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Baldwin County loses a hero

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lance Corporal Ferrell’s loved ones:

Pam Ferrell says the pain she feels in unimaginable.

“Please pray for us, pray for me, pray for my family”

Pam’s son, Lance Corporal Bruce Ferrell, Junior, was killed Monday fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan. The 21-year old Marine machine-gunner known as “Little Bruce” or “Bubba” … was on foot patrol with his unit when an I.E.D. went off. The blast killed him instantly.

“He wanted to serve his country,” says Pam. “He was proud to be a Marine.”

Pam says tragedy seems to follow the Ferrell family. Her 21-year old daughter was recently killed in a car accident.

“To lose two children within two years…I’m just going to need a lot of prayers from everybody.”

Bruce immediately joined the Marines after he graduated from Baldwin County High School in 2006. He had been overseas since May, serving a seven-month tour of duty. Bruce was recently engaged to be married.

Pell City native honored

Courtesy of the Daily Home Online, a local Marine is being honored for his actions in Iraq.

Billy “Trey” Cosper III received a combat meritorious promotion from lance corporal to corporal, based on his performance in direct combat with the enemy in Iraq.

“This was a big honor, as all regular promotions are, meritorious promotions even more so,” said Lt. Col. Sean Riordan, who recommended Cosper for promotion. Riordan said combat meritorious promotions are unique.

“This means he was eligible based on his performance in direct combat with the enemy and he was chosen for promotion ahead of his peers,” Riordan said. “Not many Marines will ever achieve this.”

Read the whole article here.

Congratulations, Corporal Cosper!

Bama soldier is “Marine of the Year”

Courtesy of WSFA 12 in Montgomery, a Wetumpka native has been named “Marine of the Year.”  Sgt. Peyton Williams was honored by Governor Bob Riley yesterday in a ceremony.  Read the whole article here.

Congratulations, Peyton!

In the news this weekend

Published in the Tuscaloosa News this morning:

Brandon C. Matthews, a 2006 graduate of Linden High School, completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.

Congratulations, Brandon!

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Also, this story was featured in Friday’s edition of The Enterprise Ledger:

Local woman baking homemade cakes to send to soldiers in Iraq

It’s in Nancy Helms’ nature to be giving and the soldiers in Iraq are benefiting from her generosity.

Helms has been baking homemade pound cakes at Country Best Farm in Enterprise for several months and because of an idea and “the Lord telling me to do this,” she is now sending the homemade cakes to soldiers from Coffee County who are stationed in Iraq…

Read the entire article here.

Thank you, Nancy!

Daphne Native Completes Marine Training

Courtesy of the Baldwin County Now:

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Amber L. Deus, daughter of Paula M. and Marty E. Hart of Daphne, recently completed Expeditionary Strike Group Integration Training while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit homebased at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

This pre-deployment training was the first time the 26th MEU was able to load their equipment and personnel aboard the ships that make up the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group. Deus and more than 2,200 Marines and sailors from the MEU practiced and refined its rapid response planning process, planned and conducted multiple raids and practiced beachhead onload and offload procedures. The MEU also adjusted to conducting operations aboard the ships of the ESG.

MEUs are built around a reinforced infantry battalion, a combat service support element, a reinforced helicopter squadron and a command element.

With its complement of fully integrated air and ground forces, Deus’ unit is ready to conduct real-world operations including amphibious, helicopter and boat raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, noncombatant evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance operations.

Deus is a 2006 graduate of Daphne High School and joined the Marine Corps in October 2006.

For more information on the 26th MEU, go to http://www.26meu.usmc.mil.

Congratulations, Amber!

Local Marine takes part in memorial ceremony

Courtesy of The North Jefferson News:

“The few, the proud, the Marines,” is a popular slogan that many would associate with the U.S. Marine Corps.

It’s part of that slogan that led 21-year-old Fultondale native Chaney Hubbert to enlist in the Marines three years ago.

“It was a real big pride thing,” Hubbert said. “They’re supposed to be the best.”

Hubbert, a Fultondale High School graduate and daughter of Fultondale City Councilman Darrell Hubbert, is stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. She will be deployed this summer to a to-be-determined location.

On Monday, Hubbert took part in a Memorial Day ceremony at the American Legion in Fultondale that paid tribute to both fallen heroes and those currently serving in the armed forces. She said she was proud and honored to have been a part of the ceremony.

“It was an honor to be recognized,” she said. “Being on a base, Marines are a dime a dozen, so you don’t feel appreciated until you come home.”

She doesn’t get to come home from the base too often, and she said her time in Fultondale was the first leave she had taken in nearly a year. When she is at home, she said she enjoys spending time with her family, which also includes her mom, Tammy Hubbert, and sisters Shea Anderson and Katie Hubbert.

Hubbert has not been to Iraq or Afghanistan, but said she is up to the task should she be asked to go. Her previous missions have included providing medical and humanitarian assistance, working with the countries of Jordan and Qatar.

Other countries she’s visited include France, Italy, Dubai, Bahrain, Spain and Turkey. Of those, she said Turkey was the most memorable. “It’s definitely a tourist spot,” she said.

Darrell Hubbert said he is very proud of his daughter’s decision to join the Marines, but admitted he was a little apprehensive at first.

“I thought she had been swayed or wooed by some good-looking Marine at the high school,” he said. “I actually invited him to my house and didn’t like what he had to say, so I invited his boss to the house.”

He said his concerns focused on how the males and females were separated at boot camp and that they were open and honest with where she would be stationed and traveling to.

