In Memory

Death comes to all. But great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold.

                       -George Fabricius

     New Year’s Eve is a time of both reflection and renewal, a time where a giddy sense of opportunity and hope seep into even the most hardened heart. But there was no joy in Killer Company this New Years Eve… because on New Years Eve we lost a cherished brother. CPL Marcelino “Ronnie” Corniel was a warrior prince. He cut his teeth in the United States Marine Corps, then after a short return to the civilian world he joined the ‘Hard Guard” as he affectionately called it. Shortly after his enlistment he was once again on point for his country.

     The last few weeks have grown increasingly cold – or at least it feels that way to our desert acclimated bodies. But today was different… today the winter sun flared down on our battered hearts and brought some small measure of comfort to our grieving ranks. Under this warm and welcome sky the Battalion gathered for the memorial service. The ceremony took place on a barren patch of concrete… one that our Soldiers have become far too familiar with. To an outsider this desolate slab would hardly merit a second glance. But to us it is a sanctum, a place around which grim soldiers gather to form a living cathedral.

     The first tribute to CPL Corniel was from LTC K, our Battalion Commander.  He remembered CPL Corniel with the following words.

     CPL Marcelino Ronald Corniel, or “Ronnie” to his friends and family, was killed in a mortar attack on his observation post on 31 December ending is life at the young age of 23. CPL Corniel was a son to xxxxx, older brother to three sisters, and engaged to marry his fiancé xxx. He called La Puente, California his home.  CPL Corniel’s strong desire to serve is country drove him to enlist, first in the Marine Corps, and then in the Inactive Ready Reserve. He joined the California Army National Guard in June last year, an answer to his own call of duty, expressing to his friends that “he just had to get over there to help”. Having just arrived in Iraq in September CPL Corniel quickly assimilated into Killer Company, and his infantry platoon was attached to Cyclone Company, manning one of the most dangerous locations in our area of operations. His expert knowledge of weapons gained him immediate notoriety. His platoon mates describe him as a selfless, giving person, who often said that he wanted to go out fighting, and that’s exactly what CPL Corniel did. As we honor his life today, we are reminded of the fleeting moments of life, and the fact that we must fight until the end when we can finally stack arms. No words can ease his family’s loss; we can only offer our prayers and memories. No New Years Eve will ever go without recalling his sacrifice. CPL Corniel stands as a lasting tribute to the American patriot who answers the calling and runs to the sound of the guns. God bless you CPL Ronnie Corniel, and God speed you to your new home with him in paradise. Nightstalkers, Vanguard, Rock of the Marne.

     The next speaker was CPT A, the Commander of Cyclone Company, and he offered the following words.

     First I would like to thank all of you for attending. Seeing you all here, I know it will be alright plus we are going home now.

    I did not know CPL Corniel very well. He had just arrived in Iraqi in September. He was a Marine, and you know what they say… Once a Marine, always a Marine. It always seems like the people you don’t know too well are the ones you wish you had known better just from all the stories people share when they are gone. Corniel was one of those guys. He loved the Corps. He arrived in Kuwait wearing his Marine  unifrm due to RFI being issued in Kuwait.

    He could make people laugh with his stories. Marine stories are always humorous to Army guys. He would say that Army Special Forces were just glorified Marines. One story stands out to SPC Truck. CPL Corniel’s fiance was watching the news about Iraq and asked him why the doctors were mad at the soldiers… CPL Corniel explained to her – not surgeons… insurgents. Just ask SPC Truck for details. He could just make people laugh.

     I have worked with 3^rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1-184 IN since August. They lost the first soldier in the Battalion and it seems like they are closing the same way. My hat is off to you guys. I will fight with you at my side anytime, anywhere. Guys like SGT Henna, SPC German, and SSG Kin… the guys who were hurt with CPL Corniel, the Department of the Navy squad. All of Green, as we called you! All of you are part of the Cyclone family.

    Guys – stand tall. You have done solid work here and made Iraq a better place. Remember CPL Corniel as he was… vibrant and energetic. Do not mourn his death but celebrate a Marine who came to join the ranks of the Army. We all have something to learn from each other. Take this and learn… one day we will all meet up again and there will be one joyous reunion.   

