One from my Battalion yesterday...

[Divinus Arma]

:shame:

Yesterday a suicide bomber took out three Marines from my unit. One killed, two seriously injured. They were part of the K9 unit which I had been a part of for several years. I still stay close with all those guys and consider myself one of the historically very few "K9 Marines" at heart.

I won't bring the politics of the War here, but I thought I would just post this anyway.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180801,00.html


The military hasn't released names yet, and I won't do it either. But I knew the devil dog well and he was a very good guy. A total professional, very calm, and a stellar Marine.

We also lost two Marine K9s.

Semper Fi.

:shame:

[Vladimir]

The hounds of hell leading dogs of war. Quite a job. :2thumbsup:

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

~:pissed:

[Duke Malcolm]

Ah, a tragic loss, no doubt having fought well...

"For God, For country, For loved ones, home, For the sacred cause of justice, and The freedom of the world, he Had done good toward God and toward his house."

[Ice]

Don't worry Dinvus, they won't die in vain. Sorry about ur loss my friend.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Aye, sorry for your loss:shame:

[Divinus Arma]

Thanks. I feel worse for the family. He's younger than I am and he either (a) was about to get out or (b) just reenlisted. I can't remember which.

First K9 Marine killed in a very very very long time. I think since Vietnam...

[Papewaio]

Sorry about your loss too. :sad:

[Alexanderofmacedon]

How prestigous is being such a marine? It seems like not many have died, which must say a lot for how skilled they are...

[master of the puppets]

you just have to hate terrorists who prey on innocent dogs and there trainers, but seriously i'm very sorry for your loss, and even more for there losses.

[Zalmoxis]

Sorry for you.

[Strike For The South]

sorry brotha

[Samurai Waki]

One of my friends lost his cousin in Iraq last July, both served in the same Regiment, but his battalion was sent home about a month earlier, and then about two weeks before his cousin's battalion was going to be sent home, he was killed in a mortar attack, he's still blaming himself I think sometimes, because he was the one who convinced his cousin to join. I kept telling him that his cousin joined willingly, and he died for a noble cause. Anymore the subject hasn't really arisen, but he still has this really depressing air about him. I am sorry for the loss of your comrades.

[Sjakihata]

What is a K9 marine and what does semper fi mean?

[Gawain of Orkeny]

http://wtv-zone.com/Hahnsflyboys/dogtoo/importD49.jpg

Introduction To The
U.S. Marine Corps' War Dogs! (http://community-2.webtv.net/Hahn-50thAP-K9/K9History4/)

http://community.webtv.net/thurstonnewton/pics/scrapbookFiles/importD154.jpg

These dogs are considered full fledged Marines and are even given funerals.


does semper fi mean

Always Faithful.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

I'm very sorry to hear about this, Divinus. Condolences to you, and the families of these men.

[Ianofsmeg16]

Condolences man, if there's one thing I admire from our erstwhile bretheren across the pond it's their armed forces, especially the Marines, those blokes are hardcore.

I am sorry for your countries loss, to lose two of your finest must be a blow

[Divinus Arma]

Some further information:

The deceased Marine, a Sergeant like myself, was working a checkpoint of an Iraqi police recruiting site. A carbomb exploded with the force of the blast instantly killing him, but leaving his body intact.

A second Marine was a little further away and was knocked down by the blast and took a significant amount of shrapnel. He survived and is on his way home now.

A third K9 Marine (a Corporal) was nearer to the blast and was also knocked down. When he regained conciousness a moment later, he viewed the first Marine laying on the ground. He tried to drag him to safety while dragging himself along the ground as well (since one of his arms was rendered uselss and he was unable to stand), through what he described as a pool of body parts and general human leftovers (27 Iraqi police recruits were also taken out). As he was dragging the body of the fallen Marine, the fallen Marine's K9 came over and layed on his body, refusing to be seperated. The second Marine dragged them both, as well as himself, to cover. He didn't know that our Marine was dead until later. That Marine is being treated in Kuwait to have shrapnel removed and will return to Iraq soon.


The Marine Sergeant who was killed is the first Marine K9 handler to be killed in a combat action since Vietnam. He loved serving in Iraq, this was his second tour. As soon as he returned from the first tour he wanted to go straight back. He was due to return from Iraq in 2 months. And guess what? He wanted to go back as soon as possible for a third tour. He believed that we were making progress based on what he saw in places like Ramadi, Fallujah, and Al Taqgadum (sic). He believed that our actions were contributing to a better life for the people of Iraq, regardless of what the media would have you believe about the Iraqi view of the situation. He was dedicated. He was motivated. And he served with honor.

He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary later this week.

https://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1756/currentmindlesspic0cg.png (https://imageshack.us)

[KukriKhan]

Hats off to those fine men and their loyal k9 partners.

edit: withdrew sympathy, per request.

[Divinus Arma]

You guys are all very nice, but I don't need the sympathies. My fellow Marine died doing exactly what he wanted to do, and we all know the risks.

I feel bad for my guy of course, but its the frickin military. We die so you all don't have to. We are all volunteers. I'll probably die doing my duty too, since that is my life's calling; serving. My wife might not like the thought of being a widow, and my kids will end up without a father. But if someone doesn't answer the call then who will make sure that my kids can grow up without having to worry about VX gas seeping into the bedroom late at night? Who will get the bad guys to keep them from striking our families? Who will run into a burning building to pull our kids out to safety? My Marine was exactly that: A Marine. Always faithful to an ideal that is greater than himself.

Honor him and praise his courage, don't mourn him. Praise his sacrifice. He knew the risks and knew the price.

Honor him by honoring the rest of the living military who still go out and face that risk everyday.

Honor him by praising our veterans who contributed to a safer today, so as children, we didn't grow up in fear of tyranny, we grew up innocent.


Support our armed fathers and bothers, sisters and mothers, children and grandchildren by supporting the effort that they are engaged in. Pressure the administration for greater resolve and steadfastness in the face of an enemy that despises freedom. Honor us by supporting the effort. We want to win, not lose. We want to bring safety to the Iraqi people, not leave the Iraqi people to suffer an unknown fate at the hands of extremists.

Do not actively seek out our failure. Let's win this sucker, so all our Marines, including my friend, don't die for nothing. A stable, proserous, democratic and free Iraq. Nothing less will suffice.

[Sartaq]

Yes, he knew the risks. Prepared for the worst, hoping for the best.
May his family take pride and comfort in his selfless service.

[Kagemusha]

He did his duty and payed the ultimate prize for it.May he rest in peace.:bow:

[Vladimir]

You guys are all very nice, but I don't need the sympathies. My fellow Marine died doing exactly what he wanted to do, and we all know the risks...



etc. That's what I call "keeping it in context" and what I believe to be the proper context. HOOAH!!!