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PSD Marines protect CG

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 200531931335
Story by Sgt. Russ Meade

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 18, 2005) -- Whenever the commanding general needs to travel, his guardian angels are there beside him.

The Marines of the Personal Security Detachment, I Marine Expeditionary Force are made up of 26 hand selected Marines.

“The primary mission for I MEF PSD is to provide the commanding general security and protection during any and all environments and situations. This includes providing him safe passage through the A/O via foot, vehicle, or helicopter,” said Gunnery Sgt. Juan A. Morales, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of I MEF PSD.

Twenty-six Marines were hand selected by Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, the Sergeant Major of I MEF. Approximately 75 percent are from the Marine Corps Reserve.

The reserves come from diverse civilian jobs such as accountants, contractors and policemen, with a large percentage of them coming from Chicago, Ariz. and Calif.

Gunnery Sgt. Juan A. Morales, a public accountant in his civilian life, is pleased with the job his Marines have accomplished over the past 6-12 months. Over the course of about 315 missions,w his team has only suffered four combat casualties. Morales, an infantry reservist with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment based in Chicago said, “Zero casualties would have been a better number, but with what we were up against that would have been tough to attain. I fully expected to have a lot more than four.”

During a recent run, the convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device and injured two Marines. They were both treated and have since returned to the United States to fully recover.

“In 29 years in the Corps I have not seen a more mission-focus, cohesive team of pure professionals,” said Col. John C. Coleman, Chief of Staff, I MEF. “These Marines knew their business cold, were always looking for a mission that took them outside the wire, and tackled all that came their way, no matter the challenge, with alacrity and indisputable effectiveness. They made you want to spend your day, everyday, in their presence because it just plain felt good to be around them; Marines’ Marines, through and through.

Even through adversity, Marines of PSD remain confident they can still complete their mission. Lance Cpl. Bryan J. Thaete, mans a .50-caliber machine gun turret on one of the hummers.

After a few months of repeated travel routes, Thaete, Anaheim, Calif. native, was able to recognize if there were any terrain features that were out of place. “I have traveled these routes so many times that I can tell if there is a rock out of place or a sign on the side of the road that was not there the last time we came through. I am always looking at people’s hands for anything outside of the ordinary and also watching for vehicles moving towards our convoy.”

The insurgents also attempt to drive vehicles that are packed with explosives or otherwise called suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices into the convoys.

Some of the Marines even come from the inactive status. Corporal Robert P. Wetherbee, from Hoboken, N.J., an inactive ready reserve Marine was selected for the PSD team. Wetherbee, who is a construction contractor in his civilian job, spent four years active duty as an infantryman. “This was my last chance to be apart of something big like Operation Iraqi Freedom. During my four years of active duty, I was not involved in anything like this,” Wetherbee said.

“Our team has lived together during this entire six to seven months out here. It helped us to really bond and become a close knit team on and off the battlefield. Every one of us had a specific responsibility during our convoy and also in the event that we were hit by an IED, SVBIED or an ambush,” added Wetherbee.

Wetherbee said the things he enjoyed most about PSD was working with the command element, seeing the various cities and meeting the different diplomats. “I expected it to be more hostile than it actually was,” he said. “I am getting married in August and this was probably my last hoo-rah in the Corps.”

Of the over 300 runs, close to 200 of them have been support runs. Support runs include escorting vehicles containing food and supplies for our troops.

When they get back to the U.S. most of these Marines will have the opportunity to go to the U.S. Army’s PSD school. The course will last three weeks and is located at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.