GyBill
03-27-2007, 00:00
Veteran urges support for prez
Lima Company commander used humor to cope
By ASHLEY LYKINS
Gazette Staff Writer
Even if bombs are blowing up, Maj. Steve Lawson said he still can see humor in things.
A Middletown native, the 16-year veteran of the Marine Corps spoke at the annual Ross County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner Friday night at Christopher Conference Center.
:I laugh a lot and tell a lot of jokes," he said to a room full of Republican candidates, office holders and supporters. "It's how I cope with stress."
Lawson said 2005 was a rough year, as he commanded Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Iraq. He served for seven months, and his tour was completed in October 2005.
"Unfortunately, a lot of my guys aren't as fortunate. They have difficulty coping," he said.
Lawson said he grew up listening to his grandfather's war stories, and for as long as he can remember, it's all he wanted to do. He said he now feels guilty he hasn't gone back a second time.
"It's hard to look at myself in the mirror because I want to be over there with them," he said, noting it was a tough decision to leave the service.
Lawson also served as a platoon commander with the 3rd Light Armored Infantry Battalion in Operating Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 to April 1993.
"I believe in the mission we're doing over there," he said of the war in Iraq. "It's good work."
However, said Lawson, the most crucial element of the war is time.
"We don't have enough time to clear out all of Iraq," he said. "If we give more time, we'll see results."
Lima Company suffered 27 casualties, he said, 16 of which were from Columbus. He recited several dates of his comrades' deaths.
One of those who lost his life was Londonderry native Lance Cpl. Aaron Reed, whose mother, Sara Duvall, attended the dinner as a special guest."We miss them terribly and think of them everyday," he said, adding his company received two silver and eight bronze stars, as well as about 60 purple hearts.
Diane Carnes, chair of the Ross County Republican Executive Committee, said it's citizens' jobs to support the troops.
"Support our president, whether you agree or not," she said. "He's our commander in chief."
The party also announced its man and woman of the year -Don Carnes, county engineer, and Toni Eddy, city law director.
"This means a lot to me," said Eddy. "I owe a lot of what I have to all of you. All I want to do is give back to the party."
Carnes agreed, stating "good people" make good things happen.
"I've had a long time in office, and I've enjoyed it," he said. "We've done some good things, but mainly because we have good people."
Fred Steele was also given an award in appreciation of his 30 years of service to the Republican party.
The dinner's primary purpose was to raise funds for candidates' campaigns, said Carnes, who is a candidate for Chillicothe mayor. She currently holds an at-large seat on City Council.
"We gather the troops and get the Republicans together," she said, adding about 130 people signed up to attend. "We celebrate because Lincoln was the founder of our party."
For the first time, a live auction was conducted along with the usual silent auction to raise additional funds.
Lima Company commander used humor to cope
By ASHLEY LYKINS
Gazette Staff Writer
Even if bombs are blowing up, Maj. Steve Lawson said he still can see humor in things.
A Middletown native, the 16-year veteran of the Marine Corps spoke at the annual Ross County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner Friday night at Christopher Conference Center.
:I laugh a lot and tell a lot of jokes," he said to a room full of Republican candidates, office holders and supporters. "It's how I cope with stress."
Lawson said 2005 was a rough year, as he commanded Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Iraq. He served for seven months, and his tour was completed in October 2005.
"Unfortunately, a lot of my guys aren't as fortunate. They have difficulty coping," he said.
Lawson said he grew up listening to his grandfather's war stories, and for as long as he can remember, it's all he wanted to do. He said he now feels guilty he hasn't gone back a second time.
"It's hard to look at myself in the mirror because I want to be over there with them," he said, noting it was a tough decision to leave the service.
Lawson also served as a platoon commander with the 3rd Light Armored Infantry Battalion in Operating Restore Hope in Somalia from December 1992 to April 1993.
"I believe in the mission we're doing over there," he said of the war in Iraq. "It's good work."
However, said Lawson, the most crucial element of the war is time.
"We don't have enough time to clear out all of Iraq," he said. "If we give more time, we'll see results."
Lima Company suffered 27 casualties, he said, 16 of which were from Columbus. He recited several dates of his comrades' deaths.
One of those who lost his life was Londonderry native Lance Cpl. Aaron Reed, whose mother, Sara Duvall, attended the dinner as a special guest."We miss them terribly and think of them everyday," he said, adding his company received two silver and eight bronze stars, as well as about 60 purple hearts.
Diane Carnes, chair of the Ross County Republican Executive Committee, said it's citizens' jobs to support the troops.
"Support our president, whether you agree or not," she said. "He's our commander in chief."
The party also announced its man and woman of the year -Don Carnes, county engineer, and Toni Eddy, city law director.
"This means a lot to me," said Eddy. "I owe a lot of what I have to all of you. All I want to do is give back to the party."
Carnes agreed, stating "good people" make good things happen.
"I've had a long time in office, and I've enjoyed it," he said. "We've done some good things, but mainly because we have good people."
Fred Steele was also given an award in appreciation of his 30 years of service to the Republican party.
The dinner's primary purpose was to raise funds for candidates' campaigns, said Carnes, who is a candidate for Chillicothe mayor. She currently holds an at-large seat on City Council.
"We gather the troops and get the Republicans together," she said, adding about 130 people signed up to attend. "We celebrate because Lincoln was the founder of our party."
For the first time, a live auction was conducted along with the usual silent auction to raise additional funds.