Photos: Bravo 4th LAR memorial service for LCpl Jeremy Kane, Sgt. David Smith and Petty Officer Second Class Xin Qi

Bravo 4thLAR Christmas Day 12/25/09

Operation Santa picture of Bravo Christmas in AFG. Honor Their Service Inc. stuffed and shipped 150 stockings and snacks to Bravo Company through the Operation Santa program at Marine Corps Family Foundation. pix via Carrie

Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane, 22, Towson, Md.

DOD ANNOUNCEMENT: "Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane, 22, of Towson, Md., died Jan. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division."

Bravo 4 LAR AP Photos From 12/12/09 Up

AP Images site has pix from 12/12/09 available at their site. Some Marines photographed are Lance Cpl. Grayson Barnette of Md., left, and Lance Cpl. Michael, MSgt. Mike Hilton, LCpl. Casey Kratzer, Va., LCpl. Grayson Barnette, as well as many others.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi, Corpsman Bravo 4th LAR

DOD Announcement:"Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi, 25, of Cordova, Tenn., died Jan. 23, while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan. Qi was assigned to Fourth Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan."

Prayers for Dave

At blog "Sand Between My Toes" is a post "Prayers For Dave" WIA and for the men of Bravo 4th LAR.

Bravo 4th LAR Lance Cpl. Jeremy Kane Killed in AF

Bravo 4th LAR Lance Cpl. Jeremy Kane, was killed by a suicide bomb, Saturday. His mother, Melinda Kane speaks about his death in this interview.



Tue, Aug. 17, 2010
Mother of fallen Cherry Hill Marine tries to make sense of her son's sacrifice

By Mike Newall

Inquirer Staff Writer

There are some times when the pain is bearable. And there are others when she can't control her tears, like the day this summer when yet another package she had sent her son reappeared in the mail, unopened and dented, filled with crumbled cookies.

Melinda Kane, 52, of Cherry Hill, is the mother of a fallen Marine.

Read more:Philadelphia Inq

Code Talkers Painting Donated to Bravo 4thLAR

Veteran and artist Buck Musser makes paintings to honor fallen members of the military:

By Patti S. Borda
Frederick News-Post Staff

Buck Musser has embarked on an artistic mission: to make paintings of all the local armed service members who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Earlier this year Musser finished a painting of Native American "code talkers" who served in the Marines. He donated that painting to the Marine Reserves Bravo Company 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Frederick .

Marine 1st Sgt. Wallace Mains said the battalion's new location not far from its current one on Rocky Springs Road will have a fitting place for Musser's painting. Mains said he expected the painting would be hung in mid-March.

"It's a really nice picture," said Marine Maj. Joe Corbett.

Corbett said that when the picture is hung a plaque will explain Musser's donation.

Giving away a painting is one of Musser's greatest pleasures, he said. Giving something to the families of the fallen is important to him.

"I owe it to them," he said.

End of a Long Night-Second Platoon, Bravo-First LAR

2nd Platoon, Bravo, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Ar Rutbah, Iraq, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 11/9/2005 photo CPL CHAD H. LEDDY

Bravo 4th LAR Photos Afghanistan Link

Goddess of Blogs bestows : Great Link to 4th LAR AP Images dated 12/11/2009. Whoo! Whoo! If you see something you like, pixs are available for personal use only sale prices. Some of the 4th LAR Marines ID'ed by name are Cpl. William Lins, Corpsman Damon Anderson, Sgt. Isaac Tate, Cpl. Aleksander Aleksandrov, LCpl. Casey Kratzner, Cpl. Joseph Kelly, Gunny Randy Scifo, Cpl. Jay McLellan, Top Mike Hilton, Cpl Benjamin Zellman and Cpl. Mike Villa Alvazo Garcia. Lots of other pictures including Football in Afghanistan pictures.

Saddle Up the Pogie Bait Train for Bravo LAR

Cassandra, The Goddess of Blogs and her organization, Honor Their Service, is saddling up the Pogie Bait Train with all Christmas Goodies including 150 stuffed stockings and snacks to Bravo 4th LAR today through the Operation Santa program at Marine Corps Family Foundation.

Oh lordy, to rewind the tape and be 20 again! Honor Their Service is a bonafide 501 (c) 3 IRS tax exempt outfit--in case you are looking for extra karmic points or if you just want to bask under the smile of Happy Marines enjoying their goodies, hayaku, over to their site and drop some coins in their basket. You'll be glad you did.

On Your Six Bravo 4thLAR: Bulldog Detachment , Ladies of Harley and Williamnsport Chapter 1544

The Bulldog Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Hagerstown and the Ladies of Harley with Williamsport Chapter 1544 will be holding a holiday care package drive for Bravo Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. The Company is in Afghanistan and includes members from Washington County.

