Free Republic

What really gets lost in all of this talk is how much soldiers will miss the M9 Beretta handguns. Travis Pike, a former Marine machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for five years, recently wrote on Sandboxx that “I couldn’t help but feel a little tinge of nostalgic sadness. I’m not saying the Beretta was better than the Sig, but I loved the M9.”

Several of the U.S. service members who were killed in an Islamic State-perpetrated terror attack in Afghanistan were identified Friday as tributes poured in honoring their sacrifice. Marine David Lee Espinoza, a 20-year-old from Laredo, Texas, was reportedly among the 13 servicemen who were killed by an ISIS-K suicide bomber outside the international airport in Kabul, which left another 18 service members injured and more than 100 others dead. The Laredo Police Department, which lowered the flags outside its headquarters in honor of Espinoza, thanked the fallen Marine for his service. “Our thoughts and prayers will remain with the family...

WASHINGTON - Two years ago a young Marine fell on a hand grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his comrades. Now he is in line to be recognized as only the second Medal of Honor winner from the war. President Bush on Thursday was to posthumously award the medal, the nation’s highest military decoration, to Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham of Scio, N.Y. His parents were to accept the award in a ceremony in the ornate East Room of the White House. Afterward, Bush was to visit an Army fort that must suddenly send troops off to Iraq more...

I'm sure I wasn't the only one extremely touched by the words President Bush quoted from Marine Staff Sergent Dan Clay, who was killed fighting for freedom in Fallujah. "I know what honor is. It has been an honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledgethat you would not have to .............. never falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting"