General Peter Pace retiring;

[bobgee]

FYI

Gen. Pace, 2nd platoon reunited

 

Sept. 5, 2007; Submitted on: 09/05/2007 11:10:19 AM ; Story ID#:

200795111019

By Cpl. Ryan Blaich, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)

 

KARMAH, Iraq (Sept. 5, 2007) -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, made a unique visit to Marines stationed here,

Sept. 4. As far as meetings with four-star generals usually go, this

event was much less formal. It seemed more like a gathering of

relatives, a way for Gen. Pace to connect the hardened war fighters of

today to the heroes of his past. It was evident he saw himself, and

his old unit, in the Marines who stood in front of him.

 

Nearly 40 years have passed since then 2nd Lt. Pace first stepped into

a combat zone as a platoon commander. The year was 1968 and the battle

was infamously known as the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. It was there he

battled against communism and the hand of fate, which made a profound

impression on Gen. Pace's commitment to country and Corps. The event

marked a time in his life never to be forgotten throughout his career

as a Marine infantry officer.

 

Decades later and less than a month before he retires from office,

Gen. Pace returned to the battlefield to join the same platoon of

Marines he led into combat as a final salute to the Corps and to those

who have ever served in 2nd platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th

Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

 

Gen. Pace stood stoically in front of men who have seen many recent

battles, some just weeks prior. He shared much of his past with them

as they stood silently, gathered around weight benches and dumbbells

at their outpost, known as Observation Post 3, near downtown Karmah.

Only the hum of a lone generator could be heard as Gen. Pace not only

recalled the full rank and names of the men who perished under his

command, but his fight to make sense of it all as well.

 

"Guys to the left of me got shot. Guys to the right of me got blown up

and nothing happened to me at all. I didn't understand that. I got out

of Vietnam without even a scratch on me," Gen. Pace said. "But, I made

a promise to myself back then that I would continue to serve in the

Corps, in their memory, and try to do my job out of respect for them."

 

Gen. Pace said he would only retire after he stopped getting promoted,

and in his words, "It worked out OK."...

 

Read the rest to understand what a devasting blow to the military and

the US Marine Corps that the PC police and the media have given us.

 

...Most people would agree it worked out a little better than OK.

 

On Sept. 30, 2005, Gen. Pace was appointed to his present position,

making him the first Marine to ever serve as the president's top

military advisor. He also serves as the military advisor to the

Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the Department

of Homeland Security. Until recently, no other Marine had ever made it

to vice chairman, except Gen. Pace.

 

Despite the long list of successes on Gen. Pace's resume, he never

forgot where and with whom it all started.

 

"After just over 40 years of service, when I do get out, I will still

owe the Marines of 2nd platoon, Golf Company, more than I could ever

repay," he said. "I'm so proud to be here with you."

 

The platoon seemed in awe, almost speechless by his visit. Maybe they

were trying to digest the idea of a top-ranking, four-star general who

humbly made it his priority to meet each of them individually, hand

out coins and take personal photographs while thanking them for their

sacrifices.

 

As Marines maneuvered around the outdoor gym for a group photo with

the most distinguished member of their platoon, Gen. Pace said, "I'd

love to be able to show my guys from Golf, 2nd platoon, your picture.

I know they'll be proud of you," referring to the Marines of his

Vietnam platoon, who he still visits.

 

It is this close knit bond between Marines, officers and enlisted,

which Gen. Pace said is the foundation to the health of the Corps.

 

After each Marine had their photograph taken with the general, got

their coin and asked their questions, he had one final gift to give, a

knife. Both symbolic and traditional, the K-bar knife has been a

staple of Marine combat gear for generations. It was this he chose to

bestow upon the latest platoon leader of 2nd platoon.

 

"I wanted to give you this. From one 2nd platoon leader to another,"

he said. "Out of respect for who you are, out of envy for your future

time in our Corps and out of envy for your opportunity to lead these

Marines."

 

1st Lt. Chad Cassady, a former sergeant, was the proud owner of the

new knife and said he felt privileged to receive such a gift from a

man he has long respected. Cassady had met Gen. Pace nearly two years

ago at the Marine Corps Ball ceremony, not long after Gen. Pace was

elected to chairman. He did not think their paths would ever cross

again.

 

"I didn't think I'd ever see him again," Cassady said. "I never could

have imagined we shared a connection."

 

Cassady does not plan to use the weapon in combat, but instead will

proudly display the grand memento in his house. Not everyone there got

a K-bar, but perhaps was able to take away a sense of belonging.

 

As the platoon's corpsman, Seaman Kyle Bourgeois, put it, "I just feel

fortunate."

 

Silent admiration filled the eyes of lance corporals and captains

alike and everyone present received something less tangible than a

steel blade or a metal coin. Gen. Pace was handing to each of them an

item that never fades or gets dull; a sense of pride and the

relentless will to succeed.

 

The bonds formed and shared between Marines, units, and platoons are

timeless.

 

"Forty years from now, you'll remember these officer's names and

they'll remember yours," Gen. Pace said. "A lot of stuff is going to

happen between now and then. You are going to have a lot of

experiences, most of it is going to be a blur, but you remember this,

you'll remember each other and I'll bet you, you'll find ways to get

together."

 

"It'll be very difficult for me to walk away," he said. "I was shaking

hands the day before yesterday in Afghanistan and a soldier came

through and said, 'Sir, thank you for your service. We'll take it from

here.' As I look at you, that's spot on. You have taken it."

[Brig]

I heard about this a few weeks ago. Apparently he's being gunned after for being too controversial....

[teufelhunde.ret]

Tim, this mess got started in early summer when Rumsfeld stepped aside... It was decided he had to go as well. Tis sad such a long distinguished career would end on a political note.

[Brig]

I remember when Rumsfeld stepped down...I was still in Baghdad. just another reason I think politics and the military shouldn't mix