Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Marine captain from Redondo killed in Iraq

Sean Lee Brock died after being wounded by shrapnel. He is the fifth local serviceman to die in combat in Iraq. His widow calls him "just so honorable."

By Kristin S. Agostoni
Daily Breeze

Capt. Sean Lee Brock picked up the phone last week in the Iraqi city of Ramadi and told his mother about the strange silence surrounding him.

"This is what he said," recalled Anita Brock of Redondo Beach. " 'Mom, I can't talk long. It's so quiet here, it's eerie. And that concerns me, because when it gets quiet like that, something happens.' "

Anita Brock asked if he was in a safe place. But someone interrupted, and he told her he had to go. It was the last conversation she'd have with her 29-year-old son.

Brock, a lifetime Redondo Beach resident and 1993 Mira Costa High School graduate, was killed in combat about six hours later in Iraq's Anbar Province, family members said. He suffered from a fatal shrapnel wound to the abdomen and was pronounced dead Feb. 2.

His wife of two years, Navy Lt. Heather Brock, 27, said her husband sent her an e-mail four hours earlier. She believes he wrote a second note before he died, but she never got to read it.

Heather Brock, a nurse who had been stationed aboard the USS Fort McHenry off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, was awakened the next morning to the sobering news. She left almost immediately to start the trip back to the United States.

"The most he would say was, 'Oh, I had a close call today,' " she said of her husband's messages. "He knew he was going to die. He was just so honorable."

With a photograph of the trim, dark-haired Marine smiling up at them Monday night from the kitchen table, the Marine's mother, wife and two siblings remembered Brock's love for scuba diving and soccer and the close ties he kept to his hometown. Flower arrangements covered the counter tops, and the family's phone rang with offers of condolences and questions.

"Family was so important," Anita Brock said. "He was an excellent friend. And just loyal."

Even when Brock left Redondo Beach in August 1993 to launch his military career, he couldn't distance himself from his fraternal twin brother, Rayme, who made the same decision to enlist with the Marines.

Both teenagers -- by chance, Rayme Brock believes -- got assigned to boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Military officials usually separate twins, he said, but a typo on the registration documents fooled officials into believing the two were unrelated.

Rayme's last name was misspelled Brockr, while his brother's remained intact.

So, the pair shipped off together that August, learning the ropes, missing home and, later, figuring out how to pull off a few pranks.

Because visitation rules were stringent, the brothers became regulars at Sunday Mass and religious ceremonies at the chapel. Once the services began, they'd look around the pews and take turns walking outside.

Tucked inside a bathroom they'd find their mother and father, the late Maury Espelin, and younger sister, Kelly, who made the trip south so the family could spend just a few minutes together.

"I was inside the men's room. We were all there," Anita Brock said. "We planned it."

Heather Brock entered her husband's life several years later, and the couple married quietly after a few months of dating.

They met at the Marine Corps ball at the La Jolla Marriott on Nov. 9, 2002, and talked for about "three minutes," she said. Not long, but enough time for him to learn her name and that she was a nurse.

The following Monday, he showed up at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital.

They started dating and entered marriage counseling Jan. 8, 2003.

But it didn't last.

A day and a half later, the couple got dressed in their military blues and picked up a bouquet of multicolored tulips. They eloped and were married at a courthouse in San Marcos. A separate wedding ceremony for family and friends took place the following October at Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The newlyweds bought a house in Oceanside in January 2003, but Heather Brock said her husband called it home for just a short time. He left days later to start what would be the first of two assignments in Iraq.

Sean Brock, who held bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California at Santa Barbara and Central Michigan University, had been pursuing a doctorate in public policy and administration from Walden University, as well as a master's degree in international relations from Troy University.

"Sean's family was blessed to know him for 29 years," Heather Brock said.

"I was blessed to know him for 27 months. ... We had our whole lives to look forward to."

Sean Brock is the fifth South Bay soldier killed in Iraq. The others were Army Spc. Sergio Diaz Varela of Lomita; Army Spc. Edgar P. Daclan Jr., who lived near Carson; Army Sgt. Brian Wood of Torrance; and Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez of Lomita.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates, followed by a military funeral service at the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro. A reception will follow at Fort MacArthur Community Center.

In addition to his wife, mother and two siblings, Brock is survived by his paternal grandmother, Margaret Espelin of Santa Maria; maternal grandparents, Joe and Phyllis Russo of Granbury, Texas; a half-sister, Ivy Blesser of Santa Monica; a brother-in-law, Dean Morishige of Redondo Beach; and a nephew, Brock Morishige.

Family recalls Redondo Beach Marine captain as loyal family man

ASSOCIATED PRESS
11:36 a.m. February 9, 2005

LOS ANGELES – The last time Capt. Sean Lee Brock spoke to his mother from Iraq, he told her he was worried because it was eerily quiet and "when it gets quiet like that, something happens."

