Ambushed Marines' Aid Call 'Rejected'
September 10, 2009
Agence France-Presse
NATO-led forces are investigating the death of four Marines in eastern Afghanistan after their commanders reportedly rejected requests for artillery fire in a battle with insurgents, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Tuesday's incident was "under investigation" and details remained unclear, press secretary Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
A McClatchy newspapers' journalist who witnessed the battle reported that a team of Marine trainers made repeated appeals for air and artillery support after being pinned down by insurgents in the village of Ganjgal in eastern Kunar province.
The U.S. troops had to wait more than an hour for attack helicopters to come to their aid and their appeal for artillery fire was rejected, with commanders citing new rules designed to avoid civilian casualties, the report said.
Morrell said the helicopters were not hampered by any restrictions on air power but had to travel a long distance to reach the Marines at the remote location near the Pakistan border.
"I think that it did take some time for close air support to arrive in this case, but this is not a result of more restrictive conditions in which it can be used," he said.
"It was the result, as is often the case in Afghanistan, of the fact that there are great distances often between bases where such assets are located and where our troops are out operating."
Morrell could not confirm whether appeals for artillery fire were denied by commanders.
According to the McClatchy report by Jonathan Landay, the U.S. advisors assisting Afghan forces had been assured before the operation that "air cover would be five minutes away."
The incident comes after the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, issued new restrictions on the use of military force and air raids in a bid to prevent civilian deaths.
McChrystal has warned that civilian casualties caused by the NATO-led force risk alienating the Afghan population and jeopardizing the war effort.
But the general and other top military officials have insisted air support and fire power would not be restricted when U.S. troops were under direct threat.
Bombing runs by coalition forces have declined sharply since McChrystal took over command in June, U.S.A Today reported on Wednesday, citing military statistics.
Tuesday's firefight in eastern Afghanistan involved a 13-member team of U.S. Marine and Army trainers assigned to the Afghan national army, the report said.
Eight Afghan soldiers and police and an Afghan interpreter also died in the battle, which lasted for hours with insurgents unleashing a barrage of gunfire and rockets from mountain positions, the report said.
When an Afghan soldier demanded helicopter gunships, U.S. Major Kevin Williams replied through an interpreter: "We are pinned down. We are running low on ammo. We have no air. We've lost today."
The Americans were assisting Afghan forces in an operation that called for Afghans searching the hamlet for weapons and then meeting village elders to plan police patrols.
But U.S. officers suspected insurgents were tipped off about the operation beforehand, as the coalition and Afghan forces were ambushed as they approached the outskirts of the hamlet at dawn, the report said.
Only a damned fool puts his hope in mankind put it in the Lord where you are assured a return on your investment!
The Last Full Measure of Devotion Click on title for video
President Lincoln, "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”
The Last Full Measure of Devotion
by Ralph E. Gebes
I would like to begin by quoting a member of E Company 506 PIR, 101st Air Borne prior to the invasion of Normandy during World War II. PFC David Webster wrote to his mother “stop worrying about me. I joined the parachutists to fight. I intend to fight. If necessary, I shall die fighting, but don’t worry about this because no war can be won without young men dying. Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice.”
In the long and honored history of America
there are names that shine like beacons in the night
The Patriots whose vision gave us meaning
who kept the lamp of freedom burning bright
Jacob Frazier of St. Charles was a member of 169th Air Support Operations Squadron of the Illinois Air National Guard. Jake was killed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was the only Air Force member on a U.S. Special Forces team that was ambushed. He was 24 who loved his job and the military, but most of all, he was a great friend and patriot. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor posthumously. Jakes dad Jim is proud of his son and works continuously in supporting our troops.
In the long and honored history of America
There are those that paid the last and final price
Who were called upon by chance,
or desperate circumstance to make the ultimate sacrifice
Geoffrey Morris lived in Gurnee. To hear his dad Kirk Morris tell it “Sometimes it takes years or decades before your children grow up and show you the maturity level, that it’s not all about ‘me. Geoff was not like that any more after joining the Marines. It was ‘us, it was ‘we.” PFC Morris, 19 died April 4 when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in Anbar province, Iraq. It meant a lot to him be a defender of his country, but also the defender of the right of the Iraqi people to choose their government and how they want to live. Today Kirk Morris is involved with many Gold Star parents. Through his tireless efforts there is a memorial in Gurney for those who paid the Last Full Measure of Devotion.
A grateful nation bows its head in sorrow
And in thanks for guaranteeing our tomorrow
The last full measure of devotion
thats what they gave to the cause
Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart while serving a Sniper Team with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. They volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. They fought their way to reach the injured crew members. Both soldiers fought to protect the wounded until the ammunition ran out and they were fatally wounded. Their actions saved the pilot’s life.
