One thing I’d like to say is that this article has been put together well….

Its called the Order of the Dirt Sailor.

Shipdrivers are leading counter IED teams
Squid Shark on March 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM

Been there, done that.

ic1redeye on March 21, 2008 at 11:04 AM

AMEN! I am quite glad that CNN is finally covering this. We have been doing this for quite some time now. For the most part they will yank you right out of your duty station (mostly on shore) and send you on over (after some training). It was getting quite stressful. With the increased sea schedules (we are getting “surged” much more regularly), we are spending our shore duties wondering if we are going to get “voluntold” for an IA. I am not saying it is any worse than the Army’s deal, but it underscores that we all have a dog in this fight. Shipdrivers are leading counter IED teams and doing detainee ops.

In all seriousness, great work. America really does have the finest soldiers, marines, airmen, and seamen on the planet.

It is good that people are finally recognizing this fact.

Hey… can anyone here post comments on Hot Air? The Sand Sailors article is great, and folks have acknowledged the Corpsmen (HM) who are also there. I’d really like to point out that so are Religious Program Specialists (RP) and Master-At-Arms/Dog Handlers (MA.)

My husband was the regional kennel master for the largest region, and had direct responsibility for the largest kennel (in Fallujah) last year. The second handler to die in Iraq was Cpl Dustin Lee, USMC, who was killed by a mortar round one year ago tomorrow (3/21/2007) while in my husband’s command.

I’d sure appreciate it if someone would post about the dog handlers who are out there, too. They go out individually (rather than with a unit they’ve worked with before) and the kennels are mixed service — there are Army, Air Force, Marine and Navy handlers all working and living together.

The Navy is doing good things in Iraq in many capacities!

With gratitude,
former WAF

Thanks to all you sailors too!!!!

The stereotype is that the Army, Navy, Airforce, and Marines like to trashtalk each other over anything, but they know they are Brothers.

hadsil on March 20, 2008 at 8:47 PM

Absolutely. There is plenty of organizational trashtalk, but it’s just that, “talk”. No suprise such men and women are thick skinned and the teasing is fierce.

Funny joke told to me by a U.S. Army Soldier, and I am a Marine (it’s the cleanest one I know):

“Quickest way to kill a Marine?”

“Throw some sand on the wall and yell hit the beach.”

I laughed and we drank a beer while talking even more trash.

There are no athiests in foxholes, and anyone who fights beside you is your brother/sister. Unwritten laws of war.

Every marine has a doc.

DeathtotheSwiss on March 20, 2008 at 7:56 PM

My son was a Navy Corpsman. He went to Iraq twice. The second time he voluneered, changed units and extended is enlistment to go. He’s a paramedic now and works with a few marines who still call him doc.

But ya absolute Kudo’s to the fine Sailor’s of the
United States Navy,and the average joe probably thinks
of the water mines,not IED’s!

Every marine has a doc.

Bravo to the ‘sand sailors’, and to all the other Coalition troops still risking their lives in was once called ‘the cradle of civilization’ (unfortunately, that was five thousand years ago).

I’ve often wondered why we couldn’t run an heavily armed vehicle ahead of a convoy, controlled remotely from behind or the air, to trigger IEDs, at least those that aren’t radio-triggered.