Centered in the picture to the left is Captain John Lehane. Back when I was with Lima Battery, 3rd Bn, 12th Marines, he was a Lieutenant and my Fire Direction Officer. I was the Assistant Battery Operations Chief. We were in an artillery battery, 155mm towed howitzers. We both worked in the operations side of the house, the FDC, Fire Direction Center.
Shooting artillery isn’t as simple as plotting a target on a map and shooting the gun. The firing solution has to be carefully calculated. Range, direction, altitude difference, air density, humidity, wind speed and even rotation of the Earth are a handful of factors that figure into a firing solution. There’s also the issue of clearing obstacles and friendly units. Before shooting, you have to be certain the ballistic trajectory to the target does not intersect with terrain, such as hill and mountains. You also don’t want to fire through airspace occupied by friendly aircraft. Or engage a target too close to friendly units. It’s a job where you can’t afford to be complacent.
My active duty tour ended in 2001 and I returned to Wisconsin. John stayed on active duty, was eventually promoted to Captain and given command of India Battery, 3rd Bn, 11th Marines. When India Battery deployed to Iraqi, they didn’t go as an artillery battery. Marine Artillery has an unusual mission. In addition to providing fire support to their assigned infantry battalion, they can also be required to abandon their heavy guns, and join the ranks of the infantry. Marine Artillery trains hard to be highly proficient with their artillery mission, which leaves little time and budget to train as traditional infantry. When India Battery received orders to report as a provisional infantry company, Capt Lehane had a hard, stressful job to get his Battery ready. He did his job well. His Marines served well. As the saying goes, their service reflects great credit upon Marine Artillery and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Semper Fidelis
John Lehane sat across from me at lunch for 2 years in Kellenberg Memorial High School, 2 years of hysterical memories. Unfortunatley I haven’t seen him since graduation in 1992 but having learned through a high school newsletter that he was serving in Iraq, I thought of him often as I do all our service men and women. I also heard recently that he has returned home safely. To read the kind words about John and his service is appreciated. You feel honor to have served with him, I feel honor to have known him. I hope to see him at the 15 or 20 year reunion. God bless him and his family and God bless all of those that served and those that are presently serving this country in defense of our freedom. Thanks.
Comment by Neil McLaughlin — Wednesday 29 June, 2005 @ 0:40