Phantoms' return to Combat Center

November 18, 2011 Since 1957 Vol. 55 Issue 44

�VMU comes home afterseven month deploymentLLAANNCCEE CCPPLL.. AALLII AAZZIIMMIICOMBAT CORRESPONDENT

Approximately 120 Marines and sailors of MarineUnmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 returned from theirseven-month tour to Afghanistan’s Helmand province Nov.12 at VMU-3’s compound aboard the Combat Center. Theywere acting in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Families began arriving as early as 2 a.m. and waited nearly fivehours in the freezing morning weather for the buses, holding theirMarines. As they tried to keep warm with hot chocolate and thickjackets, the excitement of their loved ones returning safely ampeda new surge of energy in them.

The sun barely peaked over the horizon when the Marinesstepped off the buses. The day was welcomed with cheersand excitement as the crowd waved signs in the air and raninto the arms of their returning heroes.

But the Marines had a surprise for them as well. As theyapproached their excited supporters, they held red roses togive to their loved ones. But in most cases before the Marine

had a chance to hand them the rose there were already handswrapped tightly around them.

For two VMU-3 Marines it was more than just re-unitingwith their family, it was also a first meeting with their children.

Capt. John Mahler, an intelligence officer, and Cpl.Benjamin R. Oden, a data network specialist, both withVMU-3, were able to hold their newborn children that morn-ing, for the first time.

“He just had this big smile on his face,” said Kailea Oden,wife of Benjamin, as she described Benjamin’s reaction ofthe corporal’s first meeting with his daughter, Bella. “It’samazing to have him home.”

During the deployment, VMU-3 provided vital intelli-gence, search and reconnaissance support to groundunits in Afghanistan. Their assistance protected Marineoperations and convoys as well as tracking Taliban insur-gents in the area.

‘Phantoms’ return to Combat Center

KKEELLLLYY OO’’SSUULLLLIIVVAANN

Brig. Gen. George W. Smith Jr., the commanding general of the Combat Center, salutes as his wife Kathleen [farleft] holds her hand over her heart as the National Anthem is played, at the start of the Veterans Day ceremony atVeterans Park in Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 11.

Marines arelooking for afew good toysDDIIAANNEE DDUURRDDEENN PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

For thousands of children throughout the MorongoBasin and Coachella Valley, Christmas has the potential tobe a gray, dreary and hopeless holiday. With the help ofCombat Center Marines and the Toys for Tots program,that will not be the case.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots programcollects and distributes toys to less fortunate childrenthroughout the United States.

This year’s coordinator, Gunnery Sgt. NilavanhSosayachanh, tank maintenance chief, 4th Tank Battalion,Fourth Marine Division, has been gearing up for the pastcouple of months preparing for this year’s campaign.

Toy collection boxes were distributed to local busi-nesses long before the first notes of Christmas musicwere played in hopes of getting a jump start in collect-ing enough toys for this year’s distribution.

Last year, the Combat Center’s campaign distributed30,000 toys to more than 13,000 children in the localarea. Due to the current economic crunch, Sosayachanhis expecting the need for toys to increase. He won’t beable to provide enough toys without the help and sup-port of the local community.

“Our biggest obstacle will be getting enough dona-tions,” said Sosayachanh, who has currently distributedabout 150 toy collection boxes in the area.

Donating new, unwrapped toys is not the only wayto help. Cash donations are used to purchase toys tosupplement toy donations for distribution. Last year,$18,000 was used to purchase toys for gifting.

Although Toys for Tots is a nation-wide program,each campaign is locally run. All donations, toys and cash,are retained and distributed within the local community.

Collecting toys is only part of the program.Distributing toys to children in need is the other part.

Families needing toys can request to be a recipientby submitting a toy request form, available on the Toysfor Tots website. The deadline to register is Dec. 11.

The goal of the Toys for Tots program is to delivera message of hope to needy children by providing thegift of a shiny new toy.

“It’s a great program,” said Sosayachanh. “It givesyou a chance to help the community and others.”

Your time is just a valuable as a toy or monetarydonation. You can work events or man a collectionbox, sort incoming toys, pick up collected toys fromlocal businesses and more.

To find out more about how you can help, visit theCombat Center’s Toys for Tots website athttp://www.29-palms-ca.toysfortots.org.

[Above] The Combat Center Band marches downthe streets of Palm Springs during the annualVeterans Day Parade, Nov. 11.

[Right] Local Palm Springs residents WendyPasquini, holds her 4-year-old daughter Layla,and her husband Stephen, holds their 20-month-old son Lucca, watch the fireworks just after theannual Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade Nov.11.

California Highway Patrol trains at Combat CenterCCPPLL.. AANNDDRREEWW DD.. TTHHOORRBBUURRNNCOMBAT CORRESPONDENT

Officers with the California HighwayPatrol mobile field force practiced annu-al crowd dispersal at Range 200 Nov. 9with the help of Combat Center per-sonnel.

The CHP chose the Combat Centerfor their annual training because ofthe unique facilities available.

“This is the first time we havecome aboard a Marine Corps facili-ty,” said Officer Levi Miller, a mobilefield force officer with the SanBernardino County. “We chose thisplace because a lot of other basesjust have an open field for us to go,but it just isn’t realistic.

“This facility you have in the Marine

Corps really fits what we need,” Milleradded. “It will give the team a sense ofwhat it will be like to hold down anintersection or move a crowd throughbuildings where people could hide andthrow projectiles from.”

To help add more realism to thetraining, the CHP had volunteerofficers and Marines with the MarineCorps Communication-ElectronicsSchool and Provost Marshals OfficeSpecial Reaction Team act as agres-sors in the crowd.

“They threw Nerf balls and tennisballs at us to give our officers a sense ofreality,” Miller said. “Hopefully that willremind them that their helmet shieldsneed to be down and that in a real life sce-nario, a bottle or a rock could be thrownand cause serious damage.”

The officers donned all their gearfor the training and reviewed theirformations for the multiple scenar-ios scheduled for the day.

“We have three scenarios that wedid where our role players simulateda riotous crowd,” Miller said. “Weused our formations and techniquesto separate the crowd into smallergroups. If we can get a crowd sepa-rated or pick out a leader or some-one who is inciting the crowd, wewill separate them from the crowd.Whatever we can do to disperse thecrowd.”

