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January 25, 2016

NAVY CORPSMEN CONTINUE SUPPORT OF MARINE OPERATIONS, TRAINING

By Cpl. Janessa Pon, II Marine Expeditionary Force
25 Jan 2016

COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI, Japan -- For more than 239 years, Navy corpsmen have been known as the enlisted force which has supported Marine operations and training both garrison and the field.

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January 22, 2016

Images: Exercise Iron Fist 2016 Opening Ceremony

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released
Date Posted:01.22.2016 20:35

The opening ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2016 which is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise held in Southern California between the United States Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The Marines taking part in the exercise are from I Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Pendleton.

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January 20, 2016

Images: 11th Marine Regiment celebrates Saint Barbara's Day

Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel
Date Taken:01.15.2015 | Date Posted:01.20.2015 13:47

The 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, celebrated St. Barbara’s Day at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Jan. 15. Saint Barbara is invoked for protection against fire or explosions and is known as the patron saint of artillery.

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January 18, 2016

Images: MRF Deck Shoot

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Hector de Jesus/Released
Date Taken:01.18.2016 | Date Posted:01.19.2016 00:39

U.S. Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a deck shoot during Sustainment Exercise aboard the USS Boxer, January 18, 2016 in preparation for their upcoming deployment.

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January 14, 2016

MEU Marines train for jungle combat

by LCpl Carl King
Date Taken:01.07.2016 | Date Posted:01.14.2016 07:24

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – His bulky, brown pack soaked in rain water made it a challenge to walk up the already steep hills of the jungle. His shoulders ached in a constant, annoying pain from the weight of the pack. The mud under his feet made him slip and fall every 100 steps. Through all these tangible problems and an array of intangibles, the Marine kept his composure and focused on the mission at hand – to locate, close with and destroy his enemy.

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December 23, 2015

Video: 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment mortarman gives a holiday shoutout

by Sgt Owen Kimbrel
12.23.2015 10:20AM

U. S. Marine Corps mortarman with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, gives a holiday shoutout to his friends and family back home.

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December 21, 2015

Eyes from Above: Marines, Soldiers join forces for Steel Knight

by Lance Cpl. Medina Ayala-Lo
Date Posted:12.21.2015 15:52

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Corps Reconnaissance units serve as the eyes and ears of the commander, providing information necessary to employ troops effectively. This large undertaking is typically carried out with a small team of specially trained Marines, but that changed during Steel Knight.

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Marines combat an unseen enemy

By Lance Cpl. Caitlin Bevel | I Marine Expeditionary Force | December 21, 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines train diligently every day to ensure their success in subduing very real and dangerous threats around the world, but even those of the most threatening nature cannot always be seen.

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December 17, 2015

Fellow Marine veterans aid in the search for a missing vet

By Staff Writer|December 17th, 2015 | Military News, U.S. Marines

U.S. Marines who served with missing snowmachiner travel to Alaska to help search.

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December 11, 2015

Toys for Tots receives truckload of toys from MCCES

by Cpl Monica Erickson
Date Posted:12.11.2009 12:45

The formation of 1,626 Marines seemed to go on forever as they poured out of the Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School during the Toys for Tots Run at the Combat Center, Dec. 4.

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December 7, 2015

MARINES SWIM THROUGH MARINE CORPS INSTRUCTOR COURSE OF WATER SURVIVAL

By Lance Cpl. Zachary Orr, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
7 Dec 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -- Service members enrolled in the Marine Corps Instructor Course of Water Survival strive to achieve the title of a water survival instructor by completing a training program in the classroom and practicing those lessons at the base pool aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec.1, 2015.

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December 2, 2015

Essex Ready Group Enters 3rd Fleet Area on Return to San Diego

POSTED BY CHRIS JENNEWEIN ON DECEMBER 2, 2015 IN MILITARY

The Sailors and Marines of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit entered the 3rd Fleet area of operations this week on their way back to San Diego.

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8 Unbelievable Stories From The Second Battle Of Fallujah

By James Clark on December 2, 2015
Veterans from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines share their incredible stories from the Second Battle of Fallujah.

This time of year marks the anniversary of one of the most storied battles in recent Marine Corps history: the Second Battle of Fallujah. The city became the scene of brutal urban combat when American, Iraqi, and British forces launched an all out assault on Nov. 8, 2004, to seize it from Iraqi insurgent hands.

Continue reading "8 Unbelievable Stories From The Second Battle Of Fallujah" »

December 1, 2015

Law enforcement battalion extends arm of law

By Pvt. Robert Bliss | I Marine Expeditionary Force | December 1, 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- In the early hours of the morning, two companies of Marines received information that the location of a high-value individual had been found. The mission: apprehend the individual with minimal casualties.

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November 25, 2015

Twentynine Palms Marines reflect on Thanksgiving

Denise Goolsby, The Desert Sun 10:23 a.m. PST November 25, 2015

I hung out with some Marines recently at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, where we chatted about a wide range of topics, but nothing dominated the conversation more than the subjects of thankfulness and family.

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November 24, 2015

Combat Skilled, Combat Ready

by LCpl Devan Gowans
Date Taken:11.20.2015 | Date Posted:11.24.2015 14:22

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, kicked off their round of participation in the Basic Combat Skills Course, Nov. 17, 2015.

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November 20, 2015

CHP officers pay special tribute to Marine killed in crash

By Erin Tracy
The Modesto Bee
Published: November 20, 2015

MODESTO, Calif. (Tribune News Service) — U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Layne Johnson, a Modesto native, was driving back to Fresno from Twentynine Palms on Wednesday when he apparently fell asleep and drifted off the highway.

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November 16, 2015

Images: Swim Call: U.S. Marines walk the plank

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/Released
Date Posted:11.15.2015 19:33

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 15, 2015) U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Essex Amphibious Ready Group leap off the side of the USS Essex (LHD 2) during a swim call.

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November 15, 2015

Inside the legacy of the oldest living sergeant major of the Marine Corps

By Gidget Fuentes, Special to Military Times 10:24 a.m. EST November 15, 2015

As Marines gather to celebrate the Corps' 240th birthday, chants of "oorah!" are likely to be heard around the world. That iconic battle cry is just one mark of the long-lasting legacy left by the oldest living sergeant major of the Marine Corps.

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November 14, 2015

Images: Rehearsals: U.S. Marines with Quick Reaction Force stay prepared

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/Released
Date Taken:11.14.2015 | Date Posted:11.15.2015 01:18

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 14, 2015) U.S. Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare for a quick reaction force rehearsal aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2). The 15th MEU is currently deployed in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to promote regional stability and security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Continue reading "Images: Rehearsals: U.S. Marines with Quick Reaction Force stay prepared" »

November 7, 2015

Video: CLB-11 Completes Final Exercise at MTX 6-15

by Cpl Carson Gramley
Date Taken:11.2.2015 | Date Posted:11.5.2015 1:11PM

Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 1st Marine Logistics Group, test their operational capacity and capabilities as a logistics and support unit during Mountain Exercise 6-15 at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California to be better prepared for their upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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November 1, 2015

13th MEU AAVs assault from ship to shore

Story by Sgt Paris Capers
Date Taken:10.22.2015 | Date Posted:11.01.2015 22:35

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. – U.S. Marines and Sailors with Assault Amphibian Vehicle Platoon, Company “E,” Battalion Landing Team 2/1, the ground combat element for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted an amphibious assault on San Clemente Island, California, during Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 22, 2015.

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13th MEU Marines evacuate embassy during COMPTUEX

Story by Sgt Paris Capers
Date Taken:10.26.2015 | Date Posted:11.01.2015 23:14

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - U.S. Marines and Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation on Camp Pendleton, California, during Composite Training Unit Exercise, Oct. 26, 2015.

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October 31, 2015

Images: Long Range Raid

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Briauna Birl/RELEASED
Date Taken:10.30.2015 | Date Posted:10.31.2015 01:50

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), return to the USS Boxer after conducting a raid on a simulated hostile village during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) at sea, Oct. 30, 2015.

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West Coast Marines could get their own Iwo Jima memorial

Matthew L. Schehl, Staff writer 3:51 p.m. EDT October 31, 2015

Seventy years after one of the Marines’ deadliest battles, a California nonprofit is on a mission to bring the original statue of the iconic flag raising on Iwo Jima to the West Coast.

Continue reading "West Coast Marines could get their own Iwo Jima memorial" »

October 29, 2015

Marines were once saved by candy from the sky

By Blake Stillwell - Published October 29, 2015

Over the course of 17 days, Marines fighting at North Korea’s Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War put out a call for “Tootsie Rolls,” their code for 60mm mortar rounds. When supplies were finally airdropped to them on the ground, they opened the crates to find… candy. Thousands of actual Tootsie Rolls.

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October 28, 2015

'Magnificent Seventh' returns

Story by LCpl Levi Schultz
Date Taken:10.27.2015 | Date Posted:10.28.2015 13:06

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - A crowd of elated family members and friends welcomed home Marines and sailors of 7th Marine Regiment during the regiment’s homecoming at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, Oct. 23, 2015. ‘Magnificent Seventh’ deployed as part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command 15.2.

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October 17, 2015

U.S. Marines run, grapple, shoot

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Anna Albrecht/Released
Date Taken:10.16.2015 | Date Posted:10.17.2015 08:03

ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 16, 2015) U.S. Marines with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, run, grapple and shoot aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). The 15th MEU, embarked aboard the ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, is deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

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October 15, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON PREPARES FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING

By Carlos Correa
Story Published: Oct 15, 2015 at 4:19 PM PDT
Story Updated: Oct 15, 2015 at 5:09 PM PDT

CAMP PENDLETON -- Leaders at Camp Pendleton are preparing for what is expected to be an extremely rainy winter thanks to strong El Nino conditions. From clearing drainage channels to having extra sand bags handy.

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October 7, 2015

Combat Center receives DOD sustainability award

Story by LCpl Connor Hancock
Date Taken:10.01.2015 | Date Posted:10.07.2015 19:24

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The Department of Defense awarded the Combat Center the 2015 Secretary of Defense Sustainability Award in the non-industrial installation category, at the Combat Center Commanding General’s Conference Room, Oct. 1, 2015.

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September 25, 2015

Network it out: Cyber Network Specialists help Marines communicate at PMINT

Story by SSgt Terika King
Date Taken:09.24.2015 | Date Posted:09.25.2015 12:24

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. – U.S. Marines and Sailors with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group have been working around the clock to get Internet networks and cyber communication up and running aboard the USS Boxer, USS New Orleans and USS Harpers Ferry for the PHIBRON-MEU Integration (PMINT) Exercise.

Continue reading "Network it out: Cyber Network Specialists help Marines communicate at PMINT" »

September 23, 2015

Marine 3-star: Watch Ramadi to see the Corps' impact

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 8:18 p.m. EDT September 23, 2015

Expect Marines to remain fully engaged in the effort to combat the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq in the coming year, the head of Marine Forces Central Command said.

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Corps reactivates 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, after drawdown save

By Matthew L. Schehl, Staff writer 9:14 a.m. EDT September 23, 2015

One of the Marine Corps’ most deployed units in history celebrated its triumphant return to the force last week.

Continue reading "Corps reactivates 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, after drawdown save" »

September 19, 2015

US Marines team up with French forces in Djibouti

By 1st Lt. Allison Burgos | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | September 19, 2015

USS ANCHORAGE -- Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are scheduled to participate in a bilateral training exercise with the French 5th Overseas Combined Arms Regiment (RIAOM) from September 21 – October 10 aboard Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

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August 30, 2015

1/7 Marines win West Coast Super Squad competition

By James K. Sanborn, Staff writer 10:20 a.m. EDT August 30, 2015

Fifteen West Coast Marines were recently named the top infantrymen in their division after winning the first Super Squad competition held there in 15 years.

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August 29, 2015

'War Dogs' Squad Competition

Courtesy Video
Date Taken:08.27.2015 | Date Posted:08.28.2015 11:16PM

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted a squad-level training exercise aboard the Combat Center, Aug. 24 through Aug. 28, 2015. The exercise served as a competition and simulated fighting an enemy in desert and urban environments.

Continue reading "'War Dogs' Squad Competition" »

August 25, 2015

Tougher than Grease: Dark Horse Ajax Challenge

By Cpl. William Perkins | 1st Marine Division | August 25, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and Sailors assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, executed the Dark Horse Ajax Challenge aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 20, 2015.

Continue reading "Tougher than Grease: Dark Horse Ajax Challenge" »

August 13, 2015

CLB-1 PREPARES FOR SP-MAGTF, LARGE SCALE EXERCISE

By Cpl. Sullivan Laramie, II Marine Expeditionary Force
13 Aug. 2015

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, California -- Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, conducted mounted patrol training during the unit’s Integrated Training Exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 10, 2015.

Continue reading "CLB-1 PREPARES FOR SP-MAGTF, LARGE SCALE EXERCISE" »

July 17, 2015

Whatever it takes: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron – 165 celebrates 50 years of aviation

by LCpl Garrett White
Date Posted:07.17.2015 17:03

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Marines pride themselves on being willing to take the fight to the enemy in any clime and place, but will never complain about getting a lift. Since the introduction of helicopter squadrons in military operations, Marines have been able to go farther and faster to protect America’s interests. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-165 is one such squadron. Having participated in some of recent history’s most iconic moments, on July 17, 2015 the unit celebrates 50 years of dedicated and storied service to Marine aviation.

Continue reading "Whatever it takes: Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron – 165 celebrates 50 years of aviation" »

July 5, 2015

Arizona Corpsman deploys to Middle East

Story by LCpl Garrett White
Date Posted:07.03.2015 10:35

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Since June 17, 1889, sailors of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps have been providing lifesaving care to the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps. Marines have no medical services organic to their branch, but Navy Corpsmen have fought in every clime and place, right along their sides.

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July 2, 2015

U.S. Marines save Bunbury bus driver

Story by Cpl Ryan Mains
Date Taken:07.01.2015 | Date Posted:07.02.2015 05:54

BUNBURY, Australia - After being in the everyday routine of life aboard a U.S. Navy ship for almost three weeks, the only thing in mind for most when given four days ashore is to explore the area and have fun with their friends while on liberty. For three Marines, assisting a local who went unconscious behind the steering wheel of a bus wasn’t on their agenda, but they were prepared for it regardless.

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June 15, 2015

Floating base named for legendary Marine arrives in fleet

By Lance M. Bacon, Staff writer 5:44 p.m. EDT June 15, 2015

The newest vessel in the Corps' amphibious arsenal carries the name of its most iconic Marine — and it is ready for action.

Continue reading "Floating base named for legendary Marine arrives in fleet" »

June 11, 2015

‘I saw only one thing in their eyes: courage’

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 11, 2015

When the bomb exploded, Navy Chief Petty Officer Justin Wilson didn’t run away.

Continue reading "‘I saw only one thing in their eyes: courage’" »

May 22, 2015

Second Marine killed in Hawaii Osprey crash identified

By Gina Harkins, Staff writer 1:58 p.m. EDT May 22, 2015
UPDATE: Marine officials released a correction on Lance Cpl. Matthew Determan's hometown on May 22.

Corps officials have identified the second Marine to die as a result of Sunday's MV-22B Osprey crash as Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Determan of Ahwatukee, Arizona.

Continue reading "Second Marine killed in Hawaii Osprey crash identified" »

May 19, 2015

US Marines conclude successful exercise alongside Canadian Forces

Story by Cpl Owen Kimbrel
Date Taken:05.16.2015 | Date Posted:05.19.2015 13:36

CANADIAN MANOEUVRE TRAINING CENTER, CAMP WAINRIGHT, Alberta – The Marines and Sailors of 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, successfully completed Exercise Maple Resolve 2015 with the Canadian Armed Forces at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Center, Camp Wainwright, Alberta, May 16, 2015.

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May 18, 2015

11th MEU Makes New Friends, Strengthens Ties with Local Community

Story by Cpl Ricardo Hurtado
Date Taken:05.16.2015 | Date Posted:05.18.2015 16:36

YORBA LINDA, Calif. – Communities near military installations have a unique perspective on the lifestyle service members and their families live. They are an integral part of the support system that is essential to maintaining an efficient force. The community of Yorba Linda, California, solidified their support by adopting the I Marine Expeditionary Force's 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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May 11, 2015

Essex Amphibious Ready Group, 15th MEU Deploy from San Diego

POSTED BY DEBBIE L. SKLAR ON MAY 11, 2015 IN MILITARY | 127 VIEWS | LEAVE A RESPONSE

The ships, sailors and Marines of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed San Diego Monday on a deployment that’s expected to last around seven months.

Continue reading "Essex Amphibious Ready Group, 15th MEU Deploy from San Diego" »

May 7, 2015

Video: US Marines Make Lightning from the Sky, Thunder from the Sea in Canada

by Cpl Owen Kimbrel
Date Taken:05.5.2015 | Date Posted:05.7.2015 12:25AM

Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company conducted calls for fire with Canadian Armed Forces during Exercise Maple Resolve 2015 aboard Canadian Manoeuvre Training Center, Camp Wainwright, Alberta, May 5, 2015.

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Video: 1st MAW Marines Build Solar Powered Device Out of Leftover Gear

by Cpl Ricardo Hurtado
Date Taken:04.28.2015 | Date Posted:05.7.2015 4:32PM

U.S. Marines with Detachment A, Marine Air Control Squadron 4, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, built a solar powered device made of old military parts to power an AN/TRN-47 Deployable Beacon-Transponder, which provides tactical air navigation services and was tested for the first time during Exercise Balikatan 2015.

Continue reading "Video: 1st MAW Marines Build Solar Powered Device Out of Leftover Gear" »

April 30, 2015

Fires Burning at Camp Pendleton Scorch 4,000 Acres

The Camp Pendleton Scout, the base newspaper, reported that the fires are in the live fire impact areas and do not affect buildings.
By MIRNA ALFONSO (Patch Staff)
April 30, 2015

Camp Pendleton personnel Wednesday reported that fires started in the live fire impact range on base have burned some 4,000 acres.

Continue reading "Fires Burning at Camp Pendleton Scorch 4,000 Acres" »

April 27, 2015

Images: Always Ready; LAVs got your back

Photos by Cpl. Elize McKelvey
Date Taken:04.19.2015 | Date Posted:04.27.2015 12:25

Certification Exercise (CERTEX) aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 19, 2015 -- The Marines with the 1st LAR Det honed their skills as they prepare for their upcoming deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Elize McKelvey/Released)

Continue reading "Images: Always Ready; LAVs got your back " »

April 17, 2015

Video: 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Anti-Armor Range

by Cpl Cansin P. Hardyegritag
Date Taken:04.3.2015 | Date Posted:04.17.2015 2:37PM, RELEASED

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command conduct anti armor training course on April 3rd, 2015 aboard Al Asad Airbase, Iraq.

Continue reading "Video: 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment Anti-Armor Range " »

“Quick” on their feet during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015

By Lance Cpl. April Price, I Marine Expeditionary Force
14 Apr 2015

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- Searching and sniffing for anything suspicious, military working dog teams provide a unique layer of security for Marines while forward deployed, operating alongside as their handlers clear patrol routes and conduct vehicle searches on the front lines.

Continue reading "“Quick” on their feet during Exercise Desert Scimitar 2015" »

April 15, 2015

Marine crisis response group returns home from Mideast

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: April 15, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A crisis response unit that was created last year and deployed to the Middle East just as tensions were rising in Iraq returned home Tuesday.

Continue reading "Marine crisis response group returns home from Mideast" »

April 8, 2015

Gunnery sergeant to receive Navy Cross for Afghanistan valor

The Associated Press
Published: April 8, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The Marine Corps said Tuesday that a gunnery sergeant will receive the service's second-highest award for enduring heavy assault in Afghanistan while his team leader and another Marine were ushered to safety after being shot and seriously wounded.

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April 4, 2015

Video: Ready for the TRAP

by Cpl Tony Simmons
Date Taken:03.17.2015 | Date Posted:04.3.2015 7:27AM

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, conduct tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel drills in Central Command’s area of operations. The TRAP force’s mission is to rescue or extract, by surface or air, any downed aircraft, personnel and equipment in the event of an in-flight emergency.

Continue reading "Video: Ready for the TRAP" »

March 31, 2015

USS Peleliu decommissioned after 35-year career

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 31, 2015

SAN DIEGO — Almost 35 years after the USS Peleliu entered the fleet, the crew of the amphibious assault ship disembarked for the last time in a ceremonial decommissioning Tuesday.

Continue reading "USS Peleliu decommissioned after 35-year career" »

Video: 1st Marine Division Talks SLDP

by SSgt Wayne Edmiston
Date Posted:03.31.2015 2:15PM

The Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division, discusses the Squad Leader Development program. The operations chief and 26-year infantryman, discusses how the program was developed and how it will improve the readiness of the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Video: 1st Marine Division Talks SLDP" »

March 22, 2015

Images: Greyhawks: 15th MEU Marines are cleared hot

Photos by Sgt. Jamean Berry/Released)
Date Taken:03.20.2015 | Date Posted:03.22.2015 22:33

Images of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), San Clemente Island, Calif., March 20, 2015. COMPTUEX gives the Marines the opportunity to practice real-world scenarios and hone their skill sets.

Continue reading "Images: Greyhawks: 15th MEU Marines are cleared hot" »

March 18, 2015

MCAGCC Gold holds 7th Regiment Midrange Rifle Competition

Date Posted:03.18.2015 21:56

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - As a shooter positions himself at the 300 yard firing line, he looks through his scope and centers the cross-hairs on the target. He steadies his breathing, and slowly pulls the trigger, commencing the 7th Regiment Midrange Shooting Competition.

Continue reading "MCAGCC Gold holds 7th Regiment Midrange Rifle Competition" »

March 15, 2015

Squad Leader Development Program: Your questions answered

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 10:07 a.m. EDT March 15, 2015

The Marine Corps' new plan for developing infantry squad leaders offers instant promotion, a handsome bonus and a chance to deploy — and some grunts are wondering if there's a catch.

Continue reading "Squad Leader Development Program: Your questions answered" »

March 12, 2015

Can’t keep a Darkhorse down: A story of overcoming adversity

Story by PFC Alvin Pujols
Date Taken:03.10.2015 | Date Posted:03.12.2015 11:01

After taking the reins in Sangin District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, began a hard-fought battle. By the time their tour ended in April 2011, the Marines of the battalion suffered the highest casualty rate of any U.S. Marine unit during the past 10 years of Operation Enduring Freedom, losing 25 Marines and incurring 184 casualties.

Continue reading "Can’t keep a Darkhorse down: A story of overcoming adversity" »

March 10, 2015

Video: First WTI Course of 2015 Kicks Off at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

Date Posted:03.10.2015 7:50PM

The newest group of students and instructors for Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-15 began the seven-week course at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The WTI class will be the largest class to graduate from MAWTS-1. Students will learn and apply the latest in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground communications and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief tactics. Highlights of WTI will include a scenario-based, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation and multiple large-scale, combined arms exercises.

Continue reading "Video: First WTI Course of 2015 Kicks Off at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma" »

February 26, 2015

Pendleton Marines train for large-scale deployment

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: February 26, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — At the northwestern tip of this massive base, hundreds of Marines spent the last 10 days preparing for full-scale war. It’s the first time in more than a decade they are training for this type of combat, all aligned with new guidance from the commandant.

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February 24, 2015

Marine battalion back at Camp Pendleton after 7-month deployment

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: February 24, 2015

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The Marines of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment returned to their families Monday after a packed seven-month deployment that had them getting ready for the worst.

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February 22, 2015

15th MEU Conducts Confidence Chamber

by Sgt Emmanuel Ramos
Date Taken:02.13.2015 | Date Posted:02.22.2015 11:30

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit practices mission oriented protective posture suit training and don their M40 gas masks aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. Feb. 13, 2015. This training helps the 15th MEU familiarize with and build confidence in their gear and equipment as they prepare for their upcoming deployment this spring.

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February 19, 2015

USMC MV-22 Ospreys prove capable to support any operation around the globe

Story by Cpl Joshua Murray
Date Posted:02.19.2015 03:29

SATTAHIP, Thailand – Five MV-22 Ospreys flew over 2,200 nautical miles to participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2015 Feb. 7-21, and in the process, marked the first time the Osprey has been refueled by the U.S. Air Force KC-10 aircraft in-flight.

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February 13, 2015

3/7 prepares for deployment through TRAP training

Story by LCpl Jonathan Boynes
Date Posted:02.13.2015 19:56

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The sun crept over distant mountains as dozens of Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Crisis Response Central Command 15.2 (SP-MAGTF-CR-CC 15.2) shuffled across a slick carpet of grass and vegetation, filing one by one through the back of two MV-22 Ospreys. Only a short time before this, a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) mission had been called in, and the Marines would soon be on their way to provide support. Once fully loaded, the aircraft lifted off of the ground and sailed over the surrounding mountains to its destination.

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February 7, 2015

No Better Dojo – The Amphibious Assault Ship

Story by SSgt Joseph Digirolamo
Date Taken:02.06.2015 | Date Posted:02.07.2015 08:09

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At sea - A gymnasium, a boxing ring, a wrestling mat, an octagon, an indoor padded garage or an outdoor spot on the grass - there are many different types of places to practice and learn martial arts. The Japanese call it a Dojo. They are everywhere on Okinawa. But a U.S. Marine will likely tell you there is no better place to train in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program than inside the hull of an amphibious assault ship.

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January 26, 2015

13th MEU Marines and Japanese soldiers kick off Exercise Iron Fist 2015

Story by Sgt Paris Capers
Date Posted:01.26.2015 17:54

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – U.S. Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit stood alongside soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army Infantry Regiment to kick off Exercise Iron Fist 2015 during an opening ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 26, 2015.

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January 25, 2015

Marines name pilots killed in helicopter crash

Posted 12:01 PM, January 25, 2015, Updated at 04:52PM, January 25, 2015
By FOX 5 Digital Team

SAN DIEGO – The identities of the two Camp Pendleton Marines killed in a helicopter crash in Twentynine Palms were released Sunday.

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January 16, 2015

Mortford Point Marine awarded Congressional Gold Medal

By Cpl. Orrin G. Farmer | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | January 16, 2015

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. -- Frank C. Christl of San Clemente was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal by Brig. Gen. Edward Banta for serving as a Montford Point Marine from 1944-1946 on Jan. 16.

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January 14, 2015

Warrior Wednesday: Marine from Post Falls, Idaho

by Sgt Emmanuel Ramos
Date Taken:01.13.2015 | Date Posted:01.14.2015 2:27AM

One Marine, from Post Falls, Idaho, inspired by his father, enlisted in the Marine Corps to make a difference and is a team leader with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

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December 27, 2014

Peleliu completes its final deployment

By Jeanette Steele7:27 P.M.DEC. 22, 2014

The amphibious assault ship Peleliu will return to San Diego on Wednesday, delivering its crew home in time for Christmas and completing its final tour.

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December 26, 2014

Big year for ship retirements

By Jeanette Steele2:10 P.M.DEC. 26, 2014

San Diego will lose four warships in 2015, continuing a surge in the retirement of U.S. Navy vessels, and the former San Diego aircraft carrier Ranger will pass by our shores as it is towed to the scrapyard.

Continue reading "Big year for ship retirements" »

December 24, 2014

Yakima Marine awarded Purple Heart

Story by Cpl Cody Haas
Date Posted:12.24.2014 13:48

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Corporal Ulises Zamoramartinez, an optics technician with 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Maj. Gen. Vincent Coglianese, 1st MLG commanding general, during a ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 19, 2014.

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Yakima Marine awarded Purple Heart

Story by Cpl Cody Haas
Date Posted:12.24.2014 13:48

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Corporal Ulises Zamoramartinez, an optics technician with 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by Maj. Gen. Vincent Coglianese, 1st MLG commanding general, during a ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 19, 2014.

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December 11, 2014

H&S; Company takes on Steel Knight

by Cpl Joshua Murray
Date Taken:12.10.2014 | Date Posted:12.11.2014 12:20

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force conducted amphibious operations aboard the USS Rushmore during exercise Steel Knight, off the coast of California, Dec. 8-11.

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December 7, 2014

11th MEU conducts live-fire exercise

Photos by Cpl Demetrius Morgan
Date Taken:12.05.2014 | Date Posted:12.07.2014 12:42

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), participate in a live-fire range aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Dec. 5.

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December 6, 2014

Marines to invade L.A., but don’t panic

By Veronica Rocha and Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
Published: December 6, 2014

(TNS) Downtown Los Angeles might look like a scene out of “Call of Duty” next week, but military officials say don’t be alarmed. It’s a drill.

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November 28, 2014

11th MEU celebrates Thanksgiving at sea

Story by Cpl Demetrius Morgan
Date Taken:11.27.2014 | Date Posted:11.28.2014 07:09

5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy the festivities of the holiday season, while focusing on the things they are most grateful for.

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November 25, 2014

Blindfolded Marines learn to clear firearm malfunctions

James K. Sanborn, Staff writer 11:51 a.m. EST November 25, 2014

Members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are getting ready for combat — blindfolded.

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November 21, 2014

Paralyzed Marine with robotic exoskeleton receives Bronze Star with V

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 21, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – When Capt. Derek Herrera was called to stand in the place of honor Friday at his retirement ceremony, he pressed buttons on what appeared to be a wristwatch as a fellow Marine came to his aid.

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MARSOC Marine Retires, Receives Bronze Star Medal

Story by Cpl Ricardo Hurtado
Date Posted:11.21.2014 18:41

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, friends and family members gathered to witness Capt. Derek Herrera, a special operations officer, accept the Bronze Star with combat V for heroism and medically retire from the Marine Corps, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 21, 2014.

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November 12, 2014

Sailor receives FMF badge

Story by CPT Joshua Diddams
Date Posted:11.12.2014 12:27

5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Lada, the senior line corpsman with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), was awarded the Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist (FMF) badge, Nov. 6.

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November 11, 2014

Chargers visit AAS Bn during military appreciation campaign

Photos by Sgt Valerie Eppler
Date Posted:11.11.2014 19:39

Players and cheerleaders from the NFL Chargers team visit Marines at the Assault Amphibian School Battalion here Nov. 11.

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11th MEU Djibouti Sustainment Training: 239th USMC Birthday

Story by 1st Lt. Colleen McFadden
Date Taken:11.10.2014 | Date Posted:11.11.2014 13:00

Today, Marines and Sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), reflected on this heritage and joined together to celebrate the birth of the Corps in locations throughout U.S. 5th Fleet, in the deserts of Djibouti, and across the three ships of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). On ship, Marines celebrated with their Navy brothers and sisters. In Djibouti, Marines celebrated alongside the French armed forces with the French Foreign Legion, displaying the deeply rooted traditions of the traditional Marine Corps birthday celebration. In Kuwait, Marines were joined by Soldiers and Airmen also deployed in U.S. 5th Fleet.

Continue reading "11th MEU Djibouti Sustainment Training: 239th USMC Birthday" »

November 8, 2014

Marine’s best friend

Story by Cpl Anna Albrecht
Date Posted:11.08.2014 21:11

U.S. MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Not everyone training to be part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s security element walks around on two legs.

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November 5, 2014

Marine commanders reflect on 13 years of war in Afghanistan

By Hope Hodge Seck
Nov. 5, 2014 - 06:08PM

It was late 2010, and Sgt. Philip A. McCulloch Jr. was locked into what may have been the darkest battle of America’s longest war.

Continue reading "Marine commanders reflect on 13 years of war in Afghanistan" »

November 4, 2014

15th MEU conducts vertical-assault training

Story by Sgt Emmanuel Ramos
Date Taken:10.31.2014 | Date Posted:11.04.2014 09:35

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – After being briefed by their platoon commander, Cpl. Jose W. Delgado gathered his Marines around a terrain model to go over his squad’s mission.

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November 3, 2014

11th MEU Djibouti Sustainment Training: It’s a Blast

Photos by GySgt Rome Lazarus
Date Taken:11.01.2014 | Date Posted:11.03.2014 12:22

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), take part in sustainment training at D’Arta Plage, Djibouti, Nov. 1. The 11th MEU is deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Continue reading "11th MEU Djibouti Sustainment Training: It’s a Blast" »

November 1, 2014

Camp Leatherneck goodbye

Reporter looks back on history of headquarters given to Afghan troops
By Gretel C. Kovach5 A.M.NOV. 1, 2014

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Leaving Camp Leatherneck for the last time as a journalist who traveled there half a dozen times over the years, I felt a mix of pride and relief, sadness and uncertainty, emotions all tempered with disbelief that our long war in Afghanistan is at an end.

Continue reading "Camp Leatherneck goodbye" »

11th MEU Djibouti Sustainment Training: We'll Do It Live!

Photos by Cpl Jonathan Waldman
Date Taken:10.28.2014 | Date Posted:11.01.2014 13:17

U.S. Marines with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion detachment, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), participate in sustainment training in D'Arta Plage, Djibouti, Oct. 28.

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October 31, 2014

New commanding general finds purpose as Marine

Posted: Friday, October 31, 2014 7:27 pm
By Alexis Cubit Hi-Desert Star

TWENTYNINE PALMS — The image of a Marine can be many different things to many different people. For the Twentynine Palms Marine base’s new commanding general, Lewis Craparotta, being a Marine holds a deep, philanthropic meaning.

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October 24, 2014

Navy, Marine Corps engage in exercise Pacific Horizon 2015

by SN Jonathan Nelson
Date Taken:10.24.2014 | Date Posted:10.25.2014 00:01

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON , Calif. - Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade participated in Navy-Marine Corps joint exercise Pacific Horizon 2015 from Oct. 20-28.

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October 20, 2014

Marines, sailors return from from Down Under

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / STAFF WRITER
Published: Oct. 20, 2014 Updated: 10:14 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON – Cpl. Travis Reynders couldn't believe what he saw through his night vision goggles in the pitch-black Australian Outback.

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October 19, 2014

1/2 Promotions on Bastion-Leatherneck Complex

Photos by Cpl John Martinez
Date Taken:10.01.2014 | Date Posted:10.05.2014 02:33

U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment stand at attention as their fellow Marines are promoted to the rank of Cpl. aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan on October 1, 2014.

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October 11, 2014

Marines learn raid leader skills

Story by Sgt Emmanuel Ramos
Date Taken:10.08.2014 | Date Posted:10.11.2014 21:01

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participated in a raid-leaders course here Oct. 8.

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October 10, 2014

15th MEU Composite Ceremony

Courtesy story
Date Posted:10.10.2014 17:19

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit joined together as a Marine air-ground task force today during a ceremony aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

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October 6, 2014

In the Californian desert, UK and US forces crave 'a crack at the headcutters

Politicians have ruled out western boots on the ground in the fight against Isis but the marines must be ready for anything

Rory Carroll at Twentynine Palms, California
Monday 6 October 2014

It was a victory foretold and started soon after dawn, just as the sun began to bake the desert. Two American F-16 jets roared out of a clear blue sky and dropped heavy payloads on enemy bunkers in the distant foothills.

Continue reading "In the Californian desert, UK and US forces crave 'a crack at the headcutters" »

October 4, 2014

Fox Company conducts sustainment training

Photos by Gunnery Sgt. Rome Lazarus
Date Taken:10.01.2014 | Date Posted:10.04.2014 08:52

U.S. Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (BLT 2/1), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conduct a Table 3 combat marksmanship course of fire as a part of sustainment training on the flight deck of the USS San Diego (LPD 22), Oct. 1, 2014.

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October 2, 2014

1/7 transfers authority, ends operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Story by SSgt John Jackson
Date Posted:10.02.2014 07:01

TACTICAL BASE DWYER, Afghanistan – First battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, cased their unit battle colors during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Tactical Base Dwyer, Oct. 1.

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September 30, 2014

5th Marine Regiment will lead new crisis response unit in Middle East

Story by Hope Hodge Seck | Staff Writer
Sep. 30, 2014 - 06:00AM

The Marines’ new crisis response unit in U.S. Central Command will reach initial operating capability tomorrow with Camp Pendleton’s 5th Marine Regiment as its headquarters element, military officials said today.

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September 21, 2014

Video: Kilo Battery Dominates the Battlefield During ARTP 14-2

Story by Sgt Matthew Manning
Date Taken:08.27.2014 | Date Posted:09.21.2014 8:34PM

Marines with Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Martine Regiment, take part in live-fire artillery training during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido.

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September 19, 2014

Corpsmen conduct MASCAS exercise on Tinian

Courtesy story by Lance Cpl. Luis Ramirez
Date Taken:09.10.2014Date Posted:09.16.2014 05:02

TINIAN, North Marianas Islands – Corpsmen with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 participating in Valiant Shield 2014 conducted a mass casualty (MASCAS) drill here Sept. 10 in anticipation of the commencement of the exercise.

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September 18, 2014

Forecasters prepare for Valiant Shield 2014

Story by LCpl Tyler Ngiraswei
Date Posted:09.18.2014 02:57

TINIAN, North Marianas Islands – It is argued that the weather cost the French the Battle of Agincourt as their horses struggled across the swampy land in pursuit of Henry V’s significantly smaller British Army.

Continue reading "Forecasters prepare for Valiant Shield 2014" »

September 10, 2014

Video: Marine Rotational Force - Darwin

Video by Sgt John Lamb
Date Posted:09.10.2014 11:01AM

Approximately 1,150 Marines deployed to Darwin, Australia 2014 as the third rotation of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D), remaining for approximately six months. MRF-D engaged in a range of training activities and community relations events with the Australian Defense Force throughout the deployment.

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September 8, 2014

11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces conduct MALUS AMPHEX 14

By Sgt. Melissa Wenger | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | September 08, 2014

Two nations joined forces and jumped in the same boat in the name of enhanced maritime skills and infantry operational excellence.

Continue reading "11th MEU and Malaysian Armed Forces conduct MALUS AMPHEX 14" »

MARINES CONDUCT CLIFF ASSAULT TRAINING

By Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos
08 Sep 2014

BRIDGEPORT, California -- Marine Corps training has evolved throughout the Corps’ existence. Mountain warfare training began because of lessons learned from Marines in the Korean War. What started as cold weather training in mountainous terrain has changed into mental and physical preparations for operations in adverse areas.

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September 2, 2014

Peleliu to Embark 31st MEU in Okinawa

Story Number: NNS140902-05Release Date: 9/2/2014 5:36:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Will Gaskill,
USS Peleliu Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), arrived in Okinawa, Japan, to embark the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) after embarking Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 while in Sasebo, Japan Aug. 31.

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September 1, 2014

1/7 disrupts Taliban insurgents to assist retrograde operations

Photos by Sgt. Joseph Scanlan
Date Posted:09.01.2014 06:38

Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, operated during a mission in Helmand province to disrupt enemy insurgents while retrograde operations were ongoing nearby, Aug. 16-18.

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August 30, 2014

The Walking Dead’ roll up their colors

Photos by Lance Cpl. Sullivan
Date Taken:08.29.2014
Date Posted:08.30.2014 10:37

Sergeant Maj. Irvin Howard (center left), the sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and Lt. Col. Corey Collier (center right), the battalion commanding officer, roll and case the battalion’s colors one final time during the unit’s deactivation ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 29, 2014. The colors will be stored at Headquarters Marine Corps until the battalion answer’s the Nation’s call to active service.


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August 26, 2014

1st Marines return to Pendleton for ‘well-deserved break

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 26, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — When the 1st Marine Regiment left for Afghanistan in February, they weren’t anticipating being home until the end of the year. But on Monday, they became the last Marine regiment to return from Afghanistan — four months early.

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August 24, 2014

Equipped with monitors and mice, modern Marines train for fast-moving future

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 24, 2014

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Beyond the dusty berms, concertina wire and armed guards, in the center of adjoining tents set up like spokes on a wheel, Marines sat at computers, monitoring incoming communications while huge screens full of blue and red icons illustrated the position of friendly and enemy forces.

Continue reading "Equipped with monitors and mice, modern Marines train for fast-moving future" »

How one female officer won over her skeptical combat-arms Marines

Story by Joshua Stewart
Aug. 24, 2014 - 06:00AM

CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. — Lance Cpl. Eamonn Garber wasn’t sure things would work out, and that was bad mostly because his unit was at war.

Continue reading "How one female officer won over her skeptical combat-arms Marines" »

August 22, 2014

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1 conduct retrograde operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan

By Cpl. Cody Haas | Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan | August 22, 2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- As the U.S. footprint throughout Afghanistan begins to shrink, the extra gear and equipment needs to be retrograded back to the States by a unit capable of moving large items in a timely fashion. For Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, it is their mission.

Continue reading "Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1 conduct retrograde operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan" »

HMH-462 conducts external lift training with CLR-17

Story by Cpl Owen Kimbrel
Date Taken:08.21.2014 | Date Posted:08.22.2014 18:24

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462 conducted external cargo lifts in coordination with a Helicopter Support Team with Combat Logistic Regiment 17 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Aug. 21.

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August 18, 2014

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit visits Iwo To during transit through U.S 7th Fleet

Story by CPT Joshua Diddams
Date Posted:08.18.2014 13:35

USS MAKIN ISLAND, Pacific Ocean – Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 5 were afforded a rare opportunity to visit Iwo To (formally known as Iwo Jima) while transiting through the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility Aug. 16, 2014.

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August 17, 2014

1st Marine Regiment cases colors, ends mission in Afghanistan

Story by 1LT Garth Langley
Date Posted:08.17.2014 09:41

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - A blinding sandstorm swept across the desert floor surrounding Regional Command (Southwest)’s security-nebulous, Task Force Belleau Wood, Aug. 15, 2014. During a brief pause in the storm, Marines with 1st Marine Regiment held a small ceremony to case the unit’s battle colors for the final time in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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August 16, 2014

Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company provide security for units operating in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 08.16.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – During the early morning hours before sunrise, Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company donned their gear for a security operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 8.

Continue reading "Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company provide security for units operating in Helmand province, Afghanistan " »

August 13, 2014

Homecoming for part of the last major Marine command to deploy to Afghanistan

By Jenn Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 13, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — First Lt. Caleb Peterson got back just in time.

Continue reading "Homecoming for part of the last major Marine command to deploy to Afghanistan" »

2/7 conducts FiST operations during LSE 14

Story by LCpl Angel Serna
Date Taken:08.12.2014 | Date Posted:08.13.2014 22:28

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted fire support operations during Large Scale Exercise 2014 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 9-10, 2014.

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August 12, 2014

BLT Marines race for time in squad competition

Story by Cpl Henry Anteno
Date Taken:08.08.2014 | Date Posted:08.12.2014 20:15

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, completed a squad competition at Camp Hansen, Aug 8.

Continue reading "BLT Marines race for time in squad competition" »

August 7, 2014

11th MEU concludes first training evolution

Story by Cpl Demetrius Morgan
Date Posted:08.07.2014 20:53

MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii – For decades, Marine Expeditionary Units have operated alongside their Amphibious Ready Group counterparts throughout the world's oceans as forward-deployed crisis response forces. In the first stop along the 11th MEU's WESTPAC 14-2 deployment, Marines and sailors of the MEU demonstrated their expeditionary nature, and continued their preparation for the uncertainty of world events by way of multiple training events aboard Training Area Bellows, Hawaii.

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July 31, 2014

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts long-range insert

By Courtesy Story | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 31, 2014

USS MAKIN ISLAND, Pacific Ocean -- Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, supported by sailors from Amphibious Squadron 5 and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, conducted a long range insertion of more than 800 nautical miles into Bellows Training Area, Hawaii, July 31, 2014.

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July 29, 2014

Marine Proud to Serve Twice during Afghan Drawdown

Marine Corps News | Jul 29, 2014 | by 1st Lt. Garth Langley

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- During America’s longest war, many newly-minted Marines’ have wished for an opportunity to dirty their boots in Afghanistan. In the past year, however, deployments to Helmand have slowed and the remaining forces are focused on the redeployment and retrograde effort, while others continue to advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces. Regional Command (Southwest) is set to close its doors by the end of 2014, which will mark the end of a significant chapter in the Marine Corps’ role in the Operation Enduring Freedom campaign.

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July 25, 2014

11th MEU departs for Western Pacific

Photos by by LCpl Caitlin Bevel
Date Posted:07.25.2014 17:19

Family and friends gathered to say goodbye as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit passed by Embarcadero Marina Park, San Diego, July 25. The 11th MEU consists of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Combat Logistics Battalion 11, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (reinforced). They are embarked aboard the U.S. Navy Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group for deployment to the Western Pacific.

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Marines, sailors with Charley Company ensure Camp Dwyer’s safety in Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.25.2014

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan— Improvised explosive devices and small arms fire from insurgents remain a threat to units patrolling in Helmand province.

Continue reading "Marines, sailors with Charley Company ensure Camp Dwyer’s safety in Helmand province" »

July 23, 2014

CLB-15 conducts pre-deployment training with Special Operations Training Group

Story by LCpl Shaltiel Dominguez
Date Posted:07.23.2014 12:08

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “We need food and water,” chanted the crowd loudly in Filipino as they grew more and more restless. The few dozen Marines and sailors in the medical aid station did their best to keep the peace while providing treatment to casualties caused by a typhoon that ravaged the area.

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Turret gunners of Combat Logistics Battalion 7 keep convoy safe

By Sgt. Frances Johnson | I Marine Expeditionary Force | July 23, 2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- While most aboard Camp Leatherneck were eating breakfast as the early morning sun began burning the earth in a golden heat wave, turret gunners of Combat Logistics Battalion 7 were already mounting .50 caliber and M240B machine guns inside the turrets of their vehicles, preparing for one of the battalion’s last missions, July 14.

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July 22, 2014

11th Marines welcomes new commanding officer

by LCpl David Silvano
Date Taken:07.22.2014 | Date Posted:07.23.2014 12:35

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.—Colonel Christopher A. Tavuchis, assumed command of 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Col. Stephen Liszewski during a change of command ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 22, 2014.

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July 15, 2014

Legendary Marine Maj. Zembiec, the ‘Lion of Fallujah,’ died in the service of the CIA

By Thomas Gibbons-Neff
July 15 at 8:49 PM

In the foyer of the Central Intelligence Agency’s headquarters, there is a marble wall covered in stars. They are carved divots that represent those who have fallen in the service of the CIA. Below them, jutting out from the polished rock, is a black book entombed in a case of glass and steel. The book is a guide to the stars, giving the names of some of those who died and withholding the names of others.

Continue reading "Legendary Marine Maj. Zembiec, the ‘Lion of Fallujah,’ died in the service of the CIA" »

July 8, 2014

Scout Sniper Platoon mourns loss of fallen brother

By Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment | July 08, 2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Nearly four months into their combat deployment, Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, experienced a heartbreaking loss.

Continue reading "Scout Sniper Platoon mourns loss of fallen brother" »

Marines, sailors deploying to board new amphibious assault ship

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 8, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The departure was like most other Marine deployments — with camouflage-clad young men and women tagging giant sea bags, smoking and texting loved ones in a dark parking lot as they waited to board a bus for the airport. But there weren’t many tears or hand-lettered signs at this send-off.

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July 4, 2014

Last Marines in Afghanistan proud to serve on U.S. Independence Day

Story by 1LT Garth Langley
Date Posted:07.04.2014 14:51

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan— Thomas Paine once said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." As the nation honors Independence Day during patriotic celebrations across the nation, deployed U.S. service members with Regional Command (Southwest) paused briefly to honor America, July 4, 2014.

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July 2, 2014

Quick reacting Marines aid injured Okinawan motorist

Story by SSgt Joseph Digirolamo
Date Taken:06.27.2014 | Date Posted:07.02.2014 06:35

OKINAWA, Japan – Several Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit rushed to aid an accident victim who was hit by a vehicle while riding his moped on highway 58 in Ginowan city, June 27.

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June 26, 2014

Marines emerge victorious in World Cup tournament at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan

Story by Cpl Joseph Scanlan
Date Posted:06.26.2014 04:19

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – When Marines and sailors are not patrolling and supporting missions in Afghanistan, they often exercise to relieve stress and pass time. With the 2014 FIFA World Cup currently underway, the Marines of “Suicide” Charley Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, decided to host their own soccer tournament aboard Camp Dwyer, June 21, 2014.

Continue reading "Marines emerge victorious in World Cup tournament at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan" »

June 23, 2014

MRF-D Marines participate in Cross-fit competition

Photos by Cpl James Gulliver
Date Taken:06.21.2014Date | Posted:06.23.2014 01:10

Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, perform various exercises with their Australian teammates during a Cross-fit competition in Darwin, Australia, June 21, 2014. The competition gave Marines a chance to perform workouts with members of the Darwin community, and gave the participants a chance to get to know the Marines. Marine community engagements in the Northern Territory add depth to the U.S. relationship with Australia

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Weapons Company Marines conduct security patrol in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.23.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – During the late evening hours under the cover of darkness, Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, donned their gear, mounted in Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and convoyed approximately four hours south of Camp Leatherneck.

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June 17, 2014

Marine killed in Afghanistan awarded Bronze Star for bravery

By Tony Perry
June 17, 2014

A Marine killed in Afghanistan was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for bravery Monday in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton attended by his family members.

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June 14, 2014

Marines endure culminating event during jungle warfare training

By Cpl. Henry Antenor | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | June 14, 2014

CAMP GONSALVEZ, Okinawa, Japan --
Marines slip and slide down red clay slopes. They trudge through neck-high, insect -infested water. They belly-crawl through muddy trenches, wriggle underneath concertina wire, hop over concrete walls, submerge face first into a peanut-butter like sludge and drag themselves through obstacles.

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June 4, 2014

Video: 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, a look into their history

by Cpl Charles Santamaria
Date Taken:06.3.2014 | Date Posted:06.4.2014 3:12AM

3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, deactivated for the 7th time and hosted their ceremony aboard the Combat Center May 30, 2014. 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines has been reactivated on several occasions to answer the country's call to battle and has made it's mark in several conflicts throughout history. (Photos by Cpl. Trent Randolph) (Photos by Pvt. Michael Gams) (Photos by Cpl. Seth Maggard) (Photos by Cpl. Ali Azimi) (Courtesy Photos) (Footage by Sgt. Timothy Lenzo) (Footage by Lance Cpl. Jordan Walker) (Footage by Cpl. Charles Santamaria).

Continue reading "Video: 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, a look into their history" »

May 30, 2014

Video: 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment Deactivation Ceremony

by Cpl Charles Santamaria
Date Posted:05.30.2014 10:20PM

3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment hosts their deactivation ceremony at Lance Corporal Torrey L. Gray Field. (Footage by Lance Cpl. Hannah Carlson)(Footage by Lance Cpl. Dakim Rucker)(Footage by Cpl. Charles Santamaria).

Continue reading "Video: 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment Deactivation Ceremony" »

May 28, 2014

MRF-D Conducts a Fire Team Leaders Course

Video by Cpl James Gulliver
Date Posted:05.28.2014 1:59AM

KANGAROO FLATS TRAINING AREA, Northern Territory, Australia – Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Soldiers with the Australian Army, participate in the fire team leaders course here.

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May 24, 2014

Veterans from Vietnam, Korea see off Marines deploying to Afghanistan

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 24, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Veterans who served in 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company in Vietnam and Korea stood shoulder to shoulder Friday evening to shake the hands of 20 Marines deploying to Afghanistan this Memorial Day weekend.

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May 15, 2014

Make-A-Wish, Marines team up to grant San Diego native’s wish

By Sgt. Timothy Lenzo | 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines | May 15, 2014

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- He stands noticeably smaller than the Marines to his right and left. Their frames fill out their camouflage utilities and flak jackets, while his looks a couple sizes too small.

Continue reading "Make-A-Wish, Marines team up to grant San Diego native’s wish" »

May 14, 2014

Continuing legacies cross paths as 31st MEU rotates infantry battalions

By Sgt. Jonathan G. Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | May 14, 2014

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa, Japan – Each Marine Corps unit is defined by its people or its accomplishments - from famous Marines within the ranks to historic events that turned the tide of battle, the legacy of years past is carried with pride to this day. For two units in particular, those defining years were during the Korean War and the battle of Okinawa.

Continue reading "Continuing legacies cross paths as 31st MEU rotates infantry battalions" »

May 12, 2014

On the ground in Afghanistan: the last days of a FOB

May 12th, 2014 | Afghanistan Embedded journalism Food | Posted by Hope Hodge Seck

As I prepared for my first embed with in Afghanistan, I figured I might spend some time sleeping under the stars and taking “health and comfort breaks” in the woods as the Marines shut down several of their remaining forward operating bases. I’ve done a bit of tent camping, and I figured I couldn’t be disappointed if I managed my expectations.

Continue reading "On the ground in Afghanistan: the last days of a FOB" »

May 10, 2014

Protecting troops at war's end

Base security beefed up at Marine headquarters after 2012 attack, drawdown

By Gretel C. Kovach
11:57 a.m.May 10, 2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — At night, the perimeter of the massive headquarters base for international forces in Helmand Province is ablaze with floodlights that could blind approaching enemy fighters.

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May 8, 2014

CLB-7 Marines, sailors complete convoy out of Forward Operating Base Nolay for final time

Story by Cpl Cody Haas
Date Posted:05.08.2014 06:29

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan – Units currently deployed to Afghanistan are conducting missions to decrease the amount of gear and personnel aboard forward operating bases and combat outposts. One of the units providing this type of support is Combat Logistics Battalion 7.

Continue reading "CLB-7 Marines, sailors complete convoy out of Forward Operating Base Nolay for final time" »

May 5, 2014

Marines withdraw from Sangin

Afghans secure northern Helmand as NATO combat mission wanes

4:19 a.m. May 5, 2014

SANGIN, Afghanistan — The last U.S. Marines withdrew from northern Helmand early Monday morning, turning their two bases in the hard-fought Sangin district over to Afghan national security forces.

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April 29, 2014

MRF-D Marines jump start mentorship program at Rosebery Middle School

Photos by Cpl Scott Reel
Date Posted:04.29.2014 01:11

Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, exercise with students from Palmerston, Northern Territory, as MRF-D Marines begin their mentorship program at Rosebery Middle School, April 29, 2014. The Marines introduced themselves to the students and led a physical fitness session for the first day of the program.

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April 28, 2014

By air, land and sea: SPMAGTF-ASEAN unwinds at sea

By Lance Cpl. Shaltiel Dominguez | 1st Marine Logistics Group | April 28, 2014

4/25/2014 -- AT SEA - The crowd roared as Lance Cpl. Michael Sigur, a supply clerk with 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, finished singing “I Won’t Complain,” a smooth, Southern gospel hymn to a crowd of more than 200 Marines and sailors aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD-23). Raising his hands to the crowd, the judges gave him their critiques, and he stepped off the stage. He would eventually win third place in the Anchorage Talent Show, April 13, 2014.

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1st MLG leaders recognize Family Readiness Program volunteers

Story by LCpl Shaltiel Dominguez
Date Posted:04.28.2014 17:51

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Senior leaders and family readiness officers with 1st Marine Logistics Group recognized more than 45 volunteers for their support in improving troop welfare and morale through the Family Readiness Program during a small get-together aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 27, 2014.

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April 25, 2014

Marines explore Reserve options during road show

By Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Heins | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | April 25, 2014

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --

Marines from across Cherry Point attended the career transition road show at Miller’s Landing April 15.

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April 23, 2014

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Returns Home After Eight-Month Deployment

Story by Sgt Jennifer Pirante
Date Posted:04.23.2014 11:50

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – After eight months at sea conducting theater security cooperation exercises with foreign nations throughout the Western Pacific and the Middle East, Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) are slated to wrap up their Western Pacific deployment and head home to San Diego, Calif., April 24, 2014.

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Infantrymen disrupt Taliban lethal aid in Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.23.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – As the majority of Camp Leatherneck’s residents were still asleep one typical Thursday morning, infantrymen with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, reinforced with Afghan commandos, prepared to depart friendly lines, April 17.

Continue reading "Infantrymen disrupt Taliban lethal aid in Helmand province" »

April 22, 2014

Navy Cross bestowed on heroic Marine

Gunnery sergeant repeatedly braved Taliban fire to rescue, rally troops

By Mark Walker
5:34 p.m. April 22, 2014

TWENTYNINE PALMS — As Americans observed Memorial Day 2012, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Richard Jibson was fighting for his life, his fellow Marines and dozens of Afghan and Georgian forces nearly 8,000 miles away in Afghanistan.

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April 18, 2014

Sense of Duty Inspires Marine to Serve

By Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph Scanlan
Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan, April 18, 2014 – The prestige of the Marine Corps especially appealed to a rifleman and mine sweeper deployed here when he enlisted at the age of 17.

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April 15, 2014

Tank officer who led Marines in 5-day battle to receive Leftwich Trophy

Apr. 15, 2014 - 06:00AM
By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff Writer

A tank officer who led his company to victory in a five-day battle against insurgents in Afghanistan last year will be honored with the prestigious Leftwich Trophy later this year.

Continue reading "Tank officer who led Marines in 5-day battle to receive Leftwich Trophy" »

April 12, 2014

Marine wins woman of the year

Story by LCpl Caitlin Bevel
2014 Date Posted: 04.03.2014 12:47

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Marine with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion was recently named the Navy League 2014 Senior Enlisted Woman of the Year.

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April 11, 2014

Marines to set sail around South America

Company-size unit will embark with the Navy's newest amphib
Story by Gina Harkins | Staff writer
Apr. 11, 2014 - 06:00AM

Marines will help test a new Navy amphibious assault ship’s capabilities on its maiden transit from the ship yard in Mississippi all the way around South America to its new home in the Pacific — and they’ll make several stops to engage with military partners along the way.

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April 9, 2014

Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration (PMINT)

Photo by GySgt Rome Lazarus
Date Posted:04.09.2014 19:29

Marines with Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct daily morning section physical training on the flight deck of the USS Makin Island during Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration (PMINT), off the coast of San Diego, Calif., April 9, 2014. PMINT is a two-week long pre-deployment training event focusing on the combined capabilities of the Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus/Released)

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April 8, 2014

Viral video shows Magnificent Bastards lined up for miles, saluting Gold Star families during Ramadi 10th memorial ceremony

April 8th, 2014 | Battle Rattle | Posted by James Sanborn

A recent video posted to Facebook captures a touching gesture of respect and honor. In it, members of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, line miles of road to salute the families of fallen Marines on their way to an April 6 memorial aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., that marked the 10th anniversary of the battle of Ramadi.

Continue reading "Viral video shows Magnificent Bastards lined up for miles, saluting Gold Star families during Ramadi 10th memorial ceremony" »

April 3, 2014

CLB-1 prepares for deployment with Integrated Training Exercise

by Cpl Timothy Childers
Date Posted:04.03.2014 12:14

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, conducted Integrated Training Exercise 3-14 aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., Feb. 28 - March 27, preparing them for the last combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom later this year.

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Ohio Marine Participates in Combat Readiness Evaluation with Dark Horse

By Lance Cpl. David Silvano | 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment | April 03, 2014

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine used to providing security for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps can find it difficult to make the transition to providing security in the field. This was not the case for Lance Cpl. Brandon Bender, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. He took part in a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation or MCCRE, here, March 17 to March 22, 2014.

Continue reading "Ohio Marine Participates in Combat Readiness Evaluation with Dark Horse" »

March 28, 2014

Photo Essay: Firing while rocking on the USS Denver

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | March 28, 2014

USS Denver, At Sea -- Marines and Sailors of Company F. and Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, challenged their marksmanship skills by firing multiple weapons from the flight deck here, March 19.

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11th MEU leaps another hurdle on predeployment track

By Sgt. Melissa Wenger | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | March 28, 2014

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. --
The Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed two weeks of land-based predeployment training at Fort Hunter Liggett and nearby Camp Roberts, Calif., March 28.

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March 27, 2014

Pendleton Marines deploy to Australia

West Coast infantry battalion expands Darwin rotation

By Gretel C. Kovach
3:21 p.m. March 27, 2014

A Camp Pendleton infantry battalion deploys Tuesday for Australia, the largest unit by far to join the expanding rotation of U.S. Marines in Darwin.

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3/7 returns from deployment

Story by LCpl Kasey Peacock
Date Taken:03.22.2014 | Date Posted:03.27.2014 20:24

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment returned to the Combat Center after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, March 22.

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March 26, 2014

‘Adopted’ Marine unit looking for donations of food for pantry

By Staff on Mar 26 2014

A food drive has been launched to help stock a new pantry that has been established at Camp Pendleton for Poway’s “adopted” Marine Corps battalion.

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March 23, 2014

Marines invade Southern Utah for training: STGnews Photo Gallery

Written by Aspen Stoddard on March 23, 2014

ST. GEORGE – The fine line between reality and fiction blurred into the same realm for some United States Marines this past weekend as they trained in and around the St. George Municipal Airport and the Shivwitz Indian Reservation.

Continue reading " Marines invade Southern Utah for training: STGnews Photo Gallery" »

March 22, 2014

Marines train for post-combat aftermath

Exercise focuses on securing area, providing emergency services

By Gretel C. Kovach
6:41 p.m.March 22, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON — The Marine commander was expecting a grateful reception after routing enemy forces from their village, but town leaders were in no mood to be thankful.

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Images: Aerial delivery training mission unites Marines of 11th MEU

Photos by Sgt Melissa Wenger
Date Taken:03.21.2014 | Date Posted:03.22.2014 01:21

Cargo loaded by Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 11 (CLB-11), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, drifts from an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th MEU, during an aerial delivery training event at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., March 21. Marines and sailors from the majority of the ground combat element, aviation combat element, logistics combat element and command element of the MEU participated in integrated training events as part of Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (RUTMEUEX) 14-1. RUTMEUEX allows its participants the opportunity to employ techniques and tactics applicable to their future deployment together.

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March 21, 2014

Images: Western-Pacific Deployment

Photos by LCpl Lonzo-Grei Thornton
Date Taken:03.08.2014 | Date Posted:03.21.2014 18:58

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-166 (Reinforced), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conduct schedule maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey aboard the USS Boxer, March 8, 2014. The 13th MEU is deployed with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lonzo-Grei D. Thornton, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Combat Camera/Released)

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March 18, 2014

1/7 conducts medical training exercise in Afghanistan

Images - 1/7 conducts medical training exercise in Afghanistan

Photos by by Cpl Joseph Scanlan
Date Posted:03.18.2014 06:40

Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, provide security as Navy corpsmen treat simulated casualties during a training drill aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, March 14, 2014. The drill was designed to ensure accountability of all personnel and gear while practicing movement to muster locations in the event of an emergency. The battalion had Navy corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, evaluate the service members as they reacted to the situation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan)

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Images: 11th MEU Marines train with explosive ordnance

Photos by Sgt Melissa Wenger
Date Posted:03.18.2014 23:30

Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s ground combat element, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines maneuver toward the site of the explosion of an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System as during a live-fire training exercise as part of Realistic Urban Training Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (RUTMEUEX) 14-1 aboard Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., March 18. RUTMEUEX is the first large-scale opportunity for integration between the ground combat element, aviation combat element, logistics combat element and command element of the 11th MEU. The training places its participants in environments similar to those they’ll see during their upcoming deployment.

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March 16, 2014

Cutting Edge transfers authority to 1/7

Story by by Cpl Joseph Scanlan
Date Posted:03.16.2014 08:01

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors stood at attention as 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as Cutting Edge, handed over the responsibilities for their area of operations in Regional Command (Southwest) to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as First Team, during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, March 15.

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March 14, 2014

Marines training at Camp Roberts and FHL

Posted: 2:37 pm, March 14, 2014 by Scott Brennan

Residents near exercises may hear helicopters and weapons fire
Hunting and fishing on Fort Hunter Liggett is closed

Continue reading "Marines training at Camp Roberts and FHL " »

Super Stallion flies with ammo supplies

by LCpl Matthew Bragg
Date Posted:03.14.2014 19:32

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 conducted several flight missions from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay to Bradshaw Airfield on the Island of Hawaii, delivering ammunition supplies to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, March 12, 2014.

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February 24, 2014

1st EOD prepares for deployment to Afghanistan

Photo by Cpl. Laura Gauna | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 02.18.2014
Date Posted: 02.24.2014 00:51

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Since the beginning of the “Global War on Terror,” Marines have deployed to Southwest Asia and the Middle East for combat and support operations.

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February 18, 2014

Silver Stars for Marine assault

Twentynine Palms infantry honored for valor in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
9:04 p.m. Feb. 18, 2014

A Marine from Fallbrook and three other infantrymen were honored with medals Tuesday for valor in combat during a six-day assault into a Taliban stronghold in southwestern Afghanistan.

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February 12, 2014

Twentynine Palms Marines to receive Silver and Bronze stars for six-day battle in 2012

By Andrew deGrandprè and James Sanborn
Staff writers
Feb. 12, 2014 - 06:00AM

Four California-based Marines will be recognized for their heroism during a 2012 operation in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Twentynine Palms Marines to receive Silver and Bronze stars for six-day battle in 2012" »

February 8, 2014

Marines unite old, new Corps

Battle colors ceremony honored 73rd birthday of 1st Marine Division

By Gretel C. Kovach
8:41 a.m. Feb. 8, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON — Old Corps and new Corps. Uniformed members of the 1st Marine Division and veterans of its fiercest battles. Together they marched, one pair after another, toward the flag to rededicate the battle colors.

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February 7, 2014

Eyes in the sky: 1st MLG Marine trains with UAVs

Story by LCpl Keenan Zelazoski
Date Posted:02.07.2014 15:25

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Part of being a Marine is finding ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your unit, so most units have training noncommissioned officers that find beneficial courses and classes for their subordinates and peers.

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February 6, 2014

Last Marine takes command in Afghanistan

Camp Pendleton brigade replaces southwest force at war's end

By Gretel C. Kovach
4:52 p.m. Feb. 6, 2014

A Marine brigade from Camp Pendleton took command of coalition forces in southwestern Afghanistan as the 13-year campaign enters its critical final phase, the International Security Assistance Force announced Thursday

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January 31, 2014

11th MEU Conducts Nonlethal Training

By Cpl. Demetrius Morgan | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | January 31, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --

One by one, Marines reluctantly stood at attention within six feet from an instructor. Some Marines tried to compose themselves with heavy breathing, while others clenched their fists preparing for what was to come. The smelly liquid agony launched from the can onto their faces one after the other.

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January 28, 2014

CLB-6 redeploys, CLB-7 last Marine logistical unit to deploy to Afghanistan

Story by Sgt Jessica Ostroska
Date Taken:01.26.2014 | Date Posted:01.28.2014 10:19

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 6 handed over the responsibilities as the logistics combat element for Regional Command (Southwest) to Combat Logistics Battalion 7 during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan. 26.

Continue reading "CLB-6 redeploys, CLB-7 last Marine logistical unit to deploy to Afghanistan" »

January 25, 2014

Marines in tanks unit decorated for bravery in Afghanistan

Jan. 25, 2014 - 06:00AM
By Hope Hodge Seck | Staff Writer

Two noncommissioned officers and a captain from a West Coast tank battalion were honored Jan. 21 for exemplary service and bravery during deployments to Afghanistan.

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January 14, 2014

Marine Band puts on patriotic show

By Linda McIntosh
6 a.m.Jan. 14, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON — Camp Pendleton’s 1st Marine Division Band is putting on a free patriotic concert Jan. 30-31 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Continue reading "Marine Band puts on patriotic show" »

January 13, 2014

Final rotation of Marines deploys to Afghanistan

I MEF (Fwd.) arrives to bring Marines' war effort to a close
By James K. Sanborn
Staff writer
Jan. 13, 2014 - 08:49AM

When Brig. Gen. Daniel Yoo takes charge as the top Marine commander in Afghanistan this month, he will find the Corps has made significant headway in preparing for complete withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014.

Continue reading "Final rotation of Marines deploys to Afghanistan" »

January 11, 2014

Afghan war reaches endgame

Top commanders discuss stakes, prospects in last year of NATO campaign

By Gretel C. Kovach
8:13 a.m.Jan. 11, 2014

SANGIN, Afghanistan — The NATO campaign in Afghanistan may be ending late this year, but the war is not. Insurgent strongholds will remain — 13 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks prompted a U.S. invasion — inspiring anxiety about prospects for long-term stability and a newfound urgency among Afghan national security forces.

Continue reading "Afghan war reaches endgame" »

Pride of the Pacific composites with formal ceremony

Story by Sgt Melissa Wenger
01.11.2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit gained all the elements necessary to make it a complete Marine Air Ground Task Force Jan. 11. A composite ceremony and static display event here commemorated the activation of the MEU and the journey to its 2014 deployment.

Continue reading "Pride of the Pacific composites with formal ceremony" »

January 10, 2014

Special Operations Training Group prepares 2/1 Marines for MEU

Story by LCpl Joshua Murray
Date Posted:01.10.2014 11:39

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Special Operations Training Group hosted assault, support, and security training for Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 7.

Continue reading "Special Operations Training Group prepares 2/1 Marines for MEU" »

January 7, 2014

Marine gets Silver Star for saving buddy

He carried team leader the distance of 3 football fields

By Jeanette Steele
5:05 p.m.Jan. 7, 2014
Updated 7:06 p.m.

A star running back at his tiny Michigan high school, Staff Sgt. Timothy Williams hoisted the team leader over his shoulder and ran the length of three football fields, as gun muzzles flashed all around.

Continue reading "Marine gets Silver Star for saving buddy" »

December 29, 2013

CMC, SGTMAJ Visit 13th MEU

Story by Sgt Jennifer Pirante
Date Posted:12.29.2013 09:14

ARABIAN GULF - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps; Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, the 17th sgt. maj. of the Marine Corps; and distinguished guests visited the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), Dec. 27, to thank Marines and Sailors assigned to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), for their service.

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December 28, 2013

Marines in Persian Gulf stand ready for crisis

By Gretel C. Kovach
2:50 p.m .Dec. 28, 2013

Aboard the USS Boxer — An MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor swooped over the Persian Gulf and dropped the commandant of the Marine Corps onto what military commanders like to refer to as four floating acres of diplomacy.

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December 23, 2013

Fallen Marine, his sister's 'superhero,' laid to rest

Monday, December 23, 2013
By:
Laurel J. Sweet

FAIRHAVEN - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew R. "Smiley" Rodriguez lived by his tattoo bearing the words: "For those I love, I will sacrifice," his proud sister told a packed church today in the fishing town where her little brother learned to laugh and love during his 19 brief years.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine, his sister's 'superhero,' laid to rest" »

December 18, 2013

Fairhaven Marine killed in Afghanistan returning home Thursday

By Ariel Wittenberg
[email protected]
December 18, 2013 1:45 PM

Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Rodriguez will be coming home Thursday in a dignified transfer ceremony at the New Bedford Airport.

Continue reading "Fairhaven Marine killed in Afghanistan returning home Thursday" »

December 17, 2013

Exercise Iron Fist 2014 to bring U.S., Japanese forces together

Courtesy Story | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.17.2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, will partner with soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to participate in Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, from Jan. 23 to Feb. 24.

Continue reading "Exercise Iron Fist 2014 to bring U.S., Japanese forces together" »

Highlanders lead way in Exercise Steel Knight 2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Moore | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.17.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Light Armored Reconnaissance Marines are often the tip of the spear in combat environments, conducting operations several hundred miles in front of friendly troops. To effectively complete their missions, they must always remain a force in readiness. Marines with Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, nicknamed the Highlanders, demonstrated this in support of Exercise Steel Knight 2014, Dec. 10 through 16.

Continue reading "Highlanders lead way in Exercise Steel Knight 2014" »

December 13, 2013

Marine from Fairhaven killed in Afghanistan

By Steve Urbon
also by Ariel Wittenberg
[email protected]; [email protected]
December 13, 2013 12:00 AM

A Fairhaven Marine has been killed in Afghanistan while conducting combat operations.

Continue reading "Marine from Fairhaven killed in Afghanistan" »

December 3, 2013

Marine Corps identifies 1,100-man infantry unit for next Australia rotation

Dec. 3, 2013 - 08:13PM
By Gina Harkins

A full battalion landing team out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., will head to Australia next spring, the largest contingent of Marines to head Down Under for a rotational deployment.

Continue reading "Marine Corps identifies 1,100-man infantry unit for next Australia rotation" »

November 28, 2013

A Thanksgiving story: Life-changing injury doesn’t dim Marine’s gratitude

By Derek Herrera 12:17 P.M.NOV. 27, 2013

Thanksgiving is a tremendous opportunity to pause and reflect on the beauty of the human experience. This Thanksgiving, I have much to be thankful for. I consider myself lucky to do so, and like many others who have experienced life-altering events, I have had a cathartic shift in the way I view my role in the world.

Continue reading "A Thanksgiving story: Life-changing injury doesn’t dim Marine’s gratitude" »

November 27, 2013

Marine Corps folds storied base in Afghanistan

By James K. Sanborn
Staff writer
Nov. 27, 2013 - 09:13PM

The Marine Corps has reached another milestone as it winds down operations in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine Corps folds storied base in Afghanistan" »

November 24, 2013

Marines rescue downed aviators amid Operation Damayan

Story by 1LT Luke Kuper
Date Posted:11.24.2013 23:38

MANILA, Republic of the Philippines – Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 assisted in rescue efforts of two pilots involved in a civilian helicopter crash Nov. 24 over Manila Bay.

Continue reading "Marines rescue downed aviators amid Operation Damayan" »

November 13, 2013

Images: 238th Marine Corps Birthday

Photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Sanchez
Date Taken:11.10.2013 | Date Posted:11.13.2013 07:37

Marines and sailors celebrate the Marine Corps birthday aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). Boxer is the flagship for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert R. Sanchez/Released)

Continue reading "Images: 238th Marine Corps Birthday" »

November 7, 2013

Marines prepare for Forager Fury II

Story by LCpl Antonio Rubio
Date Posted:11.07.2013 05:38

BAKER ISLAND - Approximately 100 Marines with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, arrived Nov. 6, 2013, at Tinian’s West Field as part of exercise Forager Fury II.

Continue reading "Marines prepare for Forager Fury II" »

November 6, 2013

Gators bid farewell to Charlie Company, 3rd AABn

Story by LCpl Christopher J. Moore
Date Posted:11.06.2013 18:28

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion bid farewell to Charlie Company during a deactivation ceremony here, Nov. 1.

Continue reading "Gators bid farewell to Charlie Company, 3rd AABn" »

October 26, 2013

11th MEU Hikes Through Gas

by LCpl Demetrius Morgan
Date Taken:10.25.2013 | Date Posted:10.26.2013 20:58

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - During every training evolution, there is a discernible goal that is accentuated before, during and after the exercise. It serves as the incentive and motivation for Marines to accomplish a task with the most speed, intensity and efficiency possible.

Continue reading "11th MEU Hikes Through Gas" »

October 25, 2013

Marines activate for Afghan wind down

1st Marine Expeditionary Force Forward heads out in early 2014

By Jeanette Steele
5:35 p.m.Oct. 25, 2013

Camp Pendleton Marines conducted an activation ceremony on Wednesday for the headquarters unit that will supervise the wind down of Marine forces in southern Afghanistan over the next year.

Continue reading "Marines activate for Afghan wind down" »

October 23, 2013

13th MEU sustains readiness with GCSS-MC

Story by Sgt. Jennifer Pirante | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.23.2013

ARABIAN SEA - No more green logbooks, stubby pencils or fat codebooks.

Continue reading "13th MEU sustains readiness with GCSS-MC" »

October 21, 2013

PHOTOS: Marines from Twentynine Palms on patrol in Afghanistan

October 21st, 2013 | by Crystal Chatham
(Official Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. James Mast / Released)

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (3/7), who are currently deployed from Twentynine Palms to Afghanistan, were photographed Saturday during a security patrol outside their home away from home.

Continue reading "PHOTOS: Marines from Twentynine Palms on patrol in Afghanistan" »

October 19, 2013

Mountain Exercise (MTNEX) 6-13 at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) Bridgeport, California

Photos by Master Sgt. Daniel F. Kauppila, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Combat Camera/Released)
Date Taken:10.19.2013 | Date Posted:10.21.2013 22:02

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (1/5), 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, Calif. conducting battalion training and combined arms operations at MCMWTC Bridgeport, in order to continue pre-deployment training program (PTP).

Continue reading "Mountain Exercise (MTNEX) 6-13 at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) Bridgeport, California" »

13th MEU Marines, Sailors train, venture, volunteer in Goa, India

Story by Sgt Christopher O'Quin
Date Posted:10.19.2013 04:45

GAO, India - Thirteenth Marine Expeditionary Unit has already been deployed more than a month and travelled far from the sunny shores of Southern California. Goa, a state on the Western side of India, known for its fish dishes, spices, beautiful beaches and unique architecture marked this deployment’s first foreign port visit for the Marines and Sailors serving aboard USS Harpers Ferry.

Continue reading "13th MEU Marines, Sailors train, venture, volunteer in Goa, India" »

October 15, 2013

USS Kearsarge leaves Middle East; Boxer moves in

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 15, 2013

MANAMA, Bahrain — Encompassing the volatile Middle East and northeast Africa, the 5th Fleet area of responsibility can be tense at any time. But for the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, the past six months were particularly eventful.

Continue reading "USS Kearsarge leaves Middle East; Boxer moves in" »

October 10, 2013

3/4 Marines, sailors return from deployment

Story by LCpl Paul Martinez
Date Posted:10.10.2013 19:38

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, were reunited with their friends and family members after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan when they arrived at Del Valle Field Oct. 9, 2013.

Continue reading "3/4 Marines, sailors return from deployment" »

October 4, 2013

Red in the face: Marines endure pepper spray training

Story by Sgt Michael Cifuentes
10.04.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines serving with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, endured what they said was one of the most painful training courses they’ve experienced in the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Red in the face: Marines endure pepper spray training" »

1st Med. Bn. sailor returns from corpsman duty in Brazil

Courtesy story
10.04.2013

CAMP PENDLETON Calif. – Working for the Navy can provide opportunities to see the world, broaden horizons and become an effective leader.

Continue reading "1st Med. Bn. sailor returns from corpsman duty in Brazil" »

October 3, 2013

Mountain Warfare Training Center teaches advanced horsemanship

By Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command | October 03, 2013

The MWTC near Bridgeport, Calif., has begun teaching an advanced horsemanship training course in order to teach Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel the necessary skills to enable them to ride horses, load pack animals, and maintain animals for military applications in remote and dangerous environments.

Continue reading "Mountain Warfare Training Center teaches advanced horsemanship" »

October 2, 2013

Boxer, New Orleans /13TH MEU Visit Singapore

Story Number: NNS131002-21 | Release Date: 10/2/2013 1:57:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jennifer Gold, Boxer Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), and the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), visited Singapore for their second port visit since entering the 7th Fleet area of responsibility, Oct. 2.

Continue reading "Boxer, New Orleans /13TH MEU Visit Singapore" »

October 1, 2013

Marines set conditions for success in future operations

Story by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.30.2013
Date Posted:10.01.2013 19:51

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Every day around the globe Marines are partnering with our nation’s allies, fighting terrorism and assisting thousands affected by natural disasters. And when they aren’t doing these things, they are preparing to do them. This constant state of readiness is what separates the Marine Corps as a service.

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Infantrymen prepare for combat zone convoys

Story by Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | 1st Marine Division | Date: 10.01.2013

YUMA, Ariz. – Whether a vehicle hits an improvised explosive device or comes under heavy enemy fire, Marines need to be ready for anything during convoys in a combat zone.

Continue reading "Infantrymen prepare for combat zone convoys" »

September 25, 2013

Peralta legacy lives on: USS Rafael Peralta to carry tradition of heroism

By Lance Cpl. Scott Reel | I Marine Expeditionary Force | September 25, 2013

SAN DIEGO -- One of the most heralded Marines from 2004’s Battle of Fallujah was honored during a ship-naming ceremony aboard Naval Base San Diego, Calif., Sept. 20.

Continue reading "Peralta legacy lives on: USS Rafael Peralta to carry tradition of heroism" »

September 18, 2013

3/7 deploys to Afghanistan

Story by LCpl Paul Martinez
09.18.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Three individual contingents with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, staged sea bags and gear in the presence of families and friends before departing for Afghanistan over the course of Sept. 14, 2013 through Sept. 17, 2013 at Felix Field.

Continue reading "3/7 deploys to Afghanistan" »

Marine killed, four injured in AAV fire at 29 Palms

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff Writer
Sep. 18, 2013 - 12:50PM

A Marine was killed and four others injured when an Amphibious Assault Vehicle caught fire Monday morning at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Continue reading "Marine killed, four injured in AAV fire at 29 Palms" »

September 16, 2013

Guardian angels: Marines deploy to protect embassy

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 09.16.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, said their goodbyes to their families and friends at the Camp Horno parade deck here, Sept. 14, as they deployed to provide security for an embassy in the Middle East.

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September 12, 2013

Marines learn ways of SWAT

By LCpl Scott Reel
Marines.mil | Sep 12 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2013) - Marines with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion are training to acquire a military occupational specialty of special reaction team member aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Continue reading "Marines learn ways of SWAT" »

September 10, 2013

BLT 1/4 Bravo Company trains in paradise

By Sgt. Christopher O'Quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | September 10, 2013

USS HARPERS FERRY AT SEA -- In the early morning of August 30, 2013, Marines and Sailors with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit sit on the ramp of USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) lined up waiting to launch in Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7's, from the ship's well deck.

Continue reading "BLT 1/4 Bravo Company trains in paradise" »

September 3, 2013

13th MEU maintains cultural awareness amid current events

Story by Sgt. Jennifer Pirante | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 08.29.2013
Date Posted:09.03.2013 20:55

USS BOXER (LHD 4), AT SEA - After the Marines and Sailors of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group departed Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 23, on Western Pacific Deployment, professors from the Naval Postgraduate School kept the units' senior leaders informed about the current state of Middle-Eastern countries through the Regional Security Education Program.

Continue reading "13th MEU maintains cultural awareness amid current events" »

September 2, 2013

13th MEU sustainment training

Photos by Staff Sgt. Matthew Orr | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 08.30.2013
Date Posted: 09.02.2013 18:27

Two Reconnaissance Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security while a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) vehicle drives off a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) at Bellows Beach on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, during sustainment training Aug. 30, 2013.

Continue reading "13th MEU sustainment training" »

August 28, 2013

Fallen Pendleton Marines to be honored

General spearheading effort to honor every fallen member of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines Association

By Linda McIntosh
6:30 a.m.Aug. 28, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — A Marine general is spearheading an effort to honor every fallen member of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines based at Camp Pendleton in a memorial at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park in Virginia.

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August 27, 2013

Marine units positioned near Syria

Staff Report
Aug. 27, 2013 - 06:00AM

Marines in the Middle East, Africa and Europe are poised to reach Syria within hours should President Obama order a strike on the country as officials work to determine whether the government there was involved in a chemical weapons attack against its own people.

Continue reading "Marine units positioned near Syria" »

Marines head to college for predeployment training

By Gina Harkins
Staff writer
Aug. 27, 2013 - 07:15PM

About 100 Marines deploying to the Middle East and North Africa did a portion of their predeployment training in an unlikely place — a university classroom.

Continue reading "Marines head to college for predeployment training" »

August 21, 2013

Boxer warship group departs Friday

4,200 sailors and Marines head off for regular deployment

By Jeanette Steele
12:21 p.m.Aug. 21, 2013

A San Diego-based group of amphibious warships will depart home Friday for a planned half-year deployment.

Continue reading " Boxer warship group departs Friday" »

August 19, 2013

A couple of ‘friendlies’ amongst friends

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 19, 201

SYDNEY, New South Wales, Australia -- The fields on which the Marines and Sailors fought were nearly identical, but the battles were drastically different. One field featured brutal collisions in a continuous struggle for ground, while the other featured complicated maneuvering to gain the advantage for a rare offensive strike.

Continue reading "A couple of ‘friendlies’ amongst friends" »

August 16, 2013

MAG-24 builds on expeditionary roots

Story by Cpl William Jackson
08.16.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - As the Marine Corps moves closer to its expeditionary roots, Marine Aircraft Group 24 is imparting this mentality on their current combat-level deployment training aboard the Combat Center.

Continue reading "MAG-24 builds on expeditionary roots" »

August 11, 2013

Strengthening the body, sharpening the mind at sea

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 11, 2013

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea -- “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity,” said President John F. Kennedy.

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To him, every day was a good day

Tom Sileo
Published: August 11, 2013

Whenever U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Barfield called his parents from Afghanistan, he had the same message.

Continue reading "To him, every day was a good day" »

August 10, 2013

After Sangin, still fighting for their lives

Darkhorse Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, three years later

By Gretel C. Kovach
1:50 p.m.Aug. 10, 2013 Updated3:56 p.m.

Juan Dominguez and his bride Alexis exchanged vows on a warm evening this spring at a Temecula winery. The couple met a year after a bomb buried in the hard ground of Sangin, Afghanistan, blew away his legs and an arm.

Continue reading "After Sangin, still fighting for their lives" »

August 9, 2013

13th MEU SCA Team brings security to Boxer Amphibious Ready Group

13th MEU SCA Team brings security to Boxer Amphibious Ready Group
Story by Sgt Christopher O'Quin
08.09.2013

AT SEA - More than 200 years ago, United States Marines deftly and bravely fought with muskets and swords to repel their boarders and ensure no enemy, pirate or military could seize their ships. Now in the 21st Century, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit carry on their forefathers’ legacy as part of the Small Craft Action Team (SCAT).

