Marine KIA Creates Question For VMI
Apr 30 at 11:11am by David
On April 17th, in Panjwaii District, Kandahar Province, a US Marine convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, killing two Marines and wounding two others. The convoy was on its way to southern Helmand Province where the 24th MEU has recently started combat operations to retake the Taliban-held town of Garmsir.
The Marines killed included the top-ranking enlisted man for the 24th MEU, acting Command Sgt. Major, 1st Sgt. Luke Mercandante. Before joining the 24th MEU, Mercandante served as an instructor at the Virginia Military Institute for three years. His death marks the first time a non-alum faculty member has been killed in action since Stonewall Jackson died following the battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. Mercandante’s death also marks the the first time a VMI-connected serviceman has been killed in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion in 2001.
Now the question: How will VMI honor this fallen Marine who gave so much to the VMI community?
As always, I again am putting out a plea for reader-driven funding, as I continue to try to get back in the fight. If you find this website useful, I ask that you please consider dropping me a few needed dollars using PayPal (address is dtate38@cox.net). Equipment failures and the economy has sidelined me for the time being.
A Battlefield Tourist - Romania in the Alliance
Apr 7 at 1:01pm by David
CTZN has posted another segment from “An Experiment in Democracy”. This story revolves around the Romanian infantry and their contributions to Operation Enduring Freedom. The story includes a Romanian ETT; the first non-US ETT in Afghanistan.
Units Covered: 280 Infantry Battalion (Romania) and 25 Kandak (205 Corps) Afghan National Army.
A Battlefield Tourist - Kapisa Province, 2004
Apr 7 at 10:10am by David
This slideshow was taken in Kapisa Province when I went out with the Bagram PRT for a humanitarian drop. What I did not capture with my still camera is the riot that would break out soon after the supplies began to be distributed.
The Americans, trying to be respectful, allowed the women to go first. That may be a good thing in the west, but not so in Afghanistan. Within ten minutes, what was meant to be a celebration of religious attonement, turned into a free-for-all leaving the most in need with very little of the aid.
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