As the scenarios progressed theagressors became more aggressiveand the officers began practicing

CCPPLL..AANNDDRREEWW DD.. TTHHOORRBBUURRNN

Officers with the California Highway Patrol mobile fieldforce practice using smoke canisters, simulating usingCS gas, during a training event at Range 200 Nov. 9.

A Veterans Celebration

LLAANNCCEE CCPPLL.. SSAARRAAHH DDIIEETTZZ


““He just had this big smile on his face.It’s amazing to have him home”

– Kailea Oden

See HOMECOMING, A6

See CHP, A6

Center

AA22 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 1188,, 22001111 OOBBSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPoosstt

AACCRROOSSSS1. Touched down 5. Make oneself

hoarse, perhaps 9. Chichester chap 14. Comical Carvey 15. Truant from the

troops 16. Ancient Greek

colony 17. Blooper removals? 20. Get gussied up 21. Glitterati 22. La Brea gunk 23. Understood 26. Pendulum's path 27. Israel's Olmert 29. Deceive 34. Bad start? 37. They're spent by 25. Down 39. Words before pot

or seed 40. Searchers for

opinions? 44. London Magazine

essayist 45. Try for an ace,

perhaps

46. Unidentified Richard

47. Spaghetti western director Leone

50. Ragout or burgoo 51. Be light at the

poker table 53. Dadaism pioneer

Jean 54. Protrude 57. Troopers' quarries 62. O. Henry device 64. Summarize some

baseball plays? 67. John who played

Gomez 68. "It's Impossible"

singer 69. Adman's award 70. New moon, e.g.71. "Terrible" time 72. Sharp as a tack

DDOOWWNN1. Expand the family,

in a way 2. Designer Ashley 3. ICBM part

FLIP-FLOPS

Observation Post

The Observation Post is published by Hi-Desert Publishing, a private firm in no way con-nected with the Department of Defense or the United States Marine Corps, under exclu-sive written contract with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. This commercialenterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services.Contents of the Observation Post are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by,the United States government, the DoD, or the United States Marine Corps. The appear-ance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not con-stitute endorsement by the DoD or Hi-Desert Publishing of the services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use orpatronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital sta-tus, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the pur-chaser, user or patron. Editorial content is prepared by the Public Affairs Office,MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms, Calif. 92278. All photos, unless otherwise indicated areOfficial USMC Photos. Questions can be directed to the Public Affairs Office, locat-ed in building 1417, during normal working hours at 830-6213 or FAX 830-5474. TheObservation Post is made with 60 percent recycled paper.

4. British gallery founder Sir Henry

5. Chew the rag 6. Merino mama 7. A bundle 8. Alpaca kin 9. Satirist Ambrose 10. Rioter's take 11. Cross to bear 12. Toy on a string 13. Division in both

major leagues 18. "Measure for

Measure" villain 19. Auto pioneerBenz 24. Part of B&O 25. Folks on eitherside of theBosporus 28. Valleys 30. In the past 31. Ill-humored 32. Gridiron great

Graham 33. Pinocchio's

protuberance 34. Executes 35. Time for eggnog

36. The slammer 38. Rather, informally 41. Trail the pack 42. Eggs order 43. Carnival doll 48. Its deficiency

causes goiter 49. "The Virginian"

author Wister 52. Not on all fours 54. Ten million ergs 55. Set free 56. Youngest

heavyweight champion

57. It comes in cakes 58. Propel, as a pram 59. Bluesy James 60. Bush 41 and 43,as

collegians 61. Unlikely to steal

bases 63. Alcatraz, with"the" 65. Cyber-shorthand

for "editorially speaking"

66. Turndowns

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SUDOKU #2355-M

Eagle

Eyes

Immediately report any suspicious activity whichmay be a sign of terrorism, including:

1. Surveillance2. Suspicious questioning3. Tests of security4. Acquiring supplies5. Suspicious persons6. Trial runs7. Deploying assets

830-3937

Hot Topics

FFRRAAUUDD,, WWAASSTTEE,,MMIISSMMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT

HHOOTTLLIINNEEThe Command InspectorGeneral’s Fraud, Waste,Mismanagement Hotline isavailable to all military per-sonnel, civilian employeesand family members at 830-7749 or DSN 230-7749.Facsimiles can be called inat 830-6155 or DSN 230-6155. You can also file acomplaint at [email protected]

WWIINNTTEERR FFEESSTTIIVVAALL

The Marine CorpsCommunity Services willbe hosting a Winter FestivalDec. 3 at Felix Field.Games, Santa, toys andbeverages are available tothe families in attendance.For more information, visithttp://www.mccs29palms.com.

TTUURRKKEEYY BBOOWWLLIINNGGThere will be a turkeybowling tournament at theMCCS Community CenterNov. 19, starting at 11 a.m.Cost is $3 and includesthree games and use ofshoes. Prizes include aturkey. Register by today.For more information, call830-3910. The event isopen to all active duty,retirees, DOD employeesand their families.

WWOOMMEENN’’SS GGOOLLFFLLEESSSSOONNSS

The Desert Winds GolfCourse will be hosting golflessons for Combat Centerwomen. The six weeks ofinstruction will be taught by aPGA professional. The costis $100, which includes theuse of clubs and green fees.For more information, call830-3900.

CCoommmmaannddiinngg GGeenneerraall - Brig. Gen. George W. Smith Jr.PPuubblliicc AAffffaaiirrss OOffffiicceerr - Capt. Nick MannweilerDDeeppuuttyy PPuubblliicc AAffffaaiirrss OOffffiicceerr - 2nd Lt. Sin Y. CarranoPPuubblliicc AAffffaaiirrss CChhiieeff - Gunnery Sgt. Leo A. SalinasPPrreessss CChhiieeff//EEddiittoorr - Sgt. Heather GoldenLLaayyoouutt,, DDeessiiggnn - Leslie Shaw

CCoorrrreessppoonnddeennttssCpl. William J. JacksonCpl. Andrew D. ThorburnLance Cpl. Ali AzimiLance Cpl. Sarah DietzLance Cpl. D. J. WuDiane Durden

AUTOR UNKNOWN

“First happenings” are nothingnew at Twentynine Palms, as evi-denced by the outstanding perform-ance by Marines and the units here.This week a milestone was recorded,a reorganization order was issued,and again, the Marines from thisinstallation recieved a highly com-mended “well done” from theCommand.

