My Men are My Heroes (39 page)

Throughout this entire ordeal from the time of being wounded until I was medically evacuated close to an hour later, and despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, I never lost consciousness or quit my post while guarding that doorway. While some may call this heroic, I just call it loyalty. It was because I loved the Marine next to me that I was determined to do anything it took to keep him alive, even at my own risk. He would have done the same for me. It's called being a Marine—we're all brothers and a family.

Many times since my injuries occurred people have labeled me a hero. I beg to differ—I believe the true heroes that day were Sergeant Robert Mitchell, Corporal Schaeffer and Corporal Marquez, Private Justin Boswood, and the men of Kilo 3/1 and Weapons Co., 1st CAAT section, who fought to get us all out of the building now called the “House of Hell.” I will be forever indebted to these fine professionals.

The word “valor” is often used to describe the actions of many of these Marines. And it is commonly understood to mean “extreme courage.” But valor is more than the extreme courage of a single individual. It does take courage to do a valorous act, but that courage is made possible by camaraderie and esprit de corps—of not wanting to leave their fellow man behind. I watched young men do amazing things in order to protect the man next to them. For example, Sergeant Mitchell voluntarily trapped himself inside the same room as myself and Lance Corporal Nicoll. Lance Corporal Marquez and Lance Corporal Schaeffer, the two young Marines who carried me out of the house, ran into the room without their weapons, leaving themselves defenseless so they could have their hands free to carry me out. That showed how much trust they had in the Marines who were covering them.

After seeing many news reports on what is currently happening overseas, I decided to have this book written and tell this story I remember once while out on patrol we had an embedded reporter from the
New York Times
along with us. I asked the reporter why his newspaper didn't report the complete story and all the positive things going on over there. And he replied, “I see it, but my editor only wants to hear about deaths and disasters. Helping the Iraqi people doesn't sell papers.”

The biased media have made an impression on the American citizens and the terrorists themselves. Every time the media give airtime to a protestor, it gives another victory to the terrorists rather than to the protestors. And people believe what they read in the paper because it is all the information they have to go on. One time while I was at dinner with a few friends a lady approached me and asked what happened to my leg. At that point I looked like something out of a horror movie and was in a wheelchair. At first she was very concerned. But as soon as I told her I was in the military and injured overseas, she began
to go into a long antimilitary tirade about how we don't need a military, and how there's never a reason for a war, and all the service members are dying unnecessarily. Biting back my anger for all the fine men who gave the ultimate sacrifice that she just dishonored, I simply replied with “Ma'am, you're very welcome; I'm sure what you meant to say was ‘thank you' to myself and all the other service members who have made sacrifices to give you the freedom to openly make whatever statement you desire.”

I'll be the first to say, as I've seen it numerous times firsthand, that war is an ugly thing. But sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in. We are facing a worldwide enemy who has only one agenda: the complete annihilation of the American way of life. And that enemy will stop at nothing short of that goal.

Freedom has never come free. Whatever your beliefs or political stance, our young service members of all branches are performing remarkably and making a difference. In Iraq combat was only a small part of our overall role. Military service members performed countless humanitarian projects ranging from large-scale items—such as building new schools, hospitals, and community services—to everyday things as small as handing out candy and pencils to children or helping a farmer with a flat tire.

These valiant young men are helping to bring freedom to a country that was previously without it. They are constantly facing the dangers of IEDs, suicide bombers, and ambushes while they capture or kill terrorists who have no regard for human life.

Many people are amazed that I wish to return overseas as soon as I'm healthy again. But serving my country is where my heart is. It is my wish that the American media would show the true and complete story of what is really going on overseas and tell the story of how our service members are performing selfless acts of heroism and helping to bring freedom and a better way of life to a country.

During OIF 1 General Mattis wrote, “A U.S. Marine—no better friend, no worse enemy.” I strongly believe in those words and would tell my young Marines to be the most fearsome warriors the enemy has ever faced, but when given the chance and without compromising security, to show compassion for the Iraqi people and their children. The future of Iraq was in those children. I would tell my Marines to kill an enemy and make a friend every day.

So as this book is written, I pray the words can be found to do proper honor to describe the many men with whom I've served. I think we all can learn from these young men who wear the uniform of a Marine. We label a basketball player who sinks a last-second shot or a football player who scores the game-winning touchdown a hero. But the true heroes are serving overseas. We watch politicians argue for political gain and our streets escalate in violence. Meanwhile service members have learned to put aside differences such as race, religion, ethnic backgrounds, and social status to serve together in defense of this great country.