Cyclones – Tear it up! Hard Guard!

     Then I stepped up to the podium and tried to pay tribute to CPL Corniel. My words are but a shadow of CPL Corniel, for no words could truly capture a man of such infinite worth.

     As the sun sets on our deployment I’ve come to realize that we are all bound by ties that can never be shattered. Bone deep bonds that were forged in the blood and fire of combat, and tempered by both sacrifice and loss. Today those ties grow tighter, because today we have to say goodbye to CPL Ronnie Corniel.

     There are some unfortunate souls who never have the chance to meet a true hero. In that respect we were lucky - because we had the honor of serving side by side with one. CPL Corniel was a hero in every sense of the word. His courage both on and off the battlefield was inspiring, and his bearing, leadership, and selfless service exemplified the finest traditions of both the  United States Army and the  United States Marine Corps.

    Ronnie was our company’s resident weapons expert, and his knowledge of small arms was almost uncanny. Every time a new gun magazine arrived at the barracks his friends would show him the pictures and ask him to describe the weapon. To every one’s amazement CPL Corniel would describe the nomenclature, caliber, and range as if those arcane facts were common knowledge. But Ronnie’s encyclopedic knowledge wasn’t just a parlor trick, his expertise was critical out there on patrol. CPL Corniel’s knowledge ensured his platoon was able to safely carry out their mission, and was directly responsible for the capture of several enemy fighters.

      CPL Corniel was a natural born warrior, but his gifts weren’t limited to the battlefield. If anything his loyalty, honesty, and charm eclipsed even his fearsome martial prowess. He was the type of man who reflexively used his gifts to help others; I don’t think he even understood the concept of selfishness. In the next few days our mission here in the land of the two rivers will come to a close, and we will start the long road back home. I know that Ronnie will be there watching over us, just as he always did. Semper Fi!  

     SPC G had the privilege of serving side by side with CPL Corniel, and they were bound together by friendship and their shared memories of the Marine Corps. He remembered his friend with these words.

    Where do I start, when I talk about CPL Ronnie Corniel to some of us here, and you know who you are? He was a former Devil Dog still in the Inactive Ready Reserve with the Marine Corps, when he enlisted with the Army National Guard. He volunteered to come to the suck – Iraq that is – to fight the fight for our country as he always put it. Day in and day out. To me he was a friggin hard charger, always ready to carry out the mission. To CPL Corniel enlisting in the ‘Hard Guard” was just another chapter in his life that he wanted to pursue, and to do it to the best of his ability. He wanted to pass off his skills to those who wanted to learn. But to me he was just Ronnie, not just my brother in arms, but mainly my brother. He will always be in the hearts and minds of my family forever. I know you are up there Ronnie, and that you probably asked the big man up above to issue you a new rifle so you could pull the first watch and guard the gates. But I want to give you one last piece of advice, don’t mouth off to the big man this time! I love you bro.

     Our Chaplain, MAJ B, was the last to speak. His meditation was a salve to our grieving hearts, and reminded us all that the best tribute to CPL Corniel would be to follow his brilliant example. His tribute follows…

“A few days and we all go home. If we can just make it the net few we will be on our way.” That was our cry as we prepared to demobilize. CPL Ronald Corniel was not given those few days. He just had the moment, but he lived those moments fully. Today’s tribute to CPL Ronald Corniel is most fitting and proper. He served the United States Marines, the Army, and hs country well and we pay our deep respect to him and offer our sympathes to his family. 

    He had been a Marine and loved it. He did his time. But he wanted to give more. He chose to join the Army during a time of war. He chose the Guard to serve with brothers and friends he knew. He wanted to do something significant; he wanted to make a difference. He had already done his part, he served his country honorably, he could have stayed home but he came back. This is the type of man we remember.

     We grieve his loss because he was an example of a good Soldier. We mourn his loss because we have seen too much death and now just at the end we have lost another. We say, “Death couldn’t you have let us get out without another meeting?” We are shocked because death does not honor our redeployment schedule. We are numb and we are angry. And that is OK. In our attention to death of our brother today, let us not forget life. Let us remember that while death is inevitable, life is more powerful. Just as the cold, chilly winter months must give way to the light and warmth of spring, so too death cannot stand before the advance of new life.

