Marine Corps Marathon 2010
Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local news. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Marine LtCol Thomas Jasper - United States Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Veterans Day 2008
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081110-M-3580L-010.jpg
10 November 2008
Cpl. Jeremy Andrews, left, and Maj. Tom Jasper, both with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand next to a retired Marine as Andrews cuts a piece of cake during a small Marine Corps Birthday ceremony held Nov. 10, 2008, at P.J. Clarkes in New York. The Marines had just attended a concert by the Quantico Marine Corps Band in Battery Park. The Marines were in New York to support Veterans Day and the reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum after a two-year renovation project. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis.)
10 November 2008
Cpl. Jeremy Andrews, left, and Maj. Tom Jasper, both with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand next to a retired Marine as Andrews cuts a piece of cake during a small Marine Corps Birthday ceremony held Nov. 10, 2008, at P.J. Clarkes in New York. The Marines had just attended a concert by the Quantico Marine Corps Band in Battery Park. The Marines were in New York to support Veterans Day and the reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum after a two-year renovation project. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis.)
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Marine LtCol Thomas Jasper - Service members and civilians get down and dirty at 12th Annual CSSG-3 Swamp Romp Marine Corps Base Hawaii News Article Display
Service members and civilians get down and dirty at 12th Annual CSSG-3 Swamp Romp Marine Corps Base Hawaii News Article Display
By Lance Cpl. Ryan Trevino | Marine Corps Base Hawaii | March 31, 2006
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY --The 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment's "Steel Rain" led the pack of military teams that raced in the 12th Annual Combat Service Support Group 3 Swamp Romp held here Saturday. Their winning time was 36:54. The Headquarters Battalion's "Mud Warriors" finished second with a time of 37:28 and Camp Smith's "Soc it to Me" took third, finishing the course in 39:44. The overall category race winner went to a civilian team with a time of 36:52. The overall women's category winner was another civilian team, and the "Swamp Pikas" from 3rd Radio Battalion took top honors in the mixed category, which consisted of both male and female team members.
More than 2,000 people looked on as the mud-soaked competitors fought their way through the 4.5-mile course that was riddled with obstacles, deep mud pits, and murky pond water. Parts of the race were also run on the beach here, according the Stacy Barkdull, varsity sports and race coordinator, Marine Corps Community Services, here.
"There was even simulated machine-gun fire and fake mortars going off in the pond area, blowing up mud all over everyone," said Barkdull.
More than 261 teams, consisting of six members each, from on base and around Hawaii entered to race in the event, which was coordinated and hosted by CSSG-3 and MCCS and sponsored by several businesses from the around Hawaii and abroad, said Barkdull. CSSG-3 provided more than 250 Marines from their unit to volunteer at the event.
"This was the biggest Swamp Romp in twelve years," she said. "We had an awesome turnout. There were so many people involved - it was great."
Barkdull said the reason this was such a huge event was because of the uniqueness of this race as compared to other races in Hawaii.
"It's the only race of its kind done on the island," she said. "You can always find a 10K somewhere, but we are the only ones who have a race like this."
The difficulty of the course caught a few participants by surprise this year.
"The race was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be," said David Prislin of the "Mud Warriors" team. "But, the ocean part came at exactly the right time and cooled us down halfway through the race though."
"It was equivalent to running three PFTs consecutively," said Tom Jasper, also a member of the "Mud Warriors." "You're knee-deep in water and mud, 75 percent of the course."
Jasper said the grueling course drains every ounce of energy out of you. He admitted that he would have rather run the Oahu Perimeter Race than run the Swamp Romp.
James Connelly, team captain of the "Mud Warriors" said the course this year was more difficult than last year's course.
"I think it was due to all the rain," said Connelly. "There was thicker mud, and we were slipping a lot and sinking."
The "Mud Warriors," who came in second place in the military category and third place overall, said they were pretty satisfied with how they performed March 25.
"We pulled together a strong team this year," said Connelly.
His teammate Prislin added, "We came out here to do well, and I think we did that."
Members of other teams who finished the race shared their thoughts on this year's course.
Adrian Madsen, a member of a Camp Smith team, said he thought the course was great, but it was a smoker.
"You have to dig deep to finish," said Madsen.
Each team crossed the finish line equipped with nothing but their hearts and huge smiles on their faces. They had run the gauntlet and lived to tell about it. Not satisfied with the amount of mud they had already endured, the six-member teams then proceeded to run past the finish line and jump head first into a huge mud pit just to pose for team pictures.
Trophies were presented to the members of the overall winning team, and plaques and medals were awarded to the top finishers in each category during an awards ceremony after the race. Even as the awards ceremony was underway, participants sprayed each other with water hoses, revealing the true spirit of the Swamp Romp - fun.
By Lance Cpl. Ryan Trevino | Marine Corps Base Hawaii | March 31, 2006
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY --The 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment's "Steel Rain" led the pack of military teams that raced in the 12th Annual Combat Service Support Group 3 Swamp Romp held here Saturday. Their winning time was 36:54. The Headquarters Battalion's "Mud Warriors" finished second with a time of 37:28 and Camp Smith's "Soc it to Me" took third, finishing the course in 39:44. The overall category race winner went to a civilian team with a time of 36:52. The overall women's category winner was another civilian team, and the "Swamp Pikas" from 3rd Radio Battalion took top honors in the mixed category, which consisted of both male and female team members.
More than 2,000 people looked on as the mud-soaked competitors fought their way through the 4.5-mile course that was riddled with obstacles, deep mud pits, and murky pond water. Parts of the race were also run on the beach here, according the Stacy Barkdull, varsity sports and race coordinator, Marine Corps Community Services, here.
"There was even simulated machine-gun fire and fake mortars going off in the pond area, blowing up mud all over everyone," said Barkdull.
More than 261 teams, consisting of six members each, from on base and around Hawaii entered to race in the event, which was coordinated and hosted by CSSG-3 and MCCS and sponsored by several businesses from the around Hawaii and abroad, said Barkdull. CSSG-3 provided more than 250 Marines from their unit to volunteer at the event.
"This was the biggest Swamp Romp in twelve years," she said. "We had an awesome turnout. There were so many people involved - it was great."
Barkdull said the reason this was such a huge event was because of the uniqueness of this race as compared to other races in Hawaii.
"It's the only race of its kind done on the island," she said. "You can always find a 10K somewhere, but we are the only ones who have a race like this."
The difficulty of the course caught a few participants by surprise this year.
"The race was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be," said David Prislin of the "Mud Warriors" team. "But, the ocean part came at exactly the right time and cooled us down halfway through the race though."
"It was equivalent to running three PFTs consecutively," said Tom Jasper, also a member of the "Mud Warriors." "You're knee-deep in water and mud, 75 percent of the course."
Jasper said the grueling course drains every ounce of energy out of you. He admitted that he would have rather run the Oahu Perimeter Race than run the Swamp Romp.
James Connelly, team captain of the "Mud Warriors" said the course this year was more difficult than last year's course.
"I think it was due to all the rain," said Connelly. "There was thicker mud, and we were slipping a lot and sinking."
The "Mud Warriors," who came in second place in the military category and third place overall, said they were pretty satisfied with how they performed March 25.
"We pulled together a strong team this year," said Connelly.
His teammate Prislin added, "We came out here to do well, and I think we did that."
Members of other teams who finished the race shared their thoughts on this year's course.
Adrian Madsen, a member of a Camp Smith team, said he thought the course was great, but it was a smoker.
"You have to dig deep to finish," said Madsen.
Each team crossed the finish line equipped with nothing but their hearts and huge smiles on their faces. They had run the gauntlet and lived to tell about it. Not satisfied with the amount of mud they had already endured, the six-member teams then proceeded to run past the finish line and jump head first into a huge mud pit just to pose for team pictures.
