The Meaning of Semper Fi - Rest Well Sergeant Conde

Posted By Blackfive

"Some People Spend An Entire Lifetime Wondering If They Made A Difference...Marines Don't Have That Problem" - President Ronald Reagan, 1985

Marine Sergeant Kenneth Conde, a Marine who I described as one tough SOB, a Marine who was wounded and fought on to save his men, a Marine who refused to leave the battlefield, has fallen.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr., 23, of Orlando, Fla., died July 1 due to injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

This is from his Blackfive profile as Someone You Should Know:

...The corpsman treated Conde, who only wanted to get his gear and get back to the fight. Conde's Marines were out there and he knew his place was alongside them.

"We stayed and fought until every one of the insurgents was dead," Conde said. Before the day was through, 3rd MAP also raided the house of a former Baath Party member and seized a large weapons cache.

Over the next few days, Conde's unit participated in several other firefights until the violence died down. All the while, he nursed his wound, not giving into the pain and refusing to leave his Marines.

Only when his arm went numb, making it difficult to hold his rifle steady, did he finally give in and step out of the fight.

Back at the camp here, Marines asked Conde why he chose to stay and fight even after being shot.

"I told them that I couldn't just leave the fight when I still could keep going," he told them.

But it his actions didn't surprise his fellow Marines.

"He always told us that he would lead us from the front, and that we would never do anything if he wasn't doing it too," Cox explained. "After being in that firefight with him, I will always know that he is true to his word."

And here is today's story from the Orlando Sentinel:

Marine killed in action had chance to leave
The Orlando resident, wounded in April, chose to stay and fight on
By Pamela J. Johnson | Sentinel Staff Writer

Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr. could have had a safe trip home in April after he was wounded in a gunbattle with Iraqi insurgents, winning praise for his bravery.

Instead, the 22-year-old Orlando Marine chose to complete his mission.

On Thursday, his parents learned that Conde would never return. He had been killed in action.

Theresa Conde was too traumatized to talk about her only son Thursday night, said a friend who answered the door of the family home.

Kenneth Conde Sr., himself a former Marine, was in Atlanta on business when he heard of his son's death and was flying back to Orlando.

The younger Conde's mother had said earlier that she hoped her son's wound in April would be his ticket home.

She wished that her son, who kept fighting despite a bullet piercing his shoulder, would collect his Purple Heart and get out of Iraq.

"That's my baby," Theresa Conde, 44, said in April. "I thought this was my chance to get him back. I thought, 'OK, you're a hero. Now come home.' "

But deep inside, she knew.

"He's not the type to quit," she said then. "He's looking out for his platoon. And he was angry that he was shot. It didn't surprise me that he stayed."

In April, Conde was shot in the left shoulder as he ran down a street in Ramadi, shooting at insurgents who were firing at his platoon from rooftops.

Conde's platoon was in the Sunni Triangle to retrieve wounded soldiers.

The Triangle is an area stretching from Baghdad north to Tikrit and west to Ramadi known as the "killing zone" because 80 percent of guerrilla attacks take place there.

The 27-man platoon came under fire, and Conde and the others kept firing until all of the insurgents were killed.

When Conde was shot and fell to the ground, he heard Iraqi insurgents cheering, he told his father. He became enraged.

"He had to get back up," Conde Sr., 43, recounted in April.

Bleeding profusely, Conde rose to his feet with a burst of adrenaline.

"Come on, let's get 'em!" Conde said, recounting the story to his father. He fired more rounds before falling to the ground a second time.

Then, after being treated by a corpsman, he grabbed a gun and returned to battle.

The young Marine kept fighting despite his badly injured left arm, stopping only when it became so numb he could no longer hold a rifle.

"I couldn't just leave the fight when I still could keep going," Conde told his fellow Marines.

His parents said that they had been told their son would be nominated for a Bronze Star for heroism.

"He always has to be the best at anything he does," his father said. "I told him, 'You're a better Marine than I ever was.' "

Conde's platoon, part of Mobile Assault Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, is scheduled to return home in September.

Upon his return, he had planned to marry a woman he met while based in Japan...

