A good friend from work's stepson is with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines from Camp Lejeune. In March of 2003 the 1/8 was the "Battalion Landing Team" for the "26th Marine Expeditionary Unit". They ended up conducting combat operations in Mosul, Iraq. On their way back to Camp Lejeune from the deployment in Iraq the 26th MEU was diverted to the cost of Liberia, as a show of force. The 1/8 never did go ashore but elements of the 26th MEU did, recon, engineer's along with Navy See Bee's did and the 1/8 was on high alert incase something happened and they needed to put "boots on the ground" fast.
I was talking to my friend Joe today at the soda machine and he wasn't himself. I asked what was wrong and he told me his stepson called his wife and him about a week ago to tell them he wouldn't be able to call for three or four weeks because there was a major offensive that was going to start soon and they won't let the Marines make any phone calls while there getting really to launch an attack or go into combat operations.
The 1/8 is just outside Fallujah, Iraq. Last night on the new they said there was heavy "close air support" taking place in Fallujah and the Army was moving troops in the assist the Marines with their assault. My friend and his wife are worried, and rightly so. I'm not and huge religious person as some of you know, but I'm going to pray for all the men and women in harms way, especially for this Marine, and ask you to do the same.
This young Marine has walked through the valley of the shadow of death time and time again and doesn't ask anything from anyone! He does it because he's a United States Marine and thats what they do! God bless the CORPS.
