Latest news with #MarkStoneman
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Irish-English officer opens up on brutal time fighting Al Qaeda butchers in Iraq & Afghanistan after 9/11 terror attack
AN Irish-English officer who took up his family's tradition of military service has told of his time deployed in the Middle East - including a moment that warmed his heart and another that 'changed him forever'. Mark Stoneman, 56, was inspired by his grandfather, who fought in the Advertisement 5 Mark was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan Credit: markstoneman 5 The Middle East was ravaged by war after the 9/11 terrorist attack Credit: markstoneman Born to an Irish mum and At 18, he moved to Mark told us: 'When I applied I ran into the British class system where if I wasn't from the right family and didn't go to the right 'I have an interview and everything is going swimmingly with a retired officer, he liked me, it became so apparent that I was qualified for the job until he said, 'When was your dad an officer?', and I said, 'He wasn't, he was a private', and he went 'Oh', and that was the end of the interview. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS 'And I was very disillusioned so I up and left, I went to America and got a scholarship to Mark studied history at High Point University in He quickly climbed the ranks to become an officer before the horrific 9/11 terrorist attack on Manhattan's Twin Towers, which led to the US invasion of Saddam Hussain-controlled Mark said: '9/11 happened and I was like, I can't get out now. Advertisement Most read in Irish News GOING AFTER ENEMY 'I knew that we were going to war, I knew I had a duty to lead my soldiers, and there'd be combat. I had just been promoted to captain. 'Everything was focused on Iraq, going there, keeping people alive. Mastermind behind 9/11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed agrees plea deal to avoid death penalty after years in jail "I wasn't part of the invasion in 2003 but I was in command of a unit in 2004 of about 106 soldiers. 'I had about six months to train them. We went to Iraq for a year where we were responsible for the stability, security, and development of three villages, about 50,000 people. Advertisement 'For a year we were in combat with insurgents, Iraqis who didn't want us there, but they were also attacking civilians trying to go about their daily lives, and my obligation was to protect them as much as to go after the enemy.' Mark said that while some in the Diyala Province in Iraq were grateful for their presence, there was constant combat with 'If someone was working with us, say we hired an electrician to fix streetlight, which happened, they killed that guy to send a message to everyone else, don't work with the Americans, even though we were trying to do something good. RITUAL KILLING 'We fought against Advertisement 'It was long periods of boredom interspersed with moments of sheer terror, we were driving around, most days nothing would happen, then some days they would shoot a rocket at us, you could never predict when it was going to happen, it was a constant challenge as a leader.' And Mark revealed one of the worst things he came across while deployed. He told us: 'Towards the end there was a guy that I became very friendly with. He was the mayor of the village. 'I thought he was coming around to democracy and moving his country forward. Advertisement 'Then one night I was eating dinner with him and he informed me there's going to be a ritual killing the next day of two teenagers caught having extramarital sex, that violated the norms so the respective families were going to execute them. 'I was completely shocked and disappointed, all this work we had put in for GLIMPSE OF HUMANITY While on his second deployment in Iraq in 2010, Mark suffered a devastating attack on the soldiers he was training. He said: 'Al Qaeda attacked the base we were on, they blew up a 500 pound bomb at the gate, a couple hundred feet from where I was and killed all the Iraqis guarding it, that was probably the worst point, I knew those guys.' Advertisement But he explained there were moments of humanity among the constant fighting, including in 2005 sport brought the soldiers and locals together. He said: 'I supported Ipswich town 'And someone I'd never met collected 500 shirts and we managed to get them out and we gave them to men and boys and outfitted a whole league with these shirts. 'Regardless of us being there, we could unite around football, we could agree that playing football was a good thing. Advertisement 'I look back on that as one of the happiest moments of my life, we were able to do something for these people who were dirt poor.' Mark, now a history teacher in He told us: 'My brain works differently now that it did in 2004, because you're constantly under stress, every day. I'm functional and I have a good life but it changes you.' MARK'S book 'Driving Around, Waiting To Get Blown Up' is available now. Advertisement 5 The US army deployed troops to Iraq in 2003 Credit: markstoneman 5 Mark has written a book on his experiences Credit: markstoneman 5 Mark was the head of a peacekeeping force Credit: markstoneman
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Not a Vince replacement' - Stoneman on Hants move
Ex-England batter Mark Stoneman says he is "absolutely not" a direct replacement for James Vince but hopes his experience can help Hampshire push for a first County Championship title in more than 50 who left Middlesex at the end of the 2024 season, signed a one-year contract at the Utilita Bowl in February, a month after last season's top run scorer Vince announced his shift of focus to white-ball 37-year-old said Vince's departure was one of the "moving parts" that led him to Hampshire for the 2025 season, but insisted his fellow former England international was "irreplaceable"."I'm just here to be the best Mark Stoneman, and hopefully that's the contribution that helps take Hampshire forward," he told BBC Radio Solent's Hampshire commentator Kevan left-handed batter, who hit five half-centuries in 11 Tests for England between August 2017 and May 2018 and has averaged 34.23 across his 250 first-class matches, said he feels "as motivated, driven and determined as ever to perform".He expects to open the batting when Hampshire begin their County Championship campaign at home to newly-promoted Yorkshire on 4 April."That's my strongest suit, that's where I've plied my trade for nearly 20 years now," added the former Durham and Surrey man."I'm hoping to get out there, get the team off to a good start and get the runs on the board that we need to push for wins."Stoneman said his new club were a "really competitive side" with a "very proud history" he hopes to add to, with a squad he feels "can go all the way".Hampshire finished runners-up in Division One last summer, with Vince, 34, as their leading scorer for the fourth consecutive season. They last won a County Championship in 1973.
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hampshire sign ex-England batter Stoneman
Hampshire have signed ex-England batter Mark Stoneman on a short-term deal. The left-handed opener has signed a one-year red-ball contract at the Utilita Bowl and will join up with the side before the 2025 season gets under 37-year-old played 11 tests for England, scoring five half-centuries, and most recently played county cricket for Middlesex."I'm very much looking forward to joining Hampshire for the upcoming season." Stoneman said. "I know how hungry the club is to get their hands on the Championship having been so close for the last few years."There's a fantastic group of players and coaches who I look forward to joining up with, and hopefully we can get our hands on that red-ball title come September."Hampshire finished second in Division One last summer which was their best result since will get their County Championship campaign underway in early April when they take on newly promoted Yorkshire at home. Stoneham a "good bit of business" - analysis BBC Radio Solent's Hampshire commentator Kevan JamesStoneman represents a good bit of business by Hampshire as they look to fill the void left by James Vince's decision not to play in the 37-year-old averages 34 in first-class cricket and crucially, despite his age, shows little sign of letting most recent three-and-a-bit year stint at Middlesex saw him average just above that figure at will he bat though? Ali Orr was signed from Sussex and started as Fletcha Middleton's opening partner until he was injured in mid-May and missed the rest of the could Stoneman be persuaded to bat in an unfamiliar role in the middle order, at number four? That's the position Vince has vacated.
