9 Aug 06 - Loss of a Warrior
The Daily Corner - -The Loss of a Warrior, the loss of a brother.
By now, I’m sure, you have all have all heard of the death of LCpl Kurt Dechen. I sit here pondering all this once again trying to help heal a Company. The death of Capt Brian Letendre a few months ago had been hard on the company but the Marines pressed forward continuing to do great things. Great things with Marines like LCpl Dechen, who was a bright spot for the Marines when they were tired or down, leading the way. He was the Marine that could walk into a room of tired, wore out, Marines and make them smile. He was a sense of release to many Marines with his humor and good spirit and a big brother to others who need someone to look up to and to help carry them through the rough spots. LCpl Kurt Dechen was always there for his fellow Marines as if it was his task to help them get through this. He knew when to make a Marine laugh or when to just be an ear. But he was also where he always wanted to be as a Marine, out front leading the way. He was out front on the day he died, walking point. He was always ready to take on the insurgents, but the first to hand out toys or candy to the children when he could. He believed in being a Marine, like no other, which made so many other Marines believe in him and want to be like him. His loss has created a hole that we must fill. We are gradually filling it with his great memories and know the way to honor him is to continue to do great things here in his memory, that is the way he would have wanted it. His fellow Marines have made pictures of Kurt to hang thanks to a printer we were sent. We talk about the good times and his little quirks. The biggest one being corvettes, that Marine loved Corvettes. He would not go out of the wire without the Corvette boxers on, that was his quirk. Every Marine has a little quirk, some may call a good luck charm, and some would call a pre game ritual, Kurt’s was his corvette boxers. As I sit here quietly packing his belongings, to send home, I’ve discover that the same sense Kurt had about taking care of his fellow Marines he had about his family. As it was his dream not to own a corvette but to get his father one. I wish I could make the pain his family and friends are feeling go away, but I can’t, I can only tell you all the great things he has done and what he has meant to the Marines here. Till the end LCpl Kurt Dechen was thinking of others, now we are all thinking of him.
Were we have heard from:
Ok now that I proof read my stuff here I can’t believe no one beat me up on abbreviations. If you didn’t catch it I’m not telling if you did thanks for keeping it to yourself. If you have written or sent the Marines something and I missed your state please let me know.
States- CT, NJ, NH, ME, MA, RI, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, FL, IL, ID, AZ, NM, CA, OR, AK, WA, MO, HI, TX, KS, NY, GA, OH, AL, WI, VT, SD, UT WY Joins the list
Countries – Australia, China, Djibouti Africa, South Africa, Brazil
Flags flying from – CT, NY, NJ, TX, MA, FL, ME, NH, RI, FREEHOLD NJ. WA, NC, IL, MD, UT, GA, WI are now flying!
Pictures and Charlie Company web Links
http://www.mcldeptct.org/pages/mcl_ct_mcl_events.html
http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thmardiv/25thMar/1stBn/
The Hartford Courant Link
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/iraq/
The Day in New London Link
http://www.theday.com/news/specialsections.aspx
Want to help, here is the one to go to in CT. Andi and Co are doing and awesome Job for all of us! For those of you looking for her Location the CT ESGR have graciously donated space in their building for her to run her support operations.
www.Give2thetroops.org
Andi Grant
President and Founder,
Give 2 The Troops, Inc.
196 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2554
Americantology TM
For Love of Country
1stSgt Grainger
Charlie Company,
1st Bn 25th Marines
UNIT 72190
FPO AE 09509-2190
By now, I’m sure, you have all have all heard of the death of LCpl Kurt Dechen. I sit here pondering all this once again trying to help heal a Company. The death of Capt Brian Letendre a few months ago had been hard on the company but the Marines pressed forward continuing to do great things. Great things with Marines like LCpl Dechen, who was a bright spot for the Marines when they were tired or down, leading the way. He was the Marine that could walk into a room of tired, wore out, Marines and make them smile. He was a sense of release to many Marines with his humor and good spirit and a big brother to others who need someone to look up to and to help carry them through the rough spots. LCpl Kurt Dechen was always there for his fellow Marines as if it was his task to help them get through this. He knew when to make a Marine laugh or when to just be an ear. But he was also where he always wanted to be as a Marine, out front leading the way. He was out front on the day he died, walking point. He was always ready to take on the insurgents, but the first to hand out toys or candy to the children when he could. He believed in being a Marine, like no other, which made so many other Marines believe in him and want to be like him. His loss has created a hole that we must fill. We are gradually filling it with his great memories and know the way to honor him is to continue to do great things here in his memory, that is the way he would have wanted it. His fellow Marines have made pictures of Kurt to hang thanks to a printer we were sent. We talk about the good times and his little quirks. The biggest one being corvettes, that Marine loved Corvettes. He would not go out of the wire without the Corvette boxers on, that was his quirk. Every Marine has a little quirk, some may call a good luck charm, and some would call a pre game ritual, Kurt’s was his corvette boxers. As I sit here quietly packing his belongings, to send home, I’ve discover that the same sense Kurt had about taking care of his fellow Marines he had about his family. As it was his dream not to own a corvette but to get his father one. I wish I could make the pain his family and friends are feeling go away, but I can’t, I can only tell you all the great things he has done and what he has meant to the Marines here. Till the end LCpl Kurt Dechen was thinking of others, now we are all thinking of him.
Were we have heard from:
Ok now that I proof read my stuff here I can’t believe no one beat me up on abbreviations. If you didn’t catch it I’m not telling if you did thanks for keeping it to yourself. If you have written or sent the Marines something and I missed your state please let me know.
States- CT, NJ, NH, ME, MA, RI, DE, MD, DC, VA, NC, SC, FL, IL, ID, AZ, NM, CA, OR, AK, WA, MO, HI, TX, KS, NY, GA, OH, AL, WI, VT, SD, UT WY Joins the list
Countries – Australia, China, Djibouti Africa, South Africa, Brazil
Flags flying from – CT, NY, NJ, TX, MA, FL, ME, NH, RI, FREEHOLD NJ. WA, NC, IL, MD, UT, GA, WI are now flying!
Pictures and Charlie Company web Links
http://www.mcldeptct.org/pages/mcl_ct_mcl_events.html
http://www.mfr.usmc.mil/4thmardiv/25thMar/1stBn/
The Hartford Courant Link
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/iraq/
The Day in New London Link
http://www.theday.com/news/specialsections.aspx
Want to help, here is the one to go to in CT. Andi and Co are doing and awesome Job for all of us! For those of you looking for her Location the CT ESGR have graciously donated space in their building for her to run her support operations.
www.Give2thetroops.org
Andi Grant
President and Founder,
Give 2 The Troops, Inc.
196 West Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2554
Americantology TM
For Love of Country
1stSgt Grainger
Charlie Company,
1st Bn 25th Marines
UNIT 72190
FPO AE 09509-2190
posted by 1stSgt Grainger at 7:55 AM
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