Posted on 04/10/2006 6:45:06 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP TAQADDUM (Apr. 8, 2006) -- “He could take the worst job in the world and make it ok,” said Sgt. Nicholas Cunningham with a somber look and grief in his eyes.
Cunningham is just one of the many Marines mourning the loss of Cpl. David A. Bass who was killed April 2, 2006, when the vehicle he was riding in rolled over during a flash flood in western Iraq near Al-Asad Air Base.
A memorial service for Bass, complete with a 21-gun salute, was held here April 8, 2006, in the main chapel of Camp Taqaddum.
Bass, a disbursing pay agent who paid military contracts and servicemembers in Iraq, is remembered as the guy with a big heart, even though he only stood around 5 feet, 3 inches.
“He was the guy who would bring a smile to your face and could turn anything into a joke. He also made sure no one was left out of the group,” said Cpl. Charles Lovern, who has served with Bass every step of his Marine Corps career, from boot camp to this deployment in Iraq.
A native of Nashville, Tenn., Bass used the Marine Corps to gain life experience, travel, and blend in with the natives of southern California.
“When we first got to Camp Pendleton (Calif.), he wouldn’t stop talking about surfing so he bought a $500 surfboard. Only after he strutted down the beach and jumped in the water, did he think of buying a training board. The first time he surfed he couldn’t even get his knee onto the surfboard and kept wiping out. My wife never let him live that down,” said Lovern.
Bass’ character touched everyone, not just his friends. The commanders he worked for appreciated his demeanor and professionalism on the job.
He always wore a genuine smile and was known for having a positive attitude, along with a quick-witted sense of humor. He was a true professional and was quick to help anyone regardless of rank, said Bass’ commanding officer, Capt. Lisa Doring.
Not only was Bass good at his job, but handling large sums of money seemed to be the right job for the Marine.
“He always talked about how he wanted to be a millionaire and have a huge house just like Hugh Heffner. I guess disbursing was the perfect job for him” added Lovern, budding a smile on his face.
Just as the Marine Corps trusted him with thousands of dollars, his friends trusted him with their closest treasures.
“He never had any bad intentions, I’d trust him to watch after my 19-month-old daughter Alyssa,” said Lovern.
Bass is a graduate of John Overton Comprehensive High School in Nashville, Tenn. He joined the Marines in 2003 and graduated boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in November that year.
After attending the Marine Corps’ financial management school he was assigned to Camp Pendleton’s disbursing office, was promoted to the rank of corporal on January 1, 2006, and deployed less than two months later to Al Asad Air Base where he provided disbursing support to Marines in the Hadithah area.
He is survived by his mother, Tammy Delle, father, John Bass, and brother.
It just is never going to get any easier to read these things. The good Lord has reasons for all He allows, but it just don't get any easier.
What's with the headline add: "TISSUES AT THE READY"?
Is there some reason to suspect that this death notice is some kind of insincere "tear jerker" designed to illicit false sorrow?
In the opinion of the poster, is this just another bogus war tale to illicit support for our unpopular war in Iraq?
Are we being advised what to think here?
BTTT
For most of us that serve, those that have served in peaceful times of times of war and those that love us, this is serious.
If you don't understand it, just means you have never been there, and your comment, even though protected by all vets, is disrespectful. There is nothing phony about dying for your country and nothing phony about remembering a fallen brother-in-arms.
Take a minute and think about it the next Memorial day while you are BBQing in your back yard and slamming back a few brews...
Three rifle volleys, not a 21-gun salute.
Putz
What the aych-e-double-toothpicks are you talking about. Do you know where you are?
I take the notice of "TISSUES AT THE READY" as an insult to the fallen comrade.
From the reactions recieved, perhaps I am mistaken.
It struck me as "derisive" and disrespectful. ( I guess that's not the case with all you "war heros".)
"Tissues at the ready" is merely a warning to Freepers that the thread's content might make them tear up.
That part is obvious.
My take was that the poster had assumed a derisive posture on this story and was being sarcastic. ( I know of this poster and his posts have always been sincere...so this was a disappointing surprise) The comment fell into the same category,at least as I saw it at the time, as "Barf Alert" and other similar cautionary notes added to titles upon posting.
That some a$$*xxx would disrespect the combat death of our servicemen online is infuriating and I responded rather timidly, if the truth be known.
Actually,in retrospect, I should have held my own counsel and not bothered. Many folks did not share my take on this matter, which is, in all reality, a storm in a teacup.
I must strive to be centered and calm in the face of real and imagined circumstances. Many of us have witnessed terrible losses of military service people over a lifetime and it just never gets easy to accept.
It never will.
Z? Are you an historian? What do you care who I am or not?
My experience here is that snot-nosed kids are the only ones who pose questions like that.
Worrying about whether some person who visits this discussion thread is a "friendly" or not is the province of rank amateurs. Frankly if everybody agrees on everthing this whole deal would be as much fun as kissing ones sister.
Check out my public comments on my "In Forum" part of this website (doubleclick on my screen name, then doubleclick on the header that says "In Forum". It has every word I've ever posted on FR. I expect your apology after you have read what I've had to say about all kinds of subjects).
If anything, I probably should do more reading and less posting.) Meantime, I'm headed over to your comments and let's compare notes...Maybe I owe you an attaboy/girl.
Just did a quick survey of a few(!) of your recent posts.
Get a life. You never seem to sleep if the number of posts you have mounted in just the past few days are any indicator.
Consult a therapist to ease your troubled mind. You have more than just a few unresolved issues that need sorting out.
It seems we both could be more centered and calm and need to struggle less with confusion and worry.
Maybe it;s something as simple as Divine guidance that might move us ahead to new insight and clarity.
Tell you what? I'll pray for you.
:(
Thanks.
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Cpl. Sara J. Placencia, a disburser with the 1st Marine Logistics Group, pays her last respects to Cpl. David A. Bass during a memorial service held April 8, 2006 at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. Bass, a disbursing pay agent, was killed April 2, 2006 when the vehicle he was riding in flipped over during a flash flood near al-Asad airbase.