Al-Qaida Claims Downing Of U.S. Helicopter

wral.com ^ | November 3, 2005 | ap

[TXnMA]

Fox News reported that we air-whomped an "insurgent command center" in the immediate area of where the Cobra took fire -- with a couple of 500 pounders. Hope we "got some"...

[ChadGore]

Wait wait wait . . this can not be . . . liberal leaders across the USA have assured me that there is no al-Qaida in Iraq.

BUSH WAS RIGHT !

[rangerric]

My best friend and "brother" Maj Gerald Bloomfield USMC was the pilot of this bird........... his services are being planned by the rest of the family - Arlington will be his destination. He "gave em some" repeatedly and with great fervor and frequency since this 4th tour began in Aug.

Our prayers go out to family of "The Beav"s co-pilot as well as to the family of the LT who was KIA enroute to the crash site.......................

It sounds as if there was a rather long line awaiting the "virgins" after all was said and done.

[USMCPOP]

I am very sorry to hear that about your friend. I was informed about Capt. Martino earlier, as his parents were notified by our Reserve unit in Lynchburg.

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The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Gerald M. Bloomfield II, 38, of Ypsilanti, Mich.
Capt. Michael D. Martino, 32, of Fairfax, Va.

Both Marines died Nov. 2 when their AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter crashed while flying in support of security and stabilization operations near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Both Marines were with Marine Light-Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, their unit was attached to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II MEF (Forward).
The crash is currently under investigation.

[rangerric]

Bloomfield and Martino - what a team! I received a note from Iraq that the 336 named a baseball diamond after these two. Delivering the "message" is tough duty. i have done it frequently myself - especially during deployment in New Orleans the last couple months.
The Arlington ceremony was truly beyond words! A few corks were tossed with the Corps Aviators and wives who atended the after wake social. We did have Jerry shipped home to Elkhart for a local service after he was released from Dover. Now this was a whole different story........the Westboro Baptist Church protest group showed up! Thank God I was notified by local law enforcement 24 hrs before the service....we scrambled between 200-300 Korea and Nam Vets, Freedom Riders and an assortment of the "old guard" as well - they provided a slient vigil in honor of Jerry......occupying the sidewalks as intended - and preventing the lunatics from KS access to Jerry's widow and the rest of the family. Mission accomplished!

[McGavin999]

Thank you for doing that.

[USMCPOP]

Yes, thank you, indeed!