Continue reading "13th MEU SCA Team brings security to Boxer Amphibious Ready Group" »

August 8, 2013

General's fallen son inspires mother

Kelly family helped foundation raise record amount of scholarship funding

By Gretel C. Kovach
3:58 p.m.Aug. 8, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — When Karen Kelly’s son died in Afghanistan, she felt a duty to honor him and the sacrifices he made as the child of a Marine and later as a Marine himself.

Continue reading " General's fallen son inspires mother" »

August 4, 2013

Regimental Combat Team 7 Rolls Up Its Flag In Afghanistan

by Sean Carberry
August 04, 2013 3:58 AM

At the peak of fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, there were 20,000 Marines battling the Taliban. Now there are 8,000 — and more are heading home every month.

Continue reading "Regimental Combat Team 7 Rolls Up Its Flag In Afghanistan" »

August 3, 2013

Testing mortar skills in the hills of Australia

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 03, 2013

TOWNSHEND ISLAND, Queensland, Australia -- Like a drum beat, the cannons of naval vessels, rockets of circling aircraft, and shells of artillery pieces echo across the valley. Sweating under the weight of their armor, mortarmen anxiously wait for the opportunity to add their notes to the song

Continue reading "Testing mortar skills in the hills of Australia" »

31st MEU coordinates large-scale destruction with Australian counterparts

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 03, 2013

TOWNSHEND ISLAND, Queensland, Australia -- The fire mission came from an Australian command center, was relayed through an American forward observer, and executed by a team of American artillerymen followed by Australian helicopters in close air support.

Continue reading "31st MEU coordinates large-scale destruction with Australian counterparts" »

Collaborative cannons in Australia

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 03, 2013

TOWNSHEND ISLAND, Queensland, Australia -- The artillery pieces, ammunition and skills were all the same, the only difference was the accent.

Continue reading "Collaborative cannons in Australia" »

August 2, 2013

Reluctant Marine hero awarded Silver Star

Organized assault in all-day battle against a larger enemy force

By Jeanette Steele
6:39 p.m.Aug. 2, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — A reluctant hero received the nation’s third-highest combat award at Camp Pendleton Friday.

Continue reading "Reluctant Marine hero awarded Silver Star" »

Documentary starring Marines to be shown at Oceanside Film Fest

By Linda McIntosh
6:40 a.m.Aug. 2, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Camp Pendleton Marines will be featured in the documentary, “Patrol Base Jaker” to be screened Aug. 24 during Oceanside’s International Film Festival

Continue reading "Documentary starring Marines to be shown at Oceanside Film Fest" »

July 21, 2013

“Helo” company inserts into Talisman Saber 13

By Cpl. Codey Underwood | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 21, 2013

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia --
The gust of the rotors covered the area in dust as the aircraft departed the landing zone, leaving a company of Marines behind. Rifles at the ready, the troops move forward into the seemingly endless Australian vegetation, heading northeast toward their objective.

Continue reading "“Helo” company inserts into Talisman Saber 13" »

July 20, 2013

Company G. lands ground forces during Talisman Saber 2013

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 20, 2013

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia -- Waves of steel vehicles swarmed the beach as helicopters thundered overhead, both units making a formidable show of force as they pushed inland. On the horizon, behind the waves of oncoming armor and weapons, the rising sun silhouetted the two ships responsible for launching the air and ground assets.

Continue reading "Company G. lands ground forces during Talisman Saber 2013" »

July 17, 2013

The ‘drive’ to learn: Marine qualifies to pilot Navy ships

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 17, 2013

USS GERMANTOWN, At Sea -- He spoke at length on plotting courses and directing a ship in the event of unknown contact. He stressed the importance of factoring in distance, weather and sea state. He spoke knowledgeably and without error as only a trained nautical expert could.

Continue reading "The ‘drive’ to learn: Marine qualifies to pilot Navy ships" »

July 15, 2013

Legendary warrior exemplifies what it means to be a Marine

By Dan Lamothe
Staff writer
Jul. 15, 2013 - 09:22AM

CHESAPEAKE, VA. — When Staff Sgt. Cliff Wooldridge arrived here in 2011 to serve as an instructor with Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, he was less than a year removed from beating a Taliban fighter to death in Afghanistan with his own machine gun.

Continue reading "Legendary warrior exemplifies what it means to be a Marine" »

July 12, 2013

Nations unite for bilateral tank training

Story by Cpl. D.J. Wu
07.12.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The tankers of Company B, 1st Tank Battalion, and Squadron B, 1st Armoured Regiment of the Australian Army seem like they would have a one-dimensional relationship. The Australians arrived at the Combat Center almost a month ago for bilateral and integrated tank operations.

Continue reading "Nations unite for bilateral tank training" »

July 11, 2013

USS Kearsarge, USS San Antonio 'parked off of Egypt'

By Megan McCloskey
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 11, 2013

WASHINGTON – As political unrest continues in post-coup Egypt, two amphibious assault ships have moved to the coast there, the commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday.

Continue reading "USS Kearsarge, USS San Antonio 'parked off of Egypt'" »

July 5, 2013

In moving darkness, marksmen are made

By Sgt. Paul Robbins Jr. | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 05, 2013

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea --
In the dead of night, the calming song of the ocean is broken by the distinct crack of rifle fire. Paper snaps and wood splinters as dedicated marksmen use enhanced vision to identify and eliminate their targets.

Continue reading "In moving darkness, marksmen are made" »

July 4, 2013

Celebrating Independence Day at sea

By Cpl. Codey Underwood | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 04, 2013

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea -- Normally covered with aircraft and the sound of whirling rotors, the flight deck of the ship bustled with hundreds of troops enjoying sunshine and fresh barbecue.

Continue reading "Celebrating Independence Day at sea" »

“Fighting Thirteenth” flexes muscles during PMINT Exercise

By Sgt. Christopher O'Quin, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Jul 4, 2013 - 7:30:49 PM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - When one evokes the image of a Marine, one often thinks of the typical grunt storming beaches from the sea. While this image rings true for the Corps after all these years, many types of battlefields have evolved since the days of John Wayne’s “Sands of Iwo Jima”.

Continue reading "“Fighting Thirteenth” flexes muscles during PMINT Exercise" »

July 3, 2013

1st MLG celebrates 66th anniversary by remembering its roots

By Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Logistics Group | July 03, 2013

7/4/2013 -- CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors with 1st Marine Logistics Group celebrated the unit’s 66th anniversary aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 1, 2013.

Continue reading "1st MLG celebrates 66th anniversary by remembering its roots" »

Adjusting to life after deployment

By Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | July 03, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Do to a high tempo work environment, service members face many emotional challenges while deployed. Unfortunately, many of those challenges can continue after returning home.

Continue reading "Adjusting to life after deployment" »

June 28, 2013

BLT 2/4 corpsmen receive FMF pin aboard USS Germantown

By Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | June 28, 2013

USS GERMANTOWN, At Sea --

There is a group of Sailors within the United States Navy that accept the responsibility of being medical professionals. Within that small group exists a smaller portion of Sailors that accept the responsibility and the challenge of providing medical care to the Marines.

Continue reading "BLT 2/4 corpsmen receive FMF pin aboard USS Germantown" »

June 24, 2013

Four-footed soldiers: Award to honor America's war dogs

Written by Sherry Barkas
The Desert Sun
Jun. 24, 2013

CATHEDRAL CITY — American war dogs, which have put their lives on the line since World War I, are being honored at next month’s Pegasus Riding Academy benefit luncheon where a “Saving American Lives” award is being presented for the first time to the K-9 unit at the Marine base in Twentynine Palms.

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June 21, 2013

Training Tank offers new in-water workout program

Story by Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 06.21.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The High Intensity Tactical Training Program arrived at the Combat Center’s West Gym and Fitness Center more than a year ago. Since then, it has helped Marines increase their strength, speed, core stability and flexibility. Now a new workout program at the Combat Center Training Tank aims to do the same in the water.

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June 20, 2013

Combat Center Marines use training to save life

Story by Cpl. William Jackson | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 06.20.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - They were all strangers. The three of them had never met before that evening. Their weekend had just begun like any other. Little did they know they would be thrown into a situation that would save Rebecca’s life after her motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 62.

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June 16, 2013

Marine adopts dog he served with in Afghanistan

By Linh Ta
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa
Published: June 16, 2013

PARKERSBURG, Iowa --- When Parkserburg Marine Matt Hatala first met Chaney, the two were like oil and water. Both were bull headed and didn't like to listen, and Chaney dragged Hatala all over the place.

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June 11, 2013

US Navy and Marine Corps begin multinational amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2013

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade | Date: 06.11.2013

SAN DIEGO- Marines and sailors from 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, I Marine Expeditionary Force and the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group-3, Commander, Third Fleet, announce the official commencement of multinational amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2013 off the Southern California coast, June 11-28.

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June 7, 2013

One of 'the few' who served for many

By Cpl. Trevon S. Peracca | Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton | June 07, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --
His journey began in the mid-'70s as an adolescent on the streets of Detroit, which he resolved to leave after one day on the "wrong side of 8-Mile Road."

Continue reading "One of 'the few' who served for many" »

June 6, 2013

War's fallen get memorial at Pendleton

Monument honors 5th Marines killed in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
3:01 p.m. June 6, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — White-gloved hands carefully withdrew camouflage netting to reveal 89 names etched in granite.

Continue reading "War's fallen get memorial at Pendleton" »

Sacramento Marine killed in Afghanistan receives Bronze Star

By Bill Lindelof
Published: Thursday, Jun. 6, 2013 - 8:13 am

Cpl. Gurpreet Singh, an Antelope resident killed in combat in 2011, recently received the Bronze Star in ceremonies at Camp Pendleton.

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June 3, 2013

31st MEU’s “Boat” Company shows Japanese soldiers their craft

Story by Sgt. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.03.201

OKINAWA, Japan - A platoon-sized element of Japanese soldiers spent two days learning from the Marines and Sailors of Company F., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as they conducted small-boat training operations here, June 2 and 3.

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June 1, 2013

Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21—The Crossroads of Marine Aviation

Author: Roxanne Baker
06/01/2013

Tourists may know the Emerald Coast as a vacation destination with sugary white sands and tur­quoise waters. But the Marines based at Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) 21 in Pensacola, Fla., aren’t looking toward the beach. They have their sights locked in on the sky.

Continue reading "Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21—The Crossroads of Marine Aviation " »

May 29, 2013

Marine general: Afghans battling for Sangin

Insurgents probing defenses of national forces, locals

By Gretel C. Kovach
4:33 p.m.May 29, 2013Updated10:07 a.m.May 30, 2013

Afghan national security forces have effectively taken the lead for combat operations in the southwest of the country, where they have been battling insurgents for several days in a former enemy stronghold of Helmand Province, according to the Marine general in command of U.S. and international forces in the region.

Continue reading "Marine general: Afghans battling for Sangin" »

May 28, 2013

Artillerymen give back to San Juan Capistrano

Story by Lance Cpl. James Gulliver | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.28.2013

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – As the sun rose over the hills of San Juan Capistrano, Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, were already up and hard at work here, May 23.

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May 25, 2013

Afghan forces build confidence, set up checkpoints

Story by Sgt. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 05.25.2013

COMBAT OUTPOST NOW ZAD, Afghanistan— As Afghan forces continue to take the lead security role in Helmand province, the Marines are quietly helping them build their confidence.

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Afghan vet, now an MSU student, honors fallen Marines in documentary

By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
May 25, 2013

When Logan Stark first set foot in Afghanistan in the fall of 2010 as a U.S. Marine, he wasn’t too worried.

Continue reading "Afghan vet, now an MSU student, honors fallen Marines in documentary" »

May 21, 2013

Marines sacrifice at Recon Challenge for those who gave it all

By Cpl. Sarah Wolff-Diaz | Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch | May 21, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Blue chemical lights illuminated the Pacific under a early morning sky as 41 dark figures approached the black waters off San Onofre beach at 4 a.m. and patiently waited in the brisk air for the countdown to honor their fallen comrades to begin May 17.

Continue reading "Marines sacrifice at Recon Challenge for those who gave it all" »

May 20, 2013

New memorial honors Camp Pendleton Marines killed in Afghanistan

Granite 7-ton wall delivered after 10-day trip

Joe Little
Posted: 05/20/2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A new memorial honoring Marines killed in Afghanistan arrived Monday at Camp Pendleton following a lengthy journey.

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13th MEU tests new communication game changer for approaching deployment

By Sgt. Christopher O'Quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | May 20, 2013

NAVAL AIR FACILITY EL CENTRO, Calif. -- The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be first MEU to bring GATR’s with them on their Western Pacific Deployment in 2013. No, not the fearsome jagged toothed reptilians and apex predators, but a state-of-the-art communication tool able to rapidly transmit and receive data. Though actual gators would be an epic mascot for the MEU deployment

Continue reading "13th MEU tests new communication game changer for approaching deployment" »

May 18, 2013

No river wide enough: Marines demonstrate bridging capabilities

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.18.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines serving with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and 7th Engineer Support Battalion set up an Improved Ribbon Bridge with Bridge Erection Boats and an Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge as part of the battalion’s continued effort to crosstrain their Marines.

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May 17, 2013

Marines set sail post-Benghazi

Col. Scott Campbell of the 15th MEU talks about the amphib future.

By Gretel C. Kovach
5:59 p.m .May 17, 2013

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Camp Pendleton this week after an eight-month deployment aboard the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group. The Corps kept its infantry afloat while most Marines fought in the deserts of Iraq or Afghanistan.

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May 16, 2013

Urban combat hits three states over nine days

By Allison Barrie
War Games
Published May 16, 2013
FoxNews.com

A search and rescue of chemical-weapons casualties aboard a U.S. Navy vessel, a helicopter assault on Fort Irwin and an antenna that looks like an inflatable beach ball. What do they have in common?

Continue reading "Urban combat hits three states over nine days" »

May 13, 2013

15th MEU returns, Pelelieu Group on the way

By Nathan Max
4:21 p.m. May 13, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Lt. Col. John Field said he has been flying CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters since 1993.

Continue reading "15th MEU returns, Pelelieu Group on the way" »

May 8, 2013

Retrograding Home: Redeployment a focus of effort as Afghanistan exit draws closer

Courtesy Story | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.08.2013

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - In 2009, Camp Dwyer was a sprawling base which housed thousands of service members ready to fight. Most of them were the result of a 30,000 troop surge in Afghanistan introduced by President Barack Obama.

Continue reading "Retrograding Home: Redeployment a focus of effort as Afghanistan exit draws closer" »

May 3, 2013

Navy doc awarded Silver Star

Hospital corpsman ignored his own wounds, gunfire

By Gretel C. Kovach
5:57 p.m.May 3, 2013

When the bomb blasted his truck into the air and insurgents started shooting, “Doc Flores” went to work. The Navy hospital corpsman was deafened by the explosion. He couldn’t hear the bullets whizzing by, but he saw his Marines lying in the street.

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Peleliu ARG Arrives in Pearl Harbor

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Michael Duran, USS Peleliu Public Affairs
5/3/2013

PEARL HARBOR – The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam May 3, after an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

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April 30, 2013

Marine awarded Silver Star for actions in Afghanistan

By THOMAS BRENNAN - Daily News Staff
Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 20:51 PM.

A Camp Lejeune Marine was awarded the Silver Star on Tuesday for his actions during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

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Silver Star for corpsman

Camp Pen sailor's actions recounted in award-winning eyewitness dispatch

By Gretel C. Kovach
4:19 p.m.April 30, 2013

A Navy hospital corpsman assigned to Camp Pendleton will be awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest medal for valor in combat, for his actions last year when a suicide bomber struck his convoy in southwestern Afghanistan.

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April 27, 2013

HST trains aboard USS Rushmore

Story by Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.27.2013

USS RUSHMORE - When Marines need essential gear, vehicles or equipment in the field, they need it quickly. The helicopter support team, a group of landing support specialists, is called to support this vital mission.

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April 19, 2013

3rd CEB Deployment Workshop

Story by Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 04.19.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Service members with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion hosted a deployment workshop for the battalion’s children Saturday in response to the unit’s recent deployment to Afghanistan. The workshop introduced 3rd CEB kids to each other and provided games and activities to help understand and deal with the hardships of having a parent deployed.

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April 18, 2013

Marines and sailors train under extreme stress at sea

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.18.2013

USS PELELIU, At Sea - Being deployed at sea has afforded Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit some very unique training opportunities. These opportunities have included training with foreign militaries, fast-roping, rappelling, refining skills in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, shooting and weapons classes to name a few.

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April 16, 2013

Peleliu ARG, 15th MEU arrive in Hong Kong

Story by Lt. Nicole Schwegman | USS Peleliu (LHA 5) | Date: 04.16.2013

HONG KONG – The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Hong Kong, April 15 for a port visit.

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April 10, 2013

Marine awarded Bronze Star Medal for actions during OEF

Story by Cpl. Marcin Platek | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 04.10.2013

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - 1st Sgt. Anthony J. Velarde, the first sergeant with 1st Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device during a ceremony here, March 11.

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April 8, 2013

3rd CEB deploys to Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. William Jackson | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 04.05.2013
Date Posted:04.08.2013 10:09

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines and sailors with Support Company, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, staged their sea bags while family and loved ones took in every minute they had left with their service member before the buses arrived in the late hours of March 28, 2013.

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April 5, 2013

Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group departs 5th Fleet

By Capt. Justin Smith | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | April 05, 2013

At Sea --

The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group relinquished its duties in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to the Kearsarge ARG, April 4.

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April 3, 2013

Pendleton Marines in anti-piracy training

By Raquel Maria Dillon,
The Associated Press
Apr. 3, 2013 - 07:30AM

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Camp Pendleton Marines are practicing how to deal with boarding pirate ships in training aboard a ship moored in the port of Long Beach.

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March 31, 2013

‘Cutting Edge’ family reunites for OIF anniversary

Story by Lance Cpl. Alejandro Bedoya | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 03.31.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Ten years after the invasion into Iraq, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, reunited at the Combat Center March 21 to celebrate their history and meet the Marines and sailors who filled their shoes after they left active duty.

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March 30, 2013

MEU Benefits From Regional Expertise

Story by 2nd Lt. Matthew Finnerty | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.30.2013

AT SEA– The Marine Corps believes in the theory of the, “strategic corporal,” which is a belief that senior Marines are not the only Marines who make decisions that could potentially affect the course of forward-deployed and at-home missions.

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March 27, 2013

Marines prep for disaster

Feds, local reps refining coordination for earthquakes, hurricanes

By Gretel C. Kovach
6:56 p.m.March 27, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — When Hurricane Sandy roared across the Eastern Seaboard last fall, the “superstorm” demanded an all-out response. Northeastern states asked the federal government to send in the Marines. A leatherneck landing force and helicopter fleet steamed north aboard three Navy ships, and grunts who were heading for combat started shoveling rubble to clear streets on Staten Island, N.Y.

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March 22, 2013

Real world training prepares Marines for upcoming deployment

Story by Cpl. Mark Garcia | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.22.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Instructors with Special Operations Training Group conducted Tactical Rescue of Aircraft Personnel training with Marines from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, March 21.

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'Fighting 13th' readies command and control for deployment

Story by Sgt. Christopher O'Quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.22.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - In the 1984 film "Amadeus," antagonist Antonio Salieri mentions Mozart’s work as miraculous, stating, “Displace one note and there would be diminishment, displace one phrase and the structure would fall”.

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March 14, 2013

Marine awarded posthumous Silver Star

By Nathan Max
4:16 p.m.March 14, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Sgt. Wade D. Wilson didn’t flinch last May when an insurgent began firing an AK-47 at him and four of his fellow Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

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March 13, 2013

Eagle Eye

By Sgt. Bobby Yarbrough | II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) | March 13, 2013

PATROL BASE BOLDAK, Afghanistan -- The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, had been taking sporadic enemy fire for most of the morning March 2 while conducting their daily patrol through Boldak, a small town interlaced with green fields and large mud compounds about eight kilometers southeast of Camp Leatherneck. Due to their position and the unforgiving terrain of the city, the Marines couldn’t locate the shooter.

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March 12, 2013

Marine awarded Bronze Star for leadership in Afghanistan

By 2nd Lt. Matthey Finnerty | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | March 12, 2013

USS Green Bay --

USS GREEN BAY – The Marine Corps continues to solidify its place in history through exemplary achievement and sacrifice of the country’s bravest men and women. Marines distinguish themselves on a daily basis, however, some standout amongst their peers.

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March 11, 2013

Marine awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medal for lifesaving efforts in Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. James Gulliver | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.08.2013
Date Posted:03.11.2013 23:00

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – As the sun rose over the Camp Las Flores parade deck here, March 8, Lance Cpl. Benjamin Nalls, a fire team leader serving with Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, stood in front of his fellow infantrymen ready to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medal for lifesaving efforts in Afghanistan" »

March 9, 2013

Air wing back from war

Miramar general talks Afghan hand-off, accountability after Bastion attack

By Gretel C. Kovach
4:01 p.m.March 9, 2013

Marine aviators, support troops and aircraft headed home at the twilight of the 11-year war. A fledgling regional fleet of Afghan helicopter pilots took flight. And on Sept. 14, insurgents infiltrated the main base, attacked the flight line, killed two Marines — both from the air wing headquartered in San Diego — and set a squadron of AV-8B Harrier jets ablaze.

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March 8, 2013

Deployed Marines ensure everyone looks fresh with a new haircut

Story by Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.08.2013

AT SEA - Marines learn many valuable skills throughout their military careers. Some of the skills are far from expected.

Continue reading "Deployed Marines ensure everyone looks fresh with a new haircut" »

March 2, 2013

Dedicated Marine, family man honored in Helmand

Story by Sgt. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 03.02.2013

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan— The air was dry and warm as Marines and Georgian soldiers stood silent in preparation to honor their fallen comrade.

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March 1, 2013

'Cutting Edge' sharpens their skills

Story by Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 03.01.2013

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted a series of day and night live-fire squad supported attacks at Range 410A Feb. 26.

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February 28, 2013

15th MEU finishes sustainment training in Djibouti

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Date Posted:02.28.2013 11:55

DJIBOUTI – After an extended period at-sea, the Marine Corps’ forward-deployed, sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force reinforced its capabilities during sustainment training, Feb. 8-15.

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February 22, 2013

Translators help Marines, JGSDF understand each other for Exercise Iron Fist 2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Demetrius Morgan | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.22.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - "Translate this for me," is what Marines and Sailors often said when working with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 2013.

Continue reading "Translators help Marines, JGSDF understand each other for Exercise Iron Fist 2013" »

February 20, 2013

After successful operation, ANCOP stays ahead of insurgents

Story by Sgt. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 02.13.2013
Date Posted:02.20.2013 01:41

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan— In the middle of the night, more than 80 Afghan National Civil Order Police and less than ten Marines boarded helicopters.

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February 15, 2013

Marine honored, posthumously awarded Bronze Star

Story by Lance Cpl. James Gulliver | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.15.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “Always faithful” is a saying that has been a way of life for U.S. Marines since they adopted the motto in the late 1800s. The word continues to echo on the battlefield today.

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February 14, 2013

Fallen Camp Pendleton Marine Who Wrote Goodbye Letter To Be Awarded Bronze Star On Friday

Thursday, February 14, 2013
By Beth Ford Roth

The military will posthumously award fallen Marine Sgt. William Stacey the Bronze Star at a Camp Pendleton ceremony Friday, according to 1st Marine Public Affairs.

Continue reading "Fallen Camp Pendleton Marine Who Wrote Goodbye Letter To Be Awarded Bronze Star On Friday" »

February 5, 2013

Iron Fist: Japanese forces take to the desert with Marines

Posted by Gidget Fuentes
February 5th, 2013

Members of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif., joined Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces for this year’s “Iron Fist” exercise, held in Southern California. The three-week interoperability training exercise has the combined forces training on this side of the Pacific along the coast, in the desert, out at sea and back ashore as the Marines and soldiers hone their warfighting skills with patrolling, assaults, mechanized attacks and live-fire and maneuver drills. This is the eighth year for the bilateral training, which ”promises to be bigger and better than in previous years,” Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, the I Marine Expeditionary Force deputy commander, said during the Jan. 22 opening ceremony.

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February 1, 2013

Tax Center opens for business

By Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center | February 01, 2013

Marine Corps Air Grond Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. --

The Combat Center’s Tax Center opened its doors at Building 1428 Wednesday for this year’s tax season. This center provides free tax preparation services for all retired and active duty service members and their dependents, as well as any reserve service members on orders for more than 30 days.

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1/7 families get taste of their Marines’ life

By Cpl. William Jackson
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
February 01, 2013

Marine Corps Air Grond Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. --

Family members of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Marines and sailors got a chance to walk in their loved one’s boots for a day Jan. 24, when they geared up and participated in the unit’s Jane Wayne Day aboard the Combat Center and its training areas.

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January 30, 2013

Marines increase rocket strikes in Afghanistan

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2013 19:58:15 EST

Marine artillerymen are raining down rockets on insurgents in Afghanistan at a record pace.

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January 29, 2013

Media Advisory: Combat Logistics Regiment 15 returns from Afghanistan

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 01.29.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – After a successful year-long deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan, approximately 230 Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 15 return, here, Feb. 2.

Continue reading "Media Advisory: Combat Logistics Regiment 15 returns from Afghanistan" »

January 28, 2013

Mine sweeper's heroics rightfully noted

By Nathan Max10:24 a.m.Jan. 28, 2013

CAMP PENDLETON — Lance Cpl. Juan Munoz has a harrowing job under normal circumstances.

Continue reading "Mine sweeper's heroics rightfully noted" »

January 27, 2013

1st Sgt. receives Bronze Star for actions in Sangin District, Afghanistan

By Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | January 27, 2013

01.26.2013 --

USS RUSHMORE, At Sea – Servicemembers stationed around the world make sacrifices every day for their country. Some expense time away from their families and a number risk their lives to protect their brothers in arms. It is always a special occasion when one is recognized for their actions.

Marines take aim to become scout snipers

Riflemen put through rigorous 'screener'

Sunday, January 27, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Drenched in sweat and stomachs growling, Marines serving with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, tested their bodies limitations during a scout sniper screener here.

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January 23, 2013

Two members of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion awarded Bronze Star

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.23.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A Marine and a sailor serving with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion received the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device during a ceremony here, Jan. 23.

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January 22, 2013

Marines launch Iron Fist

2013 is largest of annual exercise for U.S. and Japanese forces

By Gretel C. Kovach5:30 p.m.Jan. 22, 2013

Camp Pendleton Marines, Third Fleet sailors and Japanese troops kicked off Iron Fist during a ceremony Tuesday at the base adjoining Oceanside. The annual bilateral exercise that began in San Diego County in 2006 is larger this year and includes nearly a month of training at three Southern California locations.

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January 19, 2013

15th MEU stays current on fast-roping qualifications

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 01.19.2013

USS PELELIU – Whenever U.S. Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to conduct a mission, a special team of Marines is identified to provide emergency recovery assistance of aircraft or personnel. Often times, these recovery missions require that these Marines fast-rope into hectic situations.

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Marine Combat Controllers provide crucial service for Marine air

Courtesy Story | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 01.19.2013

DJIBOUTI - A 12 by 6 mile former lake bed, comprised of dry vegetation and compact sand, may seem to be useless ground. However, the Marines from Marine Mobile Air Traffic Control Team see this barren land as an opportunity to create a runway for aircraft as large as a Marine KC-130.

Continue reading "Marine Combat Controllers provide crucial service for Marine air" »

January 17, 2013

Marine Steps Up as Chaplain’s Assistant

By Sgt. Ned Johnson
Headquarters Marine Corps
January 17, 2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- As Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Adam Henderson begins his daily assignments here, he knows that most men his age are not making the same sacrifices he makes each day on a deployment.

Continue reading "Marine Steps Up as Chaplain’s Assistant" »

January 16, 2013

California Marine takes leadership by example to heart

Story by Capt. Alfred Reynolds | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.16.2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan— Most Marines are familiar with the concept of leadership by example. One Marine lives it.

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January 9, 2013

Marine to Draw on Past Experiences as Combat Instructor

January 9th, 2013 // By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

A mortarman turned squad leader plans to use his experiences gained while deployed to teach new Marines as a combat instructor.

Continue reading "Marine to Draw on Past Experiences as Combat Instructor" »

Helo Company conducts raid in Djibouti

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.16.2012
Date Posted:01.09.2013 03:21

Djibouti, AFRICA – The dark night wouldn’t allow the human eye to see anything further than two feet ahead, but that didn’t stop the Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from conducting their mission.

Continue reading "Helo Company conducts raid in Djibouti" »

15th MEU finishes sustainment training in Djibouti

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 01.09.2013

DJIBOUTI – After an extended period at-sea, the west coast’s forward-deployed sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force stretched its legs for some sustainment training in Djibouti, Africa. Dec. 3-21.

Continue reading "15th MEU finishes sustainment training in Djibouti" »

January 3, 2013

Spencer W. Wing

Obituary
January 3, 2013

Groton: Spencer W. Wing, 19, of Chipman Corners Road, Groton, NY, died unexpectedly on January 1, 2013.

Continue reading "Spencer W. Wing " »

December 30, 2012

Commandant of the Marine Corps visits 15th MEU at-sea

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.30.2012

USS PELELIU – Leaders at the helm of the Marine Corps spent their holiday with the Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, Dec. 28.

Continue reading "Commandant of the Marine Corps visits 15th MEU at-sea" »

December 28, 2012

Marine at war robbed of everything

Thieves struck while away in Afghanistan; vets offer help

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
7:35 p.m., Dec. 28, 2012

It had been a tough year to begin with. Then Gunnery Sgt. Jamie Hammond discovered that just about everything she owned except the desert camouflage on her back was stolen while she was in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine at war robbed of everything" »

"The Professionals" depart 31st MEU

By 1stLt David Baugh
DVIDS | Dec 28 2012

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan (December 2, 2012) – Between executing numerous beach assaults and lending a hand to a host of communities, the Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment left their mark in the Asia-Pacific as the battalion landing team of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Continue reading ""The Professionals" depart 31st MEU" »

December 24, 2012

Little touches make Christmas special for sailors, Marines

Written by
Jeanette Steele
8:26 p.m., Dec. 24, 2012

On a bobbing ship more than 8,000 miles from home, a slice of Americana — pumpkin, apple or in this case, pecan — can make the difference on Christmas.

Continue reading "Little touches make Christmas special for sailors, Marines " »

December 18, 2012

Logistical hub for northern Helmand keeps Marines equipped

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.18.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST SHAMSHER, Afghanistan – Marines must remain well equipped to be ready for daily operations in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Logistical hub for northern Helmand keeps Marines equipped" »

December 12, 2012

First deployment to Afghanistan sniper’s dream finally fulfilled

By Cpl. Mark Garcia
December 12, 2012

MUSA QAL’AH DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan -- For Cpl. Aaron Clote, the challenge involved with becoming a Marine and the chance to experience the world was something he couldn’t miss out on.

Continue reading "First deployment to Afghanistan sniper’s dream finally fulfilled" »

December 11, 2012

Marine battalion comes home to warm welcome

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.11.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – As the sun descended behind the mountain ridgeline at Camp Horno, excitement began to build as family members and friends anxiously awaited for their loved ones to return from deployment, Dec. 8.

Continue reading "Marine battalion comes home to warm welcome" »

December 10, 2012

Marines assault beach at Steel Knight exercise

Ops at sea and Asia deployments increasing in post-Afghan era

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
4:09 p.m., Dec. 10, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON — Waves of amphibious assault vehicles crashed onto the beach Monday at Camp Pendleton, launching the 1st Marine Division back to the Corps’ seafaring roots and ahead to its peacetime future.

Continue reading "Marines assault beach at Steel Knight exercise" »

December 8, 2012

Through the Scope: One sniper’s experiences, journey to the top

By Cpl. Jonathan G. Wright
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
December 08, 2012

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan -- Snipers have been the focus of envy and the personification of legends in the Marine Corps since men like Carlos Hathcock and Chuck Mawhinney looked down their scopes in the jungles of Vietnam. The recent exploits of Chris Kyle, the retired Navy SEAL who now has the most confirmed sniper kills in U.S. military history, modernized the mystique of the military sniper, but few have had what it takes to join the ranks.

Continue reading "Through the Scope: One sniper’s experiences, journey to the top" »

December 3, 2012

U.S. Marines, Kuwait Armed Forces snipers train along-side one another

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

Story by Cpl. Timothy Childers
Published 12.03.2012 05:52

KUWAIT – Marines shielded their eyes the best they could as a sand storm moved across the firing-range. Wind-speeds reached more than 30 miles-per-hour, which made a dead-center shot at more than 500 yards seem impossible. What may have seemed unfeasible was made achievable by the scout snipers of Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. They flawlessly brought down targets at a firing-range near Camp Buehring during Exercise Eager Mace 13, Nov. 10.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines, Kuwait Armed Forces snipers train along-side one another" »

November 17, 2012

2/7 Marines provide security for Operation Golden Gate

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.17.2012

AFGHANISTAN- -Combat engineers man their heavy equipment, pushing thousands of pounds of earth around while building and improving an area vital to the progression of southern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "2/7 Marines provide security for Operation Golden Gate" »

November 2, 2012

Enid machine gunner makes most of Afghan deployment

Story by Master Sgt. Brenda Varnadore | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.02.2012

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan – After three years at Oklahoma State University, it came time for the Enid, Okla., native, to make a decision on his major. Realizing it would affect the rest of his life, he wanted to be absolutely sure. He took a long, hard look in the mirror and made his decision. He wanted to be a Marine.

Continue reading "Enid machine gunner makes most of Afghan deployment" »

October 31, 2012

Combat logistics patrol supports mission, supplies Marines

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.31.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Marines and sailors supplying the infantry and other coalition forces have a job with long hours, late nights and early mornings.

Continue reading "Combat logistics patrol supports mission, supplies Marines" »

October 30, 2012

Peleliu ARG arrives in US 5th Fleet

Courtesy Story | USS Peleliu (LHA 5) | Date: 10.30.2012

INDIAN OCEAN – The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Oct. 30.

Continue reading "Peleliu ARG arrives in US 5th Fleet" »

October 25, 2012

Deployed Marines mindful of insider attacks

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 25, 2012 21:05:05 EDT

TAGHAZ, Afghanistan — It should have been a straightforward request: A Marine lance corporal needed to relieve himself several hours into a long visit to an Afghan Border Police headquarters. It isn’t that simple, however.

Continue reading "Deployed Marines mindful of insider attacks" »

October 21, 2012

Equipment disposal a daunting job for military

By Bethany Crudele - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 21, 2012 10:12:14 EDT

As the war in Afghanistan continues to wind down, millions of pounds of combat equipment are being received and disposed of each week, according to officials with the Defense Logistics Agency, Disposition Services.

Continue reading "Equipment disposal a daunting job for military" »

October 20, 2012

Crewmembers of USS Rushmore relax in Darwin

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.20.2012

DARWIN, Australia - Marines decide to join the Corps for a number of reasons. For the adventurous, the chance to travel the world with a Marine Expeditionary Unit can be a deciding factor.

Continue reading "Crewmembers of USS Rushmore relax in Darwin" »

October 19, 2012

Into the mountains

Story by Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 10.19.2012

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - The War on Terror is not always fought in the urban setting where food, supplies and ammunition can be provided through normal logistical means. Fighting the enemy takes Marines into regions where common modes of transportation, such as armored vehicles or aircraft, cannot reach.

Continue reading "Into the mountains" »

October 17, 2012

Military Police teach critical security skills to military police and embassy guards

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Jennifer Antoine | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.17.2012

DILI, Timor-Leste - Whether it’s standing vigilantly on the walls of an embassy or keeping an eagle’s eye on everything while performing personal security detachment details, at the end of the day, personal safety of “the boss” is paramount.

Continue reading "Military Police teach critical security skills to military police and embassy guards" »

October 12, 2012

Afghanistan at a crossroads, in no-man's land

With fewer U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Marines in a desolate patch of Helmand province find themselves vulnerable to Taliban attack. They seek help from locals, who distrust them and the militants.

By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times
October 12, 2012, 7:58 p.m.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The sun pounds down on the U.S. Marine sergeant and the tribal elder in this faceless, bone-colored plain.

Continue reading " Afghanistan at a crossroads, in no-man's land" »

15th Marines Expeditionary Unit plays Santa

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Jennifer Antoine | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.12.2012

DILI, Timor-Leste - Shouts of “Bondia, Bondia, Bondia,” which means good morning in the native language of Tetun, could be heard as the Religious Ministry Team of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit visited school aged children to hand out sporting equipment, books and writing supplies Oct. 12.

Continue reading "15th Marines Expeditionary Unit plays Santa" »

October 11, 2012

Marines continue time-honored tradition in Sangin

10/11/2012 By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo , Regimental Combat Team 6
FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — It is a military tradition carried out on U.S. bases throughout the world. The raising and lowering of the American flag is not just another duty for Marines, especially while deployed.

Continue reading " Marines continue time-honored tradition in Sangin " »

October 9, 2012

US, Philippine Marines patrol, construct hide sites

Story by Lance Cpl. Codey Underwood | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.09.2012

CROW VALLEY, Philippines – Completely surrounded in thick vegetation, snipers encase themselves within a wall of camouflage, utilizing their natural surroundings to keep from being compromised.

Continue reading "US, Philippine Marines patrol, construct hide sites" »

Marines aid Afghan soldiers secure area

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.09.2012

TREK NAWA, Afghanistan - Entering the Trek Nawa District of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, made a bold military presence absent to the region for nearly a year.

Continue reading "Marines aid Afghan soldiers secure area" »

15th MEU to train with Timor-Leste forces

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 9, 2012 17:41:27 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — About 1,000 Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will go ashore to Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia starting Wednesday to train with local military troops and help with medical and community projects.

Continue reading "15th MEU to train with Timor-Leste forces" »

October 7, 2012

1/7 Marines help ANSF, Sangin Government stand tall

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.07.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan – It has been seven long months for the Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, but they will soon return home to family and friends from Sangin, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "1/7 Marines help ANSF, Sangin Government stand tall" »

October 6, 2012

Marines continue time-honored tradition in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.06.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – It is a military tradition carried out on U.S. bases throughout the world. The raising and lowering of the American flag is not just another duty for Marines, especially while deployed.

Continue reading "Marines continue time-honored tradition in Sangin" »

October 5, 2012

Marines save motorist's life in Riverside County

Written by
Nathan Max
1:46 p.m., Oct. 5, 2012

Sgt. Ronny Pool and Staff Sgt. Javier Acosta have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan a combined six times.

Continue reading "Marines save motorist's life in Riverside County " »

At sea, 31st MEU and 15th MEU ready to help

October 5th, 2012 | Allies and training Blue-Green operations MEU operations The Pacific | Posted by Gidget Fuentes

Natural disasters like typhoons and heavy storms that lead to mudslides are no stranger to the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, which sees almost annual devastation from Mother Nature from heavy rains and winds. When that happens, the Marine Corps and the Navy sometimes get the call to respond and help in what’s been a long-running relationship well predating the so-called “pivot” to the Pacific.

Continue reading "At sea, 31st MEU and 15th MEU ready to help" »

October 4, 2012

Marine killed in Afghanistan was mother of 4

By Sharon Chen
9:09 p.m. PDT, October 4, 2012

SAN DIEGO -- The Pentagon released the name Thursday of a 31-year-old Camp Pendleton-based Marine killed in combat this week in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine killed in Afghanistan was mother of 4 " »

October 3, 2012

Marines have landed, San Francisco is well in-hand

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade | Date: 10.02.2012

SAN FRANCISCO - Marines from Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Combat Logistics Regiment 1 and the 1st Marine Division Band have landed in San Francisco for Fleet Week 2012, Oct 3-8.

Continue reading "Marines have landed, San Francisco is well in-hand" »

September 28, 2012

Stocked up, moving out: mobile post exchange serves Marines anywhere

9/28/2012 By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo , Combat Logistics Battalion

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — The mobile exchange is a service civilians might not know about, but to Marines serving in Afghanistan, it is something to look forward to.

Continue reading " Stocked up, moving out: mobile post exchange serves Marines anywhere " »

September 27, 2012

Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group resupplies, relaxes in Hawaii

9/27/2012 By Lance Cpl. Timothy Childers , 15th MEU

ABOARD USS RUSHMORE — After spending a week at sea, Marines and sailors aboard the USS Rushmore, part of the USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, were given a break when they arrived at U.S. Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Many took the opportunity to relax on Hawaiian beaches or shop for souvenirs before continuing on their Western Pacific deployment.

Continue reading " Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group resupplies, relaxes in Hawaii " »

September 25, 2012

Always remembered, never forgotten: Marines honor fallen brothers

By Cpl. Mark Garcia, Regional Command Southwest
Sep 25, 2012 - 6:53:32 PM

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Hundreds of Marines gathered to honor the lives of two fallen comrades killed during the attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

Continue reading "Always remembered, never forgotten: Marines honor fallen brothers" »

Pendleton infantrymen honor the fallen

2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment returned from Afghanistan

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
3:48 p.m., Sept. 24, 2012
Updated 10:54 a.m. , Sept. 25, 2012

A Camp Pendleton infantry battalion that returned this month from Afghanistan will hold a memorial ceremony Friday to mourn the dead.

Continue reading "Pendleton infantrymen honor the fallen" »

September 24, 2012

'It makes you appreciate America'

Marine reflects on recent tour of Afghanistan

By Angeljean Chiaramida STAFF WRITER
September 24, 2012

SEABROOK — Sitting in her grandmother’s living room, petite and pretty Sara Adams looks nothing like the typical “leatherneck.”

Continue reading "'It makes you appreciate America' " »

September 23, 2012

Expeditionary armory keeps mission readiness

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.22.2012

USS PELELIU, At Sea - With more than 1, 200 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Peleliu, the MEU’s armory is at full capacity. Ensuring the weapons are secure and in operable condition, armourers, electric optical ordinance repair technicians and armory custodians work around the clock.

Continue reading "Expeditionary armory keeps mission readiness" »

Reading program unites deployed servicemembers to families back home

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.23.2012

AT SEA -During their Western Pacific deployment, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is participating in a program that links its Marines and sailors to their loved ones back home.

Continue reading "Reading program unites deployed servicemembers to families back home" »

September 17, 2012

USS Peleliu Amphibious Group Leaves for Seven Month Deployment (Pictures)

Posted by Kellee Hearther on September 17, 2012

The USS Peleliu and the USS Green Bay make their way out of the channel and into the Pacific for a seven month deployment.

Continue reading "USS Peleliu Amphibious Group Leaves for Seven Month Deployment (Pictures)" »

Peleliu deploys

September 17, 2012 2:22 p.m.

Some 4,000 Sailors and Marines departed Monday morning on the Peleliu ARG/15th MEU for the Western Pacific and the Arabian Sea/CENTCOM.

Continue reading "Peleliu deploys" »

September 16, 2012

Pendleton Marines trained in rescue efforts leave for Middle East

Tony Perry
September 16, 2012 | 12:12 pm

Fresh from training on how to rescue Americans from hostile mobs in foreign countries, Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Expeditionary Unit are set to leave Monday for the western Pacific and Middle East.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines trained in rescue efforts leave for Middle East" »

September 14, 2012

Drawdown deployment: "We close this chapter so our sons don't have to finish the war"

September 14, 2012 8:08 AM

(CBS News) A final tour of duty for the last U.S. Marine battalion in Afghanistan begins this week. In a report that aired Friday on "CBS This Morning," CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor reported from the Mojave Desert, where some of the last American troops are finishing their training before deploying to Afghanistan to wrap up the American mission there. The men of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines are being deployed to handle Afghanistan's notoriously troubled Helmand Province. The battalion will face the region alone, just one-third of the amount of troops NATO deployed to manage province.

Continue reading "Drawdown deployment: "We close this chapter so our sons don't have to finish the war"" »

Annual ‘Recon Challenge’ underway

By Gidget Fuentes
Posted : Friday Sep 14, 2012 17:49:55 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Thirteen two-man teams from around the Marine Corps will tackle the surf, hills and shooting ranges of Camp Pendleton, Calif., tomorrow morning in a daylong timed competition to crown the fastest, if not toughest, reconnaissance team.

Continue reading "Annual ‘Recon Challenge’ underway" »

Truck dedicated to fallen 3/5 Marines displayed for “Dark Horse” battalion

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Scanlan | 1st Marine Division | Date: 09.14.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —The parents of a fallen Marine displayed a restored vintage Chevrolet pickup truck, painted with a patriotic mural, for the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in a showcasing here, Sept. 13.

Continue reading "Truck dedicated to fallen 3/5 Marines displayed for “Dark Horse” battalion" »

September 11, 2012

Marine surprises children in return from Afghanistan

By Stacy Moore, Hi-Desert Star
Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 10:53 pm

YUCCA VALLEY — The children of a U.S. Marine deployed to Afghanistan got the surprise of a lifetime Friday, Sept. 7, when their dad walked into their classroom at Onaga Elementary School.

Continue reading "Marine surprises children in return from Afghanistan" »

September 10, 2012

1/1 Weapons, brothers in arms with ANA

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.10.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan – On the edge of Trek Nawa, an area between the Nawa and Marjah districts, stands a small patrol base where Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers come together and work side by side.

Continue reading "1/1 Weapons, brothers in arms with ANA" »

September 8, 2012

From Virginia to Afghanistan, Marine develops his own legacy

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.08.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan – The Marine Corps is filled with stories of young men and women looking for something different. They are brought together by a bond from the day they receive their Eagle, Globe and Anchor and officially earn the title of United States Marine.

Continue reading "From Virginia to Afghanistan, Marine develops his own legacy" »

September 6, 2012

Illinois native bridges language, cultural barriers through Trek Nawa

9/6/2012 By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo , Headquarters Marine Corps

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan —
The Marines are down but not out. The late afternoon sun beats on them, and one Marine wipes sweat from his eyes. Across from them, their opponents smile, seemingly sensing the outcome. With the Olympics fresh in their minds, this is not simply a volleyball game, this is a matter of national pride.

Continue reading " Illinois native bridges language, cultural barriers through Trek Nawa " »

September 5, 2012

Stop Playing 'Modern Warfare' And See What A Real Marines Mission In Afghanistan Looks Like

Geoffrey Ingersoll | Sep. 5, 2012, 1:40 PM

I arrived in the middle of things, just after a hostile action on Afghan police headquarters. The word around camp was:

"Police Chief Wali Koka is officially tougher than Chuck Norris."

Continue reading "Stop Playing 'Modern Warfare' And See What A Real Marines Mission In Afghanistan Looks Like" »

September 3, 2012

Proper equipment saves Wisconsin Marine’s life

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.03.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan – Every day Marines put on their protective gear and put their lives in danger. They wear a heavy flak jacket, Kevlar helmet and fire retardant clothing. With temperatures reaching more than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, patrolling with all their gear can become tiresome, but there is one Marine who will not hear complaining about the extra weight.

Continue reading "Proper equipment saves Wisconsin Marine’s life" »

Ready, Aim, Fire: scout snipers on target throughout Trek Nawa

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.03.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan – The Marine scout snipers are specialized, trained marksmen. Extensively trained in weapon systems, stalking, concealment and overall field skills, the Marines are able to adapt and run independently as small teams or while partnering with larger patrols.

Continue reading "Ready, Aim, Fire: scout snipers on target throughout Trek Nawa" »

Marines overcome language barriers, teach ANA mortar systems

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.03.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan –Afghan National Army soldiers march in and form a semicircle around their Marine instructor. They pull out notepads and pencils and are already jotting down notes before the class even starts.

Continue reading "Marines overcome language barriers, teach ANA mortar systems" »

September 2, 2012

Marines train Afghans to defend their own turf

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 2, 2012 10:31:04 EDT

With a mixture of brawn and brains, Marine special operators continue to push their way into villages in Afghanistan, setting up shop alongside Afghan special forces to train those living there to defend their own turf from the Taliban.

Continue reading "Marines train Afghans to defend their own turf" »

August 31, 2012

Scout snipers keep watch over Marines

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.31.2012

AGHA AHMAD, Afghanistan – The snaps and cracks of accurate small-arms fire break the silence of the day.

Continue reading "Scout snipers keep watch over Marines" »

Explosive ordnance disposal technicians teach methods to counter improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan

8/31/2012 By Sgt. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — In today’s war, improvised explosive devices remain the number one threat to Marines and sailors forward deployed to Afghanistan.

Continue reading " Explosive ordnance disposal technicians teach methods to counter improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan " »

Dynamic training for ‘Thundering Third’

8/31/2012 By Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS Calif. — Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conducted a series of exercises at Noble Pass and Delta training areas Aug. 23, as part of the unit’s squad certifications.

Continue reading " Dynamic training for ‘Thundering Third’ " »

August 29, 2012

One Marine feeds a company

8/29/2012 By Cpl. Ed Galo , Regimental Combat Team 6

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan — Whether preparing the ingredients to be used for a meal, preheating ovens or making sure the food doesn’t over cook, feeding 300 people can be a difficult task. It can be even harder in a foreign environment and a single Marine is tasked with the workload.

Continue reading " One Marine feeds a company " »

August 28, 2012

Marine awarded Silver Star for combat valor

8/28/2012 By Staff Sgt. Robert Storm , Marine Corps Systems Command

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — “I was exactly where I wanted to be, doing exactly what I wanted to do,” said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph F. Lurz, a native of Baltimore.

Continue reading " Marine awarded Silver Star for combat valor " »

August 23, 2012

MARSOC gunnery sgt. to get Silver Star

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 23, 2012 13:32:38 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A gunnery sergeant who led a team of special operators through more than 100 enemy attacks in Afghanistan will receive the Silver Star for his heroism on Friday, Marine officials said.

Continue reading "MARSOC gunnery sgt. to get Silver Star" »

August 21, 2012

First Time, First Firefight – Marine stays focused during combat

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.21.2012

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan – It’s a moment of truth for many Marines – the first time they are in combat and their training is put to the test.

Continue reading "First Time, First Firefight – Marine stays focused during combat" »

August 13, 2012

Peninsula Marine killed in Afghanistan

Henry K. Lee
Updated 9:12 p.m., Monday, August 13, 2012

U.S. Marine Capt. Matthew Manoukian of Los Altos Hills planned to leave the service next year and enroll in law school, following in the footsteps of his parents who both serve on the bench.

Continue reading "Peninsula Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

August 12, 2012

Marines given tragic lessons on desert

Written by
Drew Schmenner
The Desert Sun
1:09 AM, Aug 12, 2012

Every year, approximately 44,500 troops train in the stark, sweltering desert at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Many have been Marines preparing for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines given tragic lessons on desert" »

August 11, 2012

3/5 Marine posthumously awarded Navy Cross

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Childers | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 08.10.2012
Date Posted:08.11.2012 12:35

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Sergeant Matthew Abbate was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the highest decoration that can be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and second highest decoration for valor, during an award ceremony at the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines' Parade Deck here, Aug. 10.

Continue reading "3/5 Marine posthumously awarded Navy Cross" »

August 9, 2012

2/5 conducts MCMAP training in Afghanistan

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ismael Ortega | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.26.2012
Date Posted:08.09.2012 02:39

U.S. Marines with the 2/5 held a a Marine Corp Martial Arts Program session on Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan July 26, 2012. Marines conducted the session as part of the sustainment training required by the program.

Continue reading "2/5 conducts MCMAP training in Afghanistan " »

2/5 conducts MCMAP training in Afghanistan

Photos by Lance Cpl. Ismael Ortega | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.26.2012
Date Posted:08.09.2012 02:39

U.S. Marines with the 2/5 held a a Marine Corp Martial Arts Program session on Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazay, Helmand province, Afghanistan July 26, 2012. Marines conducted the session as part of the sustainment training required by the program.

Continue reading "2/5 conducts MCMAP training in Afghanistan " »

August 4, 2012

Marine special operators fight, live among the Afghans

Teams recruit community police forces, form local governing councils

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
9:30 a.m., Aug. 4, 2012

PUZEH, Afghanistan — Marine special operations forces realized the security situation had changed dramatically in their stretch of the upper Sangin river valley this summer when village boys started playing policeman instead of Taliban insurgent.

Continue reading "Marine special operators fight, live among the Afghans" »

August 1, 2012

Arizona native helps keep rockets’ red glare alive, well in Afghanistan

Story by Sgt. James Mercure | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 08.01.2012

PATROL BASE EREDVI, Afghanistan - The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System delivers target destruction from miles away.

Continue reading "Arizona native helps keep rockets’ red glare alive, well in Afghanistan" »

July 31, 2012

Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion disrupts enemy passageways

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.31.2012

KHANESHIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan – As the morning sun rose, the sound of helicopter rotor blades could be heard from the flight line at Forward Operating Base Payne, July 21, 2012.

Continue reading "Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion disrupts enemy passageways" »

Afghan forces hold training exercise at Combat Outpost Castle

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.31.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan – As Afghan forces prepare to take the lead in combat roles, Marines with Police Advisor Team, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, and Afghan forces at Combat Outpost Castle held a command post exercise, July 18, 2012.

Continue reading "Afghan forces hold training exercise at Combat Outpost Castle" »

July 30, 2012

Afghan, Marine partnership bears fruit through progress, transition in southern Helmand

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 07.30.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When the Marines and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 5 arrived here in August 2011, their predecessors from RCT-1 had already planted the seeds of transition with Afghan National Security Forces.

Continue reading "Afghan, Marine partnership bears fruit through progress, transition in southern Helmand" »

Money gurus provide financial expertise, assistance to expeditionary unit

7/30/2012 By Cpl. John Robbart III , 15th MEU

USS PELELIU — Being deployed for extended periods of time can often take its toll on Marines and sailors. To help alleviate the feeling of being homesick, they can purchase comfort food from ship vending machines and stores, which are available on all ships of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Disbursing Office helps Marines purchase these items.

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July 28, 2012

Pendleton staff sgt. talks about Silver Star

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 28, 2012 12:22:35 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — There is little, if any, hint today of the combat wound Staff Sgt. Paul Worley sustained two years ago when he led his squad with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, in an intense battle with the Taliban.

Continue reading "Pendleton staff sgt. talks about Silver Star" »

July 27, 2012

USS Jason Dunham helps sailors keep fit while on deployment

Courtesy Story | U.S. Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Public Affairs | Date: 07.27.2012

MEDETERRANIAN SEA – The Navy Fitness Enhancement (FEP) program aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) helped sailors cultivate a culture of fitness while underway on the ship’s maiden deployment, July 26.

Continue reading "USS Jason Dunham helps sailors keep fit while on deployment" »

USS Jason Dunham hosts foreign officers for Damage Control Training

Courtesy Story | U.S. Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Public Affairs | Date: 07.27.2012

MEDETERRANIAN SEA - The guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) completed damage control training with international naval officers as a part of the Partnership of Adriatic Mariners, July 25.

Continue reading "USS Jason Dunham hosts foreign officers for Damage Control Training" »

July 22, 2012

Corpsmen ensure Marines, sailors ready to deploy

7/22/2012 By Lance Cpl. Timothy Childers , 15th MEU

USS PELELIU — When corpsmen take the brave step to wear the “green” uniform and serve alongside Marines, the distance between themselves and their “blue” origins may grow. However, when the “docs” come together, they work cohesively as a blue-green team.

Continue reading " Corpsmen ensure Marines, sailors ready to deploy " »

July 21, 2012

Marines see calm in once-violent Afghan area

Much has changed since Camp Pendleton unit suffered heavy casualties last year

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
noon, July 21, 2012

SANGIN, Afghanistan — In one of the most violent districts in Afghanistan, the line of two dozen Marines walked slowly through the field. Following each other’s footsteps, the infantrymen were careful not to stray from the path marked by an engineer sweeping for bombs.

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July 20, 2012

A time to honor

Story by Lance Cpl. Ali Azimi | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 07.20.2012

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - At the ceremony, the Marines were awarded two Bronze Star Medals, a Purple Heart Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Continue reading "A time to honor" »

July 19, 2012

Marines in Afghanistan Perform ‘Call Me Maybe’

By Suzan Clarke
Jul 18, 2012 7:16pm

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then “Call Me Maybe,” the catchy song from Carly Rae Jepsen, must have many admirers.

Continue reading "Marines in Afghanistan Perform ‘Call Me Maybe’" »

July 17, 2012

Afghanistan War Diary: A Purple Heart

Marine honored for combat wounds, others warned not to add to casualties at home

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
12:32 p.m., July 17, 2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN — The Purple Heart ceremony was simple. It was the setting that made it unforgettable.

Continue reading "Afghanistan War Diary: A Purple Heart" »

Texas native serves country by saving lives

Story by Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.17.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – As a senior in high school, Navy Seaman Christian Adkins knew he wanted to serve his country. Two months after his graduation, he was on his way to basic training.

Continue reading "Texas native serves country by saving lives" »

July 16, 2012

Marine earns Silver Star for Afghanistan action

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 16, 2012 16:32:59 EDT

A Marine infantry squad leader from Camp Pendleton, Calif., will receive the Silver Star on Tuesday for guiding his men through a hellish five-hour firefight two years ago in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

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July 15, 2012

MARINES CONFRONT AFGHAN ENEMY IN FIREFIGHT

Goal of Camp Pendleton troops is to eliminate insurgents in remote area

By GRETEL C. KOVACH • U-T
12:01 a.m., July 15, 2012
Updated 9:14 p.m. , July 14, 2012

LWAR BAJIGAR, Afghanistan — The moon is nearly full when the helicopters descend on fields of cucumber and cracked ground strewed with poppy chaff. Eight airborne assault waves of Marines wearing heavy rucksacks and night-vision goggles step into the darkness with rifles drawn, returning to a cluster of villages where they battled insurgents a week before.

Continue reading "MARINES CONFRONT AFGHAN ENEMY IN FIREFIGHT" »

Active-duty and reserve Marines storm the desert for war games

Conduct exercise called Javelin Thrust exercise at Twentynine Palms

Written by
Nathan Max
12:01 a.m., July 15, 2012

The Marine Corps couldn’t have picked a more challenging environment for one of its largest and most important exercises of the year.

Continue reading "Active-duty and reserve Marines storm the desert for war games" »

July 13, 2012

Pendleton Marines volunteer to train Devil Pups

7/13/2012 By Lance Cpl. Trevon S. Peracca , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE COPRS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Camp Pendleton Marines worked with members of Devil Pups Incorporated to have a group of Devil Pups perform a 25-foot tower jump at the 62 Area pool, July 12.

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July 12, 2012

Huge Camp Pendleton flag to reappear in November

July 12, 2012 10:45 am • By MARK WALKER [email protected]

A giant U.S. flag that Interstate 5 motorists have seen hanging from a Camp Pendleton construction site for the past few months is gone, but expected to re-appear in November.

Continue reading "Huge Camp Pendleton flag to reappear in November" »

July 11, 2012

All In A Day’s Work: Explosives Tandem Team From Camp Pendleton

Wednesday, July 11, 2012
By Beth Ford Roth

Video
Two Marines talk about their role as an explosive team. The two Marines partner together when their squad needs to destroy enemy fighting positions, enter compounds and employ demolitions.

Continue reading "All In A Day’s Work: Explosives Tandem Team From Camp Pendleton" »

Operation Branding Iron II Charlie

Photos by Lance Cpl. Ismael Ortega | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.06.2012
Date Posted:07.11.2012 11:19

The Marines conducted Operation Branding Iron II Charlie to disrupt enemy logistics and deny the enemy a safe haven for staging operations.

Continue reading "Operation Branding Iron II Charlie" »

Marines honor fallen brothers in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.11.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST TABAC, Afghanistan – On a somber Sunday afternoon, more than 200 servicemembers gathered to honor four fallen comrades during a memorial ceremony, July 8.

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July 9, 2012

Belleau Wood Marines conduct historic transfer of authority in Helmand province

7/9/2012 By Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez , Regimental Combat Team 5

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II — Since their activation in 1917, 5th and 6th Marine Regiments have courageously fought for America, most notably in World War I when they fought side-by-side in the bloody Battle of Belleau Wood.

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Marine Corps footprint in Afghanistan shifting as drawdown continues

July 9th, 2012 | Afghanistan Drawdown Infantry Marjah | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The Marine Corps’ footprint in Afghanistan is changing dramatically as a drawdown in forces continues throughout the summer.

Continue reading "Marine Corps footprint in Afghanistan shifting as drawdown continues" »

MEU members honored during pre-game ceremony

Story by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 07.08.2012
Date Posted:07.09.2012 13:35

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres honored Marines during a military appreciation day at Petco Park, July 8.

Continue reading "MEU members honored during pre-game ceremony" »

July 8, 2012

1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade to exercise command and control at Javelin Thrust 2012

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade | Date: 07.07.2012
Date Posted:07.08.2012 03:09

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. -Javelin Thrust 2012/Large Scale Exercise-1 is underway at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.
More than 5,000 Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, part of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Reserve are participating in the exercise.

Continue reading "1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade to exercise command and control at Javelin Thrust 2012" »

July 7, 2012

9th Comm. Bn. establishes communication for Javelin Thrust

7/7/2012 By Cpl. Joshua Young , 1st MEB

Marines with 9th Communication Battalion set up supporting communications and data transmission services for 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade during Javelin Thrust 2012/ Large Scale Exercise-1 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — The Marines arrived June 18 to set up the brigade’s communications network and support the operation. The exercise serves a part of a three exercise continuum aimed to validate the readiness of 1st MEB as a global crisis response force.

Continue reading "9th Comm. Bn. establishes communication for Javelin Thrust " »

July 6, 2012

A day in his boots

7/6/2012 By Lance Cpl. D.J. Wu , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. —

Family members of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment got a chance to experience a day in the life of their loved ones during the battalaion’s Jayne Wayne Day event June 29, 2012.

Continue reading "A day in his boots " »

Marines train with Aussies

7/6/2012 By Cpl. Jonathan Wright , Marine Corps Bases Japan

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia — Marines hugged the walls inside buildings as they trained their eyes skyward from the edges of windows. The low hum that drove them to cover grew louder as high above the town hung the silhouette of an Australian unmanned aerial vehicle.

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4th of July Beach Bash held on Pendleton

7/6/2012 By Lance Cpl. Trevon S. Peracca , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Service members and their families gathered to celebrate Independence Day at Del Mar Beach on Camp Pendleton during the 2012 Beach Bash.

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July 4, 2012

July Fourth at war: Marines say don't forget us

Closest most get to fireworks in Afghanistan is an artillery mission

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
2:24 p.m., July 4, 2012
Updated 9:14 p.m.

Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazay, Afghanistan — The Fourth of July isn’t much of a holiday in the war zone. It’s just another work day for many Marines and a reminder of family and friends who are gathering without them back home.

Continue reading "July Fourth at war: Marines say don't forget us" »

Marine has the blues in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.04.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan – One recent morning, while waiting in line for breakfast at the field mess hall at Forward Operating Base Nolay, Marines could hear the sound of blues music coming from a harmonica.

Continue reading "Marine has the blues in Afghanistan" »

July 3, 2012

Charlie Company keeps Marines in operations supplied

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 07.03.2012

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Nearly every hour, the sound of explosions echoed through the desert and green valleys of Sangin, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Charlie Company keeps Marines in operations supplied" »

July 2, 2012

Fallen Marine's letter to family resonates with many

By Richard Winton
Los Angeles Times
Published: July 2, 2012

Multi-star generals attended his Arlington National Cemetery funeral. His name adorns a fighter jet. His words echo in the halls of Congress.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine's letter to family resonates with many" »

Marines brace against Aussie advance during Exercise Hamel 2012

Story by Cpl. Jonathan Wright | 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 07.02.2012

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia - The Marines hugged the walls inside the buildings as they trained their eyes skyward from the edges of the windows. The low hum that drove them to cover became louder and high above the town hung the silhouette of an Australian unmanned aerial vehicle.

Continue reading "Marines brace against Aussie advance during Exercise Hamel 2012" »

June 30, 2012

Long shot: Artillery battery sets lethal record

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jun 30, 2012 9:43:37 EDT

A Marine unit that recently returned from Afghanistan killed a team of Taliban insurgents with a record-setting artillery strike.

Continue reading "Long shot: Artillery battery sets lethal record" »

Runners bring flag to war veteran

Posted: Saturday, June 30, 2012 5:30 am

TWENTYNINE PALMS — A relay team of U.S. Marines crossed the Hi-Desert Friday, bearing an American flag to present to a veteran whose legs were destroyed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Runners bring flag to war veteran" »

June 29, 2012

Detroit Marine Steven P. Stevens II returns home to patriotic welcome

By Gus Burns | [email protected]
Published: Friday, June 29, 2012, 12:37 PM

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — The appreciation displayed for U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Steven P. Stevens II of Detroit, who lost his life serving in Afghanistan last week, and for his family, was strong Friday.

Continue reading "Detroit Marine Steven P. Stevens II returns home to patriotic welcome" »

June 28, 2012

2/5 Marines in Dah Boba

Courtesy Photo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.28.2012

Marines of 2/5 conducted counter-insurgency operations to disrupt the Taliban to allow Afghan National Army soldiers to move into Dah Boba.

Continue reading "2/5 Marines in Dah Boba" »

June 26, 2012

Marines conduct ribbon bridge training with NZ soldiers

Story by Cpl. Jennifer Pirante | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 06.26.2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marine combat engineers with Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, conducted joint training exercises with New Zealand soldiers from the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers at Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 25-26.

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June 24, 2012

This Is My Life, Episode 3

Video by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.24.2012

This is my life is a video journal blog of Marines in Afghanistan, documenting their daily life. This episode follows an infantryman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Continue reading "This Is My Life, Episode 3" »

June 23, 2012

Challenge Accepted; Corpsmen Ready, Serves with Marines

Video by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.23.2012

Petty Officer 3rd Class Norberto Zamora, a corpsman with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, discusses the challenges he's faced during his deployment and why he enjoys working with Marines.

Continue reading "Challenge Accepted; Corpsmen Ready, Serves with Marines" »

June 22, 2012

Houston corpsman holds own, saves lives with 2/5 Marines

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.22.2012

KAJAKI, Afghanistan – The brotherhood and friendly rivalry between sailors and Marines spans across the history of both military branches. Whether it’s a sailor jokingly calling a Marine a “jarhead” or a Marine retorting with calling the sailor a “squid,” the two branches are always closely linked. Corpsmen, who support both the Navy and Marine Corps, often find themselves stuck in the crossfire.

Continue reading "Houston corpsman holds own, saves lives with 2/5 Marines" »

Mexican immigrant serves in Marines, OEF; eyes US citizenship

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.22.2012

KAJAKI, Afghanistan – He stands side-by-side his fellow Marines, pours his blood and sweat into his job and sacrifices time away from his family. He lives driven by a will to earn his way in life and appreciate what’s been given to him.

Continue reading "Mexican immigrant serves in Marines, OEF; eyes US citizenship" »

June 21, 2012

1st Recon welcomes new commanding officer

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.21.2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Lieutenant Col. Brian L. Gilman relinquished command of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion to Maj. Brian J. Von Herbulis during a change of command ceremony at Camp Margarita, June 21.

Continue reading "1st Recon welcomes new commanding officer" »

MEB troops to get prestigious valor award

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 21, 2012 16:00:50 EDT

About 28,000 U.S. and coalition forces who fought a thriving insurgency in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010 under the command of a Marine expeditionary brigade will receive the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Times has learned.

Continue reading "MEB troops to get prestigious valor award" »

Cottage Grove Marine recognized for outstanding achievements in Afghanistan

6/21/2012
1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —
Typical mornings for officers and senior enlisted staff members with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) headquarters begin with an operations and intelligence briefing given to the commanding general and his staff. The service members gather to brief the commanding general about daily activities and ongoing operations throughout Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Cottage Grove Marine recognized for outstanding achievements in Afghanistan" »

California Marines return after seven months at sea

6/21/2012 By 11th MEU Public Affairs , 11th MEU

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — More than 2,200 Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned here June 21 after serving seven months in the Western Pacific, Middle East and Horn of Africa regions.

Continue reading "California Marines return after seven months at sea " »

June 18, 2012

Behind the scenes: Administration shop supports hundreds of Marines

Story by Sgt. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 06.18.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – From reconstructing roads to eliminating insurgents, many Marines and sailors deployed to Afghanistan make an impact that is readily visible.

Continue reading "Behind the scenes: Administration shop supports hundreds of Marines" »

Explosive tandem demolishes bunkers, supports Operation Jaws

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.18.2012

KAJAKI, Afghanistan – The Marines rush to take cover behind a berm, as the countdown begins.

Continue reading "Explosive tandem demolishes bunkers, supports Operation Jaws" »

June 15, 2012

Marines Emerge Unscathed From Operation Jaws

June 15th, 2012 // By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

KAJAKI, Afghanistan – The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment added to their rich history when they trekked through Zamindawar, one of the few remaining insurgent strongholds in Afghanistan, May 26-June 9, to disrupt the insurgents’ leadership and logistics chain.

Continue reading "Marines Emerge Unscathed From Operation Jaws" »

June 14, 2012

Young widow says Minn. Marine had passion for life

By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press
Posted: 06/14/2012 12:47:12 PM PDT
Updated: 06/14/2012 04:27:07 PM PDT

MINNEAPOLIS—A Minnesota Marine who was killed in Afghanistan never took a day of his life for granted, his 20-year-old wife said Thursday.

Continue reading "Young widow says Minn. Marine had passion for life" »

Marines Reflect on Deployment

by Stacie N. Galang
Jun 14, 2012

Lt. Col. William Vivian realized late on the morning of February 9 that it was his 25th year in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Marines Reflect on Deployment" »

June 13, 2012

Marines overcome insurgents, clear Kajaki town during Operation Jaws

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 06.13.2012

KAJAKI, Afghanistan - The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment added to their rich history when they trekked through Zamindawar, one of the few remaining insurgent strongholds in Afghanistan, May 26-June 9, to disrupt the insurgents’ leadership and logistics chain.

Continue reading "Marines overcome insurgents, clear Kajaki town during Operation Jaws" »

June 11, 2012

Workload Grows for Logistics Crews in Afghanistan

Jun. 11, 2012 - 05:32PM |
By DAN LAMOTHE

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — The drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan has required an expansive effort to sort, identify and ship unused equipment stored in theater as the Marine Corps withdraws thousands of troops from Helmand province this summer.

Continue reading "Workload Grows for Logistics Crews in Afghanistan" »

June 10, 2012

Slain Marine loved the Corps

Serving in Afghanistan, Anthony Servin, of Moreno Valley, had just re-enlisted before he was killed

BY DAVID KECK
STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
Published: 10 June 2012 06:25 PM

A Marine corporal from Moreno Valley killed in combat in Afghanistan last week loved the Corps and had just re-enlisted, his aunt said Sunday, June 10.

Continue reading "Slain Marine loved the Corps" »

June 8, 2012

3/11 returns

Story by Sgt. Heather Golden | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 06.08.2012

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - When Cpl. Don Robinson left to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit with the rest of Lima Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, in November, his daughter Samira was a tiny 2-month-old.

Continue reading "3/11 returns" »

Marines from Twentynine Palms hit insurgents

June 08, 2012 6:00 am • By Lance Cpl. MARK GARCIA United States Marine Corps

COMBAT OUTPOST TABAC, Afghanistan ---- As allied forces begin their drawdown in Afghanistan, Marines and Afghan National Security Forces applied increased pressure on the insurgency during Operation Sangin United Horizons ---- a battalion-sized operation that took place May 17 to 20.

Continue reading "Marines from Twentynine Palms hit insurgents" »

June 1, 2012

Green meets blue during integration exercise

6/1/2012 By Cpl. John Robbart III , 15th MEU

USS PELELIU — Recovering a stolen German vessel from pirates off the coast of Yemen and providing disaster relief in Pakistan are just a few of the accomplishments the 15th MEU conducted on its previous deployment; successes that would not have been possible without the help of their Navy counterparts.

Continue reading "Green meets blue during integration exercise " »

Green meets blue during integration exercise

6/1/2012 By Cpl. John Robbart III , 15th MEU

USS PELELIU — Recovering a stolen German vessel from pirates off the coast of Yemen and providing disaster relief in Pakistan are just a few of the accomplishments the 15th MEU conducted on its previous deployment; successes that would not have been possible without the help of their Navy counterparts.

Continue reading "Green meets blue during integration exercise " »

May 31, 2012

Afghan Army, Marines investigate Wushtan

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.31.2012

WUSHTAN, Afghanistan- Helicopters landed in a field during the early morning darkness, May 17, delivering the Marines of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and soldiers of the Afghan National Army to the outskirts of the town of Wushtan to begin Operation Sangin United Horizons.

Continue reading "Afghan Army, Marines investigate Wushtan" »

May 30, 2012

Wing Chaplain provides spiritual help on the fly

Photos by Cpl. Isaac Lamberth | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar / 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing | Date: 05.27.2012
Date Posted:05.30.2012 10:39

Navy Cmdr. Francis Foley, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) command chaplain, and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Randall, a religious program specialist were at Combat Outpost Now Zad, Afghanistan, May 27. Foley and Randall delivered care packages to the Marines at the outpost.

Continue reading "Wing Chaplain provides spiritual help on the fly" »

RCT-6 Commanding Officer's Weekly Message

Courtesy Video
Date Posted:05.30.2012 3:32AM

The commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 6, Col. John Shafer, updates family members of RCT-6 Marines and Sailors on ongoing operations in the region.

Continue reading "RCT-6 Commanding Officer's Weekly Message" »

May 27, 2012

For Marine's widow, Memorial Day has extra meaning

Staff. Sgt. Joseph Fankhauser was killed in Afghanistan last month when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. 'We live with death' in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, his wife, Heather, says.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
May 27, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON — Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph Fankhauser had been inAfghanistan'svolatile Helmand province for barely two weeks when he stepped on what the military calls an improvised explosive device. He was on his fifth combat deployment.

Continue reading "For Marine's widow, Memorial Day has extra meaning" »

Logistics Marines, sailors transfer excess medical supplies to Afghan National Army

5/27/2012 By 2nd Lt. Tyler Morrison , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marines and sailors with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Material Distribution Center, Supply Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion (-) (Reinforced), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) sorted, staged and delivered more than $85,000 worth of consumable medical supplies to Afghan soldiers with Regional Logistics Support Command-Southwest, May 24.

Continue reading "Logistics Marines, sailors transfer excess medical supplies to Afghan National Army " »

May 25, 2012

Fresh wounds

Families meet for closure and stories

By Julie Schimmelpfennig
Pekin Daily Times
Posted May 25, 2012 @ 09:46 PM

PEKIN, Ill. —
A mother’s love never ends.

Continue reading "Fresh wounds" »

1st LAR Marines return from Afghanistan in time for Memorial Day

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly and Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.25.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Five pink shirts. The family of Lance Cpl. Louis C. Orta was ready for him to return home, and they dressed in their own unique uniform for him: pink t-shirts with “welcome home” written on them.

Continue reading "1st LAR Marines return from Afghanistan in time for Memorial Day" »

Indiana Marine builds bonds with Afghans

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.25.2012

WUSHTAN, Afghanistan - During a halt in a security patrol here May 18, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Barth, a native on New Albany, Ind., sat down next to Muhammed Hasim, one of his counterparts with the Afghan National Army, and struck up a conversation.

Continue reading "Indiana Marine builds bonds with Afghans" »

New York Detective puts skills to use in Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.25.2012

WUSHTAN, Afghanistan - Marc Davis took a few minutes to talk to an old Afghan man on the road, May 19. As a veteran of the New York City police force, it is a scenario he has been through hundreds of times. The only difference is that instead taking place on a busy city street surrounded by towering skyscrapers, it’s happening on a dirt road next to a mosque surrounded by small mud buildings in Washtun, Afghanistan.

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May 24, 2012

Dog Company Marines bite down on insurgency with Afghan forces during Operation Sangin United Horizons

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.24.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST TABAC, Afghanistan – During a time in which Marines are continually withdrawing from Afghanistan, Marines and Afghan National Security Forces put continued pressure on the insurgency during Operation Sangin United Horizons, a battalion-sized operation that took place, May 17-20.

Continue reading "Dog Company Marines bite down on insurgency with Afghan forces during Operation Sangin United Horizons" »

One stop morale shop: Warfighter Exchange Services Team travels throughout Helmand Province

Story by Sgt. John Jackson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 05.24.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – “Whenever anybody sees the PX truck, that is all you hear about – people saying ‘Oh, the PX truck is here,’” said Lance Cpl. Cody Turner, a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion. “It’s definitely a morale booster for all the Marines at the [Forward Operating Bases].”

Continue reading "One stop morale shop: Warfighter Exchange Services Team travels throughout Helmand Province " »

May 22, 2012

Taylor Swift sends flowers, condolences to family of marine killed in action

Published May 22, 2012
FoxNews.com

Taylor Swift offered condolences to the family of a marine killed in action by sending flowers to his home and calling his parents.

Continue reading "Taylor Swift sends flowers, condolences to family of marine killed in action" »

May 21, 2012

Taylor Swift To Honor Fallen Camp Pendleton Marine In New Video

Monday, May 21, 2012
By Beth Ford Roth

Country music superstar Taylor Swift plans to honor fallen Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Wade Wilson by wearing his dog tags in her next music video.

Continue reading "Taylor Swift To Honor Fallen Camp Pendleton Marine In New Video " »

Marine, leader, friend remembered during memorial

Story by Kenneth Jasik | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.18.2012
Date Posted: 05.21.2012 00:45

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBUROUGH, Afghanistan – Marines gathered to remember and celebrate the life of a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, May 18.

Continue reading "Marine, leader, friend remembered during memorial" »

Corpsmen rescue wounded Marine during firefight

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.21.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – When the Marines reached the hilltop, they knew it was going to be a rough day.

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May 17, 2012

Pick, pack, ship: Marines support units across Helmand Province

Story by Sgt. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 05.17.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Supply Management Unit aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, is home to more than 500,000 pieces of gear and supports 56 units throughout Regional Command Southwest.

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Sangin Marines brace for summer of combat

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 17, 2012 14:45:19 EDT

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Lying on a dusty rooftop, Lance Cpls. Jacob Bisek and Daniel Buzalsky watched suspiciously as a man down the road peered at them. He was pointing at the Marines and holding a cell phone, raising the prospect he was a Taliban spotter.

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May 15, 2012

Marine remembered at funeral for ‘determination’

By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer Updated 6:08 PM Tuesday, May 15, 2012

SHARONVILLE — On what would have been his 26th birthday, friends and family of Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling gathered for his funeral.

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Marines capture 20 during operation in northern Musa Qa’leh

Story by Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.15.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marines with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment disrupted insurgent activity in northern Musa Qa’leh district during Operation Ox Bow, May 8-12.

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May 14, 2012

Afghanistan battles yield two Navy Crosses

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 14, 2012 20:29:36 EDT

Two California-based Marines are scheduled to receive Navy Cross awards on Friday for their actions during separate battles in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

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May 13, 2012

RCT-6 Weekly Message

Courtesy Video | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.13.2012

RCT-6 sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets updates families on their deployed Marines and Sailors and what is happening within the unit.

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Ready or not, Afghan forces taking control

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 13, 2012 10:18:18 EDT

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Sgt. Johnathan Cook leads his squad of Marines through the narrow alleys and dusty compounds in this district’s dangerous “Fish Tank” region, facing insurgents armed with grenades, machine guns and improvised explosive devices.

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May 7, 2012

Local Marine victim of deadly trend

Attacker wore Afghan Army uniform

7:55 PM, May. 7, 2012
Written by
Jennifer Edwards Baker and Janice Morse

WEST CHESTER TWP. — A local Marine was killed by someone “wearing an Afghan National Army uniform” – a person supposed to be an ally of U.S. forces – the Department of Defense confirmed Monday.

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Marines and sailors aboard Makin Island head home

Amphibious Ready Group finishing sea tour

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
5:13 p.m., May 7, 2012

Marines and sailors deployed with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group are heading home to San Diego after handing off responsibility in the northern Arabian Sea, the Navy announced today.

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May 5, 2012

Another year, another country for Clifton native

Story by Spc. Chelsea Russell | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.05.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - When Cpl. Erica Adams decided to join the Marine Corps Feb. 7, 2010, she knew she wanted to be a motor transportation mechanic. Although it’s a choice most people might question, especially for a female, Adams is passionate about her job.

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Female Marines bond with Afghan women, children

Story by Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.05.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – It’s common in Afghan culture for men to refrain from talking to women they aren’t related to.

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Pendleton Marines prepare to transfer patrol base to Afghans

Story by Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.05.2012

PATROL BASE HABIB, Afghanistan – Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, are leaving the place they’ve called home for the past two months to head to Camp Leatherneck, the main base of operations for Marines in Helmand province.

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Marines, Afghan police patrol in Musa Qa’leh

Story by Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.05.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marines with Police Advisor Team 2, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, conducted a partnered patrol with the Afghan National Police, May 2.

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May 2, 2012

2D Battalion 5th Marine Regiment Interior Guard

Photos by Lance Cpl. Ismael Ortega | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.26.2012
Date Posted: 05:02:2012

Marines with Fox Company, 2D Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, man various machine guns at a guard post on Combat out Post (COP) 7171, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 26, 2012. They are responsible for the interior guard of the COP.

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May 1, 2012

The complete IED detection team

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.01.2012

KHAN NESHIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan – A team of two jumped out of the vehicle as it came to a stop at a chokepoint on the road.

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April 30, 2012

Dam has hosted Soviets, Brits and U.S. Marines

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 30, 2012 17:26:03 EDT

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan — Up on this cliffside base, Marines protect the landmark Kajaki Dam while surrounded by the remnants of another bloody war in Afghanistan.

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April 29, 2012

3/7 Marines from Twentynine Palms return from hell

iSun special report: Death and life after Afghanistan

Written by
Denise Goolsby
The Desert Sun
1:02 AM, Apr. 29, 2012

The notices kept coming.

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April 28, 2012

Marine welder keeps heavy-duty trailers operable in Afghanistan, saves Corps thousands

4/28/2012 By Sgt. John Jackson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Adapt and overcome is a common phrase in the Marine Corps, and Cpl. Sean Castillo, a welder with Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion (-) Reinforced, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), is embodying those words everyday in Afghanistan and saving the Marine Corps millions of dollars while doing so.

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A day on patrol with the Marines of Dog Company 1/7

April 28th, 2012 | Afghanistan Embedded journalism Infantry Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe

SANGIN, Afghanistan – For a minute, it seemed like a manhunt in the hills of the Upper Sangin Valley was possible.

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April 27, 2012

Marine known for love of U.S

.Mason grad killed in 5th deployment

By Laurel L. Scott
Posted April 27, 2012 at 7:58 p.m.

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Paul Smith, dean of students for Mason ISD, remembers Joseph Fankhauser because of the FBI visit.

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2/5 Marines search suspicious compounds in Musa Qa’leh

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.27.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – During Operation Lariat, Marines and sailors patrolled the Musa Qaleh district to an area previously untouched by coalition forces, April 14-18.

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April 24, 2012

Marine unit new to Afghanistan conducts first large-scale operation

Story by Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.24.2012

MUSA QA’LEH DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan – As insurgents begin preparations for Afghanistan’s poppy harvest season, Marines, coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces participated in Operation Jaws April 5-8.

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April 21, 2012

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marine awarded Bronze Star with “V”

Story by Sgt. John Jackson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 04.21.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Two years ago, then Gunnery Sgt. Kelly Minkler arrived in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as an explosive ordnance disposal section leader with 1st EOD Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward). During that deployment, Minkler was in direct support of Weapons Co., 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines.

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April 20, 2012

Combat Logistics Battalions conduct “left seat, right seat” operations in Afghanistan

4/20/2012 By Sgt. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan — The war in Afghanistan is continuous, and while units may come and go, the mission never pauses.

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April 19, 2012

Marines say goodbye to fallen brother

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.19.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan -- On a hot Friday morning, more than 100 Marines gathered to honor Cpl. Alex Martinez, a fallen comrade, during a memorial ceremony, April 13.

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April 17, 2012

37 Marines, Sailors Awarded Purple Hearts

Award Recipients Part Of Battalion That Returned From Afghanistan In March

POSTED: 8:24 pm PDT April 17, 2012
UPDATED: 11:08 pm PDT April 17, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Thirty-seven Marines and sailors were awarded Purple Hearts during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton on Tuesday.

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From high school to Afghanistan, these Marines stick together

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.17.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines describe their relationships with fellow Marines with words like brotherhood and sisterhood. Many view the Corps as a family, with brothers and sisters, mother and father figures. The way Marines take care of each other, look after each other and even bicker with each other is reminiscent of many families in America today.

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Postal Marines provide morale boost in Afghanistan

4/17/2012 By Sgt. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — Whether it is Girl Scout cookies sent by patriotic Americans or photographs of your child’s first day at school, mail is the number one source of morale for Marines in a combat zone.

