November Was A Great Month!

The following is the November update from Major Dan Whisnant:

30 November 2006
Family and Friends of Alpha Company,

I know that there has been a whirlwind of recent news articles and talkshows regarding whether or not there is a civil war waging and whetheror not we are winning here in Iraq. I can only speak for the Marines ofAlpha Company and the 72 square kilometers that we are responsible foralong the Euphrates - your Marines are winning. We have been successfulat killing the enemy from close up and from far away. We have beensuccessful at hunting him down where he is sleeping or hiding! When wehaven't been able to actually catch him we have chased him out of hisold neighborhood into another where he can't have the same effect asbefore. We have the enemy looking over their shoulders constantly. Wemust however continue to do this for the remainder of our time here. Wehave completed 60 days here and this is the point where the Marines knowthe roads, feel like they know the areas and the people. We can't fallinto complacency because we have this 'feeling' of comfort. The enemyis always watching our every move but we will continue to hunt him untilwe get on the plane to go back to our loved ones.
The Marines just completed a large scale operation in a small village tothe south of our area of operations. Every other time that we have beenthere we have received indirect fire from mortars, snipers have shot atus, and we've had some lengthy engagements with the enemy.Additionally, when on patrol we have only found 5 males in the entiretown of about 600. This time though your Marines moved in silentlyunder the cover of darkness and cut-off all the routes out of town. Wegot to talk to over 150 males this time and we even captured severalAl-Qaeda in Iraq (AQIZ) followers and operators. But the real story isthat throughout the entire operation - not one single shot was fired -by either side. Amazing isn't it? The Marines went 36 hours withoutsleep and when they finally did get a chance for some sleep they foundthe cold sandy desert floor as their bed for the 3-4 hours they wereable to get. Then they got up in the morning ready to go at it again.
If you haven't heard yet you all need to be checking outwww.griffsnotes.com on a regular basis. Griff Jenkins is a Fox NewsRadio correspondent who spent several days with us here on the peninsulaand now he is telling the story of the Marines of Alpha Company via hisblog. He's telling it like it is and we greatly respect his willingnessto share the same dangers that the Marines experience everyday.
Semper Fidelis,
Dan Whisnant
Major USMC
Alpha Company1/24
Fallujah, Iraq

Home Basketball Schedules for '06-'07

Come out and cheer for the Minutemen and Lady Minutemen!

Nov. 20 - 4:00 V Girls/5:30 V Boys vs. Lake County
Dec. 12 - 4:00 JV Girls/5:00 V Girls vs. Ridgewood
Jan. 9 - 4:00 JH Boys vs. Romeoville/5:00 JV Boys & 6:30 V Boys vs Calumet
Jan. 12 - 4:00 JH Boys/5:00 JV Girls/6:30 V Girls vs. Schaumburg
Jan. 16 - 4:00 JH Boys/5:00 JV Boys/6:00 V Girls/7:30 V Boys vs. Crossroads
Jan. 23 - 4:00 JH Boys/5:00 JV Boys/ 6:30 V Boys vs. Ridgewood
Feb. 6 - 5:00 JV Boys/6:30 V Boys vs. Schaumburg
Feb. 9 - 4:30 V Girls/6:00 V Boys vs. Brentwood
Feb. 13 - 5:30 JV Boys/7:00 V Boys vs. Quentin Road(maybe cancelled if regional game is scheduled)

JH Boys Coach - Mark Wetzel
JV & V Boys Coach - Ed Smith
Girls Coach - Regina DeLozier

Dan Whisnant's Fox Radio Interview

Major Dan Whisnant is interviewed by Fox Radio:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5915245538388243733&pr=goog-sl

If you would like to send a care package to Dan, you can send it to:

Major Dan Whisnant
Alpha 1/24(HQ)
Unit 43585
FPO AP 96426-3585

Varsity Volleyball Defends State Title

For the first time in MMBA history the Varsity Volleyball team repeated as IACS state champions on October 28 by defeating Ridgewood Baptist Academy. The Lady Minutemen finished 16-4 and were coached by Regina DeLozier. Jenny Bryan and Suzanne Ferry were named to the All-Tournament team and Torey DeLozier was selected tournament MVP.

