This one is rough, they all are, but this one has a story that has hit the press recently.

I am attaching the story from the Modesto Bee to this email.

I will be posting a story announcing HM3 Layton’s passing later today.

HM3 James Ray Layton

——————–

A Riverbank sailor was killed Tuesday in an ambush in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced this morning.

Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, died in Kunar Province while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to an embedded training team with Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan.

Layton’s death was described by McClatchy Newspapers correspondent Jonathan Landay, who was embedded with a group of Marines and pinned down by heavy fire in a rugged section of Kunar Province on Tuesday.

The story appeared on the front page of The Modesto Bee on Wednesday:

“The Marines were cut down as they sought cover in a trench at the base of the village’s first layer cake-style stone house. Much of their ammunition was gone. One Marine (later determined to be Layton) was bending over a second, tending his wounds, when both were killed, said Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer, 21, of Greensburg, Ky., who retrieved their bodies.”

Layton is the 28th soldier or Marine from the Northern San Joaquin Valley and foothills killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the first from Riverbank.

Editor’s note: Read Landay’s account of the deaths of Layton and three others by clicking on the story link at left or by clicking here.

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/848962.html

Our hearts and prayers go out to HM3’s family, Marines, Shipmates, and friends.

Da-Chief

If you live in AZ, in the Queen Creek area, Please try to make this service.

HM3 Nathan Martens KIA Sept 6th 2005

Please join us on September 6th at 6:30pm to honor and remember all of Arizona’s Fallen Heroes at The Nathan Martens Arizona Memorial.

http://www.fallenheroesazmemorial.com/

Host: Nathan Martens Arizona Memorial

Time: 6:30PM Sunday, September 6th

Location: 6533 West Phillips Road Queen Creek, AZ

Few of you read this paper as it is/was located in the Denver, CO area.

I at Corpsman.com have had a relationship with the Rocky Mountain News for a few years in that Jim Sheeler, who used to be a writer for the paper wrote a sad but wonderful article about one of my fallen students who was KIA in IRAQ.

Navy Hospital Corpsman Christopher A. Anderson. (Doc Anderson) was one of my students at NHCS.  When we lost him, it was the day the war turned real for me.  Here was a young man who had just gone through our school, excelled, and was taking care of his MARINES, when this tragedy befell him.

There have been many “Doc’s” who have given the ultimate sacrifice to our country during this time of war and strife.  None were better recognized then by Mr. Jim Sheeler, a writer from the Rocky Mountain News.  Jim didn’t just write a story about someone that he was told to write about, he actually got to know the Doc and their family, instructors, the back story so he could better relay the history.

I met him as he was looking up info about HN Anderson.  Doc Anderson was known at NHCS, because he earned a NAVY Achievement Medal while a student at our school.  This really is unheard of, but HN Anderson had taken the initiative to go and work recruiting back at home while on Christmas leave and earned it from the recruiting station.

This story and his family story would never have seen the light of day if not for the “Rocky Mountain News” and Mr. Jim Sheeler.

The Rocky Mountain News today became a casualty of the current economy.  Their last publication was today.

Final Edition, Rocky Mountain News

Mr. Sheeler has already found employment as a Scholar at the University of Colorado.  I am glad he is doing this job, I hope the students he helps guide learn from him and follow his guidance.

Jim Sheeler

We at Corpsman.com grieve for Denver’s Loss.  It is like losing one of our own Doc’s.

Mr. Sheeler, Keep on Keeping on.  We salute you.

Da-Chief
Corpsman.com

You want to know what is happening with “YOUR” Navy?

You looking to find out info for “BOARDS” for JSOQ, or SOQ?

This PDF file is the one to have.  If you lose it, we will have it stored on our server so you can always comeback to get it.

2009 All Hands NAVY Owners Manual.

All Hands 2009 Navy Owners Manual

You can download it here: Winter Edition Navy Link Magazine.

Winter 2008 Navy Link Magazine

Educate yourself on what is going on!