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37 Marines, Sailors Awarded Purple Hearts

Award Recipients Part Of Battalion That Returned From Afghanistan In March

POSTED: 8:24 pm PDT April 17, 2012
UPDATED: 11:08 pm PDT April 17, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Thirty-seven Marines and sailors were awarded Purple Hearts during a ceremony at Camp Pendleton on Tuesday.

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April 16, 2012

Toledo Marine drives across hundreds of miles in Afghanistan

4/16/2012 By Sgt. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — In America, all branches of the military are voluntary, and for those who choose to join, a certain level of respect is earned. There are some who believe that the highest honor comes from serving one’s country.

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April 15, 2012

Afghanistan’s Kajaki Dam offers landmines, breathtaking scenery

April 15th, 2012 | Posted by Dan Lamothe

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan — After three nights visiting Marines at Observation Post Shrine, photographer James Lee and I have returned to this base overlooking the scenic Kajaki Dam.

Continue reading "Afghanistan’s Kajaki Dam offers landmines, breathtaking scenery" »

April 14, 2012

Family, friends, community say goodbye to Elgin Marine

By Emily McFarlan ~ [email protected] April 14, 2012 8:34PM

Life Changers International Church in Hoffman Estates is the church Julianna Martinez, now 22, has attended since she was 12 or 13 years old, according to Pastor Gregory Dickow.

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April 13, 2012

Camp Pendleton honors five fallen Marines

It's a solemn day for the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, as it remembers comrades killed on a recent deployment to Afghanistan.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
April 13, 2012

CAMP PENDLETON — After the formal ceremony was over, after the traditional order to "honor the dead" had been given, Marines and family members approached what are called battlefield crosses: individual displays of boots, dog tags, pictures and inverted rifles.

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From Marine wife to war widow

Procession, service planned for Elgin native killed in Afghanistan

By Michelle Stoffel, Chicago Tribune reporter
April 13, 2012

Alex Martinez was above all shy; a quietly motivated man, beloved by his friends and family and totally dedicated to his duty as a U.S. Marine, said his wife, Juliana Martinez.

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Kaipat, 21, killed in Afghanistan

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Friday, April 13, 2012

A 21-year-old Marine from the CNMI was killed while on combat patrol in Afghanistan on Wednesday, bringing to 16 the number of Commonwealth sons and daughters who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars against terror since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

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Mass casualty drill becomes reality for sailors, Marines

4/13/2012 By Sgt. John Jackson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan — Doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and corpsmen began April 10 like every other Tuesday – by conducting medical drills to prepare for the worst.

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April 12, 2012

‘The Magnificent Bastards’ remember fallen brothers

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.12.2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Five 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marines were memorialized by their fellow comrades, friends and family during a memorial service at San Mateo, April 12.

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April 11, 2012

From start to finish, Marine battalion leaves mark on Sangin

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.11.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, came to Helmand province six months ago, cracking down on insurgents and extending a helping hand to locals.

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Marines salute fallen brother in Khan Neshin district

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.11.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan – “It’s going to be a little quiet and boring the rest of the deployment now … without his jokes and all the other stuff he gets us into.”

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April 8, 2012

Sailors save Afghan stab victim in mobile ER

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.06.2012
Date Posted:04.08.2012 12:55

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan – Sailors with shock trauma platoon, 1st Maintenance Battalion (-) Reinforced, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), provided life-saving care to an Afghan man who was stabbed in the abdomen by a thief, April 6.

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Poppy farming days are numbered in southern Helmand

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.08.2012

KHAN NESHIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan – A patrol leader with the Afghan Uniformed Police here said his message against growing poppy is reaching farmers. In return, farmers are sealing their compliance with handshakes and understanding.

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April 7, 2012

Elgin man who was ‘proud to be a Marine’ killed in Afghanistan

BY HUNTER CLAUSS Staff Reporter [email protected] April 7, 2012 12:38AM

A U.S. Marine from northwest suburban Elgin died in Afghanistan while “conducting combat operations,” the U.S. Department of Defense said Friday.

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Forward deployed Marine sings national anthem for Cleveland Indians’ home opener

Story by Sgt. John Jackson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 04.07.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Joe DiMaggio once said, “You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.”

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Supply Management Unit supports operational needs across Helmand Province

Story by Sgt. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 04.07.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The Supply Management Unit aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, acts as the intermediary between units across Regional Command Southwest and the sources of supply for Marine Corps organizations.

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Marines at Leatherneck concussion center heal, return to combat

April 7th, 2012 | Posted by Dan Lamothe

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Scott Anderson had been in Afghanistan about a month when he was “blown up.”

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Corpsmen teach over chai, connect with Afghan students

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.07.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – A medic places the last bandage on an Afghan soldier. He shouts commands to the soldiers next to him, and they respond, gripping the four corners of the stretcher. Together they carry their injured brother to cover behind a truck.

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April 6, 2012

Marine from Elgin dies in Afghanistan

By Peter Nickeas
Tribune reporter
11:29 p.m. CDT, April 6, 2012

A 21-year-old Marine from Elgin died Thursday during his second deployment to Afghanistan, according to his family and the United States Department of Defense.

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April 5, 2012

Two Marines feed a battalion, fuel the mission

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.05.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – The tent looks like all the others around here: tan canvas, zipper doors and Velcro all around. Marines pass by without giving it a second glance, heading to work, the gym or guard duty.

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April 4, 2012

ANA engineers repair bridge, help people of southern Helmand

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.04.2012

MARJAH DISTRICT, Afghanistan – As Marine forces in Helmand province shift into an advisory role and the capabilities and responsibilities of Afghan National Security Forces continue to grow, the people of southern Helmand are reaping the benefits.

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April 3, 2012

Support Marines, sailors help EOD Company accomplish the mission

Story by Sgt. John Jackson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 04.03.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Operational tempo in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, continues at a high pace. Service members continue to conduct foot patrols, mounted patrols, resupply convoys and construction projects on a daily basis. Throughout these missions, the number one hostile threat to coalition forces continues to be improvised explosive devices.

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March 31, 2012

Maintenance Marines repair equipment, save millions of dollars

Story by Cpl. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 03.30.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with Maintenance Company, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Support Battalion11.2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are wrapping up their last few days of deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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March 30, 2012

Marines expand communication range with Combat SkySat

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Jennifer Antoine | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.30.2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines strained their necks as they looked up toward the sky at what could only be described as a giant balloon flying above Camp Delmar, March 29. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit trained with a new communications system that expands the capabilities of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.

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March 29, 2012

Marine exhibits courage on battlefield, receives Bronze Star

Photo by Cpl. Ned Johnson | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.29.2012

Hartford, Conn., native Sgt. Patrique Fearon, a combat engineer with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, March 29, 2012, in San Mateo.

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March 28, 2012

Make it happen: Weapons Platoon adapts, overcomes in southern Helmand

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.28.2012

KHAN NESHIN, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines are well versed in adapting to the ever changing environment inherent to counterinsurgency operations in southern Helmand province.

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March 27, 2012

Pendleton Marines come home to laughs, tears, hugs

Hundreds wait for hours in the early morning cold for their loved ones to return after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: March 27, 2012 Updated: 5:47 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON Winston Madrigal promised his son, Ian, he wouldn't surf until the 19-year-old came home safe from his deployment to Afghanistan.

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March 26, 2012

1st Tanks Marine, double amputee named best Marine in 1st MarDiv

Story by Cpl. Sarah Dietz | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 03.21.2012
Date Posted:03.26.2012 19:14

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Cpl. Carlos Torres has a quiet spirit and is a man of few words. He is not arrogant, but he is proud of what he does.

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Afghan police show respect to villagers, receive cooperation in return

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.26.2012

KHAN NESHIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan – A patrol leader with the Afghan Uniformed Police said he’s made substantial progress building rapport with the locals during his three months of service in Khan Neshin district.

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March 24, 2012

Reserve Marines come together, accomplish mission in Afghanistan

3/24/2012 By Sgt. John Jackson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Of the more than 200 Marines that make up General Support Motor Transport Company, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Support Battalion 11.2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), all but six are Reserve Component Marines.

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March 23, 2012

3/5 sergeant to be awarded Silver Star

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 23, 2012 19:02:45 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The Marine Corps will award the Silver Star next week to an infantry squad leader with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, for leading his men through an unrelenting firefight in Afghanistan nearly two years ago, 1st Marine Division said Friday.

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March 22, 2012

‘Goliath’ Battery holds the front line at Kajaki

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.22.2012

OBSERVATION POST SHRINE, Afghanistan – The Marines here guard the northeastern frontier in Helmand province. Beyond the boundary of the observation post lies known enemy territory, where insurgent fighters have taken refuge. Farmland and abandoned compounds surround the post. Insurgents sporadically shoot machine gun bursts and launch attacks against the Marines from many different positions, and when the Marines fight back, the enemy forces flee into dry riverbeds deep enough to conceal most movement. For the past four months, the Marines of Golf Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment repelled dozens of attacks and kept enemy forces from moving forward.

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Marines escort Afghan drivers, get fuel to the fight

3/22/2012 By Sgt. John Jackson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Thirty five civilian trucks carrying approximately 340,000 gallons of fuel left the outskirts of Camp Leatherneck to deliver fuel to forward operating bases in northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 13.

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March 20, 2012

Logistics Marines save Corps millions

3/20/2012 By Cpl. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — As military operations in Afghanistan begin to shift from a combat role to an advisory role, the Marine Corps has started the process of redistributing gear throughout Afghanistan and shipping supplies back to the U.S.

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March 18, 2012

Workout tests shooting while under duress

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Mar 18, 2012 11:30:34 EDT

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines here are learning that one of the latest takes on Marine fitness ties together two things they love: exercise and shooting. Throw in a dose of adrenaline from the stress of competing against a clock, and it might just become the next combat-workout craze.

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Colorado Marine teaches discipline through martial arts in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.17.2012
Date Posted:03.18.2012 06:36

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Black, brown, green, gray and tan. Those are the colors of the belt levels of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program that a ‘user’ can earn.

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March 16, 2012

Arizona Marine takes responsibility to heart, saves lives

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.16.2012

PATROL BASE ATOLL, Afghanistan — Sergeant Darin Dains Jr., a combat engineer with Bravo Company, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion (Forward), relaxes on his cot, watching movies while joking with friends. Even when relaxed Dains took the time to ask Marines how they were doing, making sure everything was okay.

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March 15, 2012

Tough first week on the job in Afghanistan

Tensions on war campaign mount amid series of incidents

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
8:24 p.m., March 15, 2012

Maj. Gen. Charles “Mark” Gurganus and the Camp Pendleton force that took command this week of U.S. and international troops in southwestern Afghanistan are beginning their yearlong tour under the shadow of pointed new strains on the war campaign.

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March 9, 2012

Solemn procession and Taps for fallen Marine

Staff report
10:55 a.m. CST, March 9, 2012

Holding American flags under a crisp blue sky, family and friends of a fallen Marine lined the streets on the Southwest Side this morning to pay their respects as his body was carried in a procession from Midway Airport.

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March 8, 2012

Afghans, Marines brighten horizons for young students

3/8/2012 By Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes , 1st Marine Division

KHAN NESHIN, Afghanistan — If it’s one thing Cpl. Joshua Brooks likes most about his deployment to Afghanistan, it’s his visits to the school in Khan Neshin.

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NCOs step up, serve as HIMARS chiefs in Afghanistan

3/8/2012 By Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer , 1st Marine Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan — The siren went off in the fire direction center, where Marines awaited the targeting data needed to launch rockets to targets. Seconds later, the trucks rolled into position, carrying rocket launcher pods ready to help troops who were receiving mortar fire. In less than five minutes, the rockets were ready to fire because of the work of junior noncommissioned officers serving as section chiefs with 3rd Platoon, Tango Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment. The soldiers on the ground lost sight of the enemy and called off the mission, and the Marines returned to their posts to await another call for fire.

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March 5, 2012

Texas Marines a ‘jack-of-all-trades’

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.05.2012

AFGHANISTAN - Despite it being the hottest day in months, the Marine patrols with a constant smile, making jokes with his friends and smiling with the locals, Feb. 27.

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Precision Rocket Artillery changes the Battlefield

3/5/2012 By Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer , 1st Marine Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan — There was enough explosive material to construct hundreds of improvised explosive devices. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment lacked the power to destroy the huge IED cache. They called for fire, and eight rockets landed within seconds of being fired. According to the after action report from the artillery platoon, all rounds impacted on target, the site was destroyed, and there was no collateral damage.

Continue reading "Precision Rocket Artillery changes the Battlefield " »

March 4, 2012

CLB-1 motor transport provides supplies to multiple FOBs

Story by Cpl. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 03.04.2012

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines with Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) made good use of their extra day this leap year providing needed supplies to patrol bases in southern Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 29.

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March 3, 2012

Chicago Marine killed in Afghanistan

West Beverly family is shaken

By Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune reporter
March 3, 2012

The last time Grace Lavin saw her brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Conner Lowry, it was via an Internet video call in January. From somewhere in Afghanistan, he teared up as they talked, looking very much like he missed home, she said.

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March 2, 2012

Combat Engineers tear down walls, reduce ANSF base

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.02.2012

AFGHANISTAN - The bulldozer, unceremoniously, rams into the wall of mud bricks and straw, causing the top half to collapse. With dust and debris forming a cloud around the machine, local Afghans children gather to see what the commotion is about. The bulldozer backs up and plows into the wall again, leaving a pile of rubble where the outer wall once stood. Marines with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion spent three days leveling part of the patrol base, here, Feb. 23.

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San Diego native uses humor to connect with people of Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.02.2012

AFGHANISTAN - First one Afghan appears, then another and another. Within minutes, Afghan children surround the patrolling Marine, Feb. 22. The sight is familiar to Lance Cpl. Edgar Lima, an assaultman, for 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Lima Company.

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March 1, 2012

Beverly man killed in Afghanistan: ‘His heart was as big as he was’

BY SUSAN DEMAR LAFFERTY [email protected] March 1, 2012 10:40PM

Grace Lavin came home from school Thursday to see three U.S. Marines gathered around her mom. Instinctively, she knew what had happened and she screamed.

Continue reading "Beverly man killed in Afghanistan: ‘His heart was as big as he was’" »

February 28, 2012

Marines from Camp Pendleton depart for Afghanistan -- again

February 27, 2012 | 2:26 pm

Under a cold, gray sky, Marines departed Camp Pendleton on Monday for Afghanistan, more than a decade after Marines from the same base toppled the Taliban government.

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Marine with 3/7 mentor, train the Afghan National Army

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.28.2012

PATROL BASE HANGAR, Sangin, Afghanistan – The patrol had just stepped off the road when gunfire opened up. The Marines and sailors with India Company immediately crouched and raised their weapons. Second Lt. Theodore Hardy, a platoon commander with the company, called for his Marines to take cover by nearby ruins.

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February 22, 2012

Marines sweep uncharted areas of Khan-Neshin during Operation Highland Thunder

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.22.2012

SRE KALA, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A large plot of austere terrain in the southern portion of Khan-Neshin district is home to local farmers who make a living growing crops far from the more developed districts of southern Helmand province.

Continue reading "Marines sweep uncharted areas of Khan-Neshin during Operation Highland Thunder" »

Afghan Soldiers run Patrol Base, secure local area

2/22/2012 By Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer , 2nd Marine Division

HANJAR YAK, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — When Sgt. Zachary T. Harding and his squad of Marines arrived at the patrol base several weeks ago, they thought they would be training a squad of Afghan National Army soldiers.
However, the Marines discovered a highly proficient and hospitable group of ANA soldiers who were able to function independently, explained Harding, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

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February 21, 2012

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit composites to full Marine Air-Ground Task Force

Story by 1st Lt. Justin Smith | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.21.2012

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit inherited its necessary major subordinate elements required to composite into a complete Marine Air-Ground Task Force, here, Feb. 20.

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February 20, 2012

Marines, tanks head to Korea for exercise

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 20, 2012 18:29:38 EST

The Marine Corps is sending hundreds of personnel to South Korea for a large amphibious exercise scheduled for March.

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February 19, 2012

Walking point, avoiding IEDs in Sangin

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.19.2012

PATROL BASE WISHTAN, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – The pointman of a patrol spotted something sticking out of the ground. He immediately identified it as an improvised explosive device, the number one killer of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Walking point, avoiding IEDs in Sangin" »

February 18, 2012

Unit honors fallen corpsman

Story by Capt. Roger Hollenbeck | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.18.2012

ARABIAN SEA – All hands celebrated the life and service of Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada during a memorial service aboard USS Makin Island Feb. 17.

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Camp Pendleton command returns to Afghanistan

Will lead international forces in southwest

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
12:10 p.m., Feb. 18, 2012

The Camp Pendleton force preparing to lead the fight in southwestern Afghanistan will have to find its footing on shifting sands of change in the deserts flanking the Helmand River Valley, as the U.S. slowly winds down its war campaign.

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February 17, 2012

Afghan forces, Marines meet locals, drive back insurgency in Sangin

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.17.2012

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan- Afghan soldiers from the Afghan National Army 4th Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps and Marines from Weapons Co., 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, met with villagers and searched for insurgent assets in Reygion and De Kahkesh Karez during Operation Southern Disrupt, here, recently.

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February 16, 2012

Working dogs are Marine's best friend

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.16.2012

PATROL BASE HABIB, Helmand province, Afghanistan - A rifle may be a Marine’s best friend in combat, but a close second goes to the military working dogs that go out with the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines every day.

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2nd Battalion, 4th Marines charge Alekhine’s Gun

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.16.2012

PATROL BASE HABIB, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Together with their Afghan National Army partners, the Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines conducted operation Alekhine’s Gun in Musa Qal’eh District, Afghanistan.

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February 9, 2012

Nawa: the essence of progress

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.09.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Extensive improvements in Nawa district and exceptional Afghan leadership has transformed the once improvised explosive device-laden area into a peaceful paragon of progress during the last year. Residents walk casually along roads and waterways, confident in local Afghan security forces to keep them safe. The growth of illegal drugs has been nearly eradicated as citizens have begun to see the benefits of growing legal crops. Interest in education is on the rise, ensuring a brighter future for the people of Nawa. The people are happy, healthy and hopeful.

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Marines in Helmand partner, mentor in Now Zad

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.09.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOW ZAD, Afghanistan - As Afghanistan’s leadership seeks to take increasing control of its own country, Marines with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines find themselves conducting more training and advisory positions to Afghan National Security Forces.

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February 7, 2012

Afghans, Marines clear illegal drugs, insurgent activity in southern Garmsir

Photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.06.2012
Date Posted:02.07.2012 09:51

"America's Battalion" is aiding the Afghan National Security Forces in assuming security responsibilities over Helmand province's Garmsir district. This interoperability is designed to further the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance of Afghanistan by defeating insurgent forces and helping secure the Afghan people.

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Gen. Amos visits Afghanistan

Photos by Sgt. Charles Mabry | Task Force Leatherneck | Date: 02.05.2012
Date Posted:02.07.2012 01:02

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, sergeant of the Marine Corps, visit with Marines from HMH-363 aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 5, 2012.

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Marines memorialize Seattle hero

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.07.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Afghanistan - The Marines stand at attention. War-toughened sergeants shout out “here” as their name is called. Leading the formation, 1stSgt Andrew Golding, 45, weapons company first sergeant, from Fort Lauderdale, Fl. calls the roll.

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February 6, 2012

Family Releases Camp Pendleton Marine’s Final Letter (Video)

February 6, 2012 | 10:11 AM | By Beth Ford Roth

Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. William Stacey was killed January 31 by an IED while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. Last week Home Post shared a war correspondent’s memories of the 23-year-old sergeant. Lawrence Dabney had been embedded with Stacey’s squad in Afghanistan. Dabney wrote of Stacey:
Sgt. Stacey was as special as they come. He had a bright and concentrated flame within him that could cut through stone. It spelled death and failure for his enemies and gave life to his comrades.

Continue reading "Family Releases Camp Pendleton Marine’s Final Letter (Video)" »

Marine ‘Bastards’ do a magnificent job

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.06.2012

MUSA QAL'EH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - The “Magnificent Bastards” of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines have been proving their motto “second to none” while deployed to the Musa Qal’eh District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

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February 3, 2012

Family, friends say farewell to fallen Marine

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Feb. 3, 2012 Updated: 5:13 p.m.

LAKE FOREST – At 7, Cpl. Christopher Singer knew he wanted to be a Marine, his mother told more than 1,000 gathered at Saddleback Church on Friday.

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Fallen Marine’s Last Words: ‘It Was All Worth it’

By Alexandra Ludka
Feb 3, 2012 2:11pm

Sgt. William Stacey joined the Marines in January 2007, completing a total of five deployments. He was scheduled to return home from his final deployment in Afghanistan this spring.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine’s Last Words: ‘It Was All Worth it’" »

Yuma Marine awarded Bronze Star for heroic acts in Afghanistan

February 03, 2012 5:28 PM
BY MARA KNAUB - SUN STAFF WRITER

On two occasions, when explosives went off, instead of heading away from the chaos and violence, Staff Sgt. Kasell “C.J.” Wiggins jumped straight into the destruction.

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31st MEU departs for CG 12

Story by Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr. | III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific | Date: 02.03.2012

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit departed Okinawa en route to the Kingdom of Thailand Jan. 25 to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold.

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Through the Eyes of Infantrymen

February 3rd, 2012 // By Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde

PATROL BASE 7171, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Infantry Marines deployed to Afghanistan endure trials that Americans unfamiliar with military life cannot begin to fathom. Inclement weather, insatiable hunger, perpetual fatigue and direct combat with enemy forces are challenges frequently confronting the infantryman because he regularly operates in austere, hostile conditions. The infantry Marine in Afghanistan, commonly 18 years old and fresh out of high school, is often significantly more mature than others his age because of his unique experiences.

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February 2, 2012

Marines rescue Afghan Policemen from collapsed building

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 02.02.2012

SANGIN TUFAAN, Afghanistan - During a routine key leader engagement, Jan. 22, in Sangin Tufaan, Afghanistan, Marines with Afghan National Civil Order Police Mentorship Team Two, with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, found themselves in a situation that was anything but routine.

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CPL. JOEY LOGAN MEMORIAL SERVICE

Filed Thu, Feb 2, 2012 by Scott Engle

Hundreds turned out for to say good bye to Cpl. Joey Logan Wednesday afternoon at the North Montgomery County Community Center in Willis. Once again the streets were lined procession route with flags as many stood silent, some saluting others hands on their hearts as the hearse passes by them.

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February 1, 2012

Seattle Marine killed Jan. 31 in Afghanistan made his mark

By Erik Lacitis
Seattle Times staff reporter
Originally published February 1, 2012 at 9:32 PM | Page modified February 2, 2012 at 5:07 PM

On Tuesday morning at 7:30, Bob Stacey was heading out the door of his Roosevelt home to take his daughter, Anna, 16, to school and then head off to work.

Continue reading "Seattle Marine killed Jan. 31 in Afghanistan made his mark" »

January 30, 2012

THOUSANDS LINE THE ROADS AS MARINE HERO RETURNS

Filed Mon, Jan 30, 2012 by Scott Engle

As scheduled the private jet carrying Cpl. Joseph Logan arrived at Bush International Airport at 10 a.m. Monday morning. As the family sat on the tarmac facing the aircraft as it taxied in Houston Police, Patriot Guard, Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies, Precinct 2 and Precinct 3 deputies stood at attention. Houston Fire Department with their airport crash trucks positioned themselves and created an arch of water as the aircraft passed under it.

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January 27, 2012

Fox mobile Marines stay flexible during Operation Double Check

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.27.2012

ATROL BASE 7171, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Armored trucks provide unique capabilities in a combat environment and mobile sections are often among the most utilized assets for a line company during an Afghanistan deployment. Missions tasked out to mobile sections can be highly variable – flexibility is a must for its Marines, especially during formal operations. The high-stress, sometimes tedious life of a mobile Marine in Afghanistan takes some getting used to as personal comfort gives way to mission accomplishment.

Continue reading "Fox mobile Marines stay flexible during Operation Double Check" »

January 26, 2012

Combat engineers build posts during Operation Double Check to improve Musa Qal’eh’s security

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.26.2012

PATROL BASE 7171, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines from 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, spent the opening days of Operation Double Check building elevated security posts for Afghan National Security Force and Afghan National Police personnel. The posts, now complete, were placed in areas of southern Musa Qal’eh district, Helmand province, that lacked a coalition presence prior to the operation’s start, Jan. 3 – areas that have been plagued by an active insurgency in recent years.

Continue reading "Combat engineers build posts during Operation Double Check to improve Musa Qal’eh’s security" »

January 25, 2012

3/7 and FET help educate local children

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 01.25.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — The Female Engagement Team and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment has been conducting shuras which are community gatherings or consultations in order to help the local population outside of Forward Operating Base Jackson, Afghanistan.

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Nevada Marine's remains returned home

By Keith Rogers
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Posted: Jan. 25, 2012 | 8:43 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2012 | 8:40 a.m.

Forty-five minutes before President Barack Obama landed at McCarran International Airport, the remains of fallen Marine Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, where his grief-struck family waited.

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Afghan forces, Echo Company oust insurgency, establish new security posts in Musa Qal’eh

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.25.2012

MUSA QAL’EH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines with Echo Company and members of the Afghan National Security Forces are participating in Operation Double Check, an operation to promote legitimate governance within the Musa Qal’eh district. This operation further spread the influence of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to untouched areas and provided an opportunity for Afghan forces to take on a greater role in security efforts.

Continue reading "Afghan forces, Echo Company oust insurgency, establish new security posts in Musa Qal’eh" »

January 24, 2012

Marines in Afghanistan honor brethren killed in helicopter crash

Story by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 01.24.2012

CAMP BASTIAN, Afghanistan -- The Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 filled the pews of a small chapel at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to bid farewell to six fallen brothers, Jan. 24.

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Marines, Afghan police secure southern Musa Qal’eh, work toward long-term stability during Operation Double Check

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.24.2012

PATROL BASE 7171, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Force and Afghan National Police personnel are working with Marines and sailors from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, to secure areas of southern Musa Qal’eh district, Helmand province, during Operation Double Check, which kicked off Jan. 3 when the Marines helicopter-inserted into the area.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan police secure southern Musa Qal’eh, work toward long-term stability during Operation Double Check" »

January 23, 2012

Marine corporal, a former Chaparral High grad, killed in action

By AARON CLAVERIE [email protected] | Posted: Monday, January 23, 2012 3:15 pm

U.S. Marine Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, 23, a Chaparral High School graduate, died Saturday after he was shot while serving in Afghanistan, a family member said Monday.

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January 22, 2012

Musa Qal’eh: walking the path of progress

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.22.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Musa Qal’eh, once terrorized by insurgents, now shines as a symbol of progress in the province, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials, Afghan security forces, Marines and sailors of the 2nd Marine Division (Forward), and other coalition partners.

Continue reading "Musa Qal’eh: walking the path of progress" »

January 21, 2012

Washington Township Marine receives warm welcome home from latest deployment to Afghanistan

Published: Saturday, January 21, 2012, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON TWP. — Standing in front of his family’s home in 30-degree weather, Corporal Andrew Levin was a far cry from his 135-degree days in Afghanistan.

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January 19, 2012

3/7 I Co. Marines maintain local relationships

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 01.19.2012

SANGIN, Afghanistan - The Marines of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment maintain a great relationship with the locals in the village outside their patrol base near Sangin.

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Wars’ lessons applied to ease combat stress

By Julie Watson - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 19, 2012 7:18:12 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — When the Marine unit that suffered the greatest casualties in the 10-year Afghan war returned home last spring, they didn’t rush back to their everyday lives.

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January 18, 2012

Atlanta Marine follows in father’s footsteps, powers Marines in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.18.2012

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Each Marine has a unique reason for joining the Corps: some enlist out of pride, some want to see a foreign land, and some do it simply to serve their country.

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January 16, 2012

Japanese forces and Marines train in Iron Fist

Iron Fist amphibious exercise expands during shift toward Asia Pacific

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
6:39 p.m., Jan. 16, 2012

Camp Pendleton troops will be storming the beaches with Japanese defense forces over the next month, building on long-standing military ties with an important strategic ally in the Asia Pacific amid rising tensions in the region.

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January 14, 2012

Women’s center provides new opportunities for Afghan women

Story by Cpl. Meredith Brown | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.14.2012

NOW ZAD DISTRICT, Afghanistan - The Now Zad District Women’s Center in Helmand province, Afghanistan officially opened for business during a ceremony at the facility, Jan. 11. More than 100 local women and children attended. The center offers a safe place for the local women to congregate and work.

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January 13, 2012

US, Iranian ships involved in incidents in Strait of Hormuz

Published January 13, 2012 | FoxNews.com

Iranian ships recently taunted two U.S. Navy vessels as part of escalating tensions in and around the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz.

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January 10, 2012

USS Carl Vinson Reaches Middle East

The carrier, along with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, reaches the region as tensions are rising with Iran.

January 10, 2012

Deployed San Diego-based ships in the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and Makin Island groups are now in the Middle East, the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Central Command has announced.

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January 9, 2012

11th MEU Marines learn shipboard damage control

Story by Cpl. Ryan Carpenter | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 01.09.2012

ARABIAN SEA – Approximately 30 Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit learned emergency ship repair and firefighting skills aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans Jan. 5 during a firefighting exercise.

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San Diego-based ships arrive in Middle East

North County Times wire services | Posted: Monday, January 9, 2012 3:30 pm

SAN DIEGO - Deployed San Diego-based ships in the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and Makin Island groups are now stationed in the Middle East, the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Central Command announced today.

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December 29, 2011

Mississippi native kicks, punches his way to Corps

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.29.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan - His childhood was spent moving all over the Unites States. Time and again the boy had to learn to start over in a new city with his mother. Fortunately the Meridian, Miss., native didn’t let the constant relocating deter him from his love of flying kicks and fast strikes.

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December 28, 2011

Female Engagement Team 8, Afghan members host children’s shura

Courtesy Story | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.28.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – With 53 little, smiling faces in attendance, members of Female Engagement Team 8 joined Afghan National Security Force troops recently to host a children’s shura aboard the base in Sangin district, Helmand province.

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Norwich, Conn., native accepts new challenge with Female Engagement Team

Story by Cpl. Meredith Brown | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.28.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan - When Kimberly Ryan stepped into the Navy recruiter’s office at age 18, she had no idea what she wanted to do. All she knew was she wanted to get out of Connecticut and broaden her horizon.

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December 27, 2011

Operation Eagle Hunt Gets off the Ground

December 27, 2011
Marine Corps News|by Cpl. Marco Mancha

Helmand province, Afghanistan -- United States Marines and Afghan National Security Forces filled the air with dust recently as dozens of their vehicles rolled into the desert. Afghan camouflage-painted humvees and small, green trucks with gun turrets led the way into the lower region of the province in search of insurgents.

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December 23, 2011

Combat engineers provide support for Operation Eagle Hunt

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.23.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - These Marines are trained to lead patrols as point men and sweep for any improvised explosive devices, the enemy’s favored weapon. They are also trained in construction and demolitions, making them a versatile force multiplier on the battlefield.

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December 15, 2011

Iowa Marine sets security, keeps morale high on Afghan deployment

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

FIRE BASE FIDDLER’S GREEN, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Having peace of mind means each service member with Headquarters Battery can concentrate on his specific job to accomplish the mission. Being able to laugh eases the tensions jobs bring while in a combat zone. These Marines and sailors have a brother-in-arms who provides them with both peace of mind and laughter, keeping morale high as they serve a seven-month tour in Afghanistan.

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Florida native creates ties with sea-service brothers on Afghan deployment

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

FIRE BASE FIDDLER’S GREEN, Helmand province, Afghanistan — While closing in on high school graduation, Lance Cpl. Mitchell L. Young, a Tampa, Fla., native, made the decision to take life into his own hands and chose a path no one in his family had pursued before.

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New York Marine follows father’s footsteps, wears many hats on deployment

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

FIRE BASE FIDDLER’S GREEN, Helmand province, Afghanistan – It is not uncommon for Marines to spend birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays away from family, and some children may not understand why their parents cannot be home for these significant days. One North Tonawanda, N.Y., native wondered the same thing for years, but it wasn’t until becoming a Marine he began to understand why his father couldn’t always be around.

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Female Engagement Team builds trust, rapport with women in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Meredith Brown | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberly Ryan stands in an open crop field surrounded by children. Greetings of “salaam alaikum,” which translates to peace be unto you, are said as she high-fives the local residents. Smiles spread across the faces of the children and laughter rings out through the brisk morning air as the sailor attempts Pashtu, the language spoken in the area.

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December 11, 2011

Unit arrives for exercise in Cambodia

Story by Capt. Roger Hollenbeck | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.11.2011

REAM NAVAL BASE, Cambodia - Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit came ashore from amphibious ships here Dec. 11, to begin a cooperative exercise with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces focusing on medical subject-matter-expert exchanges, mass-casualty response, community outreach, jungle familiarization and platoon and company movements.

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December 10, 2011

Operation Western Gambit clears insurgents in Now Zad

Story by Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.10.2011

NOW ZAD DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Marines and sailors wait in the cold, dark, desolate Afghan desert. The air is heavy with moisture, teasing the troops with a potential downpour.

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Wadi crossing opens for Musa Qal’eh

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.10.2011

MUSA QAL'EH, Afghanistan - Commerce and travel through the District of Musa Qal’eh just became easier with the completion and grand opening of the Musa Qal’eh Wadi Crossing, Dec. 9.

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December 9, 2011

A beacon of progress: new bridge highlights development in Helmand

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.09.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – An opening ceremony for the newly constructed wadi crossing in Musa Qal’eh, Helmand province, today serves as a shining beacon of the progress evident throughout Helmand province. The wadi crossing is a bridge across a riverbed that is often impassible in the rainy season, and it connects the district center with neighboring communities, opening access to local markets and towns, improving commerce and facilitating travel year-round.

Continue reading "A beacon of progress: new bridge highlights development in Helmand" »

December 7, 2011

Michigan family reeling from beloved Marine's death in Afghanistan

By Eric D. Lawrence
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer
Dec. 7, 2011

Marine Staff Sgt. Vincent Bell didn't make it home as often as he wanted, so his family relished his visit during the first week of October.

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On date of infamy, Pacific War-named ships commemorate 70th anniversary

12/7/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn , 11th MEU

USS PEARL HARBOR — Sailors and Marines aboard two ships whose names honor the memory of the Pacific War held services to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

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December 6, 2011

Marine Commander to Discuss Afghan Deployment

Marine Support Group will host the commander of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at the San Clemente Community Center to talk to the public about the unit's experiences in Afghanistan.

By Adam Townsend
Dec. 6, 2011

The Commander of 1st Battallion, 5th Marines will give a presentation on that unit's recent deployment to Sangin, Afghanistan, knows as the Most Dangerous Place on Earth.

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December 4, 2011

Pendleton Marines praise new enlisted digs

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 4, 2011 9:17:56 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A funny thing happened after Marines moved into a new complex of swanky bachelor enlisted quarters for 1st Marine Logistics Group: Some are finding that hanging out in the barracks on weekends isn’t such a bad option compared to going into town to meet with friends and find a good time.

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December 1, 2011

New Border Advisor Team up to bat in Helmand

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.01.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- A new Border Advisor Team recently stepped up to the plate in the war on terror. While nearly half a dozen teams have come before them to train the Afghan policemen guarding the borders of Afghanistan, this group is unlike those before them.

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November 30, 2011

Funeral for fallen Danville Marine draws nearly 1,800 mourners

By Paul Thissen
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 11/30/2011 11:04:09 AM PST
Updated: 11/30/2011 09:24:00 PM PST

DANVILLE -- It was barely two months after he arrived in Afghanistan and just a few weeks before his 20th birthday. Lance Cpl. Joshua "Chachi" Corral died a Marine; it was what he had long dreamed of becoming.

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Open for Business: CLB-1 builds route, brings growth to Helmand

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.30.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - The Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are currently in the midst of a first-time operation. They are constructing a route between the Nowa and Marjah districts in Helmand province.

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Elite Marines crucial to 2014 Afghanistan exit

By Robert Burns - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 30, 2011 17:33:50 EST

PUZEH, Afghanistan — In this dusty village in southern Afghanistan a small team of elite U.S. Marines is nudging Afghans toward rejection of the Taliban insurgency, a mission that is emerging as central to the U.S. and NATO exit strategy but is little known beyond the rugged brown hills of the upper Helmand River Valley.

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November 24, 2011

Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit first to train in dunked simulator

Story by Cpl. Ryan Carpenter | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.24.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – In seconds, water filled a sinking hull with four Marines strapped inside. To escape, the men recalled the day’s training, which covered life vests and underwater breathing devices.

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Marine, dog to reunite after hard journey for both

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, November 24, 2011

Ward Van Alstine is a tough U.S. Marine who, after a somewhat troubled life growing up in Santa Rosa, developed a sense of purpose amid the gunfire, bone-rattling explosions and death in Afghanistan.

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Unit celebrates Thanksgiving Day at sea

Courtesy Story | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.24.2011

PACIFIC OCEAN – Sailors and Marines of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group celebrated Thanksgiving Day aboard three ships Nov. 24 – some spending their first holiday away from home.

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November 23, 2011

Free Thanksgiving meals donated to MEU Marines

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.22.2011
Date Posted:11.23.2011 15:34

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be eating well this Thanksgiving thanks to a generous donation from Operation Homefront, Nov. 22.

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November 22, 2011

Marine from Preston dies from injuries in Afghanistan

Staff report | Posted: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 3:00 pm

PRESTON, Iowa — Those who knew Cpl. Zach Reiff remembered him Tuesday as a young man who loved his family and was proud to serve his country.

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November 21, 2011

Marine brothers meet in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Colby Brown | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.21.2011

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — When Cpl. Axel Benitez joined the Marine Corps more than three years ago, he never thought his younger brother would follow in his footsteps.

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November 20, 2011

For Gaithersburg Marine, a surprise homecoming

By Robert Samuels, Published: November 20

Editor’s note: Were you in suspense after reading Saturday night’s article about Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodgers on PostLocal.com? Here’s the rest of the story.

The proclamation was in the mayor’s hands. The marching band, all warmed up. The firetruck and police cars stood on call. And Pinky and Pepe Rodgers were in their beer and wine store in the Kentlands shopping complex, wondering why their store was suddenly so crowded.

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November 19, 2011

Gaithersburg Marine’s big homecoming hits a logistical snag

By Robert Samuels, Published: November 19

Everybody knows that airline flights are sometimes delayed, but Saturday night’s delay seemed a little bit more difficult to bear.

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Danville mourns Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Rick Hurd
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 11/19/2011 04:57:37 PM PST
Updated: 11/19/2011 09:01:02 PM PST

When Joshua Corral dedicated his life to serving his country, he took many friends with him.

Continue reading "Danville mourns Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

November 16, 2011

CLB-1 Engineers, locals improve critical intersection in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.16.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Combat engineers with Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1 and local workers improved road conditions by repairing a key bridge here, Nov. 12.

Continue reading "CLB-1 Engineers, locals improve critical intersection in Marjah" »

November 13, 2011

‘Making a difference’ pushes one Arizona Marine to excel on fourth deployment

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.13.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Nine years in the Marine Corps, four deployments and less than four weeks until he steps foot on American soil once again, Staff Sgt. Davison Slivers has spent a collective two-and-a-half years defending his country in both Iraq and Afghanistan. A Marine with that sort of experience has a lot to offer to those he leads, evident by the profound respect his Marines express for him.

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November 12, 2011

Marine commander sends message from Afghanistan

Lt. Col. William Vivian, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines from Camp Pendleton, says the unit ‘adopted’ by San Clemente is making progress against the Taliban

Published: Nov. 12, 2011
By FRED SWEGLES / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Camp Pendleton Marine Corps unit that San Clemente "adopted" in 1996 through the America Supporting Americans program says it is making strides toward restoring security and normality to towns in Afghanistan.

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7th ESB brings commerce, growth to Helmand province while supporting Operation Eastern Storm

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.12.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - As Operation Tofan Sharq (Eastern Storm) continues in the upper Sangin Valley of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Marines and sailors with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), conducted multiple route repairs throughout early November.

Continue reading "7th ESB brings commerce, growth to Helmand province while supporting Operation Eastern Storm" »

November 11, 2011

School honors St. Charles County Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Raymond Castile > [email protected] | Posted: Friday, November 11, 2011

Phillip Vinnedge's dream of becoming a Marine began when he was 10 years old, watching the World Trade Center collapse on television.

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Poulsbo, Wash., native answers call as chaplain

Story by Cpl. Meredith Brown | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.11.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - It is Saturday night. The moon is visible through the sandy haze. The sounds of Guitar Hero are heard outside a small tent. A group of Marines are gathered inside rocking out to the various bands. Lt. Bryan Davenport, the chaplain for 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), watches the Marines give their best shot before piping up from the back row and asking to get the next turn.

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Lock Down: Afghan National Security Forces, Marines interdict insurgent movement

Story by Cpl. Colby Brown | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.03.2011

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — Afghan National Security Forces and Marines from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 3rd Marine Regiment are putting the lock down on roads in Garmsir during operation gridlock here, Nov. 1 and 5.

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November 10, 2011

RCT-5 command delivers birthday tradition to southern Helmand

Story by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.10.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Around this time of the year, most Marines are shining their shoes, taking their ‘Blues’ to the cleaners and making sure they have their ticket and date to the ball.

Continue reading "RCT-5 command delivers birthday tradition to southern Helmand" »

November 8, 2011

Fallen Elmwood Park Marine remembered for giving nature

Lance corporal, graduate of St. Patrick High in Chicago returned to alma mater to help coach football team

By John P. Huston, Chicago Tribune reporter
November 8, 2011

Before Nick Daniels deployed to Afghanistan, the Marine lance corporal and his fiancee began making plans for their future together once he returned.

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November 6, 2011

Nebraska Marine discovers Afghan experience

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.06.2011

PATROL BASE MEHRAJ, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The culture, landscape and austere conditions of Helmand province can be downright shocking to American troops deployed to the area for the first time. Life in Helmand is completely different than life in the United States, and one can only begin to understand this exotic land after experiencing it first-hand.

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November 5, 2011

Homefront battles from Camp Pendleton

While Marines served in Afghanistan, their families faced absence and uncertainty

By Gretel C. Kovach, Reporter - Military
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 8:03 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON — It was after midnight when the young couple said goodbye. Emily Black had married her best friend and high school sweetheart. She was at his side when he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

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Ashford mourns Marine killed in Afghanistan

By: Jim Cook
Published: November 05, 2011

Every day is a good day, even this one.

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Camp Pendleton remembers, mourns 17 Marines killed in Afghanistan

A somber memorial service pays tribute to troops from the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment who recently died in the continuing fight for the Taliban stronghold of Sangin.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times

November 5, 2011
Reporting from Camp Pendleton—

The rain and cold were appropriate. "Somber weather for a somber occasion," the battalion commander said.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton remembers, mourns 17 Marines killed in Afghanistan" »

Respect, tears at memorial for 17 Marines killed in Afghanistan

--Tony Perry at Camp Pendleton
November 5, 2011

They were young -- all in their 20s -- but different from many in their generation.

Continue reading "Respect, tears at memorial for 17 Marines killed in Afghanistan" »

7th ESB partners with Jordan armed forces engineers

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.05.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Manual labor proved to be a universal language of sorts as Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion’s Charlie Company continued several projects along with their Jordan Armed Forces counterparts, Nov. 5.

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November 4, 2011

Pendleton Marines remembered for ultimate sacrifice

BY ERIKA I. RITCHIE / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 4, 2011

CAMP PENDLETON – Seventeen battlefield crosses with photos of the fallen warriors stood in front of two formations of Marines on the parade deck at Camp San Mateo.

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Marines remember the fallen in Afghanistan

Camp Pendleton battalion served in Sangin
By Gretel C. Kovach7:33 P.M.NOV. 4, 2011

Lance Cpl. Joshua B. McDaniels, a 21-year-old Marine combat engineer from Dublin, Ohio, had the most dangerous job in what has been the most dangerous area of Afghanistan for international troops: walking point on patrol, sweeping for bombs in the insurgent minefields of Sangin.

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November 3, 2011

Afghan Uniformed Police, Marine partnership makes progress in Musa Qal’eh

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.03.2011

PATROL BASE MEHRAJ, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen and Marines from 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, have been conducting partnered patrols in Musa Qal’eh district, Helmand province, in recent weeks to show a strong, partnered presence in the platoon’s area of responsibility.

Continue reading "Afghan Uniformed Police, Marine partnership makes progress in Musa Qal’eh" »

November 2, 2011

Thousands pay tribute to fallen Pekin Marine

By ANDY KRAVETZ ([email protected])
of the Journal Star
Posted Nov 02, 2011 @ 12:18 PM
Last update Nov 03, 2011 @ 11:38 AM

Only the sound of flags flapping could be heard Wednesday morning in downtown Pekin as a funeral procession of well more than 200 cars and motorcycles escorted Lance Cpl. Jordan Bastean to his final resting place.

Continue reading "Thousands pay tribute to fallen Pekin Marine" »

Marines maintain security 24/7

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.02.2011

PATROL BASE MEHRAJ, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stand post along the base’s perimeter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, protecting those inside and allowing them to conduct business in relative safety within the base’s walls.

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November 1, 2011

As Casualties Mounted, So Did Marine Families' Fears

by Tom Bowman
November 1, 2011

A year ago, nearly 1,000 U.S. Marine officers and enlisted men of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment deployed to restive Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. By the time their tour ended in April 2011, the Marines of the 3/5 — known as "Darkhorse" — suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past 10 years of war. This week, NPR tells the story of this unit's seven long months at war — both in Afghanistan and back home.

Third of seven parts

Dave Boelk works for the Navy outside Washington, D.C. Every morning when he gets to work, he has a ritual: He turns on his computer and checks the military's classified reports from Afghanistan.

Continue reading "As Casualties Mounted, So Did Marine Families' Fears" »

October 31, 2011

An Afghan Hell On Earth For 'Darkhorse' Marines

by Tom Bowman
October 31, 2011

A year ago, nearly 1,000 U.S. Marine officers and enlisted men of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment deployed to restive Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. By the time their tour ended in April 2011, the Marines of the 3/5 — known as "Darkhorse" — suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past 10 years of war. This week, NPR tells the story of this unit's seven long months at war — both in Afghanistan and back home.

Second of seven parts

The Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment remember Sangin in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province as different from anywhere else they'd fought.

Continue reading "An Afghan Hell On Earth For 'Darkhorse' Marines" »

October 30, 2011

Afghan Success Comes At High Price For Commander

by Tom Bowman
October 30, 2011

A year ago, nearly 1,000 U.S. Marine officers and enlisted men of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment deployed to restive Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. By the time their tour ended in April 2011, the Marines of the 3/5 — known as "Darkhorse" — suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past 10 years of war. This week, NPR tells the story of this unit's seven long months at war — both in Afghanistan and back home.

First of seven parts

With his brown checkered sport coat, blue shirt and tie, Jason Morris could easily be mistaken for a young professor. Only the close-cropped hair and stocky build might suggest a military life.

Continue reading "Afghan Success Comes At High Price For Commander" »

Flags placed to honor fallen Marine

Volunteers help spread 1,100 American flags along procession route for Pekin Marine Jordan Bastean

By Eric Engel
of the Journal Star
Posted Oct 30, 2011 @ 10:55 PM
Last update Oct 31, 2011 @ 02:37 PM

Pekin —

With heavy hearts, volunteers gathered on Sunday afternoon to help honor the homecoming of Lance Cpl. Jordan S. Bastean.

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October 29, 2011

Marine returns from Afghanistan while his brother prepares for deployment

Posted: Saturday, October 29, 2011 10:29 pm | Updated: 12:14 am, Sun Oct 30, 2011.
By STEFANIE THOMAS

Saturday was a bittersweet day for the Komm family of Atascocita. While one son arrived home safely from Afghanistan, another is scheduled to leave in the middle of November.

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October 28, 2011

Fallen Marine's father: 'My son is my hero'

Steve Bastean says his son, Jordan, inspired him to be best

By ANDY KRAVETZ ([email protected])
of the Journal Star
Posted Oct 28, 2011 @ 09:55 PM
Last update Oct 29, 2011 @ 10:53 AM

PEKIN —

Steve Bastean managed a smile when he remembered how his son, Jordan Bastean, returned his Jeep after a day of four-wheeling.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine's father: 'My son is my hero'" »

October 26, 2011

Marine offensive to secure Afghan dam continues

Operation Eastern Storm includes more than 2,000 troops

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
5:48 p.m., Oct. 26, 2011

A major Marine-led offensive to seize Taliban-controlled territory surrounding a strategic hydroelectric dam in southwestern Afghanistan continued this week, as troops pushed out from the main road and dug in at a new patrol base, the Marines said.

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Auburn Marine comes home to where the heart is

By Gus Thomson, Journal Staff Writer
10/26/11

The war in Afghanistan has ended for now for U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tim Bergenstock of Auburn.

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October 25, 2011

Young local Marine killed

By Michael Smothers
Pekin Daily Times
Posted Oct 25, 2011 @ 09:09 AM

PEKIN, Ill. —

Less than two years out of high school, Lance Cpl. Jordan S. Bastean of Pekin has been killed in combat conditions while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

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Marines honor fallen brother in Musa Qal’eh

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.25.2011

MUSA QAL’EH DISTRICT CENTER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, attended a memorial service Oct. 13 to honor Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio.

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October 23, 2011

Marines train to win hearts, spot bombs

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Sunday, October 23, 2011 6:00 am

As the war in Afghanistan enters its 11th year, thousands of Camp Pendleton troops are getting much more detailed training in Afghan cultural practices.

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October 21, 2011

Marines secure road to dam in long-awaited Afghan mission

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
6:57 p.m., Oct. 21, 2011

After a five-day operation in one of the most combative areas of Afghanistan, international forces have secured the main road from Sangin to the strategic Kajaki Dam in northern Helmand province, Marine commanders announced.

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1,374 days: Marine returns home to Prescott after more than 3 years in Iraq, Afghanistan

Lisa Irish
The Daily Courier
10/21/2011 10:00:00 PM

When U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Trent Pendergast drove to his family's home in Prescott earlier this month after finishing his deployment in Afghanistan, he saw signs made by his mother welcoming him home in the front yard, surrounded by flags.

Continue reading "1,374 days: Marine returns home to Prescott after more than 3 years in Iraq, Afghanistan " »

October 18, 2011

Marines return from Valley of Death; memorial planned

Tony Perry in San Diego
October 18, 2011 | 3:24 pm

When British forces had responsibility for clearing the Taliban stronghold in the Gereshk Valley in southern Afghanistan, the British press referred to the region as the "Valley of Death."

Continue reading "Marines return from Valley of Death; memorial planned" »

October 16, 2011

Corps fields dispenser for 40mm grenades

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 16, 2011 8:44:12 EDT

Marine and Army units are beginning to field a new 40mm grenade dispenser designed to allow infantrymen to put rounds on target more quickly.

Continue reading "Corps fields dispenser for 40mm grenades" »

Marines return to Twentynine Palms after deadly Afghanistan mission

-- Tony Perry in San Diego
October 15, 2011

After a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment will return in the next few days to their base at Twentynine Palms, the Marine Corps announced.

Continue reading "Marines return to Twentynine Palms after deadly Afghanistan mission" »

October 15, 2011

Fallen Marine was part of ‘Spurs family'

Benjamin Schmidt grew up in the public eye.

By Scott Huddleston
[email protected]
Updated 12:27 a.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011

Friends and family members gathered Friday to honor a fallen Marine who grew up near the limelight, hanging out courtside at Spurs games and meeting the city's political and civic elite before he was old enough to vote.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine was part of ‘Spurs family'" »

October 10, 2011

Dino attends his Marine master's memorial service

-- Tony Perry in San Diego
October 10, 2011

Marine Sgt. Christopher Diaz, assigned to a battalion from Twentynine Palms, was one of the most experienced dog-handlers in the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Dino attends his Marine master's memorial service" »

October 9, 2011

Davison Marine Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff remembered for service to others during candlelight vigil

Published: Sunday, October 09, 2011, 9:30 PM

DAVISON, Michigan -- After handshakes, hugs and more than a few tears, Sandy Sprovtsoff Dutton made a path towards her car following a candlelight vigil in honor of her son, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff Sunday night outside Davison City Hall.

Continue reading "Davison Marine Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff remembered for service to others during candlelight vigil" »

October 6, 2011

Heroic Marine downplays accomplishments

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Thursday, October 6, 2011

A year ago this month, Master Sgt. David Jarvis and part of his platoon of Camp Pendleton Marines found themselves surrounded by dozens of insurgents in Afghanistan's deadly Sangin River Valley.

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October 5, 2011

Marines visit San Francisco for Fleet Week, earthquake planning

Tony Perry
October 5, 2011

More than 700 Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton have deployed to San Francisco on a mission to win hearts and minds.

Continue reading "Marines visit San Francisco for Fleet Week, earthquake planning" »

1/5 and 3/2 Marines replaced in Afghanistan by 3/7 and 2/4

October 5th, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe

Marine units in two of the more volatile districts in Afghanistan’s Helmand province have been replaced in the last few weeks, Marine spokesmen confirmed to Marine Corps Times today.

Continue reading "1/5 and 3/2 Marines replaced in Afghanistan by 3/7 and 2/4" »

October 4, 2011

Davison Marine to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery

By George Jaksa | The Flint Journal
Published: Tuesday, October 04, 2011, 8:59 AM

DAVISON, Michigan — Funeral services will be held Thursday in Arlington, Va., for Nicholas Sprovtsoff, 28, a U.S. Marine staff sergeant from Davison who was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Davison Marine to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery" »

October 3, 2011

Camp Pendleton Marine getting Silver and Bronze Star

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Monday, October 3, 2011

A Silver Star and a Bronze Star are being pinned on a Camp Pendleton Marine on Wednesday for heroic action in Afghanistan.

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3/5 works with 15th MEU Marines, trains in communications

Story by Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.03.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Communication is crucial to any battlefield commander and his troops. To ensure that communication is able to be established, the Marines behind the scenes train continuously to make sure they can make a connection every time.

Continue reading "3/5 works with 15th MEU Marines, trains in communications" »

Marine from Michigan remembered for dedication

Monday, October 3, 2011
(10-03) 11:40 PDT Davison, Mich. (AP) --

A Marine from Michigan who was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan had a dedication to the military that went back to when he was a high school student, a former coach said.

Continue reading "Marine from Michigan remembered for dedication" »

29 Palms Marine killed in combat

Posted: Monday, October 3, 2011 11:22 am

AFGHANISTAN - A Marine from Twentynine Palms died in combat here Wednesday, the Department of Defense has announced.

Continue reading "29 Palms Marine killed in combat" »

October 1, 2011

Upper Gereshk: The Helmand plan meets tough reality

By John Cantlie Gereshk Valley, Helmand
1 October 2011
BBC News

After 10 years in Afghanistan, foreign troops can claim successes in the notorious province of Helmand - but a vicious guerrilla war still rages in the Upper Gereshk valley, which US marines are in the process of handing back to British forces.

Continue reading "Upper Gereshk: The Helmand plan meets tough reality" »

September 30, 2011

MPs give Marines, sailors shocking experience

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Young | Dawn Blitz | Date: 09.30.2011

PACIFIC OCEAN – Laughter and screams echoed through the hangar bay while Marines with Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, conducted Taser training aboard USS Bonhomme Richard, Sept. 30.

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September 29, 2011

2,300 ‘adopted' Marines welcomed home

Anaheim adopted the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in October 2007.

Published: Sept. 29, 2011 Updated: 10:32 p.m.
By ERIC CARPENTER / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

CAMP PENDLETON – After seven months at sea, nearly 2,300 members of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on the beach of Camp Pendleton on Thursday to tearful hugs from wives and to wide-eyed grins from babies born while they were away.

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Medal of Honor recipient visits comrades

9/29/2011 By Cpl. Ned Johnson , 1st Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Before 9 o’clock in the morning, Marines gathered around two things that have been cornerstones in the U.S. Marine Corps: a bar and a hero.

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31st MEU departs Okinawa for patrol of Asia-Pacific region

9/29/2011 By Cpl. Garry J. Welch , 31st MEU

WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan — With all cargo and personnel aboard, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit departed Okinawa, Japan, for its next patrol of the Asia-Pacific region, Sept. 27.

Continue reading "31st MEU departs Okinawa for patrol of Asia-Pacific region " »

September 26, 2011

Marines find meaning, order in combat-zone life

By Christopher Torchia - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Sep 26, 2011 12:59:20 EDT

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — An American in uniform stands near a landing zone at about 2 a.m., moonlight framing his features, and talks about dead and maimed men he knows. His flight out isn’t until next month, and he is counting the days.

Continue reading "Marines find meaning, order in combat-zone life" »

September 23, 2011

Asheville's Cpl. Michael Dutcher laid to rest

Written by
John Boyle
9:38 PM, Sep. 23, 2011

WEST ASHEVILLE — With hundreds of words, preachers delivered carefully crafted, heartfelt eulogies about Cpl. Michael Dutcher at his funeral Friday.

Continue reading "Asheville's Cpl. Michael Dutcher laid to rest" »

31st MEU begins boarding for next deployment

9/23/2011 By Capt. Caleb Eames , 31st MEU
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — More than 2,200 Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to board Navy ships of Amphibious Squadron 11, and depart within days to begin a patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

Continue reading "31st MEU begins boarding for next deployment " »

September 22, 2011

N.C. Marine honored in Afghanistan as a true leader, mentor, friend

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.22.2011

PATROL BASE FIRES, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Kind, passionate, resourceful, knowledgeable, humble and brave: those were just some of the words fellow Marines used to describe Cpl. Michael Dutcher during a memorial service for the Asheville, N.C., native at Patrol Base Fires, Sept. 20.

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HIMARS battery adds long-range fire support to the battlefield

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.22.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province - Task Force Leatherneck provides plenty of artillery support for its ground units throughout its area of operations – M777 A2 howitzers do an excellent job of providing indirect fire in most cases. However, some targets may be out of reach for cannons, or a unit may want something more accurate to support its mission; they may want to go with rockets instead.

Continue reading "HIMARS battery adds long-range fire support to the battlefield" »

September 21, 2011

The private worry of US Marines in Afghanistan

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press
Sep 21, 3:25 AM EDT

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan (AP) -- It is a conversation, the military surgeon says, that every U.S. Marine has with his corpsman, the buddy who is first to treat him if he is wounded by an insurgent's bomb.

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September 20, 2011

CORPSMAN AWARDED VALOR MEDAL AFTER 66 YEARS

9/20/2011 By Correspondent Carolyn Hutchings Carino, Special to Marines.mil , Headquarters Marine Corps

DETROIT, MI — D-Day Okinawa 1 April 1945 Yontan and Kadena Airfields After 66 years, Navy Corpsman Bill “Doc” Lynne, of George Company, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1ST MARDIV was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” attachment for heroic action during the Battle for Okinawa by Major General Lawrence D. Nicholson, in Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 10, 2011.

Continue reading "CORPSMAN AWARDED VALOR MEDAL AFTER 66 YEARS " »

September 17, 2011

Photo Essay: Marines fight on in south Afghanistan

Saturday, September 17, 2011
By BRENNAN LINSLEY
Associated Press

PATROL BASE 302, Afghanistan -- One small U.S. Marine base in southern Afghanistan is surrounded on three sides by bomb-infested farmland and ever-changing Taliban firing positions. The base is reachable only by foot, on the fourth side, by way of a path they call the Serpentine.

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Lifeline: Marine KC-130Js resupply the fight in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Justin Boling | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 09.17.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - When supplies run thin at forward operating bases peppering the Helmand River valley, reassurance often comes with the strong hum of a Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules.

Continue reading "Lifeline: Marine KC-130Js resupply the fight in Afghanistan" »

September 15, 2011

Engineers provide purified water to remote outpost

9/15/2011 By Cpl. Katherine M. Solano , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

OPERATING POST ATHENS, Afghanistan — Up until last month, Marines operating from peaks thousands of feet high had to carry their drinking water over a two-mile round trip on a daily basis.

Continue reading "Engineers provide purified water to remote outpost " »

September 14, 2011

More Marines in Afghanistan shift north

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Sep 14, 2011 13:35:06 EDT

Improved security in Afghanistan’s Helmand province has allowed the Marine Corps to shift more units to the north, where they will hunt the Taliban and put pressure on remaining insurgents, the top general in the region told Marine Corps Times.

Continue reading "More Marines in Afghanistan shift north" »

Explaining Afghanistan: US Marines find it hard

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press
Sep 14, 3:01 AM EDT

PATROL BASE FULOD, Afghanistan (AP) -- "Baby, I walked on a path today. Everything was clear. Nothing happened."

Continue reading "Explaining Afghanistan: US Marines find it hard" »

September 12, 2011

Bronze Star Marine takes leadership to heart

9/12/2011 By Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Lenzo , 1st Marine Division
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Role models are typically sports stars, teachers or family members, but for Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the qualities of a role model can be found in one of their own.

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September 11, 2011

Generation goes from Sept. 11 classrooms to war

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA - Associated Press
September 11, 2011

PATROL BASE FULOD, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. Marine swings his metal detector, scanning debris, rocks and swirls of soil for any hints of concealed bombs as he leads the single-file patrol. Alert, pausing often, the troops act like ambassadors too, lobbing smiles and candy at Afghan children in adobe-lined alleyways.

Continue reading "Generation goes from Sept. 11 classrooms to war" »

Towers falling a call to arms for Rusk woman

Story by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.11.2011

AT SEA - When Hallie Crawford awoke Sept. 11, 2001, her first thought was that her college roommates were playing a joke. However, as she came to after a late night studying, she soon realized the truth.

Continue reading "Towers falling a call to arms for Rusk woman" »

September 10, 2011

Marines go hunting – Sangin style

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.10.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - They inspect the arsenal of weapons one last time and throw the last of the gear in the vehicles under the blanket of darkness still engulfing the sky above. The first signs of morning peek out over the horizon amidst the mountain peaks as anticipations for the day’s catch deepen.

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10 years after 9/11: Marines, sailors honor victims, fallen brothers in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.10.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Aaron Denning always knew he wanted to become a Marine. He was just shy of a month into his freshman year at Royal High School and it was September of 2001. In a matter of days his life and the world changed forever.

Continue reading "10 years after 9/11: Marines, sailors honor victims, fallen brothers in Sangin" »

September 9, 2011

Marines and Taliban fight battle of perceptions

By Christopher Torchia - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Sep 9, 2011 14:22:17 EDT

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — The jarring blast near the American base sent up a cloud of smoke that drifted silently in the breeze. “Not good,” a Marine said. Minutes later, vehicles raced through the gates with the wounded, three Marines and half a dozen Afghans.

Continue reading "Marines and Taliban fight battle of perceptions" »

September 8, 2011

Back to work: hand amputee deploys to set example for wounded warriors

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.08.2011

PATROL BASE FIRES, Helmand province, Afghanistan - “The word came out that noncommissioned officers were needed as combat replacements,” said combat replacement for 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Sgt. Ricardo Ramirez. “Guys with experience who wanted to help out our brothers in Sangin.”

Continue reading "Back to work: hand amputee deploys to set example for wounded warriors" »

September 7, 2011

Casualties of war bolster Sangin brotherhood, resolve

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.07.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - If you had asked 1st Lt. Charles Poulton at the beginning of his deployment ‘Okay Lt. Poulton, you are going to lose your platoon sergeant, a total of five squad leaders and a lot of good men. Do you think your platoon would be stronger than you started with?’

Continue reading "Casualties of war bolster Sangin brotherhood, resolve" »

September 2, 2011

Amid homecoming joy, troops reflect on year at war

By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Friday, September 2, 2011 8:30 pm

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Terrell Chandler paused for a moment during a raucous welcome-home ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton and said he's convinced that the U.S. is making progress in the 10-year-old conflict in Afghanistan.

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Every Marine a Rifleman

9/2/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jackson , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. — The Combat Center’s grueling sun and extreme desert climate isn’t the most desirable place for the Marines training, but for 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, it’s home from the arduous terrain of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains that embodies the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif.

Continue reading "Every Marine a Rifleman " »

September 1, 2011

Dutchess Marine awarded posthumous Medal of Valor

Thursday, September 1, 2011

STEWART AIRPORT – Nearly three years after his death on October 27 2008, Captain Trevor Yurista of Pleasant Valley was awarded the National Intelligence Medal of Valor at the Stewart Air National Guard Base on Wednesday.

Continue reading "Dutchess Marine awarded posthumous Medal of Valor" »

August 26, 2011

Elkridge Marine Among First Tanks in Afghanistan

Tank gunner Sgt. Todd Cross said: "We just focus on the mission, taking care of each other and coming back home."

By Elizabeth Janney
Aug. 26, 2011

When Sgt. Todd Cross of Elkridge, rolled into Afghanistan on a tank, he made history.

Continue reading "Elkridge Marine Among First Tanks in Afghanistan" »

August 25, 2011

Bridge Dedication in Honor of Marine Corporal Jason Dunham

6:12 AM, Aug 25, 2011
Written by
Heather Ly

AMITY, NY - The Scio native who gave his life in order to save two of his fellow Marines will receive another posthumous honor later today.

Continue reading "Bridge Dedication in Honor of Marine Corporal Jason Dunham" »

Sea Stallions’ first forward refueling takes fight farther south

Story by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 08.25.2011

PATROL BASE WOLFPACK, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- From this remote desert outpost just miles from the Pakistani border, two Marine Corps attack helicopters were heard before they were seen.

Continue reading "Sea Stallions’ first forward refueling takes fight farther south" »

August 23, 2011

Patrol Base Jaker: Film documents Marine tour in Afghanistan

Screenings planned for Dana Point, Camp Pendleton

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
6:13 p.m., Aug. 23, 2011

A pre-release benefit screening of “Patrol Base Jaker,” a feature-length documentary film about Camp Pendleton’s 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and their 2009 tour in Nawa, Afghanistan, will be dedicated to one who didn’t make it home.

Continue reading "Patrol Base Jaker: Film documents Marine tour in Afghanistan" »

August 21, 2011

Camp Pendleton Marines gird for war at premiere combat range

Twentynine Palms center is last stop before Afghanistan

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
3:02 p.m., Aug. 21, 2011

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms — The battalion of Marines fought their way into town the previous day, clearing it of insurgents who attacked them with small arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and bombs. Now their objective in this combat training scenario is to make it from their forward operating base on foot across the open desert to meet the malik, the local strong man.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marines gird for war at premiere combat range" »

Engineers enhance security along Route 606

Story by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.21.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – One of the most trafficked roads in the country, Route 606, consists of 218 kilometers of paved road and connects Farah, Herat and Chaghcharan provinces, while winding its way into Iran.

Continue reading "Engineers enhance security along Route 606" »

August 17, 2011

Marines develop skills to save lives on battlefield

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 08.17.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and sailors from the Advisor Training Cell provided the Combat Lifesavers course to various units here, Aug. 17.

Continue reading "Marines develop skills to save lives on battlefield" »

August 16, 2011

Marines arrive in Tonga

TONGA, TO - (08.16.2011)
Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini

Approximately 60 Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, arrived in the Kingdom of Tonga for Exercise Tafakula 2011, Aug. 9.

Continue reading "Marines arrive in Tonga" »

August 10, 2011

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit trains at sea

Courtesy Story | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 08.10.2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit started a 12-day exercise with the Navy's Amphibious Squadron Five aboard amphibious ships, working together at sea for the first time since the unit formed a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.

Continue reading "11th Marine Expeditionary Unit trains at sea" »

August 9, 2011

Hudson grad fighting terrorism in Afghanistan

Posted: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 10:57 pm
By GARY BASS/Contributing writer

Fighting against the odds and emerging a winner is something that Sgt. David Sowell of the U.S. Marine Corps has been doing since junior high.

Continue reading "Hudson grad fighting terrorism in Afghanistan" »

August 8, 2011

Super Breed Marines receive Bronze Stars

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 08.08.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Three Marines from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, “the Super Breed,” received the Bronze Star with combat distinguishing device during a ceremony, Aug. 8.

Continue reading "Super Breed Marines receive Bronze Stars" »

August 7, 2011

Marines, Seabees complete road in Helmand province

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 08.07.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), and Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 held a "golden spike" ceremony to celebrate the completion of route red west, in Now Zad District, Helmand province, Aug. 5.

Continue reading "Marines, Seabees complete road in Helmand province" »

'Shaving cream' effort helps save lives in Afghanistan

Low-tech tool is best way to mark location of bombs

By Jeff Gill [email protected]
POSTED: August 7, 2011 12:41 a.m.

Through a common, everyday household item, not a high-tech device with a big Pentagon price tag, area residents can help save military lives in one of Afghanistan's deadliest regions.

Continue reading "'Shaving cream' effort helps save lives in Afghanistan" »

August 5, 2011

Fundraiser will help Marine who lost lower legs in Afghanistan

By NICK VLAHOS
of the Journal Star
Posted Aug 05, 2011

EL PASO —

Rodney Holzhauer has a severe heart problem. "I'm a bomb waiting to explode," the El Paso resident said with a chuckle.

Continue reading "Fundraiser will help Marine who lost lower legs in Afghanistan" »

‘Lessons Learned’ web site aims to educate Marines

Story by Cpl. Khoa Pelczar | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.05.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines are constantly training for upcoming deployments or other contingency operations. But how do they know what training to focus on, or where to begin?

Continue reading "‘Lessons Learned’ web site aims to educate Marines" »

Parents, widow bringing fallen Marine home for burial

August 05, 2011 6:47 AM
By Gina Childress
The Wilson Times

The parents and widow of a fallen Wilson Marine made the trip to Delaware this week to bring their loved one home for burial.

Continue reading "Parents, widow bringing fallen Marine home for burial" »

August 2, 2011

Marine CO: ‘The sky isn’t falling in Sangin’

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 2, 2011 12:16:39 EDT

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. John Farias parked himself in front of a video camera June 2 and fumbled his way through a seven-minute greeting to his family in Texas. A rifleman with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, he discussed the austere living conditions at his patrol base and his craving for sushi.

Continue reading "Marine CO: ‘The sky isn’t falling in Sangin’" »

MEU Marines sight in on 'brilliance in the basics'

8/2/2011 By Cpl. John Robbart III , 15th MEU
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The old adage, ‘every Marine is a rifleman,’ is taken seriously by the Marine Corps, reminding its Marines that regardless of their military occupational specialty, they all are riflemen first.

Continue reading "MEU Marines sight in on 'brilliance in the basics' " »

July 31, 2011

Bonds of brotherhood help 3/4 Marines focus during deployment

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.31.2011

OBSERVATION POST 22, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Thoughts of those left home during a deployment can weigh on a young man’s mind when he enters a combat zone for the first time.

Continue reading "Bonds of brotherhood help 3/4 Marines focus during deployment" »

Camp Pendleton Marines in Afghanistan warned of Taliban threat

July 31, 2011 |
Tony Perry in San Diego

During a surprise visit Saturday with Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton deployed in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned against complacency and said Taliban fighters could be planning increased attacks.

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July 30, 2011

3/4 Marines take, return fire near Gereshk, Afghanistan

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.30.2011

PATROL BASE KAKAR, Helmand province, Afghanistan - In the low lands of Gereshk, Afghanistan, the Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, know they are being watched by the insurgency.

Continue reading "3/4 Marines take, return fire near Gereshk, Afghanistan" »

July 29, 2011

Marine forces in demand: special operations grows into Afghan role

Camp Pendleton battalion plans to fill ranks

Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
10:03 p.m., July 29, 2011

Demand for the unique capabilities of special operations forces after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led to the genesis of the first Marine Corps units. Now, even as the United States winds down two long wars, the worldwide need for the elite troops continues to grow, setting the nascent force of Marine operators at crosscurrents with broader military trends.

Continue reading "Marine forces in demand: special operations grows into Afghan role" »

July 28, 2011

U.S. forces target outskirts of Afghan cities

By Carmen Gentile - Special for USA Today
Posted : Thursday Jul 28, 2011 21:12:37 EDT

UPPER GERESHK VALLEY, Afghanistan — Smoking a cigarette after a long day at a tiny military outpost deep in Taliban territory, Sgt. David Sowell mulled over how many of his fellow Marines had lost limbs in this river valley.

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Corpsman From Kingwood Trains Medic To Save Lives In Afghanistan

2011-07-28
Story & Photos by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly

The Afghan National Army foot patrol came to a halt as a shock wave engulfed the patrol. When the smoke cleared, Sgt. Wahid Zula had absorbed the majority of the blast and lay on the ground bleeding from the injuries he sustained.

Continue reading "Corpsman From Kingwood Trains Medic To Save Lives In Afghanistan" »

New school in Sangin shows progress, brings hope

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.28.2011

SANGIN, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The summer is winding down and the school year is just weeks away in the United States. Children of all ages have nervous butterflies in anticipation of the first day of school, while parents purchase school supplies to prepare their sons and daughters for the coming months.

Continue reading "New school in Sangin shows progress, brings hope" »

July 27, 2011

An American hero: Georgia native loses leg, returns to combat zone

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.27.2011

CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The pouring rain drenched the streets of Ramadi, Iraq, mixing with the rancid stench of backed-up sewage canals. The knee-deep concoction made the night patrol difficult for the Marines, but they had a mission to accomplish.

Continue reading "An American hero: Georgia native loses leg, returns to combat zone" »

July 24, 2011

Female Engagement Team supports 1/5, Afghan soldiers in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.24.2011

PATROL BASE FULOD, Afghanistan – The two service women of Female Engagement Team 15, Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Richeal and Lance Cpl. Chandra Francisco, have been supporting 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and their Afghan partners in their counterinsurgency mission since arriving in Sangin District, Helmand province, in the late spring.

Continue reading "Female Engagement Team supports 1/5, Afghan soldiers in Sangin" »

July 19, 2011

Twentynine Palms Marine killed in Afghanistan: Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero

Marine from Hawaii served with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines in Helmand

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published 3:27 p.m., July 19, 2011, updated 1:31 p.m., July 20, 2011

A Twentynine Palms Marine was fatally wounded in action in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced today.

Continue reading "Twentynine Palms Marine killed in Afghanistan: Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero" »

July 17, 2011

Sangin FET Marines reach out to local women during 1/5 operation

7/17/2011 By Cpl. Katherine Keleher , II MEF (FWD)

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Service women with Female Engagement Team 13, in Sangin District, Helmand province, laced up their boots, filled up their water sources and set out on patrol in support of 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and the Afghan National Army, July 14.

Continue reading "Sangin FET Marines reach out to local women during 1/5 operation" »

Marine is killed in Afghanistan

Cpl. Gurpreet Singh had wanted to be in the military since he was a boy. The immigrant from India hoped to go to college after the service.

By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
July 17, 2011

Quiet and polite, with a penchant for keeping his emotions in check and his clothes clean and pressed, Gurpreet Singh seemed a perfect fit as a retail shoe salesman.

Continue reading "Marine is killed in Afghanistan" »

Valor awards mount up for little-known battle

By Gina Cavallaro and Gidget Fuentes - Staff writers
Posted : Sunday Jul 17, 2011 9:51:52 EDT

GARMSER DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Just a few weeks into a short-notice deployment to southwestern Afghanistan, Capt. Byron Owen and the Marines in his force reconnaissance platoon got an urgent mission: Go to Shewan.

Continue reading "Valor awards mount up for little-known battle" »

July 14, 2011

Afghanistan War Diary: Weapons cache found in Sangin

More than 400 pounds of explosives seized

By Gretel C. Kovach
12:40 p.m., July 14, 2011

There hasn’t been a lot of good news coming out of Sangin lately. After a year of punishing losses among the insurgent ranks, the Taliban finally launched a counteroffensive to retake their former stronghold in the poppy fields of southwestern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Afghanistan War Diary: Weapons cache found in Sangin" »

July 12, 2011

Logan Marine dies in Afghanistan on Sunday

By Steve Fidel, Deseret News
Published: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:20 p.m. MDT

LOGAN — Lance Cpl. Norberto Mendez-Hernandez was living his dream, serving his country as a U.S. Marine.

Continue reading "Logan Marine dies in Afghanistan on Sunday" »

New base takes battle for Sangin north

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.12.2011

PATROL BASE FAHEEM, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Faheem is now one of the northern most company positions in the 1/5 battle space. The patrol base allows the Marines to more effectively secure north of Sangin by engaging fighters farther away from the District Center. The district of Sangin is located roughly 300 miles west of Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan.

Continue reading "New base takes battle for Sangin north" »

100 Firefights, Three Weeks: Inside Afghanistan’s Most Insane Fight

By Mark Moyar Email Author
July 12, 2011 |
7:00 am

Editor’s note: These Marines’ tour was one of the most brutal of the entire war. In its first three weeks in Afghanistan’s Sangin district, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines got into more than 100 firefights, and sustained 62 casualties. The insurgents managed to negate the Marines’ night-vision gear, and rendered their traditional close-combat tactics useless. Things got so bad, the 3/5’s superior officers even suggested pulling their troops back.

That didn’t happen. Instead, the 3/5 went after the militants, hard. They went on the offensive constantly. They leveled booby-trapped compounds without apology. They didn’t bother with school-building until the insurgents were back on their heels. Nor did they mess with the poppy growers; the Marines had more than their fair share of enemies.

When the 3/5 came home, they told counterinsurgency historian Mark Moyar all about their deeply unconventional approach to what was already an unconventional war. An excerpt from Moyar’s 74-page after action report follows.

——

On Oct. 13, the day 3/5 took control of Sangin, the first Marine patrol to leave the wire came under fire 150 feet from the perimeter. One member of this patrol was shot dead. Within the next four days, another eight Marines died.

Continue reading "100 Firefights, Three Weeks: Inside Afghanistan’s Most Insane Fight" »

July 10, 2011

Belated honors for Marines in fierce battle

By Jeanette Steele
6 p.m., July 10, 2011

Ambushed and outmanned, a 30-member Marine platoon fought back and before the long day was over, almost half had earned major military medals for valor — perhaps a measure of just how fierce the 2008 Battle of Shewan was.

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July 8, 2011

Marine general says U.S. succeeding in Afghanistan but gains not yet 'irreversible'

-- Tony Perry in San Diego
July 8, 2011

The top Marine in Afghanistan says the Marines from Camp Pendleton and other bases, along with troops from coalition nations, are successfully thwarting a Taliban counter-offensive in Helmand province and also training Afghan forces to ultimately take responsibility for protecting the province.

Continue reading "Marine general says U.S. succeeding in Afghanistan but gains not yet 'irreversible'" »

July 7, 2011

3/7 and 2/5 complete scout sniper team leaders course

Story by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 07.07.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, engage multiple threats during a scout sniper team leaders course here, July 7.

Continue reading "3/7 and 2/5 complete scout sniper team leaders course" »

July 6, 2011

Marines from Twentynine Palms to be among first to leave Afghanistan

-- Tony Perry in San Diego
July 6, 2011

A battalion of Marines from Twentynine Palms will be among the first units to leave Afghanistan under the drawdown ordered by President Obama, a top general told reporters today.

Continue reading "Marines from Twentynine Palms to be among first to leave Afghanistan" »

3/4 eyed as part of Afghanistan drawdown

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 6, 2011 14:31:24 EDT

A Marine infantry battalion out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., will leave Afghanistan before the end of the year as part of the early phases of a U.S. drawdown in the war-torn country.

Continue reading "3/4 eyed as part of Afghanistan drawdown" »

Body Of New Braunfels Marine Returned Home

Hundreds Gather At Airport For Arrival Of Body

Katrina Webber, KSAT 12 News Reporter
POSTED: Wednesday, July 6, 2011

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas -- Hundreds of people gathered at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport Wednesday morning for the arrival of the body of a U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan last week.

Continue reading "Body Of New Braunfels Marine Returned Home" »

July 4, 2011

Marine sergeant receives Silver Star for bravery in Afghanistan firefight

-- Tony Perry in San Diego
July 4, 2011

When the Pentagon decided in 2008 it was time to send the Marines back to Afghanistan, one of the first battalions to deploy was the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, from Twentynine Palms.

Continue reading "Marine sergeant receives Silver Star for bravery in Afghanistan firefight" »

July 3, 2011

Marine Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, Poway; killed in Afghan firefight

He knew early on that he wanted to be a Marine. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather also were Marines. And his older brother is a Marine sniper who was about a dozen miles away when he died.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times

July 3, 2011
Jason Hill was from a Marine Corps family.

His father, grandfather and great-grandfather served in the Marines. Early on, Hill knew he wanted to be a Marine but some youthful misbehavior and a casual attitude toward high school gave the Marines pause about allowing him to enlist.

Continue reading "Marine Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, Poway; killed in Afghan firefight" »

U.S. Marine from Mobile who lost legs in Afghanistan determined to walk

Published: Sunday, July 03, 2011, 6:11 AM Updated: Sunday, July 03, 2011, 7:37 AM
By Roy Hoffman, Press-Register

At Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Christopher Montgomery, a U.S. Marine corporal from Mobile, is learning to walk on artificial limbs.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine from Mobile who lost legs in Afghanistan determined to walk" »

July 2, 2011

Marine Runs for Unit in Afghanistan

By LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent
Published: 7/2/2011 4:49 PM
Last Modified: 7/3/2011 2:02 PM

BARTLESVILLE — Marine Lance Corp. William Ely pounded the pavement Saturday on a 20-mile run down U.S. 75 to raise awareness and support for the Marine 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment serving in Afghanistan.

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June 30, 2011

Marine's last words to family from Afghanistan: 'I'll see you soon'

By Chelsea J. Carter, CNN
June 30, 2011 3:10 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- The home video from Marine Lance Cpl. John F. Farias held little back from his parents about the dangers of fighting in Afghanistan, about how the experience was changing him and about how much he missed his family.

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June 27, 2011

Family, city prepare to honor fallen Visalia Marine

Written by
ERIC WOOMER
11:00 PM, Jun. 27, 2011

Eighteen-month-old Jacob Verbeek doesn't know why hundreds of American flags line his Visalia neighborhood, but when his small hand grasped the wooden stick holding an American flag Monday, it's clear he'll have many memories of his father.

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June 25, 2011

Fallen Marine's family reaches out to Hendersonville Marine

By Mark Schulman
Times-News Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 24, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.

The family of a fallen Marine from Stanley has stepped up to help a Marine from Hendersonville who was severely injured in an IED attack in Afghanistan earlier this month.

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June 22, 2011

Ballistic Underwear Make Their Way to Marines in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.22.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Once you get past the humor of “ballistic underwear,” the threat it helps mitigate is real and the protection is necessary.

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June 21, 2011

Camp Pendelton Marines insert, clear Ghughori Baba

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.21.2011

PATROL BASE FIRES, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -- Six CH-53E Super Stallions chopped through the early morning air, June 5. Moving swiftly under the cover of darkness, they transported their passengers to an uncertain objective where Marines have rarely gone before.

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June 20, 2011

2/4 Corner: Meet Lt. Col. Bill Vivian

Jun 20, 2011

The 2/4 Corner is a weekly series for the SC Times on the Marines and Navy Corpsmen who make up the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. The profiles are compiled by 2/4's Family Readiness Officer Dan Liesik.The 2/4 is one of San Clemente's two adopted squadrons.

Name: Bill Vivian

Rank: Lieutenant colonel

Length of Service: 24 years

Number of Deployments: Seven

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June 17, 2011

'Sean has come home'

Posted: Friday, June 17, 2011 5:53 pm | Updated: 7:25 pm, Fri Jun 17, 2011.
Collin McRann

A mournful silence filled the air as the jet carrying Lance Cpl. Sean O’Connor arrived at Converse County Airport Friday afternoon.

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Chicago Native and Truck Company Keeps 1/5 Rolling in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.17.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Cpl. Rene Sotelo, the loadmaster for 2nd Platoon, Truck Company B, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, spends anywhere from six to eight hours preparing the trucks before each convoy. Eight stops later the Chicago native and his fellow motor transportation operators return to Forward Operating Base Nolay after driving through the night resupplying 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Sangin, Afghanistan.

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Lucky charms and bullet holes in Afghan helicopter

By ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS
Associated Press
Jun 17, 6:19 AM EDT

ABOARD A BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN (AP) - The Army medics had just dropped off a Marine wounded in a bombing when one reached over and handed me a scribbled note inside the noisy U.S. helicopter.

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June 15, 2011

Simi Marine teams with Afghan counterparts

Partnership cited in success of operation

* By Cpl. Benjamin Crilly, Special to The Star
* Ventura County Star
* Posted June 15, 2011 at 4:33 p.m.

SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Afghan National Army soldiers conducted Operation Zapoonki Guzaroona in partnership with the Marines of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Sangin, Afghanistan, last month.

