West Saint Paul Antiques

I am not sure how A-3 acquired a sorry game board, but this helps them kill some down time. The highlight of the game is getting a sorry card and then swatting one of your opponent’s pieces as far as you can as you yell “sorry”. A-3 seems to enjoy ganging up on Sergeant Nick Orlando to make sure he never wins; this appears to be both a great sense of amusement and entertainment for the entire platoon, particularly Sergeant Sigi Apodaca. The sorry game is pretty addictive, B-1 has also been playing, but they call it “Los Sientos” – so they yell “los sientos” whenever they swat an opponent’s piece. B-2 has taken it to a higher level with a form of combat sorry in which they don’t even look for an excuse to swat each other or various items while playing the game. We can’t print what they yell in mixed company, thankfully they have Captain Agur “The Apostle” Adams, or they all might have a ticket to an even hotter place. (Speaking of hot, how about those Red Sox!) - I am hoping to get the guys a Chutes and Ladder or Candy Land game next, I will see if my fourteen year old nephew has any of these games that he outgrew about 7 years ago.

While with the MEU, we acquired Captain Brent “Sugar” Winslow from the MEU staff. The most popular theory on the origin of this acquisition is that we fed him once - and like feeding a stray cat - could not get him to leave. His expertise and efforts contributed significantly to the company’s success, his eagerness and work ethic was remarkable, he did not consider any task beneath him and volunteered countless times to drive, serve as a gunner, and send traffic back to the MEU for Captain Nichols (all of which were denied, but that is not the point). Much to Gunny Stahls’ dismay, Sugar was prone to wander off after IED wires without a radio and the most accident prone Marine in his platoon, (Gunny requested one of those wind up leashes and is securing it to Sugar’s seat in the HQ’s Hummve). We have deservedly bestowed the title of Honorary Bravo Company Marine on him!

Bravo Company recently spent several weeks at a lakefront casino resort on Lake Thar-Thar, but I think we had a bad travel agent, because the place did not look like the pictures on the travel brochure! The casinos, all the buildings, water/plumbing systems, and electricity had all been destroyed about four years ago. I told the Marines, ‘look at the bright side, you still can tell everyone you got to go to a casino resort!’ – they are not buying this…. It was great to link back up with B-3 under the leadership of Captain Glenn Baker and Gunnery Sergeant Marty “the one man party” Williams. The platoon did some great things out in the AO that we can’t really talk about, they did tell us that next time we leave them ‘Home Alone’ they will continue to give up the CO’s office to anybody that wants it!

Kudos to Captain Bryan “B.A.-Bad Attitude” Abell on his promotion, well deserved! (We had to remind him that just because he has a cool call sign, he is not a pilot). Congratulations to Gunnery Sergeant Rodger Turner, Staff Sergeant John Bottema, Sergeant Stephen Geiger, Sergeant Evan Williams-McIntosh, and Sergeant Amish Smith on reenlisting for four more years in our beloved Corps! (Gunnery Sergeant Turner requested that his wife not spend his reenlistment bonus before he gets home).

Sadly, we said good bye to Sergeant Peter “Cold Rod” Rodriguez and Corporal Jeffrey Tolentino as they returned back to the states last month. Sergeant Rodriguez is getting ready to go to OCS and Corporal Tolentino is separating from the Marine Corps and is off to college. Thanks for your service to Bravo Company and the Marine Corps, good luck to both of you! Rod & T, we don’t need anything from the states, but thanks for asking, that was very thoughtful of you both (oh, never mind, you two ungrateful $%&^#)%# guys didn’t ask us, we just figured you would have by now)! (How soon they forget)! Master Sergeant Jimmie Jakes (I know you are laughing some place), you were 100 percent correct, Master Sergeant Sid ‘Hans’ Gruber has turned into you! He takes his frustration out on the platoons, particularly when they breach his trailer and take his supplies!
Thanks so much to all our friends and families for their thoughts, prayers, and patience. I know I sound like a broken record, but I would like to personally thank the RBE and the KVN, every request we have made has been fulfilled beyond our expectations. Special thanks to Master Gunnery Sergeant Jim Keely, USMC ret, and Warrior, on your thoughts, letters, and packages, first cold one when we get back is on me! As always, please feel to contact me, First Sergeant Carlo Gaita, at carlo.gaita@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil if you need anything from our end.