If Gen. John Allen is leaving Afghanistan, what’s next?
May 16th, 2012 | Afghanistan General officers Washington | Posted by Dan Lamothe
The Washington Post ran a long-form story on Gen. John Allen on Sunday, highlighting his efforts as a “triage commander” while leading the war in Afghanistan.
The general has a “pragmatic focus,” the piece said. He’s “more professor and Southern gentleman than hard-bitten Marine general,” and closely studying the Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 during a complicated withdrawal of 23,000 U.S. troops there this summer.
Yesterday, we got a striking revelation about that same general: The supposedly indispensable leader of the war in Afghanistan is in line to become top commander of U.S. European Command, according to another story in the Post. He could leave his post in Afghanistan as soon as next winter, in between fighting seasons.
How those two realities square with one another seems like a fair conversation to have.
On one hand, there’s obvious reason for concern. “Another Afghanistan Commander Bails on the War Early,” reads a headline on Wired magazine’s popular Danger Room blog, and that’s a point of view that will certainly be held by many.
On the other hand, it’d be fascinating to know what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House and in Kabul that spurred this conversation.
Did Obama and Allen reach some sort of deal? Did Allen ask to move on? If so, why would the president agree to it when most educated observers believe the war in Afghanistan already has had far too many transitions in leadership in the last few years?
This one will bear watching in coming weeks.
Pentagon portrait of Navy captain a prank
April 17th, 2012 | Battle Rattle History and heritage Pentagon Washington | Posted by James Sanborn
The Pentagon’s halls are adorned with artifacts, paintings and portraits that herald each of the service’s illustrious histories. Walking from one wing to another visitors and staff pass portraits of military greats like Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, Gen. George S. Patton, and Adm. Chester Nimitz.
One portrait, however, was a mystery that turned out to be a prank of epic proportions. Check out this story by the Wall Street Journal on how Capt. Eldridge Hord III, now 53, has had his portrait hanging in the nation’s seat of military power for nearly a year with a plaque claiming it was the likeness of an ensign lost at sea in the 19th century.
His modern blow-dried hairstyle finally gave him away.
Do you have any stories of epic hoaxes or pranks from your time in the military?
Marine paints his way into history
January 3rd, 2012 | History and heritage The CMC Washington | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
Gen. James Amos and artist Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles on Jan. 1, 2012 at the Home of the Commandants in Washington, D.C. (Gina Cavallaro/staff)
The Home of the Commandants at Marine Barracks Washington is a living museum where all who enter or are fortunate enough to live there are surrounded by artists’ renditions of some of the most famous faces, places and battles in the Marine Corps’ history.
Completed in 1806, the historic landmark is the oldest continuously occupied home in Washington and the names of many of the artists whose works adorn the walls have long since faded into the past.
So, when Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles was chosen to create the home’s newest painting, he knew it would be one for the history books — and that he’d be around long enough to see it hung on the wall.
“I haven’t done anything with this level of exposure,” said Battles, a Reserve Marine who has been mobilized for five years and works in a studio aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. “I mean, it’s the commandant’s house.”
The oil painting is a faithful replica of the Home of the Commandants after a snowfall and is based on a photo taken by Amos himself in 2009. A reproduction of the work was used by Amos, and his wife Bonnie, for their 2011 Christmas card.
To show his appreciation for Battles’ superb work, and for his contribution of more than 60 studio works for the Marine Corps in the last year alone, Amos awarded Battles the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal following the painting’s unveiling in the home’s living room on Jan. 1.
Battles, who was invited with his wife to the traditional New Years Day “surprise” musical serenade for the commandant — a tradition that dates to the Civil War – thought he was just another invited guest and was surprised by the award. He hadn’t even met the commandant until that day.
The painting of the Home of the Commdandants, Battles said, is now one of his favorites. But there is one painting he did during a deployment to Iraq that is his favorite of all time. It’s called A Little Light Reading, Marines Enjoy the Morning.
A Little Light Reading, by Staff Sgt. Kristopher Battles
“I like it because it shows what it’s like to be in Iraq, and that’s something for future reference,” Battles said.
Video: The 236th Marine Corps Birthday Message
October 20th, 2011 | Afghanistan History and heritage Marjah The CMC The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Washington World War II Wounded warriors | Posted by Dan Lamothe
The Marine Corps Birthday is still a few weeks away, but the service extended one tradition tonight by posting its annual birthday video message.
Featuring narration by Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, the Corps’ top enlisted Marine, it honors Marines everywhere, with special appreciation set aside for those who served in World War II and since the attacks on 9/11.
Watch it here:
The commandant and sergeant major filmed pieces of the message in New York City and in the Washington, D.C., area at both the World War II Memorial and the Pentagon. They also filmed part of it in Marjah, Afghanistan, on Sept. 11.
It’s a bit early yet, but happy birthday, Marines. In the meantime, check out some of these behind-the-scenes photographs the Corps released as the video was being filmed:
Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, the Corps' top enlisted Marine, film part of the 2011 birthday message at the National War War II Memorial on July 28. (Photo by Lance Cp. Cody Fodale/Marine Corps)
Sgt. Maj. Barrett reviews birthday message remarks before filming part of the message Aug. 12 at the Pentagon. (Photo by Sgt. Christopher Green/Marine Corps)
The commandant and sergeant major prepare to be filmed on a building near Ground Zero in New York City. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tia Dufour/Marine Corps)
Thoughts on the ’60 Minutes’ piece with Dakota Meyer
September 19th, 2011 | Afghanistan Awards Ganjgal Washington | Posted by Dan Lamothe
President Obama presents Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House on Sept. 15. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Staff)
Last night, the messy background behind Sgt. Dakota Meyer’s Medal of Honor was reintroduced to the nation.
