Posts from the ‘Portraits’ Category
Francis Jacob Trzaska III Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 1st Division Veteran
Jake dreamed of being in the Marine Corps ever since he was a young child. At the age of 10, Jake attended a Marine Corps Ball with members of his family. Jake was inspired by all the men in uniform and especially enjoyed hearing stories told by the World War II
veterans. After graduating from high school, Jake’s dreams came true as he enlisted himself in the service. Being as though he was only seventeen at the time, he needed a signature from both his Mother and Father. Jake’s Dad signed the necessary paperwork; however, it took a little more convincing for his Mother to agree. Jake joined the United States Marine Corps in 1999 as a cook. In Jake’s civilian world he was a truck driver – when the Marines got word that Jake could drive a Semi he was shortly pulled from his duty as a cook to become the executive officer’s driver.
When President George W. Bush declared war on Iraq, Jake and his unit were the first to go to battle. On February 6th 2003, Jake boarded Air Hawaii out of California. They landed in Bangor Maine, Ireland and then a small Island outside of Turkey called Cyprus. Being a commercial flight, this was the last stop for all civilian workers/stuartist. The Marines were handed ammunition and were told to get locked and loaded that they will soon be arriving at their destination in Kuwait. Officer’s of Jake’s unit got them so hyped up they didn’t know exactly what to expect. As they landed they hit the ground running, off the tarmac and into tents, soon to find out they were landing in a time of peace. At first Jake questioned the reason for an entire military to invade a country just because they assumed there were nuclear weapons. He felt it shouldn’t take an entire Army just to gather intel. Jake soon learned that Navy Seals had infiltrated some of Saddam Hussein’s ships and recovered Biological/Chemical weapons that were being shipped out on container ships. One of Jake’s only fears while in Iraq was the fear of gas, he made sure his gas mask was by his side at all times.
As the Marines prepared to invade Iraq, all of their equipment had not arrived yet. They leased 500 tractor trailers from Saudi Arabia for the duration of war, but nobody knew how to drive them. Jake along with seven other Marines were tasked with teaching a two week crash course to 500 Marines on how to drive the foreign trucks. During this time, Jake noticed there were only three trucks in which the air conditioning worked, the one that stood out the most was a Yellow Volvo with an orange homemade trailer, this was the truck Jake used to drive into war.
When the United States started marking targets and bombing Iraq, Iraq counter attacked with Scud missiles. During this time, Jake was just getting settled in at his base in Kuwait. All that surrounded him was a twelve mile dirt bunker. Every hour there would be scud attack after scud attack, when the sirens went off Jake had to get into his mock gear, the mock gear consisted of a full chemical suit with gas mask. During the war there was a loud minority who would protest against spending money on patriot missiles. Patriot missiles were used to take scud’s out of the air. These people claimed that the patriot missile would not work. Jake’s commanding officer was hit by a piece of shrapnel from a scud that was taken out by a patriot missile. Jake can contest that the patriot missile was the reason he is alive to tell his story.
During a routine mission Jake was traveling in a convoy that was hauling ammunition. The ammo truck blew a tire and they couldn’t leave it behind. A three man crew was needed to setup a perimeter around the truck while the remaining Marines went ahead to pick up a
wrecker. The Marines drew straws to find out who the third man would be, it was Jake’s buddy Ibanez. Jake ordered Ibanez to go with the others and he would take his place since Ibanez’s girlfriend just had a baby. Ibanez fought this decision; however, Jake was a senior
to him so he had to follow orders. Jake stayed along with the driver and the “A” driver while the others marked them on the GPS and told them they would be back in three hours. To pass time the three Marines listened to a broken cd that would only play one track, Message In a Bottle. It wasn’t until 15 hours later that the wrecker arrived. Somehow they were lost on the GPS. Jake wishes he could remember the names of the two Marines he sat there with because he knows they would have the same story to tell.
As the war went on the Marines were starting to loose trucks, either they were breaking down or blowing up and the men weren’t able to get to the ships fast enough to run back supplies to the front lines. Jake was ordered to steal trucks from Army bases, since the Army’s budget was a lot higher, they had more equipment than the Marines. Jake needed another guy so he asked for his buddy Hector. Hector was a Marine that Jake served with throughout his entire military career. He was on guard duty working 8 hr shifts, 8 on 8 off at a base in Kuwait. Hector was relieved to not have to guard the base however he was shocked when he heard what the mission entailed.
Jake served a total of eight years in the Marine Corps. 1999-2005 active reserve 2005-2007 inactive reserve. One of Jake’s greatest achievements throughout his time serving our country was when he was awarded with the Presidential Unit Citation. The unit Jake served with, 6 Motor Transport, was part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (1 MEF) they went further and faster than any Marine has ever went in history. In a normal situation, when Marines hit the beach they break a hole for the Army to take over. (1 MEF) broke a hole all the way to Baghdad.
It has been a privilege getting to know Jake’s story and I am very grateful for his service in keeping our country safe.
Loaded Gun Photoshoot (Band Promo)
I have been in contact with Ed Owens, the lead singer of the band Loaded Gun for about a year now. Ed and his band have been working hard in the studio to produce their first album. Today I met up with the band and we headed over to Glassboro Woods for their first photo shoot. I had a great time with the band and can’t wait till their album hits the stores.
