Dawid Pietrek, a Polish immigrant, couldn't vote, run for public office or obtain a U.S. passport. But he signed up to serve a country that wasn't yet his, and last month he gave his life for that country.
Continue reading "Immigrant Killed in Afghanistan Granted Posthumous Citizenship" »
Family, Friends Remember Sgt. Matthew Mendoza
SAN ANTONIO -- A San Antonio Marine was laid to rest Saturday, a little more than a week after he died on patrol in Afghanistan.
Before Marine Sgt. Matthew Mendoza left for each of his three deployments to the war zone, he told his father what he wanted done if he came back in a casket.
U.S. Marine Dawid Pietrek, who gave his life for a country that was not yet his own, will be buried with military honors alongside other American heroes.
Continue reading "Fallen DuPage Marine to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery" »
Family members of a 21-year-old U.S. Marine critically injured in Afghanistan late Thursday have talked with him as he awaits transfer to a hospital in Germany.
Continue reading "Injured soldier: I need you to be strong" »
'Outgoing,' 'brave' RHS grad among 4 killed by roadside bomb
A 22-year-old Richmond Marine described by friends as "outgoing" and "brave" was killed over the weekend while serving in Afghanistan.
Dawid Pietrek was a Polish immigrant who went to war for the U.S. to help fulfill his dream of becoming a citizen and police officer.
Continue reading "Roadside bomb claimed Marine from Bensenville" »
Corps was big dream for Polish immigrant
Dawid Pietrek was a Polish immigrant who had always wanted to join the Marines.
Continue reading "Marine from Bensenville killed in Afghanistan, Defense Department says" »
TACOMA -- Family says one of the four Marines killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was from Tacoma.
FENTON — Michael Patton, 19, who grew up in the Fenton area and graduated from Fox High School in Arnold in 2007, was among four Marines killed by a roadside bomb on Saturday in Afghanistan, his sister said Sunday.
Continue reading "Marine from Fenton area is killed in Afghanistan" »
TACOMA, Wash. - A Tacoma family mourns a marine who was killed in Afghanistan.
Continue reading "Marine from Tacoma killed in Afghanistan" »
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — “I started from nothing to making something of my life,” said Cpl. Andrew E. Nelson, a personnel clerk with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5. “I was broke then, and now I have goals, my credit cards are paid and I can go to school again.”
A Tacoma Marine was among four Americans killed Saturday in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, his family said Sunday. Sgt. Michael T. Washington, 20, was returning from a mission when an IED exploded near their Humvee, said his father, who is also named Michael. The Department of Defense had not yet issued a news statement about the incident.
Continue reading "Tacoma Marine among four killed in Afghan blast" »
AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq — Chasing a lifelong dream for a career in professional baseball … It’s a story as distinctly American as apple pie.
Continue reading "Deployed Marine holds onto ‘Big League’ dream" »
COUPLEVILLE, Wash. — After they received the hard news of their daughter’s death in Iraq in December 2006, Mike and Re McClung cloaked themselves in solitude, declining requests for interviews.
Continue reading "Legacy of female major killed in Iraq grows" »
Lance Cpl. Sam Hansen was on a Mother’s Day vehicle patrol in Taliban-heavy Garmser, Afghanistan, when insurgents opened fire.
Continue reading "Marine recovering after being shot in head" »
The young Marine came back from the war, with his toughest fight ahead of him. Merlin German waged that battle in the quiet of a Texas hospital, far from the dusty road in Iraq where a bomb exploded, leaving him with burns over 97 percent of his body.
Continue reading "'Miracle' Marine Refused to Surrender Will to Live" »
A drill instructor hospitalized since March 14 after a motorcycle crash in South Carolina has been upgraded to fair condition and is conscious, a hospital spokesman said Thursday afternoon.
Continue reading "Condition of DI in motorcycle crash upgraded" »
Eupora High graduate, 22, shot to death Sunday during combat in Afghanistan
On Sunday, Marine Cpl. Justin Cooper of Eupora was killed in combat in Afghanistan.
GRAND RAPIDS -- A Marine home on leave and scheduled to return to Iraq on June 2 died in a motorcycle crash while visiting relatives.
Continue reading "Motorcycle crash kills Marine on leave from Iraq" »
RAMADI, Iraq —
RAMADI, Iraq — It was a typical quiet morning on April 22, with the temperature intensifying as a bright orange sun emerged high from the horizon.
Continue reading "Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack" »
Artist's portraits touch spirit of lost Marines of Ohio's Lima Company
COLUMBUS - There's a little-known stretch of heaven in Westerville.
Marine Cpl. Steven Kiernan, 20 of Petaluma, will be awarded the Purple Heart Thursday afternoon at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Continue reading "Petaluma Marine to receive Purple Heart" »
BLOOMER, Wis. — A new Marine who’s graduating from Bloomer High School this month won’t be able to wear his military uniform during the commencement ceremony.
Continue reading "Marine can’t wear uniform at graduation" »
The Marines and sailors of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion gathered with friends and family at the Combat Center’s Sunset Cinema Thursday to honor their fallen comrade Lance Cpl. Drew W. Weaver, who was killed in action Feb. 21 in Iraq.
HABBANIYAH, Iraq (May 8, 2008) – Funny, outgoing, crazy, loving, full of life – those are just a few of the many words that describe the late Cpl. Richard “Ricky” J. Nelson, a 23-year-old rifleman from Kenosha, Wis., who was killed by an improvised explosive device in the al Anbar Province of Iraq, Apr. 14.
Continue reading "Wisconsin family remembers their fallen Marine" »
May 2, 2008 -- A brave Manhattan-born Marine - whom doctors nicknamed the "Miracle Man" for surviving burns to 97 percent of his body after a roadside blast in Iraq three years ago - has died, the Pentagon announced yesterday.
