WEBVTT 00:19.156 --> 00:20.370 - [Interviewer] So, just look at me and ignore him. 00:20.370 --> 00:22.816 So, are you rolling? 00:22.816 --> 00:24.869 You got sound? 00:24.869 --> 00:28.325 All right, first thing I need to get is your first and last name. 00:28.325 --> 00:29.529 - Thomas Connolly. 00:29.529 --> 00:31.188 - [Interviewer] All right, spell both, please. 00:31.188 --> 00:34.297 - T-H-O-M-A-S, C-O-N-L-E-Y. 00:34.297 --> 00:37.878 - [Interviewer] All right, MOS? - 1833, assault amphibious. 00:37.878 --> 00:39.688 - [Interviewer] Okay, unit? 00:39.688 --> 00:42.164 -4th AAV Battalion, H&S Company. 00:42.164 --> 00:44.019 - [Interviewer] Hometown? - Tampa, Florida, sir. 00:44.019 --> 00:47.350 - [Interviewer] Stop rocking. - Oh, my bad, I've got ADD, sir. (laughs) 00:47.350 --> 00:49.107 - [Interviewer] Same here, man. - I'm the same way. 00:49.107 --> 00:51.230 - [Interviewer] Yeah, just relax. 00:51.230 --> 00:53.869 So, 00:55.036 --> 00:56.827 you guys have...Tell me, 00:56.827 --> 00:59.555 I've got no background, all right, you're talking to a civilian. 00:59.555 --> 01:02.127 You guys have what, what's the vehicle? 01:02.127 --> 01:05.419 - This vehicle right here is a 26-ton AAV. 01:05.419 --> 01:07.430 Forcible entry by sea is our mission. 01:07.430 --> 01:09.051 We splash off the back of the ship, 01:09.051 --> 01:11.344 come upon the shore, storm the beach like a tank. 01:11.344 --> 01:13.825 We move grunts around and that's basically 01:13.825 --> 01:16.366 the heart and soul of the Marine Corps, sir. 01:16.366 --> 01:18.478 This is what separates us from the other branches. 01:18.478 --> 01:20.460 We have the capability to be amphibious. 01:20.460 --> 01:24.514 - [Interviewer] So, have you deployed? - No, sir, unfortunately. 01:24.514 --> 01:28.239 - [Interviewer] That's all right, but your job with this vehicle 01:28.239 --> 01:30.125 is to help get grunts to the fight. - Yes, sir. 01:31.660 --> 01:34.209 - [Interviewer] So, a bunch of those flags behind you 01:34.209 --> 01:37.553 represent a lot of grunts who have been in fights. 01:38.512 --> 01:40.982 So were you guys out here on your vehicle, 01:40.982 --> 01:43.953 were you already in place when they came out and started putting the flags up? 01:43.953 --> 01:46.008 - We were out here, sir, sitting on top of our track 01:46.008 --> 01:47.356 when they started putting the stakes down. 01:47.356 --> 01:51.113 Now, every single flag out there, it's a good amount of flags, 01:51.113 --> 01:52.635 you see them start hammering these stakes down, 01:52.635 --> 01:54.728 we had no idea what they were doing. 01:54.728 --> 01:56.732 We were watching them, thinking we see all these 01:56.732 --> 01:59.073 little PFCs and junior Marines on a working party 01:59.073 --> 02:01.530 we were laughing at them, saying oh that sucks, we're sitting on a track. 02:01.530 --> 02:04.123 And then they started bringing up this truck. 02:04.123 --> 02:07.612 And in the back of the truck you see a bunch of rolled up PVC sticks. 02:07.612 --> 02:11.895 At that point, we were just as confused and wondering what was going on. 02:11.895 --> 02:14.719 Then we see them start taking them out and they start putting flags up. 02:16.128 --> 02:18.112 And at that point, we thought okay maybe they're just trying to 02:18.112 --> 02:21.909 set it up for a picture and, you know, do something. 02:21.909 --> 02:25.349 And then we see them bring out that... 02:25.349 --> 02:28.021 All the way down, there's a wall and a bunch of listed names. 02:28.021 --> 02:30.572 We read that and we started making the connection that 02:30.572 --> 02:33.142 each one of these flags here has a name on it 02:33.142 --> 02:36.142 which represents a fallen servicemember. 02:36.142 --> 02:37.957 And that's when it really got emotional. 02:37.957 --> 02:41.260 And then you see families coming out, putting wreaths and flowers down. 02:41.260 --> 02:45.116 And then you see other servicemembers here in uniforms coming out 02:45.116 --> 02:48.773 to go visit some of these flags and members that they know. 02:48.773 --> 02:52.445 So for us, especially for a couple Marines that haven't deployed, 02:52.445 --> 02:54.049 and that are waiting to deploy, 02:54.049 --> 02:56.788 it's a real emotional connection to see 02:56.788 --> 02:59.304 the members that got a chance to go make the ultimate sacrifice 02:59.474 --> 03:01.740 and serve for this country. - [Interviewer] Does it sort of put it into perspective, 03:01.740 --> 03:04.813 what your mission and the mission of this vehicle is and so on? 03:04.813 --> 03:08.538 - This vehicle right here is support for the infantry. 