Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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BajaNomad shipping off to Iraq
USMC Staff Sgt. John Vera just sent this letter from his base in Hawaii. As you know, he was the recipient of books, money for dinner at Lobster
Village and stickers from folks like Wayne of B&B Bait, David K, Renay Johnson, Baja Bernie, Mexitron, and lots others (from the 4WD run on the
day of the event). John had this to say about his experiences in Baja:
How is it going everyone? Sorry I haven't been active on the forum
for sometime. I try to keep up with the goings on when I can, just
don't have the time I used to. My unit 1st Bn 12 Marines which is an
artillery unit is going to Iraq. Our primary mission will be convoy
security operations and detention center operation/security. Since my
unit is an arty unit we never practiced typical grunt stuff, now we
are playing catchup and beat the clock.
We are scheduled to take off in March sometime, up until that point we
are training non-stop! Ranges at the beginning of this month, then we
fly to the big island for training for an entire month, in Jan we will
go to Fort Polk LA. for training for an entire month. In between any
major training events we have class after class at base with minor
field time thrown into the mix whenever the command can fit it in.
I have been busy training and running the armory. Every real training
event we do is centered on the armory. Of course in keeping with
Marine Corps tradition nobody tells us until the last minute that we
have an obligation to support. Right now I have been focusing on
being a "Convoy Commander". Apparently the command is grooming myself
and a few other Staff NCO's for this job. I recieved a 95 page
powerpoint presentation on convoy operations and poof, I was then
qualified to teach Marines on this complex operation (rolleyes). It
is important to note the only convoys I had been in up until this
point were the ones with Justruns and BajaJeepin. None of those times
did our convoy come under fire 
Well, I will keep in touch as time allows, hope everyone is doing well
and can't wait to return to Cali in 2 years and some change.
John
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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John Vera with wife Maam and dog Buster in Canyon Jaquegel, Baja, CA.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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BajaNomad and JustRuns say, "Thank You" to John Vera for his service in the USMC on 5/06/06:
http://www.justruns.com/gallery2/v/Run+Photos/cantamar.jpg/
Parked outside the Costco in Tijuana:
Accepting gratitude and thanks is a grateful John Vera:
Spending quality time south of the border one last time:
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8921
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Black Trans Lives Matter
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Thanks to everyone's donations, John Vera's auto insurance, gasoline, and dinner was fully paid for and his son Paige saw how everyone jumped at the
chance to thank his father:
Hanging on the beach - Cantamar:
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
Member Is Offline
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God bless and watch over you, USMC Staff Sgt. John Vera. And may you safely return from Iraq to continue your Baja adventures.
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Best wishes to you and your family for your safe return.
Watch your back, soldier.
Thank you for your service.
Hope to meet you in Baja sometime.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Good luck Sargent Vera! God be with you and your family.
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Bajabus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 892
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Elias Calles B.C.S. or NC USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: My friends..it's good.
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may Lady luck always shine on you sir and if you get the chance please post here and let us know you are safe. Godspeed to your return.
"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked of such a thing."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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RetiredUSAF
Newbie
Posts: 5
Registered: 1-16-2006
Member Is Offline
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I seldom post, I just read and hopefully learn about BAJA. I hope to move there shortly. SSGT Vera be careful and have a safe tour of duty. As my
username states I'm retired USAF. I enjoyed every minute of my military duty and wish I could get back in. Yeah, like their going to let a person 58
yrs old + do that. God Bless you and your family.
AIM HIGH & SEMPER FI !!!!!
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. Good Luck. Thanks!
Cpl. Perry Sims 1989710 USMC Once and always, FEMPER FI
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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God Bless you Sgt.
Many Thanks from me and my Family and many Members of this Community !!
U. S. Navy 1950 t0 1954
K0rea- The Forgotten War no longer!
The Panhandle Veterans/Boxers Association of the Korean Era.
"Less we be Forgotten"
Let us assure you that we will never let you be Forgotten!!!!
Skeet Haggerton- President
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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Make it a safe tour John and that you have many more Baja runs on your return.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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Godspeed and good luck, Sergeant!
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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Cincodemayo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 3-7-2005
Location: Pacific NW
Member Is Offline
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May you come back home safely with many insurgent notches in your belt Sargeant. God Bless you and everyone for their service to this country.
Kick ass Sarg.
Don\'t get mad...
Get EVEN.
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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Godspeed, Sir. and good hunting. Thank you for your service.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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