Last Monday, “B” Battery of 1stMedium Antiaircraft MissileBattalion, fired the surface-to-airHawk guided missile. This firing mis-sion, that was classified as a quarterlytraining exercise for the 1st LightAntiaircraft Missile Battalion, wasunusual in the fact that the MAAM’sMarines are normally associated withthe medium surface-to-air Terriermissile.

The shoot terminated six weeks ofretraining, during which “B” Batterysuccessfully absorbedthe requiredknowledge to perfom the highlytechnical operational phases of firingthe weapon. The proud instructorsof the fledgling Hawk missilemenwere members of “D” Battery, 1stLight Antiaircraft Missile Battalion.

Just two short months ago, theMAAM Battery completed a firingexercise, utilizing their own organ-ic weapon, the Terrier. The train-ing session marked the firstretraining package here atTwentynin Palms, whereas thetraining had formerly been con-ducted at Ft. Bliss, Tex. It was notedthat the technicians involved wouldstill be schooled at the Army AirDefense School but the bulk of thetraining, that being operational, willbe administered here.

Both Capt. R. M. Proudfoot, of “B”Battery, 1st MAAMs and Capt. M. S.Jolley, of “”D” Battery, 1st LAAMs,considered the tretraining to be veryeffective.

REORGANIZATION:It has been announced by the

Command, that effective Dec. 1, areorganization of antiaircraft missileunits would be in effect withinForce Troops.

The redesignation of the 1stMedium Antiaircraft MissileBattalion to the 3rd LightAntiaircraft Missile Battalion, wasthe main change involved with the“D” Batteries of both existingLAAM Battalions being deactivated.

Reprinted from the Observation Post dated November 21, 1961, Vol. 5, No. 47

Hawk Fired By MAAM Misselemen;1st MAAMs Redesignated 3rd LAAM

This Week in

Hist

ory

Combat

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Hi-Desert Publishing Co.Your community newspapers working to serve you better

Wednesdays and Saturdayswith the Hi-Desert Star

Thursdays withThe Desert Trail

Fridays withThe Observation Post

> When I passed my Eagle board, itwas definately relieving because I remembersitting there tense and they finally told me torelax.> I joined Boy Scouts because a repre-sentative came out and talked to us and showedus the camp setup and the WildernessSurvival merit badge when I was in fifth grade.

>From the start, it was pretty cool because they had the elections or whatever andI said my little spiel about why I think I would be a good leader and then they elect-ed me as patrol leader for two terms.> It was just kind of a knack. I just always liked being in the leadership role andhaving a say in what’s going on type of deal.> The Wilderness Survival was the reason I got into the Boy Scouts. Just throw-ing you out into the woods and seeing what you can do.

> My dad helped with personal drive. He has just given me the personal driveto deal with things.> I am grateful for what my dad and mom have done. They both werealways there for me, drove me to where I was supposed to be.> When I was in Cub Scouts, my dad would come out to a few camp-outs withme and would help set up gear.> A lot of leadership skills I learned from my dad. Just seeing how he hasdone things and just kind of incorporated them with my own personal twits to them.

> I was interested in that kind of stuff so I went and saw the troop and wenton a campout with them and joined up with them.> I got to work with fire and knives to earn my Fireman and Totin chip cards.Just the basic skills all scouts have.> We had nothing but eggs and bread for the whole campout because whoever bought the food didn’t think strait.> One of the other troops had extra Vienna sausage, so for breakfast we had egg sandwiches and cut up Vienna sausage and just mix them all together.> I had perfect weather. We set it up and we were just sitting there thinking ‘well this kind of sucks.’ We were all hoping it was going to rain or something was going tohappen but no. nothing at all.> We were trying to sneak up on the scout master, but that didn’t happen. Every time we tried to get close, we would see a flashlight turn on and we would runaway really fast then slowly try to sneak back up. Then we finally learned that his flashlight was on a timer that would turn on every once in a while to keep the animals away.> We were in a cow pasture type of deal. It was pouring down rain all night, and the next morning we all got out of our tents and one of the kids walks outof his tent and there is cow pie everywhere. Pretty much the first thing he said was “I’m done.”> It seems no matter where you go, someone has a deck of cards. It could be a miserable campout and someone pulls out a deck of cards, and everyone getshappy for that short period of time.> If you get the opportunity to do scouting, definately do it.

> The big thing about being a military kid would be learning leadership through my family.> Figuring I love shooting and seeing a lot of what recon does on TV, and thinking “Oh, that would be really cool thing to do.” Then talking with my dad, he was like,if you are going to do something, you might go as high as you can with it.> I like the life style, knowing you are not going to be in the same place forever. Nothing is ever all that predictable.> Honestly, being a military kid helped me get more out there. It sucked moving and not being able to see my friends, but most of my movement was at a young ageand seeing them is the out of sight, out of mind type of deal.

INTERVIEWED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY

Joseph KappusCombat Center Eagle Scout, Orlando, Fla..,

18 years old

NOV. 5, 2011

CPL. ANDREW D. THORBURN

OOBBSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPoosstt NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 1188,, 22001111 AA33

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Visit the official MCAGCC facebook page athttp://www.flickr.com/thecombatcenterhttp://www.youtube.com/user/CombatCenterPAOhttp://www.facebook.com/thecombatcenter

The Combat Center has its own YouTube channel. Find it at

The Combat Center has its own Flickr photo andvideo streams. Find them at

A LEADERSHIP ROLE

TALES FROM THE CAMPFIRE

A STEP TOWARDS MILITARY LIFE

SUPPORT GROUP

THEEAGLE SCOUT


‘America’s Battalion’ arrives in Afghanistan CCPPLL.. RREEEECCEE LLOODDDDEERRCOMBAT CORRESPONDENT

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province,Afghanistan — Over seven monthsof training, the Marines and sailors of3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment,have become hardened for war.

They’ve prepared for the enemyfrom their home base in Hawaii andendured endless hours baking in thesun of the California desert.

The approximately 1,000 men of“America’s Battalion” bid bittersweetgoodbyes to family and friends fromOct. 27 through Nov. 1, carryingthese memories on their deploymentto southern Helmand.

In the coming weeks 3/3 will takecontrol of operations in GarmsirDistrict, relieving fellow Hawaii-based1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.The “Lava Dogs” of 1/3 are nearingthe end of their seven-month deploy-ment, which began in April.