“That was the father in me coming out,” he said.

After meeting with the second staff sergeant, his concerns were eased and he gave his blessings for his daughter to enlist.

Darrell Hubbert said he doesn’t worry too much about his daughter’s safety during a time of war. He said there is a fine line between worry and knowing what his daughter is prepared to do and what she has to do.

“She’s an expert with an M-16, so that does give me some comfort in knowing that she can handle herself over there,” he said.

He praised his daughter’s courage and also praised the Fultondale American Legion for making her feel welcome and appreciated during her visits home.

Chaney Hubbert said she hasn’t decided if she wants to make the Marines a full-time career and said she can’t imagine doing anything else.

She encourages any high school junior or senior to consider the Marines, but said they should go into it whole-heartedly.

“They need to be sure, because there is no getting out,” she said. “You need to have your mind made up before you go.”

Congratulations, Chaney!!!

A Memorial Reminder

Shared by Shelly in the Soldiers’ Angels forums, this piece is a poignant reminder to remember the real meaning behind this holiday:

Please Remember

By SSgt David H.

Saturday May 5, 2007. Day 87 of about 400 on my third trip to the sandbox. It is 0500, I am 5 hours into another 12 hour shift. A full moon is in the air, covered slightly by some passing clouds. It is about 75 degrees with a steady breeze. The moon is bright enough to see off into the distance and the breeze has the sand kicked up a bit so it looks like fog is in the air. I am sitting on the bench outside my maintenance van enjoying the wonderful morning. As I am sitting there I get an uncomfortable feeling.

There is something amiss, it is quiet. Too quiet for being in the middle of two runways at a major logistical base, right smack in the middle of major military operations. Where is the sound of rotors slicing through the air as helicopters take off for their nightly missions? Where is the cargo planes bringing in supplies for the base and surrounding area? The only thing I can hear is the hum of the generators that run all the equipment at our site.

I get up and walk around the protective barriers surrounding my maintenance van so I can get a clear view of the airfield. Once I turn the corner my eyes catch something that is out of place. 500 meters from me I see headlights lighting up the backside of an airplane. As my eyes focus I can make out the outline of a C-130 sitting on the taxiway with all its exterior lights and engines off. I look to the back of the plane to see what is going on. My body tenses up and my heart jumps as I realize what I am looking at. It is what we call a fallen angel ceremony.

At the back the C-130 the tail ramp is lowered all the way down to the ground. On both sides of the ramp is 5 Marines standing at the position of attention facing inboard towards each other. Just past the Marines a van sits. Its back doors open and 8 more Marines standing there in two lines of four facing the airplane. In between the Marines is a big sliver box covered by an American Flag. It is the body of a Marine who died and is now on his way back to his family over 7000 miles away.

I watch as the Marines slowly march the casket to the back of the plane, up the ramp, and into the cargo area. I find myself standing at the position of attention holding back the tears. I do not know who is in that steel box but the fact that another brother or sister in arms has made the ultimate sacrifice so others can live free has hit me hard. This is not the first time I have seen this ceremony nor will it be my last. I am not sure why this particular ceremony is effecting more than the others I have watched but it has. The 8 Marines return from inside the plane, marching slowing, just as they came in but without the precious cargo they carried. The detail of Marines stop, face each other and then all the Marines present take one step backwards, turns about and walks away. Lights on the airplane come on. The ramp on the back of the plane is raised and closed. The engines come alive as the crew in the plane are preparing for the next leg of their mission. Somewhere back in the United States a family waits for their loved one to be returned to them.

I stand and watch as the plane completes its pre-flight checks and taxies to the runway. Behind the C-130 the sky is getting brighter. The sun will soon rise and it is the beginning of a new day. The C-130 reaches the end of the runway, turns around, powers up its engines and rolls down the runway. A couple thousand feet later it is airborne and passes in front of me at about 50 feet off the ground. Goodbye, so long, thank you.

Since 9/11 every single American has been touched somehow by the war on terrorism. Everyone has a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or knows somebody that has had to leave their lives back home to come fight for the right to live without fear. Memorial Day is just a few weeks away. The official start of summer. Pools open, people have BBQ’s, hit the beach, go for a motorcycle ride, go camping, maybe watch a race. Summer time is here and it is time to have fun. Most do not realize or take the time to think of the true meaning behind the holiday. It is holiday created as a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all. Please set aside a few moments and remember those who have fought to give us our freedoms. Remember those who are away from their families continuing the legacy of our great nation to help those in need and protect our right to live without fear. Thank a Veteran, maybe say a prayer. Anything to keep the spirit of this holiday alive.

(cross-posted to my blog)

Bessemer reserve Marines to come home

Breaking news from The Birmingham News:

About 140 members of the Anti-Terrorism Battalion, a Bessemer-based Marine Reserve unit, are expected back in the U.S. next week after completing a tour in Iraq.

The reservists, with the battalion’s Charlie Company, hail from battalion sites in Jackson, Miss., Tallahassee, Fla., and Chicopee, Mass. The unit’s ranks also include about 33 Alabamians.

Charlie Company has been in Anbar province since September, attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. Its mission has included protecting convoys carrying supplies and prisoners, searching houses, patrolling streets and manning checkpoints.

Master Gunnery Sgt. David Holladay, a battalion spokesman, said Charlie Company is expected at Camp Lejeune, N.C., “at some point next week” and should be back in Bessemer before month’s end.

Great news! Hooaah!