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June 14, 2011

'The Day Remembered': Wounded Marines reflect on life after Afghanistan

Commemorative DVD raises funds for Camp Pendleton troops

By Gretel C. Kovach
4:45 p.m., June 14, 2011

Amber McLoud was shopping in Walmart when she got the call. A gunnery sergeant wanted to inform her of some “really bad news” about her husband, an infantry Marine deployed to Afghanistan.

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Wyoming Marine dies in Afghanistan

By WILLIAM BROWNING Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:00 am |

A young Sean O’Connor had been talking about joining the armed forces. When he decided on the U.S. Marine Corps, he told his father.

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Afghan Army Improves Defenses in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.14.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -- Afghan National Army leadership have been improving their base defenses and their skill level with the help of Marine advisor teams in Sangin.

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June 13, 2011

Poway Marine killed in action in Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill died with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment

By Gretel C. Kovach and Hailey Persinger
Originally published 2:40 p.m., June 13, 2011, updated 7:06 p.m., June 13, 2011

A Marine from Poway was killed in action in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday. Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, died Saturday in combat with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

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Communications Marines train before pre-deployment exercises

Story by Lance Cpl. John Robbart III | 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.13.2011

SAN DIEGO -- Marines are known to always strive for excellence and to do that requires constant training even in their off-time

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MEU exercise brings SoCal forces together

Story by Capt. Roger Hollenbeck | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.13.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began a large-scale, two-week training exercise here June 13 – a first since the Marine air-ground task force formed in May.

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June 12, 2011

Brother, home from Afghanistan, tearfully reunites with sister at graduation ceremony

By Linda Goldston
[email protected]
Posted: 06/11/2011 08:49:56 PM PDT
Updated: 06/12/2011 01:14:55 PM PDT

There was only one thing missing when Jessica Freedman walked to the stage at her graduation ceremony at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on Saturday afternoon -- her brother, Eric.

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June 10, 2011

Family, friends mourn the loss of Miamisburg Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Tom Beyerlein and Kelli Wynn, Staff Writers Updated 9:42 AM Friday, June 10, 2011

MIAMISBURG — Friends and neighbors of a decorated Marine killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan poured out memories and grief on social websites devoted to the 2006 Miamisburg High School graduate.

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NROTC students get a taste of Marine life

Story by Sgt. Marcy Sanchez | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 06.10.2011

Nearly 400 Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps students from universities across the country are visiting Camp Pendleton this month to participate in the annual Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen program.

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June 9, 2011

Marines support Habitat for Humanity

Story by Cpl. Michele Watson | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 06.09.2011

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - The Marine Corps participates in humanitarian efforts across the globe, from the earthquake in Haiti to the typhoon in Japan. Here at home, some Marines take the time to volunteer in the local community and help make a difference in someone else’s life.

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June 7, 2011

Twentynine Palms Marine killed in Afghanistan

Cpl. Paul W. Zanowick II served with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment

By Kevin Acee
9:31 a.m., June 7, 2011

A Twentynine Palms Marine was killed in action in Afghanistan, the Corps announced. Cpl. Paul W. Zanowick II, 23, of Miamisburg, Ohio, died June 3 in Helmand province, a stronghold of the Taliban insurgency.

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June 6, 2011

Ground-Breaking Ceremony Instills Hope for Growth in Marjah

6/6/2011 By Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano , II MEF (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — As much as 85 percent of Afghanistan’s economic activity is made up of agricultural enterprises in the Helmand and Nimroz provinces. This impressive economic stature makes these areas attractive opportunities for coalition forces to develop and promote independent agricultural growth.

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June 5, 2011

Marines have the right stuff to play hardball with Taliban

Wesley G. Hughes, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/05/2011 09:26:44 PM PDT

The Marines at the Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms have proved once again that they can do the job.

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VA trauma center treats most grievously wounded troops

The Palo Alto facility is among four nationwide in which physicians and therapists take a team approach to care for those who have suffered amputations and other catastrophic injuries, many from bomb blasts.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
June 5, 2011

Reporting from Palo Alto—
Marine Lance Cpl. Jorge Ortiz is in pain.

A combat photographer, Ortiz was taking pictures of a captured weapons cache in Sangin, Afghanistan, on Jan. 15 when he stepped on a buried explosive device.

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Camp Pendleton Marine to claim motorycycle, ride in fallen friend's honor

Lance Cpl. Clancy Cheek got the keys during Afghanistan tour

By Gretel C. Kovach
6 a.m., June 5, 2011

Cpl. Clancy Cheek is finally getting his new motorcycle, the one he plans to ride in honor of his best friend killed in action in Afghanistan. The Camp Pendleton Marine was serving a brutal tour with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Sangin, Afghanistan when the commandant of the Marine Corps handed him the keys on Christmas Day.

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June 3, 2011

Marine from San Clemente selected for posthumous Navy Cross for heroism in Afghanistan

June 3, 2011 | 11:35 am

A Marine lance corporal from San Clemente who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 while saving fellow Marines from a buried roadside bomb has been selected for the Navy Cross.

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‘War Dogs’ arrive to join 31st MEU

6/3/2011 By Capt. Caleb D. Eames , 31st MEU

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — The ‘War Dogs’ of Twentynine Palms, Calif., have begun arriving here to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new battalion landing team, with the first flight landing June 3.

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June 2, 2011

Groundbreaking ceremony instills hope for growth in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.03.2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan - As much as 85 percent of Afghanistan’s economic activity is made up of agricultural enterprises in the Helmand and Nimroz provinces. This impressive economic stature makes these areas attractive opportunities for coalition forces to develop and promote independent agricultural growth.

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Marines drive 1,000 miles to Cashion to aide tornado cleanup

Cashion resident Pfc. Dustin Buckner and two Marines left Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Friday for Cashion to help with tornado cleanup.

BY BRYAN DEAN [email protected] Oklahoman Comment on this article 0
Published: June 2, 2011

U.S. Marine Pfc. Dustin Buckner watched in disbelief as national news broadcasts showed the devastation from a tornado that hit his hometown of Cashion last week.

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June 1, 2011

Marine, Canine Make a Good Team

By Marine Corp Cpl. Jenn Calaway
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Public Affairs

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., June 1, 2011 – Two Marine Corps members, one somewhat hairy for a Marine, work together to make this military base safe for its workers and residents.

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Abbot Marine serving in Afghanistan misses what Mainers take for granted: grass

By Diana Bowley, BDN Staff
Posted June 01, 2011, at 11:16 a.m.

ABBOT, Maine — An Abbot man serving his first tour of duty in Afghanistan says he longs for his family but he also misses something most Mainers take for granted during the summer months: grass.

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Medford Marine dedicates flag to school, first grade class

By Nell Escobar Coakley/[email protected]
Posted Jun 01, 2011 @ 12:00 PM

Medford —

It was supposed to be a small ceremony: a Marine, first graders and a flagpole. Instead, the McGlynn school community came out in force last week to meet one Medford solider who brought a special gift with him all the way from the Middle East.

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Ordnance technicians ensure warheads hit foreheads

Story by Lance Cpl. Charles Clark | Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni | Date: 06.01.2011

IWAKUNI, Japan - A Marine walks out from under the F/A-18 Hornet wing and looks up at the sky. He sees a mix of light and dark gray.

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May 27, 2011

Combat veterans show their support for future service members

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 05.27.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - When you join the Marine Corps you’re not only joining for a four-year enlistment—you’re joining for a lifetime.

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Company C, 1/5 Gets to Know Citizens of Sangin

Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division
Story by 1st Lt. Timothy Irish
Date: 05.22.2011
Date Posted: 05.27.2011 07:00

PATROL BASE BARIOLAI, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Counterinsurgency at the squad level is an exhausting task.

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May 24, 2011

Ferocity in the face of the enemy: 1st Sgt. Rice

Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | 1st Marine Logistics Group | Date: 05.24.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A Marine with Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device here, May 24, for his heroic actions in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

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Stories of our brave Marines teach us what it means to be truly selfless

By Gen. James F. Amos - 05/24/11 06:45 PM ET

On a typically beautiful Southern California day in March of this year, First Lieutenant Cameron West of 3rd Platoon, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment rolled his wheelchair up to the podium in front of a crowd gathered for his battalion’s family readiness meeting. With a determined look, he deliberately halted the wheelchair several feet from the podium, stood on his one leg and hopped confidently to the microphone. West gave the crowd a wry grin and, in his characteristic good humor, introduced himself, “You Marines on the left side of the room can call me Lieutenant West and all you beautiful ladies and people on the right can call me Cam. I live in Oceanside and I’m open for visits,” he said.

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Angels honor local Marine's sacrifice in Afghanistan

11:00 PM, May. 24, 2011

As Marine sergeant Micah Crooks walked with a slight limp to to the pitcher's mound at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the Alexandria native was introduced to some 43,000 fans settling in to watch the Los Angeles Angels host the Atlanta Braves Saturday night.

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New training puts distance between HQ and units

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday May 24, 2011 6:53:41 EDT

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Ten weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, six CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters were launched from the amphibious assault ship Peleliu and traveled nearly 400 miles from the North Arabian Sea before touching down in Afghanistan.

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May 19, 2011

Afghans trust ISAF with their children

Story by 1st Lt. Timothy Irish | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.19.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Nimroz province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - A 3-year-old Afghan boy and a 14-year-old girl were treated and medically evacuated from the district of Sangin by coalition forces Tuesday.

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May 17, 2011

Joint engineering effort builds bridges between US Army, Marines

5/17/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan — In early February, Marines from the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion found themselves in a difficult predicament with a vehicle stuck in the rising waters of Afghanistan’s Helmand River.

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May 16, 2011

From Marblehead to Afghanistan - And Back

Marblehead resident Anthony DiGiammarino sits down for a conversation about life as a marine in Afghanistan, and what it means to him to come home.

By Michelle Phillips | 5:46am
May 16, 2011

Last weekend, I had the privileged opportunity to sit down with Lance Corporal Anthony DiGiammarino of the 3rd Battalion 5th Regiment of the United States Marine Corps for a conversation about his time in Afghanistan.

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Richmond, Spring Grove come out to welcome home three Marines

By BRETT ROWLAND - [email protected]
Created: Monday, May 16, 2011 5:30 a.m. CDT

SPRING GROVE – Three Marines returning from Afghanistan received a hero’s welcome Sunday.

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May 15, 2011

Darkhorse battalion gets additional support

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 15, 2011 8:17:09 EDT

SAN DIEGO — The men of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, returned home in mid-April to joyous reunions with families and friends — and under the close watch of medical and mental health experts.

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May 14, 2011

ANA Leads Marines on Sangin Patrol

Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.14.2011

PATROL BASE FULOD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Afghan National Army soldiers from the 2nd Tolay, 2nd Kandak, led a presence patrol through Sangin, Afghanistan, May 11.

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May 13, 2011

Hospital corpsmen continue to form close bonds with Marines

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 05.13.2011

It’s the job of Navy hospital corpsmen to provide healthcare to those who serve. Through that job, especially during times of combat, their role allows them to create unique and special bonds between the Marines and sailors they look after.

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Commercial launches next phase in battle against drug abuse

Courtesy Story | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 05.13.2011

The commercial, currently being broadcast on the American Forces Network, is the next phase in the “Not in My Corps” campaign against Spice, led by Brig. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general of 1st MAW.

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May 12, 2011

The Warrior’s Song: Community welcomes, remembers Native American Marine

Story by Cpl. Jad Sleiman | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 05.12.2011

YAKIMA, Wash. – Past sprawling orchards, rusting automobiles and tangles of graffiti is the Yakama Nation Native American community of White Swan. It was here that Lance Cpl. Joe Jackson, surrounded by drugs, gangs and poverty, beat the odds.

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May 9, 2011

Antioch honors wounded Marine, but he denies he's a hero

Article updated: 5/9/2011 10:33 PM
By Russell Lissau

Marine Cpl. John Peck doesn't remember who told him he lost his limbs after stepping on an explosive device in Afghanistan nearly a year ago.

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May 7, 2011

Thundering 3/4 Builds Rapport on Patrols

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.07.2011

PATROL BASE SHARK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The ranger file stretches across the farmlands. Marines stay vigilant, but take time to talk and get to know the local populace in the area.

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May 3, 2011

Hawaii helos support coalition combat operation

5/3/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 participated in a coalition troop insertion and extraction operation, in southwestern Afghanistan, April 27.

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Anti-Armor Rolls, Patrols Through Helmand Province

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.03.2011

PATROL BASE SHARK , Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The team wasted no time getting to work. They’ve been rolling and patrolling through the unit’s area of operations providing fire support and delivering supplies.

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Re-supply Team Gone ‘Eagle Eye’ Team

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.03.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -- They stand watch atop the high hills of Afghanistan, with fields of farm lands covering the area for miles. The local residents work peacefully under the guardian eyes of the Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

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Oklahoma Marine Serves as Role Model for Squad

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.03.2011

PATROL BASE SHARK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – He who leads Marines into battle must be able to inspire them to work toward a common goal or mission through the best and worst of times.

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May 2, 2011

Unit takes form, begins deployment cycle

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 05.02.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began its deployment cycle here May 2 by assuming operational control of the elements that make it a complete Marine air-ground task force.

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Gettin' Dirty with Company D Tankers

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.02.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The brown beads of sweat stream down their faces as they work on the largest mobile ground weapon in the Marine Corps. These Marines have no problem living up to Company D’s alias: “Dirty Delta.”

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Marines: 'It Doesn't End The War For Us'

by Claire O'Neill
01:30 pm
May 2, 2011

The news of Osama bin Laden's killing was met with cautious excitement by many men from Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marines in Helmand River Valley — allegedly one of the most dangerous regions of Afghanistan.

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April 30, 2011

Tears are mixed with pride at Camp Pendleton memorial for fallen Marines

Tribute is paid to 25 'Dark Horse' troops who died and more than 200 others who were wounded while routing the Taliban from the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
April 30, 2011

Reporting from Camp Pendleton -- It was a gathering of the wounded in body and the wounded in spirit as hundreds of family members and friends joined a thousand Marines at a memorial service for the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, just back from Afghanistan.

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April 29, 2011

Portland Marine engages enemy, leads team to safety

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.29.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – For much of their deployment, Marines of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion have found an insurgent force which was reluctant to fight them toe to toe. Rather, the enemy has relied more on improvised explosive devices and indirect fire.

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‘Darkhorse’ Marines honor fallen brothers

Camp Pendleton ceremony pays tribute to 25 men killed in Sangin

By Gretel C. Kovach
Friday, April 29, 2011 at 7 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON — One by one, the Marines approached the podium to speak about their brothers-in-arms killed in Sangin, Afghanistan. Each of the 25 men who died with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during the tour that ended this month was honored Friday at Camp Pendleton by a Marine who knew him best.

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April 28, 2011

The story of Sangin, in their own words

By Gretel C. Kovach
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 8 p.m.

The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment gathers today at Camp Pendleton with family and military dignitaries to honor the fallen from their ranks in Sangin, Afghanistan.

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April 26, 2011

Family Remembers Fallen Marine from White Swan

By David Mance. Published Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

The family of a Marine from White Swan who was killed in Afghanistan over the weekend says he died doing what he wanted to do. And that was protecting his country. Now, more about Lance Corporal Joe Jackson and how much he will be missed.

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MEUs add time to at-sea training

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 26, 2011 10:17:20 EDT

SAN DIEGO — West Coast Marines and sailors will get more time training aboard amphibious ships under a new plan to build their “sea legs” and sharpen their capabilities, officials said.

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April 23, 2011

Marines turn the tide in the ‘Fallujah of Afghanistan’

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 8 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — It would be hard to forget that face, even if they hadn’t seen it just the day before.

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Lava Dogs bring Aloha to Afghanistan

Courtesy Story | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 04.23.2011

GARMSER DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — The 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment arrived here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom April 18 – 23. The Lava Dogs will be assuming responsibility of the Garmser District from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which is scheduled to return to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., in May.

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3/4 Relieves BLT 3/8 in Helmand Province

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 04.20.2011
Date Posted:04.23.2011 02:04

COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (April 20, 2011) – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, have relieved Battalion Landing Team 3/8 in place this week. BLT 3/8 detached from the deployed 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in January to establish and maintain security in portions of Helmand province.

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3/4 Marines replace BLT 3/8 in Afghanistan

April 23rd, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry MEU operations Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe

Happy Saturday, everyone. Battle Rattle is typically pretty quiet on the weekend, but a news release just came through this morning that I didn’t want to leave until Monday.

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April 22, 2011

1st MarDiv welcomes new sergeant major, bids farewell to next SMMC

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.22.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – First Marine Division bid farewell to the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps, and welcomed its new senior enlisted leader during a post and relief ceremony here April 22.

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CLB-11 gets rolling with HEAT training

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 04.22.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “Roll over! Roll over! Roll over!” the Marines screamed as they were tossed around inside the vehicle.

Continue reading "CLB-11 gets rolling with HEAT training" »

Operation Rawhide II disrupts insurgent communication, supply lines

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – Southern Helmand province used to be a safe haven and stronghold for the insurgency in Afghanistan where the enemy could establish lines of communication and traffic drugs and weapons.

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Corpsmen step up for 3rd LAR

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – Marines from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion encountered multiple improvised explosive devices in Sangin District Jan. 19. Petty Officer 3rd Class Rogelio Saldana, combat corpsmen for E Company, 3rd LAR, and native of El Paso, Texas, immediately assessed a Marine who complained of severe back pain after an IED blast. He was later evacuated to safety.

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April 20, 2011

3/4 Relieves BLT 3/8 in Helmand Province

4/20/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper , 26th MEU

COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, have relieved Battalion Landing Team 3/8 in place this week. BLT 3/8 detached from the deployed 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in January to establish and maintain security in portions of Helmand province.

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Wake Island Avengers take on Japan: VMA-211 arrives for UDP

Story by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Pirante | Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni | Date: 04.20.2011

IWAKUNI, Japan - Marine Aircraft Group 12 welcomed Marine-Attack Squadron 211 into its hangars here April 6 as the squadron nears the end of its Western Pacific deployment.

Continue reading "Wake Island Avengers take on Japan: VMA-211 arrives for UDP" »

Wounded platoon leader greets men who saved his life after Afghanistan blast

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 8:55 pm

Wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan just two weeks into his first combat assignment, Lt. Cameron West has waited for months to see the men who helped save his life after the explosion tore off his right leg.

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Fire and Forget: Lance corporal’s leadership stems from hard work, discipline

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.20.2011

PATROL BASE WOLFPACK, Afghanistan – ‘Fire and forget’ in military jargon refers to a weapon that doesn’t require further guidance to reach the intended target after launch.

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April 19, 2011

Tankers Take on Route Clearance

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.19.2011

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan -- Tank crewmen with Company B, 1st Tank Battalion, had to learn another set of skills recently to succeed during their seven-month tour in Afghanistan.

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Erie Company reflects on successful deployment

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.19.2011

PATROL BASE WOLFPACK, Afghanistan - Alone in the middle of the desert, Afghanistan winds pound Marines of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion’s Erie Company with its dust and sand. But not even the scorching heat or evening rain can bring down morale as the company’s troops approach the end of the unit’s inaugural deployment.

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April 17, 2011

Marines walk the same path

By Joseph Morton
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Published Sunday April 17, 2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — A discarded blue plastic bottle cap on the ground.

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April 15, 2011

Marines Battalion Mentally Upbeat, Despite Record Deaths

1 in 5 Combat Veterans Get Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, But Training, Unit Cohesion Can Foster Resilience

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES
April 15, 2011

The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment returned home from one of Afghanistan's deadliest war zones this week after a grueling eight-month deployment with record casualties. Remarkably, military psychiatrists say the men appear to be relatively unscathed mentally.

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April 14, 2011

MALS-12 receives new machines to arm station with greater capabilities

Story by Cpl. Claudio Martinez | Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni | Date: 04.14.2011

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 machinists received two pieces of machinery last month that have improved the squadron’s productivity and the station’s readiness to support regular operations here and throughout Japan.

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31st MEU back in Okinawa after Cobra Gold, MAREX, Operation Tomodachi

4/14/2011 By Cpl. Michael A. Bianco , 31st MEU

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, OKINAWA, Japan — The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Okinawa after its nearly three-month deployment of the Asia-Pacific Region, April 12.

Continue reading "31st MEU back in Okinawa after Cobra Gold, MAREX, Operation Tomodachi" »

April 13, 2011

Welcome home, 3/5 Marines and sailors

Story by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.11.2011
Date Posted:04.13.2011 09:41

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, were welcomed home by their family and friends at the 62 Area parade deck, April 11.

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April 12, 2011

Camp Pendleton's 3/5 Finally Home

NBC San Diego
By Katia Lopez-Hodoyan
04.12.2011

Any Marine or sailor who has seen combat has stories to tell but few have seen action in recent years like the troops from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

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April 11, 2011

Marines from the Dark Horse battalion return home to Camp Pendleton

LA Times
April 11, 2011 | 10:40 pm

Exhausted yet exhilarated, Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, returned Monday night to Camp Pendleton after seven months of combat, death and survival in Afghanistan.

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April 9, 2011

Marines stick together, even after battle

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 6 p.m.

With his family at his bedside, there was no reason for the phone in Cpl. Marcus Chischilly’s hospital room to ring. Then one day it did.

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April 8, 2011

3/4 Marines deploy to Helmand, re-join fight

4/8/2011 By Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Family and friends gathered to bid farewell to the Marines and sailors of Company L, Headquarters and Services Company and attachments of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, who left on their seventh consecutive combat deployment April 6, 2011.

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April 7, 2011

Marines lend a hand in Japan

Camp Pendleton-based troops push through piles of rubble to retrieve disaster victims’ family heirlooms

By Jeanette Steele
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 9:09 p.m.

The Marines taught Cpl. Adam Shatarsky to use his field shovel to dig fighting holes.

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31st MEU conducts Operation “Field Day”

4/7/2011 By Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch , 31st MEU

URANOHAMA PORT, OSHIMA ISLAND, Japan — More than 300 Marines and sailors with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, worked through rain, snow, and freezing temperatures cleaning Oshima Island during Operation “Field Day”, April 1-6.

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April 6, 2011

7th ESB Marines, sailors deploy with CLB-7

By JOSHUA SUDOCK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]
Published: April 6, 2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and sailors with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group said their extended goodbyes to friends and family members as they boarded the bus here to begin their journey to Afghanistan, March 30.

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Pendleton Marines wield explosive new weapon system

By JOSHUA SUDOCK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]
Published: April 6, 2011
Updated: April 7, 2011 3:08 p.m

Marines of Battery K, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, perform a fire mission with the M327 120mm Expeditionary Fire Support System during a live-fire exercise, March 28.

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U.S. troops in Afghanistan suffer more catastrophic injuries

Study shows 2010 saw at least 171 troops suffer battlefield injuries resulting in amputations; 65 of them lost two limbs or more.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
April 6, 2011

Reporting from Landstuhl, Germany, and Helmand— Grim combat statistics that one military doctor called "unbelievable" show U.S. troops in Afghanistan suffered an unprecedented number of catastrophic injuries last year, including a tripling of amputations of more than one limb.

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April 4, 2011

Marjah district governor meets with female elected officials, Marines

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.03.2011
Date Posted:04.04.2011 00:55

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The district governor of Marjah, Abdul Mutalib, met with three female members of Helmand’s Provincial Council and a member of the Department of Women’s Affairs, April 2, to discuss ways local government can help the women of Marjah.

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April 2, 2011

PMO: keeping the ‘mean streets’ of Camp Leatherneck safe

Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.02.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – “Someone’s got to protect the mean streets of Leatherneck.”

Continue reading "PMO: keeping the ‘mean streets’ of Camp Leatherneck safe" »

April 1, 2011

Camp Pendleton gate incident prompted alarm

Base officials say weekend scare was investigated; they concluded no threat exists

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Friday, April 1, 2011 8:45 pm

Camp Pendleton and national security authorities scrambled last weekend after two vehicles with Middle Eastern occupants drove onto the base shortly after a Marine reported overhearing terrorist threats from a group of men at a nearby gas station.

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Families pull through deployment with help from support programs

Story by Sgt. Marcy Sanchez | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 04.01.2011

Many families who have coped with deployments can vouch for the fact that kids sometimes struggle to deal with the absence of their father or mother.

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1st ANGLICO Marines prepare to converse with ANA

Story by Sgt. Marcy Sanchez | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 04.01.2011

Marines with Assault Charlie, 2nd Brigade Platoon, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, are learning Dari as part of a six-week long pre-deployment training evolution that concludes April 14.

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March 31, 2011

Marine killed in chopper crash remembered by family and friends

Reported by: Andrew Pereira
Published: 3/31 6:37 pm

KANEOHE - The U.S. Marine killed Tuesday night when a CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter performed an emergency landing and crashed in the middle of Kaneohe Bay is being remembered as a playful teen that grew into a man in the military.

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Chicago-area Marines offer help to Afghan girl

Thursday, March 31, 2011
Paul Meincke

March 31, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A group of Marines, including several from the Chicago area, are reaching out to help a 10-year-old girl who has been wounded and scarred by the war in Afghanistan.

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Dry Run or Wrong Turn? 3 Mid-East Men Try to Enter Calif. Marine Base After Allegedly Making Terror Threats

Posted on March 31, 2011

Was it just a wrong turn, or something more sinister?

Continue reading "Dry Run or Wrong Turn? 3 Mid-East Men Try to Enter Calif. Marine Base After Allegedly Making Terror Threats" »

March 30, 2011

Valley fights Marines' expansion plans

By Courtney Vaughn
Hi-Desert Star
Published: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 2:54 AM CDT

JOHNSON VALLEY — As the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center explores a 379,000-acre expansion, residents in the Johnson Valley area are voicing their disapproval of the project.

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March 29, 2011

Marines make friends while dodging bombs in Sangin

Camp Pendleton unit draws tough assignment in war-torn province

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 6 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — After a breakfast of packaged rations and chemically heated “nail polish ham,” the Marines gather outside their hooch to pull on flak jackets and check their gear.

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General: Military taking precautions to protect troops from radiation

By Seth Robson
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 29, 2011

TOKYO, Japan — The U.S. military constantly is monitoring radiation levels in Sendai to ensure its troops are not receiving dangerous doses of radiation from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the commander of the American military effort said Monday night.

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March 28, 2011

ABV Platoon Paves Way for 3rd LAR During Operation Rawhide

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.28.2011

BAHRAM CHAH, Afghanistan – In the early morning hours of March 14, elements from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion pushed into Bahram Chah, clearing a path for 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and began a three-day operation known as Rawhide.

Continue reading "ABV Platoon Paves Way for 3rd LAR During Operation Rawhide" »

High Maintenance Vehicles Run by High Performance Marines

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.28.2011

BAHRAM CHAH, Afghanistan - Adapting and overcoming obstacles is something every Marine faces at some point during his service, but the Assault Breacher Vehicle platoon, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, does this on a regular basis.

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War widow blogs the next chapter of her life

By Megan McCloskey
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 28, 2011

Late that night, after the notification officer had picked her up from her knees and carried her into the house, the young newlywed wrote on her blog what she couldn’t yet convince herself was true.

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HMM 262 receives Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award

3/28/2011 By Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch , 31st MEU

USS ESSEX AT SEA — Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, received the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for excellence in safety throughout fiscal year 2010.

Continue reading "HMM 262 receives Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award" »

March 27, 2011

HMM-265 Marines deliver relief supplies to areas inaccessible by road

Story by Cpl. Brandon Saunders | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 03.27.2011

ATSUGI, Japan – Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 continue to support flight missions during Operation Tomodachi transporting supplies to location inaccessible by road.

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Marines from Camp Pendleton relinquish command of key Afghan territory

A ceremony marks the turnover of responsibility for Helmand province to a force from Camp Lejeune, N.C. Since March 1, 2010, 61 Pendleton Marines have died in Helmand.

By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 27, 2011

Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan—
Amid praise for a job well done, the Marines from Camp Pendleton on Saturday formally relinquished responsibility for leading the fight against the Taliban in the insurgency's longtime Afghanistan stronghold of Helmand province.

Continue reading "Marines from Camp Pendleton relinquish command of key Afghan territory" »

March 26, 2011

Troop surge brings progress to war-torn Afghan province

Camp Pendleton Marine general ends year in command

By Gretel C. Kovach • U-T
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 7:26 p.m.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The first time that Maj. Gen. Richard Mills visited Marjah, the rural patchwork of canals and poppy fields was a shooting gallery.

Continue reading "Troop surge brings progress to war-torn Afghan province" »

Marine commander: Afghan border to be secured

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 26, 2011 8:59:34 EDT

The top Marine commander in Afghanistan for the last year said his forces are bracing for more insurgent attacks this spring, but are prepared for them and already have degraded the Taliban’s ability to wage war in Helmand province.

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II MEF takes the helm of Regional Command Southwest

Story by Master Sgt. Brian Jones | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.26.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), assumed command of Regional Command Southwest in a ceremony here, March 26.

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March 25, 2011

Garden brings ancient history to life

Courtesy Story | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 03.25.2011

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Members of the Combat Center’s Archeology and Paleontology Curration Center built and planted a historical garden right outside its facilities with the help of volunteers.

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Camp Pendleton's 3/5 to Return Home

By ALICIA DEAN and R. STICKNEY
Updated 8:52 AM PDT, Fri, Mar 25, 2011

The unit of Camp Pendleton-based U.S. Marines that has seen the most casualties than any other Marine Corps unit in Afghanistan is headed home.

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Marine General Recalls His Whitman Roots

About to return from Afghanistan, Mills speaks with optimism about younger generation.

By Pam Robinson
March 25, 2011

The 1968 graduate of Walt Whitman High School couldn't make it back to his hometown last fall for his induction into the South Huntington Hall of Fame.

Continue reading "Marine General Recalls His Whitman Roots" »

March 24, 2011

I MEF (FWD) begins trek home after historic deployment

Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.24.2011

Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) are returning home from a year-long deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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MWCS-18, HMM-265 support relief efforts

Courtesy Story | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 03.24.2011

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan - Marines assigned to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force provided much-needed support to Marines and sailors, as well as Japanese counterparts in Sendai March 23.

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Marines conduct aerial resupply

Story by Staff Sgt. Theresa Seng | 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 03.24.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Coalition forces with Marine Air Delivery Platoon, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) sent off nearly 57,000 pounds of supplies to Marines on the front lines March 22 aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft.

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March 23, 2011

Injured girl helps Marines show compassionate side

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:27 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — The Afghan girl and her family met with the Marines in an empty concrete building strewn with trash, where the Americans could set their guns against the wall and remove their helmets.

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Afghanistan war diary: the girls of Sangin

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 5:27 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Many Marines stationed in Sangin have a soft spot for the little girls who scamper after them on patrol. Knowing there is no chance that these bright-eyed little lasses will join the insurgency after they are grown and shoot at them is one reason, but the young Afghan girls are also simply adorable.

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'Evils Eyes' DET keeps birds flying high

Story by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.23.2011

USS GREEN BAY, At Sea – For more than 50 years, Marines and sailors with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced) have proven they can operate in the far reaches of the globe, from the jungles of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan

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1st MAW aircraft carry cargo through elements

Courtesy Story | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 03.23.2011

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ASTUGI, Okinawa, Japan - KC-130 cargo aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152), Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, delivered 16,500 pounds of humanitarian aid/disaster relief supplies in nine sorties to airfields throughout Japan, March 22 during freezing temperatures.

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March 21, 2011

With the Warriors

Bing West
From the March 7th edition of NR
March 21, 2011 4:00 A.M.

—Patrol Base Fires, Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

The view from this platoon outpost in southern Afghanistan is unobstructed, both visually and strategically. On all sides stretch flat, bare, winter farmlands dotted with walled compounds. The strategy is aggressive patrolling to kill and drive out the Taliban, who have acted as the rural government here for 15 years.

Continue reading "With the Warriors" »

Silver Star no surprise to widow

By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Published Monday March 21, 2011

From the day they met as teenagers at a football game, Tiffany Bock knew her future husband, Michael, was a standout.

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31ST MEU moves to the east coast of Japan, delivers aid via helo

3/21/2011 By Capt. Caleb Eames , 31st MEU

USS ESSEX, off the coast of Japan — The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 11, with a combined total of more than 4,000 Marines and Sailors, transited to the east coast of mainland Japan March 20.

Continue reading "31ST MEU moves to the east coast of Japan, delivers aid via helo" »

Mobile homes – 3rd LAR Marines cram comforts into life on the road

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.21.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – At first glance, the back of the light armored vehicle designated as the casualty evacuation vehicle for C Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, is nothing more than a mobile trauma bay on eight wheels. Stretchers sit stacked to one side of the already cramped 6-foot by 7-foot cargo area. Emergency medical supplies are crammed into bags hanging from almost every surface.

Continue reading "Mobile homes – 3rd LAR Marines cram comforts into life on the road" »

3rd LAR Bn. interdictions aim to squeeze insurgent supply lines

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.21.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – The rocky, rolling desert landscape of southern Helmand province sees little traffic other than the occasional farmer with a tractor load of firewood, late model pickups ferrying fuel to isolated villages, and shepherds with small flocks of sheep and goats, but through this austere environment trickles the lifeblood of the area’s insurgency – narcotics, weapons and bomb-making materials.

Continue reading "3rd LAR Bn. interdictions aim to squeeze insurgent supply lines" »

March 20, 2011

Kansas soldier awarded Silver Star for bravery

Associated Press
Posted on Sun, Mar. 20, 2011 07:44 AM

SYRACUSE, Kan. | A 24-year-old Kansas soldier has been awarded the Silver Star for his bravery as a medic in Afghanistan.

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1st Marine Aicraft Wing transports fuel to affected areas

Story by 2nd Lt. Lindsay Pirek | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 03.20.2011

NAVAL AIR STATION ATSUGI, Japan – Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (forward), III Marine Expeditionary Force transported 76 barrels of kerosene, provided by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, in six CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from Tagajo Fuel Depot near Sendai, Japan, March 19 to distribution points throughout areas affected by the earthquake and tsunam

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March 19, 2011

USS Green Bay amplifies 13th MEU capabilities MEU as “Mini MAGTF in air, land, sea

Story by Cpl. Christopher O'Quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.19.2011

PACIFIC OCEAN aboard USS GREEN BAY – A ship cuts through the ocean surface, its sleek and angled design resembles a stealth fighter, but its potential on the water gives the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit a capability that goes beyond the sea.

Continue reading "USS Green Bay amplifies 13th MEU capabilities MEU as “Mini MAGTF in air, land, sea" »

Pendleton Marine pays tribute to brother-in-arms

Best friend is killed in combat two weeks into tour in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 3 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Clancy Cheek was really nervous about meeting the commandant.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marine pays tribute to brother-in-arms" »

Afghanistan war diary: the ace of spades

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Cpl. Zackery Wallis returned to base after a security patrol earlier in his tour and dropped his heavy body armor on the ground. Later when he picked up the gear he found a playing card underneath, an ace of spades. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines have been fighting since October in Sangin, a Taliban stronghold said to be the deadliest area of Afghanistan for NATO coalition troops. Wallis and the rest of the 1st squad from India Company’s 1st platoon were engaged in a firefight on that patrol, but no Marines were injured or killed. The ace of spades became their good luck charm. “I’ve had it ever since,” Wallis said.

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3rd LAR strikes key insurgent border hub during Operation Raw Hide II

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.19.2011

PATROL BASE WOLFPACK, Afghanistan – A task force headed by 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion struck a key insurgent trafficking hub on the Pakistan border at the beginning of an operation designed to stem the flow of narcotics, weapons and fighters into, out of and around southern Afghanistan, March 14-17.

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March 18, 2011

Lt. Dan performance highlights DSTRESS

3/18/2011 By Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — The Combat Center’s Sunset Cinema was filled with Marines, sailors and friends, March 12, 2011 pumped up to hear a performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

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HQBN Marines learn to think like insurgents

3/18/2011 By Diane Durden , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Generations of Marines have been taught the philosophy “know your enemy” from Sun Tzu’s book, “The Art of War.”

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Marines use destruction to succeed in Afghanistan

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
Associated Press
Mar 18, 2:21 AM ED

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) -- In a war where winning the hearts and minds of Afghans is the ultimate goal, damaging homes with powerful explosives and bulldozing a mosque and scores of other buildings may not sound like a wise idea.

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March 17, 2011

Camp Pendleton Marines leave for Afghanistan in anticipation of Taliban counter-offensive

March 17, 2011
by Tony Perry

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Eric Smith watched Thursday as sniper rifles in shock-resistant carrying cases were loaded onto a truck at Camp Pendleton to begin a journey to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marines leave for Afghanistan in anticipation of Taliban counter-offensive" »

31st MEU inserts to begin helping with Japan relief operations

3/17/2011 By Cpl. Michael A. Bianco, 31st MEU

SEA OF JAPAN — Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit left the flight deck of the USS Essex (LHD 2) to establish a forward command center for the unit, March 17.

Continue reading "31st MEU inserts to begin helping with Japan relief operations" »

Scottish soldiers and US Marines mark historic relationship

17 March 2011

Scottish soldiers and US Marines have spent the last six months working closely to improve the capability of the Afghan National Police.

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March 15, 2011

Marines bond during yearlong Afghanistan deployment

By JOSHUA SUDOCK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]
Published: March 15, 2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The personal security detachment for the commanding general of 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), Brig. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, completed its last mission in Afghanistan, Feb. 14, before heading home after a yearlong deployment.

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Task Force Leatherneck Changes Hands in Ceremony

Story by Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.15.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – 1st Marine Division (Forward) transferred authority of Task Force Leatherneck to 2nd MarDiv (Fwd) during a ceremony, March 15.

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March 14, 2011

U.S. Military to Save $336,000 Annually With Newly Installed Solar Panel Installation

Monday, March 14th 2011 6:33 PM
By GetSolar Staff.

The U.S. military has been at the forefront of solar energy research for the past few years, albeit quietly. The Department of Defense has funneled large amounts of money into solar research and has looked to utilize the technology's power to help troops, power its bases and bring about technological advances in the field.

Continue reading "U.S. Military to Save $336,000 Annually With Newly Installed Solar Panel Installation" »

March 13, 2011

Marines assist after disaster strikes Japan

Staff report
Posted : Sunday Mar 13, 2011 13:32:56 EDT

Marine forces in Japan are delivering food, water and other supplies to assist in disaster-relief efforts following the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated the region Friday.

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The Pegasus has landed: HMH-463 arrives in southwestern Afghanistan

3/13/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — A pair of Hawaii-based heavy helicopter squadrons traded reins during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 10.

Continue reading "The Pegasus has landed: HMH-463 arrives in southwestern Afghanistan" »

Family with Warsaw ties reunites after military deployment

Written by
VALERIE BOATENG
Mar 13, 2011

For the past seven months, Pam and Jamie Rice welcomed their grandson, Seth, into their empty nest while his parents were deployed in the military.

Continue reading "Family with Warsaw ties reunites after military deployment" »

March 11, 2011

‘Warhorses’ support fast-roping, medevac rehearsals

Story by Lance Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar | Date: 03.11.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - The radio reconnaissance Marines were sweat-drenched and hobbling by the time they disembarked the CH-53E “Super Stallion.” The Marines had good reason to be exhausted after more than four hours of fast-roping and repelling training.

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Building Better Tomorrow in Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. James Frazer | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.11.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The U.S. Marine Corps’ Civil-Military Operations, or CMO, plays a leading role in supporting Afghanistan’s efforts to provide a better quality of life for its people.

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Battle Colors dazzle Combat Center

3/11/2011 By Cpl. M. C. Nerl , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines with the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, known as the “Commandant’s Own,” and the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon from Marine Barracks 8th and I, in Washington, D.C., showcased their world-famous drill talents, as well as musical performances, during the Battle Colors Ceremony at the Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field.

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HQBN connects with ‘next generation’

3/11/2011 By Diane Durden , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — For decades, Marines have passed their knowledge and experience from one generation to the next. Older, more seasoned Marines teach and mentor younger Marines as they make their own way through the ranks.

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2/7 Marines seize Twentynine Palms Airport

3/11/2011 By Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Sand swirling around the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters provided light concealment for the Marines as they touched down to seize the airfield. Weapon-toting enemy fighters milled about the area and watched as the unit systematically closed in from across the tarmac toward the airport’s facilities. Like cats waiting for their prey, they waited patiently for just the right moment to attack.

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FET Marines, 9th Comm. Bn. leader share Afghan experience with defense professionals

Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.11.2011

Three Marines from 9th Communication Battalion represented women who serve during the 3rd Annual San Diego Chapter, Women in Defense Symposium on March 10, in La Jolla, Calif.

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March 10, 2011

New suspension systems added to MRAPs, increase comfort and handling

Story by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.10.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- An independent suspension system was recently added to two vehicles in I Marine Expeditionary Headquarters Group’s fleet of vehicles, increasing terrain navigability and vehicle reliability.

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March 9, 2011

Pendleton Marines help Afghan governor meet his people

With security improved, Sangin leader can venture out from military compound

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 6 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Mohammad Sharif is the governor of this picturesque river valley in the heartland of the Taliban insurgency and Afghanistan’s killing fields of opium poppy. Until quite recently, however, he couldn’t see much of it. The threat of assassination and war zone violence made it too dangerous for him to travel his district to meet his constituents face to face, or even spend much time at his government offices in the Sangin town center.

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Secretary of Defense visits FOB Jackson

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.08.2011
Date Posted: 03.09.2011 11:19

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 8, during a tour of Forward Operating Base Jackson, March 8. The tour included a brief by Lt. Col. Jason Morris, commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, an address to the Marines of FOB Jackson, a question and answer period and a lunch with a few of the battalion non-commissioned officers.

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Taliban fighters moving back into former Afghanistan stronghold

The return of Taliban leaders who had been driven from Sangin in southern Afghanistan raises concern that fragile security gains achieved by U.S. Marines could be reversed.

By David S. Cloud and Laura King, Los Angeles Times
March 9, 2011

Reporting from Sangin and Kabul, Afghanistan
Insurgents who were driven out of the Taliban stronghold of Sangin in southern Afghanistan are flowing back in as winter lifts, threatening fragile gains achieved by U.S. Marines over the last five months, according to American commanders.

Continue reading "Taliban fighters moving back into former Afghanistan stronghold" »

U.S. seeks surge success from lethal Afghan outpost

By Missy Ryan
SANGIN, Afghanistan | Wed Mar 9, 2011 8:27am EST

SANGIN, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Five months ago, when U.S. Marines took over this sandbagged outpost in Sangin, deep in southern Afghanistan's Taliban country, they were pounded by insurgent fire every time they stepped foot off base.

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Marines tour Korea's demilitarized zone to prepare for training

3/9/2011 By Lance Cpl. Michael Iams , Marine Corps Bases Japan

JOINT SECURITY AREA, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, PANMUNJOM, Republic of Korea — The commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, and other 1st MAW senior leadership toured the demilitarized zone and the border between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea here Feb. 26. The trip was meant to better their understanding of the situation between the two countries in preparation for Exercise Key Resolve.

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March 8, 2011

Remarks by Secretary Gates to Service Members in Sangin, Afghanistan

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
March 08, 2011

LT. COL. JASON MORRIS: Okay. Good morning, 3/5 [3rdBattalion, 5th Marine Regiment]. Oo-rah!

Continue reading "Remarks by Secretary Gates to Service Members in Sangin, Afghanistan" »

US claims to have driven Taliban out of Sangin

US defence secretary Robert Gates praises marines for 'dramatic turnaround' after British forces pulled out

* Ewen MacAskill in Sangin
* guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 March 2011 17.01 GMT

The US claims its marines have managed to subdue the notoriously violent Sangin district in Afghanistan within five months of their arrival, a goal that eluded British forces for four years.

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Navy-Marine Corps team prepares for crisis response

3/8/2011 By Sgt. Marcy Sanchez , I MEF

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The tip of the spear, America’s expeditionary force in readiness, the first to fight; Marines go by all these names.

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Engineers provide security for road improvements

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.07.2011
Date Posted: 03.08.2011 05:55

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Marines with Route Clearance Platoon 3, Mobility Assault Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), were focused on freedom of mobility while they provided security on Route 611 Feb. 25 to March 3.

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Lightweight drone set for first MEU deployment

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 8, 2011 5:19:44 EST

SAN DIEGO — The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed in late February with the ScanEagle unmanned aircraft, marking the first time any MEU has taken the combat-proven drone out to sea for an operational assignment, officials said.

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March 7, 2011

Boxer Amphibious Ready Group Enters 7th Fleet

By Lt. Chad A. Dulac, USS Boxer Public Affairs
Posted: March 7, 2011

PACIFIC OCEAN – The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility on March 6, as part of the ship’s Western Pacific deployment.

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March 6, 2011

Marine unit stung by death of colleague

By Nancy Montgomery
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 6, 2011

PATROL BASE TORBERT, Afghanistan — When Red Platoon needed an engineer for an overnight mission to secretly observe the goings-on in several small villages, Cpl. Eric Torbert said OK, he’d do it.

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3rd LAR Marine receives Purple Heart in Afghanistan

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.05.2011
Date Posted: 03.06.2011 02:16

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – A scout with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion received the Purple Heart medal during a ceremony at Patrol Base South Station, Helmand province, March 5.

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American spirit strong at Marine homecoming

Published: March 5, 2011
Updated: March 6, 2011 10:41 a.m.
BY DAVID WHITING
COLUMNIST
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]

It was, in the truest sense, a homecoming.

Six Marines. Nearly 500 miles hiked. And infinite love.

Continue reading "American spirit strong at Marine homecoming" »

Marine's dad reads between lines

By Matthew Hansen
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Published Sunday March 6, 2011

WEST POINT, Neb. — Rick Wimer pulls the tattered, dirty-white envelope out of the mailbox on a frigid winter Friday.

Continue reading "Marine's dad reads between lines" »

March 5, 2011

Military honors two for valor with Silver Stars

Medals awarded to Marine corporal posthumously and Navy corpsman

By J. Harry Jones
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 12:10 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON — A Marine corporal and a Navy corpsman were awarded the military’s third-highest honor for valor, the Silver Star, during an emotional ceremony Friday on the parade grounds at Camp Horno on Camp Pendleton.

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Pendleton Marines root out Taliban "murder holes"

Troops take advantage of winter lull to destroy enemy defenses

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 3 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — A squad of Marines set out on a cold, drizzling afternoon this week for an important mission: “murder” the murder holes.

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Marines in deadly Afghan valley face combat stress

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
The Associated Press
Saturday, March 5, 2011; 9:22 PM

SANGIN, Afghanistan -- When U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Derek Goins deployed to the most dangerous place in Afghanistan five months ago, he mentally prepared for the risk of getting shot by the Taliban or stepping on bombs buried throughout this southern river valley.

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March 4, 2011

Marines await Taliban move in deadly valley

Sangin deadliest district in Afghanistan last year

Published : Friday, 04 Mar 2011, 8:46 AM EST
By SEBASTIAN ABBOT, Associated Press

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) - The cacophony of gunfire and bombing that dominated this southern river valley in the fall has dropped to a whisper, but U.S. Marines who have paid a heavy price battling the Taliban in Afghanistan's deadliest spot expect the insurgents to hit back hard.

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March 2, 2011

MV-22 takes tight landings to new heights

Story by Lance Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar | Date: 03.02.2011

The stomach-churning accelerations and decelerations of the MV-22 “Osprey” seemed to have no effect on the crew chiefs from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadrons 161 and 561, casually directing the pilots who could not see what was underneath and behind the Osprey while they rehearsed confined area landings at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and San Clemente Island Feb. 17.

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March 1, 2011

Tribal peace deal in Afghanistan on shaky ground

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT, Associated Press
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) --

U.S. Marines battling the Taliban in this insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan are increasingly dubious about prospects for a high-profile peace deal struck two months ago between the government and the area's largest tribe.

Continue reading "Tribal peace deal in Afghanistan on shaky ground" »

February 26, 2011

Pendleton Marines maintain uneasy calm in battle-scarred Afghan town

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 3 p.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan — The Afghan police and their Marine advisers walk out of the base where they live and work together and into the bazaar. Cold winter rain has given way to sunny skies, putting everyone in a good mood.

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Afghanistan war diary: The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment rides through history

By Gretel C. Kovach
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at midnight

SANGIN, Afghanistan — The motto “get some!” is a battle cry favored by all Marines. Depending on its application, the phrase can mean many different things: think notches on the belt on one end of the spectrum, or the New Testament on the other. In Sangin, for instance, Marines who visit the Get Some Chapel at Forward Operating Base Jackson get religion, in one of Afghanistan’s deadliest areas for NATO coalition troops.

Continue reading "Afghanistan war diary: The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment rides through history" »

Marine Corps to closely monitor local troops

Mental health specialists assigned to Camp Pendleton regiment battered in Afghanistan

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Saturday, February 26, 2011 6:00 pm |

For nearly seven months, they've seen friends die or have their limbs shredded by crude roadside bombs.

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February 24, 2011

SMP members visit local retirement home

2/24/2011 By Lance Cpl. Damien Gutierrez , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The residents of Fairwinds–Ivey Ranch Retirement Community shared memories and laughs during dinner with sailors from Camp Pendleton’s Single Marine Program, Feb. 23.

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February 23, 2011

Afghan Army poised to fight roadside bombs

2/23/2011 By Sgt. Jesse Stence , Regimental Combat Team 1

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — The soldiers inched forward in carefully spaced columns, tracing crescents over the harrowed terrain with combat metal detectors.

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Marines and sailors aided refugees for 38 days

FEBRUARY 23RD, 2011 POSTED BY DAN LAMOTHE

Sometimes, the tail end of a story gets forgotten. Such is the case with sailors and Marines who recently returned from a deployment with the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of San Diego, Calif.

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Part 2 of 2: The Battle for Bomb Alley (Afghanistan War)

February 2011

For four years, thousands of British servicemen fought with the Taliban for the district of Sangin - the most violent part of Afghanistan. The British withdrew in the Fall of 2011 - handing the area over to the US Marines.
On Oct. 13, 2011 the 3/5 took control of Sangin. The extent of the resistance encountered in Sangin surprised many of the Marines. It was stronger than any Taliban resistance that Marines had witnessed previously in Afghanistan.

This Marines’ tour was one of the most brutal of the entire war. Ben Anderson, who was with the British forces in 2007, returned to see if the Americans were faring any better. His remarkable film follows Lima Company, a unit of the 3/5 US Marines, as they dodge improvised bombs and struggle to reclaim the same territory the British previously occupied.

There are two parts to the video.

Continue reading "Part 2 of 2: The Battle for Bomb Alley (Afghanistan War)" »

February 22, 2011

Afghanistan war diary: FOB Jackson

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at midnight

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Walking around Forward Operating Base Jackson, one is reminded now and then of the many British troops who served here over the years, before U.S. Marines took over this fall. A sign on a whitewashed wall points to “Ulster Way.” The stairwell of a half-constructed mansion dubbed the “haunted house” is painted with the battle shield of a long-gone unit that lived there. And metal shipping containers connected to local well water offer the first real “WC” (or water closet, as they call bathrooms in Great Britain) that we’ve seen on this trip to Helmand province military installations. I don’t know who built it, maybe the British, maybe the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines from Twentynine Palms who served here during the handover, but Camp Pendleton troops also fell in on a platform erected over the creek that rushes through the base. U.S. infantrymen and the Afghan police they mentor stand there shoulder to shoulder over the rapids, dipping their lines and comparing the daily catch. “We’re partnering!” one Marine quipped.

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3 Warships Deploy From San Diego

USS Boxer, Green Bay, Comstock Deploy

POSTED: 4:10 am PST February 22, 2011

SAN DIEGO -- Three San Diego-based warships departed Tuesday for a seven-month deployment that includes anti-piracy operations, a job made all the more crucial following the shooting deaths of four Americans on a hijacked yacht off Somalia.

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Boxer ARG, 13th MEU leave on deployment

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 22, 2011 16:24:59 EST

SAN DIEGO – Under clear blue skies, more than 4,000 sailors and Marines manned the rails and took their three amphibious ships out to sea Tuesday morning on a course for the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions.

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Marine Cpl. Andrew Lozier

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.10.2011
Date Posted: 02.22.2011

Marine Cpl. Andrew Lozier, a combat engineer from Monmouth, Ill., talks to a military reporter about the operation in which he and his fellow engineers with 1st CEB, 1st Marine Division (Forward), participated in Operation Big Valley in support of 3rd LAR.

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B-Roll of 1st CEB Working with Bridge

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.16.2011
Date Posted: 02.22.2011

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), unloading and preparing a bridge laying vehicle for an upcoming mission at Combat Outpost Ouellette.

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Logistics 'heavy hitters' ensure success on battlefield

Story by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 02.22.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Before a single truck rolls out on a mission anywhere within Regional Command (Southwest), a group of Marines here carefully calculate exactly what is needed for that particular mission. Everything from fuel and supplies to maintenance and medical personnel is coordinated well in advance to ensure Marines have everything they need for mission success.

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February 21, 2011

Thousands raised for wounded Ronan Marine

Posted: Feb 21, 2011 6:30 AM by Allyson Weller (KPAX News)
Updated: Feb 21, 2011 6:31 AM

RONAN - Folks from all over Montana came together over the weekend to raise over $72,000 for the Ronan Marine who lost both his legs and most of his left hand in Afghanistan.

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Marine earns award for combat valor in Afghanistan

Photos by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 02.20.2011
Date Posted: 02.21.2011 06:48

Photos of Sgt. Darren J. Mumm, team leader, Commanding General’s Personal Security Detachment, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), being awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device during an award ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Feb. 17.

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Three San Diego warships to deploy on Tuesday

By Gary Robbins
Originally published February 21, 2011 at 6:30 a.m

The amphibious assault ship Boxer and two other San Diego-based warships will leave Tuesday for a seven month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean -- a mission that could involve combat operations, anti-piracy work and providing humanitarian assistance. Boxer will be accompanied by the Green Bay, an amphibious transport dock, and the Comstock, an amphibious dock landing ship. The warships will carry 1,800 sailors and 2,200 Marines from Camp Pendleton's 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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Maritime Contingency Force remains ready

2/21/2011 By Cpl. Michael A. Bianco , 31st MEU

ABOARD THE USNS JACK LUMMUS — CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters broke the silence of the early morning hours as they soared toward a ship refusing to comply with orders of the U.S. Navy.

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February 20, 2011

Japanese troops train at Camp Pendleton for island defense

February 20, 2011 | 8:39 am

Japanese troops from the Western Area Infantry Regiment are assaulting the green hills of Camp Pendleton in operation Iron Fist.

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February 19, 2011

Wounded Warriors: Life will never be the same

Richard Johnson February 19, 2011 – 6:00 am

In remarkably candid interviews from a veterans hospital in Richmond, Virginia, three U.S. Marines tell National Post graphics editor and illustrator Richard Johnson about coming under fire in Afghanistan, and the long road to recovery.

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Ronan friends, strangers come out in force for Tomy Parker

By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian missoulian.com | Posted: Saturday, February 19, 2011 11:00 pm

RONAN - They rolled in by the hundreds Saturday, close friends, distant relatives and complete strangers alike, never-ending waves of people who packed the Ronan Community Center to welcome Lance Cpl. Thomas Parker home, and thank him for his sacrifice.

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IE-Doh! Taliban tactic fizzles in Garmsir, Afghanistan

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 02.19.2011

Cpl. Kerry Timms is from Shallow Water, Texas, and at times, he and the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment have skated on some pretty thin ice.

Continue reading "IE-Doh! Taliban tactic fizzles in Garmsir, Afghanistan" »

1st CEB Conducting Combat Marksmanship Training

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.11.2011
Date Posted: 02.19.2011

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), BZO their weapons and conduct combat marksmanship training at Combat Outpost Payne, Feb. 11.

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February 18, 2011

2/7 mortarmen add more metal to Lead Mountain

2/18/2011 By Cpl. M. C. Nerl , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, ventured to the Combat Center’s Lead Mountain training area to exercise their core competencies, Feb. 14 through 18, 2011.

Continue reading "2/7 mortarmen add more metal to Lead Mountain" »

Pendleton Marines train in massive, new combat town

2/18/2011 By Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — For some Marines the experience of entering an Afghan village for the first time will seem as foreign as the culture they have been entrusted to protect. However, after training at the Combat Center’s newest and most realistic “mock” city training complex, many of those Marines will be better prepared to face that challenge.

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February 17, 2011

Top general says Camp Pendleton Marines no longer in daily firefights in Afghanistan

February 17, 2011
-- Tony Perry at Camp Pendleton

Fighting has "dropped off to virtually nothing" in the Sangin district of Afghanistan, where two-dozen Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed and more than 140 wounded in the fall and early winter, the top Marine general in Afghanistan told reporters Thursday.

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Marine tanks now assigned to 3/8 in Afghanistan

FEBRUARY 17TH, 2011
POSTED BY DAN LAMOTHE

When the Marine Corps acknowledged last month that it would begin using U.S. tanks in the war in Afghanistan for the first time, one of the most obvious questions was simple: Where?
We’re starting to clear that up.

Continue reading "Marine tanks now assigned to 3/8 in Afghanistan" »

Afghan village reaps success of surge

By SAEED SHAH
McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Thu, Feb. 17, 2011 11:21 PM

MARJAH, Afghanistan | Schools that the Taliban closed have reopened in this southern Afghan town, and some girls are even back in the classrooms. The wheat and cotton crops are flourishing, and poppy cultivation is way down.

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February 16, 2011

Marines clear, hold, build in Enhanced Mojave Viper

By JOSHUA SUDOCK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]
Published: Feb. 16, 2011 11:25 a.m.

Here's a dispatch, below from Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly of 1st Marine Division. Crilly is currently attached to Marines and sailors with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, who are training for deployment.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – “Go! Go! Go!” resounded, as boots slammed down the ramp of the amphibious assault vehicles.

Continue reading "Marines clear, hold, build in Enhanced Mojave Viper" »

February 15, 2011

‘Medusa’ drives on despite IEDs

2/15/2011 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — She sits about 15 feet tall and weighs about seven tons, and despite being blown up by several improvised explosive devices, she hasn’t thrown in the towel just yet.

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February 14, 2011

One year after offensive, signs of progress in Marjah

By Nancy Montgomery
Stars and Stripes
Published: February 14, 2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan — A year ago, the farmers, opium poppy growers and insurgents in and around Marjah were under siege. Locals had fled; the bazaar had been shuttered.

Continue reading "One year after offensive, signs of progress in Marjah" »

Storage Marines: providing supplies to troops in Afghanistan

2/14/2011 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik, 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Operating out of the largest storage lot in the Marine Corps, Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward)’s Supply Company have the enormous responsibility of supporting Marine units operating in Helmand and Nimruz provinces.

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February 13, 2011

1st CEB pulling out MATV

Video by: Cpl. John McCall
Date Taken: 01.24.2011
Date Posted: 02.13.2011
Location: GARMSER, AF

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion recover a vehicle after getting stuck in mud during a vehicle convoy.

Continue reading "1st CEB pulling out MATV" »

Engineers uncover 27 IEDs during sweep

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.01.2011
Posted: 02.13.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan - What began as a mission to sweep a ridgeline to watch over Marines operating below, quickly turned into much more. To their surprise, the engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, uncovered a total of 27 improvised explosive devices and one weapons cache during the three-day mission, ending Feb. 1.

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Marine comes home to hugs

Celebration surprises Canton man who was injured in Afghanistan

Feb 13, 2011
Written by
Peter Harriman

Near the statue of South Dakota's great World War II hero, Joe Foss, in the lobby of the Sioux Falls Regional Airport on Saturday, Lance Cpl. Jeff Grosky stood awkwardly. He was surrounded by U.S. flags with applause washing over him.

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1st CEB Preparing For a Mission

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.21.2011
Date Posted:02.13.2011 5:48AM

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion prepare supplies and vehicles for an upcoming mission.

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February 12, 2011

1st CEB Getting a Dump Truck Unstuck

Video by: Cpl. John McCall
Date Taken: 01.24.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011
Location: GARMSER, AF

B-roll of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Marines working to recover a dump truck after it was stuck in a ditch during a vehicle convoy in Garmser, Afghanistan. Scenes include the Marines trying twice to pull the dump truck out with another vehicle, once with a rope which breaks and once with a chain.

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1st CEB working with Sand Bags

Video by: Cpl. John McCall
Date Taken: 01.25.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011
Location: GARMSER, AF

B-roll of Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion filling sand bags to improve traction on a dirt road.

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Students at Base school send messages of support to marines

By Linda McIntosh
Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 6 a.m.

Camp Pendleton

Children at Mary Fay Pendleton School on base were on a mission of their own last week — making valentines for Marines deployed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Students at Base school send messages of support to marines" »

1st CEB pulling out TRAM

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.24.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011

B-roll of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Marines recovering a TRAM vehicle after it was stuck in a ditch during a vehicle convoy.

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Garmser - Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Build a Wooden Guard Post at a Patrol Base

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.27.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011

B-roll of Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward) build a wooden guard post at a patrol base.

Continue reading "Garmser - Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Build a Wooden Guard Post at a Patrol Base" »

Garmser - Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion set up Hesco Barriers for a New Patrol Base

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.27.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011

B-roll of Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), set up Hesco barriers for a new patrol base.

Continue reading "Garmser - Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion set up Hesco Barriers for a New Patrol Base" »

1st CEB Building Wood Floors

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.19.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011

B-roll of Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion building wood flooring at a patrol base in Garmser, Afghanistan. Scenes include the marines delivering, cutting and installing the floor.

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1st CEB Pulling Out Tram

Video by: Cpl. John McCall
Date Taken: 01.24.2011
Date Posted: 02.12.2011
Location: GARMSER, AF

B-roll of Marines with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion recovering a TRAM vehicle after it was stuck in a ditch. Scenes include the Marines connecting chains between the stuck TRAM and another heavy vehicle and pulling it out of a ditch.

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February 11, 2011

TRICARE: Staying up to date when you PCS

Story by Cpl. Salvador R. Moreno | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 02.11.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Service members often move from duty station to duty station every few years. They update their address, phone number and vehicle registration, but what they often forget to update is their healthcare, and it can cause problems, said John Sylvera, a Tricare operations health benefits advisor at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

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Navy-Marine Corps Unit Provides Numerous Capabilities

Courtesy Story | Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs | Date: 02.11.2011

WASHINGTON - A Navy-Marine Corps unit completed a wide range of missions across the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean in the past year, ranging from reclaiming a container ship that had been taken over by pirates to providing relief in the aftermath of flooding in Pakistan.

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2/7 HQ Co. spends day sharpening infantry skills

2/11/2011 By Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

2/7 HQ Co. spends day sharpening infantry skills — Marines with Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, attended refresher courses at Building 1707 to increase overall unit readiness and brush up on some infantry basics, Feb. 8, 2011.

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HQBN NCOs join 2/7 in mortars course

2/11/2011 By Lance Cpl. D. J. Wu , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Noncommissioned officers from Headquarters Battalion joined with 81mm mortar platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, training at the Combat Center’s Range 106 Feb. 3, 2011.

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Marine tanks head to northern Helmand

Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
1st Marine Logistics Group
Published: Feb. 11, 2011 3:13 p.m.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), helped escort M1A1 Abrams tanks of 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), to northern Helmand province, Feb. 2.

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La Puente Marine racing against clock to reach dying mother

By Juliette Funes, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/11/2011 12:17:05 PM PST

WEST COVINA - A La Puente Marine is attempting to fly across the globe in time to reunite with his terminally ill mother, who is expected to live for only a matter of hours.

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Deployed Marines go hands-on with foreign weapons

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.11.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Every Marine is expected to have at least a basic knowledge of the standard U.S. military arsenal, but after a hands-on session with foreign weapons at the Joint Security Academy Southwest, Feb. 11, about a dozen Marines from various units based here now know a little bit about AK-47 assault rifles, PKM machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, too.

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February 10, 2011

1/5 clears, holds, builds during Enhanced Mojave Viper

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.10.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – “Go! Go! Go!” resounded, as boots slammed down the ramp of the amphibious assault vehicles.

Continue reading "1/5 clears, holds, builds during Enhanced Mojave Viper" »

Marine, Family Receive Patriotic Homecoming

Lt. Colonel Returns after Afghanistan Tour

by Stacie N. Galang San Clemente Times
Feb 10, 2011

The Harbor Ridge neighborhood joined together to welcome home one of their own, U.S. Marine Lt. Colonel Terry Johnson, who returned Monday from a six-month tour in Afghanistan.

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Kids Who Care club makes Valentine's Day cards for Marines

Marie Ekberg Padilla | for the Orange County Register | Feb 10, 2011

LADERA RANCH – About a hundred parents and kids made Valentine's Day cards and filled care packages for Marines during a Kids Who Care club event at the Oak Knoll Club house Saturday.

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February 9, 2011

1/5 trains to defeat IED threat

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.09.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, conducted improvised explosive device lane training in preparation for the Enhanced Mojave Viper exercise at Outpost Barma, Jan. 19.

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February 8, 2011

Ceremony marks beginning of exercise Iron Fist

Story by Cpl. Elyssa Quesada | 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.08.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The First Marine Expeditionary Force and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit welcomed the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force’s Western Infantry Regiment to the start of exercise Iron Fist here Feb. 8. The bilateral training planned during the next month will showcase each component of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, from small boat operations and aerial inserts to company sized live-fire events.

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Afghanistan's most loyal troops

Dogs play an increasing role in ferreting out roadside bombs in key provinces. As with their masters, not all of them get to come home.

Tony Perry | Los Angeles Times | February 8. 2001

When Pfc. Colton Rusk was shot in Afghanistan by a Taliban sniper, a Marine dog named Eli immediately ran to him, guarding the downed Marine against further attack.

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Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 provides aviation ground support during Cobra Gold 2011

Story by Lance Cpl. J Nava | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 02.08.2011

KORAT, Kingdom of Thailand – Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, traveled to Thailand to support Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st MAW, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011.

Continue reading "Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 provides aviation ground support during Cobra Gold 2011" »

Marines, ANSF find weapons caches, secure southern river valley

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.04.2011
Date Posted: 02.08.2011 11:51

Marines with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), search local farmers during Operation Big Valley, Feb. 1. The 3rd LAR Marines, who call themselves the Wolf pack, went on a five-day operation along with their Afghan partners to clear areas where the Taliban was believed to store weapons and bomb-making materials.

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February 6, 2011

Leap of faith: 9th Comm. Marine’s athletic obsession fuels chase of world record jump

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.06.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Staff Sgt. George Bryant is sore. On a recent afternoon here the 27-year-old data chief for Alpha Company, 9th Communications Battalion, walks into the makeshift fitness area at the battalion’s compound wearing compression tights. For the soreness, he says. Most Marines pride themselves on fitness, but not to the point of wearing ultra-tight clothing to alleviate the pain of the previous day’s workout. Then again, most Marines don’t work out like Bryant does.

Continue reading "Leap of faith: 9th Comm. Marine’s athletic obsession fuels chase of world record jump" »

Marine, students inspire each other

After corresponding with St. Patrick students while in Afghanistan, Chris Nagel tells them how much their support meant to him and others.

By Michael J. Solender
Special Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, Feb. 06, 2011

Though he was several continents away, serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan last year, 1st Lt. Chris Nagel's adopted hometown of Charlotte and his elementary school, St. Patrick Catholic, were never far from his thoughts.


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February 5, 2011

Marines Battle Afghanistan's Terrain

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.30.2011
Posted: 02.05.2011

GARMSER, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), conduct vehicle convoys throughout Afghanistan regularly, encountering improvised explosives and poorly maintained roads. During a recent convoy, Marines found themselves knee deep in mud, Jan. 24-Jan. 25.

Continue reading "Marines Battle Afghanistan's Terrain" »

February 4, 2011

31st MEU leaves for spring float

Story by Lance Cpl. Garry Welch | III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs | Date: 02.04.2011

With cargo and personnel aboard ship, III Marine Expeditionary Force’s 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit left Okinawa, Japan, for their spring deployment throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Jan. 29.

Continue reading "31st MEU leaves for spring float" »

Marines play hard at 3rd LAR field meet

2/4/2011 By Lance Cpl. D. J. Wu , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines from Headquarters and Service Company and Company B of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion participated in a field meet at Del Valle Field Jan. 28, 2011.

Continue reading "Marines play hard at 3rd LAR field meet" »

Pendleton instructors train Combat Center Marines to reach new heights

2/4/2011 By Cpl. M. C. Nerl , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, JOSHUA TREE, Calif. — Marines can fight in every clime and place, but sometimes they have to climb to get there.

Continue reading "Pendleton instructors train Combat Center Marines to reach new heights" »

2/7 assaults an entrenched enemy position

2/4/2011 By Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Thorburn , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Since the dawn of warfare, attacking forces have had to oust entrenched defenders, a practice which will continue until the end of war.

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Marines perform outdoor gas exercise with new M50 mask

2/4/2011 By Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Thorburn , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors with Company E., 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, get acquainted with the new M50 mask during an outdoor gas exercise training at Range 210 Jan. 26.

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2nd Bn, 4th Marines take on Bridgeport

2/4/2011 By Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. — The two-week Mountain Exercise training for 2nd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment ended Tuesday, with a 9-kilometer-hike down the mountains of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif.

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February 3, 2011

As The Marines Prepare For Turnover in Afghanistan, Opium Production Escalates US Concerns

Marian Anthony | Feb. 3, 2011, 5:16 PM

Camp Pendleton, California – U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment prepare at Camp Wilson, 29 Palms, California, for their pre-deployment work-up in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "As The Marines Prepare For Turnover in Afghanistan, Opium Production Escalates US Concerns" »

The Blue Diamond Turns 70

Story by Cpl. Zachary Nola | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.03.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines, sailors, veterans, friends and family joined together to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1st Marine Division during a morning colors ceremony in front of the division’s headquarters Feb. 3.

Continue reading "The Blue Diamond Turns 70" »

February 2, 2011

Family of fallen Marine Colton Rusk to receive his bomb dog

* By Mark Collette
updated February 2, 2011 at 4:38 a.m.

ORANGE GROVE — A faithful companion of a fallen Marine from Orange Grove is headed home this week.

Continue reading "Family of fallen Marine Colton Rusk to receive his bomb dog" »

February 1, 2011

'Payne Games' keeps Marines prepared, provides camaraderie

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson
Date: 01.30.2011
Date Posted: 02.01.2011
Location: Combat Outpost Payne, AF

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan— Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge are the five D’s of dodge ball. But Marines at Combat Outpost Payne have added a letter of their own to the popular playground game: Don—as in don and clear your gas mask.

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Medal of Honor recipient bonds with 3/5

Story by Cpl. Paul Basciano | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.27.2011
Posted: 02.01.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment’s brushed shoulders with a living legend, when Medal of Honor recipient and retired Col. Jay Vargas came to the San Mateo area of Camp Pendleton to talk with 3/5 Marines, Jan. 27.

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1st Marine Division celebrates 70th anniversary at Camp Leatherneck

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.01.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -The Marines and sailors from 1st Marine Division (Forward) celebrates the Blue Diamond 70th anniversary at Camp Leatherneck, Feb. 1.

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January 31, 2011

Return to Helmand's 'bomb alley' with the US marines

Monday, 31 January 2011

Three months after British forces in Afghanistan handed over control of Sangin to the Americans, reporter Ben Anderson went on patrol with the US 3rd Battalion 5th Marines "Lima Company" in the area still widely viewed as the country's most dangerous.

No-one knew it yet, but we were standing on a "daisy chain" of seven home-made bombs, buried inches beneath our feet and designed to wipe out the entire squad of US marines.

Continue reading "Return to Helmand's 'bomb alley' with the US marines" »

January 30, 2011

Marines training helps Afghan police prosper

1/30/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci , I MEF

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Afghan National Police officers stationed near Forward Operating Base Jackson have been taking part in a four-day training cycles to build their skills.

Continue reading "Marines training helps Afghan police prosper" »

Afghan police provide increased security

1/30/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci , I MEF

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Afghan National Police officers and Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment’s police mentor team, patrol the area surrounding forward operating base Jackson daily to provide security for the people of Sangin.

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Wrecker named RC-SW Marine of the Year

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 30, 2011 8:52:12 EST

Rain, snow or shine, if a vehicle in southern Afghanistan gets stuck, blown up or breaks down, it’s Lance Cpl. Stephan C. Wall’s job to get it moving again — even if that means braving bomb blast and enemy fire.

Continue reading "Wrecker named RC-SW Marine of the Year" »

January 28, 2011

Marines say Afghan Border Police becoming self-sufficient

1/28/2011 By Cpl. Ned Johnson , 1st Marine Division

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan — Much accolade is given to the Afghan National Army, but there is another unit of fellow countrymen that is providing security to their republic – the Afghan Border Police.

Continue reading "Marines say Afghan Border Police becoming self-sufficient" »

Psychiatrist says bloodied Camp Pendleton unit remains strong

Teams paying close attention to mental health of Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011 10:30 pm

Marine Corps psychiatrists closely monitoring a bloodied Camp Pendleton unit that has had 24 men killed and more than 145 wounded say the troops are not exhibiting an inordinate amount of mental distress.

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January 27, 2011

Marines in Afghanistan Test New Concussion Care

Courtesy Story | Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs | Date: 01.27.2011

WASHINGTON - A new concussion care program being fielded by the Marine Corps in Afghanistan is giving psychiatrists, physicians and even chaplains and sergeants a better way to treat those with the No. 1 battle injury, military combat medicine experts said today.

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HMH-363: Hawaii’s helo hussars

1/27/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jennifer Pirante , Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii — HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii — Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 363, stationed at Marine Corps Air Facility Koneohe Bay, Hawaii, is part of Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

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January 26, 2011

Sailor serves alongside Marine husband in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 01.26.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Most spouses of active duty military members have to endure the hardship of separation while their loved one is deployed, but one dual active-duty married couple here has the unique opportunity of serving together in the same unit.

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Coalition forces build trust with marginalized Afghan clan during unprecedented negotiations

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 01.26.2011

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - Coalition forces in Helmand province have made tentative progress in winning over a small but significant itinerant population that insurgents have exploited in recent years, say Regimental Combat Team 1 officials

Continue reading "Coalition forces build trust with marginalized Afghan clan during unprecedented negotiations" »

January 25, 2011

‘Heavy Haulers’ and HST flex their muscle

Story by Lance Cpl. Lisa Tourtelot | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar | Date: 01.25.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marines from Helicopter Support Team, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, partnered with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, the “Heavy Haulers,” to practice external cargo lifts - the art of attaching large, heavy objects by hand to a hovering helicopter.

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January 24, 2011

Lehigh Marine's body headed for home

By MEL TOADVINE,
[email protected]
POSTED: January 24, 2011

The arrival of the body of a Lehigh Acres Marine, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, is expected to take place some time this week.

Continue reading "Lehigh Marine's body headed for home" »

Corpsmen teach Afghan children hygiene

1/24/2011 By Cpl. Ned Johnson , 1st Marine Division

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan — While Navy corpsmen and medical officers are attached to Marine units in Afghanistan for battlefield wounds and emergencies, one unit is using medical basics to better Afghanistan’s future.

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Nearly 40 Marines killed in Sangin since September

January 24th, 2011 | Posted by Dan Lamothe

Greetings, readers. It was a slow week on Battle Rattle last week while I covered SHOT Show in Las Vegas for sister blog Gear Scout, but things are back to normal now.

Continue reading "Nearly 40 Marines killed in Sangin since September" »

Training a continuous process for Afghan Police in Sangin

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.24.2011

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police officers stationed near Forward Operating Base Jackson have been taking part in a four-day training cycles to build their skills.

Continue reading "Training a continuous process for Afghan Police in Sangin" »

January 22, 2011

Marines pay a price trying to secure an Afghan hot spot

What happened to them in Sangin district of Helmand province shows the sacrifices in a campaign aimed at crippling the Taliban in a stronghold and helping extricate the U.S. from a decadelong war.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
January 22, 2011, 8:33 p.m.

Reporting from Camp Pendleton —
Marines tell of snipers who fire from "murder holes" cut into mud-walled compounds. Fighters who lie in wait in trenches dug around rough farmhouses clustered together for protection. Farmers who seem to tip the Taliban to the outsiders' every movement , often with signals that sound like birdcalls.

Continue reading "Marines pay a price trying to secure an Afghan hot spot" »

CAG pushes for better relationships in Sangin

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.22.2011

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Members of the civil affairs group attached to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment performed a site survey on a flood defense wall project, one of the many projects planned to help build the infrastructure of Sangin and gain the trust of the people Jan. 17.

Continue reading "CAG pushes for better relationships in Sangin" »

Photos: Afghanistan Marines

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) and (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Individual 3/5 Marines

Continue reading "Photos: Afghanistan Marines" »

'Battle buddies' increase safety while deployed

Story by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 01.22.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marine Corps leaders continue to stress the importance of utilizing the “buddy system” in order to ensure the safety and accountability of every Marine.

Continue reading "'Battle buddies' increase safety while deployed" »

January 21, 2011

Camp Leatherneck Marines complete Bahraini baton training

Story by Master Sgt. Brian Jones | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.21.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Six Marines here completed a five-day baton course taught by members of Bahraini Special Security Forces Company 3, Jan. 20.

Continue reading "Camp Leatherneck Marines complete Bahraini baton training" »

January 20, 2011

1st CEB Building a Post for Base

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.21.2010
Date Posted: 01.20.2011

B-roll of engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), build a post while constructing a forward operating base.

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1st CEB Marines Setting up Hesco Barriers

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.22.2010
Date Posted: 01.20.2011

B-roll of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward) Marines, setting up Hesco barriers.

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1st CEB Replacing Tire

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.28.2010
Date Posted: 01.20.2011

B-roll of Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), replace tires on a vehicle trailer.

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Amtrackers mourn fallen Marine

Camp Pendleton schoolhouse hit hard by instructor death

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published January 20, 2011

The protected waters of the Del Mar boat basin at Camp Pendleton were glassy and calm that morning. The weather notwithstanding, the routine never changes.

Continue reading "Amtrackers mourn fallen Marine" »

CLR-15 Marines Transport Fuel with Afghan Local Nationals

Video by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 01.20.2011

B-roll of Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) escorting local nationals delivering fuel to Marines of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

Continue reading "CLR-15 Marines Transport Fuel with Afghan Local Nationals" »

Sangin: US marines take fight to the Afghan Taliban

The US marines have pursued aggressive tactics in flashpoint town Sangin since replacing British forces in the southern Afghan town several months ago. The BBC's Paul Wood, embedded with US Marine Battalion 3/5, reports on the continuing fight against the Taliban.

20 January 2011

"Come on, come out come and play," said the marine sniper.

Continue reading "Sangin: US marines take fight to the Afghan Taliban" »

Marine tanks prepare for their first missions in Afghanistan

Army News — By US Marines on January 20, 2011 5:55 am

Afghanistan: Early versions of the tank shaped the battlefields of World War I, and more sophisticated versions helped quickly end the Gulf War for the U.S. Now tanks have landed in Afghanistan to help bring security to Helmand province.

Continue reading "Marine tanks prepare for their first missions in Afghanistan" »

January 19, 2011

1st CEB Recovering a Stuck Vehicle

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.17.2010
Date Posted: 01.19.2011

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division recovered a stuck vehicle.

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13th MEU certified to fight

Story by Cpl. Christopher O'quin | 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 01.19.2011

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - In the past 20 years, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit has conducted numerous expeditionary operations throughout the globe.

Continue reading "13th MEU certified to fight" »

1st CEB Using Demolition Charges

Video by Cpl. Daniel Blatter | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.07.2011
Date posted: 01.19.2011

B-roll of engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), use demolition charges in Now Zad, Afghanistan Jan. 7. Produced by Cpl. John McCall.

Continue reading "1st CEB Using Demolition Charges" »

Corpsmen teach Afghan children hygiene, hand out supplies

Photos by Cpl. Ned Johnson | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.19.2011

Five images of Marines and Sailors with Delta Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), handing out supplies to local children.

Continue reading "Corpsmen teach Afghan children hygiene, hand out supplies" »

Marines drive insurgents out of Afghan village

1/19/2011 By 1st Lt. Alex Lim , Regimental Combat Team 1

COMBAT OUTPOST RANKEL, Afghanistan — The CH-53 began a slow, downward loop, descending to a muddy field when the word was passed.

Continue reading "Marines drive insurgents out of Afghan village" »

Pendleton Marines see progress in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 8:21 p.m.

U.S. Marines are expanding their relationships with tribal leaders in Afghanistan to build a bulwark against the Taliban as violence subsides in several areas of Helmand province, the new deputy commander in charge of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force headquartered at Camp Pendleton said Wednesday.

Continue reading "Pendleton Marines see progress in Afghanistan" »

January 18, 2011

1st CEB Taking Down Concertina Wire

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.28.2010
Date Posted: 01.18.2011

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division take down concertina wire in Musa Qal'eh.

Continue reading "1st CEB Taking Down Concertina Wire" »

B-Roll of 1st CEB helping recover an overturned truck

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.31.2010
Date Posted: 01.18.2011

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division recover an overturned truck in Musa Qal'eh, Afghanistan. Produced by Cpl. John McCall.

Continue reading "B-Roll of 1st CEB helping recover an overturned truck" »

Ronan banding together to help injured Marine

Posted: Jan 18, 2011 7:27 PM by Allyson Weller (KPAX News)
Updated: Jan 18, 2011 8:42 PM

MISSOULA - The Ronan community is working to raise money for a local Marine who lost both his legs and most of his left hand in Afghanistan.

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Marines of Operation Godfather see stark improvement in deadly Helmand province

By Josh Boak
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, January 18, 2011; 12:51 PM

GARMSIR, AFGHANISTAN - The Marines strode single-file across dusty farmland that the Taliban had controlled days earlier, facing little resistance beyond a boy who said, "Please don't step on the poppies."

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January 17, 2011

1st CEB Loading Tram

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.18.2010
Date Posted: 01.17.2011

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), load a TRAM vehicle in preparation for a construction mission.

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In Afghanistan, Insurgents Let Bombs Do Fighting

By MICHAEL KAMBER
Published: January 17, 2011

PATROL BASE BARIOLAI, Afghanistan — If the battlegrounds of Afghanistan are the “tip of the spear,” as Marines like to say, then the remote district of Sangin in Helmand Province may be its very point: the deadliest spot in the hardest-fought province for Marines leading the American offensive in Taliban territory.

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Marine's legacy one of helping others

Fox Tech grad died after saving his comrades during a training accident in California

By Eva Ruth Moravec
[email protected]
Published: 12:00 a.m., Monday, January 17, 2011

Sgt. Wesley Rice lived to serve his fellow man, God and country, his mother said, so it seemed tragically fitting to her that he died saving fellow Marines when their amphibious assault vehicle sank during training in California last week.

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January 16, 2011

1st CEB corpsmen provide medical attention to local Afghans

Photo by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.20.2010
Date Posted: 01.16.2011

Eleven photos of 1st CEB Marines.

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Marines work through holidays, bring gift of security to Musa Qal’eh

Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date: 01.08.2011
Posted: 01.16.2011
Location: MUSA QAL’EH, AF

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), built and improved a series of defensive positions to support 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment’s mission of keeping Musa Qal’eh safe from enemy insurgents.

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Engineers tighten security at Naw Zad base

Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date: 01.09.2011
Posted: 01.16.2011
Location: NAW ZAD, AF

NAW ZAD, Afghanistan – Usually, engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), are called in to expand a defensive position or build one from scratch. During their most recent project, engineers were asked to downsize a forward operating base in Naw Zad, Jan. 4-7.

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January 15, 2011

Marine tanks prepare for their first missions in Afghanistan

Story by: Cpl. Ned Johnson
Date: 01.13.2011
Posted: 01.15.2011
Location: Camp Leatherneck, AF

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Early versions of the tank shaped the battlefields of World War I, and more sophisticated versions helped quickly end the Gulf War for the U.S. Now tanks have landed in Afghanistan to help bring security to Helmand province.

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January 14, 2011

Female engagement team refreshes their training

Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.14.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines with the Regional Command Southwest Female Engagement Team conducted reset training here Jan 11-12.

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Solar tactically used on the Afghan front

January 14, 2011 10:50 AM PST
by Candace Lombardi

A Marine experiment aimed at determining whether it's beneficial, or even feasible, to use solar energy in the theater of war has landed on the side of solar.


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BLT 1/7 returns home to smiles, cheers

1/14/2011 By Diane Durden , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif., — The excitement of the crowd continued to build as someone shouted, “They’re at KFC on the highway.” Families and friends gathered at the Del Valle soccer field Jan. 6-8, 2011, to welcome home the Marines and sailors of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionalry Unit.

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Wounded warrior honored in front of Marine family

1/14/2011 By Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif., — Although Cpl. Jonathan Dowdell was confined to a wheelchair, it was his bravery and relentless optimism that made him stand out among the Marines and sailors of his former unit, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, as he accepted his Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device Jan. 7, 2011.

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3rd CEB mourns lost brothers

1/14/2011 By Cpl. M. C. Nerl , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif., — Third Combat Engineer Battalion gathered with family and friends to mourn four Marines lost during their last deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Jan. 12, 2011, at the Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field.