    Therefore is is also fitting and proper that we, the living, renew our commitment to life with its responsibilities and commitments. Let us resolve that with God being our helper, we will pursue only that which enhance life… and liberty that makes life meaningful. Let us resist that which threatens life and destroys liberty. Let the words of one writer help us as we work toward that goal: “I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.’

    Our Lord has given us a legacy of hope for the future when he said, “ I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me though he were dead, yet shall live. And he that lives and believes in me shall never die.” Let us not fear death, but face it; let us not cower before the future but walk boldly into it. 

    Then too, let us go on to take advantage of today’s responsibilities and opportunities. Let us live each day well – one at a time. Sine we have only one life to live, we should give it our best. Each of us needs a cause and a purpose that is bigger then ourselves to which we can dedicate our lives. CPL Corniel did not live in the past, he did not rest on a past career, he looked forward to what he could offer in the present because he did not let fear of the future hold him back. He came to a dangerous place and live gallantly. He wanted to live vibrantly, now. Let us not regret the past or fear the future so we can get on with the business of living in the present. May we learn to seize the opportunities at hand and thank God for every day we are given. Let us begin with the first day we have, today!

     CPL Corniel was as close to perfect as this world allows. He will be missed. Rest in Peace brother.

 

Comments

[sapper]

Everyone feels your pain, soldiers are the greatest assest this country has.

[M. Ceballos]

1 1/2 years later, Corniel is not forgotten and never will be. Long before he went to Iraq, to all of us in Chosan Young Marines, his sisters and his friends, he was a hero and always will be a hero. The world needs more men like him. Shortly after he passed, I found your blog, I was too emotional then to comment, I just want to say thank you for helping Ronnie's memory live on. Semper Fi

[A M]

I just found your blog. Thanks for that great tribute and recording it here. I was really taken back on how much you guys honored CPL Corniel's Marine service. We all blead and die the same, I am a Marine and it was special for me to read that you honored him like that and the Corps as well. Thanks CPL Corniel - RIP Semper Fi

[Melissa Clarke]

i love the trops keep it up yall always melissa (12 years old)

[Melissa Clarke]

i love the trops keep it up yall always melissa (12 years old)

[Josh]

I love this blog!

[Ed Rocha da Silva]

I am both pleased and surprised you could get pictures together wuth the Iraqi children. I thought their parents would be hostile. Is there any sort of children help program I can send clothing to ? Like so many parents we do have too many clothing in a family of 3 children . Maybe the only snag is that we live in Switzerland and your programs may be run from the US. Thanks for your reply. Ed

[Gen]

I'm fortunate enough to have personally known Ronnie... When notified of his death, I found myself asking many questions - Through a search engine I came across this tribute to him. Thank you for honoring him in such a beautiful way. He is surely missed and impossible to forget. I don't know of a single person who didn't beg him to stay safely at home in La Puente... But we all knew it was a selfish request and he was following through with what he felt and knew in his heart to be best. You've all done an amazing thing out there in Iraq. You've bettered the lives of millions and have given hope to those with none. Take care.

[Trang Nguyen-Beardsley]

Hello D. Since finding out my husband is going to Iraq in April, I pop in on your site a lot to see how you and your men are doing and to learn about what my husband will face once he gets over there. As usual, your writing moved me to tears. I am so sorry for your loss and commend you on your beautiful tribute to your friend and fellow soldier. Take care of yourself because there is a woman at home waiting for you to come to her:)

[Phred]

So very sorry for your loss. Be safe and come home soon.

[Kat in GA]

Hey there...just wanted to pop by again and say that you are all in my prayers and thoughts... hang in there... we are holding you close to our hearts adn in our prayers.... *hugs*

[Beth Lamm]

CPL Coriel stood in the divide separating civilization and un-civilization. Though only 25-years on this earth, he understood something lost on many mature adults. CPL Coriel knew what was lurking on our midst. He chose to protect us. We depend on men like CPL Coriel and we are eternally indebted.

[thebronze]

Rest in Peace, Devil-Dog... Semper Fidelis

[SK]

Another hero and a tragic loss. Godspeed CPL Corniel - R.I.P. T6, I am sincerely sorry for your loss and look forward to seeing that you are, once again, HOME.

