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Marines turn to God ahead of anticipated Fallujah battle
drudgereport.com ^ | Sat Nov 06 2004 09:37:17 ET

Posted on 11/06/2004 7:19:27 AM PST by InvisibleChurch

Marines turn to God ahead of anticipated Fallujah battle Sat Nov 06 2004 09:37:17 ET

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov 6 (AFP) - With US forces massing outside Fallujah, 35 marines swayed to Christian rock music and asked Jesus Christ to protect them in what could be the biggest battle since American troops invaded Iraq last year.

Men with buzzcuts and clad in their camouflage waved their hands in the air, M-16 assault rifles laying beside them, and chanted heavy metal-flavoured lyrics in praise of Christ late Friday in a yellow-brick chapel.

They counted among thousands of troops surrounding the city of Fallujah, seeking solace as they awaited Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's decision on whether or not to invade Fallujah.

"You are the sovereign. You're name is holy. You are the pure spotless lamb," a female voice cried out on the loudspeakers as the marines clapped their hands and closed their eyes, reflecting on what lay ahead for them.

The US military, with many soldiers coming from the conservative American south and midwest, has deep Christian roots.

In times that fighting looms, many soldiers draw on their evangelical or born-again heritage to help them face the battle.

"It's always comforting. Church attendance is always up before the big push," said First Sergeant Miles Thatford.

"Sometimes, all you've got is God."

Between the service's electric guitar religious tunes, marines stepped up on the chapel's small stage and recited a verse of scripture, meant to fortify them for war.

One spoke of their Old Testament hero, a shepherd who would become Israel's king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.

"Thus David prevailed over the Philistines," the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back "Hoorah, King David," using their signature grunt of approval.

The marines drew parallels from the verse with their present situation, where they perceive themselves as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world.

"Victory belongs to the Lord," another young marine read.

Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis "freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder ... We ask you God to bless us in that effort."

The marines then lined up and their chaplain blessed them with holy oil to protect them.

"God's people would be annointed with oil," the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines' foreheads.

The crowd then followed him outside their small auditorium for a baptism of about a half-dozen marines who had just found Christ.

The young men lined up and at least three of them stripped down to their shorts.

The three laid down in a rubber dinghy filled with water and the chaplain's assistant, Navy corpsman Richard Vaughn, plunged their heads beneath the surface.

Smiling, Vaughn baptised them "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Dripping wet, Corporal Keith Arguelles beamed after his baptism.

"I just wanted to make sure I did this before I headed into the fight," he said on the military base not far from the city of Fallujah.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: faith; fallujah; iraq; marines
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To: oh8eleven

"They are Marines.
Semper Fi ..."

LOL, I knew at least one Jar Head would pipe up on that. I served with a FAST company of Marines in Haiti and learned quickly to never refer to them as soldiers. I found them to be some of the most dedicated and professional fighting men I've encountered in 21 years with the Army. God bless them all... Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. May our casualties be light in the coming battle.


41 posted on 11/06/2004 7:46:03 AM PST by Sun Soldier
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To: oh8eleven

Yes, they are Marines. My Prayers are Incoming for them and they are constantly on my mind now. They are the Best of the Best and we sleep easy at night because of them.


42 posted on 11/06/2004 7:49:52 AM PST by JOE43270 (JOE43270 America voted and said we are One Nation Under God with Liberty and Justice for All.)
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To: InvisibleChurch

They have right on there side, God Bless you all stay safe........,


43 posted on 11/06/2004 7:51:42 AM PST by lillybet
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To: InvisibleChurch

From the son of a Royal Marine, I pray for all of the USMC when they go into battle.

The brave, the few.


44 posted on 11/06/2004 7:53:47 AM PST by everydayislikesunday
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To: Woogit
A thousand may fall at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

Sounds like something out of the Quran.

45 posted on 11/06/2004 7:57:35 AM PST by Joe Miner
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To: SandRat

"
A real story of her sons and daughters from the Red States that the left will never grasp"


They are from more than just 'Red States'. Remember that 'Blue States' didn't get 100% of Kerry's vote - many of these soldiers are from those areas as well.

They are all sons and daughters of America.


46 posted on 11/06/2004 8:05:02 AM PST by Blzbba (Conservative Republican - Less gov't, less spending, less intrusion.)
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To: InvisibleChurch

amazing. if real.


47 posted on 11/06/2004 8:07:05 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (if a man lives long enough, he gets to see the same thing over and over.)
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To: SwatTeam
Did I leave anyone out?

Yeah.

liberals-----------the Enemy

48 posted on 11/06/2004 8:08:48 AM PST by EricT. (Join the Soylent Green Party...We recycle dead environmentalists.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

just wait 'till the spin doctors on the left get ahold of this...oy...


49 posted on 11/06/2004 8:09:13 AM PST by the invisib1e hand (if a man lives long enough, he gets to see the same thing over and over.)
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To: InvisibleChurch
"Sometimes, all you've got is God....."

And may God Bless our President and Troops as they bring the fight to the enemies freedom.
50 posted on 11/06/2004 8:11:02 AM PST by PigRigger (Send donations to http://www.AdoptAPlatoon.org)
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To: InvisibleChurch

I am humbled that such wonderful young men bear the title of American-and moreover the title of Christian. May God bring them home alive and well.


51 posted on 11/06/2004 8:14:52 AM PST by American Vet Repairman (Damn right I live in a red state!!!!!!)
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To: InvisibleChurch

Prayer for our own, and thoses who fight for 'freedom'.


52 posted on 11/06/2004 8:18:05 AM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: SwatTeam

Marines


Marines

Army
Soldiers

Air Force
Airmen

Coast Guard-------Coast Guardsmen

Navy
Sailors


Did I leave anyone out?




Yes:
Liberals
Traitors


53 posted on 11/06/2004 8:18:42 AM PST by American Vet Repairman (Damn right I live in a red state!!!!!!)
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To: InvisibleChurch

Why did my monitor get all blurry?

Noble warriors.


54 posted on 11/06/2004 8:19:00 AM PST by little jeremiah (Moral absolutes are what make humans civilized.)
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To: SwatTeam

What does it matter

They are all volunteers and motivated

Ain't like when we had a draft and it was almost exclusively Marines and Airborne Seals etc who were the volunteers


55 posted on 11/06/2004 8:19:17 AM PST by uncbob
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To: milagro

Strange, just came in from raking the yard. Same reason. To check out how things were going & to pray for the Marines.


56 posted on 11/06/2004 8:21:22 AM PST by madison10
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To: Blzbba

Amen


57 posted on 11/06/2004 8:26:21 AM PST by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)
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To: InvisibleChurch

You wouldn't use the N word when refering to blacks. Please don't refer to Marines as soldiers. They are Marines. The army has soldiers. Semper Fi.


58 posted on 11/06/2004 8:27:33 AM PST by AlaskaErik
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To: SwatTeam

I just call them warriors.


59 posted on 11/06/2004 8:28:34 AM PST by We Happy Few ("we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother;")
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Comment #60 Removed by Moderator


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