for e-mailing. :-)

[futureceo31]

Awesome Article.. There should be a hero's reunion next year for all of these wonderful soldiers who fought and are fighting for our freedoms. I doubt Clinton ever went up to a captain and thanked him for his service....

[blackie]

A Tribute To A Marine Corps Leatherneck Who Stood In The Breach For America In Iraq ~ Bump!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

"I doubt Clinton ever went up to a captain and thanked him for his service....

If it was in the Whitehouse, not without asking him to TAKE OFF HIS UNIFORM first!!

But you're right, I doubt he EVER thanked ANYONE who served!! EVER! I sure never heard of it. It is a WELL known fact the Clintons hated the military. That the military were asked to wear CIVILIAN clothes in the Whitehouse. So..I doubt they EVER thanked a MILITARY person for their service.

I'd SURE like to see more HUMAN INTEREST stories like Col. North does on Fox News, about our troops though. More in the written press, more on TV. More on Local TV News. The attitudes of these brave hero's is JUST awesome. We are constantly blown away by them. They sure inspire us!

FRegards

[timydnuc]

Semper Fi, do or die!

I don't think you'll find a politician or federal judge that has this kind of courage, or even a Supreme Court Justice. Good Americans die for freedom, those a$$holes in Washington try to destroy it. As long as the people of this country have the courage of these brave few we will be free. Time to do some serious butt kicking in the nation's capitol, and I mean NOW!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

This is a great post and great work. Thank you Lisa for your patriotism.

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the ping. Great article!

[A CA Guy]

I need a bit of help defending the honor of our military heroes and mission in Iraq at this place below for a little while.
This place has leftists that need some slapping down who are trying to dominate this national board.

Any help on the side briefly here with the issues and the libs will be welcome.

http://boards.go.com/cgi/WLS/request.dll?LIST&room=abclocal_iraq&messagID=97287end

It's an ABC War with Iraq news board.

[Dubya]

Great post. SEMPER FI

[2111USMC]

Out-f***ing-standing!

A salute to PFC Warpness!

It's good to know that we are still building Marines like we used to.

(I hope this PFC is at least an E-3 or E-4 by the time he goes back "in country".)

Semper Fi!

[VOA]

She replied that her son had agreed to let me use his name as long as I wrote
nothing disrespectful of the Corps.

If I'd been the journalist, I'd have laughed at that request and said
"Ma'am, you, your son and I know that if I write something disrespectful of
The Corps, it would just prove I worked for Howard Dean!"

[Texas_Jarhead]

Brotherhood BUMP

[bellas_sister]

Military BUMP!!!!!!

God Bless!!!!!!

[Donaeus]

Kudos to the highest degree LisaFab!!! You bring hope to us at home and courage to our troops abroad---Thank You! Thank you Cowgirl for helping get the word around FR. Both of you are treasures.

Military Ping--GOOD news from the front

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS! GOD BLESS PRESIDENT BUSH! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuuump!