The Real Deal

| February 6, 2010

The milblog community just exposed and destroyed another phony. Jonn, TSO, and everybody else involved should be proud and definitely deserve more credit (which was pretty much none) than they got in the local Houston media.

I think its appropriate that after spending a lot of time talking about a phony hero that some time is spent talking about a real hero who legitimately earned a stack of medals and ribbons and someone who is disrespected and dishonored by fake pieces of crap like Michael Patrick McManus.

When I was a boot PFC just out of security forces school, I had to spend eight months at Marine Barracks Washington (aka 8th and I) in order to obtain a security and weapons clearance so I could serve as part of the Marine detachment at Camp David. I was part of the guard force at the barracks and it was easily my most miserable time in the Marine Corps. The duty consisted of standing post for 12 hours on your feet with 12 hours off for sometimes weeks at a time because of a poorly-crafted security plan for the barracks. What made things particularly bad was that most (but not all) of the officers and SNCOs who served at the barracks while I was there were there for one thing only: to advance their careers. 8th and I is the home of the commandant and several other general officers and if you look at the bios of many Marine Corps general officers you will find that they spent time 8th and I. For this reason, the place attracts alot of ladder-climbers who put their own personal careers over the well-being of their Marines. Many combat decorated NCOs and Staff NCOs got thrown under the bus at 8th and I by these careerists. For these reasons, there wasn’t a lot of trust in and respect for the officers and senior enlisted leadership at Marine Barracks Washington while I was there. I was very happy to get out of that place and move on to Camp David.

However there were a few exceptions and the most universally respected officer was Capt. Joshua Glover. When I was at 8th and I, Capt. Glover was the platoon commander of the Silent Drill Platoon. Capt Glover took care of not only his Marines in the SDP, but also Marines in other sections of the barracks. The guard force was always happy when Capt Glover was Officer of the Day. He would make a point of touring every post and spending time at each one to talk to the Marine sentries, sometimes for up to an hour. For a young PFC standing a 12 hour post by himself, this meant the world and made that miserable and lonely duty go by a lot quicker.

Captain Glover was also a highly decorated infantry officer. He served three tours in Iraq with 1st battalion, 5th Marines, including the invasion, the first battle of Fallujah, and a tour in Ramadi. For actions during the first battle of Fallujah, Capt Glover earned the Silver Star. You can read about it here or pick up a copy of Bing West’s  No True Glory, in which Capt Glover’s actions are discussed in great detail. Capt Glover also received two purple hearts, a Navy Commendation with a V, and a Navy Achievement Medal with a V. It should also be pointed out that is likely that Capt Glover didn’t have to go back for a third tour to Iraq. In the Marine Corps, in most circumstances, after two deployments you rotate from a fleet unit to a non-deployable unit like 8th and I, the drill field, or some instructor billet (sometimes you don’t have a choice in the matter). This is done for a very good reason and helps insure that Marines get a break from the stresses of the fleet and that Marines just back from combat can train the next generation. However, Capt Glover knew that 1/5 was going back into the meat-grinder and wanted to be there with them.

Capt. Glover receiving his Silver Star from General Hagee

Captain Glover rotated back to a deployable unit around the same time I left Camp David for 2/1. I didn’t hear anything about him after that. Today, when I logged on to Facebook I saw a post by a Marine I served with (Dave who was with 3/8 in Afghanistan) mentioning that Capt Glover had been wounded back in November in Afghanistan and tonight he would be ringside at the UFC fight thanks to UFC fighter Brian Stann (I couldn’t embed the video but Stann talks about Glover in the fourth video from the left here). Capt Glover was wounded while participating in a rescue operation for two paratroopers from the 82nd (who unfortunately drowned in a river). There is a possibility he may lose one leg. More details about what happened can be found here at Glock Talk. This was Capt. Glover’s either third or fourth time being wounded and his fourth combat deployment.

Captain Glover is the real deal. I hope McManus serves a long time in a deep dark hole for disrespecting men like Capt Glover.

(Thanks to Dave and other Marines from the Yankee White community for the heads-up on what happened to Capt. Glover)

UPDATE 02/06/2010: I received more information from a friend an fellow Marine who was in my platoon at Camp David (Steve, another Marine who is the real deal) about Captain Glover. I was wrong about some of the details about his injuries and circumstances behind his injuries. I have updated the post accordingly. Steve says Captain Glover is at Walter Reed is doing pretty well. If I get more information, I will update this post. Again, I would not have known about any of this without Marines from the Yankee White community.

Category: Military issues, Terror War, The Warrior Code, Walter Reed

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Susan

Boys I am going to have to design a “hanky alert” icon for you. My mascara is running.

