Tracy Press

Two Tracy parents make note of the news that Anbar province, where their late son was killed, was handed over to the Iraqi government last week.

Lost in the headlines last week was the signing and handing over of the Anbar province to the Iraqi government by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Iraqis are now in control of what was one of the most volatile provinces in Iraq.

Our son, Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Dewey, 3-1, India Co., served with valor in the Anbar province. In 2004, he was in Fallujah for his first tour of duty, where some of the fiercest battles were fought. Outside of a Marine base there, he survived an attack, including a vehicle bomb. Although wounded, he did not budge an inch from his post, and had to be ordered to the field hospital by his captain. 

For his “tough as nails” determination that day, he was awarded his first Purple Heart. He was to return from Fallujah when so many good Marines did not.

Our good friends, Mike and Angela Anderson from Modesto, lost their son, Cpl. Mike Anderson Jr., 3-5, Fast Co., in Fallujah in December 2004.

Brandon returned to the Anbar province in September 2005 for his second tour of duty.

On Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, he was at a checkpoint with his squad leader, Cpl. Carlos Arellano. At the checkpoint, they detained a suspected suicide vehicle bomb. Both of these brave Marines were killed.

We miss our son terribly. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t thinkabout him. We are very proud of him and his service and sacrifice to our country. We will never forget.

This is a victory for the U.S. in Iraq, a great day, and an even better day for the Iraqi people. To the Marines, we say, job well done, semper fi and oooooreh!

And we wish them well in Afghanistan.

Scott and Julie Conover are 20-year Tracy residents, proud Blue Star parents of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Elyse M. Dewey and proud Gold Star parents of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Dewey.

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written by mark j , September 06, 2008

Great letter and from a perspective that few of us have. I just hope some left wing loon doesn't find a way to besmirch it.

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written by Thinker , September 07, 2008

I agree, brought tears to my eyes. Thank you McCain for helping these brave men to have accomplished what they fought for! For the vision you had to add more troops and fight the Bush policy in Iraq!

And thank you America for realizing that Obama's voting to stop the funding and support for these troops, and to leave Iraq immediately as losers meant these lives would have been lost for nothing! How sad! Supporting our troops means supporting thier objectives and why they are there. Period.

Prayers be with Californians who vote for a political party, democrats, when they have a chance to discontinue doing what has been wrong with America for years. Partisan politics has given Congress (the ones who are in charge of our money/taxes/budget/housing/job creation/ etc) the lowest rating ever! Why can't we pick mavericks who will buck the system? McCain has said he would have democratic cabinet members, and work with all sides. Obama has not said that, or done any such thing in his past. His rhetoric is nothing new from any ultra liberal politician. Who will pay for his socialist programs: WE WILL! Where's the change?

Protect our Troops and American interests. Support the Police, Military, and Peace (through Strength). Unfortunately, that is the reality of the world we live in.

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written by Steve Reshakis , September 08, 2008

From an American who Has 2 Nephews in the Marines, on just finished his second tour, and one his first, I now learn that a younger Brother of one nephew has joined the Marines.

Because of your Sons sacrifice America is stronger and safer.
We have Punished the Murdering Monsters of sept 11th.
and We Have Won this War. God Bless your Family.


( And No thanks to a Gutless media and Tracy Rat Pinkos)

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written by MarkDavis , September 08, 2008

While we are all thankful to the service of our soldiers, it is worth carefully considering the facts and details of what has unfolded in Iraq. Here are excerpts from Bob Woodward's newest investigative effort detailed in his new book:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...02691.html

My opinion is that we should embrace intellectual honesty in truly assessing the goals and merits of what has unfolded in order to get metrics as to whether we are "stronger and safer". That is the job of a free, independent and sometimes adversarial press and of all of us as free, independent and intelligent thinkers and voters.

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written by Navy Dad , September 08, 2008

Mark Davis, I was wondering how long it would take for you to come on. No matter how you define "intellectual honesty"??, the goal of turning over the Anbar Province to the Iraqi Gov. was met.It is theirs. The Marines did a hell of a job there. Now the Iraqi's have to keep it together. Bob Woodward is well, Bob Woodward, and should be taken as such.

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written by mark j , September 09, 2008

The Washington Post is nothing more than a left wing propaganda tool. MoveOn.org, The Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, The SF Chronicle, The Atlanta Daily Journal, The New York Times, if I didn't now better I would think they were all owned by Michael Moore.
Nothing personal against Mark D. but I do have to question some of the sources he cites in his comments. He seems to use Wikipedia a lot and that is a very unreliable source because it can be edited by anyone. Although I knew a little about her already, just for fun I looked up Sarah Palin for three or for straight days and her bio changed every day. Hmmmm.

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written by MarkDavis , September 09, 2008

I see nothing new here other than vague claims that there are press outfits that are biased because, well, mark j thinks it must be so. Again, my comment has nothing to do with the efforts of soldiers. Indeed, my business enables them to do their jobs more effectively and I certainly support them 100%.

My comments were purely concerning the claims subsequent to the letter about a blah, blah biased press. If the alternatives are that we should treat any politicians who are making or have made decisions to go to war as if they are infallible or that we should carefully scrutinize their choices, then I will always fall on the side of scrutiny, for that is what I consider moral and American.

Take a look at the Woodward book. I think it paints a very human picture about late-war decision making. The decision to wage war is another matter altogether.

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written by MBoogie , September 10, 2008

Scott and Julie,
Please accept our personal thanks to your family for their service and sacrifice.
Marcus and Elizabeth Solorio

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written by Navy Dad , September 10, 2008

Marcus and Elizabeth, Thank you for your kind words.
Scott and Julie