To all Marines and sailors, past and present, and especially to the men of the Thundering Third, continue to kick ass, and you will forever be a part of this old warrior's spirit and heart.

Brad Kasal

 

AAV
—Amphibious assault vehicle

ACR
—Armored Cavalry Regiment (U.S.A.)

AC-130H
—U.S. Air Force “Spectre”
gunship used at night over Iraq to interdict insurgent forces

AEV
—Armored engineer vehicle

AFV
—Armored fighting vehicle

AH
—Attack helicopter

AH-1J “Cobra” Attack Helicopter
—The initial Marine AH-Is were Army G models modified only with Navy-compatible radios, Marine green paint, and a rotor brake for shipboard operations. Later Marine models such as the twin-engined AH-1J were specifically designed for Marine aviation requirements.

AK-47
—7.62mm Russian-designed assault rifle used by insurgents

Amph
—Amphibious

ANGLICO
—Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company

AO
—Area of operations

Armorer
—Someone who works on weapons and in the armory

Arty
—Artillery

ARV
—Armored reconnaissance vehicle

ASAP
—As soon as possible

“Aye, aye”
—Acknowledgment of an order

 

Barracks
—Building where single Marines live or a duty station where they serve

BAS
—Battalion Aid Station

BDA
—Bomb damage assessment; given to fixed-wing pilot by airborne AO at end of air-to ground-support mission

BDE
—Abbreviation for a U.S. Army brigade

BLT
—Battalion Landing Team; main body of infantrymen that make up an MEU

Blues
—Dress blue formal uniform

BN
—Battalion

Booby trap
—Military slang for any of a huge variety of explosive devices, often homemade, hidden and designed to kill or wound unsuspecting Marine upon hitting a tripwire or other triggering device

Boondocks
—Swamps, small towns, middle of nowhere; also called boonies

Boot
—A brand-new Marine

Boot camp
—Marine Corps basic training

Boot mistake
—Rookie mistake

Brass
—Senior officers

Butterbar
—A second lieutenant; refers to the gold rank insignia

 

CAAT
—Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon

CASEVACs
—Casualty evacuations via helicopter
for Marines in need of urgent medical care

Casualty
—Any person who is lost to the organization by reasons of having been declared dead, missing, captured, interned, wounded, injured, or seriously ill

CG
—Commanding General

CH-46 “Sea Knight”
—A twin gas turbine-powered medium helicopter that replaced the CH-53A

CH-53D “Sea Stallion”
—A twin gas turbine-powered heavy helicopter for the retrieval of downed aircraft, as well as the movement of heavy and large equipment such as trucks and artillery. The CH-53D was the improved version with more powerful engines.

Civilian
—Anyone not in the military

CMC
—Commandant of the Marine Corps

CO
—Commanding Officer

COC
—Command Operations Center

Colors
—American flag; also the ceremonies of raising and lowering the flag

Combat stack
—A closed-up formation used by assaulting infantrymen to enter buildings and other dangerous areas

Comm(s)
—Communications

Corpsman
—Navy medic who serves with Marines; also called “doc”

CP
—Command Post in the field

CPO
—Chief Petty Officer in U.S. Navy

CWO
—Chief Warrant Officer; also called Warrant Officers in all branches of service

 

Deck
—Floor

Dependent
—Legal term used for a person receiving all or a portion of necessary financial support from a service member; alternative term is family member

Deployment
—Date/time when a Marine's unit departs home base for an extended period of time, which can be weeks or months depending on the mission

Detachment
—Group of Marines from one unit assigned to another unit

DI
—Drill instructor

DIV
—Division

DOD
—Department of Defense

Doggie
—Slang for U.S. Army soldier

Dragon Eye
—A $10,000 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying camera that feeds live pictures back to the COC in real time

 

FAC
—Forward air controller

FAST
—Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team

First Sergeant
—Term used for the senior enlisted member of some units; also a rank (see Officer Ranks chart)

Float
—Deployment at sea (as in “a six-month float”) usually on an MEU

FMF
—Fleet Marine Force

FMFPAC
—Fleet Marine Force Pacific

FOB
—Forward Operating Base