D/C

CPO Program 2008 Naval Station Great Lakes

I was privileged today to attend the pinning ceremony of our newest Chief Petty Officers for the Naval Station Great Lakes. Out of 39 who were pinned, 11 were newly minted “HMC’s”. I wish to congratulate all the New Chief Petty Officers and list the HMC’s who were pinned;
HMC(SW/AW) Julie Arp
HMC(FMF) Donald Dumas
HMC(FMF) Timothy Gorman
HMC(SCW/FMF/NAV) Trevor Hadley
HMC(FMF) John Jenkins
HMC(SW/FMF) Steven R. Kaufman
HMC(FMF) Raymond Lowe
HMC(SW/AW) Steven J. Maier
HMC(FMF) Craig Ness
HMC(FMF) Michael Tabura
HMC(SW) Ashley Thomason

I created this collage tonight. More Pictures will be in our Scuttlebutt Newsletter.

I want to thank HMC Hadley for inviting me to his ceremony, I was honored to be there. Congratulations to all!

P.s you can smile now..

Da-Chief

Go to the corpsman.com Live page..

This will be broadcasted live over Stickam.  If you would like to leave a tribute to these fine sailors and have a Netcam, please register prior then log in. I will add you to the video feed so you can say your peace.  Remember this will be recorded so please think about what your going to say.  Absolutely “NO POLITICS” tonight.
Remember these heroes died in AFGHANISTAN.

To enter chat you’ll need to create a free account at Stickam and request friendship with “da_chief” – approval is automatic and should happen almost instantly.

Our Chatroom will be open in our Forums for Tech support for Stickam if your having problems. 8404 or myself will be inside to help you out.

Hope to see you.
Da-Chief

I AM A NAVY CORPSMAN. I POSSESS THE STAMINA AND ENTHUSIAM OF YOUTH AND THE WISDOM AND EXPERINCE OF AN OLD MAN.

I AM 3 PARTS DOCTOR, 1 PART NURSE, 2 PARTS MARINE, 1 PART YEOMAN AND 3 PARTS MOM, YET I AM 100% SAILOR.

I AM UNEMPLOYABLE TO THE CIVILIAN WORLD IN MY GIVEN PROFESSION YET HAVE BEEN THE VERY LIFE LINE FOR COUNTLESS MARINES, SOLDIERS AND SAILORS SINCE 1778.

I HAVE CARRIED MARINES FROM THE BATTLE FIELD … AND HAVE BEN CARRIED REVERENTLY MYSELF BY MARINES WHO MORNED MY PASSING LIKE THAT OF A BROTHER OR SISTER.

I AM YOUNG. I AM OLD. BRAVE, SCARED AND SCARRED. MY TITLE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS: LOBLOLLY BOY, SURGENS STEWART, PHARMICIST MATE, HOSPITAL CORPSMAN, IDC, YET WITH ALL THE CHANGES I AM STILL SIMPLY KNOW AS “DOC”.

I HAVE CELEBRATED PEACE; YET FELT THE STING OF WAR ON THE SEAS, IN JUNGLES, IN FOREIGN CITIES, IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND ON BEACHES OF EVERY SHADE OF SAND… WHITE, TAN, CORAL AND BLACK.

I HAVE RAISED HELL ON LIBERTY; HOPE IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE …. AND OLD GLORY ON IWO JIMA.

I HAVE REMOVED APPENDIXES ON SUBMARINES AND LIMBS IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE AND MANY OTHER PROCEDURES FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT I AM EXPECTED TO DO BY THE NORMAL PRACTICE OF MEDICINE BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A MARINE OR SAILOR IN BATTLE OR UNDER THE ICE, FAR FROM A DOCTORS CARE.

I HAVE IGNORED MY OWN WOUNDS TO THE POINT OF DEATH IN ORDER TO STAY AT MY STATION TREATING THE WOUNDED OF MY NATIONS NAVY, MARINE CORP, ARMY AND AIRFORCE.

I HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MEDAL OF HONORS OF ANY CORP IN THE NAVY ….. MOST OF THEM PRESENTED TO MY WIFE, CHILD OR MOTHER BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY IN HEAVEN AT THE TIME.

I AM PROUD TO KNOW IN MY HEART THAT EVERY MARINE WHO HAS EVER FOUGHT AND EVERY SAILOR WHO HAS GONE TO SEA ON SHIPS OWE THEIR VERY LIVES TO THOSE THEY SIMPLY, YET RESPECTFULLY KNOW AS “DOC”

MARK A. WRIGHT

HMC(SS), USN

14 FEBRUARY 2003

Photo: USS Carl Vinson CVN-70

Enclosed is your 2008 2008 Navy Owners Manual.

Enjoy!

(editors note: fixed link. you should be able to download from the picture or the link.)

April 2008 All Hands Magazine. Click on the link to download it.