6A / NAVARRE PRESS
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015
THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015
NAVARRE PRESS / 7A
Team members’ records show exemplary service Staff Sgt.
Marcus
Staff Sgt.
Florich
Kemp
Kerry
Thomas
Bawol Staff Sgt. Marcus S. Bawol of Warren, Mich., "loved everything about the military," said his sister, Brandy Peek. "He couldn't wait to join. He wanted to fight for our country and was always striving to be the best Marine he could be," Peek said. The 26-year-old graduated in 2006 from Warren Mott High School. Bawol played baseball and football and was a member of the school's swim team, according to district Superintendent Robert Livernois. Bawol attended Olivet College for a year,
Staff Sgt.
where he was a catcher on the baseball team. Bawol served within U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command as a critical skills operator. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action and Good Conduct Medal. He had planned to marry his fiancée in October, Peek said. On Thursday, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts ordered flags in the city, just north of Detroit, flown at half-staff.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich was a native of Fairfax County, Virginia, and joined the Louisiana National Guard in 2007 as a Black Hawk repairer. He served during the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and during Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Florich, 26, was remembered as an energetic and dedicated crew member. "He was family with the unit members," said Marquez, a platoon sergeant. "Tom was full of life and his personality could light the room." He was living in Baton Rouge at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, father and stepmother. His wife is expecting their first baby. Florich’s awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon and Louisiana Longevity Ribbon. He had also earned the Basic Aviation Badge.
Bergeron
Shaw III
Capt. Stanford Henry Shaw, III, 31, a native of Basking Ridge, N.J., served within U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operational Command as a team commander. Shaw attended Ridge High School, where he was student government president and captain of the varsity lacrosse team. Neighbors along a quiet cul-de-sac about 40 miles west of New York City said the hard-working teen they knew as Ford had always dreamed of going into the military. "Just a fantastic guy," said next-door neighbor Gretchen Priore, who said she'd known Shaw since he was in high school. He attended the United States Naval Academy and became a commissioned Marine officer upon graduation in 2006. He graduated from the Infantry Officer Course and was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. He served two tours of duty in Iraq, in 2007 and 2009, according to information provided by the Marines at Camp Lejeune. His career took him to Japan, where he became the deputy camp commander of a jungle warfare training center on Okinawa in 2011. He graduated from the Malaysian army's jungle warfare course and then joined the Marine Special Forces. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment ribbon (with two stars).
Thomas
Liam A.
Lance
Operational Command as a critical skills operator. Born in Memphis, Kemp met his wife, Jenna, at Port Washington High School, where he was voted "best smile" by his senior class. He graduated in 2005. He started as an artillery mechanic, and his military merit led to three quick promotions. He completed training in special operations in 2012 and spent seven months in Afghanistan before returning in June. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor, Combat Action Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.
Stanford Henry
Master Sgt.
Staff Sgt.
Staff Sgt.
Staff Sgt. Kerry Michael Kemp, 27, was the proud father of a baby just shy of her first birthday and loved horsing around with his nephews. "He would wrestle with them. He really got into that, the wrestling and playing. He'd carry them around on his back," said his sister-in-law, Lora Waraksa. He was a "proud Marine, a loving husband and most wonderful father," she said. He also loved golfing and the ocean — he often took his nephews out to hunt for sea shells. Kemp, a native of Port Washington, Wisc., served within U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special
Captain
Saunders
Flynn
Chief Warrant Officer 4
George David
Strother
Staff Sgt. Lance Bergeron, 40, was a highly respected crew chief who was called one of the Guard's most qualified experts on Black Hawk helicopters. He enlisted in 1998 with the U.S. Marine Corps and joined the Louisiana National Guard as a Black Hawk repairer. He was also a valued instructor. "He was a subject matter expert in his job who exhibited an excitement of learning new skills," said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Marquez, a platoon sergeant with Bergeron's unit. He had 377 combat hours to his name and served in Iraq twice. He also was deployed during Hurricane Katrina and other major hurricanes to hit Louisiana. A native of Thibodaux in south Louisiana, Bergeron was remembered as a
loving father and husband. He is survived by his wife, two children and his parents. He was living in Hammond at the time of his death. Bergeron’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2nd Award). He had also earned the Combat Action Badge and Senior Aviation Badge.
Born in Reading, England, Staff Sgt. Liam Flynn, 33, moved to Queens, N.Y., in 2002. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006. After boot camp, he was assigned to Camp Lejeune. He served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan before joining the Marine Corps'
Special Operations Force in 2011 and returning to Afghanistan in 2012. Flynn's heroism was honored by receiving three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals with Valor and the Bronze Star with Valor and Combat Action Ribbon.
Born in Bonn, Germany, Master Sgt. Thomas A. Saunders, 33, enlisted in the Marines after graduating from high school in Virginia. Following basic training in 1999, he was assigned to Camp Lejeune. He served within U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operational Command as a team chief. Saunders deployed to Kosovo and served with special operations teams in Iraq and Afghanistan years before joining a Marine Corps special operations unit in 2010. He spent eight months as a liaison to Army Special
Operations Command before joining his Middle East-focused regiment four years ago. He was married to a fellow Marine based at Camp Lejeune, and the couple has one son, according to an award by the Marine Corps Association & Foundation naming Saunders its Special Forces Operator of 2014. His personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Navy Marine Commendation Medal, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge and five Good Conduct Medals.