There aren't any details, yet, as to how Sergeant Conde died. Rest assured, he was faithful to his God, his Country, his Corps.

He will never be forgotten.

Semper Fi, Sergeant Conde, Semper Fi

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Comments

[Jim B.]

This news is very sad. Everyone has to die someday, but how can we measure the loss of such a great man. Too bad so many people will never know him.

Thanks Matt for honoring his memory.

[Tammi]

God Bless him and his family. Thank you so much for bringing it to our attention.

[Crusader]

God Bless Him and His family.
Semper Fi

Thanks Matt, for honoring Him.

[Gabriel Chapman]

Fair winds and following seas Marine.

[Bowling]

Damn. Wish I could have been a Marine is the only thing I can think of to honor this young man.

of course other than job well done

[tree hugging sister]

All our love and thanks to your family, for letting us share such an incredible warrior and valiant soul.
Semper Fi, Jarhead.

Major and Mrs.(SSgt) Robert Welborn
USMC

[Alice]

Rest in peace and thank you.

[tibor]

God bless him and his family.

[Digital Marine]

Semper Fi Sergeant of Marines...

[Scott]

damdamdamdam! I remember your piece on this guy a while back. Talk about exemplifying everything we expect out of our fighting men.

I bet there are some Marines with itchy fingers right about now.

Semper Fidelis alright.

this ex-army guy salutes that Marine and will remember his family in my prayers.

thanks Matt

[Bulldog6-Delta]

What an amazing testimony about the courage, scarifice, and LOVE of our Armed Forces. I remember reading the original piece on this Soldier. I am floored right now. We know that it is the job of every soldier to perform his or her duty, yet you realize at times that some people are just blessed to able to do more than the average person. God Bless this young man, The world becoms that much worse with his passing, and yet, Heaven becomes that much greater with his returning.

[terry]

What an immense warrior,more reason why our resolve must not fail.This Marine,s courage was above and beyond and more.God bless to him and his family.

[John E. Dalgity]

As a Vietnam vet that served with the Army (1st Brigade 5th Inf. Div.) alongside the 3rd Marine Division on the DMZ, I grew to appreciate the courage and tenacity of Marines. This young warrior has continued the finest tradition of the Marine Corps. I pray for his family and for his platoon. I know it is devastating to all, and it is to our country also, to lose such a fine young man. God Bless!

[Guy S.]

Fair Winds And Following Seas Marine. Deepest condolences to his family.

[ben]

Amen to all the rest. Deepest condolences to his family, Fair winds and all that. Thanks for your service. Words fail me and its kinda hard to see the screen right now. What a great Marine.

It is truly sad when the brave die. I get the feeling almost all US Marines are like this guy. The bad guys don't stand a chance.

[JarheadDad]

Fair winds and following seas!

See you on the other side Marine! Heaven's perimeter is secure.

God Bless!

[Mike Caldwell]

"...They will find the Streets are guarded by
the United States Marines." God bless Sgt. Conde and may God bless his family.

Semper Fidelis

[SgtWookieUSMC]

I was deeply saddened when I learned about this tragedy only a few minutes ago.

His funeral is tomorrow at 1300 EST at:
Aloma Baptist Church
1815 State Rd. 436
Winter Park, FL

I will print out this thread at 1215 EST, and bring it with me to the funeral to give to his family.

God Bless Sgt Kenneth Conde, Jr - he was one outstanding Marine.

May he rest in peace.

My most sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Semper Fidelis,
SgtWookie

[T.J. Hutton]

For all of you who followed Sgt. Conde's story, I thank you. I was Kenneth's section leader, roommate, fellow sergeant, and most importantly friend. I can tell you all that the military and the world needs more individuals like this man. He will never be forgotten. Semper Fi.

[Sgt. Khadri Davis US Army]

I went to High school with Kenneth, we both went into the military he in the Marines I in the Army
I also was in Iraq, I am saddened by the news Of
his passing and send my deepest sympathy to his family.

