I miss my baby!
COMMANDING GENERAL
1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN), FMF
CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA 92055-5380
20 May 2005
To the Families and Friends of the 1st Marine Division,
As summer approaches, another school year wanes and our 1st Marine Division family continues to meet the challenges of a very busy time. While many of our Marines and Sailors remain forward deployed, much of the Division has an opportunity to take a short breather from the deployments of the last two years. With the preponderance of the Division back, I want to take this moment to wholeheartedly thank you all for your unconditional support to our Marines and Sailors during this last deployment in answer to the call of our magnificent nation.
The 1st Marine Division experienced a decisive achievement in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, setting the conditions for the 2d Marine Division so that they may continue to strive toward certain victories over the insurgency. The people of Iraq have dealt with an incomprehensible ordeal yet have proven their resilience by continuing to support the Coalition Forces and moving towards a democratic nation. The Division's performance, including the warriors of 11th MEU and the returning 15th MEU have been an integral part of the history of our Corps and our accomplishments will be remembered for generations to come.
However, our trials have not been without expense. I ask each of you to take a moment from your busy schedules and offer your prayers to the families, friends and colleagues of those who are no longer with us. They now reside in a greater place and provide us an example by their, honor, courage, and commitment. I offer a reminder that the Division will honor our fallen warriors with a Memorial Service, on the parade deck in front of the Division Headquarters, on the 26th of May. Everyone is cordially invited to pay homage.
Presently, we are in the process of reconstituting and regenerating the Division. Since returning, I have already begun my travels around Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms and found that our Marines and Sailors are aggressively pursuing their training regimens while spending as much quality time with family and friends as they can. Everyone knows that 2006 will once again bring about more separation and I am sensitized to intelligently apportioning the time necessary for improving the training, capabilities, and survivability of our young men and women. Simultaneously, I want to ensure that loved ones spend as much quality time together as possible. Again, we must not forget that although the Division is not now deployed, we continue to send units to support the 2d Marine Division, as they supported us last year and on deployment with the various MEUs.
I'm always concerned about the protection of our Marines and Sailors, both home and abroad. Safety is a critical aspect in our training, operations, and day-to-day activities.
Recently, I have been exposed to some startling statistics. I'm talking about the use of seatbelts. An individual has a 75% chance of surviving an auto accident with the use of seatbelts. I implore everyone to take those precious few seconds to buckle up. As unit schedules permit, take the opportunity to relax and enjoy leave and liberty with friends and family but please take the steps to do it safely. Watch out for excessive speed, be wary of fatigue while you're driving, and reinvigorate your road awareness. As equally important, be sensitive to the signs of stress and other indicators that have a tendency to jeopardize our safety. Protecting our greatest asset, the men and women of the Division and their families should be everyone's number one priority!
In conclusion, we are all still very much in this fight. I pledge my continued devotion to this family we call 1st Marine Division. In return, I ask for your continued faith and courage, as well as your support to our Marines and Sailors. The families of our men and women have proven to be a valued asset to the 1st Marine Division. Thank you and may God bless you all.
Semper Fidelis,
R. F. NATONSKI
Major General, U.S. Marines
Commanding General
1ST MARINE DIVISION (REIN), FMF
CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA 92055-5380
20 May 2005
To the Families and Friends of the 1st Marine Division,
As summer approaches, another school year wanes and our 1st Marine Division family continues to meet the challenges of a very busy time. While many of our Marines and Sailors remain forward deployed, much of the Division has an opportunity to take a short breather from the deployments of the last two years. With the preponderance of the Division back, I want to take this moment to wholeheartedly thank you all for your unconditional support to our Marines and Sailors during this last deployment in answer to the call of our magnificent nation.
The 1st Marine Division experienced a decisive achievement in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, setting the conditions for the 2d Marine Division so that they may continue to strive toward certain victories over the insurgency. The people of Iraq have dealt with an incomprehensible ordeal yet have proven their resilience by continuing to support the Coalition Forces and moving towards a democratic nation. The Division's performance, including the warriors of 11th MEU and the returning 15th MEU have been an integral part of the history of our Corps and our accomplishments will be remembered for generations to come.
However, our trials have not been without expense. I ask each of you to take a moment from your busy schedules and offer your prayers to the families, friends and colleagues of those who are no longer with us. They now reside in a greater place and provide us an example by their, honor, courage, and commitment. I offer a reminder that the Division will honor our fallen warriors with a Memorial Service, on the parade deck in front of the Division Headquarters, on the 26th of May. Everyone is cordially invited to pay homage.
Presently, we are in the process of reconstituting and regenerating the Division. Since returning, I have already begun my travels around Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms and found that our Marines and Sailors are aggressively pursuing their training regimens while spending as much quality time with family and friends as they can. Everyone knows that 2006 will once again bring about more separation and I am sensitized to intelligently apportioning the time necessary for improving the training, capabilities, and survivability of our young men and women. Simultaneously, I want to ensure that loved ones spend as much quality time together as possible. Again, we must not forget that although the Division is not now deployed, we continue to send units to support the 2d Marine Division, as they supported us last year and on deployment with the various MEUs.
I'm always concerned about the protection of our Marines and Sailors, both home and abroad. Safety is a critical aspect in our training, operations, and day-to-day activities.
Recently, I have been exposed to some startling statistics. I'm talking about the use of seatbelts. An individual has a 75% chance of surviving an auto accident with the use of seatbelts. I implore everyone to take those precious few seconds to buckle up. As unit schedules permit, take the opportunity to relax and enjoy leave and liberty with friends and family but please take the steps to do it safely. Watch out for excessive speed, be wary of fatigue while you're driving, and reinvigorate your road awareness. As equally important, be sensitive to the signs of stress and other indicators that have a tendency to jeopardize our safety. Protecting our greatest asset, the men and women of the Division and their families should be everyone's number one priority!
In conclusion, we are all still very much in this fight. I pledge my continued devotion to this family we call 1st Marine Division. In return, I ask for your continued faith and courage, as well as your support to our Marines and Sailors. The families of our men and women have proven to be a valued asset to the 1st Marine Division. Thank you and may God bless you all.
Semper Fidelis,
R. F. NATONSKI
Major General, U.S. Marines
Commanding General