JJ.....#100!!
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JJ.....#100!!
SECURITY DUTY — U.S. soldiers provide security as other soldiers in their unit search the residence of an alleged weapons dealer in the Al Raheed district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 6, 2004. The soldiers are assigned to Company C, 1st Battlion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 5th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Steve Faulisi
Tongan Royal Marine Pvt. Paula Tatafu helps provide security in one of the perimeter towers at Camp Blue Diamond. Tatafu is one of 45 Tongan Royal Marines who arrived here earlier this month to assist is guard duties here. (USMC photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald)
Tongan Marines join U.S. Marines in Iraq
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200471553640
Story by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald
CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq(July 13, 2004) -- U.S. Marines here with 1st Marine Division recently welcomed "friendly islanders" from Tonga with a warm "malo e leielei."
Forty-five Tongan Royal Marines traveled from their tiny South Pacific island in order to support the division's security and stabilization mission in Iraq. They arrived earlier this month and are currently planning to stay for a six-month tour before heading home.
This trip marks the first peacekeeping deployment for the Tongan Defense Service outside of the South Pacific.
"All of my men volunteered to come to Iraq," said Tongan Capt. Maama Misi, platoon commander. "Our Marine Corps is very small and everyone wanted to come out here, but we could only bring a certain number."
The country of Tonga - the only monarchy in the Pacific - is four times the size of Washington D.C., and is home to about 110,000 residents. The Tongan Royal Marines Corps is made up of a few hundred people, so the group here makes up a large chunk of the defense force.
The Royal Marines who were selected hold a variety of billets. Most are infantrymen, but a few serve as mechanics, communications technicians and welders.
All of the Tongans make up part of the camp's guard force, responsible for providing internal and external security here.
"Since they got here, the Tongans have been doing the exact same duties as the U.S. Marines," explained Staff Sgt. Kenneth D. Douglas, sergeant of the guard. "They man the towers, rove around the camp and do escort duty. They work the same hours as us and sweat the same sweat."
Before arriving here, the Tongans spent the last year training for the mission.
"We trained for a long time before leaving Tonga," Misi explained. "We focused on conventional warfare - things every Marine knows."
Wreaths and candles stand in memorial to 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Smith and Sgt. Paul Fisher, the Illinois and Iowa Guardsmen from Company F, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation who lost their lives when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in Iraq in November 2003. (Photo by Tim Franklin, Illinois Department of Military Affairs)
Solemn reminder marks joyful return
By Tim Franklin
Illinois Department of Military Affairs
PEORIA, Ill. (7/14/2004) — On a black-draped table, three memorial wreaths and candles offered a stark contrast to the joyful celebration of the long-awaited return of the Soldiers of Company F, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation from the sands of Iraq. In the center of each wreath the photos of three fallen Guardsmen stood as a solemn reminder that, although the Illinois and Iowa Army National Guard helicopter unit was finally back home after nearly 18 months, not all of the company made it back home to family and loved ones.
On November 3, 2003, three aircrew members of F Company were killed when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by insurgents near Fallujah, Iraq. Killed in the incident were Illinois Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas and Iowa Guardsmen Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Smith and Sgt. Paul Fisher.
“While each person in front of you got up each day to do their jobs, it wasn’t without danger,” company commander Maj. Tom Parker told the audience. “In November 2003 that danger became a reality for us. Three individuals who left with in February of last year aren’t here today.”
Bowed heads and a moment of silence marked the loss of the three patriotic Illinois and Iowa Citizen Soldiers, followed by the haunting melody of “Amazing Grace” played by a local bagpiper.
“They made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Parker.
RIP 1LT SlavenasRIP CWO SmithRIP Sgt Fisher.