Fallen Marine receives new medal

[RJ]

Fallen Marine receives new intel medal

 

By Bryan Mitchell - Staff writer

Posted : Friday Nov 14, 2008 10:38:01 EST

Marine Corps Times

 

 

Lance Cpl. James Swain gave his life during the struggle for Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004.

 

On Friday, almost four years later, Swain's family and friends, along with members of the nation's intelligence community, will gather at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to dedicate the James E. Swain Annex, which will house an extension of the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity building.

 

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell also will award Swain's family the first ever Intelligence Community Medal of Valor, its second-highest award for bravery. The Intelligence Cross is its highest bravery award.

 

A member of the 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., Swain, 20, was attached to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regimental Combat Team in Iraq. As an intelligence specialist, his primary job during the battle of Fallujah was to provide targeting information to fellow Marines slugging it out with the enemy.

 

On Nov. 15, 2004, Swain volunteered to man a vehicle-mounted M240G machine gun as fellow Marines swept a building looking for insurgents. He spotted an ambush and opened fire to suppress the attack.

Swain was fatally wounded in the fight.

 

Brig. Gen. R.M. Lake, Marine Corps director of Intelligence, recommended Swain for the medal, citing his heroism and courage as "values we all strive to meet."

[MikeM58]

Kudos to Swain for his bravery. Most S-2 guys wouldn't have the stones to go out on a patrol. A horrible loss for the family, but good to see the recognition.

[Henry Fishinger]

might be helpful for Americans to hear these kind of storys on the evening news once in a while

 

[canyondiver]

might be helpful for Americans to hear these kind of storys on the evening news once in a while

 

Attachment 181381

 

Totally agree!

The media tends to harp on how great our government is to have these wars, but they forget to show the destruction to the human body, and they tend to fail to show the good side of the people fighting these wars so we can continue to live free in this country.

[RJ]

CD - I agree with the latter part of you comment and disagree with the former part.

 

IF you ran a check for the past 7 years the majority of the reports to be found in the media in general were of dead and wounded Americans and Iraqi civilians.

 

Praise for the goverments involvment in the war was few and very far between. As wa praise for our troops or coverage of thousands of Valor Awards Events for heroic deeds in combat against our enemies.

 

But that will not change the facts. Perhaps the media will change a start reporting in a positive fashion on our troops actions.

[canyondiver]

Perhaps the media will change a start reporting in a positive fashion on our troops actions.

 

We can hope, but dark information sells, not happy information.

Ever notice how a fender bender that is situated well off the roadway can back up traffic for miles?

Folks want to see bloody bodies, so they slow down to look

Our country as a whole has been desensitized and has set us on a dangerous course.

May God bless all our souls, and especially those who fight for all of us

[RJ]

Amen to that, Brother!

[126andy]

Semper Fi Lance Cpl. James Swain

[RJ]

Looking good, Andy! I'll have to quit drinkin Irish Whiskey I'm starting to see double.

 

3/5 All the Way!