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> Special Sections > Letters From Iraq > Letters > Company "I" deploys to Iraq with 3/25
Company "I" deploys to Iraq with 3/25 |  | | | India Company, 3/25 out of Buffalo, NY on the last day at our home training center. |
Captain John A. Kasparian
3d Battalion, 25th Marines
Hello from Iraq, here is how we got here. We all have reasons from joining the USMC, yet we have one common thread between us. We come here with an intent to protect those we love at home. And at the same time, give a country the chance to govern themselves. It's hard work. The USMC has done it over and over, I guess for the young Marines who serve now, it's our turn.
3/25's diversity really captures the personality of this Reserve unit. Our three main states are Ohio, New York, and West Virginia. However, we have people from almost every state in the US. Myself, I was raised in Springfield, Ma and now live in East Longmeadow. Go Sox! Go Pats!
Here is a photo of Company I, 3/25 on its last day at it's Home Training Center. All the families came out. They were very proud, and of course sad to see us go. We then traveled on a 757 to 29 Palms, CA in the Mohave Desert. There we spent 4 weeks. Every two minutes, you heard someone mention how cold it was. 30-40 degrees doesn't sound like much, until you get out of your sleeping bag.
(29 Palms living. It's very COLD in these metal tin cans.) One thing about "grunts" or infantry as some might say, they love the field. And complain about it also. I heard this one day... Our company gunny says, "If I catch ANYONE mention the "R" word, you will get security watch ALL NIGHT!"
"At least if it rains, we get a shower." A Lance Corporal replies. Lucky for the Lance Corporal, the Gunny did not hear him.
We did perform very well though. And the Reserve Marines started to look like their Active duty. They also bring a wealth of knowledge into the fight.
After the desert training where they basically teach you how to blow things up, we headed to train in an urban environment. March Air Force Base in California has an old housing development that we now use to conduct our SASO training. Stability And Security Operations training shows you how to deal with a civilian type environment.
We finished our training and then we began the 24 hour plane ride to Iraq. After several days, we have arrived to our Forward Operation Base. We can show those sandy airports, and the dusty desert. However, this is one of the most unique places in Iraq. It's the Haditha Dam. It supplies 30 percent of all Iraqi electricity. Of course there is harsh desert along with many towns along the Euphrates which I will show, along with 3/25 Marines life at the Dam!
Semper Fi,
Capt John A. Kasparian
3rd Battalion, 25th Marines
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