Pvt Jake Krueger, my son, was traveling home for Christmas from 29 Palms California on Dec 22nd 2007 and he was going to be stuck overnight at the Palm Springs airport.
The USO he was hanging at was to close at 2200 hours. The volunteer on duty noted that there was 20 young Marines that were overnighting also, so he got on the phone and made some calls and the Spa Resort Casino Hotel in Palm Springs said they would help out. They sent a hotel shuttle over to pick them up, comped them rooms, dinner and breakfast and the ride back to the airport!
That made this set of anxious parents very grateful for a very kind, "support our troops" holiday act!
S.F.
Kerry Krueger
Cpl 80 to 86
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Our Marines Afar.
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines
Messages from the CO
28 October 2009
Sometime tonight our first main body flight should be departing Manas Air Force Base in Kyrgyzstan in route to Hawaii. They will be followed, hopefully in short order, by the remainder of our main body flights as we return home. We are making every effort to communicate with our personnel in Kaneohe to provide as up to the minute information as possible regarding flight manifests and times. Occasionally higher priority missions result in reassignments or flight changes, please be assured that we will make every effort to get that information to Kaneohe for distribution as quickly as possible.
This is a bit of an odd update I'm afraid. It isn't my intention to talk about Afghanistan or our mission here, but instead to address just what incredible men your Marines and Sailors are. I doubt that I will ever be able to express the extent of the respect and admiration I have for your loved ones in this Battalion. I can use words like dedication, courage, honor but in the end words don't quite cut it. So let me tell you what I have seen:
I saw a LCpl bring in his buddy's gear following a horrible IED strike and practically beg to go back out so he could get back in the fight.
I saw a Marine leaning out over the edge of a roof in the middle of a firefight, leaving himself in the open purposefully in order to tempt an enemy RPG shooter to break cover in order to end him.
I've seen numerous Marines standing a lonely post in the pre-dawn hours, keeping watch carefully and correctly even though no one would know if they cut a corner, but doing it right because they were responsible for their buddies' lives.
I watched a Sailor calmly grab his gear and run out in the open to a casualty who needed him, he never asked "How bad is he hurt?" or "How much enemy fire is there?", the only thing he asked was "Where's the casualty?" then he went. Because Corpsmen always come when they are needed, always.
I watched 19 and 20 year old men, who a mere few years before were undoubtedly typical self centered teenagers, earnestly try to make a young child who has only known poverty and war smile. I even saw a very imposing Marine in this Battalion who, frankly, scares the heck out of me, see a little girl off to the side of a group of kids with nothing in her hands so he very seriously went around saying "Somebody give me a teddy-bear, who has a F-ing teddy bear?" until he found one and presented it to her. The only person there with a bigger smile than the little girl was the Marine. He then went right back to chewing on his squad to keep their dispersion and move faster.
I watched FST medical personnel try every desperate measure to keep a good Marine with us, to the point of opening his chest and massaging his heart for what seemed like an interminable time. At the same time I saw a line of Marines and Sailors and Soldiers forming outside to donate blood, we had enough donors to transfuse all of Hannibal's elephants but they all wanted to do something and at that time the only thing they could do was give some of their blood.
I watched an NCO very patiently sum up all the complex nuances of counter-insurgency warfare to a young Marine while both were being pummeled with stones and physically knocking intruders off our wall from a mob threatening to breach the walls of our police station; "They want us to shoot them, so then they can make us all look like bad guys." So we didn't shoot, even though we had more than sufficient justification, and in the end what could have been a horrible incident broadcast around the world actually became a positive as the locals started talking about the restraint of "their Marines" and became angry with the rioters for their "un-Islamic" behavior.
I watched a Marine, with excruciating slowness and superhuman patience, lead an Afghan Policeman through a patrol brief. And I saw the pride in the ANP officer's face when he lead his patrol out the entry control point, in his town and in front of his people, with the Marines trailing along behind in case he needed some help. I also saw an Afghan Policeman's face when I told him that the Marines thought highly of him and had told me that "Spider" (his nickname) was a good guy to have alongside you in a fight. He sputtered a little bit then said something short and stared at me very intensely, the linguist told me "He says he is just so very proud that the US Marines think that". Once Spider was sure that I understood that he meant it, he strutted away like he had just won the world's highest honor. And perhaps he had.