Staff Sgt. Joe Salinas, an operationswatch chief with 3/3, said theMarines and sailors will have a chal-lenging task in Garmsir. Here, they’llpartner with the Afghan NationalSecurity Forces to maintain theprogress made by 1/3 to secure thedistrict and legitimize its governmentin the eyes of the people.

“Our deployment to Garmsir is asimportant as the first because wecould be the last Marines here,” saidSalinas, a 40-year-old native of SanAntonio. “We have a lot to accom-plish to make sure the Afghans areready to take over when we leave.

Partnering with the AfghanNational Army and Police,“America’s Battalion” will assist thelocal Afghan leadership in providing

security for reconstruction projectsaimed at developing critical infra-structure in the district. Lt. Col.Matthew J. Palma, 3/3 commandingofficer, sees these development proj-ects as essential to the Afghan gov-ernment taking root in southernHelmand.

“We’ve invested 10 years in this

war,” Palma, native of Bristol, R.I.,said. “We’re on the verge of success,and turning back now would onlythrow away the work we’ve done andthe sacrifices of the Marines thathave gone before us. The Afghansare emerging from 30 years of sus-tained conflict. They see the light atthe end of the tunnel, and they wantchange too.”

The deployment is new territory formany of the Marines and sailors of3/3, including Navy Seaman DaveMundy, a corpsman with KiloCompany. While a professional mile-stone, it will also be Mundy’s firstdeployment apart from his wife ofseven months.

He said the separation will be diffi-cult, especially following his wife’srecent move to Hawaii.

“I brought my wife away from herfamily for the first time,” said Mundy,a native of Chicago. “Now we’regoing to miss spending all the goodholidays together.”

In Afghanistan, the corpsman willshoulder a lot of responsibility. At27, he has more life experience thannearly all his peers, and his maturitywill be an asset in the performance ofhis duties. He’s charged with caringfor 18 Marines, infantrymen facedwith the threats of enemy fightersand improvised explosive devices.

Though confident in his abilities asa corpsman, Mundy said he hopes he

never has to use his training in combat.“Even if I don’t have to use my

training, I’m doing a job that matters... and my wife knows I am too,”Mundy said. “Being away from her isgoing to be really hard, but it makesme feel better knowing I’ll be therewhen my guys need me.”

The Marines and sailors of 3/3 willlabor in Afghanistan for sevenmonths, but the impact of theirefforts will forever be a part ofAfghan and Marine Corps history,Palma said.

“This generation of Marines arecontributing to America’s historybooks,” Palma said. “20 years fromnow, our kids will read about ourendeavors, much like we did of ourfathers in Vietnam, and our grandfa-thers in World War II.”

CCPPLL.. RREEEECCEE LLOODDDDEERR

Lance Cpl. Barney Oldfield, rifleman with Jump Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment,uses a bottle cap to mark the location of a metal object during metal detector training on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Nov. 3.

Editor’s note: 3rd Battalion, 3rd MarineRegiment, is currently assigned to RegimentalCombat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division(Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck.The task force serves as the ground combat ele-ment of Regional Command (Southwest) andworks in partnership with the AfghanistanNational Security Forces and the Government ofthe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conductcounterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicat-ed to securing the Afghan people, defeating insur-gent forces, and enabling the ANSF assumptionof security responsibilities within its operations inorder to support the expansion of stability, devel-opment and legitimate governance.

CCPPLL.. RREEEECCEE LLOODDDDEERR

Lance Cpl. Ryan Kelly, rifleman with Jump Platoon, Headquarters and ServiceCompany, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, waits to have his weapon cleared outafter calibrating it during a battle sight zero exercise on Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Nov.3. After departing home in Hawaii from Oct. 27 through Nov. 1, the Marines and sailorsof “America’s Battalion” arrived in Afghanistan’s Helmand province to begin their seven-month deployment in support of Regimental Combat Team 5. They are filtering into theprovince’s Garmsir District to relieve fellow Hawaii-based 1st Battalion, 3rd MarineRegiment, who arrived here in April. Kelly, 21, is from Sharon, Mass.


SSGGTT.. RRAANNDDAALLLL AA.. CCLLIINNTTOONN

Marines march past a child saluting them in the annual New York Veterans Day parade Nov. 11.This year marks the 92ndAnniversary of The New York City Veterans Day Parade. It is the oldest and largest of its kind in the nation. Since 1919,the parade has provided an opportunity for Americans to honor those who have served in the nation's largest city.

[Above] Marines and sailors of the 31st MarineExpeditionary Unit participate in aVeterans Day fun run onthe flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assaultship USS Essex Nov. 10.The 31st MEU is the only contin-ually forward-deployed MEU and remains the UnitedStates' force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

[Below] Hundreds of British service members and coalitionforces gathered at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Nov.11 for a Remembrance Day ceremony to commemorate allthose who gave their lives during conflicts from WWI untilpresent times. Remembrance Day services are heldthroughout the U.K. Nov. 11, signifying the day thearmistice was signed to end WWI. Remembrance Day isthe British version of the U.S. Veterans Day.

SSGGTT.. RRAANNDDAALLLL CCLLIINNTTOONN

A color guard from 6th Communications Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, led amarching detail of 200 Marines in the annual New York Veteran's Day parade,Nov. 11. This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the New York City Veterans Dayparade. The parade is hosted by the United War Veterans Council, Inc., on behalfof New York City.

Marines participate in a wreath laying ceremony in honor of Sgt. Maj. Herbert J. Sweet,the 4th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, at his grave site in Arlington NationalCemetery Nov. 10.

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“I’m convinced that lives were saved [bythis asset],” wrote 1st Lt. Marcos Garcia,the convoy commander the 2nd MarineLogistics Group.

Garcia and his convoy came under anattack by more than 35 insurgents.VMU-3 came to their aid providing sup-port with their RQ-7 Shadows, provid-

ing precise information to the joint ter-minal air controllers.

VMU-3 also set a new record for Marineunmanned aerial vehicle squadrons, operat-ing the RQ-7 shadow for over 30,000 hoursand innovated new techniques, such asusing new onboard lasers to designate tar-gets for precision guided bombs.

VMU, from A1

using smoke canisters,instead of CS gas, and37mm rubber pellets.

“(The 37mm rubberpellets) are pretty power-ful,” said CHP Sgt. BillGreen, field sergeant withthe Morongo Basin Office.“One took me in the hipand it took me down.”

