Weekly Transcripts

MSG Brendan O'Connor

2008-06-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today I have and unbelievable story for you. A story to make you think and be proud of our military men and women. My story comes from Blackfive and is presented to you with their permission.

MSG Brendan O'Connor - Someone You Should Know

Posted By Blackfive

Every single man in the fight described below displayed uncommon valor and extreme acts of courage...LL sends this story:

On June 22, 2006, a patrol of nine Special Forces soldiers (2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group) leading a team of eight American and forty eight Afghan soldiers, were moving through a village about twelve miles southwest of Kandahar. Their mission, Operation Kaika, was to capture or kill a Taliban commander.

The SF Soldiers set up a patrol base and entered the village at dusk on the 23rd. What they didn't know was that the village housed a compound of several hundred Taliban armed to the teeth, and they were waiting to ambush the Americans. The Taliban had set up a perfect Little Bighorn scenario.

At dusk, the Taliban began an assault on the American patrol base. First, mortars began landing inside the perimeter and then a full-on assault began. Once the Taliban penetrated the perimeter, the SF Team Leader, Captain Sheffield Ford, called in an air strike to drive them back. The enemy inside the wire were driven back, but the entire patrol base was surrounded.

The SF Soldiers suspected that the Taliban command and control center was located in or near the town graveyard less than half a mile from the SF patrol base. The SF Team Sergeant, MSG Thom Maholic, picked a few men to lead twenty Afghan soldiers to try to knock out the Taliban command and control in order to end the fight. His team was in two sections in order to provide overwatch.

As the soldiers closed in on enemy positions, the Taliban withdrew...it was a trap. The Taliban fell back to improved crew served (machine gun) positions.

The first SF Soldier hit was the team medic, Staff Sergeant Matthew Binney, who led the overwatch element of nine Afghan soldiers and one American trainer. While exposed out in some open ground, a Taliban bullet hit the back of Binney's helmet and knocked him to the ground. With a fractured skull, SSG Binney regained consciousness, shook off the pain, and fought back. With hand grenades and small arms, Binney's team fought off assault after assault.

The second American to be wounded was the American trainer - a Florida National Guardsman, Staff Sergeant Joe Fuerst, who was located close to Binney and their Afghan translator, Jacob. A rocket-propelled grenade landed close enough to seriously wound Fuerst. That's when Binney got hit a second time. As he tried to help move Fuerst, machine gun fire when through his shoulder, separating it from his body, shattering his left arm.

The Taliban then called out to Jacob and told him that he would be forgiven if the Taliban could get the Americans alive. Knowing what the Taliban would do to his comrades, Jacob called the SF Team leader to request permission to kill Binney and Fuerst and himself in order to prevent being mutilated, tortured, and executed. (Lets pause her for a second, perhaps you do not understand what I just said. Jacob called his team leader requesting permission to KILL his two fellow soldiers and then to KILL himself so that they would not fall into the hands of the enemy. Think about the courage and understanding that went into this request. Would you have the same courage. I do not understand why we are so worried about the rights of these animals who want to kill us all. This is my sentiment and is not reflective of anyone else than myself).

Major Ford told him to hold on, that help was on the way.

The problem was that the Afghan soldiers trying to enter the village to help the Americans were pinned down. The SF Patrol Base was surrounded and under assault. The SF Team that was trying to take out the Taliban compound was hit and surrounded and under assault.

Master Sergeant Brendan O'Connor, back at the patrol base, volunteered to lead a squad of eight Afghan soldiers through the besieged patrol base and maneuver under fire through town, to get to the surrounded Americans. O'Connor, 47 years old and the Team Medical Sergeant, had previously been a commissioned officer. He had resigned his commission in order to become a SF Medical Sergeant.

At the same time, the Taliban tried to maneuver on Binney, Fuerst and Jacob. Sergeant First Class Abram Hernandez saw the danger and maneuvered up a ladder on the corner of a building in the village. Standing on the top of the ladder, exposed, tracer rounds hit all around him. Hernandez fought back - one hand firing away, the other clinging to the ladder. He would drop down to avoid the barrages of Taliban bullets, then pop back up and return fire to keep them away from the three men exposed in the field.

MSG O'Connor linked up with MSG Maholic. Maholic told O'Connor to go after the wounded Americans. MSG Brendan O'Connor attempted to crawl out from his covered position to go after Binney, Fuerst and Jacob, but he couldn't get low enough to avoid detection. He decided to go back to his covered position, remove his body armor, and try again. He knew that the men needed medical attention and to be pulled out of there before the Taliban could capture them. He tied a signal cloth on his back to signal the supporting aircraft that he was a friendly.

O'Connor began his low crawl. He had ninety yards to go to make it to the wounded team. The Taliban detected O'Connor's movement fired at him - bullets went directly over his head and struck around his body as he inched his way across the open field. O'Connor's Afghan soldiers tried to follow him but were turned back by the intense volume of fire.

It took MSG O'Connor a minute for every yard. That's right. MSG Brendan O'Connor, crawled for ninety minutes across open terrain, under fire the entire time. O'Connor was almost to the three men when the Taliban launched an all-out effort to kill him. A squad of Taliban began to maneuver on O'Connor.

On the rooftop by Hernandez, the Team Sergeant, MSG Maholic saw the deadly situation and began picking off the Taliban assault force. He single-handedly protected O'Connor as he closed on the American position. Bullets literally cut the grass down around O'Connor as he crawled.

