Free Republic

Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground, Mother Earth will swallow you, Lay your body down ... -[Stephen Stills] Rest in peace young Marine ... may God keep you and yours. (Do NOT watch this without a box of Kleenex) Semper Fi - I/M http://www.jamesscottfilms.com/Bobby.wmv

Distinctions of War General Mattis's mistake There is an old adage that says "never miss an opportunity to shut up." I'm guessing that Marine Lieutenant General James Mattis wishes he'd taken this advice last week. As everyone knows by now Gen. Mattis, speaking on February 1 in San Diego as a panel member at a meeting of Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, said: Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling...You go into Afghanistan, you...

THE TRUTH ABOUT WAR By RALPH PETERS "Table manners don't win wars. Winning our nation's battles demands disciplined ferocity, raw physical courage — and integrity. Jim Mattis has those qualities in spades." February 6, 2005 -- IN San Diego on Tuesday, I had the privilege of sitting beside Lt.-Gen. Jim Mattis, a Marine who knows how to fight. We were on a panel discussing future war. And Gen. Mattis, a Marine to the marrow of his bones, spoke honestly about the thrill of combat. Mattis has commanded at every level. In Desert Storm, he led a battalion. In Afghanistan and...

"At ease, General Mattis. Your country salutes you, and needs you." I'd heard of U.S. Marine Gen. Jim Mattis from other Marines over the years and from news coverage of his own exploits. He was the blunt, bachelor general who had served nine tours of duty in the Middle East, including combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was the commander of the 1st Marine Division in the longest, fastest thrust of a division in Corps history -- that dash to Baghdad in 2003. I knew he wasn't just an officer; he was a leader. And a fighter. Not a statesman....

Very powerful (not gory) and extremely effective short video of the importance of teens and young adults wearing (or anyone)seat belts. I think this is one of the most important items ever passed along. PLEASE VIEW IT AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. It MAY SAVE A LIFE. PARTICULARLY those with teens or young adults!!! FORCE YOU KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS TO WATCH IT IF NEED BE.Much more powerful and effective than any "Be Safe Lecture" could possibly be. It may just well save their lives! LINK: http://kimmershow.com/fileTamer/seatbelts.wmv

Here's a powerful boots on the ground look at the prep work done by 2d Battalion 24th Marines in Iraq leading up to last Sunday's election; remarkable insight not presented for the general public by mainstream media. The author is the Bn Cdr., LtCol Smith, the Indiana State Trooper who commands a RESERVE battalion in Iraq. It would appear that this guy is fighting the war the way it should have been fought by EVERY unit in Iraq -- down and dirty, out there amongst them. Subject: Weekly Update 03 Feb 05 As usual, I am sincere in hoping that...

One Old Marine's comments as to all the "outrage" with General Mattis statements. In reference to all the "outrage" with General Mattis statements: These folks in the press doing the howling remind me of the scene in the movie, Casablanca, in which the Vichy police chief exclaims, "I'm Shocked! … SHOCKED!!! … to find gambling in Rick's Café! This place is hereby closed!" (As he discreetly slips his bribed "winnings" into his tunic pocket) So, here's my message all those like-minded similarly offended hand-wringers, sanctimonious back-benchers, and, others of the "oh, our sensibilities are so offended by such rouges and...

The 'Snuffies' give "Mr." Rather what in common parlance is know as a "B---ch Slap"! (Verbally, of course ... dammit!) PROMOTE THOSE MEN! As forwarded. S/F- InfantryMarine Though it came to me with no identification, I think this is another message from Lt Col Smith, the Indiana State Trooper who is currently CO of 2/24 A Marine's Thoughts--from Iraq Hope everyone is well. Elections right around the corner here. Everything is going very well (except for the visit we just had from Dan Rather and his freakin' entourage from hell). A more pompous (but scared and nervous) bunch of individuals...

Perhaps if any of you have a few moments to spare, and are inclined to do so, please contact your local radio stations and ask that this soldiers last request (See his letter below) be honored. Thanks, S/F- InfantryMarine --- Ray, as per our conversation a few minutes ago.. Please do what you can and maybe you can let other Clear Channel Program Directors know of this request? Thanks, Semper Fi- InfantryMarine -- This morning I was deeply saddened and moved when I read the following at www.blackfive.net which was posted yesterday. Could you please pass this on to the...

