U.s. Marine Corps @ MindSay 
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 11, 2007 - The United Kingdom is a close ally of the United States that has made major contributions to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "This is our fifth meeting this year, which is a sign of the close cooperation we have on security matters," Gates told American and British reporters during a brief news conference with British Secretary of State for Defense Desmond Browne following a meeting at Lancaster House, a prestigious meeting venue managed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Gates said his talks with Browne primarily focused on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The United Kingdom has been and continues to be a stalwart ally and major contributor to every stage of the Iraq campaign," he said. "The reduction of British forces in Basra (Iraq) is based on the assessment of the readiness of the Iraqi security forces in the area."
He added that the decision was closely coordinated with Multinational Force Iraq Commander Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and other officials in the command. The secretary noted that Petraeus will do another report on the security situation in Iraq on March.
Gates said his talks with Browne on Afghanistan previewed many issues that will be discussed in two weeks at a NATO ministerial conference. "We reviewed the status of the (International Security Assistance Force) operation and focused on the situation in parts of the south.
"The United Kingdom is making a substantial contribution in Afghanistan -- some 6,000 troops, the second-largest contingent," Gates said. "British forces are working closely with the Afghan army, taking the fight directly to the enemy, making a difference to the people of Afghanistan and also playing an important role in civic development."
Responding to a question about a report that the U.S. Marine Corps commandant is proposing U.S. Marines pull out of Iraq to bolster the force in Afghanistan, Gates said he "had heard that they were beginning to think about that, and that's all I heard."
"I've seen no plan," Gates said. "No one has come to me with any proposals about it. My understanding is that, at this point, it's extremely preliminary thinking on the part of perhaps the staff people in the Marine Corps. But I don't think at this point it has any standing."
Asked about lingering resentment over Turkey's World War I-era mass murder of Armenians, Gates said he is "quite concerned." The issue has come to the forefront because the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday passed a nonbinding resolution that characterized the mass killings of Armenians, which began in 1915, as genocide. Turkey has threatened to cut off its support of coalition operations in Iraq over the resolution, and White House officials urged House members to kill the measure.
"This is a very sensitive subject for a close ally, an ally that is incredibly important to the United States in terms of our operations in Iraq." he noted.
Seventy percent of America's air cargo goes through Turkey, along with 30 percent of the fuel. Ninety-five percent of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected heavy vehicles being flown into Iraq go through Turkey, as well, he said.
The issue has enormous implications for American soldiers, sailors, airman and Marines in Iraq and must be taken seriously, Gates concluded.
Browne told the press that he welcomed his American counterpart, noting that they speak regularly on the phone, but it's always good to meet face to face.
"The United Kingdom and the United States have common defense goals," Browne said. "Iraq and Afghanistan are the obvious ones," he said, but the two nations also cooperate on technology, meeting modern challenges and setting priorities.
"We've made significant progress in southeast Iraq," Browne said.
This has led British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to approve a plan to drawdown the number of British troops there to 2,500 by the end of the year. The U.S. and the U.K. have the same aspiration for Iraq, and that ultimately is to see Iraqi forces take over responsibility for their own security. The progress of U.S. forces in Anbar province has set the example, Browne added.
Afghanistan is a long-term commitment for both the United States and the United Kingdom, Browne said. It's in both nations' interest to help create a stable and secure environment there. Keys to that success and long-term progress are defeating the Taliban and ensuring reconstruction has an impact.
"Ultimately, politics is the answer," Browne said. Afghanistan must develop the government to deal with culture and with their issues. Our job is to give them the space to do that."
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists 750 state and local police officers who have written books. The 750th law enforcement official listed was Lieutenant Lee Ballenger, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
In 1951 and at the Age of 17, Lee Ballenger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During his first year in the Marine Corps he trained with the 3rd Tank Battalion. Shortly after his 18th birthday, Lee Ballenger was shipped out to Korea, arriving in January 1953. After a short stint “with the 1st Reconnaissance Company, he returned to tanks in time to participate in the Nevada Cities fighting at the end of March.” Lee Ballenger continued as a tank crewman until the end of fighting in Korea. He re-enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as a military police officer until his discharge in 1957.
After his discharge Lee Ballenger began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He retired in 1989 at the rank of Lieutenant. Lee Ballenger is the author of a two volume set on the Korean War: The Outpost War: U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, 1952 and The Final Crucible: U.S. Marines in Korea, 1953.
