The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 108

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See your Bridal Gift Registry Consultant for details. By Tony Perry Times Staff Writer FALLOUJA, Iraq Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis paused briefly to watch his troops digging fighting holes during a lull in combat with Iraqi insurgents.

why the good Lord made the he said to his Marines. to Then he jumped into his personal light armored vehicle stuffed with electronic gear he uses to stay in touch with field commanders. The remark was typical Mattis confident, even jaunty, a 53-year-old general comfortable with his role as a combatant in perhaps the most volatile region of Iraq. Mattis is familiar with the dangers of war in inhospitable terrain. As the lead commander of Task Force 58, he pushed hundreds of miles into the Afghan desert to establish bases just weeks after the Sept.

11, 2001, attacks. Marines under Mattis aided anti-Taliban forces, secured the strategic Kandahar airport and cut off escape routes for Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters. As commanding general of the 1st Marine Divisionfrom Camp Pendleton, Mattis led 65,000 troops in their furious push toward Baghdad last year, the longest, fastest move of a division-sized unit in Marine Corps history. In their book, March Up: Taking Baghdad With the 1st Marine retired Maj. Gen.

Ray L. Smith and former Assistant Defense Secretary Bing Westcredited Mattis with much of the success. Aman of average size and height, Mattis lacks the physical presence of some Marine officers. Nor is he an orator of note. But he is known for his concern for the enlisted ranks and unflagging confidence in his troops.

Behind his back, troops call him Dog high praise in Marine culture. can swear as much as any enlisted a corporal said. Never married, Mattis has made the Marine Corps his life. He quotes the classical Greeks and George Washington and reads books about history and military tactics. He own atelevision, although he counts CBS anchorman Dan Rather, a former Marine, among his friends.

done nine tours of duty in the Middle East. very comfortable he told an Iraqi group recently, shortly after the division took control of much of the dangerous Sunni Triangle region. For his second Iraqi tour, Mattis has embraced a and posture, lecturing troops to make friends with Iraqis. laid down strict rules for when troops can fire and requires commanders to seek his permission before using artillery. came out hereto listen to and learn from you people and to see how we can help the Mattis recently told a town council in Taamin, a suburb of Ramadi.

did not come here to tell you how to run he told the group. here, guests, forced guests maybe, but guests. When we leave we want friendship, not negative But even as he talked of rebuilding schools and restoring water and power delivery, he said that rooting out insurgents is a top priority. are people here whose hatred guides everything they he said. Dog Battles for Support Rick Loomis Los Angeles Times IN CHARGE: Maj.

Gen. James N. Mattis led the Marines in their push to Baghdad. From Associated Press FALLOUJA, Iraq Amid the clatter of gunfire and explosions that regularly rock this city, an unexpected sound rises over the front line bagpipes. Dressed in Marine fatigues with his gun at his side, 1st Sgt.

Dwayne Farr, 36, blows into his set of pipes. The plaintive wail is carried by the wind that whips across this dust-blown, war-torn town. on the battlefield I never thought that would Farr said. Farr, an African American from Detroit, was inspired to learn when he saw another player who fit the Scotsman stereotype. was at a funeral and I saw a Marine playing the bagpipes, and I thought, this a big, burly, redheaded guy with a ponytail and a big stomach.

asmall Hispanic Marine. I said, if he can learn to play the bagpipes, I can he said, chuckling. When he is not on the front line, Farr wears a kilt when play- ing, and some Marines have been skeptical about a member of one of the toughest fighting forces in the world donning what looks like a skirt. But Farr is unfazed. looking for a desert camouflage kilt he can wear in operations like these.

Among his admittedly limited repertoire is taps, traditionally played by the military when aservice member is killed. Farr has played the tune several times in recent days in Fal- louja. Associated Press WAR AND MUSIC: Marine 1st Sgt. Dwayne Farr has brought the bagpipes to the battlefield. In Fallouja, a Musical Marine in Kilt.