God bless Josh Glover and the rest of the Marines like him.

AW1 Tim

God Bless them, indeed. It’s important to present stories like this in order to put what the “Stolen Valor” guys have done into perspective. It makes those fraudulent actions even more shameful and damning.

Just remember, though, you can’t spell McManus without anus. I think that says a lot right there, you know?

fm2176

True heroes are few and far between. Anyone can buy some medals and throw them on, and unfortunately Joe Nobody will see all the shiny stuff and be impressed. In a society where a professional sports team is full of overpaid so-called “heroes” while young men and women are serving selflessly daily, the term has been cheapened.

As a member of The Old Guard (I used to run by 8th and I quite a bit, we may have crossed paths at some point) I buried men as young as seventeen who never had the chance to earn so much as an Army Achievement Medal during their too-short careers. I also took part in the funerals of Medal of Honor recipients such as CWO Michael Novosel. Such experiences are humbling, especially when you consider the man or woman whose casket you are carrying or following.

I have another experience with a true hero. I had been back from Iraq for a couple of months and was getting my DA photo for The Old Guard. A Major walked in for his photo and we talked for a short while. Besides both the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Combat Medics Badge, he sported our nation’s highest military award. Major Rascon was the first living Medal of Honor recipient I had the honor of meeting. Ironically, a couple of months later I was at a small VFW post with my dad and brother. A Vietnam veteran recognized my 187th Infantry regimental affiliation (my dad had wanted me to wear Class A’s) and come to find out he considered himself an Airborne historian. He began talking about his time with the 173rd in Vietnam, and in particular a young medic in his unit who had earned the Medal of Honor. Within a couple of months I had not only met Major Rascon, but was able to share a few beers with one of his comrades 1000 miles away.

ponsdorf

I have a Purple Heart. My dad was KIA in Korea. I’d rather have him around.

God Bless Captain Glover.

And thanks.

AW1 Tim

fm2176 ,

Small world. My son is currently assigned to the 173rd and is deployed to Afghanistan as I type this. They’ve a great tradition, and much to be proud of.

B Woodman

It is SOOOO refreshing to read and hear about true heros. Thank you for posting this.
. . . Gotta clear this lump in my throat. . . .
God bless Cpt Glover to heal and fully recover from his wounds, even if he never returns to combat. He has gone far and above the call of duty.
And God bless and watch over all all the other heros stationed overseas in combat zones, fighting on our behalf.

I can’t source this “quote”, as I’ve heard several sources for it, but here goes. . . .
“Good people sleep peaceably in their bed at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf”

Thank you, all you rough men. From one who has been a rough man in his time.

Richard S. Lowry

And…

Nine Navy Crosses and twenty-two Silver Stars were awarded in the second battle of Fallujah – Operation Phantom Fury. Read the stories of these brave Americans in “New Dawn,” coming to bookstores in May, 2010.

fm2176

B Woodman,

I got the t-shirt. 🙂

Saw one at RangerUp and had to have it. It has the “rough men” part crossed out with an “I” written instead. I’ve gotten more than a few nice comments on how cool the shirt is, although most of the comments are directed at the night vision image of a SAW Gunner on the front.

http://www.rangerup.com/roughmen.html

Sig

ALMOST bought that for myself for Christmas, but chose the “I Terrorists” shirt instead, where is a picture of an M-249.

dan post boots

Hi, nice post and i like this post and i think there is I have a Purple Heart. My dad was KIA in Korea. I’d rather have him around.God Bless Captain Glover.

E

what’s your last name? i was in the guard section at the same time as you. i hate to hear that this happened to him….

John Johnson

I have had the privilege of knowing both the father and the grandfather of this brave young man. Through them I’ve been able to keep updated on his extreme courage and selfless actions. I learned that he was wounded ( I believe) four times and went back in to the combat arena again only to be wounded yet another time. Words cannot express my admiration and respect for this incredibly heroic young man and the others like him who give so very much to and for our great country. Please pray for them. God bless each one.

Rev. Dan Tarno

What a joy and privilege it was to read and comprehend the message and details of this blog. I am so very proud of Captain Glover as well as all of our service men, active and inactive who offer their lives for the price of freedom…..eternal vigilance. God Bless each of them and I thank God for true heros such as Captain Glover…..Pastor Dan L. Tarno

Jettie Trosper

You know I have spent a lot and enjoyed a lot reading your blog. It was full of information I need. It would have been good if I have found your blog before browsing other useless blogs.

Jef Johnson

What a great leader! I served in D.C. with him and he was well respected in that Company office!