Let me introduce

Easton Taylor.

Easton is one of my former students, and he is currently serving with the Marines in Fallujah during Operation Phantom Fury, He is part of 3/5 Kilo Company, operating in the Jolan Neighborhood, which runs north, and east of the eastern bank of the Euphrates, and down to Highway 10 (you really have to love the images and maps available on the internet). Here is an overall map, a clear satellite image, with an overlay, and a large, clear picture of the city.(This one takes a few seconds to load, but is worth it)

If you are wondering how I know this information, I am getting most of it from The Adventures of Chester, a blog being done by a former Marine. He linked this image, which shows the path that Easton's unit is taking through the city. (click on the image marked "Graphic: Invading Falluja From the North")


What is Easton experiencing? Here is an interesting site on urban fighting

If you are interested in the tactics and strategies of uban fighting, visit the Global Security site.

This may be the funniest thing I have heard in some time. Special thanks to Myopist on RedState.org for the link Marine Corp Answering Machine Message


Phase Two Has Begun
It is now reported that Phase Two is fully underway.

This paragraph,

"In what could be a sign of progress, the Marines began turning over the northern neighborhood of Jolan to Iraqi forces, signaling that they consider the area relatively secure. Jolan, a dense, historic district of tight alleyways, was considered one of the strongest insurgent positions"

...is especially interesting, as this is the area that Easton's unit was moving through. This likely means that Easton's unit has been retasked. I will give an update on what 3/5 Kilo is doing as soon as I can find it.

I just found another interesting link at Belmont Club (another blog) that gives a real clear picture of the initial assualt.

Just found these two articles from Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr. and Sgt. Luis R. Agostin ,who are serving in the same unit as Easton in Fallujah.


Special Thanks to Mr. Clair for posting the picture of Easton in his work clothes on the school webpage.

November 14.2004

Fox has a story detailing the end of major offensive actions in Fallujah. Easton, and his fellow Marines, from everything I can find, are still engaged, but not in active combat. Some reports indicate that they might be engaged in handing out humanitarian aid. Hopefully, we will get an email from Easton soon.

UPDATE

November 15, 2004 (5:55 a.m.)
I just received an email from Easton. He assures me that he is safe and okay!

He does ask us to pray for his fellow warriors that fell during the Operation.

If you have any messages you would like to send to Easton, just post them in the comments section, or contact me at Tiger3boy@yahoo.com, and I will pass your email address or message.

November 19, 2004

I recieved a new email from Easton on Wednesday, and after getting his permission to share, I want to post a little of it that is very poignant and insightful.

But first, a little background-
We have been blessed over the years to have Jim Gutierrez, a parent of 4 AVC alums, and a Vietnam Veteran visit and talk to our High School US History class about his experiences in Vietnam . Mr. Gutierrez, a Marine with 3/5 Kilo (yeah, we found it ironic too), served 13 months in Vietnam between 1967 and 1968. While there, he was embroiled in the battles of Con Thien and Khe Sahn (Hill 861). Jim is a hero to many of us, including Easton.

Easton said
"When Mr. Guiterrez would tell about Vietnam, I could only imagine what he went through and the emotions that encompass combat. Feeling them first hand is way different then I could imagine them. The passing of my friends has been hard. One that was really close to me, passed on the same day that his wife gave birth to his son. That pretty much hit me so hard, it made me wonder why him? Of all the people why him. I don't know why, but I feel guilty about his passing, and I know that is wasn't my fault. I can't explain it but, who can? I guess one has to experience this.

War is a horrible thing, but it has to be done. What we do will reflect upon the future of our Country. I know this, and will continue what has to be done. "

The media continues to state that Marines are losing heart, but Easton's comments refute that....He isn't pessimistic, just grounded in the harsh reality of war.

He asked a very difficult question...

"How many more lives will it take before things get better?"

....but he also provided answer.

"I dont know, but I think we have started in the right direction."

I had the chance to teach Easton, but nothing I could ever have done in a classroom, or on a ballfield could have ever prepared him for what he has experienced in the last week and a half......America's new heroes, Easton, and the Marines like him, are now teaching us.

The Marine that Easton referenced is Lance Cpl. Shane Kielion, referenced here in a fox news article.

A Different View of Fallujah

The slideshow on this site gives a different view of the complexities faced by Marines as they attempted to take Fallujah.