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Marine killed, five saved after assault vehicle sinks at Camp Pendleton

TERI FIGUEROA and MARK WALKER
Staff Writers North County Times - The Californian
Posted: Friday, January 14, 2011

One Marine died and five others were rescued Friday after the amphibious assault vehicle they were in sank in the Camp Pendleton Del Mar Boat Basin just north of Oceanside, base officials said.

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West L.A. students forge relationship with Afghan school

Working with Marines, private school makes a friendship video and soon will send backpacks filled with school supplies with the help of the L.A.-based nonprofit Spirit of America.

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
January 14, 2011

Danielle Katz has a limited Pashto vocabulary — limited but significant.

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January 11, 2011

Marines' fitness means endurance on battlefield

Story by Cpl. Steven Posy | Marine Corps Air Station Miramar | Date: 01.11.2011

SAN DIEGO -- Approximately 50 runners from Marine Corps installations around the world raced on a five-mile course for the All-Marine Cross Country championship, held here, Jan. 8.

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SCHS dance concert to help Marines

By FRED SWEGLES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Jan. 10, 2011
Updated: Jan. 11, 2011 3:20 p.m.

San Clemente High School's USA grand champion dance team invites you to visit the campus this week, be entertained for two hours and help send Valentine's Day greetings to Marines serving in Afghanistan.

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Marine cheered by home front support

By Anastasia Scarborough
Published: January 11, 2011

The daily grind for Josh Pittman and his comrades in the U.S. Marines 5th ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) can be lonely.

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January 10, 2011

Operation Valentine lets deployed Marines, sailors know they are appreciated

Story by Cpl. Zachary Nola | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.09.2011
Date Posted:01.10.2011 16:14

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The 5th Marine Regiment hosted an estimated 1,100 mothers and daughters from the non-profit National Charity League who made it their mission to ensure every deployed Marine or sailor receives a gift, when they prepared 2,400 care packages during the 4th Annual Operation Valentine at Camp San Mateo, Jan. 9.

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O.C. charity group gets a taste of Marine life

Photos and story by MINDY SCHAUER
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Jan. 10, 2011

CAMP PENDLETON – More than 1,000 teenage girls and their moms got in touch with their inner Marine at Camp Pendleton on Sunday as they took part in a combat fitness test, climbed aboard an AMK-25 truck and handled shoulder-launched, multi-purpose assault weapons.

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Corps’ most decorated unit joins 31st MEU

1/10/2011 By Capt. Caleb D. Eames , 31st MEU

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa, Japan — The most decorated infantry battalion in the Marine Corps has arrived over the past week from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new battalion landing team, with the final flight landing here Jan. 10.

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Belt native named Marine of the Year

By LANCE CPL. KENNETH JASIK • Department of Defense • January 10, 2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — A Belt native who is a wrecker operator in Afghanistan was selected as the Regional Command (Southwest) Marine of the Year on Jan. 2.

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The Toppling

How the media inflated a minor moment in a long war.

by Peter Maass
January 10, 2011

On April 9, 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Bryan McCoy, commander of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines, awoke at a military base captured from the Iraqis a few miles from the center of Baghdad, which was still held by the enemy. It had been twenty days since the invasion of Iraq began, and McCoy had some personal chores to take care of—washing his socks, for one. Afterward, he walked over to a group of marines under his command who were defacing a mural of Saddam Hussein. As I watched, he picked up a sledgehammer and struck a few blows himself. The men cheered. Then he began preparing for the serious business of the day: leading the battalion into the heart of the city. He expected a house-to-house brawl that would last several days.

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January 8, 2011

Marine’s long road to recovery

By Diana Kuyper Special to The News-Sun Jan 8, 2011 02:34AM

Marine Cpl. John Peck may have lost his legs and arms in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, but he hasn’t lost his heart.

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January 6, 2011

India Company, 3/5 Dark Horse Marines use solar power to brighten mission accomplishment

Story by Gunnery Sgt. William Price | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.06.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan -The Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment have tapped into a vital renewable energy source – the sun – to help take the fight to the enemy in Sangin District.

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3/5 Marines Fight to Secure Sangin

Video by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.06.2011

In this video, 3/5 Marines are seen patrolling, scouting, searching for IEDs, shooting at Taliban fighters and searching compounds.

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January 5, 2011

Hope for peace arises in one Afghan district

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Nestled amid Afghanistan's southwestern foothills, the lush pomegranate orchards and dense poppy groves of Sangin have seen more combat fatalities than any other district in the country.

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January 4, 2011

Camp Pendleton Marines wait for impact of Sangin peace deal

Elders pledged to quell violence in restive Afghan district

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 8 p.m.

A security deal brokered by leaders of an influential tribe is spurring hopes that the erosion of Taliban power and influence in southern Afghanistan will finally reach the violent Sangin river valley, where Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment has suffered heavy casualties in recent months.

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Crowd turns out as Marine's body comes home

January 04, 2011 5:57 AM
By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT
The Telegraph

BETHALTO — Residents, military veterans, firefighters, police officers and people from across the area came together as a family Monday to welcome Kenny Corzine back to his hometown.

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Services set for Ill. Marine killed in Afghanistan

Associated Press - January 4, 2011 8:34 AM ET

BETHALTO, Ill. (AP) - Services are scheduled Thursday for a southwestern Illinois Marine killed last month during combat operations in Afghanistan.

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India Company, 3/5 Dark Horse Marines draw “lines in the sand”

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

01.03.2011 Story by GySgt William Price 1st MarDiv SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan - The Marines of 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, with their Afghan National Army counterparts, set out on a patrol to “draw lines in the sand,” outside Patrol Base Fulod in Sangin District, Dec. 30.

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Marines ring in new year with 5k run in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 01.04.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – More than 750 service members and civilian contractors took part in the New Year’s 5k race at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Jan. 1.

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January 3, 2011

US general: Deal with tribe in Taliban bastion

By PATRICK QUINN
Associated Press
Jan 3, 11:29 AM EST

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The leaders of the largest tribe in a Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand province have pledged to halt insurgent attacks and expel foreign fighters from one of the most violent spots in the country, the senior U.S. Marine general in Afghanistan said Monday

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Afghanistan hopes tribal uprising will bring peace

Insurgents in Sangin hand in weapons in attempt to join peace process as tribal elders agree to stand up to Taliban

Jon Boone in Kabul
Monday 3 January 2011 18.22 GMT

Afghan and western officials are pinning their hopes on a tribal uprising to bring peace to the notoriously violent district of Sangin just three months after the UK left a town that had become a death trap for British troops.


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Marines remembered for dedication, sacrifice

By Cpl. Shannon E. McMillan, 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)
Monday, January 03, 2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — More than 150 service members bowed their heads in silence and paid their final respects here, Dec. 26, to two Marines who dedicated their lives to eliminating the largest threat on today’s battlefield, improvised explosive devices.

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Faces and Places - Afghanistan

Monday, January 03, 2011

The pictures speak for themselves......

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Marine Kenny Corzine comes home 1/3/2011

Date: 1/3/2011
Album ID: 1145533

Photos by John Badman


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'Men who look death in the face and continue to move forward'

1/3/2011 By Cpl. Daniel Blatter , Regimental Combat Team 2

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, in Sangin, paused to honor Cpl. Derek A. Wyatt, a team leader for 1st Platoon, Lima Company, Lance Cpl. Kenneth A. Corzine, a rifleman in 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company and Lance Cpl. Colton Rusk, a machine gunner with Weapons Company.

Continue reading "'Men who look death in the face and continue to move forward'" »

US general: deal with tribe in Taliban bastion

Posted 01.03.11

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The senior U.S. Marine general in Afghanistan says the leaders of the largest tribe in a Taliban stronghold in the southern Helmand province have pledged to halt insurgent attacks and expel foreign fighters.

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Former SAW gunner receives Silver Star

Sgt. William W. Rollins, no longer in the Corps, fought to silence the enemy and protect wounded Marines

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 3, 2011 5:53:22 EST

Sgt. William W. Rollins was on a routine reconnaissance patrol June 19, 2008, in Farah province, Afghanistan, when his unit came under fire from suspected insurgents.

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January 2, 2011

Postcards from Afghanistan

By Jeanette Steele
Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 3:31 p.m.

Marines from San Diego County are spending their holidays serving in Afghanistan, part of the American troop surge aimed at ending the nine-year-old war.

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Marine Corps Operations in Afghanistan

Credit:
Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

01/02/2011 – In this slide show, a USMC operation to ferret out adversaries and to protect the local population is pictured.

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Kilo Co, 3/5 take fight to Taliban

Video by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.02.2011

Video

Marines of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines have been meeting the Taliban daily in fire fights.

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January 1, 2011

Marines ring in new year with 5K run in Afghanistan

Photo by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 01.01.2011

Photos of service members and civilians during a 5 kilometer run at midnight to help celebrate the New Year at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

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Marines provide ammunition for warfighters in Afghanistan

1/1/2011 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — When troops outside the wire need a resupply of ammunition, they count on the Marines who work at the Field Ammunition Supply Point to provide them with the rounds they need.

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December 30, 2010

Marine Leadership Visits Marines at FOB Payne, Afghanistan

Video by Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.24.2010
Date Posted:12.30.2010 9:52AM

Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, sergeant major of the Marine Corps visit service members with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, aboard Forward Operating Base Payne, Afghanistan.

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December 29, 2010

Afghan, US forces lay stepping stone in Afghanistan’s path of progress

y by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 12.29.2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan - At first, it looks like a clinic. Afghan children and men mill about the tents with over-the-counter medicine and pamphlets. Coalition forces help distribute supplies to locals after Afghan soldiers teach classes. But this outreach program is about more than just free medicine.

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December 28, 2010

The Marines of "Crusher One"

December 28, 2010 4:31 PM

The nine-man Marine squad "Crusher One" has seen some of the heaviest fighting in the war in Afghanistan.

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"Thundering Third" Victories Come at Huge Cost

CBS News' Terry McCarthy Reports on the Physical and Mental Toll of Marines' Battles With the Taliban

By Terry McCarthy
December 28, 2010

(CBS) As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

Garmsir, Afghanistan - In Afghanistan, roadside bombs killed two more NATO service members Tuesday. Seven hundred nine NATO soldiers have been killed in 2010, the most of any year of the war. More than two-thirds were Americans.

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December 27, 2010

Marines sort holiday mail at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

Photo by Sgt. Brian Lautenslager | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.27.2010

Photos

U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) sort mail during the busy holiday season at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 27.

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He’s ‘seen enough’ of war

John K. Ryan
SouthtownStar
Dec 27, 2010 12:12AM

When he finished his first stint a year ago, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Eckert couldn’t wait to get back to Afghanistan. He immediately signed back up for a second deployment.

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Bethalto Marine Dies From Injuries

Marine Lance Corporal Kenny Corzine, 23, From Bethalto Has Died

FOX2now.com
December 27, 2010

ROXANNA, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) — A Metro East family is feeling the painful impact of the war in Afghanistan first hand. Marine Lance Corporal Kenny Corzine, 23, from Bethalto has died. Corzine had been hospitalized after losing both of his legs in an IED attack on December 5.

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December 25, 2010

Christmas On The Battlefield

Troops Celebrate Christmas in Afghanistan

News video
December 25, 2010

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Commandant spends Christmas Eve with RCT-1

Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.24.2010
Date Posted: 12.25.2010 11:13


CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan— The commandant and sergeant major of the Marine Corps stopped in at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, for a Christmas Eve dinner with Regimental Combat Team 1, Dec. 24.

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December 23, 2010

Commandant of the Marine Corps visits troops in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.23.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, accompanied by the Corps’ top enlisted Marine, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent, visited service members of 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 23.

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RCT-1 celebrates Christmas

Photo by Cpl. Skyler Tooker | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.23.2010

The Regimental Combat Team 1 Christmas party started out with a hot meal followed by Christmas presents for all the Marines, while at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 22, 2010.

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December 22, 2010

Pendleton Marine families treated by Disney on Ice

By PAUL BERSEBACH
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
[email protected]
Published: Dec. 22, 2010

ANAHEIM - Marines from Camp Pendleton and their families were treated to a little holiday rest and relaxation Wednesday with characters of the show Disney on Ice.

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Marine's services set

Family sets up music scholarship fund

By TOM KNAPP, Staff Writer
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Updated Dec 22, 2010 22:51
Lancaster

Cpl. Eric Torbert Jr. will be laid to rest Tuesday in a Lancaster cemetery.

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Raised in Dover, dog dies a hero in Afghanistan

Cole detected explosives, saved Marines' lives

By J.L. MILLER • The News Journal • December 22, 2010

Cole was born to be a champion. He died a hero.

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2/1 honors fallen brother

Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.22.2010

PATROL BASE HERNANDEZ, Afghanistan – Cpl. Chad S. Wade was remembered by his fellow Marines during a memorial service at Patrol Base Hernandez, Dec. 13.

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December 21, 2010

Desert downpour no roadblock for Marines

12/21/2010 By Gunnery Sgt. Sergio Jimenez , Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Flash flood warnings and a wrecked training area may have forced Combat Center Marines to scrub their planned 12-mile hike through the Mojave Desert, but not cancel their training plans altogether.

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I MEF receives ‘tons’ of mail during holiday season

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.21.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Spending the holidays away from family is a routine occurrence for many service members, but during the holiday season, receiving a package from a loved one is a welcomed distraction.

Continue reading "I MEF receives ‘tons’ of mail during holiday season" »

Mark Wahlberg visits Helmand province

Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.21.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Service members at Camp Leatherneck, Camp Dwyer and combat outpost Azadi had met with actor Mark Wahlberg during a holiday visit to Afghanistan, Dec. 19 and 20.

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December 20, 2010

1/5 Marines prepare for Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.20.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Marco A. Hernandez leads his Marines through a local Afghan village conducting an atmospherics patrol to assess the mood of the locals. In a heartbeat the Marines’ attention turns from interacting with the local residents to sniper fire from the bazaar.

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1/5 Marine uses combat experience to train Marines

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.20.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Marines huddled around a terrain model of the small town adjacent to their combat outpost. They listened carefully and took notes as Sgt. Michael P. Hodge, a squad leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, gave a pre-mission brief. Then they lined up at the gate and stepped out, knowing once they departed friendly lines their lives were in Hodge’s hands.

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1/5 mortarmen aim for for proficiency and cohesion

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.10.2010
Date Posted: 12.20.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, fired mortars on Range MP-2 during an 81 mm mortar shoot, Dec. 10.

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Three Pendleton Marines reflect on a year at war

Two return home from deployment, a third will spend Christmas in Helmand province

By Gretel C. Kovach
Monday, December 20, 2010 at 6 a.m.

Three Marines left Camp Pendleton for Afghanistan in the spring — a truck driver fresh from boot camp, an infantry officer ready to test himself in combat, and a sergeant major nearing retirement. • They were a few Marines among thousands sent to the war zone at a critical juncture in the nine-year war. Two have since returned home, while the third pushes to the end of a yearlong deployment with headquarters staff. • In this, the fourth and final installment of a series of profiles on their deployments, the Marines reflect on their service, how it changed them, and how it changed Afghanistan.

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Marines return home after three high-profile assignments

By TONY PERRY
Los Angeles Times
Published: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 - 12:00 am
Last Modified: Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 - 5:20 am

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Col. Roy Osborn, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, has a succinct way of explaining the deployment that just ended with the safe return of 2,300 Marines and sailors.

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December 19, 2010

Marine from Twentynine Palms receives Silver Star for bravery in Afghanistan

December 19, 2010 | 12:45 pm

William Rollins, 27, of Houston, has been awarded the Silver Star for bravery during combat in Afghanistan while serving as a sergeant in the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Marine from Twentynine Palms receives Silver Star for bravery in Afghanistan" »

A Marine gets a loud, joyous welcome home in Bridgewater

By STEPHEN REED • STAFF WRITER • December 19, 2010

BRIDGEWATER — With sirens wailing and lights flashing, a convoy of fire engines, police and rescue vehicles and motorcyclists escorted Cpl. Ryan Radwanski home on Sunday, marking his return from military service in Afghanistan.

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‘A humbling experience’

Posted: Sunday, December 19, 2010 1:31 am

POCATELLO — Lance Cpl. Ryan Swallow called his six months serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan “a humbling experience.”

Continue reading "‘A humbling experience’" »

Mark Wahlberg visits troops in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.19.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Actor Mark Wahlberg visited service members of 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Dec. 19.

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December 16, 2010

Salisbury U.S. Marine sergeant will have merry Christmas at home

After 3 tours in Iraq, one in Afghanistan, Salisbury man ready for some family time

By Earl Holland • Staff Writer • December 16, 2010

SALISBURY -- It was what Chris Manuel had awaited for a while -- the time he would be able to come home and spend the holidays with his family.

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Marine raised in Stanton Heights killed in Afghanistan

By Chris Togneri
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, December 16, 2010

A Marine who grew up in Stanton Heights died in Afghanistan, his family confirmed Wednesday.

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Frontline photos 12/16/2010

Sgt. Artur Shvartsberg / Marine Corps

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines evacuate an Afghan National Army soldier out of Forward Operating Base Jackson in Sangin, Afghanistan, on Dec. 6.

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'Secret Santa’ brings Christmas cheer to deployed troops in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.11.2010
Date Posted:12.16.2010 08:03

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – ‘Twas the month of December and all through desert lands, service members were prepared for the missions at hand. Though they would not be home for the holiday season, there was laughter and joy that came with great reason.

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Marine bomb technician dies in Afghanistan

Thursday, December 16, 2010
By Torsten Ove, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A veteran Marine bomb technician originally from Stanton Heights was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on Tuesday.

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December 15, 2010

Injured corpsman greets troops who helped save him

1st Reconnaissance Battalion arrives home in time for the holidays

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - Californian | Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:53 pm

He lost his legs, his left arm and part of his right hand to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in August, but Navy Medical Corpsman James Raffetto says that's not what's been worrying him.

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Highly educated Marine values role on front line

By Jon Rabiroff
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 15, 2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Marine Capt. Nicholas Schmitz uses a plastic bag for a toilet, showers in foul-smelling well water and often leads his platoon on patrol on the front line in the war against the Taliban.

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1st Recon Bn. returns from Afghanistan

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2010

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Approximately 220 Marines and sailors with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion returned to Camp Pendleton Dec. 15, following a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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Pair of Marine moms headed to Boston Marathon

By Mark Walker
North County Times
Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 7:51 pm

Marine moms are a strong, proud and brave bunch. But they can also be wracked with worry when their sons and daughters are at war in Afghanistan and they hear daily reports of battlefield carnage.

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December 14, 2010

Orange Grove Marine's funeral will be Saturday

Visitation will be Friday in Annaville

* By Jaime Powell
* Corpus Christi Caller Times
* Posted December 14, 2010 at 12:46 p.m.

ORANGE GROVE — The waiting is the hard part now.

Continue reading "Orange Grove Marine's funeral will be Saturday" »

Frontline photos 12/14/2010

Cpl. John M. McCall / Marine Corps

Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, patrol down route 611 during a clearing operation...

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December 13, 2010

Peleliu, Pearl Harbor return to San Diego Sunday

By Gary Robbins, UNION-TRIBUNE
Originally published December 13, 2010 at 5:50 p.m., updated December 13, 2010 at 6:20 p.m.

The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu is scheduled to return to its home port of San Diego Sunday after leading a ready group on an eventful deployment to the western Pacific.

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Pendleton tank unit to deploy to Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe - [email protected]
Posted : Monday Dec 13, 2010 17:51:44 EST

The Marine Corps has identified the unit that will operate the first U.S. tanks used in the 9-year-old war in Afghanistan.

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Advisor Training Cell continues to train the trainer

12/13/2010 By Cpl. Monty Burton , I MEF

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Tucked away in a gated compound on Camp Del Mar, the Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Advisor Training Cell work hard to prepare Marines to train and mentor Afghan national security forces.

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December 12, 2010

1st CEB, Coalition forces complete Outlaw Wrath, destroy more than 50 IEDs

Story by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.07.2010
Date Posted:12.12.2010 05:51

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), conducted an 8-day deliberate breaching operation, known as Outlaw Wrath, in the Sangin District, Nov. 29-Dec. 6.

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Survival Struggle in Sangin

Local Marines are locked in a bloody battle for the last Taliban stronghold

By ALICIA DEAN
Updated 10:35 PM PST, Sun, Dec 12, 2010

It’s one of the most critical operations in the nine-year war in Afghanistan. 20 Members of Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion 5th Marine regiment have been killed in Helmand province’s Sangin district since the beginning of October. Three of those deaths occurred this past week.

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December 10, 2010

Camp Pendleton Marines beat back insurgents

As casualties taper, commanders send in tanks in Sangin river valley in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 6:34 p.m.

Camp Pendleton Marines made advances in recent weeks in their campaign to beat back insurgents in the hard-fought Sangin river valley — the Taliban’s last major stronghold in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, their commanding general said.

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Three hooahs for adopted batallion

Marine foundation chairman creates event to boost 'Thundering Third' morale by showing them Americans still support the troops.

By Britney Barnes, [email protected]
December 10, 2010 | 12:24 p.m.

Red, white and blue balloons filled Marine View Middle School's gymnasium, and the colors were echoed throughout on banners hung on every surface.

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December 9, 2010

St. Helena Marine itching to return to Afghanistan

John Lindblom Napa Valley Register | Posted: Thursday, December 9, 2010 12:00 am

Corporal Michael DeLeon, a graduate of St. Helena High School — class of 2004 — will not soon dismiss from memory his U.S. Marine Corps tour of duty in the pervasive, all-encompassing dust in an area of Afghanistan called Deleram in the Sangin River area.

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Charles couple's son dies in Afghanistan

By Gretchen Phillips
Maryland Independent
Thursday, December 9, 2010

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. William J. Donnelly IV, the son of a Pomfret couple, died Nov. 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

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From Historic Home to Futuristic Weapons: Camp Pendleton

by Jonathan Volzke San Clemente Times
Dec 09, 2010

Camp Pendleton opened its gates on Tuesday to members of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society, who took their annual tour of the base and were treated to some behind-the-scenes sights not often enjoyed by the public.

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December 8, 2010

Marines fear toy guns could bring real problems in Afghanistan

By Jon Rabiroff
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 8, 2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Toys can now be added to the list of complications in the already complicated war here.

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Akron Marine is killed in Action

East High graduate Cpl. Derek A Wyatt dies in Afghanistan

By Jim Carney - Akron Beacon Journal | Posted: Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Friends of Marine Cpl. Derek A. Wyatt gathered at the home of his longtime friend Andy Falcone in Akron on Monday night, played Wyatt's favorite music and told stories about him.

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Vancouver Marine dies two weeks after blast in Afghanistan combat

Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Michael Russell, The Oregonian

A U.S. Marine from Vancouver died Tuesday, two weeks after he was wounded in combat operations in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday.

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Akron native killed in action in Afghanistan

Cpl. Derek Wyatt, 25, leaves behind a wife and son

By M.L. Schultze - WKSU | Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Akron’s East High School is planning a special memorial Sunday for native son Derek Wyatt, who was killed Monday in fighting in Afghanistan.

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New Afghan instructors take reigns from Marine mentors

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.08.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - With boundless motivation but limited experience, the grimacing novice soldiers attempted to muscle together machine gun parts in a fashion that geometry wouldn’t allow.

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December 7, 2010

‘Aggressive winter campaign’ in Helmand

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 7, 2010 21:49:09 EST

Marine forces in Afghanistan have launched an “aggressive winter campaign” in Helmand province that will include special operations raids, conventional military operations and efforts to improve the economy by creating jobs, said the senior Marine commander in Afghanistan.

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Orange Grove Marine Colton Rusk killed in Afghanistan

He was a senior class favorite, star football player and all-around good guy, friends said

* By Jaime Powell
* Corpus Christi Caller Times
* Posted December 6, 2010 at 5:33 p.m., updated December 7, 2010 at 6:09 a.m.

ORANGE GROVE — Colton Rusk lived his motto.

“Don’t be afraid to go after your hopes and dreams, but don’t be afraid to be willing to pay the price,” Rusk wrote under his senior photo in Orange Grove High School’s yearbook.

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CLB-7: 1st Logistics unit to go through Infantry Immersion Trainer

Story by Sgt. Whitney N. Frasier | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.07.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Every Marine is a rifleman. Now every Marine may have the chance to train like infantry regardless of their primary military occupation. Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, were the first logistical unit to complete the Infantry Immersion Trainer here, Dec. 5-Dec. 8.

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Medical personnel join forces to save lives in Sangin

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 12.07.2010

FORWARD OPERATING SABIT QADAM , Afghanistan – Sailors with the Shock Trauma Platoon, Surgical Company A, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group and the sailors with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Battalion Aid Station have the same mission in mind: save lives in Sangin, Afghanistan.

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Marines set to return home after final training

12/7/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza , 31st MEU

USS ESSEX (LHD2), OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA, Japan (Dec. 7, 2010) — The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit began operations for Keen Sword 2011, Dec. 6.

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Commandant meets with 3/5 family members

By MARK WALKER -
Staff Writer North County Times - Californian
Posted: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 8:17 pm

The head of the Marine Corps met behind closed doors Tuesday with family members from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, which has seen 18 of its members killed in Afghanistan, including two announced a few hours after the meeting.

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December 6, 2010

Funeral Saturday for Marine, ex-Buchanan student

Posted at 07:28 PM on Monday, Dec. 06, 2010
The Fresno Bee

Funeral arrangements for Marine Sgt. Matthew Abbate, a former Buchanan High student, have been set for Saturday, family spokeswoman Lisa Boyles said.

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Time, Trust Key to Progress in Afghanistan

Courtesy Story | Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs | Date: 12.06.2010

WASHINGTON - Before he went to the southern area of Afghanistan's Helmand province in October 2009 he wondered whether success was possible, a Marine Corps colonel said during an interview here, Dec. 6.

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Camp Pendleton artillery battalion remembers four Marines killed in action

The 1st Battalion, 11th Marines served in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Monday, December 6, 2010 at 2:47 p.m.

Camp Pendleton’s 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment will gather Wednesday on base for a memorial service honoring the four Marines killed in action with the unit in Afghanistan.

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Marjah school opening gives hope to Afghans' future

RCT-1
Courtesy Story
Date12.01.2010
Date Posted:12.06.2010 01:46

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - Marines and Afghan National Security Forces reached a historic milestone in the District of Marjah, with the opening of the Balakino School, Dec. 1.

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US commander inherits tough fight for Taliban state

By Claire Truscott (AFP) – 12.06.10

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — US Marines are facing heavy losses, but their commander in Helmand says "steady" progress has been made since replacing British troops in the Taliban's most notorious flashpoint.

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American Marines pay heavy price in fight for Sangin

Monday, December 6th, 2010 at 10:06 pm

American forces have suffered some of their worst casualties in the Afghan war since taking over the notorious town of Sangin from British troops.

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December 5, 2010

Infantry automatic rifle is Afghan-bound

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 5, 2010 19:10:24 EST

Five units will soon deploy with the new M27 infantry automatic rifle, a 5.56mm weapon that may one day replace the M249 squad automatic weapon. A total of 458 rifles will be delivered by the gun’s maker, Heckler and Koch, and meted out to five battalions working up for deployments to Afghanistan.

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December 4, 2010

Marine sergeant, a former Piedmont High student, killed in Afghanistan

By: Cecily Burt
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 12/03/2010 04:57:39 PM PST
Updated: 12/04/2010 09:50:13 AM PST

Even as a little boy, Matt Abbate always wanted to be a Marine.

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Sister of Clovis Marine Shares His Life's Stories

Reported by: Tony Botti, CBS47.tv
Print Story Published: 12/04 11:16 am

The sister of a Valley Marine killed in combat shares stories about her brother. Twenty six year old Sergeant Matthew Abbate died Thursday from a wound while serving a tour in Afghanistan.

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December 3, 2010

NBC San Diego presents Marine wife, son with early holiday gift

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.03.2010
Story by Sgt. Heidi Agostini

SAN DIEGO – Marine wife Krystal Dillihay-DeBaker was all smiles, Nov. 30, when she appeared on NBC San Diego’s evening news for a holiday segment.

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US troops take hard line to tame rebels of Sangin

By Julius Cavendish in Sangin
Friday, 3 December 2010

There was so much high explosive raining down it was hard to believe anyone could have survived beneath the two-hour salvo of guided artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles and strafing runs by F/A-18 warplanes and helicopter gunships.

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Camp Pendleton honors 14 troops killed in Afghanistan

An emotional goodbye to brothers in arms

By Gretel C. Kovach
Friday, December 3, 2010 at 7:01 p.m.

The battalion commander stood on the landing zone Friday, the green hills of Camp Pendleton framing his Marines arrayed in parade formation. The 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan. Fourteen of their brothers in arms did not make it home alive.

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December 2, 2010

In Afghan cauldron, realism can trump the rulebook

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
Associated Press
Dec 2, 3:47 PM EST

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) -- "Clear, hold and build" is the official formula for fighting the Taliban, but in this southern river valley, the most dangerous place in Afghanistan, the experts say you have to be a realist to succeed.

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Family proud of son who gave everything for his fellow Marines

Posted: Dec 02, 2010 7:12 PM CST
Updated: Dec 02, 2010 9:54 PM CST
By Jeff Lawson

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - On Thanksgiving Day, the Donnelly family received the news that every military family fears. They learned their son, Will, had been killed in action in Afghanistan.

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December 1, 2010

The Wolfpack Makes its Inaugural Deployment to Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.01.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan -- The Marines and sailors of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), unfurled their unit’s colors for the first time during a transfer of authority ceremony with 1st LAR Bn. at Combat Outpost Payne, Nov. 20.

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November 30, 2010

More Marine tanks arrive in Afghanistan

11/30/2010 By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tanks continue to roll into Afghanistan and are being staged here for inspection before being assigned elsewhere in Helmand province as another tool in waging counterinsurgency operations.

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192 Marines Return From Afghanistan

Marines Were Deployed To Helmand Province For 7 Months

POSTED: 4:18 pm PST November 30, 2010
UPDATED: 7:24 pm PST November 30, 2010

SAN DIEGO -- About 190 Marines returned Tuesday morning from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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Chilling ‘night letters’ from Taliban intimidate Afghans

By Jon Rabiroff
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 30, 2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan — The message addressed to the teacher and posted on the door of the new school was direct: “If you keep teaching here, you are going to die and we won’t be responsible for your death.”

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Assault Breacher Vehicle platoon clears the way

Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date: 11.28.10
Posted: 11.30.10
Location: Forward Operating Base Jackson, AF

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – For ammunition and supplies to be transported to Marines, the roads in Afghanistan need to be cleared of improvised explosive devices. With the assistance of the Marines of the Assault Breaching Vehicle platoon, safe travel on the roads is being made possible.

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November 26, 2010

Marines instruct ANA IED course

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 11.25.2010
Date Posted:11.26.2010 10:41
Location:CAMP DWYER, AF

Afghan National Army soldiers from Garmsir, Helmand province, Afghanistan, completed a four-day improvised explosive device course at Camp Garmsir, here, Nov. 25

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Deeds of Afghan, US partnership save Marines’ lives

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.26.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – When bullets begin to impact all around, a split-second decision can make the difference between life and death for a fellow comrade. For some, what happens next will make them heroes.

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Villagers claim deaths, complicating Afghan push

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
Associated Press
Nov 26, 1:27 PM EST

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) -- Locals in this southern Afghan valley have accused U.S. Marines of regularly killing civilians since they launched an aggressive campaign against the Taliban here over a month ago - claims the Marines say are untrue and fueled by insurgent propaganda.

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Combat engineers enhance security at Forward Operating

Photos by Cpl. John McCall
Date Taken: 11.18.2010
Date Posted: 11.26.2010
Photo ID:343564
VIRIN:101118-M-5160M-550
Location:FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QAL’EH, AF

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), place razor wire along the outside of Hesco barriers to ensure security at Forward Operating Base Musa Qal’eh,

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November 25, 2010

Marines in Helmand Seek Out and Destroy 8 Talib

India Company Marines seek and destroy Taliban hold on Afghan locals

by Cpl. Ned Johnson
Thursday, November 25, 2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Marines know that one of the most important things to Afghan locals is the security of their village, and sometimes providing them with that security means putting the mission of the Marine Corps rifle squad to use: “Locate, close with and destroy the enemy.”

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Thanksgiving with the Marines of 3/5

Photo by Ned Johnson
Date Taken:11.25.2010
Date Posted:11.25.2010 12:20
Photo ID:343450
VIRIN:101125-M-7110J-030
Location:AF

Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, pass through the chow line during Thanksgiving Dinner, Nov. 25.

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November 24, 2010

Three Marines, two IEDs and a lot of luck

By Jon Rabiroff
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 24, 2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Cpl. Kenneth Bowles stepped on an IED late last month patrolling near a mosque.

Continue reading "Three Marines, two IEDs and a lot of luck" »

CLB-3 provides logistics support to coalition forces

11/24/2010 By Cpl. Paul D. Zellner , Marine Corps Bases Japan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marines and sailors from Motor Transport Company B (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion 3, provided tactical logistics support to the Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force, during Operation Steel Dawn II Oct. 26 - Nov. 1.

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1st MAW reflects during unit hike

11/24/2010 By Cpl. Aaron Hostutler , Marine Corps Bases Japan

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan — "I estimate there to be 3,500 of us out here this morning," said Brig. Gen. William D. Beydler, commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "3,430 Marines lost their lives taking this island. I want you to think about what it is to be a U.S. Marine. I want you to think about your obligation to one another, your obligation to your unit, your obligation to our Corps and our country. 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, attention! Commanders prepare your Marines and sailors for a march ... Follow me!"

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Family and friends gather to pay final respects

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.24.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Family members, friends and fellow Marines gathered to pay their final respects to a fallen explosive ordnance disposal technician, Nov. 23.

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Families thrilled by their Marines' return

BY VIK JOLLY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 23, 2010
Updated: Nov. 24, 2010 6:57 a.m.

CAMP PENDLETON – He heard her first cry over the telephone.

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November 23, 2010

Food Service Company cookin’ up grub for competition

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.22.2010
Date Posted:11.23.2010 14:36

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – In the field with a makeshift chow hall set up, Marines with Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, began cooking up their best dishes, Nov. 15, in preparation for an international food service competition against the Marine Corps’ top field mess chefs.

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IED training helps Marines identify threats

Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs | Date: 11.23.2010

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – While driving down the dusty roads of Afghanistan, Marines watch out the windows of their vehicles. The lead driver halts the convoy and calls for a search team to dismount. A possible improvised explosive device has been spotted

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Amphib Peleliu returning to San Diego

By Gary Robbins
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 6 a.m.

UPDATE: The Navy hasn't announced a formal date for its return. But military officials say the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu is heading back to its homeport of San Diego, wrapping up a busy deployment that began in May. The ship, carrying the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, is expected to reach San Diego Bay by the end of the year. Another amphibious warship, the USS Pearl Harbor, also is en route back to San Diego, the Navy says.

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November 22, 2010

Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), function check their weapons

Video by Cpl. John McCall | 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.22.2010

B-roll of Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), function check their weapons before a patrol at Forward Operating Base Musa Qal'eh, Afghanistan. Marines. Produced by Cpl. John McCall. Also available in High Definition.

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November 21, 2010

3/5 PMT works hand-in-hand with AUP

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.21.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Newer police forces can benefit from training and discipline, but a good example is one of the best ways to learn

Continue reading "3/5 PMT works hand-in-hand with AUP" »

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, Oceanside; killed by bomb weeks into his first deployment

Growing up in a military family, he had traveled the world. He joined the Marines last year and had promised to finish college after his five-year enlistment.

By Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times
November 21, 2010

Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk grew up in a well-traveled military family. But his path to the Marine Corps was not a straight one.

Continue reading "Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, Oceanside; killed by bomb weeks into his first deployment" »

Proud of their Marine

LARRY HENDRICKS Assistant City Editor azdailysun.com | Posted: Sunday, November 21, 2010 5:20 am |

WILLIAMS — Family and friends remembered him as dedicated, bold, brave, unashamed and perpetually wearing a big smile.

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November 20, 2010

Saluting American Valor: Selfless courage at the moment of truth

By Andrew Lubin © Stephens Media LLC 2009 www.americanvalor.net
Saturday, November 20, 2010 10:33 PM CST

Capt. Jason Smith was frustrated. He could see where his stranded Marines were located by the smoke of their burning vehicle, yet the rescue convoy of Abrams tanks and Humvees wasn’t moving nearly fast enough.

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November 19, 2010

Kings of the Road, Jacks of all Trades: For Jump Platoon No Mission Is Too Small

Story by Sgt. Mark Fayloga | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 11.19.2010

NAWA, Afghansistan - The Jump Platoon, though the members of it would never say so themselves, is special.

Continue reading "Kings of the Road, Jacks of all Trades: For Jump Platoon No Mission Is Too Small" »

Jane Wayne Day smash hit with Marine wives

Published: Friday, November 19, 2010 9:13 PM CST
Lance Cpl. M. C. Nerl
Combat Correspondent

Wives of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Marines and sailors got a chance to walk in their husbands’ boots Wednesday when they geared up and participated in the unit’s Jane Wayne Day aboard the Combat Center and its training areas.

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Embedded Marines teaching Afghans to fend for themselves

Americans use a 'tough love' approach in training security forces to be less dependent

By Jon Rabiroff
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 19, 2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan -- Here, it seems, you can lead a force to water but you can’t make it think.

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Marine Corps sending tanks to Helmand for the first time

By Mark Walker - [email protected] - North County Times - Californian | Posted: Friday, November 19, 2010 10:45 am |

Vowing to keep the pressure on the Taliban insurgency, the U.S. Marine Corps said Friday it is sending tanks to Afghanistan for the first time in the war, which is now in its 10th year.

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November 18, 2010

7th ESB takes the step to become Combat Hunters

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.18.2010

Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group attended a five-day Combat Hunters Course here, Nov. 15-19.

Continue reading "7th ESB takes the step to become Combat Hunters" »

Hundreds pay respects as fallen Marine returns home

Article updated: 11/18/2010 09:24 PM
By Deborah Donovan and Lee Filas

Lance Cpl. James Bray Stack came home Thursday to Arlington Heights, and the community honored the fallen Marine with American flags and tears.

Continue reading "Hundreds pay respects as fallen Marine returns home" »

Arlington Heights motorcade today for fallen Marine

By Lee Filas
Article updated: 11/18/2010 08:44 AM

A motorcade of police, honor guards and patriotic motorcycle groups will escort the remains of fallen Marine James Bray Stack through Arlington Heights this morning.

Continue reading "Arlington Heights motorcade today for fallen Marine" »

November 17, 2010

Marines, Afghan soldiers launch clearing operation to inspire confidence

11/17/2010 By Cpl. Ned Johnson , Regimental Combat Team 2

SANGIN, Afghanistan — Marines are always prepared for a gun battle, but their capabilities are broader than “kill or be killed.”

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan soldiers launch clearing operation to inspire confidence" »

Marines, ANA play volleyball, strengthen relationships

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.17.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Marines and Afghan soldiers have fought many battles together in Sangin District, but today they faced off against each other in a different battle.

Continue reading "Marines, ANA play volleyball, strengthen relationships" »

US Marines want tribesmen to fight Taliban in deadly Afghan river valley

SEBASTIAN ABBOT
Associated Press
November 17, 2010|8:55 a.m.

SANGIN, Afghanistan (AP) — When members of the Alikozai tribe rose up against the Taliban in this critical insurgent stronghold, neither coalition forces nor the government in Kabul lifted a finger to help them.

Continue reading "US Marines want tribesmen to fight Taliban in deadly Afghan river valley" »

Marine engineers build outpost after clearing insurgents from town

11/17/2010 By Cpl. John McCall , 1st Marine Division

MUSA QAL'EH, Afghanistan — After an operation led by Afghan forces to eliminate the enemy threat in a local town, engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), were sent to build a new guard post to maintain security in the area, Nov. 13-14.

Continue reading "Marine engineers build outpost after clearing insurgents from town" »

November 16, 2010

Camp Pendleton's Thundering Third returns

NATO plans for four more years at war in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:25 p.m.

The families began to gather around the “Thundering Third” headquarters building after midnight, waiting in frigid darkness for the last wave of troops from Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment to return home from Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton's Thundering Third returns" »

ANA, Marines disrupt enemy, inspire confidence

Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.16.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan – Marines are always prepared for a gun battle, but their capabilities are broader than “kill or be killed.”

Continue reading "ANA, Marines disrupt enemy, inspire confidence" »

November 14, 2010

Marine pursues dream of flying

11/14/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza , 31st MEU

USS DENVER (LPD9), AT SEA — A Marine with Company A, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is on the verge of making his dreams of becoming a pilot a reality.

Continue reading "Marine pursues dream of flying" »

Communications Marines keep service members connected in Afghanistan

11/14/2010 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Without the sophisticated communications systems necessary for messages to securely travel long distances, many Marines and sailors would simply be lost in the fog of war. These systems need to be assembled and maintained though, which is where communications Marines come in.

Continue reading "Communications Marines keep service members connected in Afghanistan" »

EOD Marine remembered for heart, selflessness and courage

Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.13.2010
Date Posted:11.14.2010 09:50

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan –Coalition forces and friends gathered for a memorial service to honor Staff Sgt. Jordan B. Emrick here, Nov. 13.

Continue reading "EOD Marine remembered for heart, selflessness and courage" »

CLB-3 minimizes risk to maximize support

Story by Cpl. Daniel Woodall | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.13.2010
Date Posted:11.14.2010 10:32

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – On the morning of Nov. 8, a convoy of vehicles belonging to Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), departed here to deliver supplies to units aboard Forward Operating Bases Fiddlers Green and Geronimo. With limited visibility due to an incoming dust storm, Staff Sgt. Jesus Velasquez’s Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected All-Terrain Vehicle took a left turn and rolled into a ditch.

Continue reading "CLB-3 minimizes risk to maximize support" »

November 13, 2010

U.S.S. Jason Dunham Joins Fleet

Patrick Moussignac
November 13, 2010

PORT EVERGLADES, FL- The massive warship named after local fallen Marine Corp. Jason Dunham was officially commissioned and put into service Saturday.

Continue reading "U.S.S. Jason Dunham Joins Fleet" »

Ship named for fallen Marine ready to set sail

BY LAURA FIGUEROA
[email protected]
Posted on Saturday, 11.13.10

Deb Dunham lost a son, but along the way she gained a second family -- 300 men and women who carry on her son's legacy.

Continue reading "Ship named for fallen Marine ready to set sail" »

Crowds gather to launch new warship at Port Everglades

BY LAURA FIGUEROA
[email protected]
Posted on Saturday, 11.13.10

Sailors, their families and just plain South Floridians streamed into Port Everglades Saturday morning for a celebration of a Marine's sacrifice.

Continue reading "Crowds gather to launch new warship at Port Everglades" »

November 12, 2010

‘The Cutting Edge’ honors fallen brothers

Published: Friday, November 12, 2010 9:16 PM CST
Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson
Combat Correspondent

Four brothers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regi- ment, who were killed in action, were represented with military crosses on Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field during the units memorial service Nov. 5.

Continue reading "‘The Cutting Edge’ honors fallen brothers" »

Marines learn lessons from tragedy in Afghanistan

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
The Associated Press
Friday, November 12, 2010; 2:56 PM

PATROL BASE FULOD, Afghanistan -- The first time U.S. Marines went on patrol from this base in southern Afghanistan, the Taliban were ready. The militants shot and killed a 21-year-old lance corporal just 150 feet from the perimeter.

Continue reading "Marines learn lessons from tragedy in Afghanistan" »

Commissioning Slated for USS Jason Dunham

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2010 – Final preparations are under way in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the commissioning tomorrow of the Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, to be named honoring Marine Corps Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for heroism in Iraq.

Continue reading "Commissioning Slated for USS Jason Dunham" »

Marines take over for British in Afghan province, get aggressive

08:56 AM CST on Friday, November 12, 2010
Sebastian Abbot, The Associated Press

SANGIN, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines, who recently inherited this lush but violent river valley in Helmand province from British forces, have tossed aside their predecessors' playbook in favor of a more aggressive strategy.

Continue reading "Marines take over for British in Afghan province, get aggressive" »

Marine Brandon Pearson's promise: 'I've got your back'

written by: Jeffrey Wolf
written by: Kim Christiansen
November 12, 2010

ARVADA - If you knew Brandon Pearson you knew he was known for saying: "I've got your back bro." He made that promise to his good friends and the men in his battalion as a Marine.

Continue reading "Marine Brandon Pearson's promise: 'I've got your back'" »

November 11, 2010

PHOTOS: USS Dunham named after WNYer

Updated: Thursday, 11 Nov 2010, 3:55 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 11 Nov 2010, 3:55 PM EST

Port Everglades, FL (WIVB) - The Navy's newest missile destroyer pulled into Port Everglades, Florida last week and is named for Allegany County native Corporal Jason Dunham who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004 at the age of 22.

Continue reading "PHOTOS: USS Dunham named after WNYer" »

Engineers improve 1/8's defense in Musa Qal'eh

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date: 11.05.2010
Date Posted: 11.11.2010
Location: Musa Qal'eh, AF

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – With just sandbags and the mud walls surrounding the compound, Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, were vulnerable to enemy fire. Engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), were called in to fortify the position, Nov. 2-5.

Continue reading "Engineers improve 1/8's defense in Musa Qal'eh" »

Arlington Heights Marine dies in Afghanistan

Stacey Baca

November 11, 2010 (WLS) -- A Marine from the northwest suburbs has become the latest casualty in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Arlington Heights Marine dies in Afghanistan" »

Son of Marine General Killed in Afghanistan

2nd Lt. Robert Kelly, the Son of Lt. Gen. John Kelly, was Killed Tuesday in a Roadside Bombing

By LUIS MARTINEZ
Nov. 11, 2010

The most recent fatality in the Marine battalion that has seen the heaviest casualties in Afghanistan right now was the son of a Marine three star general.

Continue reading "Son of Marine General Killed in Afghanistan" »

235th Marine Corps Birthday Celebrated At Tip of the Spear

Regimental Combat Team 1

Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date: 11.11.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Regional Command Southwest celebrated the Marine Corps’ 235th birthday with a ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, on Nov. 10, 2010.

Continue reading "235th Marine Corps Birthday Celebrated At Tip of the Spear" »

November 10, 2010

Fighting gets intense in key Afghan town

Camp Pendleton battalion has lost 14 Marines in a little more than a month of fighting

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 8:35 p.m.

CAMP PENDLETON — Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in southwestern Afghanistan, said Wednesday that Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment drew one of the toughest assignments in Marine Corps history when it was sent in October to Sangin, a strategic crossroads town in Helmand province.

Continue reading "Fighting gets intense in key Afghan town" »

November 9, 2010

U.S. Marines take on Afghan valley that bled Brits

More aggressive strategy aims to finally rout Taliban from crossroads of gun running, drug trade

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT
The Associated Press
11/9/2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines who recently inherited this lush river valley in southern Helmand province from British forces have tossed aside their predecessor's playbook in favor of a more aggressive strategy to tame one of the most violent places in Afghanistan.


Continue reading "U.S. Marines take on Afghan valley that bled Brits" »

Prepared at all times; 31st MEU conducts urban training exercises in Singapore

11/9/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza, 31st MEU

MURAI URBAN TRAINING FACILITY, MURAI, Republic of Singapore — Marines with Company A (Reinforced), Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted urban training exercises with the military of the Republic of Singapore, Nov. 6.

Continue reading "Prepared at all times; 31st MEU conducts urban training exercises in Singapore" »

Engineers fortify a Musa Qal'eh outpost [Image 1 of 15]

1st Marine Division
Photo by John McCall
Date Taken: 11.04.2010
Date Posted: 11.09.2010 10:24
Photo ID: 338155
VIRIN: 101104-M-5160M-942
Location: MUSA QAL'EH, AF

A tram vehicle scoops up a load of dirt to fill a Hesco barrier at a small combat outpost in Musa Qal’eh, Nov. 4.

Continue reading "Engineers fortify a Musa Qal'eh outpost [Image 1 of 15]" »

November 7, 2010

Afghan Solider Suspected in Attack on Marines

Two Camp Pendleton Marines were killed in the attack

By ALICIA DEAN
Sun, Nov 7, 2010

Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Broehm of Flagstaff, Ariz and Lance Cpl. Brandon W. Pearson of Arvada, Colo. were providing security at an outpost in Southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan when someone started shooting at them.

Continue reading "Afghan Solider Suspected in Attack on Marines" »

Camp Pendleton Marines run 235-mile relay Three-day race honors Corps' birthday

By Gretel C. Kovach
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 8:56 a.m.

Camp Pendleton troops are commemorating the 235th birthday of the Marine Corps by running a 235-mile relay race across base, beginning tonight and continuing non-stop until Wednesday.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marines run 235-mile relay Three-day race honors Corps' birthday" »

November 6, 2010

Motor Transport keeps Marines in the fight

Story by Cpl. Daniel Woodall | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.06.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan –The Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) arrived here last month in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and to provide combat logistics support to units within Regimental Combat Team 1.

Continue reading "Motor Transport keeps Marines in the fight" »

Home is where the heart is: Mexico-born Marine gives back to U.S. during Afghanistan Deployment

11/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Born in Mexico, a motor transport operator from 2nd Platoon, General Support Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), did not grow up with much, but when he moved to the United States his life took a turn to the brighter side; and now he is happy to have a chance to give back to the country he now calls home.

Continue reading "Home is where the heart is: Mexico-born Marine gives back to U.S. during Afghanistan Deployment" »

I MEF (Forward) career planners retain service

Story by Sgt. Shawn Coolman | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.06.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The job of a career planner is neither glamorous nor envied, but is essential in the retention of qualified Marines.

Continue reading "I MEF (Forward) career planners retain service" »

Arvada Marine Brandon Pearson, 21, killed in Afghanistan

By Yesenia Robles
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/06/2010

Knowing the dangers he would face in Afghanistan, Brandon Pearson took full advantage of life in the days before his deployment five weeks ago.

Continue reading "Arvada Marine Brandon Pearson, 21, killed in Afghanistan" »

November 5, 2010

Triathlon team trains in open desert

Story by Lance Cpl. Michael Nerl | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 11.05.2010

The Combat Center’s triathlon team trains hard to meet their goals in their difficult sports of choice, to include weekly 25-mile rides on Wednesdays, and further training when their units’ schedules allow.

Continue reading "Triathlon team trains in open desert" »

3rd LAR heads ‘to the fight’

Courtesy Story | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms | Date: 11.05.2010

The 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Wolf Pack has finally left for their long awaited deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan, throughout the week.

Continue reading "3rd LAR heads ‘to the fight’" »

Past Drill Instructor Promotes Former Recruit

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Nov. 5, 2010 – A gunnery sergeant with 1st Marine Logistics Group’s Combat Logistics Regiment 15 promoted a Marine to the rank of staff sergeant here Nov. 1, but the first time they met was under completely different circumstances eight years ago at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Continue reading "Past Drill Instructor Promotes Former Recruit" »

Marine awarded Bronze Star for Afghan explosion

By Charles Ames on November 5, 2010

In July 2009, Alpha Co., 1st Bn, 5th Marines, nearly 200 men strong, conducted an infiltration of Nawa in southern Afghanistan. The first day they came under several firefights but were able to establish Combat Outpost Porghar.

Continue reading "Marine awarded Bronze Star for Afghan explosion" »

November 4, 2010

Heroism: Marine risks life to save others

11/4/2010 By Lance Cpl. Claudio A. Martinez , Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — Station members held a formation at the parade deck in front of Building 1 here Oct. 28 to recognize and award a local Marine for his bravery.

Continue reading "Heroism: Marine risks life to save others" »

November 3, 2010

Images: 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion [Image 1 of 19]

Regional Command Southwest
Courtesy Photo
Date Taken: 10.29.2010
Date Posted: 11.03.2010 03:53
Photo ID: 336197
VIRIN: 101030-M-0000X-002
Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF

Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion recently conducted Operation Steel Dawn II in Barham Chah.

Continue reading "Images: 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion [Image 1 of 19]" »

Musa Qal'eh Roads Made Safe by Combat Engineers

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date: October 30, 2010
Date Posted: November 3, 2010
Location: Musa Qal'eh, AF

MUSA QAL'EH, Afghanistan – Safe travel throughout the roads of Afghanistan is a must for Coalition forces, which is why combat engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), conducted a route reconnaissance mission, Oct. 30.

Continue reading "Musa Qal'eh Roads Made Safe by Combat Engineers" »

Helmand governor: US improving security in Sangin

By DAVID STRINGER
The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 3, 2010; 2:10 PM

LONDON -- Security has improved since U.S. Marines replaced British troops in a volatile area of southern Afghanistan that has seen some of the most intense combat of the war, a key Afghan official said Wednesday.

Continue reading "Helmand governor: US improving security in Sangin" »

Key Afghan official says security improving in troubled district since US troops replaced UK

November 03, 2010
The Associated Press
The Canadian Press, 2010

LONDON - The governor of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province says security has improved since U.S. Marines replaced British troops in towns that have seen the most intense combat.

Continue reading "Key Afghan official says security improving in troubled district since US troops replaced UK" »

Dental Detachment performs root canal on K-9s

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by 2nd Lt. Rebecca Burgess
Date: 11.03.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The sailors with Charlie Surgical Company’s Dental Detachment here went above and beyond their mission by opening up their doors to less traditional patients, Military Working Dogs.

Continue reading "Dental Detachment performs root canal on K-9s" »

Coalition forces repair road for Helmand village

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 11.03.2010

KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces completed road improvements near the village of Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Oct. 21, improving traffic ability for local villagers as well as Afghan National Security Forces and coalition troops.

Continue reading "Coalition forces repair road for Helmand village" »

November 2, 2010

Laguna Hills' adopted battalion loses 10 Marines

By CLAIRE WEBB and ERIKA I. RITCHIE
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 2, 2010

LAGUNA HILLS – Ten Marines from the city's adopted 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines of the 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton were killed while on patrol just 18 days into their deployment to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Laguna Hills' adopted battalion loses 10 Marines" »

3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment memorializes fallen Marines

Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter
Date10.30.2010
Date Posted:11.02.2010 00:26

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, paused to honor their fallen brothers.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment memorializes fallen Marines" »

MCCS brings morale to Kajaki Marines

Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date 10.20.2010
Date Posted: 11.02.2010 01:47

KAJAKI DAM, Afghanistan – Members of the Warrior Express Services Team, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) brought a little piece of home to the Marines of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, when the team visited them here, Oct. 17-27.

Continue reading "MCCS brings morale to Kajaki Marines" »

November 1, 2010

International force seizes explosives, weapons

Materials for more than 2,000 bombs destroyed in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published November 1, 2010 at 6:02 p.m., updated November 1, 2010 at 10:30 p.m.

International forces under the command of Camp Pendleton’s 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Forward raided a Taliban logistics hub near the Afghan border with Pakistan over the weekend, where they killed at least 15 insurgents and seized enough explosive material to make more than 2,000 bombs, the International Security Assistance Force announced Monday

Continue reading "International force seizes explosives, weapons" »

Marines Train the Afghan Trainers

Monday, November 01, 2010
by Sgt. Jesse Stence RCT-1

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – They’re young, but they don’t have the luxury of claiming inexperience; they have to make life-and-death decisions in the blink of an eye. Equipped with modern technology and senses sharpened to detect the tiniest irregularities, they’re poised to act. They are the small unit leaders – modern warriors.

Continue reading "Marines Train the Afghan Trainers" »

October 29, 2010

Coalition Forces Honor Fallen EOD Marine, Friend

Courtesy Photo
(Photo by Sgt. Brian Lautenslager)

Date Taken: 10.27.2010
Date Posted: 10.29.2010 12:16
Photo ID:334810
Location:CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF

Staff Sgt. Joshua ‘JJ’ Cullins (pictured), an explosive ordnance disposal technician with 1st EOD Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), was killed, Oct. 19, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Friends and fellow service members gathered for a memorial at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Oct. 27, to honor the life and ultimate sacrifice of Cullins, 28, of Simi Valley, Calif.

Continue reading "Coalition Forces Honor Fallen EOD Marine, Friend" »

3rd Battalion, 7th Marines come home

Published: Friday, October 29, 2010 2:28 PM CDT
Story and photos by
Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson
Combat Correspondent

The business of everyday life had slowed down, and the familiar noisiness of the military compound was nearly nonexistent. As the Combat Center seemed to be asleep, a loud roar of cheers and whistles pierced through the calm, announcing to the installation that 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment was finally home.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion, 7th Marines come home" »

October 28, 2010

Engineers practice sweep techniques

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. John McCall
Date10.27.2010
Date Posted:10.28.2010 13:06
Location:CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGlobe

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QALEH, Afghanistan – The importance of countering improvised explosive devices is constantly on the minds of the Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion as they refreshed their skills during IED detection training at Forward Operating Base Musa Qaleh, Afghanistan, Oct. 27.

Continue reading "Engineers practice sweep techniques" »

October 27, 2010

Engineers working behind the scenes in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.27.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – I Marine Headquarters Group (Forward) engineers make the way of life better for service members at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Engineers working behind the scenes in Afghanistan" »

Parents of LAPD officer killed by bomb had feared for his safety

As a Marine reservist disarming roadside bombs in Afghanistan, Joshua Cullins knew he had one of the most dangerous jobs on Earth. He died just two days before he was to be reassigned.

By Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times
October 27, 2010

He was only two days away from being reassigned to a base camp administrative job after spending six months in Afghanistan disarming roadside bombs.

Continue reading "Parents of LAPD officer killed by bomb had feared for his safety" »

October 26, 2010

Camp Pendleton Marines see heavy combat in Sangin

General says clear, hold, build strategy progressing

By Gretel C. Kovach
Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 6:21 p.m.

It is a familiar pattern for Marines serving in Helmand province, a stronghold of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. Their initial pushes into areas controlled by insurgents have been met with heavy resistance, including small arms fire, ambushes, and lethal improvised bomb attacks.

Continue reading "Camp Pendleton Marines see heavy combat in Sangin" »

Frontline photos

10/26/2010

LANCE CPL. JAMES. B NOVLE / MARINE CORPS

A Marine from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, fires a mortar round during combat operations Oct. 19 at Forward Operating Base Nolay, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Frontline photos" »

October 23, 2010

'One of the finest young men I ever coached'

By Kelly Koopmans
Story Published: Oct 23, 2010 at 8:57 PM PDT

EUGENE, Ore. -- The thundering roar of 100 engines echoed throughout Eugene as a caravan rolled into the parking lot of Garden Way Christian Church.

Continue reading "'One of the finest young men I ever coached'" »

Female Engagement Team builds bridges into Afghan society

Story by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 10.23.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - As the Female Engagement Team of Regimental Combat Team 1 patrols the fields, canals and villages of Helmand, they are bridging the cultural gap that is sometimes at the forefront of the counterinsurgency here.

Continue reading "Female Engagement Team builds bridges into Afghan society" »

October 22, 2010

U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan was expected to return home to N.J. in a month

Published: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 9:45 PM
Updated: Friday, October 22, 2010, 5:27 AM
Rohan Mascarenhas/The Star-Ledger

ELIZABETH — Marine Lance Cpl. Francisco R. Jackson called his family in Elizabeth on Monday to deliver a hopeful message from Afghanistan.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan was expected to return home to N.J. in a month" »

RCT-7 remembers 74 fallen brothers

Published: Friday, October 22, 2010 2:01 PM CDT
Lance Cpl. Sarah Anderson
Combat correspondent

Rows of military crosses solemnly lined Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Oct. 15 during a memorial ceremony dedicated to the 74 men lost during to Regimental Combat Team 7’s recent deployment to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "RCT-7 remembers 74 fallen brothers" »

Marine from St. Charles County laid to rest

BY SHANE ANTHONY • [email protected] > 636-255-7209 www.STLtoday.com
Posted: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:20 am

St. Peters • A Marine who died in Afghanistan was remembered Thursday as an upbeat young man who took honor and duty seriously.

Continue reading "Marine from St. Charles County laid to rest" »

October 20, 2010

New Jersey Marine Dies in Afghanistan

Published : Wednesday, 20 Oct 2010, 4:42 PM EDT
MYFOX NEW YORK STAFF REPORT

A Marine from New Jersey was killed in Afghanistan this week, the Department of Defense reported. Lance Cpl. Francisco R. Jackson, 24, of Elizabeth, died Oct. 19 during combat operations in Helmand province, the military said Wednesday.

Continue reading "New Jersey Marine Dies in Afghanistan" »

Names of Four Fallen Marines Released

Contributor: San Diego 6 News Team
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 10/14 6:37 pm

SAN DIEGO - The Pentagon released the names today of four Camp Pendleton-based Marines who died in combat this week in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Names of Four Fallen Marines Released" »

Simi Valley Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Tony Castro, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/20/2010 07:10:07 PM PDT

Friends who knew Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Cullins when he worked at his father's Northridge delicatessen said Wednesday they will always remember the slain Marine as a caring young man who wanted nothing more than to make his family proud.

Continue reading "Simi Valley Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

Fallen Combat Camera Marine honored by 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment

1st Marine Division
Story by Gunnery Sgt. William Price
Date 10.18.2010
Date Posted: 10.20.2010 00:12

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, paused to honor Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri during a memorial ceremony held at Camp Leatherneck, Oct. 18. Fabbri, 20, was killed in action, Sept. 28, while on patrol in the Sangin District.

Continue reading "Fallen Combat Camera Marine honored by 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment" »

October 19, 2010

Weaning Afghan Farmers off Opium Will Take Time

October 19, 2010 3:31 PM
Posted by Terry McCarthy

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

When we first came to Garmsir in southern Helmand with the 3/1 Marines in April, there were poppy fields everywhere. Each patrol we went out on, we tramped through fields of the recently harvested plant, the bulbs scored diagonally to allow the resin to ooze out. After a couple of weeks the farmers returned to gather seeds from the dried-out pods and set them aside for the next planting season. That starts next month if they go ahead and plant poppy again.

Continue reading "Weaning Afghan Farmers off Opium Will Take Time" »

Slain Marine, A Clarksville Graduate, Remembered

Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 8:56 am
By Hicham Raache
TIMES RECORD • [email protected]

A Clarksville Marine killed in battle on Thursday is remembered by family and fellow Marines as a decent and loving man who exemplified the strong character of a Marine.

Continue reading "Slain Marine, A Clarksville Graduate, Remembered" »

Leaving from Lambeau Soldier honored at Packers game before deployment

10/19/2010 5:16:00 PM
by Jamie Falkovitz

Marine Lance Corporal Andrew Koenig-Shutts enjoyed his 50-yard-line seats at Lambeau Field, presented through Operation Fan Mail, for his last Green Bay Packers game before heading overseas.

Continue reading "Leaving from Lambeau Soldier honored at Packers game before deployment" »

Marines wash cars, raise money for families

By KRISTY CHU
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Oct. 19, 2010

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – A little rain didn't deter residents from bringing their cars, trucks and motorcycles to Santa Margarita Ford Sunday to be hand washed by a member of the city's adopted Marines battalion.

Continue reading "Marines wash cars, raise money for families" »

Transportation Support Company B contributes to big picture missions

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan
Date 10.19.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Standing in the crisp air of the Afghanistan morning, service members with Transportation Support Company B awaited their brief, in which the details of their convoy would be addressed.

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October 18, 2010

Two more Camp Pendleton Marines killed in Afghanistan

Eleven base troops have died in fighting since Oct. 8

By MARK WALKER
North County Times - Californian
Posted: Monday, October 18, 2010 2:14 pm

Two more Camp Pendleton Marines have been killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Monday, making the last five days the deadliest period for locally based troops since the war began in 2001.

Continue reading "Two more Camp Pendleton Marines killed in Afghanistan" »

First Marine female engagement team returns home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan

By Laura Barron-Lopez
Daily Titan News Director
Published: October 18, 2010

As soon as the bus carrying Marines who had been at war in Afghanistan came into view, tears began to stream down the cheeks of mothers and fathers who had not seen their daughters for seven months.

Continue reading "First Marine female engagement team returns home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan" »

A Birthday Party in Helmand Province

Posted by Terry McCarthy
October 18, 2010 2:35 PM

It was the most unlikely place for a birthday party: Observation Post Harris, a Marine observation post beside a dirt road, backing onto a canal, in the middle of the countryside, in the middle of a war.

Continue reading "A Birthday Party in Helmand Province" »

Dallas Marine, killed in Afghanistan, had strong sense of self

Published: Monday, October 18, 2010, 8:25 PM
Alyssa Karas, The Oregonian

U.S. Marine Sgt. Ian M. Tawney always maintained close ties to his Dallas roots, but even from an early age, he loved to explore.

Continue reading "Dallas Marine, killed in Afghanistan, had strong sense of self" »

IED threat relevant to all of 1st CEB

1st Marine Division
Story by Lance Cpl. John McCall
Date 10.15.2010
Date Posted: 10.18.2010 07:43

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), were shown basic route clearance techniques and procedures by 3rd CEB engineers during counter improvised explosive device training here, Oct. 15.

Continue reading "IED threat relevant to all of 1st CEB" »

October 17, 2010

3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment memorializes fallen Marine

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter
Date 10.16.2010
Date Posted:10.17.2010 11:32

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, in Sangin, paused to honor Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks. Sparks, 23, a machine gunner with Weapons Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines was killed in action, Oct. 8.

Continue reading "3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment memorializes fallen Marine" »

October 16, 2010

Manitowoc Marine Cpl. Justin J. Cain recalled as 'great guy'

Cain killed serving in Afghanistan

By Charlie Mathews • Gannett Wisconsin Media • October 16, 2010

MANITOWOC — The devastating news spread Friday among friends and former Lincoln High School classmates that U.S. Marine Cpl. Justin J. Cain had been killed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Manitowoc Marine Cpl. Justin J. Cain recalled as 'great guy'" »

9 Marines From Same Regiment Killed in Afghanistan

The latest casualty, Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, from Oceanside, died Friday

By MICHELLE WAYLAND and ALICIA DEAN
Updated 1:56 PM PDT, Sat, Oct 16, 2010

Nine Camp Pendleton-based Marines have been killed in Afghanistan in one week. All were members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Continue reading "9 Marines From Same Regiment Killed in Afghanistan" »

October 15, 2010

Female Engagement Team Members Back From Afghanistan

Dozens Of Members Were In Afghanistan For 7 Months

POSTED: 8:36 am PDT October 15, 2010

SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of female marines based at Camp Pendleton returned from a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan Friday morning. The women, who are part of the Female Engagement Team, arrived by bus from March Air force Base in Riverside County just before 4 a.m. Hundreds of relatives from across the country were waiting to welcome them home.

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Two memorials planned for Albany Marine

By Cathy Ingalls, Albany Democrat-Herald democratherald.com
Posted: Friday, October 15, 2010 7:30 am

The body of Albany Lance Cpl. Marine Joe Rodewald, who was killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, is expected to arrive Friday at Dover Air Force Base in Maryland.

Continue reading "Two memorials planned for Albany Marine" »

Byron Marine, 19, killed in Afghanistan

By Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Oct 15, 2010 @ 10:52 PM

BYRON — The war in Afghanistan has struck close to home.

Continue reading "Byron Marine, 19, killed in Afghanistan" »

River crossing skills essential in Afghanistan strategy

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms
Courtesy Story
Date 10.15.2010
Location:BRIDGEPORT, CA, US

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – Afghanistan’s rolling hills, and seasonal snowfall supply many rivers and streams throughout the country, many of which have no bridges to aid in crossing.

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31st MEU visits Philippine school

10/15/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza , 31st MEU

SUBIC BAY, Republic of the Philippines — “Welcome to our home, welcome to our school” was the song the students of Gordon Heights, an elementary school near Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, sang as Marines and Sailors deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit walked through its gates. The troops were warmly welcomed with smiles and shouts from nearly 600 Filipino students, anxious to shake hands and talk to the service members.

Continue reading "31st MEU visits Philippine school" »

‘Magnificent Bastards’ utilize Steel Knight for future operations

10/15/2010 By Lance Cpl. William J. Jackson

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – — As Marines traveled through Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain towns, they were constantly kept on their toes. Improvised explosive devices were a serious threat, every Afghan citizen was suspicious, every weapon at the ready. This was a small taste of the reality Marines face on the true battlefield.

Continue reading "‘Magnificent Bastards’ utilize Steel Knight for future operations" »

Marines Deploy ‘Green’ Forward Operating Base to AfghanistanMarines Deploy ‘Green’ Forward Operating Base to Afghanistan

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2010 – The Marine Corps has deployed an experimental forward operating base to Afghanistan to assess how it stands up to rugged operational conditions while relying solely on renewable technology and energy-saving techniques.

Continue reading "Marines Deploy ‘Green’ Forward Operating Base to AfghanistanMarines Deploy ‘Green’ Forward Operating Base to Afghanistan" »

Seven Camp Pendleton-based Marines killed this week in Afghanistan

North County Times staff North County Times
Posted: Friday, October 15, 2010 11:01 pm

Seven Camp Pendleton-based Marines died in Afghanistan this week, including four who were killed in a single roadside bomb blast, making it perhaps the deadliest week for locally based troops since recent increases in military operations in the 9-year-old war.

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October 14, 2010

Granite Bay Marine dies in Afghanistan

Private First Class Victor A. Dew was one of four U.S. Marines killed Wednesday

Roseville Press Tribune
October 14, 2010

A Granite Bay man was killed Wednesday during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Granite Bay Marine dies in Afghanistan" »

Marines Train Bomb Disposal Teams with Hidden (Fake) IEDs

Posted by Terry McCarthy
October 14, 2010 2:34 PM

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

It is scary to see how easy it is to bury an IED - the improvised explosive devices that are responsible for two-thirds of U.S. fatalities in Afghanistan - and then to cover up all traces of where it is hidden. We got a demonstration on Wednesday.

Continue reading "Marines Train Bomb Disposal Teams with Hidden (Fake) IEDs" »

SMP improves single Marines morale, quality of life

10/14/2010 By Lance Cpl. John Robbart III , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Marines who live in the barracks are notorious for either playing video games, or staying at the gym, but with the help of an on base program single service members can experience what Southern California has to offer.

Continue reading "SMP improves single Marines morale, quality of life" »

October 13, 2010

Concrete Results for Marines in Safar Bazaar

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

October 13, 2010 1:59 AM

SAFAR BAZAAR, Afghanistan.

The Marines captured Safar Bazaar (at left) in southern Helmand from the Taliban in two days at the beginning of August. Then began the long process of clearing the area of IEDs (improvised explosive devices.) It was a painstaking process that involved many weeks of probing in the dirt on roads and pathways, under trees and in the walls and doorways of buildings. The majority of the locals were delighted the Taliban had been driven out, as they ruled the population by fear, restricting their movements severely. But they were unable to help the Marines to find many of the IEDs in the market area - even if many would have liked to help.

Continue reading "Concrete Results for Marines in Safar Bazaar" »

Landing support detachment, Kandahar

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date 10.13.2010

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – When a Marine flight lands in Kandahar, landing support Marines from Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are responsible for making sure all personnel and equipment get to their final destination.

Continue reading "Landing support detachment, Kandahar" »

October 12, 2010

Chicago Marine killed in Afghanistan

Awarded Purple Heart and other honors

By Duaa Eldeib, Tribune reporter
7:37 p.m. CDT, October 12, 2010

A Chicago Marine on his first combat deployment was killed in Afghanistan on Friday.

Continue reading "Chicago Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

October 11, 2010

Afghans frustrate Marines: 'We need your help - to help you'

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Oct 11, 2010 at 4:25 PM PDT

With 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Echo Company

MARJAH, Afghanistan - As the Marines run across a main road, there are no men on mopeds or children hanging out in crowds.

Continue reading "Afghans frustrate Marines: 'We need your help - to help you'" »

Marines Help Afghan Kids go to School

Posted by Terry McCarthy
October 11, 2010 3:32 PM

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

The last time we were in Safar Bazaar in southern Helmand province in August, the main street with its stores was strewn with improvised explosive devices - IEDs - and deserted. The 3/1 Marines had just attacked the town from the desert and driven the Taliban out, but the locals were scared to come back until all the bombs had been cleared.

Continue reading "Marines Help Afghan Kids go to School" »

October 10, 2010

1st Marine Division (Forward) honors brothers

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date10.10.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan— Marines of 1st Marine Division (Forward) paid tribute to the lives and service of their fallen brothers during a Colors and Memorial ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Oct. 10.

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Maintenance Marines keep vehicles in the fight.

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date10.10.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – When the wear and tear from driving through southwestern Afghanistan or a blast from an improvised explosive device damages a tactical vehicle, it could mean the end of the line. However, the Maintenance Company Marines of Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are able to restore it to it’s operational capability.

Continue reading "Maintenance Marines keep vehicles in the fight." »

October 9, 2010

1st Marine Division (Fwd) Marines set up training operation for corporals

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date 10.08.2010
Date Posted: 10.09.2010 14:02

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan— Marines with 1st Marine Division (Forward) Afghan National Security Force cell organized a convoy training course, Oct. 8, at Camp Leatherneck.

Continue reading "1st Marine Division (Fwd) Marines set up training operation for corporals" »

October 8, 2010

VMGR-352, 1st Recon reunite for aerial insert

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla
Date 10.05.2010
Date Posted: 10.08.2010 09:07

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), teamed up with Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), to hone their aerial insertion skills here Oct. 5.

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Chaplain assistant serves God, Country, for more than 25 years

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date 10.08.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—Boyd Lewis has spent nearly 26 years in the military. The Petty Officer 1st Class has joined the 1st Marine Division (Forward) for one last deployment before retirement.

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Rocket Artillery Marines fire precision missiles

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson
Date 10.06.2010
Date Posted: 10.08.2010 06:20

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – A pillar of counterinsurgency operations is protecting local civilians and one specialized artillery battery is proving their weapon system does just that.

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October 7, 2010

General tells Camp Pendleton group that Marines ‘are winning the war’ in Afghanistan

October 7, 2010
7:16 pm

The top Marine in Afghanistan, speaking at Camp Pendleton on Thursday, gave an upbeat assessment of the Marines' progress in Helmand province, long a Taliban stronghold.

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Local Marines welcomed home

October 7, 2010
By CATHRYN GRAN [email protected]

Two Elmwood Park Marines are home for good.

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October 6, 2010

Shell-Shocked Dog of War Finds a Home With the Family of a Fallen Hero

Jason's Death in Iraq Left Room for a Marine at the Dunhams' House; Gunner Fit the Bill

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
OCTOBER 6, 2010

SCIO, N.Y.—Gunner, a bomb-sniffing dog mustered out of the Marines for canine post-traumatic stress disorder, has found a new home with Deb and Dan Dunham, whose Marine son died in Iraq protecting the men beside him.

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MHCS supports troops as they prepare for Afghanistan

Story by DIANE KENNEDY
Published: Oct. 6, 2010 11:55 a.m.
FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Mission Hills Christian School in Rancho Santa Margarita has pledged its support to the 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan for seven months. Nine Marines and sailors from the battalion, including the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Matt Reid, recently spoke to students and faculty during three chapels held at the school.

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October 4, 2010

U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: October 4, 2010

With insurgents increasingly attacking the American fuel supply convoys that lumber across the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, the military is pushing aggressively to develop, test and deploy renewable energy to decrease its need to transport fossil fuels.

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Brothers in Arms, Side-by-Side at Arlington

Good Friends at the Naval Academy and Both Killed in Combat, Travis Manion and Brendan Looney Now Lie in Rest Together

By David Martin
Oct. 4, 2010

(CBS) Travis Manion and Brendan Looney were roommates at the Naval Academy, close as brothers. One became a Marine and went to Iraq, the other a Navy Seal in Afghanistan. On Monday they were reunited, side-by-side in Arlington National cemetery, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

Continue reading "Brothers in Arms, Side-by-Side at Arlington" »

Brother duo reunited in country

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Shannon McMillan
Date 09.30.2010
Date Posted: 10.04.2010 02:17

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – For many, deployments mean being apart from loved ones, but for one brother duo it means a reunion.

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C Surg. Company saves baby’s life

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by 2nd Lt. Rebecca Burgess
Date 10.02.2010
Date Posted: 10.04.2010 02:21

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM, Afghanistan—A helo rapidly approached the tent where a team of medical professionals from Charlie Surgical Company, 1st Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15 (Forward), 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD) waited for the controlled chaos to begin.

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October 3, 2010

76 Marines killed in Afghanistan since May 1

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Oct 3, 2010 11:07:20 EDT

Last November, President Obama announced that 30,000 additional U.S. troops, including 8,500 Marines, would deploy to Afghanistan. The troops would push the Corps’ footprint in hostile Helmand province to more than 20,000.

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Officers pass their rank down the promotion line

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date 10.03.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Promotion to the next rank is a memorable event for any Marine, but for Marines of the Afghanistan National Security Forces Development Cell, 1st Marine Division (Forward), it was an especially significant event as they promoted three Marine officers to the next rank, Oct. 1.

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October 2, 2010

Two U.S. war casualties three years apart share a final resting place

By Logan Burruss, CNN
October 2, 2010 8:18 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- In a quiet ceremony Friday at Arlington National Cemetery, a Marine killed three years ago in Iraq was reburied to be next to his close friend, a Navy SEAL who was recently killed in Afghanistan and who will be laid to rest alongside the Marine on Monday.

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"These Colors Don't Run"

Date Taken: 09.29.2010
Date Posted: 10.02.2010 12:03

Cpl. Jorge Villarreal, a motor transportation mechanic with India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, leans over the edge of a compound in Kajaki to remind his fellow Marines why they are here, and what it is they are fighting for.

Continue reading ""These Colors Don't Run"" »

October 1, 2010

Twentynine Palms Marines and Sailors Coming Home

October 1, 2010
Reported by: KPSP Local 2 News
Created: 10:58 am

Some great news out of Twentynine Palms. Marines and sailors from the 7th regiment will be back home on Monday.

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1/11 names firebase, honors fallen Marine

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson
Date 10.01.2010

FIREBASE SEINZ, Afghanistan – For years, military members have been naming bases and buildings after fallen warriors.

Continue reading "1/11 names firebase, honors fallen Marine" »

September 29, 2010

Pa. Marine combat photographer dies in Afghanistan

Pa. Marine combat photographer dies in Afghanistan

September 29, 2010

GALLITZIN, Pa. (AP) — A Marine from central Pennsylvania has been killed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Pa. Marine combat photographer dies in Afghanistan" »

Marines put new focus on treating brain injuries

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.

Source: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — The first bomb blast that day left Sgt. Michael Monday light-headed. The next one knocked him unconscious for 10 minutes.

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September 28, 2010

Marines Reach Milestone in Pakistan Disaster Relief

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Story by Capt. Paul Duncan
Date 09.28.2010

PANO AQIL, Pakistan – Marines and sailors of HMM-165 Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and VMM-266, 26th MEU have reached another significant milestone today after delivering 1,545,260 pounds of relief supplies since their arrival in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan.

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RCT-7 concludes historic deployment in Helmand province

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly
Date09.28.2010

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Last year, Now Zad was a ghost town. Helicopters and vehicle convoys purposely avoided the Taliban safe haven of Marjah. Nobody ventured as far south into Helmand province’s village of Safaar.

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Corps targets energy use in combat, at home

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 28, 2010 9:22:58 EDT

In the Marine Corps, being environmentally friendly is about more than just saving the planet — it’s about saving lives and money.

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September 27, 2010

BLT 1/1 trains for future with Special Operations Training Group

3th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Courtesy Story
Date 09.27.2010

When Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 1st Marines deploys with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit next year, its Marines and sailors could find themselves raiding multiple enemy camps, neutralizing enemy fighters on ships and other various mission sets.

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Marines are changed by Afghan mission

By: Sara A. Carter
National Security Correspondent
September 27, 2010

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Matt Garst earned the nickname "The Unbreakable Marine" during the campaign to pacify the area around the town of Marja.

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September 26, 2010

RCT-7 surgeon plays harmonica to pass time in Afghanistan

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date 09.26.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Whenever Cmdr. Rodney Pray, the Regimental Combat Team 7 surgeon, has a little down time, and isn’t working with the Marines and focusing on the mission, he reaches into his pocket and pulls his harmonica out, plays a few of his favorite songs from the “Rolling Stones,” and relaxes.

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‘My job didn’t take my legs’

Injured Marine progresses through good times, bad

Jamie Jones
Sun Sep 26, 2010, 01:25 AM EDT

DALTON — The raucous blast propelled Joey Jones skyward to the heavens.

Continue reading "‘My job didn’t take my legs’" »

Pendleton Marines take fight to insurgents

The message: We are watching

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published September 25, 2010 at 11:03 p.m., updated September 26, 2010 at 12:02 a.m.

YAKCHAL, Afghanistan — In the deserts of southern Afghanistan, Marines from Camp Pendleton’s 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion are sending a message to insurgents: We are watching.

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September 25, 2010

Recon Marine Who Survived Sniper Attack earns Purple Heart

1st Marine Division
Story by Gunnery Sgt. William Price
Date 09.25.2010
Location:CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF

Sgt. David Fresenius was lying on a rooftop in Helmand province’s Trek Nawa on the morning of June 21. His machine gunner and radio operator, Cpl. Greg Harris, was by his side, providing over-watch security for their unit, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion.

Continue reading "Recon Marine Who Survived Sniper Attack earns Purple Heart" »

September 24, 2010

Devil dogs help sniff out IED’s

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
09.24.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST SHABU, Afghanistan – Leading patrols and sniffing out improvised explosive devices may seem like a game for Cpl. Twister, but what she doesn’t know, is that this "game" is saving the lives of many Marines.

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Marines to perform reconnaissance for solar in Afghanistan

By Melissa Mahony | Sep 24, 2010

Over the summer, a regiment of 150 marines tested and trained with an assortment of solar devices at Camp Pendleton, California. Soon they’ll be leaving for Afghanistan, packing solar panels, solar heating/cooling devices, LED lights, solar light trailers for use at check points, and solar powered generators. They’ll also bring conventionally fueled generators. Just in case.

Continue reading "Marines to perform reconnaissance for solar in Afghanistan" »

September 23, 2010

LAR Marines keep Shabu safe

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
Date 09.23.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST SHABU, Afghanistan – After Marines patrolled through the hot Afghan desert, jumping over canals and traversing cropped fields possibly laden with improvised explosive devices, they finally arrived at the remote village of Shabu.

Continue reading "LAR Marines keep Shabu safe" »

September 22, 2010

Marine dogs have noses for explosives

By Gretel C. Kovach
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 6:43 p.m.

LAKI, Afghanistan — A corporal walked point ahead of the other troops headed back to base, checking the dusty road for bombs. The four-legged Marine in the lead — a black Labrador dog named Boone — has a good nose for explosives. So far on his first war-zone tour, he has found at least two bombs.

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Green Marines Phase Out Fuel, Take Solar Generators to War

By Katie Drummond
September 22, 2010 9:59 am

The greenest Marine company ever is going to war, as they prep to deploy with a new collection of solar powered equipment that could reduce their fuel consumption in Afghanistan by 30 to 50 percent.

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September 21, 2010

1st MLG Marines leave to join fight in Afghanistan

9/21/2010
By Lance Cpl. Damien Gutierrez
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A group of service members with 1st Marine Logistics Group said goodbye to their families before leaving Camp Pendleton to join the fight in Afghanistan, Sept. 17.

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Military compound named after local Marine killed in Afghanistan

John Davis • Poughkeepsie Journal • September 21, 2010

A new U.S. military intelligence compound in the desert of Afghanistan bears the name of a Marine captain from Pleasant Valley who died in battle there.

Continue reading "Military compound named after local Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

Bomb technician re-enlists in war-torn Sangin

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer
Date 09.18.2010
Date Posted: 09.21.2010 05:57

SANGIN, Afghanistan – In the morning on a quiet rooftop aboard Forward Operating Base Jackson in the volatile Sangin District, Sgt. Joshua A. Shoda, 26, from Columbia City, Ind., raised his right hand to re-enlist for another four years in the Marine Corps, Sept. 18.

Continue reading "Bomb technician re-enlists in war-torn Sangin" »

September 20, 2010

Inside Afghanistan: soliders speak about Sangin

Published: 1:28PM BST 20 Sep 2010

Servicemen talk about their experiences in Sangin as UK forces hand over responsibility to the US in southern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Inside Afghanistan: soliders speak about Sangin" »

Afghanistan: 'Job Is Not Yet Done In Sangin'

Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent, in Afghanistan
10:41am UK, Monday September 20, 2010

For British forces in Afghanistan, the name Sangin is synonymous with death, injury and Taliban insurgency.

Continue reading "Afghanistan: 'Job Is Not Yet Done In Sangin'" »

British troops hand Afghan district to Americans

By the CNN Wire Staff
September 20, 2010 -- Updated 0947 GMT (1747 HKT)

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- British forces in southern Afghanistan have handed responsibility for security in Sangin district to American troops, the British and American militaries said Monday.