According to David Alperstein of Library Journal, “In his first book, Ballenger succeeds in presenting a lucid account of the 1st Marine Division in western Korea in 1952, a period of the war (June 1950-July 1953) he describes as a "stalemate" while also pointing out that 40 percent of all Marine casualties occurred after April 1952. Ballenger argues that this period is ignored by historians. This book is actually the first of a two-part set whose second volume will cover 1953 and the final bloody months of the war. The author uses the personal experiences and insights he gained while serving in the 1st Division Reconnaissance Company and the 1st Tank Battalion as well as his battalion command diaries and other sources to write a concise, readable study of what he calls the "Unknown War." The tactics and strategies used by the Marines, Chinese, and Korean (North and South) are described and analyzed. The appendixes provide a detailed list of the many hills, outposts, and military sites relevant to the 1st Division's story. The book is not meant to be a detailed historical study, but it is an intelligent look at one phase of the Korean War. Recommended for public and academic libraries, this will be of special interest to veterans and military history buffs.”
According to Roland Green, in Booklist, “In his second volume on marine operations during the Korean War's last years, Ballenger continues to be a military historian equally useful to the scholar and the casual buff. The fighting centered on outposts, as each side sought to obtain the best positions to influence the peace negotiations through numerous small operations, occasional larger ones, and many raids, patrols, and outbursts of harassing fire. Highlighted in this volume are one of the largest raids, of Ungok; the bloody ambush at Gray Rock; the long fight for a complex of outposts named after Nevada cities; and the worst battle of 1953, for Boulder City--the last marine engagement in Korea. Lee Ballenger continues to provide model accounts of small-unit actions, to enlighten readers on the value of tanks in infantry support (a high-velocity tank gun is good backup), and to be none too charitable toward what is described as the army's tendency to leave the marines holding the bag. Like its companion, The Outpost War (2000), this is a nearly indispensable Korean War history”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 750 police officers (representing 346 police departments) and their 1599 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing military personnel who have authored books. The website added three authors: David Hatch, Thomas Russo; and, Richard L. Allen.
Detective David E. Hatch spent more than 27 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. David Hatch joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1969 after discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1980, as a detective, he joined the homicide section. During his time with homicide, he investigated over 400 homicides and 125 officer-involved shootings.
After retirement in 1997, David Hatch has concentrated on law enforcement related writing and teaching. He is the author of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations).
David Hatch’s book, now in its second edition, “continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.”
In 1956, Thomas J. Russo joined the United States Navy. He served in the Mediterranean on the minesweeper USS Dash. He was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1960, Thomas Russo joined the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey). Thomas Russo served through the ranks of the Montclair Police Department, ultimately becoming the chief of police in 1993. He retired in 2001.
Thomas J. Russo is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Secret Service Dignitary Protection School in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia and a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Course of the State of New Jersey. Thomas Russo is published his autobiography Street Kid to Top Cop in 2005.
Richard L. Allen was born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He served four years as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, including six months in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. After 24 years in the Air Force Reserves, Allen joined the Newark Police Department where he served until his retirement in 2001. Richard Allen is the author of Lock and Key; Poetic Police Food for Thought; and, A New Ark Police Officer's View of Poetic Just Ice/Justice.
According to the book description of Lock and Key, “with enough episodes to fill a season of televised police dramas, author and former police officer Richard Allen provides readers with a candid look into the nature of police work and the daily challenges an officer must face. In his memoir, "Lock and Key," Allen recalls some of the most unforgettable incidents and individuals of his experience. He depicts the humanity, compassion, and courage of those who serve their community as officers of the peace while revealing his deepest gratitude and appreciation for his fellow police officers”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 31 current or former military members and their 64 books.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three officer from departments within the state of Nevada: David E. Hatch; Lake Headley; and, Jeff Kaye.
Detective David E. Hatch spent more than 27 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. David Hatch joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1969 after discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1980, as a detective, he joined the homicide section. During his time with homicide, he investigated over 400 homicides and 125 officer-involved shootings.
After retirement in 1997, David Hatch has concentrated on law enforcement related writing and teaching. He is the author of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations).
David Hatch’s book, now in its second edition, “continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.”
In 1957, Lake Headley joined the Clark County Sheriff’s Department (Nevada). After five years Lake Headley resigned because, as he puts it, the Department “more closely resembled a vigilante committee than a law enforcement agency.” Lake Headley launched his own Private Investigations firm and became involved in many interesting, if not extraordinary cases. Lake Headley is the author of Vegas P.I. And, the co-author of the true crime books: Contract Killer; The Court-Martial of Clayton Lonetree; and, Loud and Clear.
