Three Marines Remembered This Memorial Day

I was guarding the gates of Babylon when I heard over the radio that a helicopter had gone down in the nearby river. Soon after a voice came over the radio saying Sgt. Ski was amongst those that had been killed in the accident.
At first I couldn’t believe it. What was he doing on the helicopter I asked myself? Something didn’t seem right. This wasn’t how Sgt. Ski was supposed to go. He was the type that would die jumping on a grenade to save his Marines.
I was soon relieved from my post, but I stayed around the radio waiting to hear more information. I found out later that Ski had not been on the helicopter, but had jumped in the river to try to rescue the downed crew. He ended up getting swallowed in the river as well.
So my intuition was right: Ski died trying to save someone, not by a freak accident.
Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie died May 19, 2003 serving his country the only way he knew how. I will always remember Ski as a real hero. Ski’s actions that day were unselfish and valiant. Ski will be remembered long past this Memorial Day and the one’s to follow. He is in the heart and soul of this country, and lives on in the spirit of democracy and freedom.
I didn’t know Sgt. Parkerson had been killed right away because I was already out of the Marines and was going to college. When the word got to me of his death I not only felt sorrow, but I felt guilty as well. Guilty because I wasn’t there fighting next to this Marine that had been there for me and the other “boots” he whipped into shape.
Parkerson was a martial arts instructor and taught many of us grappling moves and crowd control maneuvers we often used in Iraq and on each other. Parkerson was the type that would party hard with his younger Marines, but still quick to remind us who was boss.
Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III died at age 27 from enemy action in Al Anbar province. I’m sure many beers were poured out in his memory this Memorial Day. Parkerson’s fury and good will lives in the battle flags we raise each morning and his fighting spirit flows through the men and women who watch over the land while the rest of us sleep at night.
Carter was the type you wanted to have your back during a firefight in Iraq or in a bar brawl Stateside. Carter was the type of Marine you didn’t want to make mad. He had so much piss and vinegar in him people you could see it on the sweat on his forehead.
I remember bringing him from Camp Pendleton to Albuquerque while on leave. We partied like there was no tomorrow when we got here. I remember being one of the first people to arrive at a party we found down the street from where we were at. By the time the sun was coming up Carter was clearing out the rooms in traditional Marine Corps urban warfare style. Even on leave he couldn’t stop being a hard ass leatherneck.
He slept in the bunk below me on ship, he lived in the room next to me on base, he fought from a couple Amtracks over during the invasion of Iraq and the memories I have of him will rest forever in a special place in my mind.
Joshua M. Carter passed away March 26, 2009 after a long battle with post traumatic stress disorder. Josh was especially with me this Memorial Day.
May all the servicemen and women who passed away in the name of the red, white and blue rest in peace. And may you forever be remember and honored for the sacrifices you made on behalf of the United States of America.