O'Connor reached Binney, Fuerst and Jacob and began providing first aid. Apache gun ships were on station and were pounding the Taliban positions. O'Connor began moving the wounded. Under fire, MSG O'Connor moved Fuerst and Binney through enemy fire, over three walls, to a more secure house in the village. Joe Fuerst died as O'Connor carried him to safety.

That's when Master Sergeant Thom Maholic was struck in the head by a Taliban bullet and died in Abram Hernandez's arms. MSG O'Connor was now the Team Sergeant and rallied the SF Soldiers to keep repelling the Taliban attacks.

The SF Soldiers, believing that they were going to die, took moments during the lulls in the fighting to jot short notes to their loved ones. According to CBS's Lara Logan, SSG Brandon Pechette wrote a note to his wife saying that he was going to take as many of the enemy with him as he could...

The fight continued on. The SF Team decided to evacuate through the town. CPT Ford ordered the men to put on Infared gear. A USAF plane guided the SF Soldiers out of the town with an IR beam. Apaches and USAF gunships destroyed anything and anyone not following the beam.

With two dead and one seriously wounded soldier, the Coalition forces had killed over 120 Taliban fighters.

Master Sergeant Brendan O'Connor received the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest award for valor, for his actions. It was only the second DSC awarded during Operation Enduring Freedom. The medal was pinned on O'Connor on April 30th, forty years after his father had been killed in Viet Nam.

Master Sgt. Brendan O'Connor, 7th Special Forces Group (A) Operational Detachment Alpha, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross during a ceremony at Bank Hall, Fort Bragg, N.C., April 30 for heroic actions during Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Sgt. Daniel Love.

Master Sgt. Brendan O'Connor, right, 7th Special Forces Group (A) Operational Detachment Alpha, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander of United States Special Operations Command, during a ceremony at Bank Hall, Fort Bragg, N.C., April 30 for heroic actions during Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Sgt. Daniel Love

MSG Thom Maholic posthumously received the Silver Star. His son, Andrew, accepted the award at the SF ceremony, surrounded by the men that his father had saved.

Captain Shef Ford (now a Major), Staff Sergeant Matthew Binney, and Sergeant First Class Abram Hernandez also received Silver Stars.

All of them are Someone You Should Know. Someone you should give thanks for. I am Bill Risen and this can only be described as the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Marc Alan Lee, A Memorial Day Tribute

2008-06-08T21:27:00.001-07:00

From Debbie Lee, Mother of Marc Alan Lee, Killed in Iraq

Here is another video in Memory to my son Marc, that was posted in response to the one we did at church on Memorial Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_BE1uD2rhI .com/

Ross McGinnis

2008-06-03T17:09:00.001-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice. I am your host Bill Risen. Today I will tell you the story of a hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor this past Monday.

The majority of today’s story comes from BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Mon Jun 2, 6:56 PM ET

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday presented the nation's highest military award to a 19-year-old soldier who died saving the lives of four comrades in Iraq by jumping on a grenade tossed into their military vehicle. The honored soldier, Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis, "gave all for his country," the president said somberly.

"No one outside this man's family can know the true weight of their loss. But in words spoken long ago, we are told how to measure the kind of devotion that Ross McGinnis showed on his last day: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"

The president spoke in the East Room at a ceremony attended by Vice President Dick Cheney, prior recipients of the Medal of Honor, military leaders, McGinnis' parents, Tom and Romayne, and his two sisters, Becky and Katie. The four soldiers protected by McGinnis' actions were all in attendance.

McGinnis was in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee on Dec. 4, 2006, on a patrol in Iraq, when a grenade sailed past him and into the vehicle where the four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning, then jumped on the grenade while it was lodged near the vehicle's radio.

"By that split-second decision, Private McGinnis lost his own life, and he saved his comrades," Bush said.

McGinnis grew up in the rural town of Knox, Pa., about 60 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

He enlisted in the Army after some struggles in school. Friends and family say they were watching him transform into a man.

Bush called him a regular guy, a dependable friend with a big heart and a carefree spirit. He also had a robust sense of humor, as was known as the only one in boot camp who could make his drill sergeant laugh, the president said.

As a military aide read the formal citation of McGinnis' honor, Bush gave the late soldier's mom a smile. When the audience rose and offered an ovation, Bush gave Mrs. McGinnis a kiss on the cheek and shook her husband's hand.

The president said it was a high privilege for him to present the Medal of Honor, recognizing valor beyond anything that duty could require.

"May the deep respect of our whole nation be a comfort to the family of this fallen soldier," Bush said. "May God always watch over the country he served, and keep us ever grateful for the life of Ross Andrew McGinnis."

Bush has awarded the Medal of Honor 12 times, including four times for service in the Iraq war. The three others who were awarded the honor for service in Iraq also received it posthumously: Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham.

The incident is seared into the memories of those whose lives McGinnis saved. In interviews, his brothers-in-arms -- flown in from as far away as Germany -- became emotional as they recounted the attack on their convoy Dec. 4, 2006.

"If [McGinnis] wouldn't have blocked it with his body, there's no doubt that nobody would have escaped it," said the Humvee's driver, Sgt. Lyle Buehler, who was wounded by shrapnel.

Raised in Knox, Pa., outside Pittsburgh, McGinnis joined the Army at age 17 through its delayed entry program. "I guess about the only thing you're really going to remember about my son is that he did the right thing at the right time," Tom McGinnis said at a news conference after the ceremony.