During the exercise,some of the officersworked closely with theMarine volunteers andwere impressed by theirperformance.

“The Marines werehighly motivated andworked well with ourown volunteers to pro-vide a sensible amountof resistance during thescenarios,” said OfficerMario Lopez, mobilefield force officer withthe San BernardinoCounty CHP.

After every scenario, theofficers held a debrief ontheir performances.

“We went through thescenario and we evaluatewhat happened,” Greensaid. “(We went over)what went right, whatwent wrong, some thingswe can do to improveboth communication andtactics, and then we mightdo the scenario again. It isjust a matter of improvingwhat we do.

“When you make mis-takes here, it’s just here.When you make them inthe field, it costs the statemoney and bad publicity,so we are trying to nip thatin the bud.”

Once the CHP fin-ished their training, theythanked the Marines forall their assistance andperformed a final debriefof the day’s trainingbefore packing their gearand heading home.

PPHHOOTTOOSS BBYY LLAANNCCEE CCPPLL.. AALLII AAZZIIMMII

Cpl. Joseph Barnard is welcomed home by his wife, Judith, during the Marine UnmannedAerial Vehicle Squadron 3’s homecoming event at the squadron’s compound Nov. 12.

Charlotte Pothierwraps her armsaround her father,Staff Sgt. WilliamPothier, as she wel-comes him home atthe MarineUnmanned AerialVechicle Squadron3’s homecomingevent at thesquadron’s compundNov. 12. Familiesand loved onesbegan arriving asearly as 2 a.m. togreet their Marineshome. VMU-3returned home to theCombat Center nearlyfive hours later fromtheir 7-month deploy-ment to Afghanistan.The unit providedintelligence for con-voys and trackedinsurgence withunmanned aerialvehicles. Charlotte,age 6, who said sheprefers to be calledCharlie, was featuredin the “What I’veLearned” series inthe October edition ofthe Observation Post.Check it out online athttp://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms.

CCPPLL.. AANNDDRREEWW DD.. TTHHOORRBBUURRNN

Officers with the California Highway Patrol mobile field force practice using smoke canisters, instead of CS gas, dur-ing a training event at Range 200 Nov. 9.

CHP, from A1

TThhee ddeeaaddlliinnee ffoorr ssuubbmmiittttiinngg TTrraaddeerr AAddss iiss nnoooonnWWeeddnneessddaayy,, ffoorr tthhee uuppccoommiinngg FFrriiddaayy’’ss nneewwssppaappeerr..Trader Ad forms are available at the Public Affairs Office and may

be filled out during normal working hours at Bldg. 1417. Ads mayalso be submitted through e-mail, but will only be accepted from

those with an @usmc.mil address. If you are active duty, retiredmilitary or a family member and do not have an @usmc.miladdress you can go to the PAO page of the base Web site at:http://www.29palms. usmc.mil /dirs/pao/ and complete a request topublish an ad.

The limitations for ads are: 15-word limit, limit of two ads perhousehold and the Trader may be used only for noncommercialclassified ads containing items of personal property offered by andfor individuals authorized to use this service. Such ads must repre-sent incidental exchanged not of sustained business nature.

AAddss ffoorr hhoouussiinngg rreennttaallss wwiillll nnoott bbee ccoonnssiiddeerreedd ffoorrtthhee CCoommbbaatt CCeenntteerr TTrraaddeerr..To have a “House For Sale” ad run in the Observation Post, appli-

cants must provide Permanent Change of Station orders and havethe ad approved by Base Housing. This ensures the Combat Center

Trader is not used for commercial real estate endeavors.Ads are run on a first-come, first-serve, space available basis. If

you have questions please call 830-6213.

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AASSSSIISSTTAANNTT FFIIRREE CCHHIIEEFF DDAARRLLEENNEE HHUULLLLCOMBAT CENTER FIRE DEPARTMENT

ellular phone reporting can becomplex. Broadband and Internetphones do not process 9-1-1 calls

in the same way as traditional wiredphones. Recently, the Fire Departmentdiscovered multiple 9-1-1 calls wererepeatedly dropped by one of the topbroadband phone services duringattempts to transfer the calls back to thelocal emergency dispatch center.

Phone services have come a long wayover recent years. Most areas of the coun-try now have reliable 9-1-1 emergencyreporting available to traditional wiredphone customers. But, with technologyevolving at such a rapid rate, it is moreimportant than ever to understand how toeffectively report an emergency fromsome of the newer communication serv-ices out there.

It is important, and possible, for you toensure your 9-1-1 call will go to the rightdispatch center, no matter what service youare calling from.

There are at least three distinctly differ-ent phone services available to the averagecustomer. There is the traditional wiredphone that has been around for genera-tions, the cellular phone, and now broad-band or Internet phones that are availablethough your computer.

The preferred method of reporting anemergency is by calling 9-1-1 from a hardwired phone. But, as a customer of anyphone service provider, it is important tounderstand there are variations in how 9-1-1 calls are handled and to find out thebest way to report an emergency beforethe need arises.

Calling 9-1-1 from a traditional wiredphone service is pretty straight forward andreliable. You make the call, the dispatch-er gets a read out that includes the

address and phone number you are callingfrom, you report the emergency, answersome questions, and help is on the way. Ifyou want to make sure you can report anemergency during a power outage you needto have a phone that plugs directly into awall outlet and does not rely on an electricaloutlet to operate. Many homes with wiredphone service rely solely on cordlessphones or phones with integrated answer-ing machines. Both require electricity tooperate and fail during power outages.

With a cell phone it is still fairly simple toreport an emergency locally. But, if you call9-1-1 locally, your call will be sent out ofthe area to either Victorville or Indio andmust be routed back to the emergency dis-patch center closest to you. Your ability toclearly communicate your location becomesvital, as does the dispatcher’s ability todetermine where to route the call. Thefastest and most direct way to report emer-gencies in progress at the Combat Center isby calling one of the 24-hour, dedicatedemergency lines at 830-3333 or 830-3334.Please take the time to program one orboth numbers into your phone’s contact list

before an emergency arises.And finally, there is the new generation of

service, the broadband or Internet phones,dependant on not only electricity, but also thecommunication line (or service provider).

The reliability of reporting emergenciesthrough broadband or Internet phones canbe affected not only by power outages andthe reliability of the communication line, butis also dependant on your commitment toregister your equipment and keep your per-sonal information updated with the provider.

