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> Special Sections > Letters From Iraq > 3/25 Fallen Marines > HM2 (FMF) Jeffrey L. Wiener
HM2 (FMF) Jeffrey L. Wiener
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May 7, 2005
Introduction & Invocation
We gather together this day to mourn the loss of our fallen brothers (Lcpl. Tremblay, LCpl. Graham, Sgt. Cepeda, HM2 Wiener, Sgt. Marzano, Cpl. Derga, SSgt. Goodwynn, LCpl. Davids, SSgt. Ivy, Pfc. Dixon, LCpl. Erdy, LCpl. Grant, and LCpl. Grez). We honor their memories and look for comfort. As a Christian Chaplain I look to the Bible and its promises. If you do not share this same faith, please find comfort according to your own faith and bear with us as we look for peace in these trying times.
Let us pray ... In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Almighty God, on this day we approach you with our hearts full of sadness. For we know that death is not apart of your original plan. In the Garden of Eden sin entered the world and through sin, death. As much as we did not want these men to die, we know that you too did not want them to die. So much so that you gave your only-begotten Son as a sacrifice so that everyone who believes would live forever because of their faith in Christ. Forgive them their sins where they have gone wrong. Graciously deal with these our fellow Marines and comfort us with the promise of life everlasting for all who believe. Amen.
Scripture
Psalm 139 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Homily
There are times when no words can express the depth of our grief. There are days when we pray that God would hear the words of our groaning. This is one of those days. Yet, in the midst of our grief and sadness we find comfort in the Scriptures. For God assures us that He is always present. God is there in the depths of the sea, the farthest reaches of space, in times of peace and in the midst of war. Even as hell opened up around these men in combat God was there. We also take comfort knowing that God has numbered our days before we were even born. All of our days fit into God's plan. Somehow, He will turn the evil of their deaths to good according to His purpose. It may take months or years to see. We may not see it in this lifetime, but we will see it. Romans 8 assures us, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
May God grant us peace and comfort on this day. May He help us to grieve well and honor the memory of our fallen brothers. May he remind us always that His hand is upon us. May He turn the hearts of our enemies. May He forgive us our sins through Jesus Christ. And may He lead us in the way unto life everlasting. Amen
Benediction
Depart, dear brothers, in the name of the Father, who created you; in the name of the Son, who redeemed you through His bitter suffering and death; and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified you. May our Lord Jesus be with you and protect you; may He be in you to refresh you; may He be before you to lead you into heaven; may He be over you to bless you, hereafter in eternity. Amen
The following was read by battalion commander, Lt. Col. Lionel B. Urquhart:
Task Force 3/25,
Today we pause to honor thirteen American service men...thirteen brothers-in-arms...thirteen friends. Their lives touched us; their deaths sadden us and their heroism inspires us.
What I have to say will be far less eloquent than the heartfelt tributes just given and pales in comparison to the sacrifice made by these valiant men, but to remain silent--to squander an opportunity to praise these American heroes--would be a travesty. Today we join with many grateful people throughout the world to thank these brave men for giving their lives for us. Trusted, respected, and loved, these men were unique individuals whose courage, honor and commitment will forever be remembered.
In this morning's ceremony we paid our respects to thirteen incredibly courageous and selfless men. Our homage is both appropriate and right; but our debt is not paid. Tomorrow and every day hence, we must continue to honor these fallen warriors by protecting the innocent and eliminating the terrorists. We must accomplish our mission; because when all is said and done, our actions will be our most enduring memorial to these noble men.
During World War II, another trying time in our nation's history, President Franklin Roosevelt eulogized a fallen American solider by saying, "He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die [that] freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it he lives--in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men." These stirring words ring true for each of the gallant men honored here today.
Staff Sergeant Ivy, Staff Sergeant Goodwin, Sergeant Cepeda, Sergeant Marzano, Corporal Derga, Corporal Tremblay, Lance Corporal Davids, Lance Corporal Erdy, Lance Corporal Graham, Lance Corporal Grant, Lance Corporal Grez, Private First Class Dixon and Hospital Corpsman Third Class Wiener:
May they rest in peace; may God bring comfort to those who mourn them; and may they never be forgotten.
Semper Fidelis.
The following eulogy was read by HM2 George T.Cleveland for HM2(FMF) Jeffrey L. Wiener:
I have neither the words, nor the ability to tell you about my best friend, HM2 Jeff Wiener. Even though it took years to know him like I did, anyone who met him for just a few minutes was immediately struck by his strength of character. Jeff was just physically imposing enough to make you fear mispronouncing his name. And invariably when people did, usually pronouncing it WINER, he would announce, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, and in an unmistakable Long Island accent, "It's WEENER, like the balls!"
You see, Jeff was proud of who he was, of every aspect of his life from his family, to his name, to his heritage. But what he was most fiercely proud of was his service with the United States Marine Corps. When we met initially at Camp Geiger, there was one thing that drew us together like brothers. We both thought the Navy was gay, and we wanted to serve with the Marines. Not just the Marines, but with a line company. Jeff was from a Marine Corps Family, his brother who is a Sergeant with 1/7 served the last year in Al-Qaim. It had been over a year since Jeff had seen him. As fate would have it, Jeff was able to see his brother for the first and last time in Al-Asad, as he was leaving the country and Jeff was arriving.
Jeff's other brother is in Paris Island right now, and Jeff had planned on visiting him at SOI when we arrived at Camp Lejeune.
Jeff was more of a Marine than most Marines I know. That is the highest compliment any Marine can ever give to his doc, and one that is handed out only sparingly. Jeff earned that status among his Marines, and only a handful of Corpsman in this battalion can say the same.
I have met many corpsman in my career, and Jeff is easily in the top five best I have ever met. Just a quick note about his ability. We had attended a Special Operations Medic class in Camp Lejeune prior to being deployed. The class was taught by a private company who hired ex recon and SEAL corpsman for missions with the FBI. The instructor of the class was so impressed with Jeff during several evolutions, that he offered him a job on the spot. Jeff was truly the best of the best.
He was a warrior. His only drive, every day, was to go to war with his Marines. Jeff was always looking for a hot mission, telling me that he couldn't live with himself if he just laid back in the rear for the whole war. Jeff never laid back, he never took a play off, he never gave up. Before being deployed, Jeff tore his ACL, and suffered what his doctor described as a "phenomenal hernia". Any one of these injuries would have caused him not to be deployed, but he never spoke up, not even when he was taking Motrin by the hand full just to go on a patrol. He died a warriors death, he is a true American hero.
If there is a person who valued service to his country more highly than Jeff did, I have yet to meet him. A paramedic in New York City prior to joining the military, Jeff lost several friends in the attack on the World Trade Center. Many times when I would find myself questioning why I am here, I could just look to Jeff and I would know. Jeff had an unwavering sense of purpose. He knew why he was here. He was here to make the world just a little safer for his daughters to grow up in. He was here because his country called him. He was here because some of his friends no longer were. Of all the things that Jeff gave me in his life, that sense of purpose is the most valuable. I no longer question why I am here, I know why. I am here to make the world a little safer for my kids, I am here because my country called me. I am here because my best friend no longer is. God Bless you Jeff. Semper Fi.
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