Trophies were presented to the members of the overall winning team, and plaques and medals were awarded to the top finishers in each category during an awards ceremony after the race. Even as the awards ceremony was underway, participants sprayed each other with water hoses, revealing the true spirit of the Swamp Romp - fun.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Marine LtCol Thomas Jasper - MCBUL 1040. FISCAL YEAR 2001 OFFICER RETENTION BOARD (ORB) RESULTS
MCBUL 1040. FISCAL YEAR 2001 OFFICER RETENTION BOARD (ORB) RESULTS
Thomas F. Jasper, Jr.
http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/MessagesDisplay/tabid/13286/Article/114717/mcbul-1040-fiscal-year-2001-officer-retention-board-orb-results.aspx
Thomas F. Jasper, Jr.
http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/MessagesDisplay/tabid/13286/Article/114717/mcbul-1040-fiscal-year-2001-officer-retention-board-orb-results.aspx
Marine LtCol Thomas Jasper - ACADEMIC YEAR 2007 (AY07) INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCHOOL (ILS) SELECTION BOARD RESULTS
ACADEMIC YEAR 2007 (AY07) INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCHOOL (ILS) SELECTION BOARD RESULTS
Friday, July 4, 2014
Lt Col Thomas Jasper - This Day In Marine Corps History - July 4, 1801
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
15 June - This Day In Marine Corps History
15 June 1944: Preceded by naval gunfire and carrier air strikes, the V Amphibious Corps assaulted the west coast of Saipan, Marianas Islands. By nightfall, the 2d and 4th Marine Divisions, moving against heavy opposition, had established a beachhead 10,000 yards wide and 1,500 yards deep.
This Day in Marine Corps History
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Federal Bar Association Selects Marine Corps Captain Thomas Jasper as Recipient for Younger Federal Lawyers Award
September 2003
The Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association selected
Captain Thomas Jasper of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) as a recipient
of the 2003 Younger Federal Lawyers Award. The award program is designed to recognize
outstanding young federal attorneys selected from among those nominated by
agency heads, general counsels, and fellow attorneys throughout the country and
overseas.
Captain Jasper was presented the award during the Younger
Federal Lawyers Award Luncheon held September 19, 2003, at the Crystal Gateway
Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Thomas Jasper - Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony 2008
Marines.mil - Photos
Nov 10, 2008
Cpl. Jeremy Andrews, left, and Maj. Tom Jasper, both
with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand next to a retired Marine as
Andrews cuts a piece of cake during a small Marine Corps Birthday ceremony held
Nov. 10, 2008, at P.J. Clarkes in New York. The Marines had just attended a
concert by the Quantico Marine Corps Band in Battery Park. The Marines were in
New York to support Veterans Day and the reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and
Space Museum after a two-year renovation project. Official U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis.)
with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, stand next to a retired Marine as
Andrews cuts a piece of cake during a small Marine Corps Birthday ceremony held
Nov. 10, 2008, at P.J. Clarkes in New York. The Marines had just attended a
concert by the Quantico Marine Corps Band in Battery Park. The Marines were in
New York to support Veterans Day and the reopening of the Intrepid Sea, Air and
Space Museum after a two-year renovation project. Official U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Lance Cpl. Brian Lewis.)
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Thomas Jasper - All Charges Are Dropped in Case of Friendly Fire
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970204062704577221463254929598
By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
February 14, 2012
The military has dropped criminal charges against a U.S. tank commander whose crew mistakenly shot and killed a fellow Marine during a firefight in Afghanistan last year.
Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the senior U.S. commander in southwestern Afghanistan, decided not to proceed with a court martial for Sgt. Jason R. Byrd, who had been charged with negligent homicide and other offenses stemming from the friendly-fire death of Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt on Oct. 6.
The Marines dismissed the charges against Sgt. Byrd "without prejudice," meaning they could be reinstated if new evidence surfaces. The notification letter, received Saturday by the defense team, didn't give a reason for dropping the criminal charges, which are very unusual in friendly fire cases. It's unlikely the case would be resurrected.
During an operation aimed at clearing Taliban fighters from a series of villages in Musa Qala District, Sgt. Byrd's tank and Lance Cpl. Schmidt's sniper team were positioned along a ridge to provide covering fire for the infantrymen below. The snipers had been taking sporadic shots at insurgents when Sgt. Byrd's tank, positioned about 700 yards to the north, sprayed the team with machine-gun fire.
Lance Cpl. Schmidt, a 24-year-old from San Antonio, died instantly from a shot to the head.