Brock, 29, of Redondo Beach was fatally wounded in combat in Iraq's Anbar Province six hours after that phone call, his family said. He died Feb. 2, the Department of Defense said Wednesday.

The Marine's wife of two years and his mother remembered the trim, dark-haired Marine this week, who loved scuba diving and soccer.

"Family was so important," said his mother, Anita Brock Monday. "He was an excellent friend. And just loyal."

Brock was able to remain close to family, even after joining the Marines when a typo put him and his fraternal twin Rayme in the same boot camp in San Diego, his brother said. Although twins are usually separated, Rayme Brock's last name was misspelled, making the twins appear unrelated.

Brock's wife, Navy Lt. Nurse Heather Brock, 27, was stationed aboard the USS Fort McHenry off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, when she received news of his death.

She said her husband sent her an e-mail four hours before he was killed.

"The most he would say was, 'Oh, I had a close call today,' "she said of her husband's messages. "He knew he was going to die. He was just so honorable."

The couple got married in 2002, a few months after they met at a Marine Corps ball.

They spent only a short time in their new home before Brock was shipped out to what would be the first of two stints in Iraq.

Brock held bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California at Santa Barbara and Central Michigan University. He was working toward a doctorate in public policy and administration and a master's degree in international relations, family members said.

"Sean's family was blessed to know him for 29 years," Heather Brock said. "I was blessed to know him for 27 months. ... We had our whole lives to look forward to."

A memorial service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates, followed by a military funeral service at the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro.

Moral of the story: Don’t invade other people’s country. They don't like it and they will kill you.

Sorry that this person was killed but there is nothing honorable about it at all.

The war is illegal, immoral, and there is no justification for it. It is a war based on lies:

1. Iraq had no connection to 911.
2. Iraq posed no immediate threat to the US. Iraq had no nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the US government knew it.
3. And the US has no intention of creating a democracy for the people of Iraq.

The recent elections were a sham and the outcome of these (s)elections will be what ever suits the US. This is a war for oil and empire. Everyone there that is part of the occupying forces is a war criminal.

End the occupation.
Bring the troops home now!

PHOTO CAPTION: Anita Brock, left, Sean Brock's mother, and wife Heather Brock (in hat) receive American flags. (Brad Graverson / Daily Breeze)

Saturday, February 12, 2005

South Bay remembers an 'admirable' RB Marine
Capt. Sean Lee Brock, a Mira Costa High School graduate who was killed in Iraq, is memorialized at two services in the South Bay.

By Nick Green
Daily Breeze

Capt. Sean Lee Brock was at war when he died in distant Iraq 10 days ago, far from his family in Redondo Beach and many of his friends.

The 29-year-old Marine Corps officer was surrounded by peace Friday when he was memorialized in his native South Bay by family, friends and fellow Marines.



Gary Vanderford, pastor of the Oceanside church that was attended by Brock's wife, Heather, a Navy nurse, described Brock as a noble man during a eulogy at his military funeral at San Pedro's Angels Gate Park.

"Sean was an admirable man and we will remember his sacrifice in protecting our lives," Vanderford said. "Sean is with Jesus, where there are no wars. ... He has received a heavenly promotion."

Brock died from shrapnel wounds Feb. 2 in the volatile Anbar province, home to the city of Fallujah and the center of the Iraqi insurgency.

He was the fifth South Bay soldier killed in Iraq.

But it was the 1993 Mira Costa High School graduate's life that was remembered Friday in two separate memorial services.

At the first, held in a weeping rain at Palos Verdes Estates' landmark Neighborhood Church overlooking the gray waters of Santa Monica Bay, family and friends remembered Brock as both a fighter and dreamer who combined the best attributes of his mother and father.

"He became a motivator of people," his uncle, the Rev. Fred Biby, said of the former Daily Breeze delivery boy. "He literally not only accomplished his own dreams, but he pulled them out of people."

Brock was a man who loved animals, be they the family cats or his pet iguana -- and had an intense distaste for tomatos.

He had a fondness for spontaneity, such as the time he and a classmate attempted to walk to Los Angeles after completing finals at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The pair got as far as Point Mugu in Ventura County before calling for a ride.

But most of all a man who had survived tours of duty in places like Afghanistan was known for his commitment to duty, honor and integrity.

"Men of character, like Sean, men of character end up in warrior heaven -- Valhalla," said Capt. Conan Chang, who said Brock's example had motivated him to attend officer candidate school. "And it is there we'll meet again. Semper Fi, brother."

Heather Brock recalled the couple's last night together after he had received orders sending him on a second tour of duty in Iraq, her husband leaning against a doorway, tears in his eyes.

