For 6th time in 4 years, West Palm Marine unit begins long trip to Iraq

[Synnical]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-31deployment,0,5349202.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Mike Clary
sun-sentinel.com
Posted March 1 2007, 10:50 AM EST

WEST PALM BEACH -- For the sixth time in less than four years, a small band of young U.S. Marines left a small reserve center across the street from Palm Beach International Airport early Thursday to start a long journey to the war in Iraq. All stood erect and proud, and most were dry-eyed.

But they left torrents of tears in their wake.

"We love you, Carter," cried one of many in a group of family and friends who got up well before dawn to say farewell to Carter Allen, 22-year-old Palm Beach Gardens resident motivated to enlist after the 9-11 attacks. He is among 29 Marines with the 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) who left Thursday from a unit that has been tapped six times since the war began in March 2003.

Some of those who began an expected six-month deployment were making a third trip to the war zone.

"He's a little scared. We're all scared," said Allen's mother, Cheryl Baker, 52, a manager with the Palm Beach County school system, as she struggled for composure. Her son was making his first trip to Iraq. "But some things are out of our control," she said. "I have faith in God."

While some parents worried about the safety and mission of their marines, company First Sgt. Steve Rice said all were volunteers, chosen from many more who wanted to go to Iraq. "Everybody is chomping at the bit to get over there," said Rice.

The unit's mission is to direct fire, calling in mortar, artillery and air strikes on enemy targets. None of the Reserve unit's marines or sailors have been killed in Iraq, said Rice, but four have been wounded in prior tours of duty.

That's all, that's the complete story!!!!?

[MadMaddie]

1. Six times in less than four years.....

These men along with all of our other military men and women have done their fair share....it's time to bring them home and help them heal their minds and their bodies.

[rodeodance]

2. some day, this unit will not be so lucky-----and some will die.

[acmavm]

3. This is how they're avoiding the draft. They know that if they try to

draft people it's all over. So they keep victimizing the schmucks they have now.

Eventually the people in the military are going to have to start standing up for themselves in larger numbers, or just accept the fact that the are nothing but warm red blooded targets for some very evil and very wealthy thugs, puppets to be sent over to fight for those that already have the most, but can't be satisfied, can't get enough money or power.

[llmart]

4. Amen!

Truer words were never spoken.

[mainer]

6. I've said the same thing and gotten blasted for it

Yes, I feel sorry for them. But I don't understand how they can allow themselves to be victimized again and again and still feel so gung-ho about Bush and his policies. "We can't do anything about it," they and their families say with docile resignation. That just sounds so wimpy. Shouldn't Marines stand up for what's right -- and defend THEIR rights?

[sofa king]

5. I can't help wondering....

On election night, 2000, Floridians throughout the U.S. military broke the law and sent in their absentee ballots after the polls closed. Ballots poured in by special delivery, without postmarks and clearly against the Florida laws of the time.

And thanks to those illegal votes (and a Supreme Court decision which marred the Judicial Branch for all time), George W. Bush was elected, started this bullshit war, and ensured that Marines like these will suffer for the rest of their lives.

Now, I'm not saying these people deserve what they're getting--they don't; nobody does. But I wonder if somewhere out there is a worn out serviceman who is carrying an extra load of anguish, anguish in the form of personal knowledge of the crime he committed and the punishment the universe is dishing out for him.

Someday, I'd like to hear that guy say, "I'm sorry."