Monday, December 21st, marks five years since the Mess Hall at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq was attacked by a suicide bomber.
Fourteen U.S. Soldiers, four U.S. contractors (Haliburton), and four Iraqi National Guard Soldiers were killed. Over 70 other soldiers and contracts were wounded in the blast.
Christmas 2004 was a very uncertain and somber time for our families. We waited nervously for word of our soldiers' fate. When we learned they had survived, Patti and I felt very conflicted. We felt sorrow for the loved ones who had lost a soldier, and we felt guilt because we were happy our boys had survived.
Monday will not pass easily for me. That day is hard for my brother, too, who suffers from PTSD and still thinks about the attack. His life was spared--he felt the stinging touch of fate that still burns him today. So close to death and yet he is still alive. He saved lives that day, but he also witnessed the loss of many. It is for the families of those Heroes that Patti and I pray.
Please join us in honoring the memories of:
Lionel Ayro, 22, Jeanerette, Louisiana, Private First Class, US Army, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Joel E. Baldwin, 37, Arlington, Virginia, Chief Petty Officer, US Navy, Mobile Construction Battalion 7, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Jonathan Castro, 21, Corona, California, Specialist, US Army, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Thomas J. Dostie, 20, Sommerville, Maine, Specialist, Maine National Guard, 133rd Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Cory M. Hewitt, 26, Stewart, Tennessee, Specialist, US Army, 705th Ordnance Company, US Army, died Tuesday, December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
William W. Jacobsen Jr., 31, Charlotte, North Carolina, Captain,1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division SBCT, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Robert S. Johnson, 23, Seaside, California, Staff Sergeant, US Army,1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division SBCT, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Paul D. Karpowich,30, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, Sergeant First Class, US Army Reserves, 2nd Battalion, 390th Infantry Regiment, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Nicholas C. Mason, 20, King George, Virginia, Specialist, Virginia National Guard, 276th Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Julian S. Melo, 47, Brooklyn, New York, Staff Sergeant, US Army,1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Robert D. O’Dell, 38, Manassas, Virginia, Sergeant Major, US Army Intelligence and Security Command, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, Freedom, Maine, Sergeant, Maine National Guard, 133rd Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
David A. Ruhren, 20, Stafford, Virginia, Specialist, Virginia National Guard, 276th Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Darren D. VanKomen, 33, Bluefield, West Virginia, Staff Sergeant, US Army, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Fourteen U.S. Soldiers, four U.S. contractors (Haliburton), and four Iraqi National Guard Soldiers were killed. Over 70 other soldiers and contracts were wounded in the blast.
Christmas 2004 was a very uncertain and somber time for our families. We waited nervously for word of our soldiers' fate. When we learned they had survived, Patti and I felt very conflicted. We felt sorrow for the loved ones who had lost a soldier, and we felt guilt because we were happy our boys had survived.
Monday will not pass easily for me. That day is hard for my brother, too, who suffers from PTSD and still thinks about the attack. His life was spared--he felt the stinging touch of fate that still burns him today. So close to death and yet he is still alive. He saved lives that day, but he also witnessed the loss of many. It is for the families of those Heroes that Patti and I pray.
Please join us in honoring the memories of:
Lionel Ayro, 22, Jeanerette, Louisiana, Private First Class, US Army, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Joel E. Baldwin, 37, Arlington, Virginia, Chief Petty Officer, US Navy, Mobile Construction Battalion 7, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Jonathan Castro, 21, Corona, California, Specialist, US Army, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Thomas J. Dostie, 20, Sommerville, Maine, Specialist, Maine National Guard, 133rd Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Cory M. Hewitt, 26, Stewart, Tennessee, Specialist, US Army, 705th Ordnance Company, US Army, died Tuesday, December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
William W. Jacobsen Jr., 31, Charlotte, North Carolina, Captain,1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division SBCT, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Robert S. Johnson, 23, Seaside, California, Staff Sergeant, US Army,1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division SBCT, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Paul D. Karpowich,30, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, Sergeant First Class, US Army Reserves, 2nd Battalion, 390th Infantry Regiment, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Nicholas C. Mason, 20, King George, Virginia, Specialist, Virginia National Guard, 276th Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Julian S. Melo, 47, Brooklyn, New York, Staff Sergeant, US Army,1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Robert D. O’Dell, 38, Manassas, Virginia, Sergeant Major, US Army Intelligence and Security Command, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, Freedom, Maine, Sergeant, Maine National Guard, 133rd Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
David A. Ruhren, 20, Stafford, Virginia, Specialist, Virginia National Guard, 276th Engineer Battalion, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.
Darren D. VanKomen, 33, Bluefield, West Virginia, Staff Sergeant, US Army, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, died December 21, 2004, when a suicide bomber attacked the dining hall at FOB Marez, Mosul, Iraq.