Marines

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December 20, 2011 | 11:12 AM | By

Medal of Honor Recipient Dakota Meyer Settles Lawsuit

Marine Corps / Flickr

Sgt. Dakota Meyer

Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer has settled a lawsuit against British defense contractor BAE Systems, according to the Wall Street Journal. The lawsuit claimed BAE made false allegations of heavy drinking and mental instability against Meyer, making it difficult for him to find employment in the defense industry.

Meyer settled the lawsuit a day after McClatchy Newspapers published an article claiming the Marine Corps exaggerated Meyer’s heroism in Afghanistan so the Corps could nab a Medal of Honor.

The Marine Corps responded to those allegations in a statement:

“Because of the nature of the events supporting awards for valor, it is normal for minor discrepancies to appear when reviewing the source information and collecting eyewitness statements.”

President Barack Obama, who awarded the Medal of Honor to Meyer in a White House ceremony, has said he stands by the original Marine Corps story, and Sgt. Meyer.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Life in the Military, War, Afghan war, Afghanistan, BAE Systems, Dakota Meyer, defamation lawsuit, Marine Corps, Marines, McClatchy Newspapers, Medal of Honor
December 7, 2011 | 1:07 PM | By

Free Christmas Trees for Camp Pendleton Families (Video)

Christmas Spirit Foundation / YouTube

Trees for Troops recipients

More than 1,000 free Christmas trees are headed to Camp Pendleton to brighten the homes of the Marine families who live there. According to a Camp Pendleton news release, the tree distribution will take place 10:30 Friday morning at the Rattlesnake Canyon Road parking lot behind the Fire Station.

The group responsible for the tree giveaway is the aptly named Trees for Troops. According to the program’s website:

Since… 2005, Christmas Tree growers from across the U.S. have generously supported military families by providing 84,000 fresh cut Christmas Trees. For the past several years FedEx has helped to deliver, on average, 17,000 Real Christmas Trees each year to 60+ military bases throughout the U.S. and overseas. This year, our goal is to reach 100,000 Christmas Trees delivered.

There will be lots of activities on hand for the kids at the Camp Pendleton Christmas tree giveaway, including a magician, balloon artist, and a visit from Santa Claus himself.

For a little more background on Trees for Troops, here’s a touching video about what the program aims to accomplish:

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Camp Pendleton, Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, Christmas trees, Fed Ex, Marine Corps, Marines, Military Families, Santa Claus, Trees for Troops
November 29, 2011 | 2:16 PM | By

How Do You Feel About Defense Department Schools?

US Army Garrison-Yongsan Public Affairs / Flicrk

Military children in school

Do your children attend Defense Department schools? Do you wish they did?

I asked that question on the Home Post Facebook page, and got an interesting answer from a Marine wife who goes by the Twitter handle @USMCwife06. She also authors the blog ShotsSpot.com.

@USMCwife06 told me she wished her children had the option of attending Department of Defense schools because of the benefits she believes they have…

“Like smaller teacher/student ratio and better understanding of the issues military families and children face. Personally, I think that the DoD holds their schools and teachers to a higher standard than some of the states do. I don’t think …a DoD school would be allowed to be an “F” rated school. I think with a DoD school (or even a base school) there would be more of a sense of community that I do not perceive with having to send my child to a public school, and off base at that. Also, with having a special needs child, a DoD or base school might be more inclined to work with our Exceptional Family Member Program and offer a more comprehensive education approach to our child. There are times I feel my son isn’t much more than a federal tax benefit to his school district.”
Do your children go to DoD schools? Do you think they get a better education there than regular public schools?
FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, base schools, Camp Pendleton, Department of Defense Education Activity, DoD schools, Marilee Fitzgerald, Marine Corps, Marines, Military Children, Military Families, public education, ShotsSpot.com
November 23, 2011 | 12:14 PM | By

Latest Internet Meme Sensation a Former Marine

http://peppersprayingcop.tumblr.com/

Pepper Spray Cop in the "Friday" video

If you’ve been on the Internet during the past week, you’ve probably seen him – the pepper-spraying UC Davis police officer superimposed into famous works of art and photographs. The Internet meme known as “Casually Pepper Spray Everything Cop” shows Lt. John Pike making his way into pictures that run the gamut from the painting “The Scream” by Edvard Munch to a freeze frame of the Rebecca Black video “Friday.”

Matt Stopera of Buzzfeed.com tells NPR this latest internet sensation is…

“[D]efinitely… one of the bigger, more important memes.”

http://peppersprayingcop.tumblr.com

Well, it turns out the 39-year-old Pike is a veteran, according to the Associated Press:

Records show Pike joined the Marines in November 1989, and by the time he left, he had been promoted to sergeant.

So, what do you think of this latest Internet meme? Juvenile? Insulting? Hilarious? Great use of satire?

 

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Veterans, Edvard Munch, Friday, Internet meme, Lt. John Pike, Marine Corps, Marines, meme, Pepper Spray Cop, Rebecca Black, The Scream, UC Davis protesters, “Casually Pepper Spray Everything Cop”
November 15, 2011 | 1:00 PM | By

National TV Clamors to Interview Cpl. Kelsey De Santis (Video)

www.kelseydesantis.com

Justin Timberlake and Cpl. Kelsey De Santis

National television programs like Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Access Hollywood all jumped at the opportunity to interview Cpl. Kelsey De Santis today. She’s the Marine who took Justin Timberlake as her date to the Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Virginia this past Saturday.

De Santis asked Timberlake in July to be her date via a YouTube video that ended up going viral. Timberlake agreed to go, after urging his “Friends with Benefits” costar Mila Kunis to accompany Sgt. Scott Moore to his Ball. (Moore also asked Kunis to be his Marine Corps Ball date through YouTube.)