[Anne]

I am so sorry that you have lost another comrade. You and your troops are in my thoughts; I hope you all come home safely. May you have peace. Anne

[CJ]

T6--So, so sorry for your loss. You all have endured so much heartbreak this year. You are in my thoughts and my prayers. God hold you all close and ease the pain in your hearts. Thank you for being the Brave Hearts that are willing to give it all for America and Freedom. Semper Gratus.

[shoshi]

I hurt for you and for the family of Cpl Corniel with a psychic pain that is almost physical. I pray that our losses will now come to an end so we can mourn our dead and stay close to those they left behind. You are so close to coming home. May the remainder of your time in Iraq be uneventful so you and your company can come home to a nation which is grateful for all you have done and filled with sorrow for the hero's we have lost.

[David]

This is the third time I've read this post. Quite obviously I never knew Cpl Corniel, but after reading your post and the eulogies to him I find myself wishing I had known him for he is exactly the type of person I would have called friend and brother. Cpl Corniel was an American Fighting Man a Soldier and a Marine, he should be honored for his service and we should all strive to be as selfless as he. I can only hope that one day I may greet him as a brother and share a laugh or two as we watch over the younger generation.

[devildog6771]

I am so very sorry T6 for yet another loss of a brother in arms. I have nothing to offer but my sincerest and heartfelt condolances to his buddies and his family. And ny prayers, I will offer my prayers to his family and all his buddies. God Bless you all. May yo find paece.

[Cheryl Friend]

My deepest condolences to CPL Corniel's family and friends. I sent this poem to my nephew when a fellow Marine in his company lost his life. My heart aches. Farewell Marine Copyright 2005 © Sandra Lee James A Proud Marine Mother Farewell Marine Dedicated to the heroes lost in the helicopter crash near Ar Rutbah, Iraq on January 26, 2005 and in honor of those Marines who will carry on. The combat boots are empty and finally they're still, They're set carefully at attention, they've marched up their last hill. The rifle, too, is silent now and unwaveringly erected, Holding up the well-worn helmet, of the Marine it once protected. One by one his comrades somberly draw near, Each raising one last salute, unashamed to shed a tear. A time-honored tribute, dating back to days of old, As a reverent memorial, a stirring image to behold. It bears witness to the bond of a brotherhood of men, The kind who only come along, every now and then. These men who pass will carry on, they've a mission to complete, For our Country they will fiercely fight, our enemies they'll defeat. But in his heart after this, no Marine will be the same, A hero is now known to him, and bears his buddy's name. Wherever duty takes him, whatever battles he may fight, Never will he forget the friend, who gave his life for what is right. Finally, the bugle sounds, Taps is softly played, Time to say farewell, and say a prayer, for the sacrifices made. This day the names of those who died will be added to the List, They will forever be remembered and will undeniably be missed. Next time you see a proud Marine, in that uniform he wears, Know his heart is strong and true, please keep him in your prayers. He lives by a vow to protect and defend, no matter what the cost, But to every Marine, it carries a name…his buddy who was lost.

THE FINAL INSPECTION The Marine stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass. "Step forward now, Marine, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?" The Marine squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here. They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears. If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand. There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the Marine waited quietly, For the judgment of his God. "Step forward now, Marine, You've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell." God Bless Cpl Corniel.

[Dan Cameron Rodill]

A salute to a soldier who died in honor, and to his comrades who will live in honor.

[Linda]

This is heartbreaking. When you share the depths of your sorrow and the immense loss of such a valiant young man, the heavens open and weep. We need to know these brave soldiers who give so much for us and ask for so little. Semper Fidelis, brave Marine. Semper Fi Guardsman. Semper Fi American. Rest in Peace. We must never forget.

[MissBirdlegs in AL]

So, so sorry, T6, for the loss of this good man. Holding y'all and his family close in thought and prayer. We won't ever, ever forget what we owe all of you. May we at home be as brave, loyal and steadfast as y'all have been. Honor is yours...

[Wayne's Mom]

With blessings and prayers for the family of Cpl Corniel, we station our hearts on the concrete with the Brothers of the Living Cathedral.