The Junior High Soccer Team Wins State

Dan Whisnant('85) Requests Prayer for his Soldiers

Folks,
I just sent the below out to my Key Volunteer Network back in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Johnson City, Tennessee. It is with a heavy heart that I say hello to you but I feel compelled to update you since it seems like such a long time ago since I sent an update. Despite our casualties the Marines continue to press the fight. I got to speak to my father last night and mentioned to him that there hasn’t been a day when we haven’t exchanged hot lead with the enemy. I don’t say that out of bravado but out of reality of the environment that the Marines live in every minute of every day. They put on their gear, head out on patrol, hide in the dark shadows of the canals and palm groves along the Euphrates and patiently wait for the opportunity to apply their trade. We have also captured our fair share of the enemy who likes to try to hide in plain sight amongst a people that is in the tight grip of greed and fear. These amazing young men work 20 hour days fighting an enemy who has resolve but has felt the wrath of the Marines of Alpha Company. The main purpose of this update is to ask you to please pray for those families who have lost Marines. They carry a heavy burden right now and they need our support and prayers and sincere thanks for their sacrifice. In addition to those we have lost, three other Marines have been injured in days past and have been since medevaced back to the states or are in the process. Lance Corporal Webster and PFC Musk received gun shot wounds to the legs and are both recovering well in San Diego, CA. Lance Corporal Bueno has a broken lower left leg and is currently in Germany but we expect him to join his Marine brothers in CA over the next couple of days. Lance Corporal Teesdale received a concussion the other day as well but he remains here in Iraq recovering nicely and is already asking to go back out with his fellow Warriors. We will see success here despite our losses. The Marines will not have it any other way. Their resolve and their fortitude inspire me daily. The responsibility they feel to each other, their love of family back home, and the commitment to the Marine Corps and to our great country are beyond belief. We will privately mourn these losses in days to come and we will continue our fight. Do not lose your resolve. Do no hesitate in your thoughts about our mission. Pray that these Marines apply their trade justly, swiftly and accurately. Pray for their vigilance. I have to continually thank the Lord for being a part of these remarkable Marine’s lives. What I have experienced over these past couple of days has simply been astonishing and we’re not even 30 days into this deployment. I have been able to talk with the families of these Marines and they are truly heroes as well. I thank them for giving us their sons and husbands. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these families and their Warriors who sacrificed their lives for freedom and for their fellow Marines.
Semper Fidelis,
Dan
Psalm 144:1

Renee Klavohn('99) Spends Summer in Romania

Renee Klavohn('99) is the current 3rd grade teacher at MMBA. This summer she spent the month of July working with missionaries Roy and Rella Chestnut in Oradea, Romania. Renee primarily ministered in New Hope Orphanage, but she also was a camp counselor for a week and worked in 2 Vacation Bible Schools. Over 50 gypsy children made salvation decisions during VBS and over 300 salvation decisions were made during the evening Evangelistic meetings in the gypsy village. Praise the Lord for our teachers at MMBA!

October Update on Dan Whisnant

Friends and Family,

All the Marines have arrived in Iraq safe and sound. I haven’t seen them for nearly three weeks and it was very different operating without them. Now that they are here and we begin operating in the area as a unit it will be amazing to be with them and watch them fight an insurgency that unfortunately is alive and kicking in this area. Our mission in front of us is to get our hands and feet around the throat of this insurgency and start to choke the life out of it. That is no small task as I’m sure you all will agree. A couple of interesting and quite frankly disturbing incidents happened this week that will give you just a glimpse of what we are up against.

Just a couple of days ago we had a platoon operating in a small village where we can always expect contact with the enemy. On this particular day while most of the Marines from Alpha 1/24 and I were there we took very accurate mortar, sniper and machine gun fire throughout the day. It was no coincidence that this came after the imam from the local mosque was heard screaming feverishly, in Arabic of course, over the loudspeaker, “The time is now! The time is now that we use weapons and bullets! The time is now that we fight this infidel! The time is now that you will be excused by Allah if you take up this task! You will be excused because Allah wills it! You must not cooperate with the infidel!” Now what would you do if you heard this coming from a mosque and you were in a city that you had previously taken mortar, sniper and machinegun fire? Run? Hide? Wait? Take action against the mosque? A bit of a dilemma isn’t it?

