Marines Pay Tribute to Fallen Heroes at Arlington
MGySgt Phil Mehringer at grave of Col. Ortiz Peter J. Ortiz, Arlington National Cemetary.
Story and photo by Don Knight, Awards Chairman
The seemingly endless rows of headstones shelter the remains of more than 320,000 veterans from every war and major conflict in United States history. They cover 624 rolling acres at Arlington National Cemetery, overlooking the nation’s capital.
Each granite stone and tomb has its own story, often involving tales of great valor and heroism. The stories comprise no small part of our nation’s history.
And so it would seem appropriate that 40 Marines from headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps and new students from the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade in nearby Maryland would journey to Arlington on a warm, cloudless day in October. Their mission: to pay tribute to three fallen Marines, one from World War II and two from the war in Iraq.
The cemetery tour was the “brainchild” of Col. Bryan Salas, director of public affairs for the USMC. One of the fallen, Major Megan McClung, a 34-year-old combat correspondent, was part of Salas’ 1st MEF command in Iraq on Dec. 6, 2006 when her vehicle was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device.
Her gravestone at Arlington bears her personal maxim: “Be Bold, Be Brief, Be Gone.” That, said 1stLt. Craig Thomas at the grave, says much of how McClung, a 5-foot-4-inch redhead with a “giant personality” operated, and in time “gave Marine public affairs a great name.” She was, he noted, the first female graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy to be killed in action.
And so it went as the Marines – some new, some old — moved to a shaded area near Section 59 to hear LtCol. Matt McGlothlin, deputy director of public affairs, talk about the career of Cpl. William L. Salazar, 26, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq ’s Anbar Province in 2004. He was the first combat cameraman killed in action since the Vietnam war in 1967.
Salazar, born in California and a resident of Las Vegas , was remembered at his funeral by hundreds of family members, friends and Marines who said he fulfilled his “ultimate dream of becoming a Marine.” McGlothlin read excerpts from a long letter written by GySgt. Larry Long, the patrol leader, in which he described the attack by a car loaded with 200 pounds of explosives as it slammed into Salazar’s Hummer, blowing it to pieces.
Salazar carried both a rifle and a video camera equipped with night vision lenses on his many patrols. “He loved the Marine Corps and loved what he did” said a comrade. Salazar is not among those buried at Arlington, but no matter, his story was certainly worth the telling.
MGySgt Phil Mehringer led the group to the grave of Marine Colonel Peter J. Ortiz, a Leatherneck legend who served both the Corps and the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Mehringer noted that Ortiz, who joined the Marines in 1942, received two Navy Crosses, the Legion of Merit, the Order of the British Empire and five Croix de Guerre.
Among Ortiz’ many feats, said Mehringer, was parachuting into France in 1944, wearing his Marine uniform, to help organize a unit of the French underground. Ortiz died of cancer at age 75 in 1988 and was buried with full military honors in Section 59.
At one point the Marine visitors to Arlington paused and stood at attention as a rifle salute and taps were sounded for a nearby ceremony. At another, a horse drawn caisson carried a flag-draped coffin to a small hill in the distance where an Army unit stood waiting. On some days as many as 30 burials take place on this hallowed ground.
Would there be future visits of other Marines to other sites at this place? “You bet,” said MGySgt Mehringer. A future tour will likely include a visit to Sector 54 and the grave of MSgt. Samuel Stavisky, a former CC and one of the original Denig Demons of World War II. He died one year ago at age 93.
There are many more good stories to tell, assuring that these fallen warriors will not be forgotten.