" 'I don't want to go,' " the young widow remembered him saying. " 'I have seen too many enlisted Marines come home in body bags. I'm not going to try and get out of this like I have seen other people do.' "

And so Brock returned to Iraq to do the job he had signed up for.

"He was a leader by example," said Sgt. Louis Schwartz, who met Brock at ROTC training at Camp Pendleton while the two were still in high school.

"He pushed you as hard as he pushed himself.

"We shouldn't be so concerned about the way Sean died," Schwartz added, "but the way he lived."

At the military service held in the shadow of the Korean Bell, seven rifleman fired three rounds -- a 21-gun salute -- as Marines pulled taut the Stars and Stripes draped over Brock's coffin while taps played.

The flag was presented to Mrs. Brock, as was a Purple Heart and the brass casings of the fired rounds.

She and three other family members released four white homing pigeons in her husband's memory.

Fifty more rose skyward from two white baskets as a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace."

The flock whirled and soared overhead before winging over the Palos Verdes Peninsula to find their way home.

Family members and close friends filed up to Brock's coffin to lay the lone red rose that had been placed on their seats; other mourners did the same with yellow daffodils that had been distributed.

Then, as the strains of the pipes faded and the crowd slowly began to disperse, the day's first ray of sun pierced the clouds.

Brock, whose ashes will be scattered at sea on Valentine's Day, was home.

Sean was my best friend for 10 years and I agree with the Bush admirer that he did not die in vain. However that is the only point I will agree with this man.

All of his did you know crap is just his take on yellow journalism. If our fearless leader had half a mind he would have known that we couldn't have invaded a sovereign country by ourselves. The lack of a true coalition is what lead to the loss of my best friend.

Sean had served his time in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact this was his second tour of duty in Iraq. If our president would listen to the world (instead of fighting daddy's battle) we would not be in this situation, period. I would still have my friend.

Instead, we are in a county on the premise of Weapons of Mass Destruction (by the way where exactly are they?), have created a “democratic: government where our candidate didn’t win. In fact the winner of the election is quite partial to Iran. Therefore…

Did you know, that we have created a power vacuum in this country.

Did you know, that fifty-four percent of Americans now say that the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq.

Did you know, that we have no clear plan or guideline of leaving. The reason for this is we cannot leave. Because doing so at this time would only propel Iraq into a viscous downward spiral. Where a despotic leader could take advantage of a situation and secure control of this “democratic” country. That would put us in the exact same place as the Saddam era. That would mean that thousands of US lives were killed in vain. We cannot do that.

Did you know, that is the reason we are still in Iraq.

Did you know, that the UN and the world still does not back us and think of Bush and the US as fools.

Did you know, that spreading democracy means nothing to our pseudo president. Only creating war and lining his pockets, and making things right with his daddy. Because if this was his true regard, then what are his thoughts on Sudan? How about Rwanda? Not to worry though, I think when he finally opens up a world map and finds out where these countries are located we will attack them as well.

Did you know, that we now have almost 1,500 US troops that have died in Iraq.

Did you know, that Sean would be alive today if our renegade cowboy president would have just listened to the world and waited.

Sean is my hero, and his death will never be in vain, however please do not give me your “Did you know” crap. Because the world knows the truth, we are now in a situation of dire straits because our president wanted to play cowboy. He ignored the wishes of the world and is now consistently paying, not only with the mighty dollar, however with something much more precious…the lives of our brave men and women. Funny, how someone who dodged his Texas national guard assignments could be so willing to send others in harms way.

Dear Bush-Hater,
I couldn't care less about your supposed knowledge of politics and the military. Those of us that knew Sean will tell you the same thing (although you supposedly "claim" to have known him as well). Unlike you I have the balls to post my name to back my claims. Sean loved his country and loved the U.S. Marines that he served with. Sean was a dedicated soldier and a man of conviction. I had the pleasure of being with Sean in JROTC in High School and enjoyed a wonderful friendship with him and his brother after graduation as well. How dare you even think of bringing up Sean's name to express YOUR own personal opinions of the war in Iraq and the Bush administration? I am a 9-year U.S. Army Veteran and for you to use his name in any context to spew your own political rhetoric only strips Sean of his honor and many accomplishments as a soldier.
You may have managed to acquire yet another anti-Bush posting on this ridiculous website but I lost a friend and I (unlike you) will always respect and honor his brave sacrifice.
Signed, CPL. Brenden Christopher Haggerty - 11th ACR

Brenden, your essay is weakened by its opening line, painting everybody against war as "Bush haters". And by its numerous insults, "balls", "spew your rhetoric"..

Bottom line: there are hundreds of millions of people who are just as committed to the common good, to our families and communities as any soldier but who are not so quick to destroy other societies, kill large numers of innocent people as soldiers are. Do you think your business is a noble business? Is it noble, to devote yourself to the supreme commander in Washington DC? What if someday, you decide that your moral judgment, some war or some mission is immoral? Is it a moral thing, to follow such orders?

