Semper Fi, Megan McClung

[Major Robert Dump]

Not to undermine other service members who have sacraficed their lives, but something really sticks me in the heart whenever we lose one of our girls, especially one like this.

Megan was what some jerks would call a "pogue." She was public affairs, she was adament about getting quality embeds and stories about Iraq, she was quoted often in the war media and in fitness magazines, she was a gorgeous Marine Major who was killed while traveling without escort in a place she honestly should not have been.

Countries survive because of people like this. What a terrible, terrible loss.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/12/11/news/top_stories/12010611018.txt

[Scurvy]

very sad :no:

[lars573]

Soldier in combat zone dies. *checks location of reproductive organs* OMG, It's a billion times worse cause there on the inside!!!!!

:jawdrop::rolleyes::thumbsdown:

This is no more or less "tragic" than any other soldier dying in a combat area.

:gah2:

[KukriKhan]

I thought MRD was pretty clear with

Not to undermine other service members who have sacraficed their lives, but something really sticks me in the heart whenever we lose one of our girls...

that he meant no disrespect to the other fallen - just that female combat deaths meant inordinately more to him.

Here are faces & details of other fallen:

Faces of the Fallen (http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/)

[Ser Clegane]

Thanks for the link, Kukri.

Sometimes it's scary how easily one can forget that there are 3000+ individual faces and 3000+ individual people behind the statistics of the fallen ... just as behind the number of 60 that were killed today in Baghdad.

MRD's post should serve as a reminder that there is a story and a life behind each of these faces.

RIP

:bow:

[spmetla]

I feel sorry for her family and friends. Unfortunate that it happens. Since getting deployed and having met many "pogue" chicks and guys that were in civil affairs or truck drivers or just paper pushers and the crap they've been through I've completely stopped using the term "pogue". This is only thing that stupid Army of One slogan I thought was good, an effort to not divide army into combat or non combat, national guard or regular army, just army and soldiers.

I'm not proud, but am aware of the unfortunate fact that the highest ranking death in Iraq was active duty Col., Col. Wood, that replaced one of the officers in our brigade.

I really hate these sad milestones though am also glad its not just us enlisted grunts that get blown away, hope you guys don't take this statement too badly.

[Papewaio]

I noticed the wrap up for one of the foreign news sources (US) on one of our local channels last weekend list a 46 year old Command Sgt Major as one of the losses... that I assume would have to be quite a large loss of ability... I think it stuck in my mind because my economics teacher at high school was a Sgt Major (SAS) and a rather interesting person to learn from.

Using the link Kurkikhan-sama provided it was rather easy to find who it was... not many 46 year olds... 14 in fact.


Command Sgt. Maj. Donovan E. Watts

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

Age: 46 years old

Died: November 21, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Incident: Killed in Bayji of injuries sustained when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Siniyah

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/515441.html


Once, at a social function, someone asked Watts whether he was married, Harris said.

"Yes, I'm married to the 82nd Airborne Division," came the reply.

A key leader with the 82nd Airborne Division brigade in Iraq was killed last week, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Command Sgt. Maj. Donovan E. Watts, 46, died Nov. 21 in a land mine blast while on patrol near Bayji, about 150 miles north of Baghdad, according to a news release from the 82nd Airborne.

Watts was the top noncommissioned officer of one of four combat battalions in the brigade combat team. A command sergeant major's duties include overseeing the performance -- and looking out for the welfare -- of all the enlisted men in their unit, which was several hundred in Watts' case.

The job is so crucial that the 82nd is flying in a replacement, Sgt. Maj. King Parks, said Maj. Tom Earnhardt, a spokesman for the division. A senior noncommissioned officer in the unit is temporarily filling the command gap, he said.

Sergeants major are among the most experienced troops, and Watts was no exception. He was a 27-year veteran of the Army and had served as rifleman, machine gunner, team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, battalion operations sergeant major and battalion command sergeant major, Earnhardt said. He also was an instructor at the Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga.

He had been stationed in Panama, Korea, Louisiana and Georgia as well as three assignments at Bragg. He also was deployed for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Watts was remembered in the unit as its father figure and as a man who often spoke softly but commanded respect by his force of personality.

A dog enthusiast, he often divided the world between the "porch dogs" who sat and talked and the "yard dogs" who got things done.

His last commander was effusive.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Donovan Watts was the greatest paratrooper I have ever known," said Lt. Col. Scott Harris, commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in a prepared statement. "Not only was he my battalion command sergeant major, he was my friend and confidant. He was the standard bearer for the battalion, and set the example for everyone -- subordinate, peer and superior alike. He was kind, fair and treated everyone with dignity. His care for his men was unparalleled."

Once, at a social function, someone asked Watts whether he was married, Harris said.

"Yes, I'm married to the 82nd Airborne Division," came the reply.

"CSM Watts was a phenomenal man -- a father figure for the battalion. He loved being a paratrooper and, consequently, loved paratroopers," said Maj. Curtis Buzzard, second in command of the battalion. "He gave his heart and soul to this battalion, and it reflected his philosophy -- train hard, treat one another with dignity and respect, and set and enforce high standards. ...

"He will be sorely missed but not forgotten. He would want us to move on -- in his words, 'like a Doberman, ears up.' "

The awards and decorations for Watts, an Atlanta native, include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with two silver clasps, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 4 device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Infantryman Badge with second award, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and Driver's Badge.

[Fragony]

A very big nevermind after looking at kukri's site.

[Stig]

Ah well atleast we Dutch manage to get ourselves not killed

If only 1 would get killed the parliament would start a debate, people would protest and the army should retreat from Afghanistan
I mean, you don't join the army to be sure of becoming 90 years old, and having a very safe profession, you can get killed that's just part of it

stupid Dutch politicians

[Fragony]

Ah well atleast we Dutch manage to get ourselves not killed

That's not really fair, we aren't really doing any offensive operations and the ones that do are special forces. Not a surprise that they are of better quality then the average soldier.

[Stig]

not entirely true, the regular army has also done some fighting ... without losses

Tho afaik we already have the best regular troops in Afghanistan

[Major Robert Dump]

You also seem to have ROEs which seem to prevent your armies deaths. No offense, amigos, but its an entirely different picture when you're carrying the bulk of operations in the bulk of the places. In all due respect, the Marines carry a much larger load percentage-wise and carry a much smaller casualty rate percentage-wise in terms of ground covered vs troops numbers.

I guess I'm just sad because it was a lady. Call me a noob.

[Prince of the Poodles]

Right before Christmas. American blood is worth more than this. I hope we hunt down her killers and give them what they deserve...

[Kagemusha]

May she rest in peace.:bow:

[Husar]

Hmm, just yesterday I came across this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKQzOei4mUo) and found it quite interesting.
I would generally agree with MRD but I know that it's pure bias simply because they look cute, the death of a man makes me sad as well, but it's just...different.:juggle2:

[Samurai Waki]

Truelly sad. :shame:

But I she did join the Marines, I'm sure she was aware of the risk of joining the military. Ya know, with all the equal rights things going on, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Women started joining Frontline Roles with men in the next 20-50 years. And it would be a rather nasty, and humiliating effect to be killed by a female if you came from a society that prized women more as an object, or path to carry on your bloodline.