New Monument to be unveiled at Camp Pendleton
The folks at Hope for Warriors write to tell us about a new monument that will be unveiled Wednesday at 2PM at the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton at the entrance to the Wounded Warrior Battalion (West). The monument is styled after the photo taken by combat photographer Lucian Read in Fallujah, Iraq;
On November, 13, 2004, as battle raged, then 1st Sgt. Bradley Kasal, USMC, risked his life for the lives of his Marines. Kasal pushed through enemy fire to shield a wounded Marine from a grenade explosion. In turn, two Marines ran into the house without weapons to rescue Kasal. The photograph depicts Chris Marquez and Dane Shaffer, both lance corporals in the U.S. Marine Corps, carrying a bloody Kasal out of the house to safety.
The sculpture was created by artist John Phelps, a man who understands firsthand the weight of war. His son, Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, USMC, was killed in action in April 2004. The HBO® movie, Taking Chance, chronicled the journey of the Marine escort who brought Lance Cpl. Phelps home. Since the loss of his son, Mr. Phelps has become an advocate for wounded service members and other Gold Star families. He is heavily involved with both Hope For The Warriors® as an Ambassador of Hope® and coordinator for the Outdoor Adventures Program.
Category: We Remember
That’s nice and all but if it were me, I’d make this a statue….
http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.43623.1273626267!/image/1356409870.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_804/1356409870.jpg
Chip,those were my thoughts also. The small interpretive plate would read: To Our Enemies,This Ones For You.
Amen!! Not to mention stenciling it on every bomb we drop on ’em
I was thinking the same when I read the post then you posted the picture. Truly Inspirational.
ChipNASA…Roger That!
I’m with you Chip. The photo you provided a link to is one of my all time favorite photos from the war.
I went and checked out Mr. Read’s web page. While I was checking out his gallery http://lucianread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Iraq-Portraits-American-Colonels/G0000kMjhNpuVkus/ I was struck by something that just can’t be denied, that’s just how crappy the ACU’s really look.
I know, a bit of a stupid distraction on a serious thread, but that’s just where my tiny mind went this afternoon. Lol
Noticed one of the portraits is of fmr BG Bryan T. Roberts (the former CC of FT Jackson who allegedly bit his mistress on the lips).
But I like the ACU!
I mean, sure, the Camo is the worst humanly possible aside from a bullseye in neon (and safety belts wrapping him like a mummy; speaking of which, has anyone done that for Halloween?), but…
The uniform looks pretty damn functional to me, and digital certainly looks good for home rotation and TV commercials.
The first time I saw that photo above, I had to look at it for awhile. I wondered what the story was, and now I know.
I think it will make a fine monument.
Outstanding !
SgtMaj Kasal is on the short list for SgtMaj of the Marine Corps. Well deserved if you ask me.
Nice. To think, I cried like a little bitch when I saw “Taking Chance.” I’m gonna be downright dehydrated after reading this article!
Today is the USMC Birthday.
I had my retirement ceremony 3 years ago today.
I did so out of respect and admiration for all Marines past, present and future.
I love the USMC!
How could you not?
I was doing a web search but couldn’t find the clip. I remember seeing it on MSNBC or one of the commie channels, it was around 2003 or so. A Marine was being carried on a stretcher after being wounded and was shooting from the stretcher. I loved it! Thought it would make a good monument.
Referenced here, but I haven’t found footage:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-17901.html
The hilariously awesome scribes at The Duffelblog have a great article on Sgt.Maj.Kasal, USMC.
http://www.duffelblog.com/2014/09/sgt-maj-marine-corps-candidates/
My understanding of the inside humor behind the repeated mentioning of him being a former Assaultman is that USMC Assaultmen feel they are all-too-often considered to be ‘just like 0311s’ with their additional specialized training being ignored when they are employed in combat.
And to follow-on with the MCPO de la NYC;
Happy Birthday to my Jar-Headed, Thick-Necked, Sloped-Forehead, Semper Mactabilis (look it up), Amphibious Brothers. ‘No better Friend no worse enemy’ is as true a description as you will find.
This is the image that has stuck with me. I didn’t see it till years after the fact, when my dad (Viet Nam era veteran ) emailed me and told me that he saw this and in his mind saw me up on that stretcher and this is simultaneously made his heart sick but so incredibly proud of me making the decision I did. He sent me this article; and the image has never left my mind.
If I were going to make statue, I would choose this one and put in Dustoff Plaza in front of the AMEDD Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. Lest we forget that not all battles are waged with weapons. Thank you all for your service, ladies and gentlemen. Happy Veterans Day.
http://posttrib.chicagotribune.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=18982382
EDIT: It’s the one of the young captain on the gurney performing CPR on an American soldier who’s being loaded into a Medevac bird. Not sure how to post it here.
They should have used the next picture where he was giving the bird to the goat fuckers with his left hand. Pretty much the same pic, only with the bird showing. He is one tough MF.
This statue already exist at Camp Lejeune at wounded
warrior Battalion ( EAST)
http://wordsforvets.blogspot.com/2013/03/no-man-left-behind.html
My buddy from 3/1 Kilo fought in the same kill house with Kasal and received the Navy Cross as did Sgt Maj Kasal…
Kill them all and let god sort’em out!
Semper Fi!