After his death, McGinnis was promoted to the rank of specialist and was awarded the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Army Good Conduct Medal. McGinnis is also survived by two sisters.

In an interview, McGinnis' roommate, Cpl. Brennan Beck of Lodi, Calif., said that lately he's been dreaming often about his buddy.

A week ago, he said, he dreamed of walking around with his friend on their base in Iraq. McGinnis -- who would have turned 21 on June 14 -- was wearing the Medal of Honor around his neck, and everyone was saluting him.

"He goes, 'Man, I hate being saluted all the time,'" Beck said, recalling the dream. "So I asked why he doesn't just take the medal off. He looked at me and said, 'Man, you know what a chick magnet this is? All the girls talk to me.'"

"I woke up," Beck said. "I missed him so bad, but I had a smile on my face. It was so real."

Let’s not forget why our men and women are fighting in other countries. Lets not forget that there is an enemy that wants the destruction of the United States. Let’s not forget that the only reason that you are not living in constant fear is because of our men and women in uniform.

I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Staff Sergeant Robert Miller

2008-05-27T14:29:00.002-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today I will tell you the story of Robert Miller - Someone You Should Have Known. This story comes from Black Five with the permission of Matt.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert James Miller was killed by Taliban insurgents Jan. 25, while protecting his Operational Detachment Alpha teammates during combat operations near the village of Barikowt, Nari District, Konar Province, Afghanistan.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Courtesy of CJSOTF-A Public Affairs, Jan. 29, 2008) – Hundreds of U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coalition partners lined Bagram Airfield’s main roadway and tarmac Jan. 27, to pay their last respects to a fallen comrade.  U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert James Miller, of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Force Group (Airborne), was killed Jan. 25, by Taliban fighters while protecting his Operational Detachment Alpha teammates during combat operations near the village of Barikowt, Nari District, Konar Province, Afghanistan.  Miller and his team were supporting an Afghan Border Police and Coalition Forces security patrol in the Chenar Khar Valley near the Pakistan border when they were attacked.  A tactical vehicle carried Staff Sgt. Miller’s flag-draped casket to the waiting U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft. As the vehicle passed, service members stood at attention and rendered a final salute to their fallen comrade; hundreds more soldiers lined the tarmac. Soldiers from Special Operations Task Force 33 formed a cordon leading to the ramp as his brothers in arms serving as pallbearers escorted Staff Sgt. Miller’s remains into the aircraft’s empty cargo area.

U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. Joseph Votel, Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Joint Task Force 82; U.S. Army Col. Chris Haas, Commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan and Commander, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne); and Lt. Col. Samuel Ashley, Commander, Special Operations Task Force 33, accompanied the escorts onto the aircraft to honor a fellow soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of his country.  Miller was best remembered as a man who always had a smile and a ‘can do’ attitude. According to his teammates, he was always the first to volunteer for any task.  “Robby was the type of soldier that saw the hardships before him and stepped up to the challenge,” Lt. Col. Ashley eulogized during a memorial ceremony, Jan. 28, at Bagram Airfield. “He understood the hazards of combat and the risks of his service to our nation. He willingly bore the burden of the Soldier. He was the epitome of the SF soldier. He was a warrior among warriors.”  U.S. Army Capt. John Bishop, of Special Operations Task Force 33, and Miller’s former detachment commander also spoke at the ceremony. “He was always quick to volunteer and never thought it should be any other way. On numerous occasions when the Detachment was faced with a difficult task, Robby would just stand up and say, ‘I got this one, I’ll do it, send me.’”   Jan. 25, Miller found himself willingly leading a team of Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition soldiers during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Konar Province, near the Pakistan border. Insurgents hiding in a structure attacked Miller’s team. A fellow teammate called for close-air support to drop ordnance on the insurgent position, disrupting their attack. When the combined patrol moved toward the structure to check for any remaining enemy threats, insurgents again fired using heavy weapons.  

Miller’s team captain was seriously wounded within the first minutes of the attack. While his commander was moved to safety, Miller returned fire. At great personal risk to himself, Miller remained at the front of the patrol and continued to lay down suppressive fire on multiple insurgent positions, allowing his wounded commander to be pulled out of the line of fire, ultimately saving his life. Miller’s personal courage under intense enemy fire enabled the entire patrol to gain cover and return fire. Even while injured by direct enemy small arms and machine gun fire, Miller continued to employ his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and grenades to suppress enemy fire and protect his teammates.  Staff Sgt. Miller enlisted as a Special Forces trainee Aug. 14, 2003. He graduated from Infantry Basic Training and Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Ga., Jan. 6. Miller graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course Sep. 26, 2004, and the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course Mar. 4, 2005. Miller received his coveted Special Forces Tab and was promoted to Sergeant after graduating from the Special Operations French Language Training Course, Sep. 30, 2005. That same day he was assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Force Group (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, N.C.  He deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom from Aug. 2006 to March 2007. During this deployment, Miller received two Army Commendation Medals for Valor for his courage under fire.  Miller returned to Afghanistan for his second tour in Oct. 2007, where he served as a Weapons Sergeant for his team.  Lt. Col. Ashley completed the memorial by stating, “The motto of our Regiment is ‘Free the Oppressed.’ Special Forces soldiers have long lived by this creed and today, we all carry this torch. Robby sacrificed his life bringing freedom to the oppressed people of Afghanistan. He placed his life on the line so that others would have a chance to experience freedom.”  Miller is survived by his parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Rob Miller went to Weaton North High School in the suburbs of Chicago. Local television stations have been covering the story:

The teachers remember him as a strong student and also a good athlete. He was a member of the gymnastics team who qualified for state his senior year. And those who knew him say it was a terrible loss. Miller loved gymnastics. He was captain of the Wheaton North High School state qualifying team. His coaches remained close with him since and remember his strong leadership quality. "He's a phenomenal leader, he was not only a leader in what he did, but also the things he said. He really set a standard for, for our program," said coach Chad Downie.

