Marine Reserve Unit Decimated In Iraq (prayers needed)

Washington Post ^ | May 12, 2005

[flutters]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio Marine Reserve unit suffered heavy casualties during recent fighting in Iraq, according to the Washington Post.

Every member of one of three squads that make up the 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment had been killed or wounded, Marines told the newspaper.

Marine Cpl. Dustin Derga, 24, of Pickerington, was one of two Marines killed and five wounded Saturday during a firefight in Ubaydi. On Wednesday, four more Marines were killed and 10 others were injured when a device exploded under their armored vehicle, according to the Post.

On Thursday, the Department of Defense said that Lance Cpl. Wesley G. Davids, 20, of Dublin, died Wednesday from an explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karabilah, Iraq.

Davids was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division based in Columbus. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his reserve unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Derga also was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment, 4th Division based in Columbus.

The Lima Company draws reservists from across Ohio, the paper reported.

[flutters]

R.I.P. soldiers, you won't be forgotten. Promise.

[flutters]

Marine Cpl. Dustin Derga, 24, of Pickerington, was one of two Marines killed and five wounded Saturday during a firefight in Ubaydi. On Wednesday, four more Marines were killed and 10 others were injured when a device exploded under their armored vehicle, according to the Post.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Rest in peace bros. Prayers for their loved ones.

[DakotaRed]

With Memorial Day approaching soon, now is a good time to remind those people you know why we have the day.

We can never repay those who have given their all and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and others freedoms around the globe.

While paying homage to those who have given their lives, don't forget to reach out and thank those who have survived also.

May these young people rest in peace and look down and see their sacrifice was not in vain. My heart goes out to their families and loved ones.

Support our troops and don't let the left make a mockery out of their sacrifices as they did 30 years ago.

[CIDKauf]

Prayers for the US Marines and all other soldiers. May God bless all our soldiers past and present and future.

[SeaBiscuit]

I'll always be amazed at such unselfishness, bravery and dedication, no one other than their own walk in such glorious boots. May they rest their souls, God grant them eternal peace. My humble thank you for your service and the freedom you give us all.

[konaice]

Marine Cpl. Dustin Derga, 24, of Pickerington, was one of two Marines killed and five wounded Saturday during a firefight in Ubaydi. On Wednesday, four more Marines were killed and 10 others were injured when a device exploded under their armored vehicle, according to the Post.

I'm confused. Are all these from the same Squad? or were some from the other squads.

How many in a Marine squad?.

[OKIEDOC]

Makes you even madder when these punk college kids and feminazis in pink protest universities having anything to do with the military.

[Eagles6]

Prayers for them and theirs.

[STARWISE]

Dear Lord ... tears and prayers heavenward.

==========================================================

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

[rikkir]

Does any one know where I can look at a list of all the soldiers in this reserve unit? My wife has a cousin from Troy OH deployed. We haven't heard from him for a while and she has speculated that he might have been wounded and didn't want to worry his father who is suffering from cancer.
He is a support guy (logistics), but we are starting to worry a bit as it's not like him to go this long with out contact.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[ARCADIA]

R.I.P. soldiers, you won't be forgotten. Promise.

Its too bad we don't have the guts to sterilize the area with ordinance before putting our people in harms way. But then, this is a PC war, where we are more worried about prisoner hygene then cost or outcome.

[An.American.Expatriate]

First and foremost - thank you to these brave men, may they RIP.

This story, however, is crap.

One squad being "lost" does not decimate a Company of Marines (or the Army). Tragic, yes.

Oh, BTW - Admin Guy - can you fix the "Source" for this - should be NBC4iNews - NOT the WAPO!

[ChefKeith]

The pentagon has a site with info for this but it is only available after the notification of Next of Kin.

If anything has happened to him the Family would have been contacted ASAP.

Prayers up for All involved and serving.

Ping

[KneelBeforeZod]

We're at war…All the papers say
We will win…I read today
We are strong…It wasn't us
We are right…Who started this

Leave your work…I just left school
Leave your home…I am no fool
Take up arms…It left me strong
Sound alarms…The school bell rings


Join up here…I wave good-bye
We need you…Oh my breast sighs
Have no fear…Now I must try
God will be…With braver men
Take the vow…I know it's right
Praise the flag…The good fight
We're at war…I'm on my way
We will win…Why do I pray


I wait here in this hole
Playing poker with my soul
I hold the rifle close to me
It lights the way to keep me free

If I die in a combat zone
Box me up and ship me home
If I die and still come home
Lay me where the rose is sown

Sons of men who stand like gods
We give life to feed the cause
And run to ground our heathen foe
Our name will never die
This time will be forever

[donozark]

Shades of the Bardstown Boys...

[libertylover]

...was one of two Marines killed and five wounded

It's always sad when US servicemen are killed in action but two dead and five wounded is a long way from "decimated". The Washington Post at work I suppose.

[strange1]

Fair winds and following seas.

[Shery]

Prayers for all families, and for complete healing/recovery for those wounded.

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks for posting this flutters.

May they all rest in peace.

We are so proud of all the military serving our country.