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2/9 Marines OEF 2010–2012: Remembering the Men Behind the Names
A unit memorial bracelet holds many names in a small space. Each one deserves more room in our memory. The 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines OEF 2010–2012 tribute points to a period of service in Afghanistan and to men whose absence was felt within their companies and at home.
Echo Company remembers its brothers
An official Marine Corps account of the January 31, 2011 memorial at Camp Leatherneck honored three Echo Company riflemen: Cpl. Jacob A. Tate, Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Giese, and Lance Cpl. Maung P. Htaik. Htaik was killed January 1, Tate January 2, and Giese January 7, during combat operations in Helmand province.
Their commander remembered Tate as a leader who placed his Marines’ welfare ahead of his own. He described Giese’s skill with the squad automatic weapon and his ability to bring humor to difficult moments. Htaik was remembered for volunteering to carry additional weight on patrol to ease the burden on his fellow Marines. These are specific memories of service, character, and concern for others.
Two more names remembered in 2012
A separate II Marine Expeditionary Force account documents a July 13, 2012 memorial at Camp Lejeune for Lance Cpls. Edward J. Dycus and Abraham Tarwoe. Dycus, an automatic rifleman with Company F, died during combat operations on February 1. Tarwoe, a mortarman who had been serving as a dog handler, died during combat operations on April 12.
The men who served with Dycus recalled his eagerness to learn and contribute. Tarwoe’s comrades remembered his good nature, his love for his family, and his pride in being a husband and father. Their memorial brought Marines, sailors, and families together to honor two lives that had touched the battalion.
More than a list of names
These five Marines are part of the larger remembrance represented by the bracelet; this article is not a complete battalion casualty roll. Their stories show why a unit tribute matters. It can preserve a connection to the people behind a deployment’s dates, while encouraging us to learn about every name we carry.
The Black Horse Fabrications 2/9 OEF 2010–2012 memorial bracelet serves that purpose. When someone asks about the names, share what their fellow Marines remembered: leadership, humor, generosity, dedication, and love of family.
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