Ambushed. 6 marines. 5 of them from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Brookpark, Ohio. Then 14 more. 3 days, the Brookpark 20.
Ohio is now bearing the third most casualties of all U.S. states, behind California and Texas.
State Populations:
California- 35 million people
Texas- 22 million people
Ohio- 11 million people.
The impact is felt like Chernobyl in these communities, whose suburban neighboorhoods are more like extended families.
Brian Montgomery was one of the 6 ambushed in Haditha. He was found with 4 other marines, weapons gone. Another marine was found a few miles away.
I went to high school with Brian. I didn't know him very well then. I remember on one occasion a good friend of mine kicking the crap out of him. But then, a few weeks later, they were good friends.
That was Brian.....
I met Brian through the restaurant/bar that I work at. He was a regular there, and it was only a matter of time before we engaged in some friendly candor every now and then.
He was a textbook marine, one of these guys who just lived for his service to the marines. Most conversations ended up being about the marines.
I immediately realized I was the polar opposite of this man. He was everything I wasn't:
Optimistic...Trustworthy...Obediant.
He displayed that kind of extra-strength 100 proof patriotism that was a little too strong for my tastes. My patriotism consisted of a dedication to support and uphold that contract of all contracts, the U.S. Consitution.
His patriotism consisted of a 60 feet tall George W. Bush riding a Golden, Saudi-oil powered Zeppelin and sprinkling his magical freedom dust all over the evils in the world!
Well, a slight exaggeration. Let's just say he was Red State all the way.
Our friendly chats turned into debates a couple times, as I, like most humans, never give up the naive hope that I can change people for the better. Of course I would fail.
I always aim too high in debates. I start off with U.S. Foreign policy for the last 40 years, when I should just start simple...like Ephedra.
I mean, come on. Ephedra banned? With the shit in our medicine cabinets these days? Anal leakage, 4 hour erections, explosive diarrhea, blindness?
GIVE ME BACK MY STACKERS!!
Anyway...
We would debate, once or twice it got kind of heated. No violence, but red faces to say the least.
But when it was over, it was all handshakes and big goofy smiles and pats on the back.
You just had to love the guy.
There he was, spitting Rovian bile and Bush Newsspeak, and I couldn't help but love the guy.
He was courting another friend of mine, another coworker. Their relationship blossomed into a marriage, into a child.
The news came in...they were calling him up.
Even with a newborn baby, Brian's dedication to serve was resolute. He would go.
It was a January deployment...4 months of being a Dad and it was off to war.
He said he was going to the Al-Anbar province, which I can remember when he told me made me almost spit out my soda. He was so happy and fearless about the whole thing.
8 months later and he's dead.
And now as I sit here and remember him, it's not the arguing I remember.
It's the smiles, the laughter, the camaraderie between two goofy boys from Ohio.
There's a part of me that wishes I could go back in time and try to educate him more...but then I come to my senses and realize he wouldn't of listened anyway.
He was stubborn, set in his ways, and determined to let everyone know his dedication to his country. Just like me.
Only he was willing, like so many other young men, to die for the causes of old men.
Young men fighting and old men talking.
I feel a sadness for the death, not only for the friendship shared with Brian, but for the way his death sentence was issued by greedy old chickenhawks who don't possess a fucking milligram of the courage and pride and honor that Brian possessed.
19 Marines dead, over a 30 mile radius up and down the mistake by the lake.
The london attacks killed 50 people and it's
weeks of these "LONDON TERROR" news flashes with the gongs and the synthesizers that make you shit your pants.
20 people die in the mistake on the lake, the poorest city in America, and no one will remember tommorow.
Except for us. Those who have to live with the grief that is rooted throughout my great city at this very moment.
To Brian, to the boys from Brookpark, to all the men and women that have died in service of their country...thank you. While I disagree with your mission, it is not you who decides it, it is only you who decide that you are willing to die for your country, regardless if hawks and cowards are running it into the ground. That is a far greater thing than I could ever do.
Thank you.
B Charles
TheClevelandSteamer.com