Well our Marines did exactly what all good combat Marines do – they went on patrol to go find the enemy and just dare anyone who would take the imams advice and encouragement to come out and play. There were a few who took the imams fanatical and hysterical words and tried to put those words into action. The Marines received some very accurate fire from some distance and they immediately located and closed with the enemy. We don’t know for sure if any insurgents were killed during this action but this small patrol of Marines definitely fought an unseen enemy with ferocity and fearlessness. Now I would hasten to say that not every mosque is preaching this message every time we go into a different village but I began to think about how this would work in the reverse? What if our preachers spoke out from the pulpits about others the way this imam did? What would our news media do with that? What would the liberal lawyers do with that? What if our preachers and pastors spoke about the Islamic religion and those who follow it with the hatred, intensity, and rage that this imam expressed about the American infidel? This makes our job very difficult indeed.

Pray for Dan Whisnant('85) as he heads back to Iraq

"Another time in the 'land between the two rivers'...I really cannot believe the time has gone by so fast since I got home last April and now I'm headed back to Iraq. The training package that we have undergone for the last 120 days has been a whirlwind but it has been absolutely what we needed to get ready to go and fight a living, breathing, thinking enemy. I never second-guessed God or myself this time around because I witnessed what He did the 1st time I went over. I am now directly responsible for over 190 young men's lives and a large stretch of ground that runs along the Euphrates River (I'll let you know where that is once I get settled in country). Being with these men throughout the summer has been an absolutely unbelievable experience! The average age is 22. Over 80% joined after 9/11 because they wanted to be part of something that is the very best in the world, part of an organization that fights for freedom and liberty for others, part of an organization that will show up anytime, anywhere, in any weather and kick in a door of a terrorist hideout, or capture a weapons cache, or bring medical supplies and clean water to those that so desparately need it, or just stand between a crazed insurgent who cannot stand the thought of freedom and the citizens of a nation who yearn for democracy. The anniversary of 9/11 is tomorrow. Many of you know that Michele and I were flying from Newark to Chicago that very morning. When we came off the plane, the 1st tower had already been hit. When I saw the 2nd tower get hit, I turned to Michele and said "We're going to war." I didn't realize my words at that time would impact me and my family the way it has since the beginning of 2004. But I go with a happy heart knowing that I'm in the Lord's hands, I'm in your prayers daily, I have the best training in the world, and I have the very best and brightest this nation has to offer who wear an Eagle, Globe and Anchor over their heart on their camoflage utilities. It is such a blessing to be a part of this group. They willingly sleep in the dirt, go without showers for weeks on end, walk for miles in 110 degree heat with loads that are nearly half some of their body weight and they do all this with smiles on their faces. I depart in less than a week. The rest of the company will join me towards the end of this month. I talked to them last night and I'll talk to them again later this week for the last time before these youngs warriors go to battle. They are so eager to get this started. They are ready. They are prepared. Their minds, their bodies and I'm praying that their souls are ready for what lies ahead. Blood, sweat and tears will be shed over the next 8 months by these warriors and by those who are fortunate enough to be associated in way or another with these magnificent young men.. I thank you foremost for your prayers. Pray that we remain vigilant throughout our time. That we don't succumb to complacency at any time. That we continually take the fight to the enemy. That we are righteous in our decisionmaking. That we stand proud with a clean conscience before you and the Iraqi people when this fight is done. I thank you also for your unwavering support. The enemy is attacking the political will of the American public. Don't falter here...don't let us down by doubting the mission and the people carrying it out. Don't watch the news continually! I promise to keep you updated at least every two weeks and more often if time allows. Thanks to those who are caring and praying for my family - who has allowed me this opportunity to go again and be separated yet again from them. I know it is tough on all of them but they have stayed so positive throughout and God has blessed them for it. Please write either via email or at the address below and of course care packages are always welcome!! AA batteries, baby wipes and Swedish fish are the staples in Iraq!! "

Semper Fidelis,
Major Dan Whisnant
Ps 144:1

MMBA Begins '06-'07 School Year

The 36th school year began Monday, August 21. Enrollment for the school is 310 students. Principal Steve Tompkins is starting his 3rd school year at MMBA. The other faculty/staff are:

Elementary Supervisor - Dianne Philips
Childcare Supevisor - Karen Coggins
Pre-School - Joan Harney, Liz Martuneac, Rita Woods, Kathy Gabel
K-5 - Theresa Wetzel, Jackie Maronic('98)
1st Grade - Rhonda Todd('83)
2nd Grade - Jill Zajac
3rd Grade - Renee Klavohn('99)
4th Grade - Jill Scalzitti
5th Grade - Cathy Taylor
6th Grade - Lynn Keaton
Computers - Dave Harney
Science - Regina DeLozier
Math - Mark Wetzel
English - Sandy Rogers('83)
Jr. & Sr. High Band, Sr. High Choir - Tim Wampler
Jr. High Choir, Elementary music - Dan Askins
Athletic Director - Ed Smith
French - Jackie Maronic('98)
Music - Sandy Askins, Valerie Mueller
Kitchen - Cindy Zajac
Office - Melissa Huizinga, Sandy Primm, DeAnna Huba

Pray for the MMBA faculty/staff as they teach a generation of young people to grow in Christ.

