To rid the world of terrorism
by 1st Lt. Victor A. Lomuscio ’98

Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU): This is a battalion landing team that is forward-deployed to act as a force in readiness for any threat to the national security of the U.S. In the 15th MEU I am a rifle platoon commander (if you want more detail, see Tom Clancy’s Marine.)

On 11 Sept. 01 we were on a training/liberty stop in Darwin, Australia. When the word of the attacks came, I was at the MGM Casino/Darwin. It was quite a shock, and the first thing I did was call my brother (Rich Lomuscio, ’94) who works in that area. I was not able to get through, but found out later that he witnessed it all and was evacuated from his building, but was fine. I then had to return immediately to my ship.

The attitude among the Marines was disbelief and anger, but most of us also knew that we were the most likely unit to take part in any response, due to our location. Over the next month we prepared for anything and took part in one operation that I cannot tell you about.

With the air war and special operations part in full swing, we began to feel like the Marines would be left out of the action, this was not to be the case. On around 28 November, we got the order to seize an airfield south of Kandahar. My platoon was on the lead helicopter, and were among the first (there were 60 on the first wave) conventional forces to set foot in Osama’s back yard. Once the airfield was taken, we settled into the defensive for 35 days of continuous operations.

It is a great feeling to know that I was a part of something so important. Being from New York (Long Island) and having a brother and sister both living and working in Manhattan— not to mention many friends—it was awesome to be at the front of the nation’s efforts, leading some of our country’s finest and bravest young men to rid the world of terrorism.

Shortly before I left for my deployment . . . I was asked . . . why, having gone [to college] where I did, was I wasting my time in the Marines? Well I didn’t think I was wasting my time then, and I surely don’t now, but I ask you, if you are waving a flag now, where were you on September 10? Patriotism shouldn’t be fashionable and support of the military shouldn’t only happen when it’s convenient. Marines risked and sacrificed every day before September 11 and will continue to as long as we have a Marine Corps.

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