Front Center: Ed Owens/Lead Singer Front Left: Ron Mitchell/Guitarist Front Right: Dave Classen/Guitarist Back Left: Colin Spence/Bass Guitarist Back Right: Jim Holmes/Drummer
Ethel Caroline Gray World War II Veteran
Meet Ethel, she has been my grandmother’s friend for many years. When I was younger my grandmother, Ethel and I would all go out on Saturday mornings to yard sale. Ethel has always had a good sense of humor and I would enjoy her company whenever she was around. While talking to my Grandmother a month prior to this post I learned that Ethel served in the military during World War II as a truck driver. This is her story……
It was 1944 when Ethel made the decision to enlist in the service. Ethel chose to join the Army as a way to get away from the bothersome man who lived across the street. She served a full term of two years as a truck driver out of Camp Kilmer New Brunswick. She drove anything from buses to ambulances. While on tour Ethel had to pick up a soldier who had a shrapnel in his back. Ethel and the injured soldier got to talking and come to find out they had met years prior and he told her he never wanted to see her again because she went to a bbq with a couple of guys to grab something to eat.
One of Ethel’s duties as a truck driver was to pick up the soldiers who just got back from combat and drive them back to base. One group of guys got on the bus and said “great we survived the war and they stick us with a woman driver”. Ethel replied “don’t make me nervous this is my first time driving”. In 1946 Ethel married a man she had met that worked out of the same motor pool in which she was serving. Soon after she was discharged.
Overall, Ethel enjoyed her experience and serving for our country. One of Ethel’s fondest memories during her time was hanging out with her group of six guy friends.
Timothy M. Barrett Jr. Korean War Veteran
Meet Timothy M. Barrett, he is my grandfather. Along with my Nan, Tim had a major part of my upbringing. Most of my days were spent with my grandparents. I can still remember walking to the corner store for late night snacks with Tim, coming back to the house and watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with them both, I still can’t believe Tim knew all the answers before the contestants were able to chime in with theirs. During this time, Tim was a correctional officer and always had stories to tell. Needless to say, Tim is like a role model to me, I always looked up to him. When I mentioned my project to him, he was more than willing to share his story.
One day back in 1949, Tim was walking down 11th and Market and happened to pass a recruiting office in which was advertising between the ages of 17-34 to join the services. Tim made the decision to enlist since he was 17, but their quota was full, luckily another man approached him to join the United States Air Force. Tim thought they were the same branch as the Army, but the gentleman explained that in 1947, they separated and became their own entity. With this information, Tim chose to enlist in the US Air Force, but since he was only 17, his legal guardian (Mother) would have to sign paperwork in order for him to be fully enlisted. It took some convincing, but Tim’s Mother signed all necessary paperwork.
Next step was basic training, Tim completed his training at Lacklin Air Force Base located in San Antonio, Texas. After basic training, Tim was transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base – Tim wasn’t too fond of this location, so when able, he signed up to be relocated. With this, Tim was advised he was being sent far East for a three year tour of duty. Tim was sent to Camp Stoneman California where he took a troop ship to Tachikawa AFB in Japan. Once Tim got settled in Japan, he was told he was soon heading to Korea.
Tim served a little over a year in Korea as a cook. When this tour was done, he was later shipped back to the states – Pennsylvania, a 500 air defense group. Shortly after, Tim was approached to reenlist for six years, but Tim declined and was later discharged.
Overall, Tim enjoyed his experience and defending our country. One of Tim’s fondest memories during his time was hanging with the boys and gambling.
George Alvin Bupp Sr. WWII Veteran
On a beautiful August day, a month shy of Georges 18th Birthday, he made the decision to enlist in the service. George was residing in Kensington at the time and had to commute via the “L” train in order to make it to 12th and Market to sign up. George was just about a block away from the recruiter when he heard someone running behind him – George looked back and noticed his mother visibly upset, pleading for him not to go. George’s mother wanted him to hold off until he was 18 in which she would not hold him back. George held off.
Once George turned 18, he enlisted in the Navy. He was told to head home and they would advise when it would be time to be sworn in. George received the call to meet at the 5th Naval District, located at 12th and Market, which was on top of the Earle Theater in Philadelphia. When George arrived, he walked upstairs into a crowded room where numerous men were being sworn in. Through the crowded room, George recognized a gentlemen he went to Elementary school with. George liked the idea of serving with a familiar guy and a buddy too. After being sworn in, George was happy to hear he would be sent to Sampson NY Naval Base along with his buddy to complete boot camp. October 2nd, 1944 George arrived at boot camp.
George was assigned to the “G” Unit otherwise known as “Gestapo Unit”. This Unit particularly was perceived to be extremely tough. George was happy to be assigned to such a strict Unit in order to become better prepared for war. With this Unit, mornings meant the need to have their knitted watch caps up off their ears all while standing at attention – you weren’t even able to be outside with your collar up. After ten weeks of training came Graduation; unfortunately, they weren’t allowed to have any leave time. Luckily, George and his buddy were assigned to the same ship, a Destroyer Escort where they went to Mare Island. Upon their arrival on the ship, the ship was sent to have an upgrade to its weapon system and also obtain a new radar.
George completed his mission at Mare Island and was sent on a 30 day leave. George headed home. After the 30 days, he reported to the Philadelphia Navy Yard not too far from his home. Soon after, George was ordered to catch a train to California, he then hopped on a troop ship to Guam and was quickly put on another troop ship to Chan High China. George was missioned to a house boat on the Yangtze River where they housed sailors with whom did not yet have a ship to report to. One day, George and his fellow sailors were shooting the breeze and noticed a ship headed towards them. George had hoped this would be the ship he would ride home. As the ship grew closer, he noticed it was a Destroyer Escort Moore #240. Later that afternoon, George was notified he would be onboard the Moore #240 on his trip back to the states. The ship sailed through the Panama Canal to the East Coast and docked at the Charleston SC Navy Yard. George was sent to the Bainbridge MD Naval Base, received his discharge papers and headed home.
It has been a privilege getting to know George’s story and I am very grateful for his service in keeping our country safe.
