Cool Picture

Here's just a cool picture of some of our Operations.

Weapons Cache

Here's a small weapons cache that some of 4th Platoon found last week. These are mortar rounds that the enemy uses. Most of the time, they burry them in the ground, so that's why they're all rusted. EOD will destroy these rounds in place.

Mosque

Here's a mosque, way up North in our Battle Space. It looks like it was used before the war broke out, but no longer is.

Inside

This is the inside of the mosque.

Birthdays

Pfc Medley, 3rd Plt, turns 19 years old tomorrow, Feb. 25th.

Also, on Feb. 26th, Pfc Juan Marcos Medina Perez, 4th Plt, celebrates his 30th.

Happy Birthday, Marines.

Sgt Orsen

Ladies and Gentlemen, for those of you who know Sgt Orsen, you probably never thought you'd see this day. That's right, Sgt Orsen is wearing a Doo-Rag. Pigs are flying out here in Iraq.

Cpl McKee and Cpl Lopez

In one of the patrol bases that 2nd Platoon established.

Post

A Marine from 2nd Platoon stands his security post on the Up-Gun System on a HMMWV.

EOD

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) walks up to clear and disarm an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) on the side of the road. You'll see that he wears a very cumbersome, kevlar suit that protects him if the ordnance were to detonate. These guys are good!

Tight Quarters

From left to right, Cpl Gonzalez, Sgt Bigger, and LCpl Pro mess with some of the sleeping Marines at Taqqadum.

LCpl Estrada

Standing security at one of the patrol bases.

Birthdays

Happy (Belated) Birthday to Pvt Brady who turned 20 on Feb. 6th. He spent the day out in the field in Iraq. Woah, what a party.

Sgt John Aponte is celebrating his birthday today, Feb 21st. Happy Birthday to both of you!

Once again, if your Marines provide me with pictures of themselves or their platoons, I'll most certainly put them up on the site. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of these Marines, but they'll surely make it up in the future.

Confiscated

Sgt Wishnia with an AK-47 that his platoon confiscated.

Cpl Johns

Posing for the camera.

Looking Tough

One of the most important things about being a Marine is looking tough. Cpls Melendrez and Nelson have perfected it.

Flying First Class

This was the plane ride from Kuwait to Taqaddum. We were a little upset that beverages and a meal weren't served. We're looking into getting a refund for the Company.

Birthdays

LCpl Siemering, 3rd Plt, spent his 21st birthday in Iraq on Feb. 12th. Not the greatest place to be for this event, but his wife is ensuring that they're going to celebrate in style when he returns.

Also, Pfc Joseph Eisenbeiss, 2nd Plt, celebrated his birthday yesterday, Feb. 15th, in the field.

Happy Birthday, Marines.

LCpl Synowiec

LCpl Synowiec on patrol. He's the First Platoon, Third Squad, Second Fire-Team Leader.

Note

If you speak with your Marine, please tell him to take the XO pictures, so I can post them on the site. The pictures you're seeing on the site are directly from the platoons, or are the ones I take while I'm outside the lines. (I'd like to put more 'faces' up for all of you to see.)

Also, if you know of any significant events that apply to any of the Marines in Charlie Company (new borns, birthdays, local awards, etc.), email me @ letchfordjh@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil and we'll try to get a post up. You may also email pictures for possible submission.

Crazy Little Kids

These kids love the Marines. They'd follow us all the way across Iraq on foot if their folks would let them.

GySgt Smith, 1st Platoon Commander

Enough said about this warrior.

Sunrise

A beautiful morning in Iraq.

No Flatware Here

Capt Middleton sits down with the Sheik and the local leaders of one of the villages in our AO. The leaders were thanking our leaders for the hospitality we've shown their village by providing materials to increase their quality of life. You'll also see one of our interpreters dressed in cammies, two Marines that provide contracts for these services, the CO from Fox Company 2/2, and Capt Middleton.

You'll notice that there is no silverware on the table. In the Iraqi culture, they put huge plates in the middle of the table that everyone scoops off with their bare hands. The food is actually very good!

Fourth Platoon at Camp Victory, Kuwait

Here's a pic Lt Samuel gave me of 4th Platoon before we moved north into Iraq. These are some motivated men.

Through the Wasteland

Marines of Third Platoon patrol through the 'Wastelands' of the Northwest of our AO. You can see in the background one of Sadam's shutdown chemical plants. These fields were filled with so much trash that we couldn't take a step without stepping on something, other than dirt.

Through the Wasteland

Marines of Third Platoon patrol through the 'Wastelands' of the Northwest of our AO. You can see in the background one of Sadam's shutdown chemical plants. These fields were filled with so much trash that we couldn't take a step without stepping on something, other than dirt.

Muddy Situation

Earlier this week, there was a nice two-day storm that left the "trafficable" roads much to be desired. On one of our movements out, we got a couple of our vehicles stuck in the mud. In this photo, you'll see Cpl Meinhardt working on the winch while Pfc Green holds security on the Caliber 50. Cpl Meinhardt was a workhorse this day, pulling out four vehicles amost single handedly.

Morning Shave

1stSgt Hannon throws a shave on out in the field. If you ever wondered, grooming standards are always upheld in the field.

Note

I'm trying to round up a consolidated list of "goodies" from all the platoons for care packages. I'm sorry for the delay, but the Marines have been busy and haven't been able to come up with what they'd like to receive from all you supporters. I can tell you two things for sure: the Marines love any kind snacks and all kinds of tobacco products. As soon as the list of specifics gets made, it'll be up here. Semper Fidelis.

Moving From Town to Town

Here are some of the Marines moving form little village to little village. Up in the Northern part of our AO, the villages are spread pretty far apart from each other. So, everything in between is what you see...desert. Some platoons will be putting a combined 60 miles per week on their boots. The weather is supporting us right now, but when the summer comes, standby.

Five Star Hotel

Here are some of the sleeping arrangements that the Charlie Company Marines are enjoying. This is an abandoned farm house still in construction. You'll see the struts that the builders were using to support the frame for the concrete roof. As you can see, there wasn't much room around the struts, so it makes for some interesting sleep.

The temperature has been in the 30s at night and the mid 60s during the day. It doesn't sound too bad, but the moisture in the air makes it feel so much colder. But, the Marines of Charlie Company are hard and are enduring with little effort.