Continue reading "British troops hand Afghan district to Americans" »

Pain and reflection for Sangin troops

By Ian Pannell
20 September 2010 Last updated at 07:11 ET
BBC News, Helmand

"There've been really bad days, especially when one of our lads got killed. That was hard to carry on."

Continue reading "Pain and reflection for Sangin troops" »

September 17, 2010

Afghan-led partnered force finds insurgents’ weapons stockpile

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Media Operations Center
Story by 1st Lt. Neil Samson
Date 09.17.2010

An Afghan-led force, advised by members of Special Operations Task Force – South, was tipped off by locals to a large weapons cache and recovered a number of improvised explosive devices and IED-making material, Sept. 16, in the Arghandab River Valley.

Continue reading "Afghan-led partnered force finds insurgents’ weapons stockpile" »

The Hardest Part is Goodbye: HMH-362 departs for Afghanistan

By Lance Cpl. Tyler L. Main, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
9/17/2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION KANEOHE BAY — After six hours of loading three helicopters and two large pallets of supplies, 12 men attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 “The Ugly Angels” are damp with sweat. They walk back to Hangar 105 to meet their families. They sit down to eat, their last meal with loved ones before leaving for six months. Everyone is smiling but emotions are hard to read at 20 minutes to take off.

Continue reading "The Hardest Part is Goodbye: HMH-362 departs for Afghanistan" »

September 16, 2010

British, U.S. Marines forge bond playing cricket

Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson
Date 09.16.2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan - Sometimes an explosion breaks the silence of an afternoon in Sangin, but today the silence was broken with cheers.

Continue reading "British, U.S. Marines forge bond playing cricket" »

Families and Friends Bid Farewell to Marines and Sailors of RCT-1

1st Marine Division
Courtesy Story
By Pfc. Alfred V. Lopez
Date 09.16.2010

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A cold chill was felt in the air while friends and families helped their Marines carry their gear to their assigned staging areas. It was not the kind of cold a sister can cover with a blanket or a mother can help with a warm cup of coffee. This was the type of bitter cold only the homecoming of a friend, brother, father, or son can embrace away.

Continue reading "Families and Friends Bid Farewell to Marines and Sailors of RCT-1" »

September 15, 2010

Historic landing reunites past with present

9/15/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza , 31st MEU

INCHEON, Republic of Korea — Family, friends and service members from around the world gathered in one place today to honor the alliance of the Republic of Korea, Australia, and the United States, and to remember those who gave everything defending freedom.

Continue reading "Historic landing reunites past with present" »

No support committee just yet for Laguna Hills' adopted battalion

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Sept. 15, 2010

LAGUNA HILLS – Councilwoman Melody Carruth was unable to get her colleagues' support on Tuesday to reestablish a steering committee to support Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines of the 1st Marine Division, the city's adopted battalion.

Continue reading "No support committee just yet for Laguna Hills' adopted battalion" »

PURPLE HEART WINNER COMES HOME

Liberty City man credits staff sergeant with saving his life

2010-09-15 / Front Page
By AARON MAY
[email protected]

An East Texas Marine is happy to be alive and back home after an attack in Afghanistan nearly claimed his life over the summer.

Continue reading "PURPLE HEART WINNER COMES HOME" »

September 14, 2010

City to look at renewing support for Marine battalion

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Sept. 14, 2010
Updated: Sept. 15, 2010 11:36 a.m.

LAGUNA HILLS – Councilwoman Melody Carruth will ask her council colleagues on Tuesday to establish a new military steering committee to support Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines of the 1st Marine Division, the city's adopted battalion.

Continue reading "City to look at renewing support for Marine battalion" »

September 13, 2010

U.S. Takes Over Fight in Helmand

As British Soldiers Leave Bloody Afghan Province, American Troops Try Out More-Mobile Strategy

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
* SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan—After four bloody and frustrating years trying to secure the most dangerous town in Helmand Province, the British are pulling out with, at best, a draw.

Continue reading "U.S. Takes Over Fight in Helmand" »

Civil Affairs Marines bring hope to Shabu

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
Date09.10.2010
Date Posted:09.13.2010 20:39

COMBAT OUTPOST SHABU, Afghanistan – In an effort to make the village of Shabu a better place to live, armored reconnaissance Marines patrolled to find new civil affair’s projects, Sept. 10.

Continue reading "Civil Affairs Marines bring hope to Shabu" »

Civil Affairs Marines bring hope to Shabu

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
Date09.10.2010
Date Posted:09.13.2010 20:39

COMBAT OUTPOST SHABU, Afghanistan – In an effort to make the village of Shabu a better place to live, armored reconnaissance Marines patrolled to find new civil affair’s projects, Sept. 10.

Continue reading "Civil Affairs Marines bring hope to Shabu" »

September 12, 2010

150 Marines return to Hawaii from Afghanistan

Last Update: 9/12 11:13 am

About 150 Marines in a Hawaii-based helicopter squadron are due to return to the islands from Afghanistan this week.

Continue reading "150 Marines return to Hawaii from Afghanistan" »

September 11, 2010

Marines put training to use in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 6 p.m.

This is the fourth installment in a continuing series about three Camp Pendleton Marines who deployed this spring to Afghanistan.

THE INFANTRY OFFICER: "Is everybody OK?"

SAFAR, Afghanistan — 1st Lt. Michael K. Chand Jr. and the infantry patrol trudged through the heat and dust of the bazaar, spilling eventually into green fields surrounding their hilltop outpost.

Continue reading "Marines put training to use in Afghanistan" »

September 10, 2010

3rd LAR prepares for OEF with Clear, Hold, Build 3

9/10/2010 By Lance Cpl. M.C. Nerl, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command 29 Palms


MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion learned how to properly operate in a defensive stance during part of their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training process throughout several training areas here Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Continue reading "3rd LAR prepares for OEF with Clear, Hold, Build 3" »

September 9, 2010

Marines Seize Control of Ship From Pirates

From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command News Release
Sept. 9, 2010

MANAMA, Bahrain – A 24-member maritime raid force from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit today boarded and seized control of an Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel from pirates who attacked and boarded it yesterday.

Continue reading "Marines Seize Control of Ship From Pirates" »

September 8, 2010

Former Marine gunner walking on with CSU football team

BY KELLY LYELL • [email protected] • September 8, 2010

For the past four years, Adam Klingenberg has put his life on the line for his country.

Continue reading "Former Marine gunner walking on with CSU football team" »

September 7, 2010

Marines gather to remember fallen EOD technican

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs

Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date 09.07.2010
Date Posted: 09.07.2010 08:43
Location:CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines from 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) gathered to pay final respects to their fallen comrade, Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder, who died, Aug. 27, while conducting counterinsurgency operations in Helmand province. He was 34 years old.

Continue reading "Marines gather to remember fallen EOD technican" »

September 6, 2010

A morning of tears and goodbyes as Camp Pendleton Marines ship out for Afghanistan

By Tony Perry | Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Story posted 2010.09.06 at 11:03 AM PDT

It's 2 a.m. and several hundred Marines are assembling their sea bags, weapons and other gear on the parade deck. Small groups of families are huddled together; many a Marine and his wife are sharing a last embrace.

Continue reading "A morning of tears and goodbyes as Camp Pendleton Marines ship out for Afghanistan" »

USS Peleliu Sends Relief Supplies Ashore in Pakistan

USS Peleliu (LHA 5)
Courtesy Story
By Petty Officer 1st Class R. David Valdez
Date09.06.2010

USS PELELIU, At Sea— Helicopters from USS Peleliu and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit began delivering humanitarian aid supplies to the government of Pakistan, Sept. 6, as part of ongoing American support to provide relief to flood victims.

Continue reading " USS Peleliu Sends Relief Supplies Ashore in Pakistan" »

September 4, 2010

A Chaplain and an Atheist Go to War

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan—They say there are no atheists in foxholes. There's one on the front lines here, though, and the chaplain isn't thrilled about it.

Continue reading "A Chaplain and an Atheist Go to War" »

With outposts growing, Marines are spread thin

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 6 p.m.

LAKI, Afghanistan — They named it “the yellow brick road.” The half-mile stretch of dirt lane between the Marines and the high ground they intended to seize for a new observation post was pocked with 19 bombs, their brick batteries wrapped in mustard-colored tape.

Continue reading "With outposts growing, Marines are spread thin" »

Pakistan relief ops could last for months

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 4, 2010 17:11:10 EDT

Marine operations in Pakistan were slated to last just one to two months, but Marines could now stay there for up to four, a top officer overseeing Marine deployments said.

Continue reading "Pakistan relief ops could last for months" »

RCT-7 ensures mental health for returning Marines and sailors

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date 09.04.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — Health officials with Regimental Combat Team 7 are conducting post-deployment health assessments for the Marines and sailors at the end of their yearlong deployment to identify and address any mental and physical health issues.

Continue reading " RCT-7 ensures mental health for returning Marines and sailors" »

MAC provides route clearance support

1st Marine Division
Story by Lance Cpl. John McCall
Date09.04.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Platoons of Marines came rushing out of MV-22 Osprey’s while artillery fire pounded an enemy village during clear, hold, build exercise 2 here, Aug. 26-27.

Continue reading "MAC provides route clearance support" »

A year of protecting the boss: RCT-7 PSD escorts commander throughout Helmand

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly
Date09.04.2010

Marines of the Regimental Combat Team 7 Personal Security Detachment are finishing the final lap as they wrap up a year of conducting operations throughout Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Continue reading " A year of protecting the boss: RCT-7 PSD escorts commander throughout Helmand" »

September 3, 2010

Navy, Marine Corps Team Moves to Southern Pakistan

Story Number: NNS100903-07
Release Date: 9/3/2010 11:25:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) R. David Valdez, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 Public Affairs

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team, partnering with the Pakistani government, is moving from Ghazi to a southern location at Pano Aqil Air Base, near Sukkur, Pakistan, to support relief operations as flood waters move south.

Continue reading " Navy, Marine Corps Team Moves to Southern Pakistan" »

September 2, 2010

MILITARY: Destination Afghanistan

Thousands of local Marines and sailors to leave for war front soon as other units due home

By MARK WALKER - [email protected] North County Times - Californian | Posted: Thursday, September 2, 2010 6:49 pm

A couple of days from now, Lt. Alex Lim will board a plane with hundreds of other Camp Pendleton Marines and sailors for the long flight to Afghanistan and his first combat assignment.

Continue reading "MILITARY: Destination Afghanistan" »

Marines work to win over hearts and minds in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 6 p.m.

LAKI, Afghanistan — Sgt. David McFadden was on patrol, wading slowly across the Helmand River. Cool water gurgled peacefully underfoot. But the squad leader knew that things are not always as they seem in southern Afghanistan, and a Marine must be vigilant.

Continue reading "Marines work to win over hearts and minds in Afghanistan" »

Marines land in land down under, kick off

9/2/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jennifer Pirante , Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Australia — More than 300 Marines migrated toward the outback for exercise Southern Frontier at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, last week.

Continue reading " Marines land in land down under, kick off" »

September 1, 2010

H&S; Marines train with crew served weapon

1st Marine Division
Story by Lance Cpl. John McCall
Date09.01.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion learned how to operate the M2 .50 caliber machinegun during crew served weapons training, Aug. 20.

Continue reading "H&S; Marines train with crew served weapon" »

August 31, 2010

Force recon Marines return to MEUs

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 31, 2010 9:24:33 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — As part of continued efforts to enhance the Corps’ ship-boarding capabilities, force reconnaissance Marines are set to deploy next year as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Continue reading "Force recon Marines return to MEUs" »

August 30, 2010

Marine from central Minn. killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press
Posted: 08/30/2010 06:07:11 PM PDT

PINE CITY, Minn.—A highly decorated Marine bomb disposal technician from Pine City in central Minnesota was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand province of Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Monday.

Continue reading "Marine from central Minn. killed in Afghanistan" »

Florida Marine killed in Afghanistan

Jim Peppard August 30, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- A Marine from Florida was killed in Afghanistan Sunday, the U.S. Defense Department said today.

Continue reading "Florida Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

August 29, 2010

One Million Served

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Story by Capt. Paul Duncan
Date08.29.2010

GHAZI, Pakistan – The sailors and Marines of HMM-165 reinforced (Reinforced), 15th MEU, and HM-15 Detachment 2, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 press on as they acknowledge a major achievement during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Continue reading "One Million Served" »

Honoring a hero: Naval ship commissioning at Port Everglades

Sunday, August 29th, 2010 | Posted by Andrea Freygang

Hero is a word often used. On rare occasion, it describes an ordinary person who does something extraordinary. Marine Corporal Jason Dunham was a real hero, one who gave his life on the battlefield to save two of his fellow Marines.

Continue reading "Honoring a hero: Naval ship commissioning at Port Everglades" »

Loved ones salute fallen Wheaton soldier

By Matt Arado | Daily Herald StaffContact writer
Published: 8/29/2010

Stephen Oratowski said his son Kevin went by many nicknames during his life, including a few that "I probably shouldn't repeat inside church."

Continue reading "Loved ones salute fallen Wheaton soldier" »

August 28, 2010

Marines expand their influence in southern Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 4:21 p.m.

SAFAR, Afghanistan — Between blasts from the occasional bomb buried in the sandy lanes or the puttering of motorcycles, quiet once reigned during hot summer days in the desert flatlands of southern Afghanistan. But a strange sound has begun to reverberate through the mud-walled stalls of this market crossroads.

Continue reading "Marines expand their influence in southern Afghanistan" »

Band provides security for Leatherneck

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter
Date08.28.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The 1st Marine Division Band is known for performing hundreds of ceremonies each year. In 2007, they were awarded the "Col. George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands,” however, here in Afghanistan, many of them can be found providing security for the thousands of service members and contractors deployed to Helmand province’s Camp Leatherneck in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "Band provides security for Leatherneck" »

Marine follows heritage, strives for best

8/28/2010
By Cpl. Ned Johnson, Regimental Combat Team 2
SANGIN, Afghanistan

After serving in the Marine Corps Security Forces, one infantryman came to the line companies with something to teach the young Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and their reception of his unique training methods are evident.

Continue reading "Marine follows heritage, strives for best" »

Family, friends mourn Marine killed in Afghanistan

Wheaton 23-year-old called 'courageous,' 'determined,' 'shy'

August 28, 2010|By Jack McCarthy, Special to the Tribune

Before he was killed last week in Afghanistan, Kevin Oratowski was a shy, sometimes stubborn kid who ultimately found pride and purpose in the Marine Corps, his family and friends said Saturday.

Continue reading "Family, friends mourn Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

Family, friends mourn Marine killed in Afghanistan

Wheaton 23-year-old called 'courageous,' 'determined,' 'shy'

By Jack McCarthy, Special to the Tribune
7:27 p.m. CDT, August 28, 2010

Before he was killed last week in Afghanistan, Kevin Oratowski was a shy, sometimes stubborn kid who ultimately found pride and purpose in the Marine Corps, his family and friends said Saturday.

Continue reading "Family, friends mourn Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

August 27, 2010

Scholarship to honor fallen O.C. Marine

By FRED SWEGLES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Aug. 27, 2010
Updated: 9:37 a.m.

A Marine lance corporal from San Clemente who was killed in action in Afghanistan a year ago will be remembered with a scholarship.

Continue reading "Scholarship to honor fallen O.C. Marine" »

Marines Using Dogs To Sniff Out IEDs

POSTED: 5:42 pm PDT August 27, 2010

SAN DIEGO -- A group of Camp Pendleton Marines are going through specialized training to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices -- IEDs -- found on the battlefields of Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines Using Dogs To Sniff Out IEDs" »

August 25, 2010

Marine from Falls Church killed by bomb in Afghanistan

By Martin Weil
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Marine Corps Sgt. Ronald A. Rodriguez, 26, who grew up in Northern Virginia, was overseas for the third time when he was killed Monday in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine from Falls Church killed by bomb in Afghanistan" »

Big Bear Valley Marine awarded Purple Heart

By JUDI BOWERS
Reporter
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 7:10 AM PDT

Cynthia Douglass-Moreno couldn’t stop the tears. She tried to talk around them, but they kept flowing. She’s a proud mother.

Continue reading "Big Bear Valley Marine awarded Purple Heart" »

Squad leaders conquer IED threat on Route Conan

8/25/2010 By Cpl. Ned Johnson , Regimental Combat Team 2

SANGIN, Afghanistan —
In Afghanistan, the most common threat to Coalition forces is not an insurgent wielding a weapon, but a pressure-plate explosive buried just below the surface of a road, waiting on a passing military patrol to fulfill its purpose; kill as many as possible.

Continue reading " Squad leaders conquer IED threat on Route Conan" »

August 24, 2010

Creve Coeur Marine died Monday in Afghanistan

By LESLIE WILLIAMS ([email protected])
Journal Star
Posted Aug 24, 2010 @ 06:51 PM

CREVE COEUR — The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "Creve Coeur Marine died Monday in Afghanistan" »

Virginia Marine killed in Afghanistan

WTKR-TV3
6:09 PM EDT, August 24, 2010

A Virginia Marine has been killed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Virginia Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

August 23, 2010

Four Marines awarded Purple Heart for their sacrifice

8/23/2010
By Lance Cpl. Michelle S. Mattei,
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
Four Marines were added to the Purple Heart’s list of heroes injured during battles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Four Marines awarded Purple Heart for their sacrifice" »

August 21, 2010

Navy Officers in Afghanistan strive to get Fleet Marine Force qualified

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter
Date08.21.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – More than a dozen naval officers currently deployed with I Marine Expedition Force (Forward) to Camp Leatherneck, have spent the past few months honing their Marine Corps knowledge and skills as they attempt to earn the Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer Pin.

Continue reading "Navy Officers in Afghanistan strive to get Fleet Marine Force qualified" »

Remote camp is Marines' key toehold in Afghanistan

Marines offer Afghans what the Taliban cannot, but security is top priority

By Gretel C. Kovach, UNION-TRIBUNE
Originally published August 21, 2010 at 6:23 p.m

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Dust billows from the roads of this military base at all hours, during sun-baked desert days and hot windy nights.

Continue reading " Remote camp is Marines' key toehold in Afghanistan" »

August 20, 2010

Marine from Palatine killed in Afghanistan

By Ashok Selvam and Eric Peterson | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 8/20/2010

A kind, considerate and hardworking Marine from Palatine who dreamed of a career in the military has been killed in action in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine from Palatine killed in Afghanistan" »

Dog handlers prepare for Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. John McCall
Date08.20.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Dog handlers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion put their improvised explosive device detection dogs to work Aug. 13, during the final day of a three-day training exercise.

Continue reading "Dog handlers prepare for Afghanistan" »

2 Chicago-area Marines killed in Afghanistan

Eric Horng

August 20, 2010 (WLS)The war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of two Marines from the Chicago area.

Continue reading "2 Chicago-area Marines killed in Afghanistan" »

Marine killed in Afghanistan had strong ties to Glenbard South

By Robert Sanchez | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 8/20/2010

Lance Cpl. Kevin E. Oratowski's ties to Glenbard South High School remained strong in the five years since he graduated.

Continue reading "Marine killed in Afghanistan had strong ties to Glenbard South" »

August 19, 2010

Marine from Wheaton dies in Afghanistan

By Bob Susnjara
Daily Herald Staff Contact writer
Published: 8/19/2010 10:18 PM

A Marine from Wheaton was killed by a roadside bomb Wednesday while in combat in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine from Wheaton dies in Afghanistan" »

“Master Chef” visits base, feeds hungry Marines

8/19/2010 By Sgt. James M. Mercure , Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — For 12 amateur cooks vying to be the first American Master Chef, the only thing more intimidating than Chef Gordon Ramsay breathing down their necks while they prepared a meal was staring at 400 hungry Marines and their families.

Continue reading " “Master Chef” visits base, feeds hungry Marines" »

Marine Pilots of the 15th MEU evacuate Pakistani flood victims

Courtesy Story
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Date: 08.19.2010

GHAZI, Pakistan – Marines pilots of HMM-165 (REIN), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit evacuate Pakistani flood victims during humanitarian relief efforts in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Continue reading "Marine Pilots of the 15th MEU evacuate Pakistani flood victims" »

Sniper in Afghan Town Puts Marines on Edge

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
AUGUST 19, 2010

SANGIN, Afghanistan—Somewhere in this dusty town, concealed among the cornfields, irrigation canals and mud-walled compounds, is a man the Marines particularly want to kill.

Continue reading "Sniper in Afghan Town Puts Marines on Edge" »

'A great guy' from Wheaton killed in Afghanistan

August 19, 2010
--William Lee

A Marine from Wheaton who was serving in his first combat deployment was killed by a blast in southwest Afghanistan, military officials said today.

Continue reading "'A great guy' from Wheaton killed in Afghanistan" »

The Most Dangerous Job in Afghanistan - Clearing IED's

August 19, 2010 11:48 AM
Posted by Terry McCarthy

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

It is the most dangerous job in Afghanistan - clearing improvised explosive devices, or IED's, to make roads, paths and buildings safe for Afghans and for the U.S. military.

Continue reading "The Most Dangerous Job in Afghanistan - Clearing IED's" »

August 18, 2010

From Car Dealership to Afghanistan: Marine Mechanic Innovates Repair of 7-ton Truck

8/18/2010 By Lance Cpl. Khoa Pelczar , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan — A Marine reservist who worked as a car dealership mechanic before deploying to Afghanistan has come up with an innovative way to repair the engine of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement – getting the trucks back on the road in half the time.

Continue reading " From Car Dealership to Afghanistan: Marine Mechanic Innovates Repair of 7-ton Truck" »

August 16, 2010

British kickboxer sought in slaying of US tourist

JOCELYN GECKER, Associated Press Writer
Published: 09:16 a.m., Monday, August 16, 2010

BANGKOK (AP) — A manhunt was underway Monday in Thailand for a British kickboxer police say is believed to have killed a former U.S. Marine after provoking a barroom brawl on a tropical island.

Continue reading "British kickboxer sought in slaying of US tourist" »

Marines develop relationships with Afghans following Safaar clearing

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Skyler Tooker
Date08.16.2010

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan— The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment are making the Safaar area of Garmsir District a safer place for Afghans.

Continue reading "Marines develop relationships with Afghans following Safaar clearing" »

August 14, 2010

Mom receives fallen son’s Bronze Star

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Aug 14, 2010 14:28:22 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.— Nearly two years after approving the award, the Marine Corps on Aug. 12 presented the Bronze Star medal with V device to the mother of a squad leader killed in a 2007 IED blast in Iraq.

Continue reading "Mom receives fallen son’s Bronze Star" »

Engineers seek out IEDs for locals’ safety

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
08.14.2010

DURZAY, Afghanistan – In an area riddled with improvised explosive devices, engineers took the lead during patrols to ensure the safety of the riflemen behind them and local Afghans nearby over a 10-day operation here.

Continue reading "Engineers seek out IEDs for locals’ safety" »

Marines hunt smugglers in southern Afghanistan

1st Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Eugenio Montanez
08.14.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST PAYNE, Afghanistan – The long-reaching arm of light armored reconnaissance has choked off the supply of drugs and weapons for Taliban fighters, and Marines here said it won’t be letting up anytime soon.

Continue reading "Marines hunt smugglers in southern Afghanistan" »

August 13, 2010

Afghan soldiers, Company K Marines patrol through Sangin

Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Date08.13.2010
Story by Cpl. Ned Johnson

SANGIN, Afghanistan – The morning started with a huge explosion as a platoon crossed a creek into unexplored territory.

Continue reading "Afghan soldiers, Company K Marines patrol through Sangin" »

August 12, 2010

Peleliu Helicopters Launch for Pakistan Relief

By Navy Lt. j.g. Beth Gauck
Amphibious Squadron 3

INDIAN OCEAN, Aug. 12, 2010 – Two Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit launched from the flight deck of the Navy amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from a recent monsoon.

Continue reading "Peleliu Helicopters Launch for Pakistan Relief" »

2 Texans in military killed in Afghanistan

© 2010 The Associated Press
Aug. 12, 2010, 8:58AM

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department says two more Texans in the military have died in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "2 Texans in military killed in Afghanistan" »

August 11, 2010

USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 11, 2010 – The USS Peleliu will provide helicopter capabilities to aid Pakistan as the government there works to combat floods that are affecting 14 million people.

Continue reading "USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief" »

Marines, Afghan Army begin clearing IEDs and insurgents from Safaar

SAFAAR, Afghanistan— Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, began clearing operations in Safaar, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, to rid the area of improvised explosive devices and Taliban presence.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan Army begin clearing IEDs and insurgents from Safaar" »

For Marine battery, a happy return and a brief respite

The 129 Marines and sailors who returned to Camp Pendleton on Tuesday will get a one-month leave, and some much-needed family time, before they begin training for another deployment.

Reporting from Camp Pendleton —
For a brief moment Tuesday afternoon, the cheering of family members of Marines returning from Afghanistan drowned out the echoing sound of artillery blasts from the training exercises of other troops preparing to deploy soon.

Continue reading "For Marine battery, a happy return and a brief respite" »

As Pakistanis flee flood zone, officials decry shortage of international aid

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN -- Hundreds of thousands of people fled an ever-expanding flood zone Tuesday as Pakistan's leaders called for a greater international response to what they say is the worst natural disaster in the country's history.

Continue reading "As Pakistanis flee flood zone, officials decry shortage of international aid" »

USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief

USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 11, 2010 – The USS Peleliu will provide helicopter capabilities to aid Pakistan as the government there works to combat floods that are affecting 14 million people.

Continue reading "USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief" »

August 10, 2010

MCCS Marines shatter sales record in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marine Corps Community Services specialists with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), surpassed the record for sales during a Warrior Express Services Team mission in northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 16-30.

Continue reading "MCCS Marines shatter sales record in Afghanistan" »

'He was my soulmate, protector'

Wife eulogizes Spring resident who was killed in Afghanistan

By LINDSAY WISE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 10, 2010

Lauren Martin had promised herself two things growing up: No. 1, never work in a restaurant, and No. 2, never marry a man in the military.

Continue reading "'He was my soulmate, protector'" »

Sergeant Major's Bark, and Bite

Posted by Terry McCarthy
August 10, 2010 8:58 PM

One recent evening we were sitting around the 3/1 battalion commander's armored truck when Sergeant Major Scott Samuels, (left) the top enlisted man in the battalion, dropped a gem.

Continue reading "Sergeant Major's Bark, and Bite" »

Sergeant Major's Bark, and Bite

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

One recent evening we were sitting around the 3/1 battalion commander's armored truck when Sergeant Major Scott Samuels, (left) the top enlisted man in the battalion, dropped a gem.

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Marines battle Taliban, protect locals

SANGIN, Afghanistan – When the Marines of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, set out on patrol, Aug. 3, a simple civil affairs mission turned into an on-going firefight.

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Afghan soldiers, Marines repair canals in Sangin

SANGIN, Afghanistan – As Marines with Company K continue to stabilize Sangin through regular patrols and frequent interaction with the public, a few Marines and Afghan soldiers lent a hand to help local villagers repair a few canals, July 30.

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August 9, 2010

Camp Pendleton Marine Killed In Afghanistan ID'd

Cpl. Max W. Donahue Killed In Combat Last Week

SAN DIEGO -- The Pentagon released the name Monday of a 23-year-old Camp Pendleton-based Marine killed in combat last week in Afghanistan.

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3rd LAR surprised by SMP Barracks Bash

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines from the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion had some overdue fun during a Barracks Bash thrown by the Single Marine Program July 29.

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Physical therapy provides road to recovery

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Whether a strained joint or muscle during physical training, or a bullet or shrapnel wound on the battlefield, injuries take time to heal. This is where the Physical Therapy Department at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital comes to the rescue.

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August 8, 2010

Antioch event raises funds for badly wounded Marine

Some of Cpl. John Peck's best friends are people he has never met.

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Memories linger as Marine recuperates

CASPER — At 5:30 a.m. on July 1, Lance Cpl. Jake Henry and roughly 17 other Marines left for a normal patrol in southern Afghanistan. They crossed over a canal and into an old poppy field, died out from the season before.

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August 6, 2010

Logistics Marines Train Afghan Soldiers

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines with Platoon A, Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) trained and mentored Afghan soldiers with the 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army to provide logistics capabilities in support of International Security Assistance Forces, July 26-30.

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August 5, 2010

Company K Penetrates Green Zone

SANGIN, Afghanistan – Many military strategists have said the Northern Green Zone in Sangin could not be penetrated, but time and again, Marines have proven their worth and accomplished the impossible.

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August 2, 2010

Team Effort Saves Lives of Local Afghans After IED Blast

CAMP DELARAM II, Afghanistan – After the initial call reported one man with lacerations to his leg, a laceration turned out to be an amputation and one patient grew to nine.

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August 1, 2010

'Ajax' strikes chord with Marine veterans

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. • The reading of Sophocles' classic drama "Ajax" was polished and powerful.

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'Wounded Warrior’ Facility Helps Injured Marines Get Back to the Fight

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Frank Martin had only been in Afghanistan a few days when a 60-pound improvised explosive device detonated while he and his squad were on their first foot patrol in northern Marjah, hurling him into the air.

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July 30, 2010

Military Wives Fear The Dreaded Knock

CBS News' Terry McCarthy on How Military Wives Cope With the Fear of Bad News

(CBS) As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif

In war, there are two fronts - one where troops face the enemy in battle. And one where their loved ones wait, and worry that they'll receive the worst kind of news.

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LAR Marine killed in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Friday Jul 30, 2010 18:47:47 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Shane R. Martin was killed during combat operations Thursday in southern Afghanistan, military officials said Friday.

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July 29, 2010

East Texas Marine wounded by IED, family shares story

MOUNT PLEASANT, TX (KLTV) - Marine Lance Corporal Dustin Dryden, 21, of Mount Pleasant was on his second tour in Afghanistan when he was wounded by an IED late Tuesday.

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July 28, 2010

A Day in the Life: Wardak, Afghanistan

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

Wardak outpost is a small camp for a dozen Marines from Kilo company's 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad. It is built in the corner of a field with an irrigation ditch running along one side, and trees that provide welcome shade in the summer heat.

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Oct. 21 is deadline to apply for stop-loss pay

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 28, 2010 17:18:55 EDT

Time is running out for current and former troops involuntarily held on active duty beyond their service commitments to apply for retroactive $500 monthly payments.

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July 23, 2010

‘War Dog’ Marine awarded Silver Star

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — In the chaos and danger of battle, Marines are trained to look out for each other, take control and bring chaos to their enemy.

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Marines Help Afghan Locals Build Better Life

Blackanthem Military News
COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan - In a small village in southern Afghanistan, locals are trying to find a better way of life. With help from Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Afghans are improving their area.

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July 22, 2010

Education Makes a Comeback in Helmand Province

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN

"I used to regard kids as pests, when we were in Iraq," says Corporal Andrew Egan of the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines.

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One Homecoming

In late April the family readiness officer, Tina Morgan, began calling and e-mailing each of 48 anxious First Anglico families with news about the company’s return to Camp Pendleton. (Anglico units — the name stands for Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company — are part of the Marine Corps.) And even though a lot of private, superstitious things had been put off by many who were waiting for the good news, I elected to wait a little longer, until I was sure my Marine had both feet on friendly soil. I’d seen enough just-about-to-retire cop movies to know that having the end in sight slows the clock and multiplies the already too plentiful ways that things can go wrong before the actual, final, blessed end of the deployment.

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July 21, 2010

Twentynine Palms Marine Dies in Afghanistan

A Twentynine Palms Marine has died while in the line of combat in Afghanistan, it was announced Wednesday.

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Local Marine killed in Afghanistan

Traverse City — A Benzie County Marine died in Afghanistan.

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15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Demonstrates Humanitarian Aid, Disaster Relief in Sri Lanka

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka – The sun beamed down on the Marines as they stood in full riot gear, facing sailors from the Sri Lankan navy Special Boat Squadron.

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Casper soldier wounded in Afghanistan

Local effort started to help family

Lance Cpl. Jake Henry received a Purple Heart July 15 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The 21-year-old Casper Marine is recovering from injuries received in Taliban stronghold Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 1.

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July 20, 2010

Bomb kills Alaska Marine in Afghanistan

The body of an Alaska Marine killed in Afghanistan was returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware this morning.

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CL Marine
laid to rest

CRYSTAL LAKE – John Antonik said his son was supposed to come home next month.

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laid to rest" »

July 19, 2010

2/7 returns home

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — There was joy etched on the faces of wives, children and family members of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, as the busses pulled up carrying men returning from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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July 17, 2010

1st LAR Bn Corpsmen Treat Afghan Children

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan – In late afternoon July 9, the sun setting when alarming news reached the corpsman at the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion’s Basic Aid Station.

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July 16, 2010

Two Bronze Stars with V awarded

By Gidget Fuentes - [email protected]
Posted : Friday Jul 16, 2010 17:25:17 EDT

A platoon sergeant and a squad leader at Camp Pendleton, Calif., are each receiving the Bronze Star with “V” device for decisive actions while under fire in Afghanistan last year.

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July 15, 2010

US Marines battle the Taliban for control of Musa Qala

Part 2 in a three part series on Musa Qala. For Part 1, see The checkered history of Musa Qala.

ISAF transferred official responsibility for Musa Qala from British forces to the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment in March 2010. The British had relatively stabilized the district center (DC) by the time the Marines arrived, though occasional small arms and bomb attacks persisted. The Taliban continued infiltrating back into significant areas surrounding the DC, intimidating civilians suspected of working with the government, and they outright held villages and compounds at or near the northern and southern edges of the district.

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Marines honored for combat heroism

Silver Star and two Bronze Star awards go to Camp Pendleton troops

Three Camp Pendleton Marines have been awarded medals for heroic actions in Afghanistan, service officials announced Thursday.

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July 14, 2010

Fallen Colorado Marine From Boulder Remembered

Ritter Orders Flags Lowered To Half-Staff Wednesday

DENVER -- Colorado state flags will be at half-staff Wednesday as the state honors a Marine from Boulder killed in Aghanistan.

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Crystal Lake Marine dies in Afghanistan

A 29-year-old decorated Marine from Crystal Lake was killed Sunday while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, according to a release from the Department of Defense.

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USS Peleliu Begins 5th Fleet Deployment

USS PELELIU, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), the command ship of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and embarked Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) July 14.

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July 13, 2010

3 Marines die in Helmand province

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Jul 13, 2010 18:42:51 EDT

Three Marines have died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

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Logistics element enables American forces to establish combat operations center

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan — The Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, welcomed a resupply element from Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) to their hilltop compound here July 13.

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July 11, 2010

LA police teach Marines how to train Afghan police

LOS ANGELES — A tough-talking, muscular Los Angeles police sergeant steadily rattled off tips to a young Marine riding shotgun as they raced in a patrol car to a drug bust: Be aware of your surroundings. Watch people's body language. Build rapport.

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1/7 arrives in Okinawa to join 31st MEU

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan (July 12, 2010) - — Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., arrived in Okinawa July 11 to be deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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July 8, 2010

1st MLG Marines, Sailors Celebrate 63rd Anniversary

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of 1st Marine Logis¬tics Group (Forward) celebrated the 63rd Anniversary of 1st MLG in a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, July 1.

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Marines Proud of Dropping Critical Supplies

KABUL, Afghanistan - ISAF forces concluded a small-scale, rapid-response aerial delivery test last week, validating a new way to get mission-critical supplies to Afghan and ISAF forces on the ground.

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July 7, 2010

Honoring the fallen, remembering their sacrifice

FOB DELARAM I, Afghanistan —
Men and women of America have been honoring those who die on her battlefield since Arlington National Cemetery was built after the Civil War, but few understand that honor better than the Marines.

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July 6, 2010

Marines Provide Afghan Police With Lifesaving Techniques

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from the police mentor team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, convoyed to each Afghan National Police checkpoint surrounding Hazer Joft, July 5, to provide the police with tourniquets, bandages and the combat lifesaving skills.

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Marine's Parents: 'He Died Saving A Life'

Thornton Marine Remembered By Family, Friends

THORNTON, Colo. -- The parents of a Thornton Marine killed in combat said he died while saving another Marine's life.

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July 4, 2010

Marines keep Garmsir bazaar safe on busiest day of the week

GARMSIR DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Maneuvering through the bazaar crowd during the week’s busiest day, Marines from Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, patrolled the Hazer Joft bazaar in Garmsir, Afghanistan, June 2, to provide security and interact with bazaar patrons.

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July 2, 2010

Thornton Marine killed in Afghanistan

A 24-year-old Marine from Thornton was killed by a roadside bomb Thursday while on a combat foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, the U.S. Marines Corps said today.

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July 1, 2010

1st Recon launches new operation near Marjah

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 1, 2010 12:37:31 EDT

Reconnaissance Marines in Afghanistan have launched a new operation near the former Taliban stronghold of Marjah aimed at pushing insurgents out of nearby areas they have used to launch repeated attacks on Marine patrols.

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June 30, 2010

Funeral Friday for Marine killed in Afghanistan

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has ordered U.S. flags statewide lowered Friday in honor of Marine Cpl. Daane A. DeBoer, who was killed in Afghanistan.

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Shura brings Afghans, Marines together to discuss future improvements throughout Garmsir

The local village elders and the Afghan National Army met with the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, held a shura recently to discuss future civil affairs projects. GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan — The projects discussed included bridge reconstruction, canal flood gates, swing sets for children and other reconstruction/development projects throughout Garmsir.

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June 29, 2010

West View Marine dies in Afghanistan

Joe Caskey followed his grandfather, father, mother and two older brothers into the military after graduating from North Hills High School in 2004.

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Marine remembered as 'modern day Spartan'

PLACENTIA – In a bright gym plastered with yellow championship banners commemorating student achievement, a somber crowd of 500 gathered Monday night to remember a different kind of El Dorado High School champion: a local Marine who gave his life in battle.

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June 28, 2010

Marine with Ludington ties killed in Afghanistan

DETROIT (AP) — A Marine whose experience hiking the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail while raising money for a charity helped lead him to enlist in the military has died while fighting in Afghanistan, his father said Monday.

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3 Marines die in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Monday Jun 28, 2010 20:22:07 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. - Two Camp Pendleton-based Marines and a Marine from Camp Lejeune, N.C., were killed during combat operations in separate incidents in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Defense Department officials announced Monday.

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Reserve Engineer Hopes to ‘Spark Some Innovation’ Against IED Threat

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Waiting outside a conference room in the Regional Command Southwest headquarters building, Cpl. Paul A. Spies passes the time by glancing at the wall adorned with wood-framed pictures of fallen brethren, many of whom were killed by improvised explosive device blasts. A few moments later, Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commander of RC (SW), walks into the conference room already full of unit commanders. Spies waits patiently for his name to be called.

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June 25, 2010

Marine corporal from San Jose dies in Afghanistan

SAN JOSE, Calif. — SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - The aunt of a 23-year-old Marine corporal from San Jose who was killed in Afghanistan says the family worried about him and told him about the dangers of military service.

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Flags at half-staff for Yorba Linda Marine

YORBA LINDA – Flags will fly at half-staff in Yorba Linda through next week in honor of Marine Cpl. Claudio Patiño IV, who was killed in action Tuesday in Afghanistan.

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Four Twentynine Palms Marines killed this month in Afghanistan

Men died in separate incidents during June

Military officials Thursday announced the deaths of four Marines based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms who were killed this month while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

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Fallen Yorba Linda Marine wanted to return to war

YORBA LINDA – Marine Cpl. Claudio Patiño IV had been home from Afghanistan for only few weeks when he started talking about going back.

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June 24, 2010

Marine from Sutter a hero in Afghan war

When his U.S. Marines unit participated in an operation to take back the Afghanistan town of Marjah earlier this year from the Taliban, Sutter native Wesley Slattery thought it was the hairiest operation he'd encounter during his deployment.

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June 23, 2010

Education; the Key to the Future

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s improved security was earned by the men and women who put their lives on the line daily, but Afghans and Marines know that education is the key to Afghanistan’s future success.

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June 22, 2010

3/7 Welcomes Alpha Company Resupply, Recovery to Hilltop Security Position

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – After days in the field and dwindling supplies, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, welcomed the rumbling of more than a dozen gear and food laden tactical vehicles from CLB-6 headed toward their hilltop security position, May 22.

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Peleliu ARG, 15th MEU Visit Orphanage in Timor-Leste

DILI, Timor Leste (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines from the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG) participated in a community service project at the Santa Bakhita Orphanage outside Dili June 21.

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June 21, 2010

Afghanistan-deployed Marines record messages, book readings from for families

Letters, phone calls and internet only tell so much of the story for many of the Marines living in the harsh desert conditions in Afghanistan. Being able to send a video home to their children and other loved ones using the United Through Reading program allows the Marines to put their families at rest about the dangerous situations they may be encountering.

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June 19, 2010

Marines Establish New Contacts in Unchartered Territory West of Helmand River

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan— Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, inserted along the unchartered western portion of the Helmand River Valley to conduct patrols and key leader engagements as part of Operation Ozark Mountain, June 14.

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June 18, 2010

"Thundering Third" Hunts Taliban's Bombs

CBS News Exclusive: Marine Battalion Tasked with Defusing Explosives Provides Inside Look at Afghanistan's Hidden Danger

(CBS) For nearly a decade, Americans have been fighting - and dying - in Afghanistan. Just on Friday, three service members were killed in combat in the south.

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3/1 Marines enhance marksmanship skills at makeshift range in Garmsir

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, enhanced their marksmanship techniques at Patrol Base Koshtay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 16, to help keep the Marines vigilant throughout their seven-month deployment.

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Marines Make Progress in One Afghan Valley

Taliban Retaliates With Assassinations and Threats

With Washington on the hunt for signs of progress here officials might look to Garmsir where improvements are easily measured, but still tempered by an adaptable Taliban insurgency.

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June 16, 2010

Romanian, Ukrainian Soldiers Join US Marines for Peacekeeping Training

BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania — Marines and Sailors with scout platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion, are currently partnered alongside Romanian and Ukrainian soldiers at Babadag Training Area, Romania, to conduct the third peacekeeping operation training evolution during the Black Sea Rotational Force 2010 deployment.

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June 11, 2010

Family Members of "Thundering Third" Show Courage, Grace

The Vietnamese say that every bullet that kills a soldier first passes through his mother's heart.

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June 9, 2010

Fallen Marine called 'an exceptional person'

Speedway native enjoyed stories about heroes, friends say

Even in high school, Johnny Rankel already showed signs of taking life seriously.

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Grandmother says Marine killed in Afghanistan had wanted to go

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A Marine who died in an accident in Afghanistan over the weekend had requested assignment there and had just arrived in the country in April, his grandmother says.

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Local Marine Wife Speaks Out

Three Camp Pendleton based Marines died Sunday when their armored vehicle flipped over and landed in a canal in the Helmand province.

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June 8, 2010

"Thundering Third" Sees Deadly Action

CBS News' Terry McCarthy Reports on Marines' Battle With Taliban

(CBS) June is off to a deadly start in Afghanistan. 15 Americans died in the first eight days, including two killed today by a roadside bomb in the south. CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy was embedded with the Third Battalion, First Marines and followed them into battle.

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Mother of Marine Killed in Afghanistan Speaks Out Publicly

EDINBURG - The mother of a Marine who died in Afghanistan spoke out for the first time publicly. Lance Corporal Derek Hernandez died over the weekend.

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Kosovo-born Marine Becomes US Citizen in Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – With just a few dollars in his pocket, a Kosovo native came to the United States to chase his dream of providing his family with a better life.

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Marine Mechanics Repair Life-saving Vehicles in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – In the blazing Afghanistan heat, Marine mechanics can be found turning wrenches, fixing the vehicles that help keep Marines alive.

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June 7, 2010

SECNAV Visits Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan

Helmand Province, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spent a day touring forward operating bases (FOBs) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, June 3.

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June 6, 2010

A true hero born on the 4th of July

All too many of us, in the busyness of life, forget that we have people from our community fighting on two war fronts: Iraq and Afghanistan.

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June 5, 2010

Getting their boots wet

Marines hold massive beach assault even as defense secretary questions need for amphibious capability


They were sent to storm the beaches of Camp Pendleton from amphibious assault ships floating offshore in the morning fog. But most of the Marines who hustled into position early Friday inside the hull of the Bonhomme Richard had never been to sea.

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June 4, 2010

1st MLG Corpsmen Team Up to Save Lives at British Hospital in Afghanistan

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Once patients are medically evacuated from a forward operating base to receive more treatment on their injuries, they are brought to a facility like the United Kingdom Bastion Hospital, one of the largest medical facilities in Afghanistan.

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'You Can't Beat the View:' Reserve Gunner Helps Resupply Forward Troops

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – It was a bit of a bumpy ride for Cpl. Thomas Hornor when he sat atop the turret of his Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle during a nearly eight-hour combat logistics patrol across the unpredictable terrain of the scorching Afghanistan desert.

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Charlie Company Marines Travel Far and Wide to Reach Afghan Locals

PARGHEE BAGAT, Afghanistan -- As the patrol trudged through waist-deep water, Cpl. Matt Davis called over to his point man.

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June 2, 2010

Faces of War: The Battalion Commander

A Battalion Commander is responsible for more than 800 Marines. He plans missions, joins his troops on patrol, counsels them, disciplines them and promotes them. He also has to do paperwork.

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RCT-7 Over the Hump: Marines Reflect on Past Months, Anticipate Remaining Time in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Benjamin E. Palmer deployed with Regimental Combat Team 7 to Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan in October 2009, as part of the first full-sized RCT to stand up in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "RCT-7 Over the Hump: Marines Reflect on Past Months, Anticipate Remaining Time in Afghanistan" »

One-star: 1st Recon to aid in Marjah fight

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jun 2, 2010 7:51:19 EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — The Marine Corps will send elite reconnaissance Marines to the former Taliban stronghold of Marjah to buttress combat operations already underway by two conventional infantry battalions there, a top officer here said.

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June 1, 2010

No longer training for war, but living it

Summer is fighting season in southern Afghanistan and the heat is rising for Camp Pendleton Marines who took command this spring in Helmand province. The red desert flanking the river valley has begun to bake at 110 degrees, the poppy harvest is over and Taliban militants have returned to their guns and bombs.

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May 30, 2010

Marine was 1,000th Afghan war casualty

By Paul J. Weber - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday May 30, 2010 9:57:20 EDT

KERRVILLE, Texas — The 1,000th American service member killed in Afghanistan was born on the Fourth of July. He died several days before Americans honor fallen troops on Memorial Day.

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Marines, Romanian forces wrap up initial phase of training

BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania — Romanian Marines and soldiers topped off two weeks of peacekeeping operations training with U.S. Marines and Sailors at Romania’s Babadag Training Area with a final exercise, May 27, and a ceremony marking their accomplishment, May 28.

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May 29, 2010

Lima Company, Snipers Scope Out Washir

WASHIR, Afghanistan – Clearing out compounds and winning the trust and confidence of the local population, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 conducted a 14-day operation in Washir, to rid the area of insurgent presence.

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May 28, 2010

Marines Survey Garmsir for New Vocational School

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Civil-military operations officers from the I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) and 1st Marine Division (FWD) staff visited the Garmsir District Center, May 25, to survey a possible site for the construction of an agricultural vocational school in support of the ongoing effort to educate the local populace.

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May 27, 2010

Faces of War: Capt. Jason Ford

Captain Jason Ford is on his fourth tour of duty with the U.S. Marines, his first in Afghanistan. I met him in 2003 during the buildup to the invasion of Iraq and again on the march towards Baghdad while he was serving with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, the same unit I embedded with.

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May 25, 2010

Faces of War: The Mechanic

Even the toughest military vehicles break down in the harsh conditions of Southern Afghanistan.

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May 24, 2010

Always Walk in the Tracks

“Walk in the tracks,” 1st Sgt Stephen Cummings told me as we walked toward the Helmand River. I was shooting some video, and veered off a little. Then, not looking where I was going, I veered off again.

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May 21, 2010

'White Knights prepare for Western Pacific deployment

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Marines and sailors gathered with their families on the piers here Wednesday to bid farewell to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced), as they set sail on a Western Pacific tour with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

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Avoiding IED's in Garmsir, Afghanistan

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

PATROL BASE KARMA, AFGHANISTAN

Sergeant Jim Morse of 3/1's Weapons Company is a big bear of a man. He is from Austin, TX, likes country music, and manages to keep a good sense of humor - even when tension was high in his company as they took some significant contact around their patrol base from the Taliban in the past two weeks.

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May 20, 2010

Moms help honor a hero

Sharon Ferguson of Spring brought a pair of weathered combat boots to Rosehill United Methodist Church in Tomball on Thursday and asked the reverend to place them next to the flag-draped casket of 21-year-old Marine Cpl. Jeffrey Johnson.

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Antelope-area Marine mourned at high school

A 27-year-old Marine from the Antelope area who died Monday in Afghanistan was remembered at his high school as a fun-loving, responsible person who will be missed.

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Arriving in Afghanistan

We arrived in Kabul at 7am this morning. We went straight to our bureau, which is part of a house in a compound shared by other news agencies. There, correspondent Conor Powell briefed us and offered to show us around town a bit. We agreed, but then all three of us promptly fell asleep. I crashed on the floor on a mat covered in dirt from one of Conor's previous military embeds. I was woken up every so often by a man outside the window yelling "load!" and "unload!". He was running drills with a private security team. But I still slept hard. We didn't make it out of the Fox house until it was time to go to the military side of the airport to catch our first flight south.

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May 19, 2010

USS Peleliu deployment delayed

The dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor is scheduled to leave San Diego Thursday on a regularly scheduled deployment of the USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group to the Western Pacific.

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Scout Platoon heads to Babadag to train with Romanian soldiers, Marines

BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania —

Marines and Sailors with scout platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion, left their home away from home at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield, May 17, to begin peacekeeping operations training with Romanian forces at nearby Babadag Training Area.

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May 18, 2010

Marines deploy effective artillery to Afghanistan

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —

For most of the Marines with Battery L, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, the place they were headed only existed in the news and rumor mill.

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Sailor served as ‘Doc,' volunteered for combat

Before he deployed to Afghanistan last month, Zarian Wood visited his father and brother for a week at their home in south Houston. The three men played video games, dined on steak and shrimp and lounged on camping chairs in the driveway.

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Black Sea Rotational Force officially kicks off

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, Romania — The Marines and Sailors of Black Sea Rotational Force 2010 officially kicked off their three-month engagement in the Black Sea region in a ceremony at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield, May 17.

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Before Nation-Building Comes School-Building

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

AMIR AGHA, AFGHANISTAN — Staff Sergeant Adam Smith is in charge of a small outpost built under casuarinas trees in Amir Agha, which is about a mile's walk through wheat fields from the main operating base of Kilo Company in Hasanabad. He has been a Marine for 10 years, was in the invasion force of Iraq in 2003, and this is his fourth deployment.

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May 17, 2010

In Mud Fort, Marines Handle "Dust Up" with Afghan Locals

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

BARCHA FORT, AFGHANISTAN--

It rises up above the Helmand River plains like some fantastic Salvador Dali creation - the mud fort of Barcha, or Castle Gray Skull as the Marines have renamed it. It looks like an enormous hazelnut ice cream cake that has half melted into grotesque curves and overhangs, and then been flash frozen again.

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Helmand leaders strengthen bond through Regional Security Shura

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Key leaders representing coalition forces, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Afghan people participated in the first regional security shura throughout Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 12-13.

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Specially-Trained Dogs Help Marines Sniff Out IED's

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.
KOSHTAY, AFGHANISTAN--

Lance Corporal Jordan Ridder never owned a dog when he was a boy. But he always liked dogs, and there were plenty around the neighborhood.

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Corpsman Build on Knowledge of Others

CAMP DELARAM II, Helmand province, Afghanistan - In an ever-changing combat environment, doctors and corpsman are charged with saving lives.

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May 14, 2010

'First Team' Marines seize day, airfield

TWENTYNINE PALMS AIRPORT, Calif. — Sand blew lightly across a quiet Twentynine Palms’ Airport runway, as the chopping sounds of flying metal beasts echoed throughout the Morongo Basin May 10.

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May 13, 2010

Another Tomball Marine killed in the Middle East

Tomball has lost yet another of its young men to the War on Terror.

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From Protecting Obama, to Protecting Fellow Marines

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

Corporal Dan Rhodes (left) was sitting on the roof of the patrol base, looking out at a treeline from where the patrol base for Weapons Company had taken fire yesterday.

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May 12, 2010

Recon Warriors reveal their endurance during annual challenge

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — They covered 24 miles of hiking and swimming, while their rest periods consisted of conquering obstacles and shooting weapons.

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Motor T Marines prep for Black Sea Rotational Force 2010

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIRFIELD, Romania — The Marines and Sailors of 1st Tank Battalion travelled more than 6,000 miles to reach Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu Airfield, but the tactical vehicles they will use while serving as a Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force arrived by much shorter and unique means.

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East Texas Marine dies day after wedding anniversary

KILGORE, TX (KLTV) - It was a sobering day on an East Texas campus and for the city of Kilgore, as a hometown Marine falls in the line of duty in Afghanistan. The Marine was killed only a day after celebrating his second wedding anniversary.

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May 10, 2010

U.S. Marines, Sailors arrive in Romania

Black Sea Rotational Force marks first of its kind deployment in region

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1st Tank Bn. deploys to Black Sea region

“Everyone knows our motto, ‘No better friend, no worst enemy,’” said Cpl. Tim Miller, an administrative assistant with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Tank Battalion. “But Marines aren’t just on the front lines in Afghanistan; we’re all over the world, strengthening partnerships with the nations that support us there.”

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Marines Navigate Poppy Fields and the People in Afghanistan

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

Staff Sergeant Paul Worley is a tall, deep-voiced Marine from tobacco-farming country in North Carolina.

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May 7, 2010

Boots on the ground: Craig Marine returns home, reflects on Iraq, Afghan experiences

Wacie Laabs’ tattoos — a U.S. Marine Corps emblem, a Celtic cross, the word “Honor” inked in old English — can almost be viewed as his road map to war.

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Marines Push Taliban Back from Base

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

The Marine CH 53 helicopter came in from the desert and landed in the middle of an opium poppy field, which was literally adjacent to the Marine base. The poppy harvest is just over, and the poppies we crunched through on our way into the base were brown and brittle - their pods scored with diagonal slashes from the farmers who passed through last week, collecting the resin.

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Marine returns from Afghanistan

LOWER SALFORD — Greg Meinhardt has been changed by the war in Afghanistan, but you wouldn't be able to tell by the Marine's sense of humor.

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May 6, 2010

Marines leaving for Afghanistan on Friday

The last of the more than 500 members of San Juan Capistrano's adopted 1st Battalion, 11th Marines depart for Afghanistan for seven-month tours on Friday, according to a city news release.

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Marines, Afghans Build Bonds Over Food, Music

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marine leaders from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, sat down to dine with Mir Hamza, the Garmsir Distirict National Directorate of Security chief, May 1 to celebrate the transition from 2/2 to 3/1.

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May 5, 2010

‘Sandblasted’: Afghan storm takes Marine helicopter crew by surprise

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines are fond of saying, “Welcome to the suck.” I’m beginning to understand why.

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"Thundering Third" Meet with Local Afghan Leaders

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

We were sitting in the shade of some mulberry trees on the edge of Koshtay village when I met a man who had never made a telephone call in his life, and didn't know how to use a telephone.

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May 4, 2010

Food Service Specialist Cooks His Way to the Top

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Food Service Specialist of the Year competition gauges the best of all the Food Service Specialists in the Marine Corps on their overall performance of duties. Out of the thousands of Marines in the military occupational specialty, it is a great honor to even be considered for the award. To make it to the final cut of the competition means the Marine has to be great at preparing dishes and satisfying Marine's hunger.

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May 3, 2010

"Thundering Third" Adapts to IED Threat

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

We drove south today from the main 3/1 base to Koshtay where Lima company is based.

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May 2, 2010

Handing Over Command in Garmsir

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

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May 1, 2010

Mobile Trauma Bay Brings Medical Care Closer to Battlefield

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – A group of medical professionals can treat wounded troops on the battlefield even faster than before.

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April 30, 2010

"Thundering Third Marines" Deploy

As part of our continuing coverage of "Afghanistan: the Road Ahead," - CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy follows the Third Battalion, First Marines at home, and abroad in Afghanistan.

Staff Sergeant Nathaniel Dreyer (left) has been to war before.

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April 28, 2010

Combat Logistics Battalion 15 Improves on Past Success in CERTEX HAO

During their culminating training event, Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted their final Humanitarian Assistance Operation exercise during the MEU's Certification Exercise, the last week.

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Marines, sailors return to Twentynine Palms from Afghanistan

A group of Marines and sailors based in Twentynine Palms are scheduled to return from Afghanistan this week, military officials say

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April 27, 2010

Thundering Third Arrives, Trains to Take Over Operations in Afghanistan

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment hit the ground running with Reception, Staging, Onward movement and Integration training here, April 24-25.

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Lynn Visits Simulation Center, Marines at Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDELTON, Calif. - The rocket-propelled grenade that exploded over his head served as an effective attention-getting device during Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III's visit to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's battle simulation center here yesterday.

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April 26, 2010

Marines get support from the homeland

At Lake Mission Viejo, grateful civilians who've 'adopted' a Camp Pendleton battalion give the Marines a day of fun to remember before they deploy.

When she deploys to the violence of Afghanistan, Marine Lance Cpl. Sarah Hogg, 20, of Fort Worth, Texas, will remember a sunny day of food and friendship on the shore of Lake Mission Viejo.

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April 23, 2010

1/7 Marines storm beach during raid training

All was quiet on the shores of San Onofre, Calif., the night of April 14, except for the sound of waves crashing on the shore as the tide rolled in and out.

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3/7 takes charge of battle space

COMBAT OUTPOST NOWZAD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment are going home after seven months of training and operating alongside Afghan national security force.

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April 22, 2010

No Marine Left Behind: Mortuary Affairs Specialists Bring Angels Home

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Service members who make the ultimate sacrifice while serving in a combat zone are known as Angels. Those troops who lose their lives on the battlefield are brought home so they may be honored and laid to rest.

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April 21, 2010

Combat Logistics Battalion 13 Toughens Up for Deployment

Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 13 have a chance to sharpen and advance their skills as they prepare to deploy with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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April 20, 2010

Face of Defense: Father, Son Serve in Afghanistan

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan, April 20, 2010 – An Afghan National Army Air Corps C-27A Spartan cargo aircraft took off from Kabul International Airport to conduct an International Security Assistance Force mission transporting weapons and cargo for Afghan National Police.

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April 17, 2010

Postal Marines Keep Morale High

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Aghanistan -- The Marines at the postal warehouse persevere through extreme heat and vicious sand storms to ensure they complete their mission of delivering mail to the Marines and sailors of Regional Command South.

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Combat Logistics Battalion 1 Marines, Sailors 'will Go Down in Marine Corps History,' General Says

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), transferred authority to Combat Logistics Battalion 5 in a ceremony here April 16.

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Marine Joins the Fight Doing What He Loves

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- In a small town in Wisconsin called Menomonee Falls, a kid named Michael J. Weiland grew up dreaming to become a police officer.

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Keeping Marines in the Fight

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan. – Many have heard the phrase "every Marine is a rifleman," but, how would that long-standing creed hold up without armorers?

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April 16, 2010

2/1 Marines take new approach to military operations in urban terrain

Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment participated in a week-long Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training exercise at the Kilo 2 MOUT training facility here Apr. 4 - 11.

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April 15, 2010

Marines to be honored with BBQ in San Juan Capistrano

U.S. Marines from the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines (1/11) at Camp Pendleton will be deployed to Afghanistan at the beginning of May, and the city of San Juan Capistrano is sending them off in style with a barbecue for its adopted Marines.

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April 13, 2010

‘Soldiers of the sea’ return to county

Marines go back to basics with amphibious deployment

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April 12, 2010

'First Team' Marines continue training for MEU mission

Pilots and their crews undergo rigorous training to prepare themselves in the event of a crash in a combat zone, but they are not the only personnel who train to be ready. Marines and sailors on the ground and at sea also train to answer the call.

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2nd MEB Transfers Authority of Southern Afghanistan to I MEF (FWD)

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) assumed command of all Marine operations throughout southern Afghanistan during a transfer of authority ceremony here, April 12, making it the largest Marine command in Afghanistan since the war began nearly a decade ago.

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Combat Docs: 'We Fix Them Up and Get Them Back to Duty'

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – When service members are injured in a combat zone, a group of medical professionals work tirelessly to keep them alive.

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April 11, 2010

Augments Depart Iraq Early to Mentor Afghan Army

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Ten Afghan national soldiers, armed with M-16's, lie in the prone position shooting downrange while their company commander barked orders for muzzle awareness.

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Blue Diamond Marines Partner With Security Forces for Afghanistan's Future

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan –
The 1st Marine Division (Forward) recently arrived in southern Afghanistan and wasted no time gaining ground in operations here.

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Troops exchange weapons for pens for lesson in geopolitics

Deploying Camp Pendleton Marines spend day studying dynamics of world conflicts

Five dozen troops from Camp Pendleton's 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit put down their weapons one day last week and picked up pens instead for a crash course in geopolitics.

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April 9, 2010

Marine unit headed to Afghanistan

WOLF PACK: Hemet’s adopted battalion going to Middle East for sixth time, accepts key to city.

It was a sunny, pleasant day when the battalion commander and sergeant major of the Wolf Pack, the Marine Corps unit adopted by Hemet, came to town to accept the key to the city and present Mayor Eric McBride and City Manager Brian Nakamura with the unit’s challenge coin.

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April 8, 2010

Female troops take on new role in Afghanistan

By Jessica Binsch - Medill News Service
Posted : Thursday Apr 8, 2010 12:55:46 EDT

Teams of female Marines are stepping off their bases in Afghanistan and entering villages to build relationships with an often overlooked sector of the Afghan population: women.

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Injured Marine continues recovery in Coos Bay

COOS BAY, Ore. -Three months ago, a local Marine, 1st Lt. Richard Rush was fighting a war in Afghanistan when he and seven others were hit by a roadside bomb.

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April 7, 2010

Marine Fights Fires and Terrorism

Deep in the sands of Afghanistan, a Marine reservist who is also a volunteer firefighter carries out the missions placed upon him.

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NYPD Marine Serves in Afghanistan

He's a Marine reservist by day, a crime fighter by night, and he does everything he can to protect the people of New York City. And now he's doing the same in Afghanistan.

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Military Working Dogs Aid Marines, Find Explosives

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -When used, military working dogs and their trainers are an immense asset to troops on the ground.

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Mideast wars' unsung heroes: the wives left behind

Husbands' repeated deployments mean years of worry, plus the stress of handling everything at home on their own. Then there's how to handle their changed spouses when they come home.

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April 6, 2010

Commandant Visits EOD Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines with Explosive Ordnance Disposal show the ropes to the highest Marine Corps ranking officer, Gen. James T. Conway, here at the Deluz Combat Town, March 31.

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Marines Train to Be First Line of Defense for Camp Leatherneck

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - While laying down a hail of gunfire, 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion trained a new batch of Marines from various units April 2 to assist in maintaining the first line of defense for Camp Leatherneck.

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April 4, 2010

Range offers training in combating IED threat

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Apr 4, 2010 9:25:22 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A new $13 million training range opened here March 25 that will give Marines much-needed experience in countering improvised explosive devices, which remain the most significant threat to troops in the war zones.

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Marines prepared for combat

Men and women, combat veterans and untested officers, logistics specialists and senior sergeants. Each Marine among the surge of more than 11,000 from Camp Pendleton and supporting bases heading to southern Afghanistan this spring is vital. Their roles differ, but the mission unites them as the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force assumes command of ground-combat operations in a Taliban stronghold.

The San Diego Union-Tribune will profile three of those Marines during their deployments.

THE FATHER FIGURE: 'You get attached to these young Marines.'

It hasn’t always been easy for Sgt. Maj. Neil O’Connell to balance the needs of his family at home and his family of Marines. But after more than three decades in the Corps, he has had a lot of practice.

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Scotts Valley Native Part of Marine IED Search Team

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - Roadside bombs are reported to be the deadliest threat to the American military in the war effort in Afghanistan, but a Scotts Valley Marine led the way towards eliminating the threat with the help of a four-legged warrior.

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April 3, 2010

1st Marine Division Forward, Afghan Army Unite

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan– The Afghan national army's 215th Maiwand Corps was activated during an inauguration ceremony aboard Camp Shorabak here, April 1.

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April 1, 2010

Local Woman to Make History in Afghanistan

A local Marine, Cpl. Heather Sample, is making history as part of the first permanent, all-woman Female Engagement Team in Afghanistan. Also known as an FET unit, this prestigious group of women Marines will deploy along with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force early this month on a yearlong mission that will enhance the security and stability within the Helmand Province.

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Wives Roll to Range 500 for 'Jane Wayne Day'

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – Marine wives do not always get the chance to experience firsthand what their husbands actually do in the Corps, but the wives of Marines with 1st Tank Battalion strapped on some boots and headed to the field during a "Jane Wayne Day" at Combat Center Range 500 March 30.

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March 30, 2010

Part II: Afghanistan's future is Now Zad

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan – Cpl. Green radioed the Lima Company compound command post that our four-person patrol had moved "outside the wire."

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March 29, 2010

Marines will parachute into award ceremony

CAMP PENDLETON — Gunnery Sgt. Brian M. Blonder and seven other reconnaissance Marines are expected to parachute onto Camp Pendleton today for a ceremony involving the Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone Award for Courage and Commitment.

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March 28, 2010

NYPD Marine Serves in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – He's a Marine reservist by day, a crime fighter by night, and he does everything he can to protect the people of New York City. And now he's doing the same in Afghanistan.

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March 27, 2010

CLR-2 Transfers Authority to 1st MLG (FWD)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Combat Logistics Regiment 2 relinquished responsibilities to the 1st Marine Logistics Group Forward during a Transfer of Authority ceremony here, March 24.

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March 26, 2010

Local 'Hurt Locker' Marine receives Bronze Star

Marine Dustin Velzeboer scribbled seven words on a scrap of paper while steering a burning vehicle packed with explosives away from his wounded fellow servicemen.

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Afghan Marksmen — Forget the Fables

he recent Marine operations in and near Marja brought into sharp relief a fact that contradicts much of what people think they know about the Afghan war. It is this: Forget the fables. The current ranks of Afghan fighters are crowded with poor marksmen.

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March 19, 2010

3rd LAR remembers, honors unit's war-fighting legacy

Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion displayed pride in their Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments March 15 when they unveiled a rocked-propelled grenade launcher at their battalion headquarters.

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March 17, 2010

A Small Victory in Afghanistan

Last week Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited the district of Now Zad in Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand Province. To many, it probably didn’t seem like significant news. Gates reportedly went no farther than a 100 meters outside the forward operating base and there were fully armed Marines posted at short intervals not far from where he was walking. They had probably been in position for at least 24 hours before Gates arrived and the area was likely swept for explosives and insurgents multiple times in the days prior to his arrival.

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Afghan poppy harvest is next challenge for U.S. Marines

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- U.S. Marine Sgt. Brad Vandehei stood on the edge of the small opium poppy field that serves as a central helicopter landing zone for the new military compound that's rising nearby.

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March 14, 2010

At Afghan outpost, Marines gone rogue or leading the fight against counterinsurgency?

DELARAM, AFGHANISTAN -- Home to a dozen truck stops and a few hundred family farms bounded by miles of foreboding desert, this hamlet in southwestern Afghanistan is far from a strategic priority for senior officers at the international military headquarters in Kabul. One calls Delaram, a day's drive from the nearest city, "the end of the Earth." Another deems the area "unrelated to our core mission" of defeating the Taliban by protecting Afghans in their cities and towns.

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March 12, 2010

Marjah push: Ups and downs are lessons for future

EDITOR'S NOTE: Alfred de Montesquiou, an Associated Press correspondent embedded with U.S. Marines in the battle for the Afghan town of Marjah, was able to observe some of the lessons of the fighting and hear from the officers in command how they are being absorbed.

MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) — After a day spent pinned down in gunbattles or caught in a maze of roadside bombs, with little hope of air support and an erratic Afghan army to coax along, Lance Cpl. Travis Anderson reflected on the frustrations of the campaign U.S. forces were fighting.

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March 11, 2010

Marines Practice for Real Thing

After pounding targets in the California desert Wednesday until almost midnight, Marines with the Marines' 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion spent Thursday morning cleaning and reloading before heading north deeper into the Air Ground Combat Center at 29 Palms. By midday the massive 155mm Howitzer cannons were firing again, softening targets for three-companies-worth of tanks and LAV-25s to finish off.

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March 10, 2010

Marines Live Fire Training

Marines with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (1st LAR) out of Camp Pendleton, CA will soon be deploying to Afghanistan to join the surge in the fight against the Taliban (the details of their travel is classified).

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March 9, 2010

Gates tours broken, abandoned market that has come to symbolize progress in Afghanistan

NOW ZAD, AFGHANISTAN -- This southern Afghan city has been touted as a symbol of the progress U.S. troops have made in recent weeks. But when Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates swung through the main market on Tuesday, it seemed mostly to be a symbol of the work that remains to be done.

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March 7, 2010

Signs of life return to an Afghan ghost town

A campaign has begun to lure residents back to war-ravaged Now Zad in Helmand province, with Marine and Afghan guards posted 24 hours a day to ward off Taliban attacks.

Reporting from Now Zad, Afghanistan — Under a late winter sky, surrounded by mountains left verdant by recent rain showers, is one of Afghanistan's spookiest-looking and most dangerous places: the once-vibrant but now war-ravaged and virtually empty city of Now Zad.

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March 6, 2010

Afghan Drug Trade Complicates U.S. Task in Marjah

The impetus for the U.S.-led assault on Marjah began one moonless night last May when a squad of American and Afghan anti-narcotics agents, backed by U.S. Marines, slipped through the town's empty streets and raided the Lachoya opium bazaar.

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March 5, 2010

Afghanistan-bound Marines use assets to engage IEDs

Combat engineers and a company of attached tankers with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion wrapped up a week-long mission rehearsal exercise here Feb. 28.

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Off to war again for 1st Marine Division

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 5, 2010 7:37:57 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — With its first groups of Marines leaving home Friday for the military surge into Afghanistan, the 1st Marine Division gathered this week to honor its combat heritage and march off again to war.

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3/4 kick starts effort to hold the Buji Bhast Pass

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – There are many stories surrounding the area in southern Afghanistan known as the Buji Bhast Pass. The pass has proven to be a strategic military stronghold and allowed Afghans to delay the armies of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the former Soviet Union.

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March 3, 2010

Pendleton Marines set to deploy to Afghanistan

OCEANSIDE - In a symbolic 30-minute Camp Pendleton ceremony on Wednesday, attended by 1st Marine Division veterans from various eras and marking the impending departure of some 7,000 Marines and sailors from the division to Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Richard Mills said this and past deployments are not about commanding generals.

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Even His Red Squeak Toy Can't Get First Sgt. Gunner, USMC, to Fight

Despite Rehab, the Yellow Lab Won't Sniff For Bombs in Combat; He's 'a Lover'

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—When the Marines cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war, one remains in his kennel. Quivering.

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Taliban, not drugs, focus of US-Afghan offensive

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Even by Afghan standards, it was a startling find: An opium packaging workshop, buried under donkey dung and old hay in a stable that U.S. Marines turned into a patrol base in southern Afghanistan.

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March 1, 2010

3/4 Preparing Afghan National Security Forces for Success

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Before coalition forces can leave Afghanistan, they must first make sure the government has a reliable and proficient fighting force. Without one, the country is vulnerable to invasion and insurrection.

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Improvised Explosive Device Detection Program for the Dogs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFERETTA, Nimruz province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – As improvised explosive devices continue to be a threat in the region as the Taliban's weapon of choice, coalition forces continue to adapt their ways of dealing with them.

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MEB in Afghanistan grows to 15,000

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 1, 2010 19:25:26 EST

The Marine Corps’ footprint in Afghanistan has expanded to include 15,000 Marines, the service’s top general said, and another battalion is expected to deploy soon.

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February 26, 2010

3/1 Marines Foundation to host 2nd annual run

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The Huntington Beach 3/1 Marines Foundation will host their second annual 3/1 Run March 13.

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February 25, 2010

Afghan government claims Taliban stronghold

Flag-raising ceremony held as troops mop up last pockets of resistance

MARJAH, Afghanistan - The Afghan government took official control of the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah on Thursday, installing an administrator and raising the national flag while U.S.-led troops worked to root out final pockets of militants.

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February 23, 2010

Scarface Detachment Offers Quicker Response for RCT-7

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marines of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, who reside at Camp Dwyer, know their detachment may be small, but that they provide the necessary air power for Marine Aircraft Group 40 and Regimental Combat Team 7, both with Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.

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February 22, 2010

Taliban Resistance Strong In Southern Afghanistan

It's the second week of a major U.S.-led offensive in southern Afghanistan to expel the Taliban from a key stronghold in Helmand province.

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February 11, 2010

Taliban vow guerrilla warfare against NATO troops

KABUL — The Taliban vowed on Thursday to fight back with a "hit and run" guerrilla campaign against Western and Afghan forces preparing to storm one of their key strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

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February 10, 2010

Now Zad: A Comeback Complicated by Success

The town of Now Zad in Helmand Has Turned Around Faster Than Anyone Expected

Now Zad is a town again. In just two short months the small farming community Afghanistan's northern Helmand Province has turned around faster than anyone expected.

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February 9, 2010

3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Changes Focus From Sea to Desert

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., completed their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training evolution Feb. 4 here, as part of the unit's shift from supporting Marine Expeditionary Units to serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Boots and paws on the ground for OEF

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Dogs have long been known as man’s best friend, and the military working dog is still that, but they are also an invaluable tool for Marines deployed overseas, because of their abilities to smell, which Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment learned during their Enhanced Mojave Viper pre-deployment training evolution here at Range 220.

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February 8, 2010

Marines quietly wrap up ops in Iraq

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 8, 2010 8:31:29 EST

By mid-February, Marines will be out of Iraq.

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February 2, 2010

Service Members Save Afghan Lives With Blood Drive

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When five injured Afghans needed medical attention, Marines and sailors from 1st Medical Battalion, Regimental Combat 7, came to their rescue.

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January 28, 2010

'Dogs of war' saving lives in Afghanistan

SOUTHEAST OF MARJAH, Afghanistan — For the US Marines patrolling the dusty footpaths of southern Afghanistan, a bomb-sniffing black Labrador can mean the difference between life and death.

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U.S. Marines Make Fragile Progress in Helmand

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Marine Capt. Scott Cuomo of Fox company, 2nd battalion, 2nd Marine regiment, must have felt very confident. How else to explain his climbing into an armorless Afghan army truck -- a coffin on four wheels -- next to Haji Abdullah Jan, the Afghan district governor, with only a few Afghan army soldiers for protection, to speed down empty dirt roads almost certainly mined by the Taliban?

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Marines Help Afghans Gather in Protest Aftermath

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2010 – Ironically, when protestors in the Garmsir district here set fire to a school Jan. 12 in a fervor over allegations that a Quran had been desecrated, about 300 copies of the Muslim holy book burned with the school.

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January 15, 2010

Deployed Marines Learning Professionalism Through MCMAP

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFERETTA, NIMRUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In addition to fighting the Taliban, Marines in southern Afghanistan are fighting to win the confidence and trust of the Afghan populace.

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January 13, 2010

BLT 2/7 ready for first-time experience

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan — Though Marines have been deploying alongside their Navy brethren for more than 234 years, there is still room for new adventure and first-time experience within the Corps’ ranks. The Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (BLT 2/7) can testify to that fact as they prepare to embark on the unit’s inaugural deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

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January 10, 2010

Afghan Government Leaders Join Nawa, Marjeh Citizens in Historic First Meeting

NAWA, Afghanistan – Dozens of elder men from Nawa District's Shorshorak area and the city of Marjeh took part in a historic first official meeting between Afghan people and their governmental leaders near Forward Operating Base Fiddler's Green Jan. 8.

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January 9, 2010

All-female teams reach out to Afghan women

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 9, 2010 9:16:34 EST

Cpl. Sara Bryant is training like an infantry Marine about to hit the front lines.

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January 8, 2010

Combat Center units leave for 31st MEU

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Hundreds of Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and their augments said goodbye to families and friends this week as they boarded buses, to begin a journey which will take them through the South Pacific as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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January 6, 2010

Countering the Insurgency With Band-aids Instead of Bullets

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Recently during Operation Cobra's Anger, a multi-day operation led by Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, to rid the Now Zad area of Taliban control, members of the company's severe trauma platoon extended an invitation to members of the battalion's civil affairs group to take cover from the rain in their mobile severe trauma bay.

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Afghan girls flourish in new school

Marines rebuild a chance to learn

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan | Zarmina and Sharifa have very big dreams for very little girls.

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January 4, 2010

Marines Help Develop Afghan Security Force Discipline

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The shooter, one of many Afghans who have joined the Afghan national security forces, prepares himself as he's been taught. He bends at the knees, torso square to his target, elbows squeezed tight against his body. The grimace on his face shows discomfort, a sign he's positioning himself correctly. He isn't supposed to feel comfortable.

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Marines coaxing residents back to Helmand ghost town

Now Zad was a bustling city, the second largest in Afghanistan's southern Helmand Province, before Taliban fighters moved in and made it a stronghold several years ago. Now it is largely abandoned.

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Marines Help Develop Afghan Security Force Discipline

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The shooter, one of many Afghans who have joined the Afghan national security forces, prepares himself as he's been taught. He bends at the knees, torso square to his target, elbows squeezed tight against his body. The grimace on his face shows discomfort, a sign he's positioning himself correctly. He isn't supposed to feel comfortable.

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January 2, 2010

The Resurgence of Now Zad

NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – In early December, the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, breached Now Zad and rid the second largest city in Helmand province of its Taliban presence during Operation Cobra's Anger.

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December 26, 2009

Marines Make the Most With the Least During Christmas in Now Zad

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan – Just three weeks removed from leading the assault into Now Zad during Operation Cobra's Anger, the Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, switched gears and embraced the holiday spirit.

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December 24, 2009

Local Santa Spreads Cheer Without Favorite Helper

One local Santa is loved by many for his cheer and truly good deeds. But this year, Santa and his wife have a Christmas wish of their own. WFMZ's Dwayne Parker has their emotional story.

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December 18, 2009

Afghan Town's Progress Provides Encouragement

NAWA, Afghanistan - An irrigation ditch bisects the main thoroughfare of this town in Helmand province, and shops line each side of the street.

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December 15, 2009

Afghans Celebrate Beloved 'Colonel Bill'

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Five months ago, the Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, arrived in Nawa District to the sounds of gunfire, rockets and mortars.

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Custom Kitchen, Home-cooked Meals Bring Marines Together in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – When Marines hear they must live at a small patrol base for a long period of time, many think of primitive facilities, dirty conditions and bland, prepackaged meals coming from brown bags.

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December 13, 2009

Marines Clear Taliban Stronghold During Operation Cobra's Anger

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Once an urban district and home to thousands, "The Greens," an area within the Now Zad region of Afghanistan quickly became a ghost town, when Taliban fighters procured the area from which to launch combat operations.

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Marines Storm Now Zad, Wipe Out Taliban Forces

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When the Marines and sailors of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment came to the Now Zad region in Afghanistan, the message they received from outgoing units was simple: Beware of the village of Changwalak.

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December 12, 2009

Fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan

As President Obama announced plans to send 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan to tackle the Taliban, Mark Urban spent time with some of the troops on the front line in Helmand province.

"I heard Kilo company lit up nine guys today," said Craig, a young US marine, his face illuminated by the flickering flames that separated us.

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December 11, 2009

Marine Offense Gives Afghan City Second Chance

WASHINGTON - A battalion of Marines in southern Afghanistan now has the upper hand in a city they believed to be a Taliban stronghold, a senior Marine Corps officer in Helmand province said today.

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December 10, 2009

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit trains with French Foreign Legion

Djibouti — French Legionnaires and US Marines trained together here Dec. 4-10 to increase interoperability, maintain critical military skills and build an inter-service bond crucial to successful operations.

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December 8, 2009

Bomb-sniffing dog helps Marines stay alive in Afghanistan

Reporting from Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan -- It's a rare day when a Marine gladly depends on a dogface.

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December 7, 2009

‘Thundering Third’ faces two-front engagement

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah Province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

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December 4, 2009

Marines Launch New Offensive in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

Operation Cobra's Anger Is Intended to 'Cut Off Enemy Supply and Communications Lines'

Marines are trying to make good on President Obama's promise to "reverse Taliban momentum" in southern Afghanistan, launching with the first major offensive since the president spoke about his Afghanistan plans Tuesday night.

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3rd Bn., 11th Marines returns from Afghanistan deployment

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — More than 120 Marines and sailors with Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, returned to the Combat Center and their loved ones’ arms late Wednesday during a homecoming at Del Valle Field.

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US Marines launch large offensive

KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and Afghan troops Friday launched the first offensive since President Barack Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said.

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December 2, 2009

Marines face two-front engagement during Operation North Star

At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah Province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

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December 1, 2009

200 U.S. Marines returning to Twentynine Palms this week

More than 200 U.S. Marines and sailors who have been serving in Afghanistan, both in an artillery battalion and working with local villages to improve their way of life, are expected to return to Twentynine Palms this week.

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November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving in Afghanistan

Mangulzai, Afghanistan -- As Americans turn off the lights in their homes Thursday after a day of celebration, a group of U.S. Marines and their families will just be starting theirs.

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November 25, 2009

3/4 Marines Face Two-front Engagement During Operation North Star

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – At first glance, the area known as the Buji Bhast Pass in southern Afghanistan looks much like the rest of Farah province. Mountain peaks tower over vast desert valleys spotted with small adobe villages, herds of grazing animals and local farmers tilling their fields.

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Keeping focus key for Marines on way home

COP JAKER, Afghanistan | Members of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines are heading home, with the first units due stateside just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

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November 24, 2009

India Co. Marines stomp Range 410A

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as the Cutting Edge, stormed the Combat Center’s Range 410A Nov. 19, to prepare for a possible deployment next year.

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November 23, 2009

1st MarDiv CG visits Range 400, shows support for 3rd Bn., 7th Marines

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, came aboard the Combat Center Nov. 20 to show support for 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, as they participated in Enhanced Mojave Viper as part of their pre-deployment training.

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November 22, 2009

O.C. Marine is called a hero at Afghanistan memorial service

Lance Cpl. Justin Swanson was killed Nov. 10 when a bomb exploded under his Humvee. He was 'full of love for his family and home and dedicated to the protection of others,' his commander says.

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November 21, 2009

In Golestan, changing mission could mean troops must move on

By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 21, 2009

GOLESTAN DISTRICT, Afghanistan

When U.S. Marines first entered this stark, scenic valley nearly two years ago, their mission was to build up local security forces and eliminate the Taliban resistance.

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November 19, 2009

Nawa Leaders, Marines Discuss Security, Human Services During Shura

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghanistan's Nawa District Gov. Abdul Manaf and Lt. Col. William T. McCollough, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, met with local Afghans to discuss security and human service concerns during a shura at Patrol Base Fielder, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 10.

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November 18, 2009

Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group Enters 5th Fleet

INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- After transiting the western Pacific Ocean, the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations this week to relieve the Bataan ARG.

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November 17, 2009

3/4 Marines Patrol Farah Village, Build Trust

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from India Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, made its way into the village of Kace Satar, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, with a mission: protect the locals, and gain their trust.

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November 14, 2009

Despite Marines’ presence, fear of Taliban persists in Afghan town

By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 14, 2009


DELARAM, Afghanistan — Marines have maintained a presence here for two years, but they say residents’ fear of the Taliban continues to underlie every facet of life.

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November 13, 2009

O.C. Marine killed in AfghanistanFriday, November 13, 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- A 21-year-old Marine from Anaheim was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

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November 12, 2009

Marines, Afghan soldiers hunt Taliban

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, conducted an operation to clear out compounds in Norzai, Afghanistan, Nov. 6.

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Anaheim Marine killed in Afghanistan

ANAHEIM Justin J. Swanson talked about duty and discipline and about being a role model for his family when he signed up for the U.S. Marine Corps a few weeks out of high school.

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November 11, 2009

1/5 Marines Provide Clean Water to Afghans, Keep Area Safe

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently funded a well construction project to provide clean water for local Afghans.

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November 10, 2009

Lejeune descendant reads birthday message to MEU Marines

INDIAN OCEAN — Lance Cpl. Kyle Lejeune quietly withdrew from the podium after reading Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune’s words to hundreds of 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit members Nov. 10. He said reading his great-great grandfather’s historic message during a Marine Corps birthday celebration was something he always wanted to do.

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Marines Celebrate 234th Corps Birthday in Austere Conditions

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Approximately 300 Afghanistan-deployed Marines and sailors with Regimental Combat Team 7 celebrated the 234th Marine Corps birthday here in more austere conditions than the lavish ceremonies to which many Marines stateside are accustomed.