03:08.538 --> 03:12.924 This vehicle right here is shelter and home for the infantry. 03:12.924 --> 03:16.088 This vehicle right here can save infantry's life. 03:16.088 --> 03:19.511 This vehicle right here can make their mission accomplished much more easy. 03:19.511 --> 03:22.377 And so it's definitely 03:22.377 --> 03:24.396 hard for us to see a bunch of 03:24.396 --> 03:28.333 flags for grunts, thinking about this track could have made 03:28.612 --> 03:31.517 their life a little easier and could have made a couple less flags out there. 03:33.339 --> 03:35.058 - [Interviewer] Yeah, it's not always going to be a happy ending, huh? 03:35.058 --> 03:36.488 - Yes, sir. 03:37.948 --> 03:40.644 - [Interviewer] So does it bring it home for you? 03:41.271 --> 03:43.314 (inaudible) - Oh, it definitely does, sir. 03:43.314 --> 03:46.983 - [Interviewer] How so? Have you talked about it since you've seen it? 03:46.983 --> 03:48.515 - I haven't, sir. 03:48.515 --> 03:50.852 And actually sitting here talking about it, 03:50.852 --> 03:53.257 probably something they both feel as well. 03:53.257 --> 03:56.606 That's probably something good to talk about, actually. 03:56.606 --> 03:58.699 - [Interviewer] All right, awesome, that's all I need. 03:58.699 --> 04:00.094 - Oorah, sir. 04:00.094 --> 04:02.214 - [Interviewer] How are you today? - Wonderful. 04:02.214 --> 04:04.800 It's just such a memorial to 04:04.800 --> 04:07.229 everyone that fought and 04:07.229 --> 04:09.971 risked their lives for us. 04:09.971 --> 04:12.164 So that we could be free. 04:12.164 --> 04:13.795 It's just wonderful. 04:13.795 --> 04:15.423 - [Interviewer] Yes, ma'am. Where are you from? 04:15.423 --> 04:17.235 - Cleveland. - [Interviewer] Cleveland, okay, 04:17.235 --> 04:18.412 so did you drive out here for the day? 04:18.412 --> 04:20.159 - Yeah, yeah. 04:20.159 --> 04:22.564 Actually I have a friend that's a Gold Star mom. 04:22.564 --> 04:25.798 - [Interviewer] Okay, so do you know anybody here? 04:25.798 --> 04:27.964 - Yes, (inaudible). 04:27.964 --> 04:28.936 - [Interviewer] (inaudible) 04:28.936 --> 04:31.686 When...Did he die in Iraq? 04:31.686 --> 04:33.503 Okay. 04:33.503 --> 04:35.043 How old was he? 04:35.043 --> 04:37.581 - I believe he was 23. 04:37.581 --> 04:39.489 I'm not 100% sure. 04:39.489 --> 04:40.834 - [Interviewer] What'd he do? 04:40.834 --> 04:43.019 - He was 04:43.019 --> 04:45.436 I believe a gunner. 04:45.436 --> 04:47.101 - [Interviewer] A gunner. What's your name, ma'am? 04:47.101 --> 04:50.226 - My name is Barb. - [Interviewer] Okay, can you spell it? 04:51.538 --> 04:53.194 First name and then last name, sorry, ma'am. 04:53.194 --> 04:56.556 - Barb and last name is Mees, M-E-E-S. 04:56.556 --> 04:58.547 - [Interviewer] Can you spell your first name? 04:58.547 --> 05:00.897 - Barbara, B-A-R-B-A-R-A. 05:00.897 --> 05:02.711 - [Interviewer] And then spell your last name once more. 05:02.711 --> 05:05.003 - M-E-E-S. - [Interviewer] Okay, thank you very much. 05:05.003 --> 05:07.040 - You're welcome...For this. 05:07.040 --> 05:08.883 I haven't been there yet, no. 05:08.883 --> 05:11.385 - [Interviewer] Have you seen planes flying around and helicopters and stuff? 05:11.385 --> 05:13.642 - Oh yeah, yeah. Amazing, yeah. 05:13.642 --> 05:16.627 Yeah actually my friend, 05:16.627 --> 05:19.714 she went in...I don't know what it's called, 05:19.893 --> 05:21.830 it's the plane and the helicopter. 05:21.830 --> 05:23.411 - [Interviewer] Osprey. - Yeah, Osprey. 05:23.411 --> 05:25.427 My friend was in that yesterday and she- 05:25.427 --> 05:26.437 - [Interviewer] How'd she like that? 05:26.437 --> 05:28.239 - She said it was good. 05:28.239 --> 05:30.935 She said...I asked her if she was scared and she said not really. 05:30.935 --> 05:32.931 She was actually in the cockpit with the pilots. 05:32.931 --> 05:34.772 (laughs)