U.S. Marines, sailors and distinguished guests attend the II MEF Operation Iraqi Freedom plaque dedication ceremony at the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 24, 2021. The plaque ceremony commemorates the lives of II MEF personnel who served as an embodiment of our core values by providing the ultimate sacrifice in the superior performance of their duties while engaged Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Transcript
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Lieutenant General Brian De Boudreau, Commanding General, Second Marine Expeditionary Force. Welcome to the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Plaque, Dedication ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for today’s invocation to be given by Chaplain of the Marine Corps Rear Admiral Gregory Todd, United States Navy, and remain standing for the national anthem and honors to Lieutenant General Brian De Pedro. Let us pray. Eternal Father, from whom nothing is hidden and no one has forgotten. Grant your presence with us today and your blessing on this memento of our service to our nation. Memento of or service to the cause of liberty and to one another. By your blessing, we ask that this plaque will serve as a memorial to the sacrifice paid by fellow marines and sailors. But more importantly, Lord, that it will serve as an inspiration for those of us still called to serve comfort those who mourn the eternal hope. It comes only from you. Grant us the sacred honor of caring for the families of our fallen brothers and sisters and use us as your instruments of love. And finally we ask that you teach us to number our days. As Osama says, we may gain the heart of wisdom wisdom to serve our neighbor and to glorify you. I met. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Right? Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. This viewing area is the commanding general, Second Marine Expeditionary Force. Lieutenant General Brian De Boudreaux. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, Lieutenant General by drone. Yeah. Good afternoon to the Marines. Thank you for the Marines information for supporting his ceremony today. The color guard to those attending narrators to the band, as always. Thank you very much for those taking time from your schedules that are, we greatly appreciate you being here is representative to would have been thousands of Marines who have served over the course of time here since 2000 and one October of 2000 and one. Um, initiating operations in Afghanistan to the general officers from General Cedar, home from the wing. General Donovan, General Pool is still at Capstone two Sergeants, majors Command. Master Chief, Thank you for being here. Yeah, General Odom in the MEB. Thank you as well. We have a Some heroes among us today weren’t was built transferred to the next building that should be ready in about 55 years. The younger Marines care to step into that building, but when you do, you will. It’s hard not to notice the plaques that honor the service and sacrifice of the Marines of World War Two in places like SaiPan and Tarawa. And it’s our hope here today that future generations of Marines, when they walk into the bath or division operation centers, we’ll see plaques that honor the service and sacrifice of those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Casualty figures can be staggering and time that we had, and it can only get worse, probably in great fear competition. But let’s hope not. 460 Marines died in Afghanistan, 378 due to hostile action, 81 others due to non hostile actions. 93% of that was enlisted Marines. Two thirds of that, or e four and below 7% were officers. Figures are about the same for Iraq, but we’ll come to that here momentarily and those who were wounded 4946 were wounded in Afghanistan and we have a couple of members here today who are going to help unveil the plaque for O. E. F. Who are also recipients of the Purple Heart. I’ll say some general comments until after the F plaque is unveiled, but I want to thank all those in attendance today who may have served in Afghanistan, most recently our last group of task force Southwest at Under Colonel Ford Phillips and director General Cal Worth, who turned the lights off on that mission for the Marine Corps. Under resolute support, different name, same country, trying to achieve the same end. Give Afghanistan a chance of peace, let democracy take root and try to defeat an insurgency and ensure terrorism never has another opportunity to strike the homeland from any that emanates from any part of the globe, but particularly out of that part of the globe. So at this time, I, I would like to call up, proceed with the ceremony and get on with the business of honoring those who have served to include, by the way, Chaplin Todd, chaplain of the Marine Corps, who gave us our invocation today, served in the Russian province early in the war with the 22nd mu. It also served in an Iraq early in in the early stages with second FSG. So he’s got a lot of time, obviously, was a meth chapel here for a period of time as well. So we thank you, Chaplain Todd, very meaningful that you could be here to help help us unveil the plaque and to remember and honor the sacrifice of all those who served, but particularly in a special way, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and to continue to honor those who are wounded to ensure that we continue to give them the best care and, you know, take care of them for the remainder of their lives. Yeah, if necessary. Marine Corps will be here to do that. And we know that there’s several programs to help our wounded veterans throughout the remainder of their time. And we need to be part of that brotherhood and sisterhood of which, by the way, three women were amongst those killed in action in Afghanistan. Numbers are higher even in Iraq, and this is Women’s History month, and we would be remiss in not honoring in a special way. The women who have put on this uniform and defended the freedoms