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Chief Warrant Officer George David Strother, described by his officers as a "force of nature," was a seasoned combat pilot. He had more than 700 combat hours under his belt. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. He also was deployed during Hurricane Katrina and other major hurricanes to hit Louisiana. Strother, 44, is survived by his wife, son, step-daughter and mother. He was a native of Pineville, La. "To describe Dave Strother as a big personality would not be accurate," said Maj. Andre Jeansonne, an aviation commander with the Louisiana National Guard. "He was more like a force of
nature that could be best observed and marveled at, never opposed or altered." He was living Alexandria, La., at the time of his death. Strother’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal. He had earned the Combat Action Badge and Master Aviator Badge.
George Wayne
Griffin
Staff Sgt.
Andrew
Seif
Staff Sgt.
Trevor P.
Blaylock Staff Sgt. Trevor P. Blaylock, 29, was born in Lake Orion, Mich., and swam on the varsity swim team. He attended Henry Ford Community College for one year before joining the Marine Corps in 2006. Initially, he was a mechanic in an armored reconnaissance battalion at Camp Pendleton in California. He served two
tours in Iraq, in 2007 and 2008. He served within U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operational Command as an element member. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action ribbon.
With more than 6,000 flight hours, Chief Warrant Officer George Wayne Griffin was a respected and decorated veteran described by his commanders as one of the finest helicopter pilots they had. He was a full-time pilot attached to a Black Hawk unit based in Hammond. Previously he worked as an offshore oil industry helicopter pilot, said Col. Patrick Bossetta, an aviation commander. He once successfully landed a helicopter experiencing engine problems in the Gulf of Mexico, Bossetta said. He had more than 1,000 flight hours during combat, served in Iraq twice and was deployed during Hurricane Katrina as well as other major hurricanes to hit Louisiana. He also was involved in response efforts to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. "He had a tremendous passion for flying and a God-given natural ability to fly both helicopters
and airplanes and to teach others," said Chief Warrant Officer Reggie Lane, who served with Griffin. Griffin was 37 and is survived by his wife, four children and his father. He was a native of Delhi in central Louisiana. He was living in Hammond at the time of his death. Griffin’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2nd Award). He had earned the Combat Action Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge and Basic Aviation Badge.
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, known as MARSOC, is headquartered at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. According to Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Higgins, MARSOC Marines train in small teams, leading to close relationships within units. “It’s like growing up together,” Higgins said. “It’s like having a brother.” “MARSOC Marines are deployed quite often, if not, they’re training in the field,” he said. Higgins said the immediate families within a unit spend time together. “It’s a tight-knit unit,” he said. “They have functions together with their spouses and kids and immediate families.”
On March 6, just days before the helicopter crash, Staff Sgt. Andrew C. Seif was awarded the Silver Star Medal. Seif, 26, received the award for facing enemy fire to save a mortally wounded friend in Afghanistan in July 2012. He was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and lived in Albuquerque, N.M., until middle school when his family moved to Holland, Mich., the Marines said. Seif grew up playing soldier in his backyard and joined the Marines just weeks after graduating from high school, according to an article about his award published this week in the Camp Lejeune Globe, the base newspaper. By 2012, he had spent two years as a special forces operator with the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, which operates from the Middle East to Central Asia. Seif and his teammate, Sgt. Justin Hansen, were closing in
on one of western Afghanistan's bomb experts, according to the paper. They came under fire, and Hansen was hit. Seif moved Hansen to safer position and treated his teammate's wounds. Seif returned fire, advanced alone across the compound and found the targeted bomb-maker. "The fact that (Seif) continued to fight through the objective to get Sgt. Hansen taken care of, putting himself in the line of fire, speaks volumes to who he is and demonstrates that he would never leave a Marine behind," said Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman. Seif's wife, Dawn, was by his side when he received the medal. In addition to the Silver Star Medal, his personal awards include Combat Action ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Gold Parachutist Jump Wings, and the Good Conduct medal in lieu of second award.
Louisiana Army National Guard’s 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion Home Station: The unit’s home station is the Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 in Hammond, La. Number of Soldiers: The company is comprised of approximately 300 LANG soldiers. Number of Black Hawks: There are currently 15 Black Hawk helicopters assigned to the 1/244th. Number of air assets assigned to the LANG: 26 UH-60 Black Hawks, 8 LUH-72 Lakotas , 1 C-12 Huron The 1-244th stood up as a unit in 1987. The AASF#1 stood up in 2008 after the 1-244th’s facilities at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport received extensive damage after Hurricane Katrina. Federal Operations include: ■ Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-05; 2009-10 State emergency operations include: ■ 2005: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ■ 2010: Operation Deepwater Horizon oil spill ■ 2011: Operation River Guardian ■ 2012: Hurricane Isaac Operations
MARSOC’s core activities Direct Action Conduct short strikes and small-scale offensive actions to seize, destroy, capture, recover or inflict damage in hostile or denied areas.
Foreign Internal Defense Provide training and other assistance to foreign governments and their militaries to enable them to provide for their national security.
Special Reconnaissance Acquire information about the capabilities, intentions, and activities of an enemy.
Counterinsurgency In concert with allied governments, we conduct military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic action operations to defeat insurgency.
Preparation of the Environment Collect intelligence and prepare for future operations at the direction of USSOCOM. Security Force Assistance Support the security forces of allied foreign governments to achieve operational objectives the U.S. shares. Counterterrorism Prevent, deter and respond to terrorism.
Source: www.marsoc.com