25MAY12, originally created.
25MAY19 revised.
To all my brothers and sisters this note is a special shout out to my old unit 1/6 STA. We were in Panama/PI but what now is the current situation? War[s], and they can be fuckery, it is complicated on both sides of the border/fence/gun, that it just becomes a sacrifice, for all that are there, been there and going there.
Memorial Day is the reflection, a remembrance, of lost life due to wars, battles, training, post service, and fighting + standing up for the right of FREEDOM–a belief, an ideology, a faith in brotherhood/sisterhood and a form of appreciating/respecting/standing up for life on earth. Perhaps we have lost sight of our wars and worldly ways of how others see and respect the world. Education and the search for truth is the key to opening these doors of a universal acceptance to those who respect and cherish life. There were times in the past when I did not respect life or really understand it for that matter, but I am very fond of it to this day and grateful to be part of it.
Marine Corps Infantry, the essence of the “suck“. 0311
USS Saipan, Ships Log 1986 August 29th: COMPHIB STRIKE FORCE, RADM Fogarty and COM MAR STRIKE FORCE, BGEN Caulfield embarked. CH 46 from HMM 162 crashed while taking off from Flight Deck with members of BLT 1/6 “C” Company on board. Thirteen survivors, two found dead and six missing, presumed dead.
USS Saipan, Ships Log 1986 September 1st: U.S. Amphibious Force conducts amphibious demonstration landing in Malangen Fjord. LGEN Gray, USMC, on board. Conducted Memorial Service in Hangar Bay for departed shipmates from HMM 162 and BLT 1/6.
The Seafox was dropped in with SBU/SEAL team members to retrieve the bodies along with the remains of the bird off the the coast of Norway. The sea and its intense dark blues of what seems like an endless abyss of beauty. To the survivors of 1/6, Charlie Company, again, cheers to you all. This was my first Marine Corps station/assignment. Charlie Mike. Later, I was transferred to Head Quarters Company, sent to many schools, and the notorious sniper school and became an 8541.
My cover is off to our great Sniper Instructor Sgt. Smith and his amazing friend who gave us unsurpassed insight into the craft, GySgt. Hathcock. Both legends in our [USMC] world and greatly missed.
Team drink to our fallen comrades over the years due to suicide that are greatly missed:
- Kevin Starr
- Michael Sanford
So, to those who are still alive and remember what is and was I salute you. I am grateful to all the vets and former Marines I have met along the way. I am also grateful for those of you who support our military/veterans–thank you! Semper Fidelis.
Below is a link to past facebook note about deconstructing Operation Red Wings. This operation is a true Memorial Day reflection for me. This op went tragically wrong. Click the image to access the link. This note will eventually be removed or revised and perhaps added to this blog. 
This is a living post. Pearce out. s/f
