In Memoriam

On this Memorial Day, I would like to offer specific condolences and gratitude to the families, friends, and Battalion mates of four Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country on May 2, 2008.

These men were members of Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

With my utmost respect and gratitude, I honor the following men:


Lance Corporal Casey L. Casanova, age 22,
McComb, Mississippi

Corporal Miguel A. Guzman, age 21,
Norwalk, California
Lance Corporal James F. Kimple, age 21,
Carroll, Ohio

Sergeant Glen E. Martinez,
age 31,
Boulder, Colorado

Words cannot express how sorry I am that their loved ones have to suffer their loss. I know how painful it can be, and can only hope and pray that they recover from this loss. I also hope and pray that our international issues can be resolved without any further loss of life.

Casey, Miguel, James, and Glen – thank you for your service. I know the men and women in your Battalion honor your memory. As will I, for as long as I live.

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day.
Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
- William Shakespeare (1599)