Posted on 12/01/2005 11:06:41 PM PST by ajolympian2004
GUNNY BOB'S COLUMN DECEMBER 01, 2005:
Once More Unto The Breach
The email came in this morning.
A Marine officer from the Ground Combat Element-Multi-National Force (GCE-MNF) in western Iraq was informing me that the 2nd Marine Division would be awaiting my arrival in al Anbar Province in the first week in January 2006. My media "embed" request had been approved.
In my mind’s eye, time turned back to May 1977, Platoon 3037, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Private Newman was standing at attention in the "DI hut" in my platoon’s squad bay. Seated before the recruit was the recruit’s senior drill instructor, Staff Sergeant John Mock, the most intimidating and fearsome man the recruit had ever encountered in his 19 years of life. Having just called the recruit into the hut from his duty as fire watch that evening, the recruit was sure his days were about to come to a gruesome and graphic end because of some crime against the Corps he had unwittingly committed.
But my demise was not in the cards. Instead, Staff Sergeant Mock, knowing that in a few days this recruit would become a Marine, was curious to see what this recruit thought about what life in the Corps would be like.
"Newman, what are you set to do in the Corps?" he asked without screaming.
"Sir, the private is going to be a grunt, sir."
"You ask for that, Newman?" the senior DI asked calmly as he actually handed me a half a cup of black coffee.
"Sir, yes sir." My slightly shaking hand reached out for the cup, sure it was an ambush.
"Well, Private Newman, in the Corps, you have to be careful about what you ask for. Now take your coffee and get back on duty."
I did so.
Reading the email a second time, I recalled the famous line from Henry V: "Once more unto the breach, my friends, once more."
In the blink of an eye, my usual Wednesday morning was anything but. Far to the east on the other side of the planet, Marines were on patrol; Marines I would soon meet and be on patrol with. I tried to imagine their faces, the steel in their young eyes and the grim visages of living legends with a deadly mission. I, too, once wore that face. A face I would retrieve from a dusty, olive-drab footlocker in my garage, where are stowed the signs and symbols and memories of another lifetime; a hideously sharp KA-BAR knife, a pair of desert combat boots, desert camouflage utilities, a web belt with gold buckle, dog tags, a photo of my platoon in the Gulf War in Kuwait, and a thousand more reminders of what I once was: a hired gun among hired guns.
Pulling the KA-BAR from its sheath, I read the inscription on the blade, put there by the non-commissioned officers of my Gulf War platoon, some of whom are now the gunnery sergeants leading Marines in combat.
I walked into my backyard with the KA-BAR and stood facing the east and Iraq and the 2nd Marine Division, my dog looking at me curiously.
"Gunny Newman, incoming." After I said that to no one in particular, I realized I was smiling. It was the smile you wear when destiny comes calling and you greet it as a friend.
I secured the knife, draped my dog tags around my neck, pulled my faded seabag from the footlocker, and started packing my trash.
This will be a can't miss week of talk radio! Gunny will get the REAL story from our men and women directly. He will also be calling in reports to other shows on 850am KOA while he is in Iraq.
The details will be posted and updated at Gunny Bob's website here: http://www.850koa.com/shows/newman.html
Gunny Bob's show is on 850am KOA M-F from 7pm to 10pm mountain time. To Listen Live just visit the http://www.850koa.com/ website and click 'Listen Live' at the top left side of the page. (No registration necessary and works best when using the Internet Explorer web browser)
You can email Gunny Bob with questions, ideas and suggestions for his upcoming trip, his show, etc. at gunnybob@850koa.com
FReepmail me if you want onto the PING list for this upcoming series of LIVE broadcasts from Iraq. (and for future Gunny Bob opinion columns, on-line events, etc.)
Godspeed Gunny Bob Bump...
Damn! I didn't realize Gunny Bob had a last name!
Thanks for the ping.
From Gunny Bob's webpage, officially announcing his trip to Iraq:
GUNNY IS IRAQ BOUND
Will Embed With The 2nd Marine Division
Gunny Bob always walked the walk as a Marine infantry unit leader, but for the last 4 years at 850 KOA, he has only been able to talk the talk. That is about to change in a big way.
You wanted the Gunny to go to Iraq and see first hand what is really going on there. The Gunny thinks that is a great idea, so he departs the USA on 4 January for Iraq, namely western Iraq in al Anbar province and scenic places like Fallujah. He will return on approximately 15 January.
While there, the Gunny hopes to have some live shows and also do some battlefield reporting.
Semper Fi!
>>Damn! I didn't realize Gunny Bob had a last name!
Bob?
;-P
Gunny Bob and I were on the same ship off Iranback in 1980.
Dont remember him though! :) We wrote a couple times through e-mails.
Go get 'em, Gunny Bob!!!!!!
Not unless it was issued...:)
Sleep easy America, with people like Gunny Bob, our Marines, Soldiers and the others on guard, the future is secure for our great nation.
Thank God for all of them.....truly our best and brightest....My prayers and Godspeed to all of them....
Could you add me to the Gunny ping, thanks
Recon Dad
If you can't shoot 'em with your Camera, shoot em with something else.
SEMPER FI
A Marine officer from the Ground Combat Element-Multi-National Force (GCE-MNF) in western Iraq was informing me that the 2nd Marine Division would be awaiting my arrival in al Anbar Province in the first week in January 2006. My media "embed" request had been approved.
In my mind’s eye, time turned back to May 1977, Platoon 3037, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Private Newman was standing at attention in the "DI hut" in my platoon’s squad bay. Seated before the recruit was the recruit’s senior drill instructor, Staff Sergeant John Mock, the most intimidating and fearsome man the recruit had ever encountered in his 19 years of life. Having just called the recruit into the hut from his duty as fire watch that evening, the recruit was sure his days were about to come to a gruesome and graphic end because of some crime against the Corps he had unwittingly committed.
I haven't been the target of a bad guy with a weapon in many years. I will likely piss myself the first time it happens again.
I am bringing extra skivvies, too.
Keep your head down over there!
Top, I intend to surround myself with brave lance corporals, to whom I shall hand fine cigars each time they keep me alive.
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