Miller spent hours practicing at a private Wheaton gym, often staying until they closed. He grew up in Wheaton and graduated from wheaton north before going to college at Iowa for a year. But then he dropped out and decided to join the Army in 2003.
He received numerous commendations as a member of the elite Special Forces unit. He was also a green beret. He never talked much about the military in high school, but when his coach saw him last, that had changed.

He was passionate about what he was doing in Afghanistan. He loved his job there, loved being in the military. He was intense and passionate about what he was doing," said Downie.

Miller's parents and siblings moved to Florida years ago, but the manager of the facility that he worked out in said he was such a responsible kid, he was the only high school kid she trusted with the keys to the gym. She said it is a great loss for the Army and for the entire country.

Godspeed, Staff Sergeant Robert Miller.

I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Jack Lummus

2008-05-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today, just before Memorial Day I have a special story for you. One that you probably have never heard.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
FIRST LIEUTENANT JACK LUMMUS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE,
for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to the Second Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting without respite for two days and nights, First Lieutenant Lummus slowly advanced his platoon against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting positions. Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he unhesitatingly moved forward of his front lines in an effort to neutralize the Japanese position. Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close by, he immediately recovered himself and, again moving forward despite the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked and destroyed the occupied emplacement. Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of a supporting pillbox and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade but, courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, staunchly continued his heroic one-man assault and charged the second pillbox, annihilating all the occupants. Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and directing the fire of supporting tanks against other stubbornly holding Japanese emplacements. Held up again by a devastating barrage, he again moved into the open, rushed a third heavily fortified installation and killed the defending troops. Determined to crush all resistance, he led his men indomitably, personally attacking foxholes and spider traps with his carbine and systematically reducing the fanatic opposition, until, stepping on a land mine, he sustained fatal wounds. By his outstanding valor, skilled tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant Lummus had inspired his stouthearted Marines to continue the relentless drive northward, thereby contributing materially to the success of his regimental mission. His dauntless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."
(Signed)
HARRY S. TRUMAN

Jack was a talented athlete, and so were the 15 who would be cut. He was the essence of the fine young men who came out of the Depression with clarity of mind and good work ethics committed to being all in life he could be. Jack was a member of the 1941 Giants Squad.

On Sunday afternoon, November 23, the Giants beat the Washington Redskins 20 to 13 at the Polo Grounds in New York to clinch the Eastern Division championship. The last game of the regular season would be played against the Brooklyn Dodgers on December 7, 1941.

On Sunday 55,051 cheering fans were packed into the Polo Grounds at 157th Street and Eighth Avenue, setting an NFL season's attendance record. The kickoff was set for 2:00 p.m. But at 1:25, New York time, a carefully planned and rehearsed act of aggression began to unfold that would unite Americans from the East to West Coasts. At 7:55 a.m., Hawaiian time, bombs from Japanese carrier aircraft began falling on Wheeler Field, eight miles north and slightly west of Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of Hawaii.

At 2:00 p.m. Ward Cuff kicked off to the Dodgers slicing the ball out of bounds. The Dodgers were relentless throughout the afternoon, and for the second time in the current season upset the Giants. The final score was 21 to 7. Radio reports of the Japanese strikes against Pearl Harbor were being broadcast before and during the game. Some fans knew of the attacks, others did not. The players were made aware from radios in the locker rooms.

On Friday, January 30, 1942, Jack joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Dallas, Texas for the duration of the national emergency. He was immediately assigned to active duty, and at 9:00 p.m., with 13 other recruits, boarded a Pullman car on the Texas & Pacific Railroad for the first leg of the journey to San Diego, California and basic training.

So as you can see, others have given up their careers to fight for our country.

I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Afghanistan update

2008-04-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today we move to Afghanistan. The U.S. Marines take the fight to the Taliban.

U.S. Marines in helicopters and Humvees flooded into a Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan's most violent province early April 28, the first major American operation in the region in years. Several hundred Marines pushed into the town of Garmser in predawn light in an operation to drive out militants, stretching NATO's presence into an area littered with poppy fields and classified as Taliban territory.

Helmand province is the world's largest opium poppy growing region and has been a flashpoint of the increasingly violent insurgency the last two years. British troops - who are responsible for Helmand - have faced fierce battles on the north end of Helmand.

U.S. commanders say Taliban fighters had been expecting an assault and were setting up improvised explosive devices. It wasn't known how much resistance the Marines would face in Garmser, where the British have a small base at the town's edge but whose main marketplace is closed because of the Taliban threat.

Maj. Tom Clinton, the American commander at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, a British outpost 10 miles west of Garmser, said the Taliban had undoubtedly seen the Marines moving into the area in recent days.

But he said the fact that the Marines were assaulting the town by helicopter and were moving through by foot was likely a surprise.