The last full measure of devotion
and though they cannot hear our applause
We honor them forever
and keep alive their story
pay tribute to their lives
and give them all the glory
Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith’s thoughts were not necessarily about the Iraqis to whom he was bringing freedom, but the men under his command and the other soldiers around him. As a result of his devotion to them, Sgt. 1st Class Smith was shot and killed by superior Iraqi forces on April 4th 2003 manning a 50 cal. Machine gun while covering the withdrawal of his men from a suddenly vulnerable position between what was the Saddam Hussein International Airport and Baghdad, Iraq. He was the only American to die in that engagement even though they were outnumbered 100 to 16. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The last full measure of devotion
beyond the call of duty were their deeds
The last full measure of devotion
They gave themselves to serve the greater needs
While flying a close-air support mission in his F16 Major Troy Gilbert found insurgents who had been attacking U.S. ground troops from a downed helicopter. Major Gilbert pointed his Fighting Falcon downward at the lead truck and fired the jet’s 20mm gun. As he pulled up 200 feet from the ground, Gilbert knew his bullets found their target. Gilbert then went after the second truck, this time starting at 2,800 feet. Again, he pointed the jet at the ground and twice fire the gun. But this, time Gilbert was too low. Although he started a 6G climb, the jet slammed into a field northwest of Baghdad, instantly killing the pilot. Even though the aircrafts computers told Major Gilbert he was too low he was determined and focused on taking out the insurgents before they could attack other ground troops. It was said that Troy Gilbert was a selfless dedicated Christian, father, and military officer without equal, and all who know and loved him are thankful for the gifts he brought to their lives.
And for those who did survive
And came back home alive
They join in praise of comrades
who were slain
And highly resolved
Most highly resolved
That these dead shall
not have died in vain
I quote from President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth.
The last full measure of devotion
Beyond the call of duty were their deeds
The last full measure of devotion
They gave themselves to serve the greater needs
And for those that did survive
And came back home alive
They join in praise of comrades
who were slain
And highly resolved
Most highly resolved
That these dead shall
not have died in vain
Again I quote from President Lincoln, "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”
So that they may not have died in vain we Americans have what our founding fathers as written by Judith H. Rose, might have called a Bill of Responsibilities:
1. You have the responsibility to be a loyal citizen of the United States of America and to expect the same of every other citizen or immigrant to this great land. You have the responsibility to honor the flag and everything she stands for, and to pledge your allegiance to your country.
2. Accepting citizenship means that you are, first and foremost, an American, not a hyphenated American or an expatriate of another country who is here solely for economic advantage. While you do not need to agree with every law that is passed, you do have the obligation to obey the law and work through peaceful means to achieve change.
3. You have the responsibility to speak up when the criminal or legislative actions of any persons threaten the welfare of your family or your nation. It is not someone else's responsibility to blow the whistle; it is yours. "They" should not do something about the problems. You are "they." It takes courage and time to stand up against evil and destructive forces, but if you do not do it, who will?
4. You have the responsibility to consider the welfare of ALL the citizens of the United States of America, even if it requires some personal sacrifice. The nation cannot survive the promulgation of narrow self-interest, be it of the individual, the community, or the state. As long as you judge every law or solution to a problem solely by how it affects you or your surroundings, rather than the country as a whole, there will be no real answers, nor can America remain great.
5. You have the responsibility to support yourself and your own immediate and extended family. Being self-sustaining, providing for your own family, and helping your neighbor to the extent possible are requisite for a healthy economy and society. No society can flourish when a sizable number of its citizens expect to do nothing while accepting a government dole. Reliance on government entities inevitably destroys individual self-respect and the economic well-being of both citizen and state. If you take care of yourself and family, and the community picks up the slack, this nation will have one-third more funds for worthwhile projects and both you and this nation, will become strong and resilient.
6. You have the responsibility to make a difference in the lives of your family, your community, and your nation. As a good citizen you are here to make a contribution to this country. America has always been in the forefront in medical advances, scientific research, humanitarianism, and other areas. You have the responsibility to continue this tradition through hard work and good use of your time. You have the responsibility to bypass excuses of race, economic standing, and victimization of any kind because, no matter which excuse you choose, someone has successfully overcome it.
7. You have the responsibility to be educated and informed. A public education is not enough. Finding truth is a challenging lifetime task that you must pursue diligently. You have the responsibility to seek truth from many sources. You must question what you read in any publication or listen to in any media report and be willing to consider all sides of any question. You must realize that such a quest for truth will take a tremendous effort to seek it out. The truth is not revealed unless actively sought.
8. You have the responsibility to use wisdom in selecting those who will lead you. You must learn to seek men of good character, not those with only charisma or a handsome face. You must become a connoisseur of character rather than a pawn of a salient slogan. You must remember that character is never outdated. A man or woman with no self-control should never be trusted with the welfare of our great country. You must never tolerate leaders who are untruthful, deceitful, or seek to exercise power rather than give service.
9. You have the responsibility to value and defend human life. Quality of life considerations, age, or handicaps do not in any way lessen the value of life itself. Any life taken by mankind before its time cheapens the life of every other American. You also have the responsibility to educate those who would degrade human life by considering it, at best, equal to or even lower than animal life.
10. You have the responsibility to honor your freedom of worship and to defend that right for every citizen in this country. We, your Founding Fathers valued religion highly and depended entirely upon God for the inspiration and help needed to form this union. We expect no less of you.
Remember those who paid the Last Full Measure of Devotion. I would encourage you also to remember our troops that stand in harms way. Thank You and God Bless America.
"A Veteran Died Today"
(Author Unknown)
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone.
And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a Veteran died today.
No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way; and the world won't note his passing; 'tho a Veteran died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran, goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to the service he gives.
While the ordinary Veteran, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his every waffling stand?
Or would you want a Veteran, who has sworn to defend, his home, his kin, and Country, and would fight until the end?
He was just a common Veteran and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us, we may need his likes again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Military's part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A VETERAN DIED TODAY.
(Recited by then-CBIVA National Chaplain Wendall Phillips during the Memorial Service at the 51st CBIVA Reunion. Printed in the Fall 1998 issue of the CBIVA Sound-off.)
All Americans should be given this lesson Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it' high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history. Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our 'GOD GIVEN' rights and freedoms.
I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world. |