I know that for the rest of my life I will cherish this period in which I had the honor to spend my days among such incredible men. And I know that it has been your sacrifices that have made it possible. I thank you for allowing me this time with your loved ones.
We are coming home.
Messages from the CO
28 October 2009
Sometime tonight our first main body flight should be departing Manas Air Force Base in Kyrgyzstan in route to Hawaii. They will be followed, hopefully in short order, by the remainder of our main body flights as we return home. We are making every effort to communicate with our personnel in Kaneohe to provide as up to the minute information as possible regarding flight manifests and times. Occasionally higher priority missions result in reassignments or flight changes, please be assured that we will make every effort to get that information to Kaneohe for distribution as quickly as possible.
This is a bit of an odd update I'm afraid. It isn't my intention to talk about Afghanistan or our mission here, but instead to address just what incredible men your Marines and Sailors are. I doubt that I will ever be able to express the extent of the respect and admiration I have for your loved ones in this Battalion. I can use words like dedication, courage, honor but in the end words don't quite cut it. So let me tell you what I have seen:
I saw a LCpl bring in his buddy's gear following a horrible IED strike and practically beg to go back out so he could get back in the fight.
I saw a Marine leaning out over the edge of a roof in the middle of a firefight, leaving himself in the open purposefully in order to tempt an enemy RPG shooter to break cover in order to end him.
I've seen numerous Marines standing a lonely post in the pre-dawn hours, keeping watch carefully and correctly even though no one would know if they cut a corner, but doing it right because they were responsible for their buddies' lives.
I watched a Sailor calmly grab his gear and run out in the open to a casualty who needed him, he never asked "How bad is he hurt?" or "How much enemy fire is there?", the only thing he asked was "Where's the casualty?" then he went. Because Corpsmen always come when they are needed, always.
I watched 19 and 20 year old men, who a mere few years before were undoubtedly typical self centered teenagers, earnestly try to make a young child who has only known poverty and war smile. I even saw a very imposing Marine in this Battalion who, frankly, scares the heck out of me, see a little girl off to the side of a group of kids with nothing in her hands so he very seriously went around saying "Somebody give me a teddy-bear, who has a F-ing teddy bear?" until he found one and presented it to her. The only person there with a bigger smile than the little girl was the Marine. He then went right back to chewing on his squad to keep their dispersion and move faster.
I watched FST medical personnel try every desperate measure to keep a good Marine with us, to the point of opening his chest and massaging his heart for what seemed like an interminable time. At the same time I saw a line of Marines and Sailors and Soldiers forming outside to donate blood, we had enough donors to transfuse all of Hannibal's elephants but they all wanted to do something and at that time the only thing they could do was give some of their blood.
I watched an NCO very patiently sum up all the complex nuances of counter-insurgency warfare to a young Marine while both were being pummeled with stones and physically knocking intruders off our wall from a mob threatening to breach the walls of our police station; "They want us to shoot them, so then they can make us all look like bad guys." So we didn't shoot, even though we had more than sufficient justification, and in the end what could have been a horrible incident broadcast around the world actually became a positive as the locals started talking about the restraint of "their Marines" and became angry with the rioters for their "un-Islamic" behavior.
I watched a Marine, with excruciating slowness and superhuman patience, lead an Afghan Policeman through a patrol brief. And I saw the pride in the ANP officer's face when he lead his patrol out the entry control point, in his town and in front of his people, with the Marines trailing along behind in case he needed some help. I also saw an Afghan Policeman's face when I told him that the Marines thought highly of him and had told me that "Spider" (his nickname) was a good guy to have alongside you in a fight. He sputtered a little bit then said something short and stared at me very intensely, the linguist told me "He says he is just so very proud that the US Marines think that". Once Spider was sure that I understood that he meant it, he strutted away like he had just won the world's highest honor. And perhaps he had.
I know that for the rest of my life I will cherish this period in which I had the honor to spend my days among such incredible men. And I know that it has been your sacrifices that have made it possible. I thank you for allowing me this time with your loved ones.