9-1-1 calls from these types of servicesdon’t go directly to your nearest emergencydispatch center, or even to one close. Theygo to the service provider, where the person-al information you provide is then cross-ref-erenced to determine the closest emergencydispatch center. Only then is your call trans-ferred. Or, to hasten response times, adviseyour service provider that the public safetyanswering point (PSAP) at the CombatCenter is #1027.

As with cell phones, you can also reportan emergency at the Combat Center usingbroadband or Internet services by callingthe 24-hour dedicated emergency lines.

Reporting Emergencies:

The Fire Department discovered multiple9-1-1 calls were repeatedly dropped byone of the top broadband phone servicesduring attempts to transfer the calls backto the local emergency dispatch center.

Easier, faster, more efficient

C


CCPPLL.. AANNDDRREEWW DD.. TTHHOORRBBUURRNNCOMBAT CORRESPONDENT

ince Marines under the command of 1st Lt.Presley N. O’Bannon fought with foreign mili-taries on the shores of Tripoli during the Battleof Derne, Marines have fought alongside and

trained with foreign militaries.During the “Great War,” or WWI, the Marines fought

alongside our French and British allies and made their pres-ence known even when they were misidentified.

The Stars and Stripes, the official newspaper of theAmerican Expeditionary Force, under date of Aug.16,1918, published one of the more memorable momentsfrom a French officer.

“A wounded officer from among the gallant Frenchlancers had just been carried into a Yankee field hospitalto have his dressing changed. He was full of compli-ments and curiosity about the dashing contingent thatfought at his regiment’s left.”

The Marines continued to fight alongside our allies inmajor wars in Vietnam, Korea, Kuwait, Iraq andAfghanistan.

But fighting with our allies can be difficult when the twoforces of ground troops might not even speak the samelanguage. That is where cross training comes into play.

“When you go to other countries, you are going to beworking with other guys anyways and having a general idea

of what they are going to be like, will make it easier to workwith them,” said Cpl. Mitchell Harwood, with 3rd Battalion,11th Marine Regiment. “They train you up on some of theirtraining procedures and our training procedures. Everyonemixes together and it makes one great team.”

“I love to do a little crosstraining,” said British RoyalMarine Sgt. Cameron Smith, mountain leader with thereconnaissance troop in the 40 Commandos, BritishRoyal Marines. “You get other ideas off of people ofhow to do things. It’s obvious everyone thinks they aredoing things right. But you might see an American unitdo something and think, Hang on. That is better thanwhat we do, and integrate that or vice versa.”

“It is eye opening. You guys do things a fare bit differ-ently than us but at the same breath there are things thatare pretty similar to how we operate,” said AustralianArmy Sgt. James Wilson, a gunner with 8/12. “But so farit has been a good experience to learn and observe howthe Marine Corps operates.”

When a group is thrown together and work togetherin tough situations, bonds are formed that will last foryears to come.

“It’s been a great experience. They are a great bunch ofguys, hard workers and we had a great time with them,”Harwood said. “We have all made friends out here, and we willdefinitely be keeping in contact with them after this is over.”

Several commanders looked back to their own experi-ences training with other nations. Their relationshipsshowed younger service members how strong the friend-ships they make here can grow.

“I am still in contact with friends I made in the U.S.Marines 17 years ago and am finding out how small the mil-

itary really is,” said British Royal Marine Maj. Chris Hall, Co.C, 40 Commando commanding officer.

Hall also said how the strong ties between the UnitedStates Marine Corps and close allies will only remainstrong as long as they continue to perform joint exer-cises and foster these kind of bonds wherever they go.

Side by side: International brothers� Combat Center Marinestrain with foreign allies

LLAANNCCEE CCPPLL.. AALLII AAZZIIMMII

S


[Above] Marines with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11thMarine Regiment, work with Australian soldiers with1st Brigade, 8/12, to align Gun Five on the firing lineduring cross training in support of Enhanced MojaveViper Oct. 26, at Quackenbush range.

[Below] Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th MarineRegiment, and the 40 Commando, British RoyalMarines combine their skills as they breach an emptybuilding during a cross training exercise at Range215, Sept. 30.

November 18, 2011 Since 1957 Vol. 55 B SECTION

DAWG HOUSEWelcome to the

he parking lot waspacked for theC o m m a n d i n gG e n e r a l ’ sIntramural

Football Leaguechampionship game atFelix Field Nov. 15,where the undefeatedHQBN Bulldawgscrushed the MCCESMustangs in a 34-6victory.

The game startedout slow, each teamcareful not to let theother get the advantage.

The Bulldawgs led with astrong offense, looking for ahole in the Mustangs’ defen-sive line. When the timecame, they seized it.

In the middle of thefirst quarter, theMustangs’ offense lostcontrol of the football, amistake the Bulldawgs didnot hesitate to take advan-tage. They caught the ballafter a fumble by theMustangs, only a few yardsaway from the end zoneand sprinted it the rest ofthe way for the first touch-down of the game.

The Mustangs weredetermined to make up forthis mistake.

As the game spilled overinto the second quarter, theBulldawgs were had moretrouble getting through the

Mustangs’ defense. TheMustangs drove the ball totheir opponents’ end zone,charging through theBulldawgs’ defensive line,and tying the score.

Unfortunately for theMustangs, their touchdownonly fueled the Bulldawgsto play harder.

With nine seconds leftin the second quarter, theBulldawgs scored anothertouchdown. But they didnot stop there. Bulldawgsquarterback, KameronYellin, completed a two-point conversion, bring-ing his team to an eight-point lead.

But the championshipwas on the line andBulldawgs’ coach, JohnMaddox, would not let him-self or his team make themistake of getting cocky.

“You think that lead isenough, it’s not,” saidMaddox to the Bulldawgsplayers formed aroundhim during half-time.“Play all out.”

The Bulldawgs’ focuson the prize led them toanother touchdown in the3rd quarter by the team’s

wide receiver ArnellRivers. After working theball up the field, Yellinmade a clean throw toRivers, who was waitingunguarded at the end zone.

“I knew I had them beat,”said Rivers. “It felt good.”

After three touchdownsand a conversion it seemed

obvious which teamwould go home vic-torious.

However, neitherteam let up. Theycontinued to play asif the next playwould decide thechampionship.

The Bulldawgswent on to scoreanother two touch-

downs in the fourth quarter.The Mustangs didn’t put anymore points on the board.