"There's all kinds of reports of (Taliban) commanders telling their guys to grab their stuff and get out there" to fight, said Clinton, 36, of Swampscott, Massachusetts. "It's no secret they know we're here. It's just a question of when and where" an assault would happen.

The Marines' mission is the first carried out by U.S. forces this far south in Helmand province in years. An operation late last year to take back the Taliban-held town of Musa Qala on the north end of Helmand involved U.S., British and Afghan forces.
The assault - backed by U.S. artillery in the desert and fighter aircraft in the sky - is the first major task undertaken by the 2,300 Marines in the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which arrived last month from Camp Lejuene, North Carolina for a seven-month deployment. Another 1,200 Marines arrived to train Afghan police.

Most U.S. troops operate in the east, along the border with Pakistan. Britain, with 7,500 troops, and Canada, with 2,500 troops in neighboring Kandahar province, have not had enough manpower to tame the south.

More than 8,000 people died in insurgency related violence last year. Militants set off more than 140 suicide bombs. Taliban fighters have been increasingly relying on roadside bombs and suicide attacks after being routed in force-on-force battles in the past.

Many of the men in the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit served in 2006 and 2007 in Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province in western Iraq. The vast region was once al-Qaida in Iraq's stronghold before the militants were pushed out in early 2007.
One Marine in Charlie Company, Corp. Matt Gregorio, a 26-year-old from Boston, alluded to the fact the Marines have been in Afghanistan for six weeks without carrying out any missions. He said the mood was "anxious, excited."
"We've been waiting a while to get this going," he said.

Remember, take time to say thanks to a soldier. I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Marc Alan Lee (Part 4 of 4)

2008-03-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today we end our four part series on Navy Seal Marc Alan Lee and his mother Debbie Lee. At 3:15 pm today on the Belfast Beaver's show we will talk with Debbie Lee live from Surprise, Arizona.

Since the death of Marc, Debbie has made it her purpose in life to educate and I have a letter that I would like to read to you from Debbie Lee. I had to edit out a little for the sake of time.

-----------------------

I began my morning with my normal routine of making a pot of coffee and turning on FOX news to see the days issues. This morning President Bush was addressing this nation and remembering the sacrifices and the successes that this nation has experienced for the past five years since the War on Terror began in Iraq.

I remember that day well and knew this would be a very personal war to me. My oldest son Kristofer was one of “The few, the proud, the Marines.” My son-in-law Christopher was an Officer serving in the Army and was already on his way to Iraq, my youngest son Marc was in BUDS training to become a Navy SEAL, my brother Jim was in the Air Force Reserves and I had cousin who was an Officer in the Marines. I had no idea at that point how personal and emotional this war would be.

Each one of these young men served in different branches of the Military, wore a different uniform, went to different lengths to train and prepare to be the warriors they are. I have pictures of each one of them in their different uniforms both dress and cammies. It is true there is something special about a man in uniform.

My daughter-in-law, Maya, had recently shipped Marc’s uniforms to me. I’ve just picked them up off of the bed to hang them in the closet. As I pick it up the tears began to stream down my cheeks as I think of the Hero, my son, who wore it. I bring it close to my nose and take a deep breath hoping that by some odd chance I can still catch a hint of his smell on the garment. My mind wanders as I remember the tall, dark and very handsome young man who was the youngest of my 3 children, my baby, who filled this uniform so well.

Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq 8-2-06. He was one of the sacrifices that the President had talked about this morning as he addressed the nation. I personally know the cost and pain of war and yet still believe the war is worth fighting, the War is worth winning.

That extremely hot August day in 2006, Marc was wearing a different uniform than the one I‘m holding. He had his desert cammies on along with well over 150 lbs of gear and ammunition. He was the big gunner for his platoon and his teammates retold the stories of how he carried the M60 without a sling. They had never seen anything like that and were amazed at his strength.

I look at this uniform flat, lying there on my lap, empty. The fabric isn’t anything special, what made it special was the hero who filled it. He filled it with determination, humor, love, commitment, courage, faith, and hope. No one could ever fill this uniform like he did. It is a reminder of who he was. I will display it in my “Heroes” room, to pay tribute and honor Marc. As a Mother I am so proud of Marc’s sacrifice that he gave in Ramadi. He was one of those who made Al Anbar province one of the success stories of the War on Terror.

Where do we get such brave men to fill these uniforms? Marc’s name means “Mighty Warrior” and God designs each one of us for a certain purpose and to wear a specific uniform. Our men and women in the Armed forces are designed that way. Each one of my family members who served filled their uniforms in there own unique ways, yet the character qualities duplicated themselves, honor, courage, determination, commitment, love, faith, hope. Each one of them started fulfilling their calling by entering a recruiting office. Their recruiters coached and counseled them to accomplish their goals and dreams. It is appalling to me to watch the news as the anti-war, anti-American crowd continues to attack these recruiting offices. I was just in DC last week with Move America Forward to release our “Sedition Report” that reveals a pattern of bombings, broken windows, shootings, and destruction of recruiting offices in over 42 cities. The report can be viewed at MoveAmericaForward.org.

It angers and repulses me that these hateful, violent, aggressive “peace activists” continue to say they support the troops. If this is how they “Support them,” I would hate to see their actions if they didn’t? They continue to tell us that our troops are liars, murder’s, and rapists. How dare them dishonor my sons name or his memory by telling their lies to accomplish there agenda for the war.

