[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE MARINE RAIDERS OF MARINE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 15, 2015

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand and recognize the Marine 
Raiders of Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) 8231, 2nd Marine 
Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command who 
lost their lives during a training exercise on March 10, 2015. These 
young men represent the finest our nation has to offer, and we are 
forever indebted to them for their service.
   On the morning of March 10, an Army National Guard-operated UH-60 
Black Hawk helicopter embarked on a training exercise off the coast of 
the Florida Panhandle carrying seven members of MSOT 8231 and four 
members of the Louisiana National Guard, who were operating the 
helicopter. As part of a rigorous pre-deployment exercise, the Raiders 
were practicing special operations insertion techniques with two UH-60 
aircraft. Sadly, it was on their training mission that the Marines and 
Guardsmen in one helicopter lost their lives.
   As a unit with great distinction throughout the War in Afghanistan, 
MSOT 8231 first deployed in 2010 under Special Operations Task Force-
West, operating from the City of Herat. While in Herat, MSOT 8231 
primarily conducted Counter-Insurgency (COIN), Foreign Internal Defense 
(FID) and Direct Action (DA) activities within the Murghab District of 
the Badghis Province. After redeployment and reconstitution, MSOT 8231 
deployed again in 2012 to Bala Murghab, in the Murghab District, where 
it built upon tactical and operational gains it and other MSOT's 
achieved on previous rotations.
   MSOT 8231 continued building their Afghan partner's capacity, 
promoting good governance, and countering the insurgent initiatives in 
this highly remote and austere geographic slice of Afghanistan. During 
the 2012 deployment, MSOT 8231 was tasked with permanently closing 
their base and retrograding years' worth of hardware for consolidation 
at a larger base hundreds of miles south in Herat. Without a single 
paved road in the entire Badghis Province, this proved a difficult 
task. Nevertheless, MSOT 8231 completed the job and left Bala Murghab 
in the hands of the Afghan National Army, Police, and government.
   After returning home, rebuilding and adding new personnel to MSOT 
8231, the team again deployed in 2013 to western Afghanistan. Their 
most recent return to Afghanistan saw a change in tasks from previous 
deployments as they partnered with the highly regarded Afghan Commandos 
to conduct offensive activities against the Taliban. While the mission 
changed, their resolve did not, as consistent enemy combat persisted 
until the very end of their deployment. Even still, MSOT 8231 continued 
efforts to enhance their partners' capacity to operate effectively on 
their own. MSOT 8231 departed Afghanistan in June 2014; however, their 
focus never left the region.
   Prior to any deployment, teams work together to hone and develop 
their skills, and when combat operations commence, the months of 
training leading up to deployment are finally put to test. For MSOT 
8231, this meant building on the strong relationship established during 
previous deployments with the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 
based in Hammond, Louisiana. On March 10, two Army National Guard UH-60 
Black Hawks participated in a routine training mission; however, the 
mission turned out to be anything but routine, as only one Black Hawk 
returned.
   On that day, our nation lost seven Marine Raiders. Not only did they 
accept the challenge of becoming the best that the Marine Corps has to 
offer, these Marine Raiders did so during a time of war. Along the way, 
the Marine Raiders of MSOT 8231 received such awards as the Silver Star 
Medal for Gallantry and Bronze Star Medals for valor, and all had Valor 
awards from their time fighting on combat deployments.
   To the families, friends, and loved ones of Captain Stanford Shaw 
III, Master Sergeant Thomas Saunders, Staff Sergeant Marcus Bawol, 
Staff Sergeant Trevor Blaylock, Staff Sergeant Liam Flynn, Staff 
Sergeant Kerry Kemp, Staff Sergeant Andrew Seif, Chief Warrant Officer 
George Wayne Griffin, Chief Warrant Officer George David Strother, 
Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron, and Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich, 
please know that we are a grateful nation. On countless training 
exercises, your brave warriors risked their lives to ensure the tip of 
the spear always remained sharp and ready for battle. And while the 
Marine Raider community lost these warriors, their service and 
sacrifice will never be forgotten. Never above you, never below you, 
always beside you. Semper Fi.

                          ____________________