According to Lake Headley’s publisher, Vegas P.I is “filled with major crime cases and startling revelations, it chronicles his thirty-five perilous and action-packed years as a first-rank detective defending the disenfranchised and battling crime on the streets of Las Vegas and beyond. He takes us back to a period of gambling history when the Mob ruled the strip and he busted some of the most ingenious scams cheaters ever devised. Headley gives never-revealed details of the famous "Friars Club Cheating Case" in which celebrities such as Phil Silvers, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Martin, and Groucho Marx lost more than a million dollars in a rigged gin rummy game at the exclusive Friars Club in Beverly Hills. Headley chronicles his wild adventures with the legendary bounty hunter "Papa" Ralph Thorson.
Jeff Kaye is a sergeant with the Reno Police Department (Nevada). He has spent the majority of his career working various undercover assignments. He is considered an expert in undercover operations, street level drug enforcement and undercover operative stress syndromes. Jeff Kaye is the author of the novel Two Faces Have I
According to Jeff Kaye’s book description, “Jack Stoner is having a bad day. A psycho thief wants to kill him for being a snitch, a serial killer has set him up as a murder suspect, and he's about to cross paths with an organized crime boss, which will cause a sexy female F.B.I. Agent to enter his life and add to his troubles. On top of all this, he's having problems remembering he is really a cop named Jake Slater, who has been left undercover far too long. Follow him through Nevada's glitter towns on an emotional and action-packed tour of the dirty little secret Law Enforcement calls undercover work.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 643 police officers (representing 282 police departments) and their 1373 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing military personnel who have authored books. The website added authors who served in World War II and Vietnam.
Robert B. Heinen was a police officer for the Kansas City Police Department (Missouri) from 1946 to 1974. He retired at the rank of Captain. At the beginning of World War II a then 17 year old Robert Heinen enlisted the United States Navy. He served four years in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Six months after the war he joined the Kansas City Police Department. He is published his autobiography The Battle Behind the Badge in 1997.
According to one reader, “The Battle Behind the Badge takes you on the streets of Kansas City with Captain Heinen as your partner. BEWARE! On your shift you'll not only encounter dangerous street thugs, but high-powered organized crime figures. When you return to the station house to file your reports, be prepared to battle corrupt police officials and egocentric city hall politicians. "The Battle Behind the Badge" is an excellent hardball account of Kansas City during a time when it was difficult to tell who the bad guy was. Captain Heinen is an honest cop who pays for his integrity by being yo-yoed up and down the ranks. He is Kansas City's "Serpico." This is a very good read that took a lot of guts to write.”
In 1966, James R. Kelly served one tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps. James Kelly received his BS degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1971, he joined the ranks of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; becoming one of the organization's first agents. James Kelly retired from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics 1995. He is the author of two books: Prescription for Murder and Casting Alpha: Amtracs in Vietnam.
Casting Alpha: Amtracs in Vietnam, “depicts the daily life of U.S. Marine Corps amtrac crewmen during the Vietnam War and the continuing anxiety, as a result of enemy land mines, referred to as the big wait.” James Kelly served with A Company, 3rd Amtracs, 1966-67.
John "Jack" Miller applied his first career in Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations to his second career of Casino Games and their protection. Jack was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) conducting investigations of felony crimes. These investigations also included counter-intelligence and counter-espionage investigations.
After retiring from the military, he joined the Clark County District Attorneys office as a Special Investigator of "white collar" and conspiratorial crimes. He worked with undercover teams from the local Police and the FBI conducting burglary stings. He then joined the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GCB) as an Enforcement Agent. He was certified by Nevada State and Federal Courts as an Expert witness during trials of gambling cheats.
John “Jack” Miller is the author of Cold War Warrior, All Crooks Welcome and Master Cheat! According to the book description of the true story, All Crooks Welcome, “the Las Vegas police are plagued with burglaries. Two detectives devise an ingenious scheme to combat the thieves and burglars. Pose as fences and buy the evidence from the crooks. With the help of the District Attorney’s office and the FBI, the sting is on. Join with the undercover law enforcement personnel as they solve the problems associated with a scheme never tried before. Be there as the crooks arrive with their ill-gotten gains. Enjoy the wrap-up party where the thieves expect one thing and get another.”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 28 current or former military members and their 59 books.
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