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Category: Marine Corps

  • Marine Tyler Jackson attempts hijacking bus near White House

    CWORet sends us a link to Fox News which reports that 24-year-old Tyler Jackson who attempted to hijack a double-decker tourist bus in downtown DC, near the White House for some reason;

    Police said the incident happened around 8 p.m., when the bus was stopped and nearly 60 people were on the top deck observing the White House. Jackson screamed at the bus driver, ran onto the bus and began beating the driver, witnesses and the driver told FOX 5.

    The driver, who asked to remain anonymous, said Jackson yelled, “get out of here” and struck her multiple times in the face and head. She said she had no idea why Jackson attacked her.

    The Secret Service arrested Jackson, a Marine sergeant at Quantico, and then turned him over to the Metro PD.

    From Fox5 DC;

    Jackson was charged with simple assault, unarmed carjacking, failure to obey, and resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Monday and was released. Jackson was ordered to stay away from the White House and was scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 13.

  • Marine Colonel Kevin Scott arrested

    Marine Colonel Kevin Scott arrested

    Bobo sends us a link to the story of Marine Corps Colonel Kevin Scott who was arrested in Polk County, Florida while he was on Temporary Duty there from his assignment at the joint staff in Virginia. The Marine Corps Times reports that Colonel Kevin Scott, a logistician, was arrested for soliciting for prostitution;

    Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters on Tuesday that Scott drove a leased car, paid by the government, to the site where he allegedly offered a prostitute $80 for sex, according to The Tampa Bay Times.

    “He said he was retired and he was no longer in the Marine Corps. That’s not true,” the newspaper quoted Judd as saying. “We had to call the government and say: ‘Hey would you like to come get your leased car, ’cause your colonel is on the way to the county jail.’ ”

    According to the Tampa Bay Times;

    Scott, 51, approached an undercover detective shortly after 11:30 p.m. Saturday and asked for sex in return for $80, according to arrest documents, which said he acknowledged using the website Backpage to locate and respond to an advertisement for sex.

    He was released Tuesday on $500 bond.

    So, that’s another hour added to your safety briefing this weekend.

  • 25th Marine Regiment leadership canned

    25th Marine Regiment leadership canned

    Lieutenant General Rex McMillian canned the top leadership of the 25th Marine Regiment the other day, according to Stars & Stripes.

    Lt. Gen. Rex McMillian, who commands the Marine Forces Reserve, relieved Col. Morgan Mann, commander of the 25th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Maj. James Boutin, the regimental inspector-instructor, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Hoy, the personnel officer, Aranda said Friday.

    Aranda declined to give any further details about why the officers were relieved. He also would not say whether there was an ongoing investigation.

  • Taylor Winston; Marine veteran saving the world

    Taylor Winston; Marine veteran saving the world

    Chief Tango sends us links to the story of Taylor Winston, a former Marine, who was on the scene in Las Vegas and he’s being credited with saving dozens of lives. He was dancing with his girlfriend when the gunfire began. Without hesitating, he went and checked out some pickups parked nearby for keys and he found the first one, loaded it with injured concert-goers, drove them to the hospital and returned.

    Still under fire, Winston upon his return to the scene, loaded more of the wounded into his stolen truck and took them to the hospital, in time for life-saving treatment. According to CBS News;

    Winston joined the Marines at age 17, eventually serving two tours in Iraq. In 2011, he was honorably discharged as a sergeant.

    “I think a lot of my training in the military helped me in the situation. We needed to get them out of there regardless of our safety,” he said.

    Winston rejects the “hero” label. He said he saw many people – like him – doing good deeds.

    “There was a lot of bravery and courageous people out there. I’m glad that I could call them my country folk,” he said.

    He told Fox News this morning that his girlfriend has back injuries because she helped to lift and load patients into the truck.

  • USMC Osprey has “hard landing” in Syria

    A short article from the Marine Corps Times;

    A Marine MV-22B made a hard landing Friday in Syria, a military official said.

    One service member suffered non-life threatening injuries and several other troops aboard were uninjured, the official told Military Times.

    No enemy fire was involved in bringing the Osprey down, the official said.

    The Osprey isn’t supposed to be able to fly and it often proves it. Thank you, God, that there were no serious injuries.

  • The first female Marine infantry officer

    An unnamed female has graduated from the Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course today. She has asked that her name be left out of the discussion, according to Business Insider;

    The woman, who has asked to keep her identity private, will now be assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, the service said in a release.

    “I am proud of this officer and those in her class? who have earned the infantry officer MOS,” Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said in a statement.

    More than thirty women have attempted to make it through the course, but this is the only female Marine to earn the 0302 infantry officer military occupational specialty.

    Congratulations, LT.

  • Eric Smith’s Silver Star gets an upgrade to the Navy Cross

    Eric Smith’s Silver Star gets an upgrade to the Navy Cross

    Staff Sergeant Eric Smith left the Marine Corps after earning a Silver Star for his actions in Ramadi, Iraq in 2004. The Marine Corps reviewed his actions and decided that he had earned a Navy Cross. The paramedic from Waxahachie, Texas, received his new medal yesterday. The citation for his Silver Star;

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Eric M. Smith, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Squad Leader, Second Platoon, Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 6 April 2004. As part of the company’s quick reaction force, Corporal Smith’s platoon was ordered to move north and reinforce a squad which was under attack. En route, two high-mobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicles ere ambushed leaving the platoon commander critically wounded. Under heavy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Corporal Smith assumed command of the platoon, and led them 50 meters across open ground to covered positions. He then ran back across the fire-swept field to evacuate his platoon commander and his weapons. Employing machine guns and the platoon’s 7-tone truck, Corporal Smith coordinated and led a counterattack against the insurgent forces and freed the isolated squad. He coordinated with an Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle Platoon upon their arrival, facilitated the evacuation of casualties and devised the withdrawal plan for all units back to the command post. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and loyal dedication to duty, Corporal Smith reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

    Military.com records his reaction to the upgraded award;

    Smith’s Navy Cross is the 40th presented to a Marine since the Sept. 11 attacks, officials said.

    “I am honored and humbled to receive the upgraded award of the Navy Cross,” Smith said in a statement.

    “I understand that this places me in a category of Marines that I would have never imagined to be a part of,” he said. “I firmly believe that I was an ordinary Marine placed in an extraordinary situation.”

  • 15 Marines injured when vehicle bursts into flames

    15 Marines injured when vehicle bursts into flames

    The Marine Corps Times reports that 8 Marines were sent to the burn center at University of California San Diego Health after their amphibious assault vehicle burst into flames during training at Camp Pendleton, California.

    The Marines are from 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion…Four other Marines were taken to the University of California Irvine Medical Center, where two of them are listed in critical condition and the other two are being treated for “an unknown medical condition,” he said.

    Another Marine is listed in stable condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, California; and two Marines are being treated for minor injuries at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Gainey said.

    The incident is being investigated by the Marine Corps.

    Thanks to Mick for the link.