Had you lived outside the US before you enlisted in the military? 96% of humanity lives outside the US and their aspirations and their needs are just as urgent as Americans'. What efforts have you ever made that the people of this planet workout their transactions without violence or force? Have you ever even studied law or business? Let alone the worlds' philosophies or religion?

War is an old institution, which will come to an end in the coming century. It is far too costly and dangerous on a planet of 6 billion people, there are more practical ways. Final tip: get over your survivers myth that All our Dead have not died in vain. Those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq truly, have died in vain. History will show: America's worldly leaders are not infallible and there is no god that will part the seas to rescue them,

kind regards

Todd,

I would strongly recommend before jumping to conclusions that you carefully consider the facts. If you noticed Brenden was responding so someone who called themselves “Bush Hater.” So then Todd, your response to Brenden is quite weakened by your demonstration of a complete lack of attention to detail and cogent reasoning. I find your perspective “interesting” to say the least, so I’m going to school you on foreign policy and international relations.

You claim: “…there are hundreds of millions of people who are just as committed to the common good, to our families and communities as any soldier but who are not so quick to destroy other societies, kill large numers of innocent people as soldiers are.”

I’m not sure what you mean here by “common good.” Western society is based on self interest and a mutual respect for basic civil and human rights. We work in private corporations and public services and some work for non-profits; so common good it would seem must be defined as one who lives within the law.

In the international community such is not the case. We have Kim Jong Il in North Korea, a repressive regime in Iran, genocide in Sudan and Rwanda. Do you imagine that those who simply work for the common good would be able to counter such threats and crimes? Soldiers are absolutely necessary. A protective military force is absolutely necessary, even today in an era of seeming complex interdependence. Would you prefer to see enlistment numbers drop and our military shrivel into non-existence? From the looks of your website that clearly seems to be the case. But be careful of your desires. A preference for a declined military in the United States is necessarily a preference that some other State become the global hegemon. Would you choose China or Russia?

I personally would prefer the United States which has founding principles in popular control of the government. To answer your question, yes being a soldier is an absolutely noble career and we should thank our veterans of yesterday and today for protecting freedom and democracy. If it weren’t for our soldiers we may be under imperial rule. If it weren’t for our soldiers in WWII the allies would have lost, and you would have no United Nations – an institution devoted to the solving problems without the use of force.

To expect that self defense against violence is not necessary, which seems to be implied in your thesis, is absolutely incorrect. And, if it were not for our protective forces you would not be alive to make your outrageous claims.

It is true that 96% of the human population lives outside the borders of the United States. And, it is true that their needs are not below ours and that is precisely why we’re trying to protect and empower other democratic institutions around the world. I imagine that is not how you personally view United States action abroad – I would imagine that you view us as aggressors occupying sovereign states. That perspective is simply uninformed. Would you prefer Saddam in power? Would you prefer the Taliban in power? Your thesis seems to indicate your preference quite clearly. And if this is the case then why do you live in the United States? Why not go live Tajikistan? China? I’m sure Kim Jong Il would appreciate your perspective in North Korea.

Your claim that war is too costly and thus will somehow fade into distant memory demonstrates your complete lack of reasoning. It may someday be the case that we are able to set aside national interests to focus on human interests but much work has yet to be done. Democratization is needed in the Middle East, South East Asia, South America and so on. Conflict over democratization is likely to occur but it seems you would prefer to have innocent people killed if not accidentally by our own forces trying to free a people, then by repressive regimes killing many more times the people in an effort to strangle basic human dignity.

Our forces have not died in vain and it is no survivor’s myth to believe so. Conversely, to believe that our forces have died in vain in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other theater is the sadist’s myth. In the preamble to our Constitution our Founders wrote, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity[…].” That is our gift to the world and that is America’s gift to humanity. It is on these principles that the United Nations as an intergovernmental organization was founded. It is on these principles that our brave men and women sacrifice their lives and the comforts that we here at home take for granted everyday. It is on these principles that our elected representatives in Washington work for everyday. And, it is on these principles that I thank God everyday that it is not some despotic anti-humanitarian regime that fights to rule the world but that it is the United States of America, a State for the People and by the People, that is working everyday to protect freedom and democracy in every corner of the globe.

Erroneous: "their needs are not below ours and that is precisely why we’re trying to protect and empower other democratic institutions around the world. "


...if you believe that, then you are the one who needs schooling on foreign policy and international relations. The US has made no pretense of maintaining the present disparity at any cost. You spew about "self interest" out of one side of your mouth but then tell these tall tales of US magnanimity out of the other, as if the US has been reluctantly forced into this position, when the exact opposite is true.

To sum up your post...intellectually flabby and long winded , full of lazy assumptions and completely contradictory posturing.


....D minus.