I was embedded with the 1-4 CAV in Iraq at Christmas and I saw our troops fill their uniforms with the same brave, courageous, noble and professionalism that both my sons Marc and Kristofer did. I am proud of the character they displayed and the determination they showed. There voices echoed over and over that this war is worth fighting and it is winnable.

I know that day that he left this earth he was escorted into Heaven by the Angles, and I will see him again. I also know that I have a uniform that I must fill. It’s different than Marc’s yet I am also called to be a warrior in another battle. Just as Marc was prepared by the intense training for the battles that lie ahead, God has also prepared me. The previous struggles and trials of life had convinced me that I didn’t have the strength in myself to succeed. God had proved his character over and over to me during the “Hell weeks” of life, and I knew he was my strength and that he had trained and equipped me to succeed in the battle of grief.

Just as this past 5 years in Iraq we have seen sacrifice and we have seen successes. Life is the same way, but we must remember that it’s worth fighting for and worth winning. Do you know where your uniform is? Are you willing to fill it? Do you know who gives you the strength? Are you willing to stand in the gap and fight the battles that you are asked to? We are all blessed to live in America and enjoy the freedoms that we have because of all of those who have fought for those freedoms.

Please as we reflect today on the 5th anniversary of the War on Terror, join with me to honor Marc and all of those sons and daughters, husbands and wives, who have given the ultimate sacrifice and their families. They stood to the end for their brothers at arms, will you stand with me and carry on and fight for those who continue to serve and for this country?
Tomorrow would have been Marc’s 30th Birthday. Just before Marc deployed to Iraq he came home for his 28th Birthday and we celebrated at the Royals/White Sox Spring training game. After the 7th inning the reader board displayed my wishes to him “Happy 28th Birthday Marc. Have a safe deployment.Love Mom!” I was asked to throw out the first ball tomorrow at the Royal’s/Brewer’s game in his honor. I will be celebrating tomorrow the amazing kid who filled that Heroes uniform with all that he was. I know that if he could he would send me a message on the reader board saying, “I love you Mom, have a safe deployment.”

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I am Bill Risen and this has been Marc and Debbies Ultimate Sacrifice.

Marc Alan Lee (Part 3 of 4)

2008-03-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. We are now at our third segment of the story about Marc Alan Lee the 1st Navy Seal to be killed in action in Iraq, and also Debbie Lee the proud mother of Marc.

Courage in the Night
by Debbie Lee, proud Mother of Marc Alan Lee, first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq

It was a warm August evening in Surprise, Arizona and a small group of friends had gathered as they regularly did on Wednesday evenings. This Wednesday was different as we were celebrating my birthday, which was a week earlier but we weren’t able to get together that week. One of my friends had given me one of the Willow Tree Angels named “Courage.” When she gave it to me she told me that it reminded her of me. She told me “To her I was a Woman of Courage.”

None of us knew at that moment how much courage would be required for me to survive that night what was about to happen that would change my life forever. As we were finishing cake and ice cream I received what would be the most devastating phone call of my life. My oldest son Kristofer, had called asking where I was and how long it would take me to get home. When I questioned why he said, “You just need to come home.” I had a sick feeling in my being and I knew what faced me ahead. I knew that when I arrived home that I would be informed that my youngest son Marc had died, being the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.

Something inside of me knew when Marc left my home in March of 2006 that he wouldn’t be returning and that would be the last time I would see him. I’m not a fearful, worrisome type of person and I didn’t dwell on that while he was deployed, but somehow I knew. Eighteen months has passed since that dreadful day and as I pondered what part of my trip to Iraq to write about, courage came to mind again. I have wanted to make a journey to Iraq since Marc died, but knew I wanted to wait for a time when the journey would be safe. Realistically I figured that journey would be many years down the road.

When Move America Forward began to make preparations for our third cross country tour this year, “Honoring Heroes at the Holidays,” I was excited to learn that we would be collecting Christmas Cards to send to the troops and that our Rallies in 40 cities would have one goal, to honor our troops who have served and are serving. This would be my third tour with MAF (Move America Forward) and I was honored to have the privilege to be able to publicly thank our troops, my heroes and encourage others to do the same.

I knew there was something else in the works beside the Tour and when I heard that there was a possibility of a Press embed and that I might actually be able to deliver some of the Cards to our heroes in Iraq, I was amazed! It would have been easy when I was asked if I wanted to go to say no and bow out and stay home, everyone would understand. After all it still is a war zone and my son had been killed there. It took strength and courage to make the decision to travel to the war zone where my son gave up his life. Courage that was given to me from God above.

We had no idea where would be embedded in Iraq, but I knew that if by some odd chance the doors opened for us to go, I needed to be there. I knew personally what our troops had given and sacrificed for me, for you, for this nation and I wanted to personally thank our men and women who were willing to give their lives for this country they so loved and believed in. I left it in God’s hands and asked him to open the doors if I was supposed to be there and slam them if I wasn’t.