The Bulldog Detachment is accepting monetary contributions to buy items and pay for shipping packages; and donated items for the packages.

Items include hygiene items, hand warmers, food, candy, playing cards, table games, magazines and books. The items will be packed on Dec. 2.

Checks may be made payable to The Bulldog Detachment Inc. MCL, with “care package drive” on the memo line.

They may be mailed to David M. Danfelt, Bulldog Detachment, Marine Corps League, 137 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795. To donate, call Danfelt at 301-223-7380.

High Fives and Many Good Lucks

A former B 4LAR War Pig Marine, Steve Rose, two tours to Iraq. The first in the War Pig and the second in a SURC ( a powerful jet pump powered boat) as a mean, green, riverine DSU-3 and now off to Afghanistan as a Warrant officer for 4th LAR Bn. Crikey! All the best and many good lucks.

DSU-3 aka Bravo 4th LAR- Showing the Ropes to RIVRON 1 Back in the Day

: 03.15.2007Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON-1), Detachment 3, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and Dam Security Unit 3 (DSU-3), 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force arrive at the riverine launch site at Al Taqaddum on their Small Unit Riverine Crafts during Operation Gibraltar. The operation consisted of inserting at Riverine Launch Site 4 in Ar Ramadi and extracting at the Al Taqaddum Riverine Launch Site. The operation is to familiarize the arriving RIVRON-1 with the area that DSU-3 has been covering for the past six months.photo by Sgt. Michael Kropiewnicki)

Bravo 4th LAR, Two More Items for Your Checklist

Bravo 4th LAR will saddle up the war pigs in the fall for Afghanistan. Until then, your reserve meetings will be a maelstrom of activity in preparation for your date of departure. Your checklist is chock full of NCO must get done items. Everything from shots to power of attorney, access to bank accounts to:Questions. Millions of Questions. One that never failed to amaze me was the girl friend question as next of kin. No. A girl friend is NOT repeat NOT next of kin. You want her to be notified Marry Her. End of Questions. Ok.

Right. Here's two more. One is A.L.L. Afghan Lessons Learned. Everything you wanted to know about IED's. Check it out.

The other is Michael Yon's report on Enemy TTP and after Action Review. Vital Intell. The enemy you about to face has the experience of a WWII gunny just back from island hopping in the Pacific and much more as this area has been practicing war tactics since Alexander the Great passed through.

You are not going up against the Iraqi it's too hot to fight team. This is not empty your clip against the infidels and run away bunch. Nope. This is the A-team. Drove the Russkis out and intend to do the same to you. A recent news story had a Marine expressing his surprise opinion that not only will these guys stand and do the toe to toe with you they will pin you down and maneuver around to kick you in the ass. Shocking. The fact that we are the cutting edge of innovation and still the word can not filter down to the tip of the spear is an endless source of wonderment does not surprise me. In October 1965, I recall my DI words of intell: "you'll be going up against bows and arrows and punji sticks smeared with shit."

This bunch will maneuver on you. Michael Yon report on Enemy TTP will show you how. Pass it on. Read it and read it-- until it becomes part of your DNA. Make it your quest.

Bravo 4th LAR, TO AFGHANISTAN

Corporal Zachary T. Trigger, left, a mechanic with Bravo Co., 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Lance Cpl. Nicholas D. Hall, an assistant gunner with Bravo, aim the M-252 81mm mortar system, July 15, during an exercise teaching intermediate mortar skills prior to Afghanistan deployment.
STORY_photo Cpl. Daniel A. Blatter
More than 130 Marines from 4th LAR Bn. traveled from their base home in Frederick, Md., to Camp Pendleton CA. where they completed a two-week session of annual training, July 17.

“This is our pre, pre-deployment training,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua F. Work, a primary plotter with Company B, 4th LAR. “We will be coming back again on Aug. 2 for more workups for deployment.”

Approximately 20 of these Marines received the opportunity to attend a mortars class taught by 1st Mar Div’s Division Schools. The course was used to train these Marines as they prepare to replace 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Afghanistan this fall.

“This class starts at the basic level and is a good starting point for many Marines who aren’t mortarmen by trade,” said Sgt. James A. Martinez, a platoon sergeant with Weapons Platoon, Company B, 4th LAR. “We are mainly learning gunnery skills to help the gun line get better at their fire support.”

Many of the Marines attending this course have already learned the basic skills of a mortar specialist while at the School of Infantry. This course refreshed the Marines’ skills taught at SOI and also gave them many supplementary skills to use while in combat.

“These (students) had a higher skill level than I was expecting,” said Sgt. Miguel D. Hernandez, the head gun line instructor for the intermediate mortar course at Division Schools. “Normally this course is a three-week course, but for them we had to condense everything down into eight days of training.”

