Seacoast Marines Terrorism Page

Welcome to Seacoast MarinesWar on Terrorism page.

Marine L/Cpl Peter "PJ" J. Sora Jr. Boot camp photo taken on Parris Island, April 2003.
PJ was killed in a training accident at Camp Pendleton before his unit
deployed to Iraq. Like his father Peter Sr said..."He's one pissed off Marine in heaven having
missed his deployment with his fellow Marines." But we all know, that PJ was there in
spirit fighting along side his brothers in Falluhjah and Ramadi.

L/Cpl Peter "PJ" J. Sora Jr. parade rest. Parris Island, April 2003.

L/Cpl Peter "PJ" J. Sora Jr. was a wrestler in High School. He was one tough Marine.
Parris Island, April 2003.

Marines in Iraq sending a message to all Americans.

USS New York

With a year to go before it even touches the water, the Navy's amphibious assault ship USS New York
has already made history. It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center .

USS New York is about 45 percent complete and should be ready for launch in mid-2007.
Katrina disrupted construction when it pounded the Gulf Coast last summer,
but the 684-foot vessel escaped serious damage, and workers were back at the yard near
New Orleans two weeks after the storm.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations
against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered
ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

"It would be fitting if the first mission this ship would go on is to make sure that bin Laden is
taken out, his terrorist organization is taken out," said Glenn Clement, a paint foreman. "He came in
through the back door and knocked our towers down and (the New York ) is coming right
through the front door, and we want them to know that."

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, La., to cast the ship's bow section.
When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,"
recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched
it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said.
"They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."

The ship's motto? - 'Never Forget'

*Added New photos from Iraq and Afghanistan 5/30/06

Local Marine Tim Bailey gets promoted to Colonel on June 1st, 2006 while stationed in Afghanistan.
Click on link below to see more photos from Col. Baliey's 2nd GWOT Tour
Col. Bailey's Afghanistan 2006 tour

Local Hampton Marine at a recent graduation ceremony Cpl. Erik Maltais
Click on link below for some great photos of Cpl. Maltais IRAQ tour
Cpl. Maltais IRAQ Tour

Local Hampton Marine Sgt. Shawn Mercer at Camp Fallujah Iraq.
Click on link below for more Sgt Mercer photos.
Sgt. Shawn Mercer IRAQ

Local Dover, NH Marine CWO-2 Thomas F. Parks
*Webmaster Note* I met both parents at a local eating establishment in Portsmouth, NH. Turns out, Tom Sr is also
a Marine having served in the Corps in the early 60's. Needless to say, both parents are especially proud of their son.

Mr and Mrs (then) L/cpl Shawn Mercer (recently promoted to Sgt)
I know this Marine's step-mom Donna. She works with my wife. Needless to say she is
extremely proud of her Marine son. Who wouldn't be? This Marine made Sgt in
record time! Sorry about the"Red eye" Shawn but that's how I got your photo.

Local Hampton, NH Marines Erik and Brian Maltais
*Webmaster Note* I met the father of these two Marines driving by the beach one day.
He had a sticker on his vehicle..."My Son(s) is a United States Marine. I pulled him over
and gave him my card. He has since contacted me and sent over this photo of both of his
Marine sons. Erik is currently deployed in IRAQ and Brian is awaiting orders.
Look for more IRAQ photos from Erik in the near future.

Sgt. Greg Iworsky's ( standing, third from left) "Bounty Hunter" Squad
taken after a patrol. These guys are loaded for Bear. Wouldn't want to be
a bad guy and run into this bunch. How do you say I Surrender in Arabic?

Sgt. Greg Iworsky (left) of Amesbury, MA and SSgt Hetrick
display AK47 rifles captured from arrested Iraqi insurgents in 2004.
That's two less Terrorists off the streets and two less AK's
that could hurt Marines. Keep up the Good work Marines!

Like father, like son:
Marine Corps sends a second Iworsky to war

By Priti C. Prabhakar
Staff Writer (NEWBURYPORT DAILY NEWS)

AMESBURY — When he was a child, Greg Iworsky would sit in his
father's lap each week to watch "Tour of Duty," a television series from the
late 1980s detailing the trials of a United States Army platoon in the field
during the Vietnam War. And every Halloween, he would dress in camoflauge.
Hearing his father's stories while growing up, Iworsky felt his father's pride
in the military and wanted it to be a part of his life.

"I've always wanted to go," said Iworsky, 24, a Marine just like his father,
Dennis "Ski" Iworsky. Iworsky, who was back in Amesbury last week,
served a seven-month tour in Iraq, for which he was awarded the Marine
Corps Achievement Medal with a "V" for combat valor.

Iworsky was assigned to help Iraqi border patrols near Syria and Jordan as an
infantry squad leader, a dangerous job that earned him the medal —
and cost him two of his closest friends.

His platoon, consisting of about 40 Marines, was stationed in Trebil in western Iraq.
"We were in the middle of nowhere," said Iworsky. "It was a rather unsafe area, given
our job, to search for illegal weapons."