Courage was my companion the night I boarded the C-130 from Kuwait to Baghdad that purposely made the craziest cork-screw landing you can imagine to avoid being shot down by terrorists. It took courage to fly over the city of Baghdad in a Blackhawk as we looked down on the city where Sadaam once reigned! It took courage the night we rode in the streets of Baghdad in the MRAP knowing that I had been instructed not to travel by ground because of the IED dangers! It took courage to put on my body armor and Kevlar and go out on patrol in the Muhalla and walk the streets with the 1-4 Cav unit that we were embedded with! It took courage to stumble to the command post in the middle of the night in my “jammies” to find out what we should do after the explosion that woke me from a dead sleep and even moved the air around my face. It took courage to tell Marc’s heroic story to 350 troops ready to head home for R&R. It took courage to board the Blackhawk in the middle of the night on a secret flight to be taken to Camp Marc Lee, the base in western Iraq named in my son’s honor. It took courage that night to walk where Marc walked his last steps, to see where he spent his last night, to smell what he smelled, to see what he saw and to embrace what he embraced.

Yet it was in the depth of the night there at Camp Marc Lee that I was reminded what real courage is. Real courage was what our troops, my heroes face everyday. Real courage is being willing to give up your right to every thing you want for your future, your memories from your past and even if need be your life to make a better place for others. Real courage is facing the enemy and being willing to pay the ultimate price of your life because you value others lives more important than your own. Real courage is using your voice, your actions, your life, to impact the world and make a difference. Real courage is selfless, noble, true, humble, right, and honorable. That is the description of our men and women serving in Iraq. I witnessed it first hand. I had the blessing to share Christmas and thank thousands of our troops while I was in Iraq and numerous times they would look at me and say “It’s my honor” “I love what I do” or “No, thank you.”

Our Main stream media continues to try and discredit our troops and make them out to be murders and rapists. They distort the statistics and try to brainwash us. I saw first hand on my recent trip to Iraq the moral excellence, integrity and the compassion with which our troops serve. I saw courage displayed in it’s finest forms.

It’s now time for Americans at home to display that same courage. Courage to stand up for what you believe in and know is right. Courage, to get out of your lazy boy and make a difference. Courage, to call or write your Senator or Congressman. Courage, to write a letter to your editor. Courage to expose the lies and confront liberal groups such as Code Pink, ANSWER, MoveOn.org and others who support terrorists and radical communistic ideals. Courage, to vote! Courage to hold the media accountable to tell the successes of our troops and what they have accomplished. Courage, to defend the defenseless! Courage to replace our apathy with action.

My Willow Tree Angel of Courage sits on my desk with her arms lifted high and fists clenched in victory, as if to say, YES! As a nation that was founded on God’s principles we need to raise our hands high in courage and fight against those who want to remove our freedoms and rights. We need to raise our hands high and thank the one who created us and blessed us to be born in this amazing nation.

This hero will be on live next Wednesday. Don’t miss it. We will be at a special time of 3:15 pm with John Wright. We wanted to make sure we had time for her to tell her story.

I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Marc Alan Lee (Part 2 of 4)

2008-03-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am your host Bill Risen. Today we go the second part of our stories about Marc Alan Lee. It is with deep thanks that this letter can be read today. Debbie Lee the mother of Navy Seal Marc Alan Lee has given permission for me to read you one of hers son's last letters home. I only hope that in my reading of this letter I can convey the thoughts of this young hero appropriately.

A Letter from Marc Alan Lee
Marc wrote this letter to family and friends around the July 4th Independence Day celebrations during 2006. Marc was killed on August 2, 2006 while helping his military brothers who were under fire in Ramadi, Iraq.
"Glory is something that some men chase and others find themselves stumbling upon, not expecting it to find them. Either way it is a noble gesture that one finds bestowed upon them. My question is when does glory fade away and become a wrongful crusade, or an unjustified means by which consumes one completely?
"I have seen war.
"I have seen death, the sorrow that encompasses your entire being as a man breathes his last. I can only pray and hope that none of you will ever have to experience some of these things I have seen and felt here.
"I have felt fear and have felt adrenaline pump through my veins making me seem invincible. I will be honest and say that some of the things I have seen here are unjustified and uncalled for. However for the most part we are helping this country. It will take more years than most expect, but we will get Iraq to stand on its own feet.
"Most of what I have seen here I will never really mention or speak of, only due to the nature of those involved. I have seen a man give his food to a hungry child and family. Today I saw a hospital that most of us would refuse to receive treatment from. The filth and smell would allow most of us to not be able to stand to enter, let alone get medicine from.
"However you will be relieved to know that coalition forces have started to provide security for and supply medicine and equipment to help aid in the cause. I have seen amazing things happen here; however I have seen the sad part of war too. I have seen the morals of a man who cares nothing of human life…
"I have seen hate towards a nation’s people who has never committed a wrong, except being born of a third world, ill educated and ignorant to western civilization. It is not everybody who feels this way only a select few but it brings questions to mind. Is it ok for one to consider themselves superior to another race?
"Surprising we are not a stranger to this sort of attitude. Meaning that in our own country we discriminate against someone for what nationality they are, their education level, their social status.