Although the course was shortened, the Marines of 4th LAR still received the skill sets and knowledge needed to complete the mission.

“Basically what we are trying to get out of this course is proficiency and speed,” said Martinez, 26, from Andreas, Pa. “The faster we are, the faster we get indirect fire support to our element down range. We will save lives or bring hurt to the enemy.

“We don’t always have time to practice and we rarely get to go the range to fire, so this is wholly beneficial to us, especially being a reserve unit,” said Martinez. “This not only helps us be cognizant of what we are doing, it helps us be able to do it very quickly.”

DAM SUPPORT UNIT 2nd and 3RD PLTs, B CO, 4TH LAR BN APPROVED NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION (NUC)

Concrackerwackerpackers to DSU Dam Security Unit AKA Bravo Co 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance LAR. Job well done.
Date Signed: 5/20/2009
MARADMIN Number: 0320/09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0320/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF APPROVED NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION (NUC)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/SECNAV /22AUG2006//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CMC MMMA/13APR2009//
NARR/REF A IS SECNAVINST 1650.H, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AWARDS MANUAL. REF B IS NAVMC 2922, MARINE CORPS UNIT AWARDS MANUAL.//
POC/J. A. WHITEN/SSGT/UNIT:HQMC MMMA/-/TEL:703-784-9206 /TEL:DSN 278-9206/EMAIL:JOVAN.WHITEN@USMC.MIL//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO PUBLISH THE LISTING OF UNITS AND PERSONNEL ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NUC. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY APPROVED THE NUC IAW REF A TO RECOGNIZE I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FORWARD) FOR ACTIONS IN OIF FROM 28 FEB 06 TO 09 FEB 2007.

2. AS OUTLINED IN REF A, PERSONNEL PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED OR ATTACHED TO I MEF (FWD) WHO WERE ACTUALLY PRESENT IN IRAQ AND PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIONS FOR WHICH THE UNIT WAS CITED ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE AWARD. ELIGIBILITY IS DETERMINED BY EVIDENCE IN SERVICE RECORDS OR OTHER OFFICIAL RECORDS THAT SUPPORT THE SERVICE MEMBER'S ASSIGNMENT TO A PARTICIPATING UNIT CITED IN PARA 7 BELOW AND DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIONS CITED. UPON DETERMINATION OF SERVICE MEMBER'S ELIGIBILITY, COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE UNIT DIARY ENTRIES.