On Dec. 3, 2004, a truck loaded with more than 500 pounds of high explosives
attempted to ram through the gates of his base. The Marines fired upon the suicide
bomber, destroying the truck before it could penetrate the gates.
The explosion killed Cpl. Matthew Wyatt and Sgt. Binh Le, and wounded five others.
The casualties would have been higher had the suicide bomber had entered the base.

"It was real tough to lose those two," said Iworksy. "But I think it emphasized my desire
to help the people even more. After a while, you get so used to helping people and
trying to make their lives better."

Iworksy's squad was responsible for detaining more than 100 people, most of whom
were enemy combatants or smugglers. The squad captured a man considered to
be one of the most wanted in Iraq at the time. His squad was involved in several firefights.

"Basically we were working 24 hours straight," said Iworsky. "The people we dealt with there
were very corrupt. I don't know how the country will ever succeed with people like that there."
Aside from living without a shower for months, given a chance to go back, Iworsky would.
"I was always busy and I got used to getting less than four hours of sleep a night," said Iworsky.

Iworsky is the middle child of four — he has two older sisters and one younger sister.
He grew up in Amesbury and attended Northern Essex Community College for a year
before he decided to enlist. "Am I proud of him? Yes, I am," said father Ski Iworksy,
a Vietnam veteran. "Pride is overwhelming, but I never pushed it on him.
I was surprised when one day he came home and said, 'Dad, I joined.'"

His mother, Karen, is a second-grade teacher at the Cashman Elementary School.
Led by third-grade teacher Pat McCarthy, the school began a non-perishable food and
supply drive last fall to support the troops, mainly Greg Iworsky's platoon.

Last week, he returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., to check out of active duty
with the Marines. His parents picked him up at Camp Lejeune in Greg's flashy, red,
souped-up Volkswagen Jetta, which he bought before he left.

"When he returns from checking out, he's looking into going back to school,"
said Karen Iworsky. "He's looking into criminal justice — nothing calm to put
my mind at ease." Greg will join his father as a member of the Amesbury VFW.
He was recently voted into a postion on the veterans board.

"He's done real well, and I think (the Marines) have changed his life,"
said Ski Iworksy. "And I'm real proud of how he turned out as a person."

Lt Col. Tim Bailey Afghanistan 2003

BELOW are pictures of 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips KIA 04/04/03

1st Lt Brian McPhillips (on right) and his Staff NCO's

1st Lt Brian McPhillips awarding promotions to his Marines.

1st Lt Brian McPhillips on Assault Vehicle

Lt McPhillips inspecting his Marines. I'm sure each and everyone of them sir will never forget you.

1st Lt Brian McPhillips awarding promotions to his Marines.

Portrait of a Marine

1st Lt Brian McPhillips on the road to Baghdad just a few days before he was KIA

Semper Fi Sir!

"ONE YEAR AGO... 4 - APRIL - 03"
It is with great pride and sadness, that we
recognize and honor one of our brave Marines
on this day, as the 1st year anniversary
of the passing of 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips
is upon us. April 4, 2004.

One year ago today.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loving
family and many friends, and to those brave
Marines who served with Brian.
Especially those who were wounded
with him and to those who
lost their lives that day.

We'd also like to send our thoughts and prayers
to all the Marines who are at this very moment
serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and beyond.
These Marines who selfishly sacrifice their
lives so that others may live in freedom
deserve all that we can offer.

These young Marines of today are not unlike
the Marines of WWII. The War on Terror
is as big, if not bigger than WWII.

Their fight is ongoing, as is their sacrifice.
We Marines of yesteryear, know that our
Marines of today carry with them the same
pride and fortitude into battle with them
as those who went before them.

The same love that we have for each other.

It has been said, that we fight as much
for our each other, as we do for our
flag and country.

We know that the Marines who fought alongside
1st Lt. Brian McPhillips felt that way

These brave young men and women.
These band of brothers and sisters.
May God Bless Them all.

Semper Fi Marines

(Below dedication and photos from last year)
*2003 SPECIAL USMC DEDICATION*
Below is a photo of 1st Lt. Brian McPhillips KIA 04/04/03
Brian was a Scout Platoon Commander with the
2nd Tank Btn, Rgt Combat Team-5,1st Mar Div.,
1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq.
Brian is the first cousin of a local Hampton woman
who happens to be a good friend of my family.
I told her I would post Brian's picture and citation
on our website. Brian is a Marine and we must NEVER
forget the sacrifices our Marines are making for
our country and for our Freedom.
"Semper Fi Brian"

Photos below courtesy of Capt. Joseph Marine.

Captain Joe Marine CH53

CH53 Landing on LPH

CH53 flying over Kuwait City

CH53 on Mission Somewhere in Iraq

CH53 flying over The Persian Gulf

Beautiful illustration of CH53 Sea Stallion

Lance Corporal PJ Thirsk

LCpl "PJ" Thirsk heading to IRAQ

Welcome Home SeaBee

CB Billy Keohane Fought with the Marines on the road to Baghdad Mar-Apr 03

We are looking for stories and photos from any Current War on Terrorism Campaign
Marines. We're especially interested in photos and stories from Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Please, if you have any contact us by email or by phone.
We'd love to hear from you.
marine@adlantic.com

Call (603) 926-4668

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