Tag Archives: marines

F/A-18 Crashes Off San Diego

The US Coast Guard reported that a Marine F/A-18 flying out of Miramar went down late Wednesday night.  The two crew members ejected and spent four hours in the (relatively chilly) Pacific waters, finally being rescued by Coast Guard assets at around 0230.

After notification of the downed aircraft at 10:15 p.m., the Coast Guard launched assets to begin the rescue mission…The Coast Guard MH-60 Jahawk’s…aircrew maneuvered into position, and the rescue swimmer deployed to recover the Marines, who were hoisted into the helicopter and flown to a hospital.

The rescue effort was substantial:

The Coast Guard Cutter Edisto…, the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau…, a C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Sacramento — the first asset on the scene — and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector San Diego responded.

The names of the crew were not released.  As is usual practice, the military will investigate and report on the mishap in the coming months.

The US Marine Corps and Opinions on Homosexuality

The text of the briefs given to US servicemembers on the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is publicly available. Notably, it starts out with this phrase:

This brief is NOT an attempt to change anyone’s opinion about the subject of homosexuality. [emphasis original]

Later, the presentation says this:

There Is No Expectation To Change Religious or Moral Views: Soldiers will not be expected to change their personal views and religious beliefs. They must, however, continue to treat all Soldiers with dignity and respect. [formatting original]

With that in mind, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Michael Barrett, toured bases in the Pacific with the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James Amos in June. Addressing DADT Read more

Marines Honor Fallen Jewish Heroes

Chaplain (COL) Jacob Goldstein and General Robert Magnus, USMC Retired, former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, recently gathered with 50 Marines at the Jewish Center in Manhattan to honor fallen Jews in the US military service.

“In front of the Torah, we pay tribute to those who served our country,” said Rabbi Yosie Levine of the Jewish Center, in Manhattan, which hosted the May 30 Jewish Community Memorial Day Event, “An Appreciation of America’s Service Members.” With a U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard on the bimah, Levine told the guests: “Each Shabbat we pray and say todah [thank you]…May God bless America.”

General Magnus was a former helo pilot who carried the callsign “Heeb” for more than 30 years.

The Memorial Day event was steeped in Jewish ceremony Read more

Homosexual Marine Accused of Sham Marriage for Benefits

Three US Marines at Camp Pendleton stand accused of entering sham marriages to obtain access to financial benefits.  It all started when a homosexual Marine wanted to live with her girlfriend but “couldn’t afford it:”

[US Marine Corporal Ashley] Vice told CNN affiliate KGTV in San Diego that she wanted to live off base with her girlfriend, Jaime Murphy, as a couple. Murphy is a civilian.

But on her salary, she couldn’t afford it.

So she says she found a Marine, Jeremiah Griffin, who agreed to marry her so she could receive the $1,200 per month living stipend the Marine Corps gives to married couples living off base.

Her homosexual partner eventually married a third Marine, Joseph Garner, for the same reason.  Vice has told the press the three will likely face jail time, since they are unable to pay back the funds they are accused of getting fraudulently.

Ultimately, the military’s response has nothing to do with homosexuality; Read more

US Marine Pilots-to-be Lead in Afghanistan

Due to training timelines, it is not uncommon for new officers to wait up to a year or more for their pilot training course to begin.  Sometimes these officers are given other opportunities like the chance to obtain a Masters Degree or attend another professional course.  In other instances, they are held in an “awaiting pilot training” status, filling a sometimes menial position in another unit.

Thirteen new Marines took another path:

Instead, 13 active-duty lieutenants commissioned with aviation contracts are on the ground in Afghanistan, Read more

Muslim Marine Charged with Firing on Pentagon, Military Bldgs

Yonathan Melaku, a Marine Corps reservist, has been arrested and connected to a string of shootings at military buildings in the DC area:

Federal prosecutors said…they found bomb-making materials in Melaku’s backpack and later, inside his home, found a typewritten list of potential bomb components.

Investigators also found a video he took of himself firing shots outside the National Museum of the Marine Corps last fall and repeatedly saying the Arabic words “Allahu Akbar,” which Read more

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