Mark's Notebook


	If you believe everything you read, better not read. - Japanese Proverb

Wrapped in Prayer, Marines Leave for Iraq Duty

Los Angeles Times

Wednesday 22 February 2006, 7:21 pm
Keywords: Christian Topics , News Articles

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer

CAMP PENDLETON — Navy Lt. Jim Peugh, a Protestant chaplain, led the 100-plus Marines of Combat Logistics Battalion 5 in a prayer asking God to "be with us" as the battalion returns to Iraq and also to protect the families left behind.

"You need to be strong and you need to pray that they're all coming back, all of them," said Bev Singleton, the mother of Staff Sgt. Mikel Travis, 30. "These are all my sons and my daughters, every one of them."

It was a morning for spouses to trade secrets on how to endure the uncertainty of the deployment.

"Don't watch the news, be hopeful when he calls and don't bother him with problems. Just give him positives," suggested Carrie Strickland, 21, whose husband, Sgt. Chris Strickland, 23, is an explosive ordnance technician.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-troops20feb20,1,7023863.story