DreadPirate75
Shared on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 01:11Lance Corporal Frank.
To me, it was just Frank. To the rest of the platoon he was Phil. I would have to mark this blog NSFW at some of the other lovably creative, yet instantly offensive nicknames his squad and platoon mates had for him, as did we all at one time or another. He was 20 years old, married, and can spit out a line from any movie you asked him to. I found this out, one day after spouting off an obscure movie line in a veiled attempt at humor to the platoon before we relocated to the blocking position west of Fallujah. It was a line from A Clockwork Orange, "I was cured all right"...the final line in the movie. I don't recall what context I was relating to, but I remember saying it and seeing a quick spark of recognition in his eyes and I knew he had heard it. I asked him if he knew what movie that was from. He replied with a crooked grin, "A Clockwork Orange". I was pretty impressed. I know he had a sister, because one day I found him looking at a photo album and there was a picture of this 20something girl in it. I asked, "Who is that?" He replied, "Thats my sister, Staff Sergeant". After a good eyeful of the woman in the picture I simply said, "Tell her I said hello". And that became a taunting point for me for the next few months.."Hey Frank! Tell your sister I said hello!" He would always reply the same,"Yes, Staff Sergeant!". I knew he really wanted to say something else, but he also knew I was trying to get his goat. I never really got to know LCpl Frank the sort of way his squad mates did. I was the Platoon Sergeant and the only Marines I got personal with were my NCO's and sometimes the Lieutenant. But every now and then I always allowed a little informality amongst the ranks to keep things real, and when Frank was around I always found myself throwing out random movie quotes, and without fail he was able to get them almost every time. I guess you can say that was how I knew him best..which is to say that, regrettably, I hardly knew him at all.
LCpl Frank had a first class physical fitness test, was always in the lead on platoon exercises, and was extremely intelligent. I remember telling his squad leader to keep an eye on him and to groom him up for team leader. I was only with the platoon for 2 months before we went to Iraq, but I knew that he would be a big player one day. When we occupied our position on the Euphrates river, we set up the platoon defense and went about blocking one of the 2 main bridges accessing the west side of Fallujah. No one in and no one out. We also had to conduct local security patrols in our operating area, ensuring that the malcontents and Jihadi's were kept at bay constantly. Our first day there, we had a small 2 door vehicle try to probe our entry control point...I'll spare the details, but I will say there were no more attempts at the entry point after that. The second day we received a somewhat half assed ambush from a palm grove about 300 meters from our flanking security positions. No casualties, minimal fire was returned because one, they weren't hitting shit and two, we couldn't identify the targets clearly enough without endangering the local hovels and houses beyond the grove. But needless to say after the first 2 days, it was no secret we were there and we had enemies.
On April 8th, 2004 I had just returned from an early morning patrol with 1st squad. Nothing significant happened. The Lieutenant wanted to go out with 2nd squad for their next patrol. Rock on, sir. I stayed back with 1st and 3rd and prepared some preparations for the evening convoy (to get fresh socks and some hygiene items we were sorely needing) back to the main battalion area about 7 miles to the south. About an hour after the patrol left, I hear it on the radio. Med-evac about 1 and a half kilometers from the position. WTF. Our first casualty. I get the remaining corpsmen up and the company gunnery sergeant is already getting vehicles ready to pick up Frank and go back to Taqaddam (TQ) air field where the nearest medical triage is located. Frank took a sniper round right under his armpit. The round missed his body armor by less than an inch. He is stabilized, but bleeding badly. The med-evac vehicles take off to pick him up and I wait for the rest of the squad to return. Once they return I am told Frank will be fine, he's nursing a small arms shot to the armpit/chest. He was stabilized and our best Doc was taking him to TQ airfield for treatment. Nice...not so bad. I have his rifle and gear returned and have the corpsman clean off all the blood, there was alot of blood. That evening at the main battalion area, after I had grabbed a shitload of socks, toothpaste, and baby wipes for the boys, I am preparing for the trip back to the platoon. Before we take off I am informed that LCpl Frank will not be returning to the platoon. He bled out from his wounds and died that afternoon. I thought he was going to be fine.
LCpl Frank enlisted after Sep 11 2001. He joined up during the barrage of war video and media saturation of the first push in Iraq. That tells me the kid knew exactly what he was getting in to. He decided to leave the comfort of his home, his school, and his family to join the Marines and take it to the Jihadi's. He decided to put himself through the most brutal and challenging training program so he could pick up a rifle and get them before they get more of us. While the rest of his friends and peers at home were still asleep at 5 am, he was up and wearing about 80lbs of gear and body armor in 105 degree weather protecting Iraqi citizens and his fellow Marines from terrorists. LCpl Frank is a not a symbol for Memorial Day, he is the embodiment of what this day represents for all of us who are still here to tell the tales. He represents the countless before him that have walked the same path, endured the same trials, fought for the American citizens that can't (or won't) fight, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for it.
And he is just one of a legion of the same. Prayers, respect, and a salute to all who have died fighting out battles, serving our country, and protecting our way of life. Without you all, we would not be what we are today...free and proud.
...and Semper Fi, Frank. Tell your sister I said hello.