"We distinguish our role models as multi-million dollar sports heroes or talented actors and actress who complain about not getting millions of dollars more then they are currently getting paid. Our country is a great country, don’t get me wrong on this, otherwise none of us would be living there. My point of this is how can we come over here and help a less than fortunate country without holding contempt or hate towards them if we can’t do it in our country. I try to do my part over here, but the truth is over there, United States, I do nothing but take. Ask yourself when was the last time you donated clothes that you hadn’t worn out. When was the last time you paid for a random stranger’s cup of coffee, meal or maybe even a tank of gas? When was the last time you helped a person with the groceries into or out of their car?
"Think to yourself and wonder what it would feel like if when the bill for the meal came and you were told it was already paid for. More random acts of kindness like this would change our country and our reputation as a country. It is not unknown to most of us that the rest of the world looks at us with doubt towards our humanity and morals.
"I am not here to preach or to say look at me, because I am just as at fault as the next person. I find that being here makes me realize the great country we have and the obligation we have to keep it that way. The 4th has just come and gone and I received many emails thanking me for helping keep America great and free. I take no credit for the career path I have chosen; I can only give it to those of you who are reading this, because each one of you has contributed to me and who I am.
"However what I do over here is only a small percent of what keeps our country great. I think the truth to our greatness is each other. Purity, morals and kindness, passed down to each generation through example.
"So to all my family and friends, do me a favor and pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life to each other so that when your children come into contact with a great conflict that we are now faced with here in Iraq, that they are people of humanity, of pure motives, of compassion.
"This is our real part to keep America free!
"HAPPY 4th Love Ya
"Marc Lee
"P.S. Half way through the deployment can’t wait to see all of your faces"
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Marc didn’t live long enough to make it back home. Marc lost his life to ensure that a fellow Navy Seal would be able to come back home and see his family once again. Next week I will tell you about Marc Lee’s mother Debbie. Don’t miss the show. You will be amazed what this mother has done with her life.
On March 26th, we will have our final shows on this story. In the morning hour I will give you a brief refresher on this young hero and his heroic mother. Then on March 26th at 3:15pm we will have Marc's mother on air live from Surprise, Arizona, where she will tell us about her son and herself in her own words. Remember: Wednesday, March 26 at 3:15pm.
I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Marc Alan Lee (Part 1 of 1)

2008-03-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Good morning and welcome to the Ultimate Sacrifice. I am your host Bill Risen. Today we begin our series on Marc Alan Lee. Our first episode tells how our young Navy Seal stood up for his ethics and values. He believed in what he had been taught both by his family and then by his second family Navy Seals.

Lee was born in Portland on March 28, 1978. He graduated from Baptist Christian School in Hood River in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Maya Elbaum; mother, Debra Lee; sister, Cheryl Wells; and brother, Kris.

Marc, a Coronado-based Navy SEAL died during the Iraq war's biggest battle between U.S. forces and insurgents in Ramadi.

Petty Officer Second Class Marc Alan Lee was the first SEAL to be killed in Iraq since the war began in 2003. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Ore., was stationed at Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, where he received his special-operations training two years ago.

He began SEAL and basic underwater demolition training in Coronado in 2001 but had to interrupt the program because of pneumonia, according to a Navy statement. He returned to Coronado for SEAL training in March 2004 and graduated that November.

Perhaps the best person to tell you this story is an embedded reporter Michael Fumento who wrote this account of what happened.

In my Weekly Standard article, The New Band of Brothers, I wrote of the courage and professionalism of 19 Navy SEALs in Ramadi whom I tagged along with and photographed and filmed during a firefight. Now there are 18. Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc Alan Lee has died a true hero's death, laying down his life for his fellow men. He is the first SEAL killed in Iraq.
According to an embedded reporter with the Stars and Stripes newspaper, an enemy sniper shot and wounded one of Lee's SEAL comrades at the start of a firefight that lasted over an hour. Another SEAL was wounded in the battle that proved to be one of the largest in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency. Lee was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, one of the highest awards in the military, along with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
"During the operation, one element member was wounded by enemy fire. The element completed the casualty evacuation, regrouped and returned onto the battlefield to continue the fight," the citation reads. "Petty Officer Lee and his SEAL element maneuvered to assault an unidentified enemy position. He, his teammates, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks engaged enemy positions with suppressive fire from an adjacent building to the north.
"To protect the lives of his teammates, he fearlessly exposed himself to direct enemy fire by engaging the enemy with his machine gun and was mortally wounded in the engagement. His brave actions in the line of fire saved the lives of many of his teammates."
After watching them in action from a rooftop I shared with them, I wrote of Lee and his comrades, "Those SEALs fight like machines." But they're not, of course. This SEAL left behind his parents and young wife, who says they were planning a family. He also truly cared more about the people of Ramadi. "He said they were begging for the military to release them from this tyranny and were appalled at the things that were going on," his mother Debbie Lee told a reporter.
God bless our troops in Iraq; God bless the men fighting to liberate Ramadi; God bless the SEALs.
Nineteen men went into battle together. Each dedicated to their duty and their country. That day only eighteen returned home. One stepped forward and put his life on the line so that another may go home. I guess in reality Marc did go home. He went to be with his Lord. In doing so he allowed a brother to return home to his family.
This young Seals mother, Debbie Lee owned and operated Kids R Us, a private pre-school and kindergarten from her former Barrett Drive home for years.

On the day of her son’s funeral, At least 70 motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders, who attend many military funerals, roared into the parking lot, many with American flags affixed to their cycles. These heroes come from all over the United States with the intent to make sure that the families and friends of those being honored are not victimized by unfeeling dregs of the earth. They and their supporters drowned out four protesters from Westboro Baptist Church. I will not tell you what these supposed church people stand for. I will not dignify what they are doing.

I can tell you that the protestors were lost in a sea of red white and blue flags. This along with the bagpipes and motorcycle engines drowned out any hope that the protesters had of being heard.

Next week we will read some of Marc’s letters home.
I am Bill Risen and this has been the Ultimate Sacrifice.