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June 28, 2007
Camp Pendleton
Oceanside, California
A family
member of the 3/1 Marines sent an e-mail with a description of the rally:
Well, I have
made it home from the wonderful Rally for our Haditha Heroes. I am so
VERY glad I went!! I met Don and gave him a “Thank You Hug from all of
you.” I got there five minutes before Don and his group arrived. Because
the ride had mostly been publicized by word of mouth, there were only
about 40 people there. But, these people were loud and enthusiastic!
This is how I saw it.
I found my
way to the main gate off-ramp and as I came around the curve I
immediately see a man and a woman standing on a divide waving flags and
guiding us to an area to park.
I then
noticed about 15 more people further down waving signs and flags. After
getting out of my car... I hear loud military music coming from a truck
that is covered with signs and Marine posters that has just turned onto
our street. The songs are coming from speakers, megaphone shaped
speakers, attached to the top of the truck.
Suddenly I
notice a motorcycle carrying Don on it.
As soon as
he pulls over, he is surrounded by the media. There was a TV channel
(don't know which one) video taping and a few newspaper men and
photographers.
Once Don
finished with his interviews, he made his rounds to the rest of us
waiting to thank him. This man was very organized and knew exactly what
he wanted to do. He had 2' X 3' foam backed posters. Each poster
displayed blown up pictures (those that were taken of Kilo Co.) of each
Haditha Marine being tried, with their title and name. He had two
posters with the words NOT GUILTY on them. He had men take on each of
the posters to wear around their neck and each man was now the Marine
whose photo he wore.
Don had just
started handing out the posters when I noticed two young men approaching
him from the side. The first young man reached out to shake Don's hand,
and Don handed him a poster thinking he was volunteering to wear a
poster.
As the
young man took the poster I realized I knew this young man and proceeded
to screech out "Justin... Justin". I looked at Don and said, "This is
Justin Sharratt!" Don immediately shook Justin's hand as I was hobbling
over to Justin. Don also took back the poster from Justin saying "No
active Marine is to wear one so they don't get in any trouble!"
I finally
reached Justin and gave him a hug for everyone and then one from me. As
I walked away from him, I saw the media approaching him. They only asked
him a couple of questions, and he handled it very well.
He told the
media he was there to thank Don and the others for their support! Very
nicely done! I apologized to Justin for screeching out his name... I
didn't even think of the media bugging him... but he assured me with a
hug that he was fine with it. Luckily the Media gave Justin his space.
Justin watched as Don once again took charge... then he gave me a hug
good bye and he left with his friend. He thanked me and everyone once
again.
Above, from left: Caleb Dinsmore (Don's grandson), Rick
Rogers of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mark Walker of the North County
Times, and Marilou Dinsmore (Don's daughter-in-law).
Above, the press talks to Sgt. Dan Dinsmore.
Don was very
busy organizing his plan and gathering everyone. He had us all move to a
road divider where we could be seen by others driving by.
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