We are coming home.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Commandants Birthday Luncheon Oklahoma City
I had the great honor of attending this function and hearing our 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps Speak and the even greater honor of shaking his hand and thanking him for a letter he had written me. The things I took away from this are,
The Commandant is a generous man. He is highly motivated, still a jokester and extremely caring and courteous to all of the people that wanted to meet him. He does not carry himself like a person of stardom, but a person of integrity and likeness to his brothers and sisters, old and young. He wants us to know that the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan are counting on our support and that they care deeply, that we care. If we didn’t care, it would break their hearts. They are there for us. There were so many Marines in attendance, and family and friend thereof. I saw so many of our customers there, wearing our apparel and such. And I probably knew half of them. I want to tell you about a man who was there and who I know named David Bounds. He is not a Marine,but he loves the Corps!!He is a school teacher at Little Axe High School here in Oklahoma. He has been responsible for putting 47 young men and woman in the Corps. If that isn’t outstanding I don’t know what is. I already cant wait until next year’s luncheon and in the hopes that the Commandant will come again, so I can get David right up there and introduce him. He was in such awe of the General Conway. Sgt Grit was mentioned at the ceremony and thanked for donating a door prize. Well I guess that’s about it. Enjoy.
Kristy F.
Marketing Supervisor
If you want to see all of the pictures that Kristy took you can go to Flickr.
The Commandant is a generous man. He is highly motivated, still a jokester and extremely caring and courteous to all of the people that wanted to meet him. He does not carry himself like a person of stardom, but a person of integrity and likeness to his brothers and sisters, old and young. He wants us to know that the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan are counting on our support and that they care deeply, that we care. If we didn’t care, it would break their hearts. They are there for us. There were so many Marines in attendance, and family and friend thereof. I saw so many of our customers there, wearing our apparel and such. And I probably knew half of them. I want to tell you about a man who was there and who I know named David Bounds. He is not a Marine,but he loves the Corps!!He is a school teacher at Little Axe High School here in Oklahoma. He has been responsible for putting 47 young men and woman in the Corps. If that isn’t outstanding I don’t know what is. I already cant wait until next year’s luncheon and in the hopes that the Commandant will come again, so I can get David right up there and introduce him. He was in such awe of the General Conway. Sgt Grit was mentioned at the ceremony and thanked for donating a door prize. Well I guess that’s about it. Enjoy.
Kristy F.
Marketing Supervisor
If you want to see all of the pictures that Kristy took you can go to Flickr.
Friday, November 13, 2009
...different ways to stay busy
My fiance LCpl Josh Fisher is currently in Afghanistan, so I've been trying to find different ways to stay busy and with this time of season, fall and Halloween I went on a search for a USMC pumpkin pattern. Alas I found none. So I got creative and made my own and it turned out better than I could have ever expected. I just wanted to share those pictures with everyone. Emblem Jack O Lantern in the dark
Thank you Sgt Grit for all you do!
Proud Marine Fiance missin' him all day every day until he returns.
Sabrina Billings
You can read more stories like this one in our Newsletter Archives.
Thank you Sgt Grit for all you do!
Proud Marine Fiance missin' him all day every day until he returns.
Sabrina Billings
You can read more stories like this one in our Newsletter Archives.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Getting To Know the Sgt Grit Staff
What is your name?
Jeremy C.
How long have you worked here?
Approximately 4 years and 5 months.
What is your job title?
Supervisor of Web Design
What do you like best about your job?
I get to solve problems through design.
What do you like the least?
The color of my cubicle, but I can change that.
What did you fear most about working for a Marine Corps related company?
Nothing in particular. I couldn't relate much to the Marine Corps being an Air Force brat, but I learned that hard work pays off.
What have you learned while working here?
Kabars are very sharp and if you like yourself, you'll never accidentally call a Marine a soldier.
Do you have a favorite or regular customer/ person you have met while working here? Tell me about them.
George Chase has always been a pleasant and friendly customer. Quite a few people here know George and his adorable pug, Monte. I wish I could say more about George's time in the Marine Corps, but I can't recall it at the moment.
Tell me about a memorable moment or story.
I was working late one day and noticed Sgt Grit and Cherea speaking with a customer. There seemed to be some sort of mix up and Sgt Grit ended up literally running to the back for some reason. I had never seen him move so quickly, but a few minutes later he came back with a box full of donations for the customer. That helped drill the idea of exceptional customer service into my skull even more, and it was just a nice thing to see.
Do you think you could have ever been a Marine?
Yes
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