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November 8, 2009

Marines Inhabit Taliban Fortress

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines possess an uncanny ability to call any place "home," whether it's a mixture of sand and gravel, or in this instance, a Taliban compound.

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Afghanistan: Marines bring some calm in Helmand

But many residents in the insurgent heartland fear the U.S. troops may leave abruptly, leaving the area for the Taliban to retake.

Reporting from Nawa, Afghanistan - When 500 U.S. Marines descended on this Taliban stronghold overnight, Afghan civilians were immediately suspicious about the intentions of the heavily armed Americans.

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November 7, 2009

Marines patrol, make friends in Helmand province

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Now Zad region in Helmand Province has been the site of constant tension between coalition and Taliban forces. Both sides have realized the road to victory begins with winning the support of the region’s civilian population.

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November 5, 2009

Marines save lives, assist Afghan National Army

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — As Seaman Jared D. Wilson, a corpsman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stepped into his humvee on the morning of Nov. 2, he knew he very well could find himself in the position of saving lives.

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October 24, 2009

RCT-7 Takes Over Counterinsurgency Operations in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Regimental Combat Team 7 took over counterinsurgency operations throughout southern Afghanistan from Regimental Combat Team 3 during a ceremony here Oct. 24.

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First Marine RCT in Afghanistan Concludes Historic Deployment

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The most significant Marine Corps operation since the Battle of Fallujah in 2004 and the largest helicopter insertion since the Vietnam War took place July 2 as Marines spread out into the Helmand River valley to secure what was called one of the most violent provinces in all of Afghanistan at the time.

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October 22, 2009

In Helmand, a model for success?

Before a battalion of U.S. Marines swooped into this dusty farming community along the Helmand River in early July, almost every stall in the bazaar had been padlocked, as had the school and the health clinic. Thousands of residents had fled. Government officials and municipal services were nonexistent. Taliban fighters swaggered about with impunity, setting up checkpoints and seeding the roads with bombs.

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Landslide - Marines bring relief

CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit traveled to Baguio City, Philippines, to deliver food and clothing to landslide victims Oct. 4.

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October 16, 2009

In East Timor, teeth are a military mission for Camp Pendleton forces

Sometimes the best way to win hearts and minds is to take care of the teeth.

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A Day in the Life on Forward Operating Base Geronimo

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – People have the ability to adapt to their surroundings. Proof of this can be observed in the habitat of the Marines here.

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Navy Corpsmen Teach Afghan Soldiers Lifesaving Techniques

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – In a combat zone, as in life, there are many different skills which are important to have. One of the most important is basic medical training. Without at least a basic knowledge of first aid, a person is limited in the amount of risk they are willing to undertake to accomplish their goals.

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Civil Affairs Marines Turn Attention to Improving Local Schoolhouse

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Civil Affairs Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, visited a local school here, Oct. 8, to talk with teachers about refurbishing their schoolhouse.

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Indonesia, US Marine Corps to conduct joint exercise

Situbondo (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and US marine corps will conduct a joint exercise in Karangtekok, Asembagus, Situbondo, East Java, according to the Indonesian Marine Corps on Friday.

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October 14, 2009

Bonhomme Richard ARG/11th MEU Arrives in Timor-Leste for MAREX-09

BONHOMME RICHARD, At sea (NNS) -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), the flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), arrived in Savu Sea to conduct a multilateral exercise in cooperation with the government of Timor-Leste Oct. 14.

Continue reading "Bonhomme Richard ARG/11th MEU Arrives in Timor-Leste for MAREX-09" »

October 12, 2009

Commander says Camp Pendleton's force is prevailing over Taliban

As President Barack Obama weighs sending more troops to Afghanistan and debate over the course of an increasingly difficult war rages in Washington, the commander of a Camp Pendleton battalion says his troops have tamed one slice of the country's volatile Helmand province.

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October 9, 2009

3/4, 3rd CEB depart for Afghanistan, Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENYTNINE PALMS, Calif. —
In the early hours of Monday morning, elements of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, bid farewell to their families, friends and fellow service members before departing for deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

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October 6, 2009

Marines, sailors rappel as ship sails

PACIFIC OCEAN — Marines and sailors of Battalion Landing Team 2/4 rappelled from a helicopter parked on USS Bonhomme Richard’s flight deck here Oct. 6 to an elevator platform three stories below.

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October 4, 2009

Marines Multitask at Patrol Base Fielder

PATROL BASE FIELDER, Afghanistan – All service members are trained to do a specific job – their military occupational specialty. However, sometimes they are also asked to maintain their proficiency in another one, like the mortarmen and amphibious assault vehicle operators with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment here.

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September 30, 2009

Air-Ground team airlifts newest howitzers in historic first

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — In a historic combat first, Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment worked together to air lift two M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler’s Green in Helmand Province and set them up for action at Forward Operating Base Golestan Sept. 28. A third was convoyed here to be carried by CH-53E helicopter the following morning.

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September 28, 2009

Air-Ground Team Airlifts Newest Howitzers in Historic First

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – In a historic combat first, Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment worked together to air lift two M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province

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September 25, 2009

Marine Honored for Service, Sacrifice

Harrisburg, Pa. - A local Marine wounded in Afghanistan was honored for his service and his sacrifice on Thursday night.

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September 23, 2009

Reserve LAR company prepares for return to U.S

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Lt. Col. Kenneth R. Kassner, the commanding officer of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, officially relieved the Marines of Company E of their duties during a ceremony held aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2009

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September 20, 2009

An Interview With the Lion of Al Qaim

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – As Regimental Combat Team 6 prepares to hand over military operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province after over five years of Marine Corps presence, to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), we talked with the man once known to some Iraqis as the "Lion of Al Qaim," Marine commander, Col. Matthew Lopez.

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September 18, 2009

Ship repairs keep 11th MEU Marines on dock

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 18, 2009 6:23:51 EDT

Other ships carrying MEU are scheduled to depart on time
SAN DIEGO — Problems with its steam service turbine generators are delaying Friday’s planned deployment of amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, Navy officials confirmed late Wednesday.

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September 15, 2009

3/7 Wraps Up Training at MCMWTC With FINEX

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – The Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, wrapped up their training evolution at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., with a final exercise Sept. 1 through Sunday.

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11th MEU, Bonhomme Richard ARG to deploy Friday

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Sep 15, 2009 19:49: EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — About 4,500 Marines and sailors will deploy from San Diego on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions, Navy officials said Tuesday

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September 14, 2009

2/8 Marine Regiment Mortars Shower Improvised Explosive Device Planters, Patrol Investigates Before Shura

COMBAT OUTPOST SHER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – With no regard for civilian life, the Taliban have been placing improvised explosive devices in roads, farmland and canals. The weapon has proved to be one of the most effective weapons in the Taliban arsenal

Continue reading "2/8 Marine Regiment Mortars Shower Improvised Explosive Device Planters, Patrol Investigates Before Shura" »

September 9, 2009

Kandahar World’s Busiest Single-Runway Airport

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan —
With the increase in forces in southern Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield has become the busiest single-runway airport in the world.

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September 4, 2009

3/7 sends rounds down range at Hawthorne

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, departed Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Aug. 24 to conduct live fire training exercises at the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot, Nev.

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Change of command for Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

In a ceremony with military traditions dating back centuries, a new Marine general took command Friday of Marines and sailors serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

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September 2, 2009

Marines operate out of enemy compound

KHOUSARI AHBAD, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, have been using formerly Taliban-owned real estate as a base of operations for nearly two months now.

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Hunting Taliban different than what they expected: Marines gain small victories without fighting

KHOUSARI AHBAD, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — For the Marines of Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, hunting the Taliban takes patience and flexibility. Even on days when they don’t get what they expect, being seen and speaking with the locals is a small victory.

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August 28, 2009

In the Air, on Land and Streams; 3/7 Hones Water Crossing Skills

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – Marines and Sailors from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, returned to their amphibious roots during a stream crossing training exercise at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Leavitt Training Area Aug. 20.

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Body of O.C. Marine killed in Afghanistan is coming home

Remains of Donald Hogan, 20, expected in Southern California next week

The remains of a San Clemente Marine killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today and are expected in Southern California in the middle of next week.

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MCTOG, USJFCOM Enhance Joint Readiness for Marines

The Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team partnered here Tuesday to improve the joint training and combat readiness of Marine battalion and regimental staffs before they deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq.

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MCTOG, USJFCOM Enhance Joint Readiness for Marines

The Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team partnered here Tuesday to improve the joint training and combat readiness of Marine battalion and regimental staffs before they deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq.

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Squadrons Train at Combat Center for Upcoming Deployment

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms
Two Marine Corps aviation units combined forces at the Combat Center's Prospect training area to prepare for their deployments later this year.

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Danger Room in Afghanistan: The Taliban Push Back

MIANPOSHTEH, AFGHANISTAN – Two months ago, the Marines of Echo company pushed into this farming community, set up a series of outposts, and launched a series of patrols and raids to put the Taliban on their heels. On Thursday, the militants struck back, attacking four different Marine units in seven hours and dealing Echo company its first casualty in more than three weeks. One Marine was shot through the chest and arm, but is expected to make a full recovery.

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Sniper's Eye Counters Smuggling in Iraq

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq, - Marine Corps snipers and designated marksmen have been operating across the vast Iraqi deserts since the outbreak of hostilities in 2003.

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August 27, 2009

'Marine killed in Afghanistan bomb blast 'was a beautiful kid'


A Tesoro High School graduate who wanted to be a Marine like his grandfather was killed in a roadside bomb explosion Wednesday morning in southern Afghanistan

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Battery R, 5/11 Ready to Put Rockets Down Range Anytime

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – In the early morning desert heat, a squad of infantry Marines patrols through a seemingly empty field in the southern Helmand Province. Without warning, they start taking heavy fire from a distant compound. To overwhelm the enemy, the patrol leader calls for indirect fire support.

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August 25, 2009

Bronx Marine Responsible for Security in Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - While the Marines at Forward Operating Base Geronimo sleep soundly at night, the guard force stays vigilant and watchful

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Spokane Marine Assists in Counter-Insurgency Operations

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - Despite the many obstacles that motor transport operators face each day on the road, in the end, they always deliver the goods

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August 23, 2009

Mountain training gets Afghan war twist

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Aug 23, 2009 12:11:30 EDT

PICKEL MEADOW, Calif. — They invaded Iraq, fought pitched battles with insurgents in Fallujah, operated in the jungles of Southeast Asia and raided beaches from amphibious ships with Republic of Korea marines.

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August 21, 2009

29 Palms Marine receives Navy Cross

Staff report
Posted : Friday Aug 21, 2009 7:06:34 EDT

A junior Marine severely wounded during an ambush last year in Afghanistan’s Helmand province received the Navy Cross on Thursday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., base officials said.

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3/7 Hones Survival Skills at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif. – Marines and Sailors of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, put their skills to the test during pre-environmental training in Landing Zone Dodo at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Aug. 18.

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Comanche Marines conduct leadership training

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq — Marines from Company C, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, or “Comanche Company,” conducted leadership training on an abandoned farming compound north of Sahl Sinjar, Iraq, August 5, 2009.

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3/7 hones survival skills at MCMWTC

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif. - Marines and sailors of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, put their skills to the test during pre-environmental training in Landing Zone Dodo at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., Tuesday.

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Marine Engineers Construct Major Fortifications in Helmand's Hostile Territory

KOSHTAY, Garmsir District, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The mission for Marines here is to seize ground controlled by Taliban insurgents, hold that ground and build on it. Building in this case means fortifying their exposed position on the very front lines of this conflict. However, Marine infantrymen are not known for their carpentry and construction skills. That responsibility falls on the engineers.

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Animal Company returns from Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — More than 160 Marines and sailors marched onto Victory Field Tuesday, where families sporting custom T-shirts and signs cheered and whistled at the prospect of their loved ones returning home from deployment.

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August 20, 2009

Marines awarding Navy Cross to Nebraskan

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.—The Marines are honoring a Nebraska native with its second-highest decoration for his heroism in Afghanistan last year.

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29 Palms Marine to receive Navy Cross

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Aug 20, 2009 7:13:51 EDT

A junior Marine severely wounded during an ambush last year in Afghanistan’s Helmand province will receive the Navy Cross on Thursday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., base officials said.

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August 19, 2009

3/11 provides security to locals around Fiddlers Green

Walking through an empty field in the early morning on Aug. 13, 2009, the temperatures are already in the high 90s and every Marine is thankful for the relative cool.

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Marine from Twentynine Palms to receive Navy Cross for bravery

A Marine from Twentynine Palms is set Thursday to receive the Navy Cross for bravery during combat in Afghanistan.

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August 16, 2009

Essex Says Sayonara to 3/5 BLT, Offloads 31st MEU

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) offloaded the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Aug. 13 after successfully completing Talisman Saber 2009

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August 15, 2009

Marines Exercise Alternative PT on 'any Given Sunday'

CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – Though there was no stadium with thousands of screaming fans or a grassy playing field, the spirit of competition filled the searing air in the Desert of Death.

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August 14, 2009

3/7 receives new commander, sergeant major

MARINE COPRS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —

Marines, sailors, friends and family members gathered at the Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Aug. 7, for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s change of command and relief and appointment ceremonies where the battalion received a new commanding officer and sergeant major


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August 12, 2009

Effort Aims to Secure Southern Afghanistan for Elections

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2009 – Hours into the new Operation Eastern Resolve II in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, defense officials report that U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers are confronting “some resistance” as they work to secure the area for the Aug. 20 elections.

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August 11, 2009

Afghanistan-bound Marines rehearse wide range of enemy encounters

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —

Marines and sailors of the 7th Marine Regiment held small, training sessions during a pre-deployment exercise here July 27-Aug. 14 to prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan as part of Regimental Combat Team 7.

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11th MEU readies for deployment

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 7:26:41 EDT

More than 2,200 Marines and sailors will head to sea Monday for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s third and final predeployment training exercises at sea.

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August 3, 2009

Patrol Base Jaker – Under Construction

When 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's Headquarters and Services Co. arrived at this location in mid-June, 40 British soldiers were harassed daily by insurgent gunfire. It was nothing more than a "hot LZ" according to some of the Marines here. Within a few days of their arrival, the Marines increased their numbers with elements of the battalion's B and C Companies. With stronger numbers and more firepower, the insurgents slowly began to get the point. Now, there hasn't been a firefight in the vicinity of the base since June 21. That was one week prior to the July 2 kickoff of Operation Khanjar, a major in which Marines spread across the Helmand River valley to deny insurgents freedom of movement and provide security for the people in the region.

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August 1, 2009

Destroyer christened in honor of MoH Marine

By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Aug 1, 2009 14:40:26 EDT

BATH, MAINE — Debra Dunham swung true with her silver bottle of champagne Saturday, cracking it against the bulbus sonar dome on the bow of the Navy destroyer that bears the name of her son. With its traditional alcoholic bath, the hull known as DDG 109 took its real name: “Jason Dunham.”

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Fallen MoH recipient’s helmet lives on

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Aug 1, 2009 9:03:16 EDT

Five years after Cpl. Jason Dunham died in Iraq, his former commander delivered the shattered remains of his helmet to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., save one piece that will be sealed within the mast of a Navy destroyer named in Dunham’s honor.

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Navy Christens Newest Arleigh Burke-Class Ship Jason Dunham

BATH, Maine (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy christened the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), Aug. 1 during a ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.

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New warship named for lifesaving Marine

Corporal who covered live grenade with body honored at christening

BATH, Maine - In a solemn ceremony punctuated by talk of courage, service and sacrifice, the mother of a Marine corporal on Saturday christened a warship honoring her son, who died after covering an exploding grenade to protect his comrades in Iraq.

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July 31, 2009

Warship honors heroic Marine

Destroyer will be christened Saturday

The name of a brave young man from Scio forever will be remembered by the sailors and Marines who set foot on a warship about to be christened.

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July 30, 2009

Helmand Province governor visits local leaders, Marines in Nawa District

NAWA DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan —
More than 200 local Afghans gathered for a shura here with July 23, 2009. A shura serves as a meeting for locals to voice their opinions and concerns to leaders who have the power to change things.

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July 25, 2009

Local Marines holding ground in Helmand's Nawa District

No fatalities for Camp Pendleton's 1/5 during deadliest month in Afghanistan

"Shape, clear, hold and build."

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Iraq Veterans Find Afghan Enemy Even Bolder

NAWA, Afghanistan — In three combat tours in Anbar Province, Marine Sgt. Jacob Tambunga fought the deadliest insurgents in Iraq.

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July 24, 2009

Wolfpack sees OIF from start to finish

SAHL SINJAR AIRFIELD, Iraq —
From the Rumaylah oil fields in Operation Iraqi Freedom I to Operation Phantom Fury during the retaking of Fallujah to patrolling the western border of Iraq, and now providing security and training for the 11th Iraqi Army Brigade, the Wolfpack Marines have fought our country’s battles in light armored vehicles.

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July 22, 2009

Marines, Afghan security forces meet with hundreds of village elders in Helmand

NAWA DISTRICT, Afghanistan — Key leaders with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, participated in a tribal shura July 19 at the Afghan police compound next to Patrol Base Jaker here.

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Local Marine killed on 2nd Iraq tour

Since childhood, New Braunfels man's dream was to join the Marines.

Long before he hit Canyon High School in New Braunfels, Brandon Lara knew he wanted to be a Marine. Not even the outbreak of war in Iraq, when relatives tried to persuade him not to sign up, could shake his will.

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July 21, 2009

Swine flu hits 13th MEU while visiting Hawaii

69 test positive for H1N1; crew members with flulike symptoms quarantined

By William Cole - Honolulu Advertiser
Posted : Tuesday Jul 21, 2009 13:45:01 EDT

At least 69 sailors and Marines tested positive for H1N1 swine flu within a Navy ship group now visiting Hawaii.

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July 20, 2009

Marines Face Stiff Taliban Resistance

Logistical Difficulties Inhibit Troops During Clashes in Southern Afghan Province

GARMSIR, Afghanistan, July 19 -- Marines pushing deep into a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province battled insurgents in a day of firefights around a key bazaar Sunday, as an operation designed as a U.S. show of force confronted resistance from Taliban fighters as well as constraints on supplies and manpower.

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July 15, 2009

Expeditionary chaplain maintains battalion’s spiritual readiness

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Imagine having thousands of brothers and sisters. Imagine how worried you’d be about whether they’re comfortable, safe or taking care of themselves.

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In the Heat of Afghanistan, Shades of Iraq

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Rising insurgency, rules of engagement, roadside bombs ... there’s something about Afghanistan that looks, sounds and feels like Iraq.

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July 13, 2009

Crooked Afghan police challenge Marines

By David Guttenfelder and Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jul 13, 2009 17:00:10 EDT

AYNAK, Afghanistan — Afghan villagers had complained to the Marines for days: The police are the problem, not the Taliban. They steal from villagers and beat them. Days later, the Marines learned firsthand what the villagers meant.

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July 12, 2009

A Fight for Ordinary Peace

U.S. Marines deployed across an Afghan river valley are waging war on insurgents not by targeting their bases but, rather, by protecting communities.

NAWA, Afghanistan -- Most of the mud-brick stalls that line the street in this sweltering town on the Helmand River closed down a year ago when Taliban fighters began swaggering through the bazaar, levying taxes on merchants and seeding the roads with homemade bombs. Shopkeepers placed their wares behind padlocked tin doors, teachers shuttered the school, the doctor abandoned the health clinic and residents with means fled to other parts of southern Afghanistan

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Isolated US convoys in Afghanistan ambush targets

KOSHTAY, Afghanistan (AFP) — Stranded for three days on a single stretch of road in southern Afghanistan, the US Marines wondered why they had not been ambushed by the Taliban -- and then finally the attack came.

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July 11, 2009

US military offensive bogged by Afghan road mines

KOSHTAY, Afghanistan (AFP) – For the route clearance team of US Marines, another tense night crammed inside their armoured vehicles was proof that winning control of Afghanistan's roads would not be easy.

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Flu forces 13th MEU to cancel tiger cruise

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Saturday Jul 11, 2009 8:52:52 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Three Navy ships had to remain off the coast of Guam this week after reports of crew members were suspected of having swine flu.

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July 10, 2009

2nd MEB makes gains, expects more fighting

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jul 10, 2009 18:02:51 EDT

After seven days of seizing poppy-rich areas of southern Afghanistan, the Marine Corps is planning a shift to gain the trust of Afghan civilians but expects the Taliban to return and fight for the land, the top Marine commander there said Wednesday.

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July 9, 2009

As Death Toll Rises, Marines Stay Focused in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVICE, Afghanistan — It's the middle of the night at the east corner guard post of Fiddler's Green, a Marine fire base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, along the border with Pakistan.

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July 8, 2009

3rd Battalion, 11th Marines Regiment Maintain Umbrella of Security

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When enemy insurgents fire mortars or rockets at U.S. and coalition troops, a long beep resonates and a small blip appears on the screen of counter battery radar Marines.

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Marines push militants out of Taliban region

By Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 8, 2009 9:59:11 EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines trapped Taliban fighters in a residential compound and persuaded the insurgents to allow women and children to leave. The troops then moved in — only to discover that the militants had slipped out, dressed in women’s burqas.

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July 6, 2009

Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan Gauges Progress in Farah

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – "Everyone always looks forward to going outside the wire on missions," said Army Staff Sgt. John Smith, an infantryman who provides security for Provincial Reconstruction Team-Farah in Afghanistan's Farah province.
"They enjoy meeting the local population and watching the children play.
That's our motivation, to see how happy the children are and that they now have a future ahead of them."

Continue reading "Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan Gauges Progress in Farah" »

July 5, 2009

Marines battle heat, small-arms fire in Afghanistan

NAWA, Afghanistan – Taliban militants were nowhere in sight as columns of U.S. Marines walked for a third day Saturday near this town in southern Afghanistan, but the desert heat proved an enemy in its own right.

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UK medics giving front-line help

A team of medics and nurses who usually treat injured soldiers flown back to the UK are in Afghanistan helping to save the lives of frontline troops.

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July 4, 2009

Marines march in grueling Afghan sun for July 4

NAWA, Afghanistan – Taliban militants were nowhere in sight as the columns of U.S. Marines walked a third straight day across southern Afghanistan. But the desert heat proved an enemy in its own right, with several troops falling victim Saturday to temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

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July 3, 2009

Underway Replenishment Ensures Navy's Flexibility, Forward Presence

USS Bonhomme Richard, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with the Fleet Replenishment Oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202) July 1.

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July 2, 2009

Marines Hit Insurgents Behind Lines

NAWA, Afghanistan – Marines took Afghan insurgents by surprise early Thursday morning when they dropped behind their lines to hit them as part of the just-launched major operation against Taliban fighters.

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June 21, 2009

2/7 Scout Snipers take a ‘little’ hike

MOUNT SAN JACINTO STATE PARK, PALM SPRINGS, Calif. —
“We’d be going that fast too if we had such small packs,” said a hiker with a full camping load on her back as eight men with military hair cuts and proper civilian attire passed her on the steep mountainside.

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A Change in Mission

Lt. Arthur Karell and his Marine battalion were sent to Now Zad, Afghanistan, to train Afghan police. Instead, they had to fight the insurgents who had taken over the town.

By Kristin Henderson
Sunday, June 21, 2009

"Fix bayonets."

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June 15, 2009

Discovery Channel's SOMALI PIRATE TAKEDOWN THE REAL STORY Documents Never-Before-Told Stories Behind Dramatic Maersk Alabama Pirate Standoff

Comprehensive Special Features New Footage of U.S. Navy's Decisive Response, First-Ever Accounts from Maersk Alabama's Crew and Exclusive Footage From Military Channel Production Crews Aboard U.S. Navy Vessels Leading Counter-Piracy Operations

Continue reading "Discovery Channel's SOMALI PIRATE TAKEDOWN THE REAL STORY Documents Never-Before-Told Stories Behind Dramatic Maersk Alabama Pirate Standoff" »

June 12, 2009

Essex Departs For Talisman Saber

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departed Sasebo, Japan, for exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09) June 12.

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June 4, 2009

First Timers From the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Awarded Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

RED SEA – The global war on terrorism Expeditionary Medal was awarded to Marines serving with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit at a ceremony pier side in the Middle East, June 1, representing the entire MEU spread across the Middle Eastern region.

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June 1, 2009

For Marine, marathon on the Great Wall of China was grueling but rewarding

By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, June 1, 2009

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Visiting the Great Wall of China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most.

Continue reading "For Marine, marathon on the Great Wall of China was grueling but rewarding" »

May 29, 2009

31st MEU conducts exercise to prepare for Talisman Saber '09

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan —
Marines with the S-6, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's Communications Platoon, conducted a communications exercise May 11-13 in preparation for the MEU's participation in Talisman Saber 2009 in Australia this July.

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May 27, 2009

Iraqi commandos show off their combat skills for MNF-W commanding general

CAMP YASSIR, Iraq – With flags waving high and feet pounding the ground in a steady rhythm, soldiers with Commando Battalion, 7th Iraqi Army Division, showed off their military talents during a demonstration aboard Al Asad Air Base, May 23, 2009.

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May 25, 2009

USS Lake Champlain Rescues More Than 50 Mariners in Distress

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- The San Diego based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) responded to a vessel in distress in the Gulf of Aden May 23, rescuing 52 men women and children who had been adrift in a small skiff for approximately seven days.

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May 22, 2009

Boxer ARG Begins Exercise in the Gulf of Aden

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began an ARG/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (MEUEX) May 19, in the Gulf of Aden and ashore at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti.

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Marines and Sailors Conduct Amphibious Exercise

GULF OF ADEN – The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began an ARG/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (MEUEX) May 19, in the Gulf of Aden and ashore at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti.

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May 13, 2009

USS New Orleans Underway from Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain - The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans returned to sea last night, fully mission capable after completing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Shipyard dry dock in Manama, Bahrain.

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May 12, 2009

Local Ladies Help Marines Keep Their "Cool"

Soldiers and Marines serving in Iraq and Afganistan face extreme weather conditions with temperatures reaching up to 140 degrees.

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May 7, 2009

Mail Call – It's Finally Here

USS BOXER – A voice announces "Mail orderlies, muster in the hangar bay," over the ship's announcement system. Next, a crowd of service members wrap around aircraft, parts and machinery in the ship's hanger-bay, each having a sense of urgency to receive that special package they have been waiting for.

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May 4, 2009

A Day in the Life of a Combat Cargo Marine

INDIAN OCEAN, USS Boxer – The only noises coming through the thick, camouflage painted door was the feint laughter of Marines singing the chorus to "Yellow Submarine." Through the door is the Flight Deck Debark office where Sgt. Derrick S. Thompson and his seven-man Combat Cargo team reminisce on their morning wake-up call.

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May 3, 2009

The 2009 TIME 100 - Brady Gustafson

Lance Corporal Brady (Goose) Gustafson and his 20 fellow Marines sensed trouble on July 21 as they crept into the Afghan village of Shewan and saw civilians drifting away. Moments later, a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and machine-gun fire enveloped Gustafson's mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) and its three trailing humvees. An RPG exploded inside his vehicle, the resulting blast searing his face as it rushed through the open turret where he was manning the machine gun. He started shooting at gun flashes from an estimated 100 Taliban, some only 20 yards away. Gustafson, 21, stood up for a better firing position but was instantly racked with pain. "I looked down, and a lot of my right leg wasn't there," he says. "I could see muscle and bone, and I was bleeding pretty hard." The RPG had taken out six inches of leg bones and flesh. Gustafson's booted right foot dangled uselessly, attached only by his leg's calf muscles.

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April 29, 2009

2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment's executive officer killed in motorcycle crash

MCAGCC — The executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center was killed Tuesday night, April 28 when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a vehicle in Yucca Valley.

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April 28, 2009

Iraqi soldiers and Marine ‘Dragoons’ sweep and clear the deserts of Al Anbar province

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq – Sand blows in small funnels across a narrow, deserted Iraqi highway. Minus the roadway itself and distant high-tension wires, there is not a single identifiable feature, only silence and the blowing sand. That is until the silence of the barren, unforgiving desert landscape gives way to the distant hum of vehicle engines.

Continue reading "Iraqi soldiers and Marine ‘Dragoons’ sweep and clear the deserts of Al Anbar province" »

April 26, 2009

USS New Orleans Enters Dry Dock

MANAMA, Bahrain – USS New Orleans (LPD 18) entered a dry dock in Bahrain yesterday to continue repair work on the ship’s hull. The Navy signed a firm fixed price contract with Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard “ASRY” Shipyards in Manama, Bahrain to repair New Orleans.

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April 25, 2009

A New Group of Martial-Arts Instructors Emerge From USS Boxer

USS BOXER, At sea -- From a room blocked off by curtains and boards in the gloomy, lower parts of USS Boxer, came yelling, pounding and the noises of someone beating on barrels. Not one person was allowed in for two hours until the next group's transition into the 'secret room.'

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April 14, 2009

Wolfpack takes control of Ninewa Province from Highlanders

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq —
First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, relinquished its operational responsibilities in Iraq’s Ninewa province, Iraq to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, April 7, 2009. Operating from a remote airfield near the Sinjar Mountains, the Marines of 1st LAR Bn. spent the majority of their seven-month deployment interdicting smuggling and conducting reconnaissance in the open desert terrain.

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April 12, 2009

SEALs free U.S. hostage, kill 3 pirates

By Lara Jakes and Elizabeth A. Kennedy - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Apr 12, 2009 17:17:59 EDT

MOMBASA, Kenya — U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.

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Boxer sailing toward area of pirate standoff

By Anne Gearan - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Apr 12, 2009 14:23:24 EDT

WASHINGTON — The Navy is moving an amphibious ship closer to the scene of the pirate hostage standoff off Somalia.

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April 10, 2009

‘Thundering Third’ prepares to tame Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment prepared for their Mojave Viper pre-deployment exercise training their small unit to company level combat skills from April 6 - 10.
The purpose of the training is to gain proficiency from the individual Marine to eventually the battalion level, through refresher and small-unit training, said Maj. Rigoberto Colon, the battalion operations officer and a native of New York.

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Pirates Demand Ransom After U.S. Ship Captain Tries to Escape

A Somali negotiator said Friday pirates holding American ship captain Richard Phillips hostage want a $2 million ransom and are ready to kill Phillips if attacked.

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April 8, 2009

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Conducts Wash Down Before Heading Home

RED SEA - The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is scheduled to conduct an agricultural wash down, sustainment training and cultural awareness tours for Marines and Sailors of USS Boxer while at a port in the Middle East, April 1-8.

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April 5, 2009

13th MEU Participates in Eastern Maverick

QATAR LAND FORCES TRAINING AREA, Qatar – Elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), began conducting Exercise Eastern Maverick 2009, alongside Qatari military forces on March 28, a bilateral training exercise designed to build and improve cooperation between both military forces.

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April 4, 2009

USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Land on Djiboutian Beach

Sailors assigned to USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted an amphibious landing on a beach near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, April 1.

Continue reading "USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Land on Djiboutian Beach" »

April 3, 2009

11th MEU conducts last land-based Marine air-ground task force exercise

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. —
The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit has been conducting a comprehensive Marine air-ground task force exercise since March 20 at numerous locations in California as part of its pre-deployment program.

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April 2, 2009

Corps’ premiere air-controllers back with 11th MEU

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. —
After years of estrangement from Marine expeditionary units, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company personnel, or Anglico, the Corp’s air controllers, are once again back with the 11th MEU to do what they do best: Bring death from above.

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April 1, 2009

Quick Reaction Force learns more about man’s best friend

Marines stand by as one of their own dons a black protective suit in preparation for what seems to be a race. As the Marine finishes putting on the suit, a dog handler emerges from the background with a barking German shepherd. As the Marine slowly walks in front of the dog, the dog’s bark grows louder. A few more seconds pass then without notice, the Marine begins to run. Not long after, the handler releases the dog’s leash, and the animal lunges after the Marine in search for the perfect angle of attack.

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March 31, 2009

Marines and Sailors Volunteer at Children’s Center

MANAMA, Bahrain – Marines and Sailors assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) spent the day playing with children from the Alia School for Early Intervention in Bahrain March, 24.

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Pirates captured after attacking German tanker

(CNN) -- Seven suspected pirates are in German custody after they fired on a naval tanker off the coast of Somalia and were pursued by warships, the German military said.

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March 30, 2009

The law of the seas

U.S. troops gather evidence for prosecution of Aden piracy

By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, March 30, 2009

The second part of a series.

THE GULF OF ADEN — When American forces in the Gulf of Aden find a suspected pirate skiff, they don’t send in the Marines, Navy SEALs or other combat forces. The first people to confront the suspected pirates are members of a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment.

Continue reading "The law of the seas" »

Boxer Supports International Counter-Piracy Effort in Gulf of Aden

Other Attacks Increase off Somali Coast

USS BOXER, At Sea – In a show of international sea power in the Gulf of Aden, seven nations representing three task forces coordinated efforts to pursue a skiff after the pirates on board opened fire on a German oiler, the Federal German Ship (FGS) Spessart, March 29.

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March 29, 2009

Combined Task Force 151 hunts down pirates in the Gulf of Aden

By James Warden, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, March 29, 2009

(Day One of a two-day series)

THE GULF OF ADEN — The USS Boxer is an impressive ship, purpose-built to show up on the horizon and grab a well-protected beach from a determined enemy. An array of helicopters can spot threats before they ever see the amphibious assault ship. Harrier jets can pound them into the ground. And hovercrafts can carry hundreds of Marines and their armored vehicles to storm the beach.

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March 28, 2009

2/7 Marine to receive Navy Cross on Friday

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Mar 28, 2009 8:49:26 EDT

A Marine will receive the Navy Cross on Friday for helping his comrades fight their way out of an ambush in Afghanistan despite sustaining a traumatic injury to his right leg, officials said Tuesday.

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March 27, 2009

7th Iraqi Army Division kicks off month-long commando course

CAMP MEJID, Iraq – The members of Military Transition Team 7, working with the Reconnaissance Platoon of Regimental Combat Team 8, recently launched a month-long training course designed to hone the skills of the 7th Iraqi Army Division’s Special Operations Battalion.

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Recon teams with Iraqi scout platoon in search of caches

AL KHARMA, Iraq – Dogs barked as four Iraqi soldiers advanced toward a house nestled between dirt fields outside Tharthar, Iraq. Once at the house, an Iraqi soldier questioned the male occupant as another soldier kept a watchful eye during a cache sweep in the vicinity of Al Kharma, Iraq, March 23, 2009.

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USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Undergo Extensive Assessments

MANAMA, Bahrain – The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, have been undergoing extensive engineering and damage assessments since pulling into Bahrain March 21.

Continue reading "USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Undergo Extensive Assessments" »

March 25, 2009

LAR remains expeditionary throughout deployment

NINEWA PROVINCE, Iraq – Since the Marine Corps is known for its expeditionary prowess, maybe one of the best examples of this trait can be found in Iraq’s Ninewa province. Patrolling the terrain of northern Iraq, the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, have spent the bulk of their deployment staying true to this expeditionary mindset by remaining ‘outside the wire’ to interdict smuggling.

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March 21, 2009

U.S. Navy detains, releases six suspected pirates

(CNN) -- U.S. naval forces hunting pirates off Somalia detained six people this week who appeared to be pursuing a commercial shipping vessel, but soon released them because of a lack of evidence.

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USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Arrive In Port Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, arrived in port Bahrain March 21.

Continue reading "USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Arrive In Port Bahrain" »

Suspected Pirates Apprehended and Released in the Gulf of Aden

USS Boxer, At Sea – The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) apprehended six suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday after responding to a distress call from two nearby merchant vessels.

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March 20, 2009

2 US Navy vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz

MANAMA, Bahrain – Two U.S. Navy vessels — a nuclear-powered submarine and an amphibious ship — collided before dawn Friday in the mouth of the Persian Gulf, one of the world's most important sea passages for oil supplies.

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March 17, 2009

13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Conducts Exercise Sea Soldier

USS BOXER, At Sea - Elements from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted bilateral training with regional partners, March 5-17, to strengthen relationships and improve interoperability.

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Marines Stepping It Up With Corporal’s Course on the USS Boxer

USS BOXER, At sea – About 30 Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Boxer spent the last month learning and improving the skills needed to become more efficient non-commissioned officers during Corporal’s Course; receiving their diplomas, March 11.

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March 16, 2009

Boxer Post Office Delivers Goods

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) rely on postal clerks to receive news from home or packages that improve morale and quality of life.

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Marine receives Bronze Star for Iraq heroics

Staff report
Posted : Monday Mar 16, 2009 16:37:51 EDT

An Arizona-based Marine received a Bronze Star with combat “V” in March for his actions last year in Iraq, according to a Marine news release.

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March 13, 2009

Tank Marines take responsibilities as quick reaction force

Dateline
CAMP RIPPER, Iraq —
Page Content
“First to fight” is a phrase that often comes to mind when referring to the Marine Corps. Not only is being the first to engage the enemy very important, but reacting quickly to a call for assistance or help is imperative.

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March 12, 2009

Brigade needs more Afghan forces

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Mar 12, 2009 18:36:08 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Among the biggest challenges the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade faces when it enters Afghanistan this spring will be the lack of Afghan security forces in its area of operations, the MEB’s new commander said Monday.

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Urban combat skills addressed

S. Korean marines trained by U.S. forces at Rodriguez Range

By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, March 12, 2009

The crack of small-arms fire filled the air at Rodriguez Range on Tuesday as troops from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment worked with South Korean marines to sharpen their urban combat skills.

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March 11, 2009

Marines conduct marksmanship training aboard New Orleans

USS NEW ORLEANS, At Sea — With all of the advancements made towards improving the quality of life while under way, it is also important to remember to create better training tools.

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March 10, 2009

2,300 Marines, sailors to deploy to Afghanistan

CAMP PENDLETON — More than 2,300 Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms will deploy to Afghanistan in the coming weeks, Marine officials said yesterday.

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Boxer becomes piracy task force flagship

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Mar 10, 2009 15:48:31 EDT

The flag for Combined Task Force 151, the Navy’s counterpiracy flotilla, has moved to the amphibious assault ship Boxer, now operating in the waters of the Middle East.

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USS Boxer Becomes Flagship for CTF 151

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4), homeported in San Diego, assumed the role as flagship for Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 March 8 after arriving in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations as part of a regularly-scheduled deployment.

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March 9, 2009

Camp Pendleton units get Afghanistan assignment

Marine force will be led by Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson

CAMP PENDLETON ---- About 1,400 Camp Pendleton Marines and sailors have been ordered to join the fight in Afghanistan this spring, the first large-scale deployment from this base to that country since the 2001 U.S. invasion.

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March 6, 2009

CH-53s from 13th MEU fly support in Iraq

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 6, 2009 19:10:18 EST

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Marines with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s detachment of CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters left their ship at sea earlier this week and are flying combat support missions in Iraq.

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February 27, 2009

Station pays tribute to local fallen Marine

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan —He was a son, a brother, a friend and a Marine.

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February 26, 2009

Boxer Sailors and Marines Donate Time, Learn Culture in Phuket

PHUKET, Thailand (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) Sailors and Marines helped renovate the Thalong National Museum Feb. 19 during a community relations (COMREL) project.

Continue reading "Boxer Sailors and Marines Donate Time, Learn Culture in Phuket" »

February 24, 2009

Damage Control Training Key to Safety, Survivability

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- "General Quarters, General Quarters, all hands man your battle stations." This call brings USS Boxer (LHD 4) Sailors to their respective stations. They are ready for anything, because they are trained to be.

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February 23, 2009

Boutwell Arrives In The Republic Of Maldives

REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES (NNS) -- The United States Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell (WHEC 719) arrived in the Republic of Maldives Feb. 21 for a scheduled port visit.

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Boutwell departs Cochin after three days of engagements

COCHIN, India (NNS) -- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell (WHEC 719) departed Cochin, India, Feb. 20 after a three-day visit.

Continue reading "Boutwell departs Cochin after three days of engagements" »

February 16, 2009

Cobra Gold 2009: U.S., Thai forces practice landing in heat, rough seas

By Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, February 16, 2009

HAT YAO, Thailand — More than 500 U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Royal Thai Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicle Battalion stormed the beach here Friday in a combined exercise that kicked off the final weekend of Cobra Gold 2009.

Continue reading "Cobra Gold 2009: U.S., Thai forces practice landing in heat, rough seas" »

February 15, 2009

31st MEU in Thailand for Cobra Gold

Staff report
Posted : Sunday Feb 15, 2009 12:54:57 EST

Members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have spent the past 10 days in Thailand for the multinational exercise Cobra Gold, which wraps up Tuesday.

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February 14, 2009

Reconnaissance Marines harden Iraqi Special Forces

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – With Iraqi training and partnered operations taking priority in Iraq, Force Reconnaissance Marines have taken it to the next level, incorporating specialforces training with an elite group of Iraqi soldiers during a 10-day training exercise that started here, Feb. 7.

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USS New Orleans Visits Penang

PENANG, Malaysia -- The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) anchored off the city of Penang, Malaysia, Feb. 11 for a scheduled port visit.

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February 11, 2009

Cobra Gold 2009: Building trust high on the agenda

By Kevin Baron, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, February 11, 2009

GULF OF THAILAND, Thailand — From its serene northern mountains dotted with Buddhist temples to the lowland coastal plains lined with coconut plantations, Thailand this week is covered with a thick haze and nearly 7,000 U.S. troops — joined by more than 4,000 others from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore — who have come for the 28th annual Cobra Gold exercise.

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February 6, 2009

Raid training challenges in ways new and old

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — In recent years, Marines have trained exclusively for Iraq or Afghanistan operations. But when Marines attach to a Marine expeditionary unit, they have to prepare for anything, anywhere.

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February 2, 2009

Guam says Hafa Adai to USS New Orleans

The USS New Orleans arrived to the island this weekend for a short port visit. The ship is part of the USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group, which is currently operating near Guam and in support of the ongoing training for United States Marines.

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330 Marines training on Guam

Guam will get a preview this week of what it might be like after the military buildup occurs -- on a smaller scale.

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Redmond Marine Receives Bronze Star

The bronze star is the military's fourth highest award and for 24-year old Sergeant Wayne DeKorte of Redmond--- an unexpected honor.

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January 30, 2009

3/7 Marine receives Bronze Star, moves on to future

Sgt. Wayne Dekorte, a platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, recently left the Marine Corps after his enlistment came to an end. Part of his enlistment was receiving a Bronze Star medal for his accomplishments overseas.

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January 26, 2009

ROK Commandant, III MEF CG Visit 3/5

OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 26, 2009) -- — The commandant of the Republic of Korea’s Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Lee Hong-Hee visited the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Hansen Jan. 23.

Continue reading "ROK Commandant, III MEF CG Visit 3/5" »

Marines, sailors return from Iraq to Pendleton

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) -- Their homecoming was delayed for four hours by fog, but some 300 Marines and sailors returned from Iraq to Camp Pendleton after a deployment of more than a year.

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January 23, 2009

Regimental Combat Team 5 turns over with Regimental Combat Team 8

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Regimental Combat Team 8 relieved Regimental Combat Team 5 at a ceremony here today.

Continue reading "Regimental Combat Team 5 turns over with Regimental Combat Team 8" »

Warpigs of 1st LAR hand off smuggling search in northern Iraq

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – For the past75 days, the Marines and sailors of Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion have been living and operating in the open areas near the Sinjar Mountains of northern Iraq to interdict smuggling on the Iraqi-Syrian border. After this extended period, the “Warpigs” recently turned over responsibility of the region to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division so that they may return to Sinjar Airfield for further missions.

Continue reading "Warpigs of 1st LAR hand off smuggling search in northern Iraq" »

January 22, 2009

Yankees begin first operational journey

USS BOXER, At Sea — The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit continues to lead the way for the Marine Corps. It was the first MEU to deploy with the Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicle, the first to deploy with a Marine Special Operations Command Company and now, this year, the first to deploy with the UH-1Y Huey helicopter, a revamped version of the Vietnam-era war machine, the UH-1N.

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January 16, 2009

Replacement Marine unit to go right into ship-based training

By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, January 16, 2009

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit welcomed more than 600 Marines of the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, to Okinawa on Wednesday evening.

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1st LAR Bn. secures remote northern Iraq, impeding insurgents

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – If they have fought in ‘every clime and place’ as the Marines’ Hymn recounts, maybe a verse should be added for clarity. What would it say? Perhaps something about ‘for however long it takes with minimal supplies…’

Continue reading "1st LAR Bn. secures remote northern Iraq, impeding insurgents" »

January 15, 2009

Black Sheep, Widows deploy with 13th MEU

More than 100 Yuma Marines and six AV-8B Harriers left for San Diego Jan. 7-8 to join the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Boxer for the next six to eight months.

Continue reading "Black Sheep, Widows deploy with 13th MEU" »

January 13, 2009

13th MEU departs San Diego for deployment

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 13, 2009 10:53:29 EST

SAN DIEGO — As sailors and Marines clung tightly to their loved ones in the Friday morning chill, in the final moments before boarding their ship, Army veteran Robert Ponce Sr. struggled to hold back the tears.

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January 12, 2009

Marines continue drawing down in al Anbar

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, handed over control of several forward operating bases and combat outposts in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, to Iraqi Security Forces Jan. 1.

Continue reading "Marines continue drawing down in al Anbar" »

January 9, 2009

New Orleans embarks on maiden deployment

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 9, 2009 18:08:56 EST

SAN DIEGO — As sailors and Marines clung tightly to their loved ones in the Friday morning chill, in the final moments before boarding their ship, Army veteran Robert Ponce Sr. struggled to hold back the tears.

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January 7, 2009

Boxer strike group, 13th MEU to deploy Friday

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Jan 7, 2009 20:55:58 EST

SAN DIEGO — More than 4,000 Marines and sailors with the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group will leave from the naval base here Friday for a scheduled seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions.

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Marines of 1st LAR Bn. plant a seed for local economy

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – Drop a stone into a pond. Its ripples reach far from where it entered. Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion tested this philosophy here with an agriculture project, trading stones for barley seed and their pond for local villages of Northern Iraq.

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Iraq battle yields Navy Cross, 4 Silver Stars

By Gidget Fuentes - [email protected]
Posted : Wednesday Jan 7, 2009 10:38:31 EST

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The Marine Corps will present the Navy Cross on Thursday to a junior grenadier credited with saving the lives of 10 fellow infantrymen and decimating a force of insurgents during a deadly 2005 firefight inside an Iraqi home.

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January 6, 2009

Iraqi police respond to Fallujah attack

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police in Karmah demonstrated their ability to take charge of a crime scene after a suicide bomber attacked citizens and policemen on a local highway in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 28.

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December 29, 2008

IPs learn life-saving medical skills

FALLUJAH, Iraq – “He’s bleeding out of a major artery! He’s going into shock! Get his pulse and apply a tourniquet, now!”

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December 25, 2008

MNC-I commander makes holiday visit

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the commanding general of Multi-National Corps Iraq, visited Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, at Camp Baharia in Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 25.

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Taking care of your own, one package at a time

FALLUJAH, Iraq – The holiday season can pose a particularly hard time for some service members deployed overseas and away from their families.

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Anywhere, anytime

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Scout snipers with Teams 2 and 4 of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, have taken on a new role during their deployment to Iraq.

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December 24, 2008

Support For Marine Parents

(December 24, 2008) - For the Knoph Family, this Christmas may just be the most special of them all, because their son, Blake, is home safe from service in Afghanistan.

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December 22, 2008

‘We drove them from the battlefield’

Marines overcome 8-to-1 odds during an 8-hour battle

By Dan Lamothe
[email protected]

The platoon was in a remote area of southwestern Afghanistan when it happened — the kind of massive ambush and firefight that is the stuff of Marine legend.

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December 21, 2008

Chaplain helps Marines stay Semper Fidelis

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq — Always faithful; a saying by which Marines and sailors of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion fight and one by which their chaplain shapes a deeper meaning, exemplifying a way to live a life.

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December 18, 2008

Barbecue a morale booster for Marines in Iraq

FALLUJAH, Iraq – There is nothing like a backyard barbecue to take your mind off the daily grind of fighting terrorism.

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Barbecue a morale booster for Marines in Iraq

FALLUJAH, Iraq – There is nothing like a backyard barbecue to take your mind off the daily grind of fighting terrorism.

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December 17, 2008

2/7 remembers its fallen

MCAGCC — The 20 Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment who died while serving in Afghanistan were memorialized with words of praise and Marine Corps ritual on an overcast day Friday, Dec. 12 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.

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December 16, 2008

Marines support Iraqi police with aid operation

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 assisted Iraqi Police during a humanitarian-aid operation in the Muallimeen area of Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 3.

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New Orleans on track to deploy, InSurv shows

Earlier test revealed problems with San Antonio-class ship

By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Dec 16, 2008 15:56:06 EST

After a bruising inspection this summer, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans is almost combat-ready, according to the results of a new November inspection.

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December 15, 2008

Van gives disabled vet freedom

TAMPA - Lance Corporal J.T. Doody has a newfound freedom. He's in a wheelchair, but now he can go where he wants.

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Task Force Mech makes tracks through al-Anbar

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq- Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Mech, Regimental Combat team 5 are conducting various operations here to improve the securityand to assist the Iraqi people where needed.

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Tanks supply area with medical attention

AL-ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Amidst the array of Coalition force operations in the area, medical attention is still offered to the Iraqi populace by Task Force Mech, Regimental Combat Team 5.

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“Diablos” Take The Reins From 3rd Cavalry

NINEWEH PROVINCE, Iraq – Watch out Al-Qaeda, the Marines have just set up shop.

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December 13, 2008

Twentynine Palms unit pays tribute to those they lost in Afghanistan

TWENTYNINE PALMS — They fought. They came home. And on Friday, the men and women of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines took time to honor their fallen.

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December 12, 2008

Diablos test waters with patrol in unfriendly city

NINEWEH PROVINCE, Iraq – It wasn’t long after breakfast on Nov. 12 that Lance Cpl. Russell L. Pope was sitting in the cold in the back of a Light Armored Vehicle driving through a small town in western Nineveh province.

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Marines Killed in Afghanistan Honored at Twentynine Palms

Marines at Twentynine Palms honored the lives of 20 of their own killed during their last deployment to Afghanistan.

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December 9, 2008

Task Force Ninewa pounds ground into northern Iraq to take down Al Qaeda

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq – On ground that was little more than a strip of cement surrounded by desert, a veritable camp now stands, built and manned by Marines of Task Force Ninewa ready to hunt foreign fighters and terrorists near the Syrian border.

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December 7, 2008

2/7 to complete return from Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 7, 2008 10:25:15 EST

Marines with the hardest hit battalion in the Corps this year are expected to return from southern Afghanistan late this week, Marine officials said.

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For Marines, Mission Of Mentoring Turned Hot

The Marines of the Two-Seven were not even supposed to deploy to Afghanistan. Their original destination was Iraq, and when they were sent here in April as a stopgap measure to help an overwhelmed NATO force, the plan had been to spend the time mentoring Afghan national police.

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December 5, 2008

CLB-5 hits the ground running: New move ensures success for Iraqis, CLB-5

Fallujah, Iraq — Just four years ago the streets of Fallujah were a hot zone for terrorist activity. Now that the area is stabilized, Coalition Forces are in the process of returning Camp Fallujah to the Iraqi government.

Continue reading "CLB-5 hits the ground running: New move ensures success for Iraqis, CLB-5" »

December 3, 2008

Sun sets on 12 ‘Cutting Edge' Marines

With a slow sunset a sorrowful backdrop, the families and friends of Marines killed during their last deployment gathered June 22 for a memorial service filled with prayer and tribute.

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Marines Prevailed in a Day of Battle

It started out just like any other patrol in a war-ravaged Afghan province.

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December 2, 2008

A Marine's spoken word

There is a peace surrounded by insurrection in Rhamadi, Iraq.

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November 27, 2008

Secretary of the Navy visits troops in Fallujah

Fallujah, Iraq — Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter visited Marines and other service members operating in Fallujah, Iraq, during the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

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November 25, 2008

Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine

It has been nine months since a gunman's bullet took the life of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Drew Weaver.

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Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine

It has been nine months since a gunman's bullet took the life of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Drew Weaver.

Continue reading "Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine" »

Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine

It has been nine months since a gunman's bullet took the life of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Drew Weaver.

Continue reading "Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine" »

Scholarship to be named for fallen Marine

It has been nine months since a gunman's bullet took the life of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Drew Weaver.

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November 22, 2008

Utility Marines light up Rutbah TCPs, gain knowledge

RUTBAH, Iraq — And then there was light.

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Marines got more than they bargained for in Afghanistan

The 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division -- the Two-Seven -- never expected to deploy to Afghanistan, much less see heavy combat.

Reporting from Forward Operating Base Delaram, Afghanistan -- The Marines of the Two-Seven were not even supposed to deploy to Afghanistan. Their original destination was Iraq, and when they were sent here in April as a stopgap measure to help an overwhelmed NATO force, the plan had been to spend the time mentoring Afghan national police.

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November 21, 2008

Remembering a friend, hero, Marine

FALLUJAH, Iraq — A small pump station on the outskirts of Fallujah, Iraq, sends streams of water through large metal pipes and into the homes and businesses of local citizens.

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Marines, Iraqi Security Forces search for answers to Ferris attack

FERRIS, Iraq — A recent enemy attack at a hospital in Ferris, Iraq has Marines and Iraqi Security Forces searching the city for clues to find suspects linked to the incident.

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November 19, 2008

Friends and family mourn Marine killed in Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON — Friends and family today mourned a 24-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine from Santa Barbara County killed in combat in Iraq last week.

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MILITARY: 'Nothing won yet' in Afghanistan

As deployments ends, Marine colonel says much work remains

CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan ---- Lt. Col. Rick Hall says that after more than seven months in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps forces "haven't won anything yet."

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November 16, 2008

Marines’ heroic actions at Shewan leave more than 50 insurgents dead, several wounded

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — In the city of Shewan, approximately 250 insurgents ambushed 30 Marines and paid a heavy price for it.

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November 14, 2008

USS Boxer, Marine Unit Prepare For Integration Exercise

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2008 – The USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to deploy in support of unified combatant commanders, the strike group commander said this week.

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Tigers on the prowl aboard Peleliu, experience life underway

ABOARD USS PELELIU — The Marines and Sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, who have called USS Peleliu home for the last six months, welcomed aboard family and friends aboard on as part of Tiger Cruise 2008 for the final week of deployment.

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November 11, 2008

Skilled hands of maintenance Marines keep 1st LAR rolling

SINJAR AIRFIELD, Iraq -- (November 11, 2008) What does it take to keep a mechanized infantry battalion rolling? At more than 12 tons each, light armored vehicle sounds like a contradictory name, but there’s nothing light about the mission these Marines have.

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Easton Marine eager to rejoin unit

EASTON — There are only four fingers now and a long scar on Ryan Walsh’s left hand, and the 22-year-old Marine is still limping a bit, weeks after surgery to insert a metal plate in his shattered right leg.

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November 10, 2008

Marines uphold time-honored tradition

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, took a brief moment away from daily combat operations to celebrate the 233rd Marine Corps birthday at Camp Baharia in Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 10.

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November 9, 2008

Community gets new IDs

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, assisted by Iraqi Police, issued identification badges to civilians living in the Abuyuset area near Fallujah, Iraq, Nov. 8.

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November 8, 2008

U.S. Marines hone landing skills with S. Koreans during exercise

By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, November 8, 2008

SEOUL — About 2,000 U.S. Marines based in Okinawa and mainland Japan stormed a South Korean beach on Thursday during an annual landing exercise with their South Korean counterparts.

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U.S. Marines hone landing skills with S. Koreans during exercise

By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, November 8, 2008

SEOUL — About 2,000 U.S. Marines based in Okinawa and mainland Japan stormed a South Korean beach on Thursday during an annual landing exercise with their South Korean counterparts.

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November 7, 2008

What’s next in Afghanistan

Deploying Marines should expect more winter combat as they work to maintain stability

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 6:38:42 EST

It hasn’t been easy for 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.

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November 5, 2008

Hard-hit 2/7 begins return from Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 5, 2008 9:41:23 EST

The Marine battalion that experienced more casualties than any other unit in the Corps this year has begun returning home from southern Afghanistan, a unit spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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Marines, ANP fight side-by-side to combat terrorism

BALA BALUK, Farah Province, Afghanistan (November 5, 2008) — Bala Baluk, a place where insurgents frequently terrorized Afghan residents, is now much safer due to the cooperative efforts of U.S. Marines and the Afghan National Police (ANP).

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November 4, 2008

‘Incredible Marine’ laid to rest

By Rasheed Oluwa - The Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal
Posted : Tuesday Nov 4, 2008 9:54:56 EST

MARLBORO, N.Y. — Hundreds of Trevor Yurista’s family members and friends poured into St. Mary’s Church in Marlboro, N.Y., on Monday for his funeral.

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November 2, 2008

Marine moms meet online, gather in Lincoln

The parents of Marines in the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group struggled when their children were deployed a year ago.

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From personal trainer to Marine; Marine passes on knowledge

HIT, Iraq — All Marines are taught a skill at the beginning of their military careers that will help support the Marine Corps. Some Marines, though, bring their own skills.

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November 1, 2008

Service honors Marine killed in Afghanistan

U.S. gives family certificate making Lance Cpl. San Sim a U.S. citizen as of day he died.


NEWPORT BEACH – Lance Cpl. San Sim's wife made a quiet promise to him Saturday as she ran her hand over the white stars of the flag that covered his coffin.

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Care packages help remind Marines of home

HIT, Iraq — Every week dozens of packages marked with the names of Marines within the battalion flood the mailroom floor. These packages all look the same from the outside, but inside are bits and pieces of the lives of the Marines of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-5.

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October 31, 2008

Face of Defense: Marine Amputee Who Returned to Iraq Earns Fellowship

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 31, 2008 – A noncommissioned officer who returned to Iraq nine months ago after his left leg was amputated above the knee soon will represent the Marine Corps in the halls of Congress.

Continue reading "Face of Defense: Marine Amputee Who Returned to Iraq Earns Fellowship" »

October 30, 2008

Field Mess Marines Keep Morale High

HIT, Iraq — While some Marines have trouble making an edible hot pocket for themselves at home, the chow hall Marines of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 have proven themselves qualified cooks, even in Iraq.

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October 29, 2008

Marine from Pleasant Valley, killed in Afghanistan, being mourned

A Marine from Pleasant Valley was killed Monday in Afghanistan, his father has confirmed.

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October 28, 2008

Adrian Robles

Continue reading "Adrian Robles" »

Pleasant Valley native killed in Afghanistan

First Lt. Trevor Yurista, 31, died when an improvised explosive device exploded near him while he was on duty in a remote region of Afghanistan, his father, Ronald Yurista, said.

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October 27, 2008

Afghans residents improve community with Marines’ support

FARAH PROVINCE, Delaram, Afghanistan — Until just recently, local residents here in Delaram have been deprived of clean drinking water.

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October 25, 2008

Hit MWR gets facelift, raises spirits

HIT, Iraq — Even during the fast tempo of a deployment, Marines do what they can to relax when they get down time.

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Marine amputee returns to combat after near death experience

CAMP BARBER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — There was blood in the water. It was a grim addition to the Iraqi sewage canal usually littered with dead sheep and festering fish.
That’s where the Marines of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division found their comrade after the attack.

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October 24, 2008

Building Education From the Ground Up

BAGONG BARRIO, GUIMBA, Republic of the Philippines — The clouds opened up letting the sun shine down on the quiet village of Bagong Barrio, a farming community where an overcrowded school is getting a much needed classroom and a face lift as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2009.

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Family remembers Marine killed in Afghanistan

San Sim, 23, was weeks away from completing his third tour.

Lance Cpl. San Sim came from a family of pacifists.

His birthplace, the Phillipines, was ever a reminder of their journey from the terror of the Khmer Rouge. But after Sept. 11, 2001, Sim decided to fight.

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1st LAR Bn. Marine shoots to attain higher goal

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq -- (October 24, 2008) When it comes to basketball, you might expect to find a prospective pro on the court practicing jump shots and passes. You might find him at a pro combine running back rebounds with all he has left under the watchful eyes of scouts. Where you might not expect to find him is supporting the mission of a light-armored infantry battalion here in al Anbar Province, Iraq.

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October 23, 2008

Virginia Marine running in honor of fallen Bensenville comrade

In a few short weeks, U.S. Marine Dawid Pietrek was supposed to be coming home after his tour overseas ended.

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October 21, 2008

Marching to the ‘sound of the guns’ – more Marines deploy to Afghanistan

CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan – When it was announced that more Marines were needed to support Task Force 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan, close to 300 Marines raised their hands and volunteered.

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October 18, 2008

Anchorage Marine remembered

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Family, friends, even complete strangers gathered on Saturday to remember Marine Cpl. Jason Karella Saturday.

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October 17, 2008

13th MEU finishes first at-sea training

Staff report
Posted : Friday Oct 17, 2008 11:46:41 EDT

SAN DIEGO — More than 4,000 Marines and sailors assigned to the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group have concluded their first integrated at-sea workups this week.

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Enemy Engagements Decrease for Marines in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2008 – As the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment continues to enhance security in Afghanistan, Marines there are experiencing decreased enemy engagements, the battalion’s commander said yesterday.

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October 16, 2008

Sources: Taliban split with al Qaeda, seek peace

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Taliban leaders are holding Saudi-brokered talks with the Afghan government to end the country's bloody conflict -- and are severing their ties with al Qaeda, sources close to the historic discussions have told CNN.

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October 14, 2008

American Gladiators bring fight to Marines

HIT, Iraq — The American Gladiators paid a visit to the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 to show their support and have some fun Oct. 8.
Titan, Militia, Panther, Phoenix and Venom, stars from the television show “American Gladiators,” traveled here to sign autographs and take pictures with the Marines.

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October 12, 2008

Supply gives Highlanders goods to keep tip of the spear sharp

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — It takes a lot of gear to run a battalion. Infantrymen need weapons and chow. Mechanics need parts and tools. Everyone needs something, and aside from haircuts, it all comes from one place: supply.

Continue reading "Supply gives Highlanders goods to keep tip of the spear sharp" »

Anchorage Marine killed in Afghanistan

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Jason Karella, a 20-year-old Marine from Anchorage, has died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

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October 9, 2008

Wildfire at Marine explosives range contained

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - A wildfire that burned up to 1,900 acres on a Marine Corps explosives range was contained Thursday without causing any injuries or damage to buildings on the base, officials said.

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October 7, 2008

STP extends the ‘golden hour’ to keep Marines in the fight

HELMAND PROVINCE, Now Zad, Afghanistan -- Corpsman Up! It’s a simple phrase used by Marines in combat to let corpsmen fighting alongside them know they need help, and FAST.

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October 3, 2008

1st LAR Bn. takes over mechanized security for Anbar province

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Marines and sailors of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, finished movement here Sunday as they took the reins for mechanized security in al-Anbar province from 2nd LAR Bn., RCT-5.

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1st LAR Bn. takes over mechanized security for al-Anbar province

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Marines and sailors of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 finished movement here Sunday as they took the reins for mechanized security in al-Anbar province from 2nd LAR Bn., RCT-5.

Continue reading "1st LAR Bn. takes over mechanized security for al-Anbar province" »

October 1, 2008

Marines aid in efforts to educate Afghan youths

FARAH PROVINCE, DELARAM, Afghanistan — School officials here were only hours away from reopening a boys’ school when Taliban members crept to the school site at night and etched death threats into the newly-constructed concrete walls.

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September 28, 2008

Marine father, soldier son reunite in Iraq

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — In a line of Marines from Team Tank, Regimental Combat Team 1 firing a combat-marksmanship program shoot here, one man stood out in his gray digital battle dress uniform.

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September 26, 2008

Benefit planned for injured Orland marine

Family, friend to come together for Corporal Kaspar

Sometimes, some good can result from a grim situation. Such is the case trusted for by the Kaspar family in the "Coming Together for Corporal Kaspar Foundation," to financially help U.S.M.C. Corporal Sean Kaspar of Orland Park and his family with the many months of therapy and rehabilitation he faces from injuries suffered in active duty.

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September 25, 2008

Reserve Marines settle in at Korean Village

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Reserve Marines from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, headquartered in Garden City, N.Y., arrived here in late September to support RCT-5’s security and stability mission in western al-Anbar province.

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September 23, 2008

Dillow's Iraq: Marines aren't paid to be pacifists

Haditha, Iraq – Marines aren't paid to be pacifists. So perhaps it's not surprising that some Marines here are actually a little disappointed that the situation isn't more "kinetic" – that is, that they aren't seeing more action.

Continue reading "Dillow's Iraq: Marines aren't paid to be pacifists" »

September 19, 2008

Marine battalion ends 'smooth' fifth Iraq tour

(09-19) 04:00 PDT Twentynine Palms, San Bernardino County -- Number five was relatively easy.

Continue reading "Marine battalion ends 'smooth' fifth Iraq tour" »

September 18, 2008

31st MEU molds unit cohesion during island-wide exercise

OKINAWA, Japan — As the Marine Corps’ only forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the Marines and sailors of the 31st MEU concluded MEU Exercise (MEUEX) 08-2 with plenty of success and lessons learned, Sept. 11.

Continue reading "31st MEU molds unit cohesion during island-wide exercise" »

September 17, 2008

3rd Bn., 7th Marines arrive in Iraq

HIT, Iraq — The Marines of Task Force 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 assumed control of an area of operations previously held by 3rd Bn., 4th Marines and will continue to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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September 15, 2008

US to boost military presence in Afghanistan by 1,800

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military presence in Afghanistan will grow by a maximum of 1,800 troops by the end of January, AFP has calculated, based on figures provided by the Pentagon Monday.

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September 10, 2008

Marines Assault Taliban Stronghold

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines along with coalition forces carried out an assault on a Taliban-held compound in Now Zad, Afghanistan.

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September 9, 2008

MARCENT commander praises TF 2/7 for making history in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Lieutenant Gen. Samuel T. Helland is keeping a watchful eye on his Marines, particularly those currently fighting in the war against terrorism.

Continue reading "MARCENT commander praises TF 2/7 for making history in Afghanistan" »

Marines plan next moves after Anbar success

By Bryan Mitchell - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 9, 2008 19:44:48 EDT

With the Corps’ mission in Iraq’s Anbar province all but stamped with the seal of success, Commandant Gen. James Conway is again positioning his service to take on a larger role in fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, where about 3,500 Marines have fought throughout much of 2008.

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September 8, 2008

Communication enables Marines to conduct successful Afghanistan operations

HELMAND PROVINCE, CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan — “Eighty ones, we are receiving small arms fire. Request air support!” the radioman shouts.

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September 1, 2008

Marines Stay Focused on Afghan Mission

WASHINGTON – U.S. Marines in Afghanistan face daunting challenges in legitimizing the Afghan police and turning them into an effective counter-terrorist force, but perseverance and focus have served them well, a Marine officer said.

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August 29, 2008

Welcome to the jungle: BLT 3/1 adapts to the Asia-Pacific region

OKINAWA, Japan — Amidst the hot and damp jungles of Okinawa, a platoon of Marines must decide whether to hold their position or patrol through thick vegetation and unbeaten paths to find the enemy.

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Corpsman saves lives on the way home

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Marines and corpsman have fought battles, trained, played and saved lives together since the establishment of the Navy Hospital Corps in 1898. This rapport was proven yet again on the morning of July 15.

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August 27, 2008

3/7 departs for Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, departed the Combat Center Aug. 26 and 27 on a seven-month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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3/7 departs for Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, departed the Combat Center Aug. 26 and 27 on a seven-month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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August 22, 2008

Report From a Forgotten War: Third in a Series

Herat Province, Afghanistan — Our FOX News “War Stories” team has moved to a former Soviet military base in western Afghanistan, about 50 miles from the Iranian border. We’re now with the 207th Afghan Commando Battalion and their U.S. Special Operations Command, Army and Marine counterparts. This remarkable unit celebrated Afghanistan’s 89th Independence Day this week with a capture-kill mission on a Taliban stronghold.

In Khost, 400 miles east of here, near the border with Pakistan, Taliban terrorists observed the anniversary by killing 11 of their countrymen in a suicide car bomb attack against a U.S. base and followed up with a human wave of suicide bombers unsuccessfully storming Camp Salerno.

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August 21, 2008

Marines plant mock IEDs for training

AL-ASAD, Iraq — AL-ASAD, Iraq – One of the best ways for Marines in al-Anbar Province to battle improvised explosive devices is to go out and plant mock IEDs of their own.

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US general warns of security gap when Marines leave Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Security gains made in southern Afghanistan could suffer if US Marines are pulled out later this year without replacements, the head of the Marine Corps has warned.

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August 20, 2008

Slain Marine just wanted to stay alive

By Jim Walsh - The Arizona Republic
Posted : Wednesday Aug 20, 2008 16:29:27 EDT

A 19-year-old Mesa Marine had a simple but essential goal for this year: to stay alive.

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August 19, 2008

Taliban Escalate Fighting With Assault on U.S. Base

BAMIYAN, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents mounted their most serious attacks in six years of fighting in Afghanistan over the last two days, including a coordinated assault by at least 10 suicide bombers against one of the largest American military bases in the country, and another by about 100 insurgents who killed 10 elite French paratroopers.

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August 17, 2008

Local marine receives hero's welcome home

A local marine who was severely injured in Afghanistan is back home tonight with his family. But not after an amazing show of generosity from strangers and friends alike.

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August 16, 2008

Clearlake Marine laid to rest

Six Marines in full dress uniform, one struggling mightily against tears, were the last to say good-bye to Clearlake's Ivan Wilson on Saturday.

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August 14, 2008

Procession honors fallen Marine

A hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of Marine Lance Cpl. Ivan Wilson slowed Thursday afternoon along Lakeshore Boulevard, where clusters of somber onlookers gathered in front of the apartment complex where Wilson grew up.

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Report From a Forgotten War: Second in a Series

Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — This British-built fortress, perched on a plateau in southwestern Afghanistan, is well named. Surrounded by miles of open desert, the citadel has its own concrete runway, water supply, sewage, electricity, Level 3 Trauma Hospital, even fire mains — all constructed in the last 30 months.

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August 13, 2008

Sailors and Marines Enjoy Swim Call

USS PELELIU, At Sea - Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) enjoyed a well-deserved leisure time during a swim call and steel beach picnic Aug. 11 in the Red Sea.

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Task Force 2/7 hosts MEDCAP to aid local Afghans

FARAH PROVINCE, Delaram, Afghanistan (Aug. 8, 2008) – U.S. service members recently administered much-needed medical aid to local residents here during a Medical Capabilities (MEDCAP) event.

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Marine from Gig Harbor promoted in Afghanistan

Mom uses Web site to help ease worries of her son’s safety

Trish Doherty of Gig Harbor is a proud but worried mother of a U.S. Marine who is serving at the newly established Camp Barber in Afghanistan.

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August 11, 2008

Easton Marine recovering from Afghanistan attack

EASTON -
A 21-year-old Marine from Easton is recovering at a veterans hospital in Virginia after being seriously injured last month in an attack while serving in Afghanistan.

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August 8, 2008

US Navy stops pirate attack in Gulf of Aden

MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. Navy says it has stopped a pirate attack on a merchant vessel north of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden.

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Marine, Navy team thwarts pirates

ABOARD USS PELELIU (LHA 5) — Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in the Gulf of Aden, helped prevent a pirate attack August 8, providing aerial support and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

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August 7, 2008

Report From a Forgotten War

Helmand Province, Afghanistan — First in a series

Helmand Province, Afghanistan – To Americans of my generation and older, Korea is “The Forgotten War.” For this generation, it’s Afghanistan – or to be precise, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

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August 6, 2008

Amputee Marine returns to combat duty

A year after Cpl. Garrett Jones lost his left leg to a bomb in Iraq, he has rejoined his unit in Afghanistan. Improved medical care and prostheses -- and his determination -- made it possible.

CAMP BARBER, AFGHANISTAN --
Just over a year ago, Cpl. Garrett Jones was one of thousands of Marines slogging through a tour of duty in Iraq. Today, he is deployed with the same unit in Afghanistan, but he serves now with an unusual distinction.

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August 5, 2008

Engineers increase battalion’s abilities

HIT, Iraq — Combat engineers have assisted 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, with bringing things down to the ground or raising things up from ground level.

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For Injured Corpsman 'Doc,' A Dose Of Naval Honor

TAMPA - Almost half of Ivonne Thompson's three-year marriage has been spent at hospitals helping care for her husband, who was seriously wounded in Iraq last year.

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Sailor's promotion is small step in a long road

TAMPA — Ivonne Thompson leaned over an ironing board Sunday night and unfurled her husband's fatigues, ready to press them neatly for his promotion ceremony the next day.

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Marines ordered to stay longer in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has ordered roughly 1,250 Marines serving as trainers for the Afghan security forces to stay on the warfront almost a month longer to continue a mission that military leaders say is a top priority, according to a senior military official.

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Pentagon orders about 1,250 Marine trainers to stay in Afghanistan for an extra 30 days

The Pentagon has ordered roughly 1,250 Marines serving as trainers for the Afghan security forces to stay on the warfront almost a month longer to continue a mission that military leaders say is a top priority, according to a senior military official.

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August 2, 2008

Ramadi citizens gather for soccer field reopening

RAMADI, Iraq — RAMADI, Iraq (August 2, 2008) – Mustafa, a 14-year-old Iraqi boy, couldn’t stand still during a recent soccer tournament at the grand reopening of the 17th Street Soccer field July 24.

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August 1, 2008

BLT 3/1 patrols on Hansen, works on skill sustainment

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — The BLT, currently the ground combat element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, focused the training on mastering basic tactics and skills of an infantry unit to better prepare them to handle combat and humanitarian operations.

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K3 Oil Refinery opens

HADITHA, Iraq -- The K3 Oil Refinery opened July 18 and is ready to pump life into the city of Haditha and Anbar province, Iraq.

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July 31, 2008

'Hero amongst the proud and few': Family, friends tell fallen Marine's story

CLEARLAKE – The knock that came at Denise Wilson's front door early on the morning of July 21 would change her life – and that of her family – forever.

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July 23, 2008

Senior Taliban leader killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: British forces killed a Taliban leader, while another Taliban commander in the southern Afghanistan surrendered to the Pakistani authorities, the British Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

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July 22, 2008

Taliban leader surrenders

THE Taliban has been dealt a crippling blow after their leader in Helmand province surrendered – fearing the SBS were about to kill him next.

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Taliban leader surrenders

THE Taliban has been dealt a crippling blow after their leader in Helmand province surrendered – fearing the SBS were about to kill him next.

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July 21, 2008

Clearlake Marine dies in Afghanistan

CLEARLAKE – A young Clearlake Marine died Monday after being wounded in combat in Afghanistan, becoming Lake County's first military casualty of the war in the Middle East.

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Lake County man dies in Afghanistan

CLEARLAKE -- Our nation's war on terrorism has struck home. A devastating call was received by a mother in the community early Monday morning informing her that her son was killed in Afghanistan.

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15th MEU Weapons Company 2/5 Conducts Sustainment Training in Kuwait

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (NNS) -- Marines and Sailors with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), honed their infantry skills in the sands of Kuwait from June 24-July 9.

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July 16, 2008

Kentucky Fried Chicken sizzles in Fallujah

FALLUJAH, Iraq — FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 16, 2008) –Only a short time ago the city of Fallujah served as stronghold for insurgents. Daily skirmishes, improvised explosive device detonations and public unease made operating a business in the city very difficult.

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July 15, 2008

Corporal earns Bronze Star in desert ambush

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 15, 2008 12:34:20 EDT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Few of these men had ever seen real shoot-and-kill combat.

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July 13, 2008

CBRN Marine provides double threat

HIT, Iraq — Cpl. Jeremy M. Wright is a Marine who looks forward to pressure situations.

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July 11, 2008

Chairman Commends Marines for Impact, New Mission

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008 – The U.S. military’s top-ranking officer met today with U.S. Marines based just northwest of here who are charged with the “critical, top-priority mission” of training the Afghan National Police.

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July 7, 2008

White Knights spread good will through bilateral training

AL JABER AIR BASE, Kuwait — The AV-8B Harrier detachment for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is currently conducting a series of bilateral training exercises with their Kuwaiti counterparts as part of exercise Eager Mace 2008.

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July 4, 2008

Former Inland resident laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery in Fourth of July ceremony

On a holiday dominated by red, white and blue, Debbie Nuchols was dressed in black so she could bury her son.

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July 3, 2008

15th MEU goes hot in Kuwait

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — The Marines and sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, two months into a scheduled deployment, began sustainment training in the Middle Eastern nation of Kuwait recently with the aim of staying sharp as the Marine Corps’ tip of the spear.

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July 2, 2008

Immigrant Killed in Afghanistan Granted Posthumous Citizenship

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.

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June 29, 2008

Fallen Marine Laid To Rest

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.

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June 28, 2008

Honoring Marine as he wished

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.

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June 26, 2008

Fallen DuPage Marine to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery

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.

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At least 7 deaths in one week for battalion

Staff and wire reports
Posted : Thursday Jun 26, 2008 8:06:15 EDT

A sergeant was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, bringing the number of confirmed casualties in 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, to at least seven in less than one week.

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June 21, 2008

Injured soldier: I need you to be strong

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.

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Marines remain vigilant in Hit

HIT, Iraq — Marines here played the role of policemen by following one lead to another to bring down criminals and make the area safer for everyone.

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June 19, 2008

Task Force 2⁄7 dedicates camp after MoH recipient

CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan — The Marines now have a place to call their own.

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June 17, 2008

Marine dies in Afghanistan

'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.

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Roadside bomb claimed Marine from Bensenville

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.

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Taliban Prepare for Battle Outside Kandahar as Thousands Flee Area

ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan — Taliban militants destroyed bridges and planted mines in several villages they control outside southern Afghanistan's largest city in apparent preparation for battle, residents and officials said Tuesday.

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Marine from Bensenville killed in Afghanistan, Defense Department says

Corps was big dream for Polish immigrant

Dawid Pietrek was a Polish immigrant who had always wanted to join the Marines.

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June 16, 2008

Tacoma Marine killed in Afghanistan

TACOMA -- Family says one of the four Marines killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan was from Tacoma.

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Marine from Fenton area is killed in Afghanistan

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.

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Marine from Tacoma killed in Afghanistan

TACOMA, Wash. - A Tacoma family mourns a marine who was killed in Afghanistan.

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June 15, 2008

Tacoma Marine among four killed in Afghan blast

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.

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June 14, 2008

Bomb Kills 4 US Troops in Afghanistan

Roadside bomb kills 4 US troops training police in Afghanistan

A roadside bomb exploded near a U.S. military vehicle on Saturday, killing four Marines in western Afghanistan in the deadliest attack against U.S. troops in the country this year, officials said.

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June 6, 2008

Generals Visit Marines in Afghanistan

CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan - The Marine Corps' top commanders recently visited with Marines and Sailors of Task Force 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, serving here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

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15TH MEU Summer Slam 2008: 'A success' in Singapore

U.S. NAVAL CONTRACTING CENTER, Singapore — Summer Slam 2008, a sports tournament held by the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at the Sembawang area of Singapore, took place June 4-5 with participants from the 15th MEU, PHIBRON 3 and crew of USS Peleliu (LHA 5).

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2/7 Marines Battalion Commander Participates in VSO

Police Trainers Focus on Afghan People, Not Taliban, Official Says

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2008 - The Marine battalion tasked with training Afghan police members focuses more on helping Afghan people prosper than on defeating the Taliban, a military official involved in the training effort said today.

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June 5, 2008

Task Force 2/7 dedicates camp after MoH recipient

CAMP BARBER, Afghanistan — The Marines now have a place to call their own.

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June 3, 2008

Deployed Marine holds onto ‘Big League’ dream

AT-TAQADDUM, Iraq — Chasing a lifelong dream for a career in professional baseball … It’s a story as distinctly American as apple pie.

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June 1, 2008

Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group Rescues Six Mariners from Sinking Vessel

STRAIT OF BALABAC, Philippines (NNS) -- Six local mariners from the Philippines were rescued from a sinking vessel May 30 by U.S. Navy personnel as ships from the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELESG) transited the Strait of Balabac.

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May 30, 2008

Tarawa, 11th MEU to return to San Diego

Staff report
Posted : Friday May 30, 2008 9:13:29 EDT

Thousands of Marines and sailors with the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group will return home to San Diego on June 3 following a seven-month deployment, Navy officials said Thursday.

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May 29, 2008

Legacy of female major killed in Iraq grows

By Mike Barber - Seattle Post-Intelligencer via The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday May 29, 2008 8:26:35 EDT

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.

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May 27, 2008

Afghan Police Transform Into Professional, Equipped Force

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2008 – When Army Col. Thomas J. McGrath arrived in Kandahar, Afghanistan, last year as the commander of the Afghan Regional Security Integration Command, he stopped in on a police checkpoint.

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May 22, 2008

Logistics element in Basra supporting transition teams

BASRA, Iraq — A detachment of Marines from al-Anbar province moved their operations south to Iraq’s third largest city.

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May 13, 2008

US Navy ships move closer to Myanmar, ready to help if asked: commander

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Three U.S. Navy ships are sailing toward Myanmar, ready to deliver aid to cyclone victims if the country's military rulers allow it, a top American commander said Monday.

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May 12, 2008

3rd LAR remembers fallen brother

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.

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May 11, 2008

Curious crew flows into Tassie

HOBART'S population swelled yesterday as the crew of USS Tarawa took to the streets in what is expected to be a bumper three days for retailers and tourism operators.

The 250m-long amphibious assault ship sailed proudly up the Derwent about 8am yesterday as the city turned on a perfect autumn morning.

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May 9, 2008

USS Germantown Visits Laem Chabang, Thailand

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand – Returning home from an extended deployment to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility USS Germantown (LSD 42) conducted a port visit in Laem Chabang, Thailand.

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Sailors to pump $6m into Tassie

THE visit of US warship USS Tarawa will pump more than $6 million into the local economy, the US Government says.

The 250m amphibious assault ship will bring 3000 sailors and marines to Hobart tomorrow morning.

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May 8, 2008

Hobart's ship comes in

HOBART is preparing to cash in on the economic bonanza of a visiting US Navy ship with 3000 crew.

A US Government official last night confirmed the lead ship of the US Navy's first-class amphibious assault fleet USS Tarawa would arrive this weekend.

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May 6, 2008

2/7 conducts first combat patrol in support of OEF

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division have made immediate progress with Afghans here despite arriving in Afghanistan just weeks ago.

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US ships standing by for Myanmar relief: Pentagon

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Navy ships, including an amphibious assault ship with helicopters and US marines, are standing by off Thailand awaiting permission to join relief efforts in cyclone-hit Myanmar, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

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Newspaper reports military mum on destination of 6-ship convoy

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, May 6, 2008

On Sunday, 5,500 sailors and Marines left San Diego on a six-ship convoy, though no one would say where they were headed, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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May 5, 2008

15th MEU, Peleliu sail to Western Pacific

Staff report
Posted : Monday May 5, 2008 14:11:22 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Six ships carrying 2,200 Marines and more than 3,000 sailors left San Diego Naval Base on Sunday for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

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US sailors attacked in Perth mall

Three US sailors on a stopover in Perth on board the US navy ship USS Tarawa have been attacked and robbed in Perth’s CBD.

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Peleliu Strike Group Deploys

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5) deployed May 4 in support of the war on terrorism as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group's (PELESG) regular deployment rotation.

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May 3, 2008

Tarawa Marines, Sailors help preserve Australian wild life park

PERTH, Australia (May 3, 2008)— Marines and Sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group donated their time and energy to clean up the natural habitat for Australian wildlife at Cohunu Koala Park May 3 during a port visit here.

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Marines’ R&R; to bring $2m a day to WA

More than 3000 US Navy personnel are expected to inject millions of dollars into the local economy after arriving in Fremantle yesterday.

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May 2, 2008

USS Tarawa docks, 3000 US sailors in Perth

The USS Tarawa docked in Fremantle with more than 3000 US marines and sailors making Perth home for the weekend.

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Marine burned on 97 percent of body dies

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 2, 2008 8:35:26 EDT

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.

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May 1, 2008

2/7 leaves for Afghanistan mission

Friends and family gathered over the weekend to bid farewell to the Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

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April 30, 2008

Essex Welcomes 31st MEU

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived in Okinawa, April 27, to embark Sailors and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), for their annual Spring Patrol throughout East and Southeast Asia.

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April 29, 2008

Amid attack in Kandahar, Toby Keith doesn't miss a beat

Between a sandstorm and mortar fire, Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith's latest United Service Organizations trip to U.S. war zones is turning into his most harrowing.

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Marines Battle Insurgents During Major Operation in Taliban Territory in Afghanistan

Several hundred U.S. Marines engaged in a dramatic firefight Tuesday with an army of rebels in a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.

The battle against insurgents came during the first large-scale American operation in the area in years.

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April 28, 2008

Docs keep Marines in fight

HIT, Iraq —
HIT, Iraq — Corpsmen know they are responsible for keeping Marines in the fight. The corpsmen in 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, relish the idea of being depended on.