While it sounds like De Santis only got one dance with Timberlake, she’s made it quite clear she’s now a lifelong fan of the singer/actor. Here’s Cpl. De Santis’s interview with Ann Curry of The Today Show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Women in the military, Access Hollywood, Cpl. Kelsey De Santis, Friends with Benefits, Good Morning America, Justin Timberlake, Justin Timberlake Marine Corps Ball, Marine Corps Ball, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Marines, Mila Kunis, Sgt. Scott Moore, The Today Show, YouTube
November 10, 2011 | 10:30 AM | By

Powerful Tribute Video Marks Marine Corps 236th Birthday

Hector Alejandro / Flickr

Marine Corps 236th birthday cake

Today is the 236th birthday of the Marine Corps. A little history, from the Department of Defense:

The United States Marine Corps traces its institutional roots to the Continental Marines of the American Revolutionary War, formed by Captain Samuel Nicholas by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on 10 November 1775, to raise 2 battalions of Marines. 10 November is regarded and celebrated as the date of the Marine Corps’ “birthday”. At the end of the American Revolution, both the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were disbanded in April 1783, and the institution itself would not be resurrected until July 11, 1798. At that time, in preparation for the Quasi-War with France, Congress created the United States Marine Corps.

The Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps are featured in this multimedia tribute for the 236th Marine Corps Birthday – today, 10 November, 2011.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Spouses & Families, Veterans, War, American Revolutionary War, Continental Marines, Marine Corps, Marine Corps 236th Birthday, Marines, Veterans
November 9, 2011 | 9:16 AM | By

NCIS Says Camp Pendleton Marine Beaten to Death

NBC 7/39

Lance Cpl. Mario Arias

The 19-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine found dead in his barracks last weekend was beaten to death, according to the North County Times. Ed Buice of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service told the newspaper Lance Cpl. Mario Arias died from wounds “suffered at the hands of a fellow Marine.”

That Marine – the only suspect in the murder – jumped from a third-story balcony at the barracks and is currently hospitalized with major injuries. His name and rank hasn’t yet been released.

The motive for the murder?

Two sources have told the North County Times that the suspect was apparently drinking when he was confronted by Arias about his alcohol use. The sources say the suspect became enraged, severely beat Arias and then jumped in an apparent suicide attempt.

Arias grew up in Canoga Park, California and joined the Marines in 2010. He was an air-crew trainee assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Camp Pendleton, Canoga Park, homicide, Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, life in the military, Marine Corps, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marines, National Defense Service Medal, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, NCIS, San Diego
November 8, 2011 | 8:47 AM | By

Camp Pendleton Marine Possible Victim of Homicide (Video)

NBC 7/39

Lance Cpl. Mario Arias

Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, the Camp Pendleton Marine found dead in his barracks early Sunday morning, was the victim of a homicide – according to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. And the suspected murderer is a fellow Marine.

NCIS spokesman Ed Buice told the North County Times:

The Marine suspected of being responsible was found outside the barracks where he had jumped from a third-floor balcony… That Marine, whom authorities refused to identify by name and rank, was being treated for injuries suffered when he hit the ground.

The NC Times also reports Arias was killed by a gunshot wound, although authorities would not confirm that information.

As Home Post reported yesterday, the 19-year-old Arias was an air-crew trainee assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. Arias grew up in Canoga Park, California, and joined the Marines in August of 2010.

NBC 7/39 has more on Arias and his background:

View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Canoga Park, homicide, Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, life in the military, Marine Corps, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marines, National Defense Service Medal, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, NCIS, San Diego
November 7, 2011 | 2:17 PM | By

Camp Pendleton Marine Found Dead in Barracks

Camp Pendleton Main Gate

Camp Pendleton Main Gate

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is looking into the death of 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, who was found dead in his barracks at Camp Pendleton on Saturday. The Los Angeles Times reports the Canoga Park native was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He served as an air-crew trainee.

NBC 7/39 reports Arias joined the Marines in August of 2010. He received the National Defense Service Medal for his service.

Home Post will bring you more on this story as it develops.

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Canoga Park, Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, Marine Corps, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 Marine Aircraft Group 39 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marines, National Defense Service Medal, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, NCIS
November 2, 2011 | 8:49 AM | By

Veterans March with Occupy Wall Street Movement

Kathy Pacconi

Scott Olsen

Inspired by an Iraq War veteran who was critically injured during an Occupy Oakland protest, scores of military veterans are taking to the streets of New York City this morning to show their support of Occupy Wall Street.

USA Today reports Iraq Veterans Against the War is joining up with a group called “Veterans of the 99%” to demonstrate. They plan to march to Zuccotti Park to highlight the difficulties veterans have in finding jobs once they return home from war, according to New York Daily News.

Iraq War veteran and former Army specialist Scott Kimball is helping organize the march. He tells USA Today the wounding of former Marine Scott Olsen during Occupy Oakland emboldened many vets:

“We’re getting calls from veterans across the country who are extremely angry and appalled that someone who served two tours in Iraq got injured as a well-behaved protester. It’s rallying vets across the country. We’re just seeing the beginning of it.”

As Home Post reported earlier, Olsen’s skull was fractured when he was hit by a tear gas canister during the protest. He is still in the hospital.

FILED UNDER: Iraq, Life in the Military, Veterans, War, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Iraq War, Marine Corps, Marines, Occupy Oakland, Occupy Oakland protest, Occupy Wall Street, Scott Olsen, unemployed veterans, veteran unemployment, Veterans, Veterans of the 99%, Zuccotti Park