SGT. Khadri Davis U.S. Army
Graduate Of Colonial High School
Orlando, Fl

[Sgt. Khadri Davis US Army]

I went to High school with Kenneth, we both went into the military he in the Marines I in the Army
I also was in Iraq, I am saddened by the news Of
his passing and send my deepest sympathy to his family.

SGT. Khadri Davis U.S. Army
Graduate Of Colonial High School
Orlando, Fl

[Col R. L. Yowell]

I learned of Sgt Conde's heroic actions months ago in a story on the USMC web page. What an inspiration. The fact is, there are plenty of other stories of Marines refusing medical attention in order to stay in the fight, but this one struck me deeper for two reasons. First was Sgt Conde's own response when asked why he stayed. What he said basically boils down to the essence of what the Marine Corps stands for, which is this: Marines don't quit. The second thing that struck me was the comment of one of his subordinates who said words to the effect that "wherever Sgt Conde goes, that's where we go." There is no higher tribute to a leader than to have his Marines say that about him, none, period. I was crushed when I saw a very small article noting that Sgt Conde had been killed. I literally choked up and felt numb. I wish I had known of this site sooner so that I could have posted these comments before they were provided to his family. No words, of course, can fill their loss, but I hope they know that their son didn't just make a difference to his comrades. He will continue to make a difference for years and years to come as every Marine who knew him or who knows of him is inspired by his example. What a privelege for me to wear the same uniform as this Marine. What a loss to our Corps and to our nation. And what a shame that everyone knows all about Abu Graib and almost no one knows about this hero. Well, we know about you Sgt Conde. God Bless and Semper Fidelis.
Colonel R. L. Yowell, USMC

[foxcompany88]

The Marines have been trusted to lead the way in every conflict since the birth of the nation and by Sgt. Conde's example, they've proven themselves more than up to the task time and again. Gen. Sherman was right, war is cruelty that cannot be refined but men like these keep the horrors of war away from our land. They undoubtedly exemplify the greatness of the country we live in, free, prosperous and blessed by Almighty God. We simply owe a debt that cannot be repaid and so it is right to honor their service and sacrifice whenever and wherever the opportunity avails.
Rest in peace Sgt. Conde, you've fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith and you will live on in the memory of those us who thank God men such as yourself ever lived.
Semper Fi

[Ace]

I am an israeli soldier i serve in the Demo platoon in the Spear-Head company of the 94th M.I regiment and my war is in Ramalla . so from One combat soldier to another SEMPER FI!
when i read this it pearced my heart .
It hardens my thoghts about knowing that no mater what we the Soldiers have to keep the world safe for ower friends and familey no matter what where or why !
I am honored just to read about such a man ,such a marine . it fills my heart with pride to know that ower dutey is being done.
God bless .

[Kayla P.]

I know this message is long overdue, but i just happened to come across the web site and wanted to give a meaningful thank you to Sgt. Conde, and all the marines fighting and training to fight in this war and all previous wars, it's because of you that the rest of us can live so peacefully. I can't begin to imagine the honor the family must feel, so thank you for sacrificing your loved one so that our country and our world is a better place. "...They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines."
God Bless

[TSGT. Johnson USAF(R)]

As a ex Marine (WW2), Us Navy (WW2,Korea)Naum). I truly feel that god will take care of this Warrior. And am proud that I will some day personally meet this man of honor. Semper FI

[Miguel Fischman]

I salute this hero's memory as I'm sure every decent human being in the planet, does. The American armed forces are doing more to protect the free world than so many cowardly governments that benefit from American efforts and American blood and still refuse to join and help. Shame on them. America is leading the way and saving the free world. As usual. I share in his family's grief. May their sorrow be lightened by the knowledge that the memory of Marine Sergeant Kenneth Conde will live amongst the well deserved glory of those that fell defending the sacred values Americans have always stood for.

[jason garza]

I learned about Conde's death by a marine that used to be in weapons co...with us. I shared aeveral months of my life as roomates with Conde. I did not extend for the deployment to Iraq with the battalion. I rergret not doing so. He is and will be a true hero for eternity. I am proud to have known him, and I learned so much about dealing with life from him. So as you follow his story, just know that he is an inspiration to me and those of us from Weapons Co. 2/4