In a 15-minute piece on “60 Minutes,” CBS reporter David Martin outlined what went wrong in the six-hour battle in Ganjgal, Afghanistan, that led to Meyer taking his life in his hands on Sept. 8, 2009, in an attempt to save as many Afghan and American forces as he could from the teeth of a well planned ambush.
The clip is up here:
Some of the details reported last night will be common knowledge to those who have tracked Ganjgal, but there were some new details.
The Army Center for Lessons Learned training video of the account had not been widely distributed, for example. CBS also tracked down retired Col. Richard Hooker, one of the two officers who investigated the leadership failures that played a key role in what went wrong. Meyer himself also described what happened with refreshing candor, as painful as it is.
Readers of Marine Corps Times, Bing West’s “The Wrong War,” and some of McClatchy reporter Jonathan Landay’s initial reporting on the battle will know much more about the failures and frustration that day, however.
Since late 2009, I’ve actually written four Marine Corps Times cover stories that focused heavily on Ganjgal (note: I’ve linked them below), along with about 20 other shorter pieces.
There’s always another thread to pull on with the story. What about the reprimands? What about awards that are still pending? It’s a messy situation, and it still isn’t all resolved.
Martin’s piece last night does the story — and the families involved — a great service. It elevates Ganjgal’s profile yet again, adding in a lot of things that didn’t come up last week when President Obama awarded Meyer the nation’s top valor award.
Already today, The Associated Press has jumped on the story, leveraging comments that Gold Star family members Susan Price and Charlene Westbrook made on “60 Minutes.” They’ve shared their thoughts before, but this time it’s with a recently awarded Medal of Honor in the national consciousness.
It’s hard to say what’s next. Already, the Battle of Ganjgal has become a signature moment in the Afghanistan war, and that’s without considering the Medal of Honor case pending for Will Swenson, the Army captain who assisted Meyer in bringing home the bodies of four Americans killed in the battle.
If Swenson receives the award, it’d mark the first time since 1993′s Battle of Mogadishu that two service members receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the same fight. In yet another way, Ganjgal would become Afghanistan’s “Blackhawk Down.”
We’re watching history unfold before our eyes. It’s just shame it has to be so painful.
Previous Marine Corps Times cover stories on Ganjgal
– Families outraged over engagement restrictions
– Report: Army denied aid to team under fire
– Heroism in ambush may yield top valor awards
– MoH nominee says he does not feel like a hero
More on Dakota Meyer’s beer summit with Obama
September 15th, 2011 | Awards Ganjgal Washington | Posted by Dan Lamothe
UPDATED: A White House spokesman tells Marine Corps Times that the beer shared by Obama and Meyer was home-brewed there. It’s called White House Honey Blonde Ale. That’s pretty sweet.
President Obama enjoys a beer Wednesday outside the Oval Office with Dakota Meyer. The president will present Meyer, a sergeant in the Individual Ready Reserve, with the Medal of Honor on Thursday. (White House photo by Pete Souza)
By now, you’ve seen the photo above. It’s President Obama having a beer yesterday with Dakota Meyer, who will become today the first living Marine in 38 years to receive the Medal of Honor.
The idea was reportedly Dakota’s. When the president’s staff called Meyer over the weekend in advance of today’s ceremony, the Marine asked if he could have a beer with Obama, White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a tweet last night. The president invited Meyer yesterday.
During the Beer Summit in 2009, the guests drank Red Stripe and Blue Moon, while the president had Bud Lite. Based on the photograph, it appears they may have had Bud Lite yesterday, too. I’ve inquired with a few sources to see if we can clear that up. Inquiring minds want to know, and all.
Where were you during the D.C. earthquake of 2011?
August 23rd, 2011 | Washington | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Pentagon staff members evacuated the building Tuesday after an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rattled the region. (Associated Press photo)
So, here we are: Earthquake-experienced veterans.
As essentially anyone with connectivity to reality now knows, Virginia was rocked with an earthquake this afternoon. Measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, it led to brief evacuations of the Pentagon, Capitol Hill facilities and other prominent government buildings in the area surrounding Washington, D.C.
Like most other staff members of Marine Corps Times and the Military Times newspaper chain, I was sitting at my desk when the quake struck at 1:51 p.m. If it had lasted another 10 seconds, I may have taken cover under my desk, but I just sat there like a dunce, uncertain what to do.
I’m sure folks on the West Coast laugh at the widespread attention it has received in the media and on social networks today, but the Associated Press reported that it was the strongest earthquake on the East Coast since 1897, when a magnitude-5.9 quake hit Giles County, Va.
Friends and family up and down the East Coast called me afterward — just like everyone else called their own loved ones, apparently. Cell phone networks were down, and I couldn’t contact anyone in return for almost an hour.
Anyway, feel free to share your East Coast earthquake story in the comments section below. Off the top, it’s worth noting that the National Museum of the Marine Corps and other museums in the Washington area were closed for the afternoon.