After the game, bothteams lined up at the 50-yard line, where the covet-ed championship trophysat on top of a table, readyto be presented to theBulldawgs’ coach.

After a brief speechabout the storybook, unde-feated season theBulldawgs held, Maddoxaccepted the trophy onbehalf of his team and hisentire battalion as his play-ers cheered and the crowdapplauded.

Maddox ended the nightwith parting words thatrevealed just what kind ofdetermination it takes towin a championship.

“Practice on Monday,17:30.”

HQBN Bulldawg receiver, Mark Wood, rushes past the MCCES Mustangs defense for a first down during the Commanding General’s Intramural Football League championshipgame Tuesday. The Bulldawgs fought hard for their undefeated season and brought that determination with them to the championship game.


Lance Cpl. Ali AzimiCombat Correspondent

T

Bulldawgs trump ‘Stangs in championship game, 34-6

Bulldawg running back Guillermo Manzo, Bulldawgs, catches the ball for thefirst down Tuesday.


A player with HQBN sneaks past Mustang defense to score a touchdown Tuesday atFelix Field.“

“You think that lead isenough, it’s not.

Play all out.”– John Maddox, Bulldawgs coach


NNEEIILL PPOONNDDAMERICAN PROFILE

“Anonymous” Starring Rhys Ifans, VanessaRedgrave and Joely RichardsonDirected by Roland EmmerichPG-13, 130 min.

Was one of the most signifi-cant literary figures of alltime a sham?

That’s the question poisedby the new movie fromdirector Roland Emmerich,known for his sledgehammerstyle in the disaster dramas“Independence Day”, “TheDay After Tomorrow” and“2012.” In “Anonymous,”the German-born film-maker comes down hardon the bard.

The movie suggests,practically contends, WilliamShakespeare didn’t actuallywrite any of the plays, poet-ry and sonnets attributed tohim. That renegade

Renaissance theory hasmade a few ripples over thepast century, but it’s mostlybeen dismissed if not bally-hooed by serious scholars.

But apparently not byEmmerich, who has tosseda sumptuous-looking stinkbomb of political unrestand forbidden passion intoa Shakespeare-smearing,17th century river of mud,blood and dark, black ink.

It’s a ripping tale, to besure, even if it’s probablyall bunk. But hey, nobodytried to pin historical inac-curacy on Emmerichwhen he resurrectedGodzilla, depicted spacealiens blowing up theWhite House, or orches-trated the end of theEarth in his previous pop-corn epics. So let’s cut hima little creative slack in theEnglish lit department.

Welch actor Rhys Ifansserves up serious Oscarbait as the Earl of Oxford,

a British nobleman and tor-tured-soul playwright who,“Anonymous” conjectures,was the true source ofShakespeare’s works. Andthe way Ifans plays it, youalmost believe it. Thebogus bard himself (RafeSpall) is depicted as arandy, functionally illiterateacting buffoon who wasperfectly happy being apawn and a prop and com-pletely ignorant of theearl’s scheme to use theLondon stage to shake upthe Royal Court.

The venerable VanessaRedgrave and her real-lifedaughter, actress JoelyRichardson, share the role ofQueen Elizabeth I as themovie shifts back and forthin time. In the movie’s juicy,jaundiced view, the so-called“Virgin Queen” didn’t exact-ly live up to her chaste matri-archal nickname.

Like some of Shakespeare’splays, “Anonymous” can be a

rather confusing unspooling ofcharacters, dialogue and plot.It’s easy to get lost in the facial-hair thicket of actors, earls,lords, Roberts, Thomases andCecils, and the movie’s jarringleaps across the years oftenmake things even more chal-lenging to follow.

But it’s cool seeing some ofShakespeare’s “greatest hits”being born on the movie’srecreated London stage, andanyone who’s ever thrilled tohis words will enjoy the atten-tion to period detail in thefilm’s look and feel of thetime, place and socio-politicalconditions that produced“Romeo & Juliet,” “Macbeth”and “Julius Caesar.”

“To be or not to be?”mused Hamlet in one ofShakespeare’s mightiestworks. “Anonymous” asks itsaudience to ponder anotherquestion. It may not be worthseriously considering in thelong run, but it makes for afanciful two-hour romp.

BB22 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 1188,, 22001111 OOBBSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPoosstt

Liber t y Call

Shakespeare gets smeared in

fanciful Renaissance-era romp

BBlleessss MMee FFaatthheerrWhen: Every Friday & Saturday until Dec. 17 at 7pmDec. 1 Thurs., Sunday Matinee’ Dec. 11Where: Theatre 29736377 Sullivan Rd., Twentynine Palms For tickets and information call 316-4151 or visit http://www.theatre29.org

TThhrreeee CChhoorrdd JJuussttiiccee!!Country MusicWhen: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18Where: Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace53668 Pioneertown Rd., PioneertownFor more information visit: http://www.pappyandharriets.comor call 365-5956

FFrreeee LLiinnee DDaannccee LLeessssoonnssLearn to dance to traditional country musicWhen: 5 - 9 p.m., Nov. 20, and every SundayWhere: Willie Boy’s Saloon and Dance Hall50048 29 Palms Hwy, Morongo Valley, Calif.For more information, call 363-3343.

Local Events

EExxccuurrssiioonnss EEnnlliisstteedd CClluubbFriday: Social Hour with food, 5 - 7 p.m. followed byDJ Gjettblaque, 8 to 11 p.m., Ladies NightSaturday: Variety Night, DJ Gjettblaque 8 - 11 p.m.Sunday: Football coverage, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.Monday: Monday Night Football coverage, 5:30 p.m.Thursday: Social Hour, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

BBllooooddssttrriippeess NNCCOO CClluubbFriday: Social Hour with food, 5 - 7 p.m.Monday: Monday Night Football coverage, 5:30 p.m.Wednesday: Free gourmet bar food, 5 to 7 p.m.Thursday: Social Hour, 7 - 9 p.m.

HHaasshhmmaarrkkss 2299 SSNNCCOO CClluubbFriday: Social Hour, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.Monday-Friday: Lunch from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Monday: Steak night and full menu, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.Tuesday: Social Hour, 5 - 7 p.m.Thursday: Social Hour, 5 - 7 p.m.

CCoommbbaatt CCeenntteerr OOffffiicceerrss’’ CClluubbMonday: Steak night, 5 - 7:30 p.m.Monday-Friday: All-hands lunch, from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Thursday: Happy Hour, 5 - 7 p.m.

