A PERSONAL INVITATION FROM THE...
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You are Cordially Invited to a Meet & Greet with the six (6) Members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War next week when they roll into San Diego on the final stop of their “State of the Union: 2008 Summer Base Tour" of eight U. S. Military Bases on Thursday, September 4th in a casual one on one Private House Party setting before they visit the U. S. Marines at Camp Pendleton on Friday.
- What: Meet & Greet Private House Party, Conversations with Iraq Veterans
- Who: Six (6) Activist Members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War on the last stop of their 2008 Summer Base Tour.
- When: Thurs, September 4, 2008, 5:30pm to 7:00 pm,
- Light Dinner and Refreshments 7:00 pm “Sharp” to 9:00 pm
- Where: 12177 Briarleaf Way, San Diego 92128
Please RSVP by: Wednesday, 09/03/08 to jan.ruhman@vetspeak.org or call Jan Ruhman @ 858-361-6273. Thank you.
Bios of the Crew Members:
Jason Washburn
Originally from San Diego, CA, Jason Washburn served four years in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Rifleman. He was deployed to Iraq three times with two different units during his enlistment, serving in Al Hillah, Najaf, Haditha and much of Al Anbar province.
“This tour is so important because service members have the most credible voice in the nation in regards to what is being done in Iraq in the American people’s name, but that voice is continually silenced,” said Jason.
Steve Mortillo
Originally from Nutley, N.J., Steve Mortillo served 3 years in the US Army as a Cavalry Scout. In March of 2004 he deployed to Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division and returned home in February of 2005. “The biggest threat to American freedom is not at the hands of foreign extremists, but a corrupt government that refuses to abide by the Constitution or the will of the people,” said Steve. He wants to ensure servicemembers who disagree with the administration’s occupation of Iraq are no longer silenced. “This base tour is about making sure our brothers and sisters know they are not alone,” he said.
Marlisa Grogan
Originally from Wayne, NJ, Marlisa Grogan received her commission in the US Marine Corps in May 2002. She underwent officer training at The Basic School in Quantico, VA and was stationed at New River, NC, as an adjutant for Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) for her four years of service. In 2005, Marlisa deployed with her unit to Al Asad, Iraq, for 12 months before her end of active service in June 2006. Marlisa Grogan is currently a Captain in the IRR and transitioning from her work as a union organizer to graduate school at the Columbia University School of Social Work. She intends to focus her study on veterans’ issues, namely the rising rates of suicide and homelessness.
Jason Hurd
Jason Hurd, of Ashville, NC, joined the Army as a medic in 1997 after graduating from high school. He did so despite his father’s opposition, a Marine who served in the Pacific campaign and saw both the battles of Tarawa and Guadalcanal – two of the bloodiest occurrences of the war.
Hurd was “gung-ho” at first, but slowly became disillusioned with the Army’s prevailing leadership style of threatening and intimidating Soldiers to keep them submissive.
In November 2004, Jason deployed to central Baghdad with Bristol, Tennessee’s Troop F 2/278th Regimental Combat Team. Over the next year, he saw numerous car-bombings, body parts, dead civilians, dead Soldiers and witnessed the general suffering that followed the U.S. military across Iraq.
Ray Curry
Ray Curry was born and raised in Annapolis, MD, on a diet of GI Joe, Rambo and Full Metal Jacket. The week of the attacks on Sept 11, 2001, he found himself shaking hands with a Marine Corps recruiter and signing papers at age 17. As a 19-year-old Non-Commissioned Officer, he was deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Al Najaf Province of Iraq. After 10 months of the Muqtada Militia, fallen service members, Iraqi civilian “collateral damage” and providing security for the regional “elections,” it became clear that the occupation of the Sovereign Nation of Iraq was both illegal and immoral.
Sponsored by:
Veterans For Peace-San Diego Chapter
Military Families Speak Out-San Diego County Chapter
Vietnam Veterans Against the War-San Diego County Chapter
VetSpeak.org
Y'all come...hear?!
1 comment:
It's 10:30 pm. Had a great night with my Marines in Downtown Oceanside this evening. One on one with hugs for over 20 and Semper Fi's all-around. Wore the VVAW Bar-B-Que shirt and Viet Vet hat.
Other than dropping off IVAW Sit Reps at the front desk of the Strip Club on the north end of town, we walked around the pier and the theatre on Pier and Coast Hwy. Shit load of Marines. Many Boots, but many with 1-3 tours.
Even met, shook hands with and spoke to a Major with 3 tours who said he wasn't physically wounded but,,,,,, I asked about PTSD?, he said yes. When I asked if he was being taken good care of he didn't say yes or no but kind of shrugged. I got his meaning. Gave him a hug and a Sit Rep.
For me this is the best work I've ever done. I'm hooked. I'm going back to talk with my Marines once a month on the two days a month that the eagle takes a shit.
Base Tour Troops roll in tomorrow before noon. They were in Utah when I spoke with them earlier this evening. There going to initially camp out in the RV in front of my home. Looks like I'll be cooking Eggs, Biscuits and Gravy for breakfast on Thursday.
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