"My tank's mission on the battlefield was to protect fellow Marines, and that's exactly what I thought I was doing," Sgt. Byrd wrote Monday in a statement provided through his attorney. "I am going to live with this tragedy for the rest of my life."
Sgt. Byrd's attorney, Lt. Col. Tom Jasper, said the sergeant thought he and his three crewmen were the southernmost U.S. force on the ridge. Sgt. Byrd's men mistook the snipers for enemy fighters. Although he didn't verify the validity of the target himself, the sergeant authorized his men to fire, his lawyer said.
"You've got to trust your crew, and seconds matter," Lt. Col. Jasper said. "It was truly a fog-of-war situation that day."
A Marine investigation conducted late last year criticized the crew's lack of "situational awareness" and "faulty" procedures.
The fallout from Lance Cpl. Schmidt's death, including the effort to reconcile tankers and snipers at the small outpost they shared, was the subject of a front-page article in The Wall Street Journal published on Nov. 19-20.
The military held an investigative hearing in Afghanistan and last month charged Sgt. Byrd, 25, from Burnsville, N.C., with involuntary manslaughter and dereliction of duty, as well as negligent homicide. Under military procedures, it was then up to Gen. Toolan to decide whether to pursue a criminal trial.
"I would like to express how horribly bad I feel about this tragedy happening," Sgt. Byrd said. "My thoughts will always be with Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt's family, friends, and the fellow Marines that served with and loved" him.
Lance Cpl. Schmidt's father, Dr. David Schmidt, the team doctor for the San Antonio Spurs professional basketball team, said he considered his son's death an accident of war and expressed relief that Sgt. Byrd would not face trial. "Our feeling is he has his own prison to live in," Dr. Schmidt said.
By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
February 14, 2012
The military has dropped criminal charges against a U.S. tank commander whose crew mistakenly shot and killed a fellow Marine during a firefight in Afghanistan last year.
Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the senior U.S. commander in southwestern Afghanistan, decided not to proceed with a court martial for Sgt. Jason R. Byrd, who had been charged with negligent homicide and other offenses stemming from the friendly-fire death of Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt on Oct. 6.
The Marines dismissed the charges against Sgt. Byrd "without prejudice," meaning they could be reinstated if new evidence surfaces. The notification letter, received Saturday by the defense team, didn't give a reason for dropping the criminal charges, which are very unusual in friendly fire cases. It's unlikely the case would be resurrected.
During an operation aimed at clearing Taliban fighters from a series of villages in Musa Qala District, Sgt. Byrd's tank and Lance Cpl. Schmidt's sniper team were positioned along a ridge to provide covering fire for the infantrymen below. The snipers had been taking sporadic shots at insurgents when Sgt. Byrd's tank, positioned about 700 yards to the north, sprayed the team with machine-gun fire.
Lance Cpl. Schmidt, a 24-year-old from San Antonio, died instantly from a shot to the head.
"My tank's mission on the battlefield was to protect fellow Marines, and that's exactly what I thought I was doing," Sgt. Byrd wrote Monday in a statement provided through his attorney. "I am going to live with this tragedy for the rest of my life."
Sgt. Byrd's attorney, Lt. Col. Tom Jasper, said the sergeant thought he and his three crewmen were the southernmost U.S. force on the ridge. Sgt. Byrd's men mistook the snipers for enemy fighters. Although he didn't verify the validity of the target himself, the sergeant authorized his men to fire, his lawyer said.
"You've got to trust your crew, and seconds matter," Lt. Col. Jasper said. "It was truly a fog-of-war situation that day."
A Marine investigation conducted late last year criticized the crew's lack of "situational awareness" and "faulty" procedures.
The fallout from Lance Cpl. Schmidt's death, including the effort to reconcile tankers and snipers at the small outpost they shared, was the subject of a front-page article in The Wall Street Journal published on Nov. 19-20.
The military held an investigative hearing in Afghanistan and last month charged Sgt. Byrd, 25, from Burnsville, N.C., with involuntary manslaughter and dereliction of duty, as well as negligent homicide. Under military procedures, it was then up to Gen. Toolan to decide whether to pursue a criminal trial.