For complete calendars visit http://www.mccs29palms.com.

Combat Center Clubs

Sunset Cinema

Lower DesertCCiirrccoo LLuucciiAcrobatic PerfomanceWhen: 9 p.m., Nov. 188 p.m. Nov. 19Where: Agua Caliente 32-250 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho MirageFor more information call 888-999--1995 or visithttp://www.hotwatercasino.com

CCaabbaazzoonn 3300tthh IInnddiioo PPoowwwwoowwCultural CelebrationWhen: Nov. 25-27Where: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, IndioFor more information call 800-827-2946 or visithttp://www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

ZZaapppp//TThhee OOhhiioo PPllaayyeerrssPerforming soul and funk musicWhen: 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19Where: Morongo Casino Resort and Spa49500 Seminole Drive, CabazonFor more information call 800-252-4499 or visithttp://www.morongocasinoresort.com.

TThhee ccoommeeddyy ooff BBiillll EEnnggvvaallllThe blue-collar comedian performs his stand upWhen: 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 26Where: Spotlight 29 Casino Resort46-200 Harrison Place, CoachellaFor more information call 866-377-6829 or visithttp://www.spotlight29.com.

CCOOUURRTTEESSYY PPHHOOTTOO

Shakespeare, the bogus bard himself, played by Rafe Spall, is depicted as a randy, functionally illiterate acting buf-foon who was perfectly happy being a pawn and a prop.The earl is played by Rhys Ifans, who, in the movie, is thesupposed true author of the popular classic plays, to use the London stage to shake up the Royal Court.

SSuunnsseett CCiinneemmaa wwiillll bbee cclloosseedd NNoovv.. 22tthhrroouugghh DDeecc.. 88..

Relax with the paper

Hi-Desert Publishing Co.Your community newspapers working to serve you better

Wednesdays and Saturdayswith the Hi-Desert Star

Thursdays withThe Desert Trail

Fridays withThe Observation Post

Whatever you’relooking for, you

can find it in theObservation PostClassified section

Visit the official MCAGCC facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/thecombatcenter

OOBBSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPoosstt NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 1188,, 22001111 BB33

22NNDD LLTT.. SSIINN CCAARRRRAANNOO

1st Tank Battalion took a four-mile motivation run Nov. 2, for one last Oorah before the battalion will be split up on various deployments throughout the next year. Tanks chosethe tank trail along Del Valle as their course.

TANKERS MAKE TRACKS

TEAM WIN LOSS

OutKast 6 1Drama Killers 6 1Chicks & Sticks 5 2 Pitch Slapped !!! 4 3MCTOG Spartans 2 5K’s Buy 2 5 MWSS 374 2 5Ballz & Dollz 1 6

Co-ed Softball League Stats


Jordan Egan, a left fielder for the Drama Killers, stretches out to the base and issafe at home during a co-ed softball game against Sticks & Chicks Tuesday atFelix Field. The Drama Killers are tied with OutKast for the first place team in theleague with six wins and one loss.

BB88 NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 1188,, 22001111 OOBBSSEERRVVAATTIIOONN PPoosstt

LLAANNCCEE CCPPLL.. SSAARRAAHH DDIIEETTZZCOMBAT CORRESPONDENT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.— Feet moving in unison, perfectstraight lines, pressed dress blue uniforms, and precision witheach note played, the Combat Center Band marched proudlydown the streets of Palm Springs during their annual VeteransDay Parade Nov. 11, to honor the veterans who had gonebefore and those currently serving.

Each year, the band marches down the street playingpatriotic songs. After the parade, the band conducts a con-cert, where hundreds gather to watch the Marines play. It’sthe norm, it’s expected and it’s looked forward to by thefamilies of the city.

This Veterans Day event is unique among others to theMarines because the band is scheduled to leave theCombat Center early next year, making this Veterans Daytheir final one.

“It’s going to be a big loss to the community and the base,”said Staff Sgt. Matthew Heen, tuba player in the band. “We arerepresentatives for [stateside and] deployed units, we are con-stantly in the public eye.”

The Veterans Day event is a fairly large gig for the bandeach year, not only because of the size of the crowd cheering

them on, but also the history that surrounds the area by hav-ing so many veterans gathered together.

The band seeks to honor past heroes through music.“History has always been such a big part of the

Corps,” Heen said. “In my opinion it seems to be moresignificant to the Marine Corps than other branches. Welove playing for the veterans. “

As the band played the hymns significant to eachbranch of the U.S. military, veterans seemed to domi-nate the streets as they jumped up and down with loudcheers to support the branch of service they hadserved or are currently serving in.

“The people love to see the Marines out here,” said JoePinedo, Marine Corps Vietnam veteran of the 1st MarineAir Wing. “It’s good for the community to see them. I hateto see them leave, its disappointing.”

For regulars of the parade, the news of the band’s depar-ture was hard to take and somewhat surprising.

“They are wonderful,” said Carolyn Murdoch, PalmSprings resident. “They are always wonderful, very dedicated.It’s really sad to see them go.”

The band conducted themselves with professionalism, know-ing they were representing the Corps by their public appearance.

“When veterans see us they always say, ‘Thank you.’ I don’t

understand why,” Heen said. “We are here to thank them.”Knowing this was their last Veterans Day event, the band

wowed the crowd with even more gusto, playing music whichseemed to tell all in attendance, ‘We are going out with a bang.’

“This is inspiring, they are so excellent,” said CecilMurdoch, Carolyn’s husband.


The crowd waves excitedly as the the Combat Center Bandpasses during the annual Palm Springs Veterans DayParade Nov. 11.The parade was held on Palm CanyonDrive.


The Combat Center Band play patriotic hymns as the conductor salutes the commanding general and his party during the annual Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11.This is the bands’ final Veterans Day Parade and concert, they are scheduled to leave the Combat Center early next year.

Their Last Veterans DayCombat Center Band scheduled to leave Installation for good

Visit the official

MCAGCC facebook page at

http://www.flickr.com/thecombatcenterhttp://www.youtube.com/user/CombatCenterPAO.http://www.facebook.com/thecombatcenter

The Combat Center has its own

YouTube channel. Find itat

The Combat Center has its own Flickr photo and

video streams. Find them at

Documents

Phantoms' return to Combat Center