3. MEMBERS OF THE FORWARD PARTIES WHO DID NOT DEPLOY ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN THIS AWARD.
4. THE NUC INCLUDES NUMEROUS U.S. ARMY COMMANDS. TO DATE, THE MARINE CORPS HAS NOT RECEIVED U.S. ARMY CONCURRENCE TO ALLOW THESE UNITS TO ACCEPT THE NUC. CONTINGENT UPON CONCURRENCE, THE MARINE CORPS WILL PUBLISH A SEPARATE MESSAGE WITH A LIST OF U.S. ARMY UNITS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE.
5. THE NUC ALSO INCLUDES DESIGNATED UNITS OF THE BRITISH MILITARY. THE ACCEPTANCE, RETENTION AND DISPLAY OF THIS AWARD ARE FUNCTIONS OF BRITISH LAW AND REGULATION.
6. UNITS THAT ARE NOT LISTED THAT BELIEVE THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS NUC MAY SUBMIT A LETTER VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND UNDER WHICH THEY OPERATED DURING THE PERIOD CITED IN THIS AWARD. UPON RECEIPT OF A FULLY ENDORSED CHAIN OF COMMAND RECOMMENDATION TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL UNIT(S), THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE REFERRED TO THE CMC FOR ENDORSEMENT. IF APPROPRIATE, THE PACKAGE WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE SECNAV FOR DECISION. ANY ADDITIONAL UNITS AUTHORIZED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AWARD WILL BE PUBLISHED IN FUTURE AWARDS UPDATE MESSAGES.
7. ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATING UNITS:
COMMAND ELEMENT, I MEF (FORWARD)
I MHG (-)(REIN), I MEF
1ST INTEL BN(-)(REIN)
2ND INTEL BN(-)(REIN), II MHG
1ST RADIO BN(-)(REIN)
2ND RADIO BN(-)(REIN), II MHG
9TH COMM BN(-)(REIN)
1ST ANGLICO(-)(REIN)
2ND ANGLICO(-)(REIN), II MHG
TRUCK CO(-)(REIN), HQBN, 1ST MARDIV
1ST FORCE RECON CO(-) (REIN)
DET, HQ BTRY, 10TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
DET, HQ BTRY, 11TH MAR, 1ST MARDIV
DET, HQ BTRY, 12TH MAR, 3D MARDIV
DET, HQ BTRY, 14TH MAR, 4TH MARDIV
6TH CIVIL AFFAIRS GROUP (6TH CAG)
3D CIVIL AFFAIRS GROUP (3D CAG)
4TH CIVIL AFFAIRS GROUP (4TH CAG)
BTRY E, 2ND BN, 11TH MAR (PROV MP)
5TH BN, 14TH MAR (-)(REIN), 4TH MARDIV
HQ BTRY, 5TH BN, 14TH MAR
N BTRY (REIN)
O BTRY (REIN)
C BTRY, 1ST BN, 14TH MAR
TOW PLT, 3RD BN, 15TH MAR
MP CO (REIN), 1ST MARDIV
MP CO, 4TH MARDIV
DET, 4TH FORCE RECONNAISSANCE
1ST BN, 14TH MAR (-)(REIN), 4TH MARDIV
HQ BTRY
DET MILITARY WORKING DOGS (SPECIAL SEARCH DOGS & EOD DETECTION DOGS)
DET, CUSTOMS
DET, CID
A BTRY, 1ST BN, 14TH MAR
B BTRY, 1ST BN
H BTRY, 3RD BN
T BTRY, 5TH BN, 11TH MAR, 1ST MARDIV
C MP CO, 2ND MP BN, 2ND MLG
DET, CORRECTIONS CO, MCB CAMLEJ
DET, CORRECTIONS CO, MB CAMPEN
3RD BN, 14TH MAR (-)(REIN), 4TH MARDIV
HQ BTRY
G BTRY
I BTRY
F BTRY, 2ND BN, 11TH MAR, 1ST MARDIV
E BTRY, 2D BN, 10TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
MP CO, HQ BN, 1ST MARDIV
5TH MARINE REGIMENT (-) (REIN), 1ST MARDIV
HQ CO (REIN)
BTRY B, 1ST BN, 11TH MAR
BTRY G, 2ND BN, 11TH MAR
BTRY I, 3D BN, 12TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
CO A, 2ND TANK BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO C, 2ND TANK BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO D, 2ND TANK BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO A, 2ND AAV BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO B, 2ND AAV BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO D, 2ND AAV BN, 2ND MARDIV
CO C, 2ND CEB, 2ND MARDIV
CO B, 1ST CEB
CO C, 1ST CEB
3D BN, 5TH MAR
1ST BN, 1ST MAR
3D BN, 2ND MAR, 2ND MARDIV
2ND BN, 8TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
2ND BN, 6TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
1ST BN, 24TH MAR, 4TH MARDIV
1ST BN, 25TH MAR, 4TH MARDIV
1ST RECON BN(-), 1ST MARDIV
2ND RECON BN, 2ND MARDIV
3D RECON BN, 3D MARDIV
7TH MARINE REGIMENT (-)(REIN) 1ST MARDIV
HQ CO (REIN)
BTRY A, 1ST BN, 11TH MAR
BTRY C, 1ST BN, 10TH MAR, 3RD MARDIV
BTRY L, 3RD BN, 12TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
CO E, 2ND BN, 8TH MAR
CO A (REIN), 1ST TANK BN
CO B (REIN), 1ST TANK BN
CO C (REIN), 1ST TANK BN
CO B, 3RD AAV BN
CO C, 3RD AAV BN
CO D, 3RD AAV BN
CO A, 2ND CEB
CO C, 1ST CEB
CO C, 4TH CEB
1ST FORCE RECON CO (-) (REIN), (2 X PLT)
4TH FORCE RECON CO (-) (REIN), (2 X PLT)
1 X INF CO AZERBAIJAN
DAM SECURITY UNIT (DET, 4TH AAV BN, 4TH MARDIV)
1ST LAR BN (-)(2 X CO)
2ND LAR BN (-), 2ND MARDIV (2 X CO)
3D LAR BN (-), 3RD MARDIV (2 X CO)
2ND BN, 3D MAR, 3D MARDIV
2ND BN, 4TH MAR
1ST BN, 7TH MAR
3RD BN, 1ST MAR
3RD BN, 3RD MAR, 3RD MARDIV
3RD BN, 6TH MAR, 2ND MARDIV
3RD BN, 4TH MAR
3RD BN, 7TH MAR
C CO, 2ND CEB, 2ND MARDIV
TRUCK PLT, HQBN, 2ND MARDIV
E CO, 2ND BN, 4TH MAR
F CO, 2ND BN, 4TH MAR
DAM SUPPORT UNIT 2ND PLT, B CO, 4TH AA BN
DAM SUPPORT UNIT 3RD PLT, B CO, 4TH LAR BN