Long-term care a challenge for soldiers December 5, 2004 BY LORI RACKL HEALTH REPORTER In World War II, for every soldier killed in combat, there were three wounded on the battlefield, according to historians with the U.S. Army Medical Command. In Korea, the ratio of killed-to-wounded was one to four. The ratio was the same for Vietnam. In Iraq, the ratio is one to 12. "If they're alive when medical care gets to them, 98 percent are surviving," said Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, one of the top medical officers for the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. Those combat survivors...

State's wounded vets at bottom for benefits December 3, 2004 BY CHERYL L. REED Staff Reporter Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Derrig was fixing a dented .50-caliber machine-gun round outside one of Saddam Hussein's palaces when the bullet exploded. The blast cut through his hand, blew out an eye and scattered shrapnel over the 18-year-old. Now, a year and a half later, the 2002 graduate of Luther North High School in Jefferson Park has another concern: How much money will the federal Veterans Affairs office in Chicago decide his injuries are worth? Disability benefits can range from $109 to $6,576 a...

The American Legion/Columbia University PTSD Study These veterans should fare much better than their Vietnam veteran counterparts. Much more is now known about the factors that predispose an individual to chronic PTSD, the qualities of the stressors that may lead to PTSD and the factors in the post-trauma life course that may exacerbate or ameliorate PTSD symptoms. Contributing to this knowledge base, a study conducted by The American Legion and Columbia University was recently published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 71, No. 6 (December 2003). The study was begun in 1984. In 1998 we had the...

S/F- InfantryMarine PS: Corroborating Intel on "High" Jihadi's and "fake death/surrender" tactics as reported by Marines earlier. Battle of Fallujah.....and Happy Thanksgiving November 24, 2004 Everyone, Well, Task Force 2-7 Cav made it back from Fallujah earlier than expected, mission accomplished. It feels so good to be back from a second successful mission that was as difficult as it was dangerous. .Repot We left Camp Cooke on Nov 1 and staged at Camp Fallujah for about a week. While there, we got the good news that George Bush was re-elected -- and we had busy days and nights of planning...

Heart rending read. Although it makes reference to theVietnam War it's story is relevant to our current conflict as well. "Some gave all. All gave some. " "The cost of freedom is buried in the ground." S/F- InfantryMarine Dennis forwarded this to me. It is an article written by Dr. John, that operated on Dennis in Vietnam. His was only one of many good articles contributed to this book. I truly enjoyed it and thought you all might like to see it as well. Much Love, Mary ---- What Do You Stand For?: Stories About Principles That Matter - by...

USMC Sniper stops insurgents from 950 yards http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/m...58?opendocument FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 27, 2004) -- A U.S. Marine sniper waited patiently inside a one-story house deep within the city. Lying in the prone position for several hours, he scanned the area through his scope before he finally found the three insurgents responsible for two previous mortar attacks. Sgt. Memo M. Sandoval, a platoon sergeant with Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, needed to positively identify the insurgents before he could take his shot. Sandoval, 26, saw that one of the men was about to place...

Got this in an E-mail today... It's a safety issue pure and simple. After assaulting through a target, put a security round in everybody's head. Sorry al-Reuters, there's no paddy wagon rolling around Fallujah picking up "prisoners" and offering them a hot cup a joe, falafel, and a blanket. There's no time to dick around in the target, you clear the space, dump the chumps, and moveon.org. Are Corpsman expected to treat wounded terrorists? Negative. Remember, in Fallujah there is no yesterday, there is no tomorrow, there is only now. Right NOW. Have you ever lived in NOW for a...

SEE IT. SIGN IT. SEND IT ALONG. http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?as123 Semper Fi I/M

To: U.S. Congress Friday November 12 2004 U.S.Marines were fired upon by snipers and insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades from a mosque and an adjacent building. The Marines returned fire with tank shells and machine guns. They eventually stormed the mosque, killing 10 insurgents and wounding five others, and showing a cache of rifles and grenades for journalists. The Marines told the pool reporter that the wounded insurgents would be left behind for others to pick up and move to the rear for treatment. But Saturday, another squad of Marines found that the mosque had been reoccupied by insurgents and...

About 10 minutes long and well worth the viewing time to see what the poor women of "The Religion Of Peace" endure to survive. S/F- I/M Go to littlegreenfootballs http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2655656?htv=12 and scroll down to 'submission' click on submission part 1 and then click on the collage. The first part of the movie is praying in Arabic, then she switches to English for the rest. If nothing else you'll learn it really sucks to be a woman in islamland. TO SEE IT CLICK HERE:http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2655656?htv=12 IFILM is now showing the entire Theo Van Gogh film Submission.

Any help on FR "etiquette" and PIC posting instructions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! S/F- I/M