Jim VanGelderen Preaches at Marquette

Evangelist Jim VanGelderen('77) returned to preach at Marquette's August Preaching Conference. Jim VanGelderen is the director of Minutemen Ministries(www.minutemenministries.org) and the VP of Baptist College of Ministry(www.bcmedu.org) in Menomonee Falls, WI. He and his wife Rhonda have been involved with The War since its inception at Marquette in 1984. The Minutemen team derived its name from the mascot of the Marquette Manor Baptist Academy Minutemen.

Jane Martuneac finishes 1st year teaching in China

Jane Martuneac, 2001 MMBA grad, was an English teacher at Yi Ji Yi Zhong high school in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China this past year. Jane taught English to 600 students with her classes averaging 70-80 students. She is employed by Worldwide Tentmakers and plans to return on August 25th for her second year. Although China is closed to mission work and the teaching of Christianity, Jane has been able to present the Gospel through the teaching of American holidays and proverbs from the Bible.

The city of Baotou is located by the Gobi desert. Baotou is known for its extremely cold winters and the sand storms in the spring.

Pray for Jane as she continues to learn the Chinese language and for her witnessing opportunities.

MMBA Class of 2006

For the 13th consecutive year, the MMBA Seniors have visited Europe for their Senior Trip.

(Front L-R) Wayne Pua, Rachel Scalzitti, Sarah Slater, Jenny Wetzel, Esther Lee
(Back L-R) Jessica Andreotta, Nick Ayala, Frank Dybas, Dan Campbell, Josh Canedy

On May 26th, Marquette celebrated its 33rd Commencement. Praise the Lord for allowing Marquette faculty to now have trained 550 graduates to go out into the world to serve Him!

Pray for Our Soldiers in Iraq and Their Spouses at Home

SFC James Lopez('87) in Baghdad

james.alexander.lopez@us.army.mil

Please pray for the following MMBA alumni serving our country in the military:

James Lopez('87) - Army

Josh Evans('98) - Army

Heather Whitecotton('01) - Army

Dan Whisnant('85) - Marines

Adam Tuttle('95) - Marines

Jason Scalzitti('01) - Air Force

If you know of any other alumni serving in the military, please email jenramler@hotmail.com

Friends of MMBA Banquet

MMBA Alumni Group Picture

On Saturday April 8th, Friends of MMBA hosted a banquet at Seven Bridges Golf Clubhouse in Woodridge, IL. The banquet was a time for alumni, former students, parents, and supporters to get together for fellowship. Five testimonies were shared and Principal Steve Tompkins gave an update on the Academy. Over 70 people attended of which 23 were alumni. Plan to join us for next years' banquet on June 8, 2007 at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL.

Mayslake Peabody Estate

Banquet Testimonies

Brad Ramler('94)

Pastor Bob Mukenschnabl('88)

Pastor Keith Betry('90)

Five testimonies were shared at the banquet. Brad Ramler shared his testimony and gave his vision for Friends of MMBA. Pastor Bob Mukenschnabl shared his testimony about planting a church in Elgin, IL. Pastor Keith Betry shared his testimony as a youth pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Frankfort, IL. Testimonies of Andy Petersen('84) and Pastor Al Carson were read at the banquet.

Banquet Dinner Tables

More Banquet Pics

Vicky Boonstra Horner('81), Dave Harney, Pastor and Mrs. Disque

Mark Wetzel('81), George Primm('76), Pastor Bob Mukenschnabl('88)

Pastor Shoaf, Pastor and Mrs. Voegtlin, Wendy Voegtlin

Sharon and Dave('80) Rundo and Pastor Kent Ramler('86)

Pastor Keith Betry('90), Ginger Betry Sprecher('85), Kathy Vasel Speakman('90), Tammy Betry

Rachelle Castaneda Evans('94), Brad Evans('95), Annemarie Weiss Vinci('94)