LCpl Phillip E. Frank USMC
KIA April 8 2004 Al Anbar Province Iraq
Purple Heart (Posthumous)
Combat Action Ribbon
To me, it was just Frank. To the rest of the platoon he was Phil. I would have to mark this blog NSFW at some of the other lovably creative, yet instantly offensive nicknames his squad and platoon mates had for him, as did we all at one time or another. He was 20 years old, married, and can spit out a line from any movie you asked him to. I found this out, one day after spouting off an obscure movie line in a veiled attempt at humor to the platoon before we relocated to the blocking position west of Fallujah. It was a line from A Clockwork Orange, "I was cured all right"...the final line in the movie. I don't recall what context I was relating to, but I remember saying it and seeing a quick spark of recognition in his eyes and I knew he had heard it. I asked him if he knew what movie that was from. He replied with a crooked grin, "A Clockwork Orange". I was pretty impressed. I know he had a sister, because one day I found him looking at a photo album and there was a picture of this 20something girl in it. I asked, "Who is that?" He replied, "Thats my sister, Staff Sergeant". After a good eyeful of the woman in the picture I simply said, "Tell her I said hello". And that became a taunting point for me for the next few months.."Hey Frank! Tell your sister I said hello!" He would always reply the same,"Yes, Staff Sergeant!". I knew he really wanted to say something else, but he also knew I was trying to get his goat. I never really got to know LCpl Frank the sort of way his squad mates did. I was the Platoon Sergeant and the only Marines I got personal with were my NCO's and sometimes the Lieutenant. But every now and then I always allowed a little informality amongst the ranks to keep things real, and when Frank was around I always found myself throwing out random movie quotes, and without fail he was able to get them almost every time. I guess you can say that was how I knew him best..which is to say that, regrettably, I hardly knew him at all.
LCpl Frank had a first class physical fitness test, was always in the lead on platoon exercises, and was extremely intelligent. I remember telling his squad leader to keep an eye on him and to groom him up for team leader. I was only with the platoon for 2 months before we went to Iraq, but I knew that he would be a big player one day. When we occupied our position on the Euphrates river, we set up the platoon defense and went about blocking one of the 2 main bridges accessing the west side of Fallujah. No one in and no one out. We also had to conduct local security patrols in our operating area, ensuring that the malcontents and Jihadi's were kept at bay constantly. Our first day there, we had a small 2 door vehicle try to probe our entry control point...I'll spare the details, but I will say there were no more attempts at the entry point after that. The second day we received a somewhat half assed ambush from a palm grove about 300 meters from our flanking security positions. No casualties, minimal fire was returned because one, they weren't hitting shit and two, we couldn't identify the targets clearly enough without endangering the local hovels and houses beyond the grove. But needless to say after the first 2 days, it was no secret we were there and we had enemies.
On April 8th, 2004 I had just returned from an early morning patrol with 1st squad. Nothing significant happened. The Lieutenant wanted to go out with 2nd squad for their next patrol. Rock on, sir. I stayed back with 1st and 3rd and prepared some preparations for the evening convoy (to get fresh socks and some hygiene items we were sorely needing) back to the main battalion area about 7 miles to the south. About an hour after the patrol left, I hear it on the radio. Med-evac about 1 and a half kilometers from the position. WTF. Our first casualty. I get the remaining corpsmen up and the company gunnery sergeant is already getting vehicles ready to pick up Frank and go back to Taqaddam (TQ) air field where the nearest medical triage is located. Frank took a sniper round right under his armpit. The round missed his body armor by less than an inch. He is stabilized, but bleeding badly. The med-evac vehicles take off to pick him up and I wait for the rest of the squad to return. Once they return I am told Frank will be fine, he's nursing a small arms shot to the armpit/chest. He was stabilized and our best Doc was taking him to TQ airfield for treatment. Nice...not so bad. I have his rifle and gear returned and have the corpsman clean off all the blood, there was alot of blood. That evening at the main battalion area, after I had grabbed a shitload of socks, toothpaste, and baby wipes for the boys, I am preparing for the trip back to the platoon. Before we take off I am informed that LCpl Frank will not be returning to the platoon. He bled out from his wounds and died that afternoon. I thought he was going to be fine.
LCpl Frank enlisted after Sep 11 2001. He joined up during the barrage of war video and media saturation of the first push in Iraq. That tells me the kid knew exactly what he was getting in to. He decided to leave the comfort of his home, his school, and his family to join the Marines and take it to the Jihadi's. He decided to put himself through the most brutal and challenging training program so he could pick up a rifle and get them before they get more of us. While the rest of his friends and peers at home were still asleep at 5 am, he was up and wearing about 80lbs of gear and body armor in 105 degree weather protecting Iraqi citizens and his fellow Marines from terrorists. LCpl Frank is a not a symbol for Memorial Day, he is the embodiment of what this day represents for all of us who are still here to tell the tales. He represents the countless before him that have walked the same path, endured the same trials, fought for the American citizens that can't (or won't) fight, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for it.
And he is just one of a legion of the same. Prayers, respect, and a salute to all who have died fighting out battles, serving our country, and protecting our way of life. Without you all, we would not be what we are today...free and proud.
...and Semper Fi, Frank. Tell your sister I said hello.
LCpl Phillip E. Frank USMC
KIA April 8 2004 Al Anbar Province Iraq
Purple Heart (Posthumous)
Combat Action Ribbon
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Submitted by M13a77 on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 11:04
Submitted by UnwashedMass on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 20:53