[Cicero]

I see several interesting points:

He didn't draw Iraqi fire as he was meant to do, which may or may not have been his fault.

He was born in Little Rock, which may conceivably have endeared him to clinton. Whether he got on the fast track during the clinton years I don't know.

He served in Iceland during the first Gulf War and hasn't seen combat before.

His immediate commander admires aggressiveness in his subordinates.

A high ranking marine praises his immediate commander unreservedly but can only say he has heard good things about Dowdy.

A couple of Freepers have said they know Dowdy or know of him, and that he is a good man and a promising officer who was expected to be promoted. I don't know how first-hand that knowledge may be.

[American Soldier]

What the hell do Marines do in Iceland? Guard things?

I know Marines don't have official branches like Army officers do (I've always envied them for that)... Was he some kind of support officer before but then switched over to an operational command? Is that even possible?

[Lancey Howard]

re: your post #12
Minor request:

Failure to capitalize "clinton" - - nobody cares.
Failure to capitalize "Marine" - - please don't do that.

Regards,
LH

[Cachelot]

A couple of Freepers have said they know Dowdy or know of him, and that he is a good man

There was a Dowdy among the soldiers found buried during the Lynch rescue. If that's a relative, that may be why he was relieved.