Thanksgiving day in Fallujah made the news.

Update

Easton talked to his family Sunday via phone, and is doing well. If you wish to drop Easton an Email, please drop me a line at tiger3boy@yahoo.com, and I will pass on his email address (unless you are the IRS...:-) )

December 3, 2004

New Update

Easton called today (12:30 a.m. Fallujah Time), and we talked for 5-10 minutes. He told me that it was pretty cold there (38 degrees, and windy.....sounds pretty familiar). He is now serving with H&S (Headquarters and Services), and has been doing mop up duty in Fallujah. He thanks all of you who have emailed him, and appreciates your prayers.

Easton sounded pretty upbeat. I talked with his Grandparents tonight, and he spoke we both of them today as well. A care package is in the mail from them. Currently it is taking about 10 days for packages to reach the land of "far, far, away."

December 15, 2004
Sorry about the lapse....

Easton has been heard from again, and sadly his unit took loses over the weekend. Our thoughts are with Easton and his fellow soldiers as they cope with this. There has been an account set up for the son of Lance Cpl. Shane Kielion. I am researching, and as soon as I find an appropriate link I will put it up.

This is an interesting view, which is just a little different. this reporter's view show a little different view of things in Iraq.

Just found this....very interesting, and pretty inspiring.

December 25, 2004

Christmas Day, and my thoughts are with Easton. I, like many look forward to the day that Easton and our Marines are back home. The reports of the past few weeks have been pretty scary, with a upsurge in violence. Hopefully that will change after the January elections.

A little perspective on the young men and women who are fighting in Iraq right now. The WWII generation has been called the "greatest generation," but something tells me that this group will compare quite well in the future.

Update-January 3, 2005

I was speaking to Easton's Grandmother this morning, and he has been moved into Fallujah proper. From what she says he has been under quite a bit of pressure, so please continue to pray for him and his fellow Marines.

Update-January 9, 2004

I recieved an email from Easton last Thursday. He is now serving with the Iraqi Intervention Force (IFF) inside Fallujah. They are clearing their area of rebel activity before letting the citizens back into the city. He is facing some tough challanges, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Update, January 13, 2005....10:28

I just heard that Easton will calling in a few minutes. Apparently he is sitting on his humvee waiting for his captain to finish a meeting. It still amazes me that he can call from the war zone with such ease. It is currently 11:30 PM in Fallujah, and it looks like Easton has night duty.

First try ended in a dropped call....Talked to him for about 5 minutes, and the call dropped again. He is currently working the area near the cloverleaf on the eastern side of the city. He is not working a routine schedule, but instead is going into the city whenever the need arises. He is pretty much living with the Iraqi security forces, helping to train them for eventually policing the city.

He sounded in pretty good spirits, and is looking forward to rotating home soon.

If you have been emailing Easton, be aware that he is only getting to check them about every 10 days, so please be patient with him.

January 31, 2005
Well now that finals week is over, I will try to stay a bit more current.

I have to admit that I am more than a little awed by those Iraqis that went to the polls yesterday. They and our men and women fighting in Iraq deserve a huge amount of credit for standing up in the face of the insurgents. The success yesterday occurred in large part because of the efforts of Marines. Whether providing humanitarian aid or insuring the safety of voters, the Marines, many much like Easton, have done the difficult work to make sure that this amazing election could go forward.

February 7, 2005

I have been waiting to post until I recieved an email from Easton. In my last note to him I asked him if he could provide a description of what he say on Election Day in Iraq. I was hoping to see if the media had gotten close to what really happened. His reply was:

"Yes it looks like they did get it right. The Iraqi Elections went off without a hitch in the city of Fallujah. It was pretty quiet throughout the whole process. I don't know how the rest of the Sunni Triangle went down but, it was good in the city. I have heard of reports that 70% of the Sunni Triangle votes were from the city of Fallujah. This could happen because the whole city was on lock down. The true test of time for the city is this, to keep the terrorists out."

...he went on, and included an update to what he is currently doing in Fallujah...

"If the city can do this then the triangle will be successful. However if they don't then we will level the city completely if we have to go in again further down the road. Hopefully we put a dent in the Triangle of Terrorism. All is well. They pulled my LNO team out of the city. So now I am working at the MEK training these ISF guys again. I should end my deployment training them.

I do ask that you keep him in your prayers. Easton is pure Marine, but this has been a difficult deployment.