that we all cherish in dangerous places and put their life on the line just like we did. So we honor everybody sacrificed today that it’s had a part in participating in Operation Enduring Freedom. Ladies, gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, Lieutenant General Pedro and Sergeant Major Lonnie Travis, with the assistance of Major Antoine Bates from Second Radio Battalion and Gunnery Sergeant Russell Beckley Junior from Second Intelligence Battalion will conduct the unveiling of the Operation Enduring Freedom plaque. Okay, Thank you for those that can’t see it. Maybe too distant. I’ll just read it. Two Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps dedicated to the Marines and sailors Two Marine Expeditionary Force who heroically sacrificed their lives to bring freedom to the people of Afghanistan and defend our country against terrorism. Dates are 7 October 1 2028 December 2014 to meth. 178 killed. 2301 wounded. Sacrifice Dallas. God rest your eternal souls. Next, we’re at the 18th anniversary, just beyond it of Operation Iraqi freedom toll was even tougher. Struggle continues. Mission has expanded in ways with NATO and others involved where you know the US joint force lead the way to try to liberate that country from a tyrant you know, the basis of which was violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ultimately led us to have to enforce those and remove a dictator from power who was a threat to the region and a threat to the United States and a threat to the presidency, for that matter. We recall we paid a dear price across the core for operations and not just Fallujah, which is, of course, every Marine is familiar with place called Fallujah. If you hadn’t served there, you’ve at least heard of it, or Ramadi for a heat for marijuana. Diese countless other places throughout that country. Two little stretches of the Western desert with no names of little villages, roads like bronze and mobile. We’re also took their toll on the force overtime. 852 hostile deaths in Iraq. My marines, eight females amongst them with 48. I’m sorry, 41 females also wounded in action 171 non hostile deaths during the course of this period out to 2014, with the total toll 1023 Marines killed in Iraq, with 8625 wounded in action. Second, Ma and their time there moved About 800,000 people flew over 450,000 hours, just incredible and nearly is half a million flight hours. That’s just second off. The divisional sacrifice was part of those numbers that we just recited. I couldn’t have been prouder in my time and service to be affiliated with the units that I was with an opportunity to deploy there. And I think everybody in this audience feels the same way about brothers and sisters that they went forward with to try to do what the nation asked us to do. Under different circumstances, 2003 was different than 2006, which was different than 2007. But there’s been steady progress, made chance to give freedom and bring a little bit of opportunity for democracy into a country that otherwise would still have a dictator running it very, very proud of all of you for wearing the uniform, particularly proud of those who, based on maybe some time in, have had an opportunity to serve, which those numbers are getting fewer and fewer every year. Probably most of the officers and staff NGOs and probably very few of our junior enlisted unless they had an opportunity to deploy with the SP mag Taft to Centcom. Or that’s a good news story, right? If we can reduce our commitment, give the country a chance to succeed, building Iraqi army, build an Afghan army, give them a chance to stand on their own. We’ve been involved in every part of it, from defeating insurgencies to standing up police forces, armies, Italian commanders serving as provincial and local authorities to try to get schools running again. And just amazing kind of civil affairs, type of work and experience. That an on the job training to do things that we just don’t train to do here on the ranges of the June or Pendleton, for that matter, day to day. But you’re thrust into those situations, and Marines have always risen to the occasion. Very, very proud Of all the United States Marine Corps has accomplished in a particularly to meth forces, with really starting in An Nasiriyah, one of the first big fights of the war, where the army had some troubles and we remember Jessica Lynch and the maintenance Battalion. I got into a little bit of trouble in there, and then, uh, and then what? The Marine Corps did and the task force terracotta to kind of come through and render great assistance to get that situation under control at some cost. So again, we’re here to remember the sacrifice of the fallen on this plaque. But I’m here today to honor the sacrifice of all Marines. East coast, West coast currently oversees wherever they happen to be. That had a hand in bringing, given a chance at peace and success in a country that you know have been sorely longing for again. This time I’ll call up the Sergeant Major. You’re crazy. Great Master Sergeant William Edwards, second Nest Support Battalion will conduct the unveiling of the Operation Iraqi Freedom plaque. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah, mhm dedicated all the marines and sailors that served with the second Marine. Of course, given the ultimate sacrifice serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, generations of future Marines and sailors will see the class and of that sacrifice that each of us must be prepared to make. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise as we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Mm. Mhm. Yeah. Mm. Yeah. Mm hmm. Mm. Mhm. Yeah. Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing with the playing of anchors away. And the Marines. Him. Jason, George Tenet. All right. Mm. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today’s ceremony on behalf of the commanding general of Second Marine Expeditionary Force. Thank you for your attendance today. Sorry. Yeah, get them.