Iraq

Six years after son's death, Marine dad gets Gold Star license plate

By Dan Lamothe on December 14, 2010 Camp Pendleton, Iraq

Cpl. Mike Anderson was deeply entangled in one of the largest battle’s in Iraq when he died six years ago today. A 21-year-old squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., he was shot to death while raiding houses in Fallujah. He kicked open a door with eight insurgents behind it, and immediately faced a hail of gunfire. He died in the doorway, and a 35-minute firefight ensued, said his father, Mike Anderson Sr. One of Mike Jr.’s last letters home later lived on after it was published in Newsweek. All of this comes up today…

Cpl. Jason Dunham: Marine, hero, destroyer

By Gina Cavallaro on November 12, 2010 Infantry, Iraq

On April 22, 2004 in Karabilah, Iraq, Cpl. Jason Dunham snuffed out a grenade with his helmet and body and, in dying, saved the lives of other Marines. He’s gone now and, like other Marines before him, will never hear the praise for his heroics, wear his Medal of Honor at ceremonies or stand in formation again. But after Saturday, Nov. 13, when the 9,200-ton, 509-foot warship USS Jason Dunham is commissioned in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the world will see a guided missile destroyer sail by, proudly bearing his name and cutting through the high seas with a crew of…

One Marine officer's case against war video games

By Dan Lamothe on October 12, 2010 Afghanistan, Infantry, Iraq

Video game violence has made headlines regularly for years. However, the argument to curb it has taken a sharper edge recently in light of video game maker Electronic Arts unveiling a new “Medal of Honor” game that allowed users to target U.S. forces in the game as the Taliban. The Taliban detail was eventually pulled from the game, EA officials told colleague Phil Ewing in an exclusive published last week. Still, it raises questions over what our sensibilities are and should be. Have things gone too far, or are people over-sensitive to modern pop culture? Or — perhaps more realistically…

Dead Segway company owner had strong tie to the military

By Dan Lamothe on September 27, 2010 Afghanistan, Iraq

Segway company owner dies in Segway accident. It sounds like a joke gone bad, or at the very least, like lyrics in Alanis Morrissette’s always-annoying “Ironic.” It’s all apparently true, however: Jimi Heselden, owner of Segway Inc., reportedly died in an accident in which he careened over a cliff in Great Britain while riding one of his company’s motorized two-wheel personal transporters. The story has blown up the Internet this afternoon. Google Trends currently shows that “Segway accident” is the fifth-most popular topic on the Internet. “Segway owner dies” is the third-most popular search term this afternoon, and “James Heselden”…

Operation New Dawn? Where have we heard that name before?

By Dan Lamothe on August 31, 2010 Afghanistan, Infantry, Iraq, Marjah

On Wednesday, the name of the U.S. military’s mission in Iraq will change, with the venerable “Operation Iraqi Freedom” moniker turned in for a new one, “Operation New Dawn.” The transition was announced in February, and takes effect as U.S. officials seek to highlight the improvements in Iraq. President Barack Obama is expected to address the nation tonight at 8 p.m., and will no doubt reference the new name as he seeks to reassure Americans that the U.S. has turned a page in the war in Iraq. As Operation New Dawn comes to the forefront, however, there’s a catch: Another Operation New Dawn…

Mattis takes another step toward Tampa

By Gina Cavallaro on August 4, 2010 Afghanistan, General officers, Iraq

Gen James N. Mattis was confirmed today by voice vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee to become commanding general of U.S. Central Command. The next step is confirmation by the full Senate, which could happen tonight but is more likely to happen tomorrow because the Senate is busy, busy, busy trying to get out of town for the August recess. Mattis is expected to sail through his confirmation, process no matter what. So my bet is that he’s got his bags and his books packed, his cover in place and a foot out the door with coordinates for sunny…

Dissecting the Mattis-to-CENTCOM reaction

By Dan Lamothe on July 9, 2010 Afghanistan, Capitol Hill, General officers, Infantry, Iraq

It’s been about 24 hours since the Pentagon announced that Gen. James Mattis has been nominated to take over U.S. Central Command, and it has been met within the Marine Corps with the reaction most military observers expected. In short, the typical Marine response: “Su-weet!” There’s many reasons for that. Mattis, commander of the initial Marine invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, obviously has a track record as an innovative military thinker, but he’s also a leader who goes the extra mile for Marines in hostile environments. An example: Far removed from day-to-day Marine operations, Mattis advocated behind the scenes for more…

A ‘Happy 4th of July’ message, starring EOD in Iraq

By Dan Lamothe on July 2, 2010 Iraq

With the 4th of July right around the corner, I set out this morning to find something appropriate to celebrate our nation’s birthday in the spirit of Battle Rattle. And, well, here’s what I came up with. A slight warning is necessary that it includes some mildly rough language toward the end that may make your grandmother blush: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTx2CUmgEQI[/youtube] The video shows Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif., deployed in Hit, Iraq, in 2008. The guitar riffs are courtesy of Boston.…

Memorial Day is no summertime kick-off for these Marines

By Gina Cavallaro on May 28, 2010 Iraq, Reserve

It’s been five years since 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines made the headlines for becoming the heaviest hit battalion in Iraq. The Reserve unit from Brook Park, Ohio, lost 46 Marines and two Navy corpsmen during its seven-month deployment to Al Anbar province, and while the headlines may have faded for the many, the memory of those lost brothers burns brightly for the few. A group of Marines currently and formerly in the 3/25, has organized an ambitious Memorial Day weekend event, a 106-mile run that will begin on Saturday at 7 a.m. at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, Va.…

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