"I would like to express how horribly bad I feel about this tragedy happening," Sgt. Byrd said. "My thoughts will always be with Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt's family, friends, and the fellow Marines that served with and loved" him.
Lance Cpl. Schmidt's father, Dr. David Schmidt, the team doctor for the San Antonio Spurs professional basketball team, said he considered his son's death an accident of war and expressed relief that Sgt. Byrd would not face trial. "Our feeling is he has his own prison to live in," Dr. Schmidt said.
Thomas Jasper - Okinawa dental technician sentenced to 60 years for murder of fellow sailor - News - Stripes
Okinawa dental technician sentenced to 60 years for murder of fellow sailor - News - Stripes
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 24, 2005
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Seaman Robert L. Person Jr., 19, stood limply in a courtroom Wednesday as a military judge sentenced him to the rest of his life in prison without parole for the murder of a fellow sailor.
Minutes later, he showed little sign of relief as the same judge read the details of a pretrial agreement that reduced the sentence to 60 years. He also was given a dishonorable discharge.
Person, a sailor assigned to the Camp Hansen Dental Clinic, had pleaded guilty in order to escape the possibility of being sentenced to death for the premeditated murder of Seaman Adam J. Palecco, 21.
He also waived his right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to not seek clemency for a period of 20 years.
Person, of Turrell, Ark., was the first of three Navy dental technicians to be court-martialed for the brutal slaying of Palecco on Camp Hansen the night of Feb. 2. According to testimony, Person, Seaman Audley G. Evans II and Seaman Tiffany Marie Brooks killed Palecco to prevent him from giving military officials information concerning their part in a shoplifting ring that preyed on base exchanges on Okinawa.
Brooks is scheduled to be court-martialed Sunday on Camp Foster. She also waived her right to a preliminary hearing and is expected to plead guilty. No court date has been set for Evans or a fourth defendant, Marine Lance Cpl. Jesika Jenkins, who also is charged with murder because she allegedly knew of the plot to kill Palecco and provided Evans with a false alibi.
Person pleaded guilty to charges of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, impeding an investigation by killing a witness and larceny.
According to trial testimony, which included videos of the defendants re-enacting the crime, Person lured Palecco, of Hackettstown, N.J., to a path behind the dental clinic at 8:15 p.m., where they met Evans and Brooks. Person told investigators that Evans grabbed Palecco from behind and slit his throat.
The three told investigators they each took part in stabbing Palecco. Person and Evans then dragged his body into a drainage tunnel, according to testimony.
At a preliminary hearing for Jenkins, an investigator testified that Palecco’s body was discovered two days later by a Marine who was taking a shortcut home from the movies on a moonless night and decided to run through the tunnel to scare herself.
Throughout Person’s two-day trial, his parents sat on a bench behind him, watching him calmly re-enact the crime in a video that showed how he stabbed Palecco in the chest and kidneys and then squatted next to his head to watch the life drain from his body.
“Robert was a quiet person,” his father, a mechanic and minister said. “I just feel like he got caught up with the wrong crowd.”
He looked at Palecco’s father, who adopted the Korean orphan when he was 8 years old, and other family members sitting in the front row.
“This is hurtful, really painful,” he said. “My heart goes out to the whole family. My prayers go out to the family, too.”
In an unsworn statement, Person stood and tearfully apologized to the Paleccos.
“I know what I did was wrong and you probably hate me,” he sobbed. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me … I’d give my life to change it.”
Marine Capt. Tom Jasper, Person’s lawyer, argued that his client was a “very timid, nerdy kid” influenced by more aggressive personalities.
“He’s not the mastermind,” he said. “Don’t throw away this 19-year-old kid for the events that happened over two days. Give him some incentive someday to earn the ability to someday go out and make something of his life.”
He said Person would be haunted by his actions for the rest of his life. A defense psychiatrist testified that Person has become psychotic and has had hallucinations of Palecco talking to him and damning him to hell.
Marine Capt. Keith Parrella, chief prosecutor in the case, said Person was not just a follower.
“He came up with the idea of how to get Palecco to the scene of the crime, how to lure him from his room,” Parrella said. “He walked the victim to his death.”
He said Person taunted Palecco as he lay dying, telling him: “This is what you get for being a snitch.”
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