Sgt. Merlin German had been struggling with burn wounds covering more than 97 percent of his body for nearly two years when he made a decision: painful or not, he was going to don his dress blues and whisk his mother away for a dance during a hospital ball.
Continue reading "Marine burned on 97 percent of body dies" »
RAMADI, IRAQ (April 29, 2008) – It was a typical quiet morning on April 22, with the temperature intensifying as a bright orange sun emerged high from the horizon.
Continue reading "Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack" »
KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq, April 28, 2008 – A hard-fought transition brought one Marine from shooting photos to shooting rifles.
Continue reading "Face of Defense: Air Force Photographer Becomes Marine Infantryman" »
CINCINNATI — Yes, there were many tears Sunday afternoon as Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin was finally laid to rest. But they were not all tears of sorrow.
Continue reading "Thousands attend service for former MIA Maupin" »
Two young Marines killed in the explosion of a suicide vehicle are being praised for saving the lives of dozens of Marines and Iraqi police by preventing the vehicle from penetrating a police compound in Ramadi.
A lot has changed for the parents of the late Cpl. Jason Dunham since he died in 2004, after saving two other Marines by throwing himself on an insurgent’s grenade in Karabilah, Iraq.
Continue reading "Construction begins on USS Jason Dunham" »
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - An estimated 20,500 U.S. service members are "non-citizens," according to a March 20 article on CNN.com. They choose to serve, fight and possibly lay down their lives for a country to which they owe no allegiance.
Sniper’s bullet destroyed gunnery sergeant’s knee, but not his will to serve
If you’ve ever wondered what the Marines have in mind when they advertise for “a few good men,” look no further than Gunnery Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson.
Continue reading "Marine who lost leg returns to combat in Iraq" »
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — During the past 31 years, the role of females in the Marine Corps has changed drastically. One female Marine has experienced those changes firsthand.
HAMPTON — The military says the death of a Marine from Hampton is under investigation.
Continue reading "Military says it's investigating death of Hampton Marine" »
One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip cookies and heartfelt talk about Iraq. They had met at a presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do to bring home American soldiers — soldiers like her brother, who had been killed in action a few months earlier.
Continue reading "Vocal on War, McCain Is Silent on Son’s Service" »
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) -- Officials say a 19-year-old Marine has died after he was injured in a traffic accident at Camp Pendleton.
Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marine killed in traffic accident" »
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq Service members from all over the United States deploy to locations around the world leaving their family behind to fight for their country. For one Marine, deploying to Iraq actually meant reuniting with his father.
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich (WOOD) -- When word went out that Joshua Hoffman was coming home, his family asked the injured Marine corporal if he wanted a public homecoming.
"Can I give you a kiss?"
Continue reading "Paralyzed Marine Joshua Hoffman returns home to well-wishers" »
When Lance Cpl. Justin Longcor returned after seven months in Iraq he expected to see a few smiling faces.
Continue reading "Local man gets a surprising welcome back" »
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2008) -- Any Marine would brave enemy fire to rescue a wounded comrade when you have friends that "got your back."
Continue reading "2/7 Marine earns Silver Star for combat valor" »
HIT, Iraq (March 19, 2008) -- HIT, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Micah P. Adams said he never thought that as a rifleman he’d be chosen to personally keep a chaplain safe from harm.
AL ASAD, Iraq (March 13, 2008) -- From Amelia Earhart’s solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1932 to Marine Capt. Sarah Deal’s achievement as the first-ever female Marine Corps pilot in 1995, the spectrum of women’s aviation history continues to expand.
Little-Known Event Is Emotional Salute;
Cpl. Lyon Pays a Visit
WASHINGTON -- Cpl. Kenny Lyon's mother pushed his wheelchair down a narrow Pentagon hallway, crying as she listened to the applause.
Continue reading "Wounded Soldiers See the Pentagon In Private Parade" »
HABBANIYAH, Iraq (March 8, 2008) -- Sacrifices are made when preparing to deploy. When a reserve battalion is activated, the Marines are required to put their entire lives on hold. Not only do they sacrifice being away from family, friends and jobs, some of them even put their dreams on hold.
Continue reading "Marine deploys to Iraq, puts Ultimate Fighter dream on hold" »
If Colin Glavan is worried about going to Iraq, he doesn't show it.
He's a newly minted Marine. So it's his job, he says.
Continue reading "Some time with family, then it's off to war" »
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 4, 2008) -- In his book, “The Epic of America”, James Truslow Adams described the American dream as “…that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.”
RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, Republic of Korea (March 5, 2008) -- Of all the weapons in the Marine Corps arsenal, Sgt. Andrew T. Maddox found just the right one at a bookstore.
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (March 1, 2008) -- KOREAN VILLAGE, AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ -- The overcast sky at Camp Korean Village, Iraq, March 1 reflected the solemn mood as Marines from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 gathered to remember their fallen Marine.
Continue reading "3rd LAR gathers to remember their fallen Marine" »
Spanky Gibson was shot by a sniper in May of 2006 while on foot patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. When the firefight was over, his left leg was gone.
But Gunnery Sgt. William Gibson, a decorated Marine, didn't stop serving his country, even after his leg was amputated above the knee. He didn't settle for a desk job stateside, either. He's back in Iraq — his second tour — on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Continue reading "Iraq War Marine With Amputated Leg Back on Active Duty" »
Staff Sgt. Darren Smiley was sitting at Thanksgiving dinner in 2006 when he made a decision: He needed to see if he could help a man he barely knew by giving up a kidney.
Continue reading "Marine donates kidney to man he barely knew" »
SAN DIEGO (Feb. 22) - It began with a simple act of kindness to save an abused, injured dog from becoming one more victim in the Iraq war.