Photos and Story from Marine Corps News


U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher A. Hook, a rifleman and team leader with the 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, gives a young Iraqi boy candy during a search mission, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



Two new Iraqi Army soldiers walk down a staircase in a home during a mission with U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. Fifteen new Iraqi Army soldiers accompanied Marines with the 3rd Platoon and together conducted a cordon and search mission of a neighborhood. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan


A new Iraqi Army soldier sits in the back of a 7-ton truck with U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, as they travel to their destination in the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005, for a mission. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Troy C. Arnold, squad leader and rifleman with the 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, discusses with new Iraqi Army soldiers the details of a mission they’re about to conduct in the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



U.S. Marine Cpl. Eric W. Witt, a rifleman with the 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, points a new Iraqi Army soldier in the direction where he needs to position himself during a mission in the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



A new Iraqi Army soldier stands in the doorway of a home and posts security during a mission with U.S. Marines with the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16. 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



U.S. Marine Cpl. Joel Jaime, squad leader for 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, talks on his radio to his fellow Marines while a new Iraqi Army soldier stands off to the side, in a joint operation in the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Diklich, a squad automatic weapon gunner with 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and a new Iraqi Army soldier charge out of the entrance of a residence after searching it during a mission in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Cardenas, a rifleman with the 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, is joined by a new Iraqi Army soldier during a mission in the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



A U.S. Marine with the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, runs through the entrance of a home during a mission while his comrade posts security in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan



A new Iraqi Army soldier crouches on the side of a street during a mission with U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 16, 2005. Fifteen new Iraqi Army soldiers accompanied Marines with the 3rd Platoon and together conducted a cordon and search mission of a neighborhood. The three-hour joint-operation was geared toward keeping a military presence in area and establishing a positive relationship between Iraqi civilians and members of their own military. The Marines and their Iraqi counterparts executed the mission without incident. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tom Sloan

TIKRIT BLAST — A local Iraqi policeman grieves over a friend who was killed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Tikrit, Iraq, May 6, 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Garnett

An Evening, as a Soldiers' Angel, with Dame Eileen Fulton

On a rainy and suddenly chilly Saturday night, three of us stepped out of a taxi cab and into Opia, a dinner club on the upper East side of Manhattan. After dropping the name Soldiers' Angels, we were waved in, no further questions asked. Others from the organization were already seated and then we found an area to accommodate us all. At that time, Ms. Fulton's manager, Jane McEntyre, swung on by to chat with us. Within minutes, an introduction was given and a luminous blonde lady appeared on stage, emitting a presence gifted to her at birth.
Ms. Eileen Fulton emoted with each song. Some melancholy, others humorous, while the second to last was a frenetic piece, Carousel, by Jacques Brel. I quite liked it!!!
Before closing her act, Dame Fulton drew the audience into her world, excited about an organization she recently became involved in. She told us of a solider who simply wanted letters from home and possibly a box, even if it was empty. That is the soldier she chose to adopt. And being the rather sassy lady that she is, she "joked" she wanted to adopt an entire Platoon. Somehow, I believe she meant it....
Through her website, this petite powerhouse had gotten approximately 100 fans to adopt soldiers...so far.
Next, she directed everyone's attention towards us, the Soldiers' Angels in attendance. For that, we received a hardy applause. Dame Fulton urged those interested to become active members of this extraordinary establishment.
To close, a song was dedicated to us, Bette Midler's "The Rose."
As I awoke this morning, having some time to go over the evening, it occurred to me why Eileen Fulton has such a loyal fan base. Immediately after the show, she mingled with all of us. What struck me was how attentive she was to everyone who wanted to get in a few words with her. There was nothing rushed about her. Just an accomplished Southern Lady who loves life, the stage and people. And they in turn cherish the lovely, gracious and talented Dame Eileen Fulton.

Affectionately,
Nila Chejlyk

Soldiers' Angels



Soldiers Angels Network