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April 26, 2008

Marines to help train Afghanistan police force: Officers will fight Taliban, drug trade

Apr. 26--KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- Diverted at the last minute from its planned deployment to Iraq, a battalion of Marines has arrived here to take up a critical mission: training Afghan police to hold the line against Taliban insurgents.

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April 25, 2008

31st MEU Battalion Landing Team Infantrymen teach urbanized combat course on Okinawa

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan — Combat veterans with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conducted military operations on urbanized terrain training in Combat Town April 15 to share lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan with the unit’s junior Marines.

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April 24, 2008

Sisters of Fallujah break barriers, build security

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Entry control points (ECP) throughout Fallujah are designed to protect the city from harm and prevent people from transporting illegal contraband such as weapons and explosive materials. Coalition forces discovered the enemy exploiting the cultural sensitivity precluding the search of females by having females carry contraband into the city.

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April 22, 2008

Marines clean helos that have flown in every clime, place

ABOARD USS TARAWA (April 22, 2008) – Marines from every section of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced), pitched in to keep their aircraft looking good during an agricultural wash down in the Arabian Gulf. The cleaning, or “De-snailing,” as aviation combat crews call it, is done to cleanse the entire aircraft of any foreign matter that has been collected over the last several months.

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April 21, 2008

Construction begins on USS Jason Dunham

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.

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MEU Conducts Agricultural Inspection

KUWAIT - The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted an agricultural wash-down and inspection of its vehicles and equipment in Kuwait, April 11-14.

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Sailors and 15th MEU Conduct NEO

USS PELELIU, At Sea - Sailors aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) exercise, April 14, in preparation for an upcoming combined deployment.

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April 19, 2008

Video teleconferencing connects deployed Marines, families

ABOARD USS Tarawa (April 19, 2008) – Even though he was in the middle of the ocean Cpl. Michael Wood got to spend 30 minutes alone with his wife and 2-year-old son recently thanks to video teleconferencing, a live video feed setup to connect deployed Marines and Sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to their families back home.

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April 10, 2008

Marines, PSF have a kick

HIT, Iraq —
HIT, Iraq — Usually the sight of Marines and the Iraqi Provisional Security Force jawing at each other would be a bad sign. In this case though, they were actually making their bond stronger.

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Marine who lost leg returns to combat in Iraq

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.

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April 9, 2008

Marines, IPs work together

HIT, Iraq —
HIT, Iraq — Marines know it's important to get Iraqi forces involved in stopping insurgent activity. Recently, they showed that knowledge by getting Iraqi policemen involved in their patrol.

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April 8, 2008

Military says it's investigating death of Hampton Marine

HAMPTON — The military says the death of a Marine from Hampton is under investigation.

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Marines, Sailors have a day of fun at sea

ABOARD USS TARAWA (April 8, 2008) – Marines and Sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group enjoyed a day of fishing and swimming in the Gulf of Oman during their deployment through the Western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf region.

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April 6, 2008

Vocal on War, McCain Is Silent on Son’s Service

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.

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April 5, 2008

Marine delivers the goods

HIT, Iraq — Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Natt knows a large chunk of his battalion’s morale rests on his shoulders, and he says he doesn’t mind at all.

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Camp Pendleton Marine killed in traffic accident

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (AP) -- Officials say a 19-year-old Marine has died after he was injured in a traffic accident at Camp Pendleton.

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April 2, 2008

Joint U.S. military team provides medical, dental aid in Africa

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti – In many underdeveloped countries access to even the most basic medical care is a big problem. Medical conditions and infections that are easily treated in developed countries can become life threatening if left untreated for a long period of time. This is especially true for young children and pregnant women.

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Marines Make Kids Happy During Patrol

HIT, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Edwin S. Contreras, an assault man with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, knows the best way to let the Iraqi people know that Marines are here to help is through the children.

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March 31, 2008

Marines visit hospital and IP Station

HIT, Iraq —
HIT, Iraq Marines with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, continued their mission of assisting Iraqi people in Hit, Iraq.

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March 28, 2008

Low-key war on pirates becomes more perilous

When a vessel is seized, the U.S. Navy lies low -- until lives are at risk. Off Somalia, violence in such incidents is on the rise.

ABOARD THE USS TARAWA, PERSIAN GULF -- From a computer screen on this amphibious assault ship, U.S. sailors kept close watch on a 6-week-old drama more than 2,500 miles away involving pirates from Somalia and a Danish merchant vessel.

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March 26, 2008

Combat conditioning at sea helps Marines beat the heat

ABOARD USS TARAWA — Marines and Sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit took advantage of hot and humid conditions and a no-fly day to take part in acclimatization and combat conditioning drills on the flight deck here.

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Marine fine tunes talents

HIT, Iraq — Lance Cpl. Jonathan D. Cobb is kicking his way to the top of the Marine Corps martial arts world.

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March 21, 2008

2/7 Marine earns Silver Star for combat valor

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."

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March 20, 2008

3rd LAR Marines cleanup Akashat

AKASHAT, Iraq — When gloves and trash bags are priority gear for mission accomplishment, there is little doubt that things have changed in Akashat, Iraq.

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March 19, 2008

“Darkside” Marine finds the light

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.

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USS Tarawa Hosts Bone Marrow Drive

PERSIAN GULF - Amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) set a new bone marrow drive record for the C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense Marrow Donor Program March 11 through 17.

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March 16, 2008

Marines and IP build a better barrier

AKASHAT, Iraq (March 16, 2008) -- Where garbage-strewn concertina wire once lined the streets, a cleaner more professional-looking traffic control point now stands.

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PSF helps tip scales in Marines’ favor

HIT, Iraq (March 16, 2008) – A grayish plume filled a small area and another cache of weapons was destroyed in Iraq today.

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Afghanistan-bound battalion rewarded with break in training

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (March 16, 2008) -- After they claimed their stake, they ate some steak.

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March 15, 2008

Marines conduct census in Akashat

AKASHAT, Iraq (March 15, 2008) -- One of the insurgents’ most formidable weapons is their ability to hide among the people they oppress.

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March 13, 2008

Marines find Rockets near Akashat

AKASHAT, Iraq (March 13, 2008) -- A mushroom cloud of sand and debris rose from the ground Thursday, signifying the completion of a good day’s work.

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March 12, 2008

Recording History - Part XIII - Jason and Lindsey

By Richard S. Lowry
March 12, 2008

December 12, 2004 changed Jason and Lindsey Arellano’s lives forever. U.S. Marine Sergeant Jason R Arellano, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Kilo Company, 2nd Platoon’s third squad leader found himself in Iraq for the second time. He had last seen American soil on September 11, 2004, leaving his loved ones in prayer and anticipation. Jason and Lindsey recently shared the following write-up with me after I contacted him to request an interview for my book. Jason told me that they wanted to write it all down before the memories faded. Hopefully, they will gather other stories of that fateful day and publish a book of their own. No doubt, I will tell Sergeant Jason Arellano’s story, but this poignant tale will be left for their telling.about

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Coin Ops in the Jungle; U.S., Indonesian Marines practice counter-insurgency operations

CAMP KARANG TEKOK, Republic of Indonesia (March 12, 2008) -- As many U.S. Marines these days know, conducting counter-insurgency operations (COIN) are some of the most difficult operations a Marine can conduct in a combat zone.

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March 9, 2008

Corpsman committed to serving others

AKASHAT, Iraq (March 9, 2008) -- A little Iraqi girl cried from the pain caused by chemical burns from an accident in her home that covered her chest, shoulder and the left side of her face.

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March 8, 2008

Some time with family, then it's off to war

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.

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March 6, 2008

War-torn city rises from ashes

FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 6, 2008) -- Just mentioning of the city of Fallujah conjures up images of a devastated city ripped apart by the horrors of war. It was November 2004, there were an estimated 2,000 insurgents infesting the city prepared to fight to the death and it was the Marine Corps’ job to facilitate this. After bitter house-to-house fighting the Marines took the city. In the battle’s wake, laid a city in ruin. Numerous buildings turned to rubble, the streets littered with debris, any form or city infrastructure such as water and power eliminated. It was total devastation.

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March 5, 2008

3/7 awards Bronze Star

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.

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March 4, 2008

Marines adjust to snow in S. Korea

By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, March, 4, 2008

RODRIGUEZ RANGE, South Korea — Based in California’s Mojave Desert — and veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan — the 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division warriors knew they would find new terrain in South Korea.

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March 3, 2008

Afghanistan-bound battalion begins Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, Twentynine Palms, Calif. (March 3, 2008) -- Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, bound for Afghanistan, started Mojave Viper – the Corps’ premier desert training – and began training for war March 3 to fulfill the battalion’s pre-deployment requirements.

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March 1, 2008

3rd LAR gathers to remember their fallen Marine

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.

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February 29, 2008

Iraq War Marine With Amputated Leg Back on Active Duty

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.

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February 26, 2008

General Discusses Marine Deployment to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2008 – Nearly a third of the 3,200 Marines scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan next month will be stationed in NATO’s southern and western regional commands to train Afghan security forces to face upcoming threats, a top U.S. military official said today.
The bulk of the 1,000 outbound Marine trainers will be stationed at Regional Command South, part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, and a “little bit” of the unit will deploy to Regional Command West, said Army Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 82, based at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

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February 21, 2008

“First of the First” return from 7 month deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2008) -- Wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, and other friends were among the excited greeters waiting for the return of Marines from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Feb. 12 at the battalion’s home at 53 Area, Camp Horno. Flags waved and children played on the parade deck behind the headquarters building for 1/1 – the “First of the First” – who were drawing to a close their seven-month deployment to Iraq.

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Vigilant Guardians, RCT-1’s Security Platoon stands watch

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Feb. 21, 2008) -- If Regimental Combat Team 1 gave frequent driver miles for the distances covered by its units, headquarters company’s security platoon would have enough points to rack up quite a few free vacations.

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February 17, 2008

3rd LAR searches desert for insurgent activity

ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Feb. 17, 2008) -- If you disrupt a body’s blood supply it will fail to function. The same goes for insurgent activity.

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February 15, 2008

Marines yield control of town to Iraqis

A former battleground city celebrates 'a historic day.' More such turnovers are expected in the country.

HIT, IRAQ -- In a pageant filled with poetry, song, political speeches and a display of the Iraqi security forces' increased firepower, the U.S. Marines on Thursday turned over major responsibility for protecting this Euphrates River valley town to the Iraqi army and police.

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February 12, 2008

1/1 PSD protects commander, views change

HABBANIYAH, IRAQ (Feb. 12, 2008) -- If there is one unit in 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, that observes their unit’s 200 square kilometer area of operation (AO) on a daily basis, it is the battalion commander’s personal security detachment (PSD). PSD provides transportation and security for the commander as he travels throughout the AO and to other key areas in the battle space, said Sgt. Jason S. Hubbard, PSD platoon commander.

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February 8, 2008

United through sport: IP, IA kick off new relations

AL QA’IM, Iraq (Feb. 8, 2008) -- The patter of bongo drums and the cheerful chants of the townspeople set the stage for a match that would go down in history for the village at the T-1 pumping station in Iraq.

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February 4, 2008

From Marine to corpsman: Brooklyn, N.Y., native strives to serve

AL QA’IM, Iraq (Feb. 4, 2008) -- You will rarely find a group of Marines performing combat operations without a Navy corpsman by their side. The time-honored unification of Marines and corpsmen has created an immeasurable bond, indescribable to most.

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February 1, 2008

Marines, Soldiers train IP for the future

HADITHA CITY, Iraq (Feb. 1, 2008) -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, and the Army’s 170th Military Police Company routinely work side-by-side to train the Iraqi Police in the Haditha area.

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January 30, 2008

Marine scout snipers scope out new tactics

UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, Kuwait (Jan. 30, 2008) -- Thanks to new sniping tactics picked up by Marine scout snipers in Kuwait, insurgents caught in their scopes are guaranteed to have a bad day.

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January 29, 2008

Marines learn new ways to be ‘non-lethal’

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait(Jan. 29, 2008) -- Riots and civil disturbances don’t just happen out of thin air. The anatomy of a riot is much like that of a Molotov cocktail. Both are created by instigators who add fuel and fire to combustible materials to provoke mayhem. Take one of these elements away and a riot dies.

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January 25, 2008

Bravery on the Battlefield

COP RAWAH, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2008) -- Heroism is defined by the actions of people in extreme situations.

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Bravery on the Battlefield

COP RAWAH, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2008) -- Heroism is defined by the actions of people in extreme situations.

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January 24, 2008

Marine logisticians’ training puts the ‘combat’ in CLB-11

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait(Jan. 24, 2008) -- Some Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 11 exchanged their soft covers and coveralls for Kevlar helmets and body armor to take part in exercises designed to sharpen their judgment and war-fighting skills here this week.

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January 19, 2008

11th MEU sharpens warfighting skills in desert training

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait(Jan. 19, 2008) -- Firing the AT-4 anti-tank weapon is like getting a shot of pure adrenaline and getting knocked on the side of the head.

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January 18, 2008

Desert exercise strengthens Marine teamwork

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait(Jan. 18, 2008) -- A Marine rifleman knows that surviving in combat not only takes individual skills, but also buddies who look out for him.

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Corps creates intel cells at rifle-company level

By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 15:52:12 EST

A need for more intelligence analysts in the Corps is forcing infantry operations to get a whole lot smarter, under a new initiative that is for the first time pushing battalion-level intelligence know-how down to the rifle-company level.

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January 17, 2008

Twentynine Palms Marines Prepare for First Trip to Afghanistan

Marines from Twentynine Palms are getting ready for a unique experience. They'll be the first full battalion to enter Afghanistan since 2001.

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January 15, 2008

Marine Deployment to Afghanistan ‘One-Time Deal,’ Official Says

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2008 – The deployment of 3,200 U.S. Marines to Afghanistan this spring represents a one-time troop movement that partially fulfills a long-time request by NATO commanders for additional forces, a senior Pentagon spokesman said here today.

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January 13, 2008

11th MEU Recon gets SPIE high

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Jan. 13, 2008) -- Dangling from a single rope attached to a helicopter flying more than 250-feet above ground
isn’t how most people get around. But Reconnaissance Marines aren’t average, in fact for
them, it’s just another day at the office.

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January 12, 2008

Marksmanship trainer helps Marines make good split-second decisions

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait(Jan. 12, 2008) -- Split second decisions made in combat can be the difference between life and death.

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January 8, 2008

Giant Step Forward: Iraqi Police Assume Security Mission in Anbar Province City

COMMAND OUTPOST BAGHDADI — How many Marines does it take to secure Baghdadi? Last year, it took an entire company. Then, as the situation improved, that number dropped to a platoon. And now, with the onset of 2008, the grand total is zero.

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Yellowcard rocks for 11th MEU in Kuwait

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Jan. 8, 2008) -- The Marines and sailors of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) arrived in Kuwait just in time to catch a live performance by the popular alternative rock band Yellowcard at the Oasis Recreation Center stage here tonight.

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January 6, 2008

1/1 Marines sustain security

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Jan. 6, 2008) -- Cpl. Christopher J. Sevigny led a patrol of Marines and Iraqi Police through the villages of Habbaniyah and met with their local neighbors among the withered and brown reeds and sturdy concrete houses, Jan. 1.

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January 2, 2008

3/5 back in Fallujah, participates in rebirth of once deadly city

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- (Jan. 2, 2008) -- It is hard to imagine someone never hearing of this city or of the house-to-house fighting that has taken place here since the war began. U.S. military officials called it “the heaviest urban combat since the battle of Hue City in Vietnam,” nearly 40 years ago.

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January 1, 2008

Father, son unite for Fallujah Christmas

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 1, 2008) -- On Christmas Eve, a military aircraft flew in from Baghdad landing at Camp Fallujah transporting special cargo for one fortunate Marine; his father.

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December 27, 2007

Germantown Assists Iranian Dhow

MANAMA, Bahrain - Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) provided assistance to an Iranian fishing dhow Dec. 27 in the Arabian Sea.

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Germantown Provides Assistance to Iranian Dhow

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) provided assistance to an Iranian fishing dhow Dec. 27 in the Arabian Sea.

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December 25, 2007

Many Santas make Christmas merry for Marines

ABOARD USS TARAWA(Dec. 25, 2007) -- It was Christmas all month long for Marine and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) thanks to a steady stream of mail from families and Americans back home who wanted to make them merry this Christmas.

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December 24, 2007

Marines have Christmas Eve party at sea

ABOARD USS TARAWA (Dec. 24, 2007) -- Marine and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) didn’t let the high humidity of the Arabian Sea and thousands of miles of separation from their families and friends keep them from celebrating Christmas here.

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December 22, 2007

Marines teach martial arts to Maldivians

REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS KADHOO, LAAMU ATOLL, Maldives (Dec. 22, 2007) -- Six Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructors and one instructor trainer from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) recently trained soldiers from the 20th Special Task Force, Maldives National Defence Force, here.

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Marine Cpl. Eric Morante fights to find purpose in rehab grind

Last of two parts
Part one may be found here:
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2007/12/blasted_off_an_iraqi_bridge_cp.htm

SAN ANTONIO – Marine Cpl. Eric Morante's face darkens with effort, his mouth compressed in a tight line as he struggles for balance while doing abdominal crunches on a big blue exercise ball.

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December 21, 2007

11th MEU Marines, sailors train with Maldivian forces

LAAMU ATOLL, Maldives (Dec. 21, 2007) -- Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) concluded bi-lateral training with members of the Maldivian National Defense Force on the Laamu Atoll with a graduation ceremony here today.

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Leaders give Marines, sailors VIP birthday treatment

ABOARD USS TARAWA (Dec. 21, 2007) -- Some of the Marines and sailors seemed taken aback at first by the royal treatment the swarm of senior staff noncommissioned officers and officers were giving them during their special "December birthdays" meal. Most young Marines had never seen a sergeant major serving dinner with such zeal. Or heard a 1st sergeant ask, “Can I refill your glass with water? Or, how about some bread?”

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December 20, 2007

Maldivian Quick Reaction Force Commander Visits USS Cleveland

USS CLEVELAND, At Sea (NNS) -- Brig. Gen. Moosa Ali Jaleel, Maldives National Defense Force's (MNDF) Quick Reaction Force (QRF) commanding general, visited the amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD 7), Dec. 18 during a joint training exercise with the MDNF.

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December 18, 2007

Marines, Sailors become ‘best friends’ with Singapore children

SINGAPORE (Dec. 18, 2007) -- All she had to do was smile and she had an instant best friend.

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3rd LAR takes on two-front operation

COP TIMBERWOLF, Iraq - (Dec. 18, 2007) -- Pepperoni or sausage? Regular or super-sized? Six-inch or foot-long? These are just some of the “tough” decisions Marines at Al Asad face on a daily basis. Currently the largest U.S. military installation in Al Anbar Province, this former Iraqi airbase is anything but rustic.

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December 17, 2007

Marines, Sailors help clean Singapore beach

PULAU UBIN, Singapore(Dec. 17, 2007) -- Marines and Sailors volunteered several hours of their free time and several gallons of sweat to clean Pulau Ubin beach during a friendship-building project here.

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December 16, 2007

Marines, sailors use MEU 'muscle' for good cause in Singapore

SINGAPORE(Dec. 16, 2007) -- Marines and sailors from 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group 3 are using their time off to take part in three friendship-building community relations projects during their port visit here.

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December 15, 2007

Blasted off an Iraqi bridge, Cpl. Eric Morante fights back; He won't rest until his Marines make it home

First in a two-part series
Part two may be found here:
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2007/12/marine_cpl_eric_morante_fights.htm

It's sometime after noon on a Friday, the end of a four-day rotation on Bridge 286.

Continue reading "Blasted off an Iraqi bridge, Cpl. Eric Morante fights back; He won't rest until his Marines make it home" »

December 14, 2007

LASTING PEACE? An Iraq Town Shrugs Off Terror

Severed heads dumped at the market, deadly road-side explosions. That used to be the depressing reality in the small town of Rawah in Iraq's Anbar Province. Now, though, peace may be at hand -- and the locals are cooperating with the US Marines.

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USS Tarawa visits Singapore

SINGAPORE - The San Diego-based amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit Dec. 12.

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Aid mission over, Tarawa heads to 5th Fleet

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Dec 14, 2007 6:04:05 EST

SAN DIEGO — Deployment from here typically means a few weeks’ trek across the big blue Pacific, perhaps with a few liberty stops at a port with warm, palm-lined beaches. That is, of course, unless a real-world mission calls.

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December 12, 2007

U.S. Naval Update Map: Dec. 12, 2007

The Naval Update Map shows an approximation of the current locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) and Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), the keys to U.S. dominance of the world's oceans. A CSG is centered around an aircraft carrier, which projects U.S. naval and air power and supports a carrier air wing. An ESG is centered around a Marine Expeditionary Unit, a heavily reinforced and mobile battalion of Marines. Each is equipped with a significant offensive strike capability.

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1/1 Weapons Marines flip COIN on insurgents

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 12, 2007) -- Sgt. John E. Mejia was walking between two mud and brick houses here when he explained the key to counterinsurgency operations in Iraq.

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December 7, 2007

Bangladesh formally bids farewell to US military following cyclone relief efforts

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh bid farewell to the U.S. military Friday after it wrapped up an aid mission to the cyclone-battered country.

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U.S. military ends cyclone aid mission to Bangladesh

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh's armed forces bid farewell on Friday to U.S. Marines and sailors who had helped in a daunting emergency relief operation after a killer cyclone ravaged the low-lying country's coasts last month.

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Recon plays key role in humanitarian relief

BAY OF BENGAL, Bangladesh (Dec. 7, 2007) -- Reconnaissance Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) used their unique skills to help bring food, water and basic medical treatment to thousands of Bangladeshis during humanitarian assistance and relief efforts here this week.

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December 6, 2007

US Navy relief efforts in aftermath of Bangladesh cyclone end, but civilian aid goes on

ABOARD USS TARAWA, Bangladesh: U.S. military help in relief operations in cyclone-battered Bangladesh ended Thursday but civilian efforts will continue, officials from the two countries said.

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Liaison officers clear obstacles in Bangladesh disaster relief

KAALAPARA, Bangladesh(Dec. 6, 2007) -- By working together liaison officers from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Goup 3 and Bangladesh Army Medical Corps are making Operation Sea Angel II a success.

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December 5, 2007

USS Tarawa and 11th MEU Provide Medical Aid to Bangladesh Residents

USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provided medical aid on Dec. 4 in Bangladesh for those affected by the recent cyclone.

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December 4, 2007

Tarawa Relieves Kearsarge in on-going HA/DR Efforts in Bangladesh

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea – The amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) relieved USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Dec. 3 in the Bay of Bengal to support on-going Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief (HA/DR) efforts in Bangladesh.

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Tarawa, 11th MEU take over relief efforts

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Dec 4, 2007 12:20:24 EST

The amphibious assault ship Tarawa, carrying Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, relieved the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge on Monday to support ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Bangladesh.

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December 3, 2007

Cooperation helps pacify Hit

HIT, Iraq, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Along the banks of the Euphrates River and just 30 miles from the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi sits a success story in U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq.

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USS Tarawa to take over from Kearsarge

US contributes $5 mil to WFP fund

A second US amphibious naval ship 'Tarawa' will join the current cyclone relief operation soon, as American Marine Commander Brig Gen Ronald Bailey said usually it takes two weeks to meet the emergency relief needs, reported UNB.

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December 2, 2007

11th MEU sharpens leaders during corporals course

ABOARD USS TARAWA(Dec. 2, 2007) -- “The leadership decisions a corporal makes on the ground can make or break a mission.”

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December 1, 2007

'A promotion to remember' at sea

ABOARD USS TARAWA (Dec. 1, 2007) — Picking up the next rank is always a special occasion. Earning it while on a Marine Expeditionary Unit is even better. Being presented with a promotion warrant aboard an amphibious ship steaming across the ocean is a promotion to remember.

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November 28, 2007

Sasebo-based Essex headed to Cambodia instead of Bangladesh

Pacific edition, Wednesday, November 28, 2007

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — The USS Essex was rerouted from a planned disaster relief mission to Bangladesh, the U.S. Navy announced Monday.

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USS Germantown visits Saipan

The USS Germantown, a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, will arrive on Saipan today, Nov. 28, for a four-day R&R; visit. Home-ported in San Diego, the Germantown carries both sailors and Marines, with 45 officers and 680 enlisted personnel.

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USS Germantown to call on Saipan

OVER 700 Navy personnel aboard the USS Germantown will arrive on Saipan for their rest and relaxation.

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Training in tight quarters no problem for Marines

ABOARD USS TARAWA(Nov. 28, 2007) -- Desert convoy operations training aboard a ship? Absolutely, say Marine instructors here, who are conducting a five-day heavy machine gun employment, desert survival training and field radio operations course.

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November 25, 2007

USS Tarawa strike group visits Guam

SHIPS with the USS Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group are on Guam for a port visit, the Navy announced yesterday.

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11 a.m. - Strike group makes port visit

11 a.m., Nov. 25 — Some 1,400 sailors and Marines are on island from a visiting strike group.

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November 23, 2007

Department of Defense to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to Bangladesh

In support of the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Relief, and in cooperation with the humanitarian community and Bangladesh government, U.S. Pacific Command is providing additional humanitarian assistance to reduce further loss of life and mitigate human suffering resulting from Tropical Cyclone Sidr that recently swept through Bangladesh causing massive flooding and infrastructure damage.

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US marines join cyclone aid effort in Bangladesh

DHAKA (AFP) — US marines arrived to bolster relief efforts in Bangladesh on Friday as concerns mounted for survivors of killer Cyclone Sidr which devastated the disaster-prone nation more than a week ago.

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U.S. Marines Join Cyclone Relief Ops in Bangladesh

U.S. Marines have begun to help survivors of a killer cyclone in Bangladesh which has left thousands without adequate food and clean drinking water, a U.S. Embassy spokesman said Nov. 23.

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Department of Defense to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to Bangladesh

In support of the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Relief, and in cooperation with the humanitarian community and Bangladesh government, U.S. Pacific Command is providing additional humanitarian assistance to reduce further loss of life and mitigate human suffering resulting from Tropical Cyclone Sidr that recently swept through Bangladesh causing massive flooding and infrastructure damage.

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November 22, 2007

Tarawa Marines, Sailors Celebrate Thanksgiving

ABOARD USS TARAWA (Nov. 22, 2007) -- Marines and Navy food service specialist aboard the USS Tarawa, currently deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit worked hard to make a “home cooked” Thanksgiving meal for their shipmates worthy of home.

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November 20, 2007

Cultural Awareness a Priority for Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group

USS TARAWA, Pacific Ocean (NNS) -- Cultural awareness professors from Monterey, Calif. embarked amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Nov. 5 to teach the crew about countries the ship could potentially visit during their regularly scheduled deployment.

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November 19, 2007

Practice hones 11th MEU's combat skills

ABOARD USS TARAWA (Nov. 19, 2007) -- Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) took advantage of picture-perfect weather in the Pacific Ocean to practice what they do best, get into the fight quickly.

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Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group Arrives in 7th Fleet

USS TARAWA, At sea - USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Expeditionary Strike Group (TAR ESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility (AOR) Nov. 19, as part of a deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability.

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November 17, 2007

As stability returns, Marines move out of neighborhood

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 17, 2007) -- Marines with third platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, have dismantled and de-militarized the patrol base that has been their home for months.

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November 6, 2007

Strike group's deployment has some families on edge

SAN DIEGO – Senior military officers described yesterday's deployment of the San Diego-based Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group as routine and unexceptional.

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November 5, 2007

Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group Deploys

SAN DIEGO -- The Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group leaves San Diego Monday for a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and Persian Gulf.

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Thousands of Sailors, Marines Deploy

SAN DIEGO -- Thousands of sailors and Marines began leaving local waters Monday when their expeditionary strike group deployed.

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October 31, 2007

Wolfpack returns to hunt in Rawah, keeps area safe

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, -- Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion recently accepted control of the western Euphrates River valley surrounding Rawah and Anah, and relieved 1st LAR in support of Regimental Combat Team 2.

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October 29, 2007

Oboe player takes advantage of 'Every Marine into the fight'

HIT, Iraq (Oct. 29, 2007) -- When Commandant Gen. James T. Conway published All Marine Message 002/07, ‘Every Marine into the fight,’ on Jan. 23, 2007, he gave an oboe player with the Marine band at Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center an opportunity he thought would never materialize.

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October 26, 2007

San Diego's Fires, As Seen From Iraq

Ever since U.S. Marines first started deploying to Fallujah back in early 2004, military families in and around California's Camp Pendleton have fretted over their loved ones serving in Iraq's deadly City of Mosques. Over the last four years, hundreds of wives and parents have received unthinkably bad news from some 8,000 miles away. But this week, as a moment of peace and quiet marks life in Fallujah, the roles have reversed. A battalion of Camp Pendleton Marines in Fallujah now bears the burden of worrying about family back home, loved ones fleeing the wildfires that ravage San Diego County and parts of the huge Marine base there.

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October 24, 2007

‘Alpha dog’ aims to work Wolfpack out of job

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 24, 2007) -- Traditionally throughout history, wolves are feared and respected, and are the subject of numerous myths from the Norse god Fenrir (the wolf destined to bring the end of the world), to werewolves, to the children’s stories Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs.

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October 23, 2007

Wolfpack returns to hunt in Rawah

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq, (Oct. 23, 2007) -- Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion recently accepted control of the western Euphrates River valley surrounding Rawah and Anah, and relieved 1st LAR in support of Regimental Combat Team 2.

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October 18, 2007

Families Celebrate Marines' Homecoming From Iraq

SAN DIEGO -- Four Camp Pendleton Marines arrived from a deployment in Iraq ahead of their unit Thursday.

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October 10, 2007

‘First Team’ works with ISF to make ‘Bell Hurriyah’ a reality

EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq (Oct. 10, 2007) -- Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, kicked off Operation Bell Hurriyah in the Anbar Province.

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Marine from southeast Texas killed in Iraq

LIBERTY, Texas (Map, News) - A Marine from southeast Texas who was killed in Iraq was remembered by family members and friends as a man of great faith who leaves behind six younger siblings.

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Animals lose sleep over progress in Dulab

EXPEDITIONARY PATROL BASE - DULAB, Iraq (Oct. 10, 2007) -- “Enjoy it while you can maggots,” rasped the drill instructor into the darkness of the squad bay, “This is the most sleep you will see in the Corps, especially if you are allowed to become grunts.” The Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, now agree with the phantom from boot camp.

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October 8, 2007

Marines keep death at bay; An infantry battalion that had 200 members voluntarily extend their enlistments returns from Iraq, and 'everybody came home alive.'

CAMP PENDLETON -- The U.S. involvement in Iraq is often judged by numbers. Among the most important are the number of boots on the ground and the number of dead.

Continue reading "Marines keep death at bay; An infantry battalion that had 200 members voluntarily extend their enlistments returns from Iraq, and 'everybody came home alive.'" »

October 5, 2007

Son follows father into Corps, shares time in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 5, 2007) -- A father is someone that a boy can look up to and admire, someone that a son can emulate in his adulthood. Growing up together learning from each other, the bond between father and son can become strong. Sometimes that bond can be made even stronger with special circumstances.

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September 29, 2007

13th MEU becomes first ‘surge’ unit to leave Iraq

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, September 29, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit has left Iraq, marking the departure of the first “surge” unit that will not be replaced.

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September 25, 2007

DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES; Marines guard Iraq's gradual transformation; In Ramadi, personality sometimes 'more useful than body armor'

HURRICANE POINT, Ramadi – If you head west from this small forward operating base located on Route Michigan, you'll reach a bridge that crosses a peaceful river. It would be easy to spend an afternoon walking along the riverbank, and many Iraqis do.

Continue reading "DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES; Marines guard Iraq's gradual transformation; In Ramadi, personality sometimes 'more useful than body armor'" »

Iraqi 3rd Brigade, 7th IA Division stands up

AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2007) -- Thomas Paine once wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Paine was writing about a newly formed American military in 1776, but even in 2007 his words mean just the same to the newly formed men of the 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division.

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September 22, 2007

Marine immortalizes fallen brother through art

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 22, 2007) -- Hippocrates once said, “Art is long, life is short- Ars longa, vita brevis. ”

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September 21, 2007

Maintenance Mafia” keeps 3rd LAR in the fight

The 3rd Light Armor Reconnaissance Battalion has proven itself time and again as an effective mobile infantry unit.

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Helland nominated for I MEF command

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 21, 2007 6:54:30 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — President Bush on Wednesday nominated Maj. Gen. Samuel Helland — an experienced helicopter pilot and combat veteran of Vietnam and the 1991 Persian Gulf War — for a third star and command of the 45,000-member I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

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September 20, 2007

Marines helping injured Iraqis in Ramadi get to medical care

By Allison Batdorff, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, September 20, 2007

RAMADI, Iraq — The Iraqi women gathered their bulky clothing around them, gripped the children and marched resolutely toward the helicopters.Many had never have flown in an airplane. Many had never been to Baghdad.

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September 19, 2007

Marines Guard Camp Lemonier; Marine units take turns providing security.

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti, Sept. 19, 2007 — The 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion officially assumed security responsibilities for Camp Lemonier from the 6th Provisional Security Company, which had been in charge of base security for seven months. The 3rd LAAD will fill the billet for the same duration.

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September 18, 2007

Iraqi Security Forces Take Root in Isolated Village. Marines help Iraqis set up community watch.

KARMAH, Iraq, Sept. 18, 2007 — Iraqis living in villages north of Karmah have begun their first group of local security forces with the aid of Marines from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6.

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September 17, 2007

1/1's Operation Texas bad news for insurgents

SAQLAWIYAH, IRAQ - The area of northern Saqlawiyah, Iraq, was flooded with Coalition Forces the day the Marines of Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, blockaded a portion of a local river during an operation which led to the capture of more than 20,000 pounds of homemade explosives.

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Tecumseh, Okla., native sees Iraqi progress

HIT, Iraq (Sept. 17, 2007) -- Marines with infantry battalions have been rotating in and out of Iraq
throughout the last few years, several are on their third or fourth deployment. Rapid deployment cycles cause Marines to overlook significant improvements in Iraq made since their last deployment. For one returning infantryman, the changes are apparent and appreciated

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September 15, 2007

3/11, 5/11 make thunder in the desert

The Marines and sailors of Lima Battery and Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment; and Sierra and Tango Batteries, 5th Battal-ion, 11th Marine Regiment; conducted their annual regimental desert fire exercise Aug. 29 through Sept. 5th.

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India Battery tests new arty tech

The Marines of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, became the first combat unit to conduct testing of the M982 Excalibur artillery round July 6-14 at Yuma Proving Grounds, Yuma, Ariz.

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1/1 conducts clearing operations in Anbar

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq. — The Marines of Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, and local Iraqi police swept through the farmlands outside Habbaniyah, Iraq, while conducting Operation Street Sweeper II, to rid the area of insurgents and their deadly tools.

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September 10, 2007

Petraeus: 13th MEU to leave Iraq this month

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 10, 2007 20:47:59 EDT

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. general in Iraq, said Monday he has recommended to President Bush that the drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq begin this month with the departure of a California-based Marine unit.

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September 8, 2007

Marines trade bullets for compassion

The Anbar Awakening, for some, is a cliché easily dismissed as an Iraqi fluke in a quagmire of military missteps shuffling to the tune of opportunities lost. Gunner Terry Walker, a 30-year plus veteran of the military and senior gunner of the United States Marine Corps, said, "The pre-packaged concept of an 'awakening' is absolutely absurd. These sheiks didn't just get up one day and declare their allegiance to Coalition Forces. What you see throughout Anbar Province is the fruit of five years of concerted COIN (counter-insurgency) operations." Whether you believe in spontaneous epiphanies or effective military small-war strategies, the fact remains that waking up was just one point in the Sunni Triangle conversion from the Wild, Wild West to Mayberry.

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September 7, 2007

1/1 Marines, Iraqi Police get to bottom of insurgent stockpile

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Sept. 7, 2007) -- It was late morning when Pfc. Andrew D. Bear noticed the lone cinderblock in the middle of a field. There were no houses, no cement facilities, and no structures of any kind for hundreds of feet. It was just dirt, mud, weeds and the Marines of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, accompanied by local Iraqi policemen. To the Yorba-Linda, Calif., native, the cinderblock, sitting in the sun-baked mud, stuck out like a cockroach in a spoonful of oatmeal.

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September 5, 2007

Gen. Pace, 2nd platoon reunited

KARMAH, Iraq (Sept. 5, 2007) -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, made a unique visit to Marines stationed here, Sept. 4. As far as meetings with four-star generals usually go, this event was much less formal. It seemed more like a gathering of relatives, a way for Gen. Pace to connect the hardened war fighters of today to the heroes of his past. It was evident he saw himself, and his old unit, in the Marines who stood in front of him.

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August 31, 2007

Ramadi: A Tale of Two Cities

This is the first of two on-the-scene reports by VFW magazine senior editor Tim Dyhouse, who was in Iraq this past April. This was his third trip to the war zone.

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August 30, 2007

Mojave Viper still stings

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER 29 PALMS, Calif. (Aug. 30, 2007) -- August 22 was an early day for Company I as they prepared for war during the final part of the Mojave Viper Training at Twentynine Palms.

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August 29, 2007

Loved ones remember Marine who died in Iraq. Ramirez, 21, attended Pasadena schools

PASADENA - As a child growing up in Oceanside, Rogelio Ramirez idolized the Marines he saw so often at nearby Camp Pendleton. He longed to be one of them, his father, Jose Ramirez, of Pasadena, said Tuesday.

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Eyes, brain, brawn: Anatomy of TF 1/4's indirect firepower

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Aug. 29, 2007) -- The ground shook ferociously as the 81 millimeter mortar round ripped through it, propelling debris everywhere and destroying any living thing in its area of impact. Forward observers up on a hill viewed this destructive force through their binoculars, ready to call in air support.

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Police, neighborhood join forces to keep Al Qa’im’s streets safe

BATTLE POSITION TARAWA, KARABALAH, Iraq (Aug. 29, 2007) -- The success of Operations Mawtini and Combined Justice is equally weighed between the leadership of Al Qa’im’s police force, the Iraqi Army and the Marines. Behind the scenes, Iraqi Police leadership is working directly with Marines to secure the town of Karabalah from insurgency.

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Viking Red trains Iraqi PSD to secure justice

CAMP GANNON, Iraq - (Aug. 29, 2007) -- It’s not news to read that politicians, famous athletes and even entertainers have bodyguards protecting them from dangerous people; but in Iraq, their judges need protection from the same people they sentence.

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August 25, 2007

Lima Company 3/1 turns routine patrol into payday

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2007) -- Using the term “Motivating Marine Corps day” in the morning is usually an indicator of sarcastic optimism throughout the ranks. Generally speaking, “motivating” can mean tired, frustrated and dirty. Rarely is the term prophetic.

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Cpl. Jason Dunham honored at Kings Bay, Ga.

NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE KINGS BAY, Ga. (Aug. 25, 2007) -- It was no average summer day Aug. 17, in Kings Bay, Ga., at least not at the Marine Corps Security Force Company’s barracks. There was a special feeling in the air for every fellow Marine, sailor, friend and family member of a true American hero.

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August 22, 2007

Marines track across Dulab in search of weapons

DULAB, Iraq - (Aug. 22, 2007) -- No house here was neglected during a recent operation to rid the area of weapons and caches.

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Local Government Shows Progress in Iraq’s Anbar Province

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2007 – Local governance is making progress in Iraq’s Anbar province, and Iraqis are joining the security forces in record numbers, a top Marine operating in the province said today.
As a result, improvised explosive device attacks and casualties are down in his region, said Marine Col. Richard Simcock, commander of Regimental Combat Team 6, operating in eastern Anbar province.

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August 20, 2007

Tanks, Highlanders, Wolfpack, Army combine forces in Al Anbar

RAWAH, Iraq (Aug. 20, 2007) -- Marines in Iraq spend weeks, and sometimes months, outside the ‘wire’ conducting numerous operations and patrols. Their operational tempo requires an enormous amount of logistical support, and creative ways of re-supplying in the seemingly endless desert. A mobile unit can use over 10,000 gallons of fuel per week just to keep going, not to mention food, water, and other consumable items a unit on the move might need.

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August 18, 2007

Crew members aboard crashed helicopter identified

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma has released the names of the three Marines and a sailor killed when their search and rescue helicopter crashed in the Yuma desert Thursday. The base also identified a Marine who was injured in the crash and remains hospitalized at Yuma Regional Medical Center.

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Anbar’s rule of the road: Stop when told

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, August 18, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — When a U.S. Marine foot patrol was heading back to its base recently in Iraq’s western Anbar province, the Marines noticed a white truck about two blocks off heading their way.

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August 17, 2007

Kings Bay Marine Barracks Named To Honor Hero; Cpl. Jason Dunham Died Saving Fellow Marines

KINGS BAY, Ga. -- Friends and family of a U.S. Marine who gave his life in Iraq to save others was remembered on Friday as the Marine barracks at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay were named in his honor.

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Kings Bay Marine Barracks Named To Honor Hero; Cpl. Jason Dunham Died Saving Fellow Marines

KINGS BAY, Ga. -- Friends and family of a U.S. Marine who gave his life in Iraq to save others was remembered on Friday as the Marine barracks at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay were named in his honor.

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August 15, 2007

Parris Island, Kings Bay to honor Dunham

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Aug 15, 2007 12:04:31 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Cpl. Jason Dunham, the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the Iraq war, earned the title Marine at the recruit depot in Parris Island, S.C.

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August 14, 2007

Understanding stress in a combat environment

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (Aug. 14, 2007) -- We live in the electronic age. The added comfort of phone and internet capabilities in forward areas can ease strain on personal relationships and business matters “back home.” During the brief contact service members have with their loved ones, generally only the most important words are exchanged: “How’s the baby? Really, her first tooth?” or “I’m safe, I love you.” Our phone calls “back home” are a great break from the reality of everyday life here. Rest assured, when a Marine hangs up the phone, he goes right back to scratching heat rash. He can smell his dirty body, feel his sore shoulders and hear IEDs in the distant night. While making a phone call can be the best part of the week, hanging up is the worst.

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Company A catches another HVI

HUSAYBAH, Iraq (Aug. 14, 2007) -- It was supposed to be a normal patrol. Their mission was to provide a presence down Market Street, but a red truck caught their eye. Was this the red truck they’ve been looking for? They weren’t sure but they had to find out.

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August 12, 2007

Marines appreciate Seabees making living conditions bearable

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, August 12, 2007

PATROL BASE GETTYSBURG, Iraq — Yes, there’s the well-known interservice rivalry of, say, the Army-Navy game, or that of movies, as when Jack Nicholson playing a Marine colonel mocks the white uniform of Tom Cruise playing a young naval officer in “A Few Good Men.”

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Marines work to keep bridge, area secure; Hiding spots, complacency among foes faced on patrol

PATROL BASE GETTYSBURG, Iraq — Each time the tide ebbs to reveal small nooks and inlets along his stretch of the Euphrates River, Marine Lance Cpl. Jori Ford wonders whether insurgents would try to use them as hiding places.

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August 10, 2007

BLT 3/1 brings successful conclusion to Operation PEGASUS BRIDGE

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (Aug. 10, 2007) -- Following six days of counterinsurgency operations in an eastern area of operations in Al Anbar province, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, dubbed Operation PEGASUS BRIDGE a “mission complete.”

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August 9, 2007

Long line of Marines honors fallen ‘brother’

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, August 9, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — Hundreds of U.S. Marines in western Iraq waited their turn in intense heat Tuesday to show respect for a fellow Marine killed earlier this month in western Anbar province.

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Brothers in arms re-enlist to fight together

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2007) -- With 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment ready to deploy to Iraq, approximately a dozen dedicated Marines and Sailors chose to re-enlist or extend.

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August 8, 2007

Father and son spend family-time together in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq – (Aug. 8, 2007) -- Families come together in times of crisis, holidays, celebrations, and other average events, but it’s not normal news to hear about a father visiting his son in a war-torn country. Father and son vacations are normally to the ballpark, going out fishing, hiking, museums but how about Al Qa’im, Iraq?

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Commandant visits Task Force 1/4 AO

CAMP GANNON, Iraq – (Aug. 8, 2007) -- General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, recently visited the Marines here with Alpha Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, attached to Regimental Combat Team 2.

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Marines walk the beat keeping enemies off the street

HUSAYBAH, Iraq - (Aug. 8, 2007) -- It was a quiet morning patrol; a standard Alpha Company mission. Donkeys, attached to carts, were unmanned while their owners were just waking up to the sound of roosters making their morning calls. The Marines were heading directly to solve a mystery. Who shot up a citizen’s house and why?

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August 5, 2007

Iraq's Less-Mean Streets; For a sign of progress, look at Ramadi—for now

RAMADI—Once the most dangerous place in Iraq, the self-proclaimed capital of the Sunni insurgency, Ramadi has become a bustling, largely peaceful city where residents are starting to repair the damage of nearly four years of heavy fighting.

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August 4, 2007

Marines and Soldiers support missions with ‘STRONGHOLD’

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (Aug. 4, 2007) -- Marines and Soldiers have spearheaded support operations for Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, alongside the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit with Task Force STRONGHOLD.

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Marine unit commander wants to shed some gear

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, August 4, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — The commander of a U.S. Marine Corps unit in Iraq wants to have his Marines begin patrolling without helmets and with less body armor.

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August 3, 2007

Marines launch raid to stem any summer attacks

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, August 3, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — U.S. Marines traveling in fast-moving armored columns launched a new raid into a remote stretch of desert in western Anbar province Wednesday.

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August 2, 2007

Highlanders rock on with Mawtini

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq – (Aug. 2, 2007) -- North of the Euphrates River, an unusual sound began to echo across the sands and through the hills, gradually building until words and instruments could be recognized.

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Inside 1st LAR: From the perspective of two Highlanders

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq – (Aug. 2, 2007) -- During my deployment as a military journalist with the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, I have had the amazing opportunity to do everything from raids and patrols, to week-long operations, to riding for hours sticking out the top of a light armored vehicle (LAV) speeding across the Iraqi sands in the western Euphrates River valley.

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August 1, 2007

Chasing the enemy in the Middle of Nowhere; Marines patrol Iraqi desert for insurgents

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, August 1, 2007

NEAR HUSSANIYAH, Iraq

Jouncing hell-for-leather through the Iraqi night under the soft glow of a three-quarter moon, Lance Cpl. Nathan Kidd gunned the light armored vehicle relentlessly across the desert of western Anbar province.

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July 30, 2007

Operation Mawtini sweeping Kubaysah

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Monday, July 30, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi forces’ efforts to disrupt the insurgency in western Anbar province include clearing a town believed to be a terrorist staging area and hunting for oil pirates, officials said Saturday

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July 29, 2007

BAT system helps 3/1 catch bad guys

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 28, 2007) -- Like technology from the latest James Bond movie, a system using finger prints and retina scans help Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Kilo Company, tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys.

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Task force takes the fight to the Anbar desert

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, July 25, 2007

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq

A weeklong raid into a remote desert area of western Anbar province was a strike into a region the insurgency had until now seen as its own, the Marine officer who led the operation said Monday.

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July 26, 2007

Local boy reunited with father after dramatic rescue

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 26, 2007) – Tears flowed openly this morning when a local father was reunited with his son following a dramatic rescue by Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. During a tribal dispute July 16, the boy, Hamum, 4, suffered a 7.62mm gunshot wound to the stomach.

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July 25, 2007

Marines take to skies to hunt insurgents

Ramadi, Iraq (July 25, 2007) -- The scout-sniper platoon from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, left the ground behind as they took to the skies to hunt for weapon caches and insurgents. As part of the aeroscout mission, the Marines travel by helicopter to areas not normally checked because of their remote locations.

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1/11 Marines reach out to local Iraqis, defend TQ

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 25, 2007) – On an average summer day in July and August, the roiling sun spews out temperatures of more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit onto Al Anbar province. Despite the heat, U.S. servicemembers around the province continue to patrol, looking out for suspicious activity.

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July 24, 2007

Marines patrol to see and be seen

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, July 24, 2007

RAWAH, Iraq — Before their patrol set off Friday night, Marine Maj. Hezekiah Barge Jr. said his role would be less about the “science” of fighting a war and more about the “art” of reading people.

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July 22, 2007

3/11’s departure from Combat Center brings tears to family, friends

Tears streaked the faces of family and friends who gathered at the Combat Center, June 29, to watch more than 100 Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Kilo Battery, load their gear onto a truck and climb into buses for their seven-month deployment to Al Anbar province, Iraq.

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July 20, 2007

RAV helps Marines make decision to stay with Corps

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 20, 2007) -- Since arriving here in January, more than 300 Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have reenlisted. A retention assist visit conducted by monitors of a number of military occupational specialties at the Headquarters Company office here July 20 helped that number grow by 85 and counting.

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RAV helps 2nd MLG (Fwd) Marines make decision to stay with Corps

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 20, 2007) -- Since arriving here in January, more than 300 Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have reenlisted. A retention assist visit conducted by monitors of a number of military occupational specialties at the Headquarters Company office here July 20 helped that number grow by 85 and counting.

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July 18, 2007

On the Scene: Last foot patrol of Pace's career

RAMADI, IRAQ (CNN) -- The walk in Ramadi was never supposed to happen. A sandstorm grounded Gen. Peter Pace and his entourage, who were planning on leaving the city after a quick visit during his final tour of Iraq.

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July 17, 2007

Navy ‘Riverines’ are irreplaceable asset to 13th MEU

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 17, 2007) -- The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit may have disembarked its ships to deploy to Iraq, but the Navy is still playing a vital role in the unit’s success.

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July 14, 2007

CLB-13 Marine serves 5th tour in Iraq

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 14, 2007) -- With Marine Corps operational tempo at an all-time high, there are Marines out there who don’t mind the deployments-- even after five of them.

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PPE stops round, saves Marine

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 14, 2007) -- Over the past decade there have been significant advancements in body armor. During that time there have also been heated debates concerning the performance and effectiveness of the body armor being used by Marines.

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July 13, 2007

1/11 Marines relieve ‘Bearcats’

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 13, 2007) -- Army Lt. Col. Gregg L. Parks, battalion commander of 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, handed the reins of his unit’s area of operations over to Marine Lt. Col. Phillip W. Boggs, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, in a transfer of authority ceremony here July 13.

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Role-model town produces positive results

ANAH, Iraq (July 13, 2007) -- The air smelled clean, the roads were paved and spotless, and the laughter of children echoed through the streets. A young girl, in a lilac colored dress, sprayed her driveway down with a garden hose proving the plumbing worked in her town. Men, women and children gave friendly waves to the Marines and Iraqi policemen as they patrolled through the secure streets here.

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July 12, 2007

Marines, Iraqi Army prove command, control capability

IBRAHIMIYAH PENINSULA, Iraq (July 12, 2007) -- The small towns in the Ibrahimiyah Peninsula arose early morning to the Iraqi Army and Marines with Weapons Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, searching the area for signs of insurgent activity.

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July 9, 2007

India Company’s Weapons Platoon, more than just grunts

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 9, 2007) -- The ins and outs of an infantry platoon can be confusing to someone who knows little to nothing about the infantry. A weapons platoon can even have the most experienced Marines scratching their heads.

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Marine killed in Anbar

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jul 9, 2007 19:08:25 EDT

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Harrah Marine died in Iraq after being hit by a roadside bomb explosion, his family confirmed Monday.

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July 8, 2007

Local mayor promotes 1st LAR Marine

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (July 8, 2007) -- Usually when Marines pin on their new rank, they look to a mentor within their unit to do the honors but it isn’t uncommon for a loved one to step in to do the promotion either.

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13th MEU finds more than 17 metric tons of explosives

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – Marines from Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, discovered more than 17,000 kilograms of explosives in a series of weapons cache finds northeast of Thar Thar Dam July 4-6.

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July 6, 2007

VMU-2 ScanEagle birds-eye view stops illegal oil siphoning

AL ASAD, Iraq (July 6, 2007) -- In the Marine Corps reconnaissance is an important part of any mission, knowing the enemy and the situation before making a move is essential. Sometimes that reconnaissance is also used to stop illegal activities.

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July 4, 2007

3/1 Marines treated to BBQ on Fourth

NEAR KARMAH, Iraq (July 4, 2007) -- Moon-dust clouds abounding, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, gathered today in the Chuck Norris Café here for a special holiday meal.

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July 3, 2007

Hometown Hero: Huffman petty officer now in battle for life

After surviving a suicide bomb attack in Iraq, ANTHONY THOMPSON and his family find victories in the small stuff
Pregnant wife waits by bedside, prays for recovery

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June 29, 2007

BLT 1/5 helo company conducts heliborne raids

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (June 29, 2007) -- Marines hit hard and hit fast. Whether attacking as a squad on foot, rolling in with a convoy of up-armored humvees, or barreling through the streets in a M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, Marines can always be counted on to get into the fight. But when Marines are needed immediately, they take to the skies where no road block or improvised explosive device can slow them down.

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June 28, 2007

Volleyball game marks end to reign of fear

RAWAH, Iraq (June 28, 2007) -- Some people would agree that if a sport had to be chosen which embodied freedom of oppression and represented overcoming fear of insurgency in order to continue a normal life, soccer might be the number one choice. Football, basketball and wrestling would probably be lucky enough to make the top five also.

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June 26, 2007

First LAR blurs lines between culinary cultures

RAWAH, Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- The Iraqi desert has the ability to alter the perceptions of Marines, especially those who have been deployed for a long period of time. Showers are no longer part of the everyday routine, instead they become a luxury. The same happens with food; what used to be considered commonplace is transformed into the extra-ordinary, and the extra-ordinary becomes something else entirely.

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Mobile PX brings smokes, smiles to Golden

COMBAT OUTPOST GOLDEN (near Kharma) Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- In a combat environment, smiles can be few and far between … especially when Marines are short on stimulants.

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June 25, 2007

BLT 3/1 making serious headway in CHINA SHOP

COMBAT OUTPOST GOLDEN, Al Anbar Province(June 25, 2007) -- Marines from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, are making serious headway conducting counter-insurgency operations in support of Operation CHINA SHOP.

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3/1 Pushes Through

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (June 25, 2007) -- Marines of Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines spent June 13-20 sweeping for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and setting up observation posts during their initial push through northern Al Anbar Province.

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June 21, 2007

Task Force 1/4 uses handheld thunder to secure Al Qa'im

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq - (June 21, 2007) -- “Contact from the front!” yelled Cpl. Kevin Knight, an assault team leader with Quick Reaction Force, Headquarters and Support Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2.

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Commitment: 1st LAR Marine extends to serve tour in Iraq

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (June 21, 2007) -- Many Marines sign up for four years of service, complete one or two tours, then get out and take the knowledge the Marine Corps has taught them into the civilian world to prosper and flourish. Others stay in for 20 years, lead thousands of Marines, and serve upward of a dozen tours of duty.

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7th Marines receives new commander

Col. William B. Crowe relinquished command of the 7th Marine Regiment to Col. Bryan P. McCoy, in a change of command ceremony at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field June 1.

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June 19, 2007

Highlanders find success with Cave Dweller

RAWAH, Iraq (June 19, 2007) -- The Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Highlanders,’ kicked off Operation Cave Dweller on June 1, 2007, in the western Euphrates River valley.

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Motor T mechanics keep engine’s running

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (June 19, 2007) -- Odd lights can be seen and noises can be heard daily while walking by the converted train depot where the Motor Transportation platoon with Headquarters and Support Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, starts their daily grind of fixing vehicles before the orange glow begins rising over the desert horizon. The Motor Transportation Marines, or Motor T, work diligently, keeping TF 1/4's vehicles running safely across Al Qa’im.

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June 16, 2007

11th MEU TRAP Team preps for deployment

FIRE BASE GLORIA, MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (June 15, 2007) -- Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are taking part in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) course offered by the I Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group, here.

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June 15, 2007

13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT BEGINS OPERATIONS IN AL ANBAR

CAMP AL TAQADDAM, Iraq - The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit began operations in Al Anbar Province today, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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June 12, 2007

First LAR ruins another insurgent’s day

RAWAH, Iraq (June 12, 2007) -- In the small outpost the Marines of Company D share with the local Iraqi Police in the town of Rawah, Iraq, the scene could only be described as organized chaos. Cpl. Jeremiah J. Palmer was gathering the Marines of his squad to prepare for a foot patrol, and Staff Sgt. Sean P. Perry was calling for the rest of his platoon to hurry up and get in their vehicles.

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June 11, 2007

Marines experience ‘scene out of a bad horror movie’

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq (June 11, 2007) -- Cpl. Jose J. Prado was just stepping through the gate of his company’s headquarters for a patrol May 24, when the sky lit up and the ground rumbled and shook. Another improvised explosive device had rocked the small city of Rawah, Iraq, overlooking the Euphrates River.

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June 8, 2007

Marines battle harsh environment in Kuwait

UDARI RANGE, Kuwait (June 8, 2007) -- While “ship life” has its downsides, it is the unforgiving desert of Kuwait that makes Marines really miss home. Day after day, Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are subjecting themselves to dust, arid winds and, of course, triple-digit heat.

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June 7, 2007

15th MEU troops return from humanitarian, combat efforts

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(June 7, 2007) -- Nearly nine months of humanitarian efforts and combat operations came to a welcomed halt when Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit came home May 30.

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June 6, 2007

CAAT, LAR platoons hit enemy hard during raid training

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (June 6, 2007) -- Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Camp Pendleton, began a week-long training exercise at Fire Base Gloria here designed to train Marines to conduct raids on terrorist targets from the air, land and sea.

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June 4, 2007

Charlie Company blocks Euphrates River to insurgents in Al Rafta

AL RAFTA, Iraq (June 4, 2007) -- The quiet current of the Euphrates River was interrupted by a low hum. Two men in a small fishing boat moved along the river. Unseen to the fishermen, Marines stood alongside a crumbling aqueduct waving the men to the shore. Any insurgents moving along the Euphrates River that day were trapped.

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China Marines keep vigilant eye on town

AL AMARI, Iraq (June 4, 2007) -- The Marines of fourth platoon, Charlie Company, Task Force 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, patrolled the town of Al Amari at dusk, showing its citizens the Marines were in the area. Later, during the hours of darkness, fourth platoon snuck into an abandoned building and performed patrols searching for enemy activity keeping the small farming town safe from insurgency.

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June 3, 2007

Marine's dog needs ride to Oregon

A dog named Jeff has his paw out to hitch a ride to Oregon. The dog belongs to Sean Wiley, a private first class stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma who deployed to Iraq in March. He left the dog with a friend in Yuma, expecting to return by October.

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May 31, 2007

Anchorage native leads with experience

AL RAFTA, Iraq (May 31, 2007) -- The backbone of the United States Marine Corps is its noncommissioned officers. Senior leadership depends on these Marines, more commonly referred to as NCOs, to make decisions affecting the lives of thousands of lance corporals, privates first class and privates alike.

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USS Bonhomme Richard Off-Loads 13th MEU

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (NNS) -- The USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) off-loaded the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) here May 25-28.

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May 30, 2007

Darkhorse Marines learn weapons of insurgency

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 30, 2007) -- A former master sergeant in the Israeli Army educated Darkhorse Marines on enemy weapons systems during the Stu Segall Hyper-Realistic Training exercise May 8.

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May 29, 2007

Operation Scimitar cuts down insurgent activity

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (May 29, 2007) -- Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Tarawa began Operation Southern Scimitar in the early morning of May 19, in order to sweep and clear their area of insurgent activity.

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May 28, 2007

1/1 machine gunners communicate, destroy enemy at Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER 29 PALMS, Calif. (May 28, 2007) -- “Get up the hill!” bellows Lance Cpl. Derek A. Wolf, as he and his fellow machine gunners charge a steep, rocky mount to establish machine gun positions. “They’re waiting on us!” Wolf adds with a shout as the Marines, laden with machine guns and ammunition, push themselves to get up “Machine Gun Hill.”

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Fighting a New Kind of War in Iraq

At 23, Marine Corporal Ryan Vistek considered himself a war-hardened veteran. In 2004, he fought against Moqtada al-Sadr's militia when it staged an uprising in several parts of Iraq. But sometimes experience no longer counts as lessons learned. Before he deployed to Iraq for the second time earlier this year, he and other Iraq combat veterans were pulled aside and told — essentially — to forget everything they'd learned.

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May 25, 2007

BLT 1/5 gears up to fight, rolls into mech raids

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 25, 2007) -- The faint glimmer of the moon was the only light in the sky as the 26 ton assault amphibian vehicles rolled along the dusty path, churning up everything in the way of their powerful tracks, as Marines inside anxiously waited for the ramp to lower, releasing them to close with and destroy the enemy.

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May 23, 2007

Combat Outpost Gets Treat

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq -- Combat Outpost Rawah and the Marines who call it home, recently received a permanent post-exchange here.

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Navy launches show of force near Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Ships packed with 17,000 sailors and Marines moved into the Persian Gulf on Wednesday as the U.S. Navy staged another show of force off Iran's coast just days before U.S.-Iran talks in Baghdad.

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Nine U.S. warships enter Gulf for training; The assembly off Iran’s coast is largest since the 2003 Iraq war

ABOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS - Nine U.S. military ships entered the Gulf on Wednesday for a rare daylight assembly off Iran’s coast in what naval officials said was the largest such move since the 2003 Iraq war.

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May 22, 2007

Marines volunteer to return to Iraq; In one battalion, 200 members opt to extend their enlistments, for no bonus money. 'I'm here to teach the younger guys,' says one.

RAMADI, IRAQ — Marine Cpl. Saul Mellado could be back in California, finishing the final months of his enlistment in a safe billet at Camp Pendleton.

Continue reading "Marines volunteer to return to Iraq; In one battalion, 200 members opt to extend their enlistments, for no bonus money. 'I'm here to teach the younger guys,' says one." »

May 21, 2007

Marine unit in town near Fallujah seeing locals’ trust build

By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, May 21, 2007

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIVIERA, Iraq — It was just after midnight on Tuesday morning, and Capt. George “Donnie” Hasseltine decided to check his e-mail one last time before turning in.

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Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Arrives in 5th Fleet

From Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) May 19.

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May 19, 2007

Northglenn Marine Returns From Iraq; Family, Friends Celebrate

NORTHGLENN -- Cheers of joy rang through Denver International Airport Saturday to welcome back a Northglenn Marine.

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May 18, 2007

A Denver Neighborhood Celebrates the Return of a Marine

John David Garcia, a 20-year old Marine just back from Iraq, came home to a hero's Welcome Saturday. The Legacy High grad enlisted right after graduation last year. He has spent the past nine months in-country.

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Marines, Sailor make COP more comfortable

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (May 18, 2007) -- For the average deployed Marine, the discomforts of the desert are a near-constant: being hot, dirty, and bored. Marines and Sailors like Pfc. Jon E. Combs, and Seaman Nolan J. Calhoun are trying to do something about it, and provide a few more comforts to their hard-working counterparts.

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TF 1/4 Marine cooks up morale, troop welfare in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (May 18, 2007) -- A small trail of smoke rose above Battle Position Vera Cruz, or BP Vera Cruz, here. The smell of barbequed meat filled the air while off-duty Marines milled around, avoiding the heat by finding shade wherever possible. A lone Marine stood over his grille, no matter how hot the temperature in the unforgiving desert heat, preparing the afternoon meal for his fellow Marines.

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May 17, 2007

For his family: Battalion Landing Team 2/1 Marine awarded Bronze Star

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (May 17, 2007) -- “Now you tell me - do I deserve it?"

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Marines train on movie set to prepare for "the theater"

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (May 17, 2007) -- There used to be no way anyone could train to battle a roadside bomb blast. That was before the premiere of Stu Segall’s Hyper-Realistic Training.

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May 16, 2007

Baptist chaplain works in Iraq, ministers to those of all faiths

ATLANTA (ABP) -- Alan Rogers has baptized soldiers in an Iraqi river under armed Marine protection. Needless to say, it was a quick job.

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May 15, 2007

Out to sea, MCMAP

ABOARD THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD (May 15, 2007) -- When traveling the road of the elite warrior, the toll is paid with psychological and bodily exhaustion. Yet, those who apply themselves take comfort in knowing when the end is reached, the reward will be two-fold with exceptional character to compliment their enhanced traits.

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May 14, 2007

Ships from Bonhomme Richard ESG Depart Singapore

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR), USS Denver (LPD 9), and USS Rushmore (LSD 47) departed Singapore on May 12 after a three-day port visit.

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Goodies from home

By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, May 14, 2007

Friday was mail call for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, only their second since deploying from California in recent weeks. And Friday’s shipment to Forward Operating Base Hurricane Point was the first with boxes, care packages full of goods from home.

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May 11, 2007

Pendleton unit switches future mission from MEU to OIF

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, calif. (May 11, 2007) -- West Pacific deployments typically consist of humanitarian assistance efforts in places such as Australia, Guam and Indonesia. 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division is no longer slated to enjoy these stops now that their original assignment serving as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit has been redirected as a combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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May 10, 2007

1/1 tests Marines' resiliency, endurance, knowledge

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (May 10, 2007) -- Exhausted and out-of-breath, the toughest Marines pushed forward while others were forced to stop altogether.

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May 9, 2007

2nd LAAD Battalion provides deterrence though vigilance as Team Guardian

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 9, 2007) -- In effort to keep the service members and civilians aboard Al Asad safe, one group of Marines has been dedicated to providing external and internal security.
2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion is currently assigned to provide security for all of Al Asad.

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April 29, 2007

Marines establish CMOC in Rawah

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Members of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, recently went to the city of Rawah to set up a civil military operations center.

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Warpigs teach IA to 'fish'

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, recently finished up their portion of the zone sweep through the western Euphrates River valley.

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Diablo cultivates relationship with Iraqi citizens

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, has made its home on a small outpost in the western Euphrates River valley, 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, and 50 miles east of the Syrian border

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Iraqis look to Diablo for safety

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (Apr. 29, 2007) -- Combat Outpost Rawah, home of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, sits in a shallow valley overlooking the city of Rawah, Iraq, in the western Euphrates River valley.

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Businesses receive boost Strike group tempers slow sales month

Even if only just for a few days, the addition of 6,000 people on island was enough to give many businesses on island something big to smile about.

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April 28, 2007

Officials: 13th MEU to head to Iraq

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, April 28, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is expected to arrive in Iraq this summer, officials said.

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Marines cultivate relationship with Iraqi citizens

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - (April 28, 2007) -- First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, has made its home on a small outpost in the western Euphrates River valley, 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, and 50 miles east of the Syrian border.

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10 a.m. - Navy strike group to arrive on Guam today for port visit

10 a.m. April 28 - The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is scheduled to arrive today for a port visit, according to a Navy news release.

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April 24, 2007

Monterey, Calif., Marine put into unlikely leadership position in Anbar Province

RAWAH, Iraq – (April 24, 2007) -- At the edge of the Euphrates River, on the outskirts of the prospering, valley town of Rawah, Iraq, 10 Marines and a lone corpsman have positioned themselves atop a small hill to provide a better way of life for the local civilians. For one Marine corporal, it is his duty to lead, delegate and look after his squad of warriors while they oversee the daily progress of Iraqi Police operating roadside checkpoints, controlling the entrance to a town full of markets and businesses.

Continue reading "Monterey, Calif., Marine put into unlikely leadership position in Anbar Province" »

April 23, 2007

Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group Enters 7th Fleet

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 23, while enroute to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism.

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April 18, 2007

First LAR extends eyes and ears throughout western Euphrates River valley

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (April 18, 2007) -- Regimental Combat Team 2 launched operation Valiant Guardian on March 26, 2007. In support of that operation, 1st Light Armored Vehicle Battalion has sent its Marines throughout the western Euphrates River valley to disrupt enemy movement and form communication bonds with the local populace.

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April 17, 2007

Marine Corps top commander and sergeant major visit southern Calif.-based battalion in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (April 15, 2007) -- U.S. Marine Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, said Al Qa’im, Iraq, a region in northwestern Al Anbar Province, is a model for the rest of Iraq to look up to.

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April 15, 2007

15th MEU Returns to Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) completed its return to the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) April 14, after conducting security operations in Iraq since mid-November.

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First LAR kicks off Operation Valiant Guardian with a successful start

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (April 15, 2007) -- First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, launched Marines in support of operation “Valiant Guardian” April 5, 2007.

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April 10, 2007

Bonhomme Richard, other ships sail for 6-month deployment

SAN DIEGO – Four ships attached to the Bonhomme Richard Strike Group, along with about 6,000 sailors and Marines, left San Diego Tuesday on a six-month deployment in support of the war on terrorism.

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Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploy

SAN DIEGO -- As the massive ship pulled away Tuesday morning, Melissa Trevino watched, red-eyed and silent. A friend stood behind her, wrapping the 32-year-old Oceanside woman in a hug.

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April 8, 2007

First LAR comes bearing gifts

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (April 8, 2007) -- Marines and Iraqi children alike within the western Euphrates River valley realized presents don’t always have to be specially wrapped with bows; they can be enjoyed just as much in a cardboard packing box.

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April 7, 2007

Bronze Star awarded to Marine

Sgt. Tony S. Flynn will tell you he was just doing his job. The Bronze Star Medal, though, indicates he did more.

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April 6, 2007

Heavy Equipment Marines support grunts in fight

AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 6, 2007) -- As Marines and Iraqi Security Forces on the ground protect the community by providing safety and security for the citizens here, it is the Marines of Detachment 2, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) who provide strong defensive positions for the protectors.

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April 2, 2007

Calif.- based battalion conducts night raid

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ (April 2, 2007) -- Not even pitch-black darkness can stop Marines on a mission. With the help of night vision goggles, the darkness is turned into light.

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March 29, 2007

15th MEU hands off Anbar duty; Marine unit has been extended for ‘surge’

By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Marine unit that was extended in Anbar province as part of the “surge” has handed over parts of its operating area to another Marine unit, officials said Wednesday

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March 27, 2007

Anything but light: LAVs conduct live-fire exercise to pave the way for eyes-forward reconnaissance, enemy destruction

RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, Republic of Korea (March 27, 2007) -- The vehicle stands about three meters off the ground with its eight tractor trailer sized tires keeping the angular behemoth’s body from becoming a permanent feature of the landscape. The main weapon, a 25mm Bushmaster chain gun, protrudes from the gunner’s turret, signifying potential annihilation.

Continue reading "Anything but light: LAVs conduct live-fire exercise to pave the way for eyes-forward reconnaissance, enemy destruction" »

March 22, 2007

Japan MEU deployment extended to one year

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Mar 22, 2007 12:43:41 EDT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The seven-month deployment of roughly 1,200 Marines and sailors in Japan has been extended to 12 months, the Marine Corps has announced.

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March 21, 2007

Navy will name ship the USS Jason Dunham; Destroyer honors Iraq War hero from Allegany County

WASHINGTON — The legacy of an Iraq War hero from Allegany County will be honored on the high seas for years to come.

Continue reading "Navy will name ship the USS Jason Dunham; Destroyer honors Iraq War hero from Allegany County" »

‘Magnificent Bastards’ overcoming, adapting austere conditions

COMBAT OUTPOST ELLIS, Iraq (March 21, 2007) -- Marines are known for their ability to overcome and adapt to almost any situation whether it is actual combat or their living conditions.

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March 20, 2007

Marine to be awarded Navy Cross posthumously

CAMP PENDLETON — Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Adlesperger, who was killed during the battle in Fallouja in 2004, has been selected for the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps' second highest medal for combat bravery, the corps announced Monday.

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Marine to be awarded Navy Cross posthumously

CAMP PENDLETON — Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Adlesperger, who was killed during the battle in Fallouja in 2004, has been selected for the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps' second highest medal for combat bravery, the corps announced Monday.

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March 16, 2007

Governor sends condolences to family of Twentynine Palms Marine

Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Twentynine Palms Marine Lance Cpl. Nathanial D. Windsor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement today.

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March 15, 2007

Beefing up the troops, Students spread the Montessori concept to Iraq.

Camp Pendleton When the alarm rang at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Hannah Huebscher could barely get up. But five minutes later, the groggy-eyed 14-year-old remembered her mission.

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Rigors of combat simulated in strenuous physical training for 1/1 Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (March 15, 2007) -- For all of the Marine squad leaders and platoon sergeants out there, Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Redmond has one question: “How many of your Marines can come out here and do the (obstacle) course, full gear, flak and Kevlar, three times in fifteen minutes?”

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Bonhomme Richard ESG Kicks Off JTFEX

USS BONHOMME RICHARD, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) departed their homeport of San Diego on March 14 to take part in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

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March 10, 2007

$1.3 Bil. USS New Orleans Commissioned

CBNNews.com -- NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- With the boom of cannons, the Navy commissioned the USS New Orleans before thousands of onlookers Saturday, marking the first time since at least World War II a Navy ship has been built and commissioned in its namesake city.

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At medical center, healing is Marines' only duty. The recently opened Wounded Warrior Center puts the individual patient at the center of attention, but there's no coddling.

CAMP PENDLETON — If Building 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center represents the nadir of outpatient care for wounded military personnel, the Marine Corps is hoping that a former maternity ward here represents the opposite.

Continue reading "At medical center, healing is Marines' only duty. The recently opened Wounded Warrior Center puts the individual patient at the center of attention, but there's no coddling." »

March 7, 2007

Explosive Ordnance Marines will blow your cache

CAMP ELLIS, Iraq (March 7, 2007) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marines attached to the California-based Battalion Landing Team 2nd Marines, 4th Marine Regiment have supported current operations in the Barwanah area by disposing of weapons and explosives found in caches throughout the area.

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Analysis: Al Qaim is island of stability

HUSAYBA, Iraq, March 7 (UPI) -- Al-Qaim is an oasis of stability in the chaos of Iraq. But it was not always this way

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March 6, 2007

1st MLG gets new sergeant major

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 6, 2007 6:09:02 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Marines and sailors of the 1st Marine Logistics Group got a new senior enlisted leader March 1 with the retirement of Sgt. Maj. Dan L. Hakala.

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March 5, 2007

Marine Sgt. Jeffrey L. Kirk posthumously awarded Silver Star

CAMP PENDLETON -- Sgt. Jeffrey Lynn Kirk will never see the Silver Star awarded for his valor during an intense room-to-room firefight in a Fallujah home more than two years ago.

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March 4, 2007

Mission: Come back alive. Mock Iraqi towns in Twentynine Palms prepare Marines for war

The loud buzz, like a firecracker shooting off, lasts only seconds before the simulated device explodes in the sand.
The squad from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines stops patrol and races down the desert street to the single-story building where comrades have been seriously wounded.

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February 28, 2007

Marines receive coins to mark combat status

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - The Marines of the Okinawa-based Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 celebrated the receipt of 250 challenge coins, donated by the unit's Vietnam Veterans Association, to signify the squadron's return to combat, this time in Iraq.

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February 22, 2007

Marines carry on formal traditions of Mess Night

Oceanside, Calif.(Feb. 22, 2007) -- “The Thundering Third” marched into the room and took their places in front of three candlelit tables and stood at the position of attention, awaiting the command to proceed with camaraderie, laughter and festivity.

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February 21, 2007

State Department, Marines practice civilian evacuation

CAMP PENDLETON -- A trio of giant CH-53 helicopters landed in an enormous cloud of dust while Marines 100 yards away struggled to control a small, angry crowd, all as part of an exercise Wednesday to help prepare the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit for its next overseas deployment in early April.

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February 20, 2007

Marines in Iraq's Al Anbar cope with daily grind. They find their duty is less combat, more civil service.

QAIM, IRAQ — In farming communities along the Syrian border, U.S. Marines work with Iraqis to open health clinics and a job center and to improve trash collection and water delivery.

Continue reading "Marines in Iraq's Al Anbar cope with daily grind. They find their duty is less combat, more civil service." »

February 18, 2007

MWSS-373 re-wires 2/7, F Company

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 18, 2007) -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron-373, stationed in Al Taqaddum, arrived in the Saqlawiyah area on Feb. 12 to re-wire a building out of which Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, are operating.

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February 17, 2007

2/7 Marines establish relationships with Iraqi people

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 13, 2007) -- “War Dogs” are building Iraqi support to stifle the insurgents.

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IED searches ongoing for Marines of “Joker”

BARWANAH, Iraq (Feb. 17, 2007) -- The Marines of Golf Company, call sign Joker, a part of the California-based Battalion Landing Team 2/4 with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit , continue the search for improvised explosive devices and weapons as well as securing the city.

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February 16, 2007

2/1 Marine receives heroism medal for life-saving actions

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa (February 16, 2007) -- For two days, an Iraqi civilian lay helplessly buried beneath the rubble and debris of a toppled building. He had been left for dead and his fate was looking grim.

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February 14, 2007

Marines, soldiers 'revive' economic, social development in western Euphrates River Valley

RAMANA, Iraq (Feb. 14, 2007) -- Local Iraqi leaders, members of local Iraqi Security Forces and Marines and Soldiers serving in western Iraq came together Feb. 1, 2007, in Ramana, Iraq, to celebrate the grand opening of a bridge which stretches across the Euphrates River here.

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February 13, 2007

31st MEU conducts Mech Raid during ARGEX

OKINAWA, Japan (Feb. 13, 2007) -- Minutes after arriving on their objective, a company of Marines unleashed a hail of machinegun fire awakening what once was a quiet and sleepy town and turning it into a battleground for urban combat.

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February 12, 2007

“War Dogs” make statement with snap VCPs

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 12, 2007) -- Marines from G Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, conducted snap, or hasty, vehicle check points as part of a mounted patrol through the back roads of this small city a few miles northwest of Fallujah Feb. 12 to familiarize themselves with their area of operations.

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February 10, 2007

Marine unit extended in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – The Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) will have their deployment extended in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Multi-National Force-West.

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February 9, 2007

Marines tackle the chill, ice and intensity of Bridgeport training

MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, Calif.(Feb. 9. 2007) -- Most think of the typical battlefield today as being covered in sand and blazing temperatures, but Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment proved their readiness to fight in any clime or place by conducting winter mountain operations training.

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February 6, 2007

Marine killed in Iraq laid to rest in Westlake Village, People on street salute family

The night before her son's funeral, Vicki Melia looked up at the midnight sky. Alone, she sat on the curb outside her Thousand Oaks home talking with him.

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February 5, 2007

Troops get Super treat. Coto de Caza family throws surprise party for soon-to-be-deployed troops.

Five big TVs, pizza, barbecue and beer. Lots of beer. Seventy Marines and Navy personnel were treated to the ultimate Super Bowl party hosted by a Coto de Caza family.

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Fallen Marine. Iraq war touches home

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Last year, Anthony Melia returned to his alma mater, Thousand Oaks High School, proudly wearing his crisp uniform as a U.S. Marine.

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February 4, 2007

Class II Marines keep Al Anbar hooked-up

Blackanthem Military News, AL TAQADDUM, Iraq -- For combat operations, there are some items you can’t do without: boots for the infantryman patrolling a street in Ar Ramadi, fire-resistant flight suits to help ward of the risk of severe burns, even the ink cartridge used to print out the warning order for a raid.

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February 3, 2007

Hundreds Of Local Marines Return Home From Iraq

Hundreds of local Marines and Sailors are back home in San Diego after spending nearly a year in Iraq.

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Class II Marines keep Al Anbar hooked-up


AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 03, 2007) -- For combat operations, there are some items you can’t do without: boots for the infantryman patrolling a street in Ar Ramadi, fire-resistant flight suits to help ward of the risk of severe burns, even the ink cartridge used to print out the warning order for a raid.

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Base: Pendleton deployments largely unchanged by Iraq force increase

NORTH COUNTY ---- The deployment schedules of Camp Pendleton Marines leaving for and returning from Iraq have not been significantly affected by President Bush's decision to increase American force levels in Iraq by at least 21,500 troops, Marine Corps officials say.

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February 2, 2007

Sharing their skills, 20 Marine volunteers help get Habitat project back on schedule

ESCONDIDO – A popular bumper sticker emblazoned with the Marine Corps emblem reads: “When it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight.”

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1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) changes authority in ceremony

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 2, 2007) -- Col. David M. Richtsmeier, commanding officer of 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), transferred authority of the logistics combat element of Multinational Forces West to Brig. Gen. James A. Kessler, commanding general of 2nd MLG (Fwd), II MEF (Fwd) in an official ceremony here January 30.

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January 31, 2007

Loved ones greet Marines as they return from Iraq

Families brave rain at Camp Pendleton for early-morning reunion.

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Camp Pendleton Marines Return To Base After A Year Away

About 300 Marines returned to Camp Pendleton early Wednesday morning after a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

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January 28, 2007

300 Marines leave for Iraq

More than 300 Marines and sailors left for Iraq from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms today.

The Second Battalion, seventh Marines spent their last few hours with family and friends in a somber tailgate this afternoon in the parking lot.

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A day of hellos and goodbyes

TWENTYNINE PALMS - There were tears and laughter Saturday at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center. There were hugs, smiles and cheers, and there were kisses filled with sorrow.

There was Mariza Cortez, 23, standing on the sidewalk, embracing and then waving goodbye to her husband who was leaving for Iraq.

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Families cherish reunions in wartime

About 300 Marines and sailors arrived home Saturday from Iraq, just a few hours after another 300 left for their fourth tour of duty.

Though many families had done it before, it hadn't gotten any easier.

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Tears of joy and sorrow

One group leaves for war, another returns

Whether they're leaving or coming back, it's never easy for Marines or their families.

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms saw both Saturday - the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines left for Iraq about four hours before the 7th Marine Regiment returned to the base from a year-long tour of duty.

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January 26, 2007

Artillery Marines take on civil military operations

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 26, 2007) -- While many units use Combat Town at the Central Training Area to sharpen their close-quarter combat skills, more than 100 Marines and sailors with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment also used the urban training area Jan. 12 to hone their civil affairs skills.

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Change of command in eastern Anbar province

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 26, 2007

Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 have completed their “relief-in-place” with Regimental Combat Team 5, taking responsibility for operations in eastern Anbar province, an area that includes the city of Fallujah.

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January 25, 2007

RCT-2 'takes the fight' in western Al Anbar Province

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, Iraq - (Jan. 25, 2007) -- After months of pre-deployment training and preparation, Regimental Combat Team 2 “took the fight” from RCT-7 in a transfer of authority (TOA) ceremony here.

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3rd MAW reaches deployment's end, ties knot in year's accomplishments

AL ASAD, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2007) -- In the early months of 2006, Marines stationed on the West coast of the United States boarded a plane headed to the desert lands of the Middle East. The deployment was to be a year in the western Al Anbar Province of Iraq.

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Joyous homecoming greets Marines, sailors at Miramar

MIRAMAR -- Hundreds of Marines and sailors returned from Iraq to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station on Wednesday to the joyous whoops and relieved smiles of family and friends waiting outside the air terminal.

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Southern Calif.-based Marines deny insurgents over 40 km. of land along western Euphrates River Valley, find and destroy over 20 IEDs, caches

WESTERN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ – (Jan. 25, 2007) -- U.S. Marines serving in western Al Anbar Province, Iraq, spent nearly three weeks finding significant traces of insurgent activity in a stretch of 40 km. along the Euphrates River Valley, here.

Continue reading "Southern Calif.-based Marines deny insurgents over 40 km. of land along western Euphrates River Valley, find and destroy over 20 IEDs, caches" »

January 24, 2007

Marines return from Iraq

Twenty Marines returned to Yuma from Al Asad, Iraq, on Wednesday.

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Hundreds Of Marines, Sailors Return From Iraq

SAN DIEGO -- There were tears and hugs Wednesday as hundreds of U.S. Marines and sailors returned home from Iraq, NBC 7/39 reported.

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January 23, 2007

Mobile surgical unit exercises muscles, proves capable

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 23, 2007) -- They mobilize in minutes. Within the hour, they are in striking distance of the enemy.

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January 22, 2007

3/11 Marines honor Ford with 21-gun salute

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Field artillery Marines from 3rd Batallion, 11th Marine Regiment conducted a 21-gun salute Dec. 30 as part of the departure ceremony for the California portion of the state funeral for former President Gerald R. Ford.

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January 21, 2007

Taming Iraq's 'wild west', Business is booming in Husaybah, where the anti-insurgent efforts of Marines and local leaders have paid off.

HUSAYBAH, IRAQ — It's midday in this farming-and-smuggling town on the Syrian border, and the market square is bustling.

Continue reading "Taming Iraq's 'wild west', Business is booming in Husaybah, where the anti-insurgent efforts of Marines and local leaders have paid off." »

January 20, 2007

Serving his country in triplicate

Marine volunteers to go back to Iraq for third tour

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January 19, 2007

3/4 Marines and sailors honor 5 killed in action in Anbar Province

AL UBAYDI, Iraq - Memorial services were held by U.S. Marines and sailors serving in northwestern Al Anbar Province, Iraq, to honor the lives of three fallen Marines, one sailor and a civilian interpreter Dec. 28.

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Palm Springs USO opens doors to troops

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2007) -- A United Services Organization Center was recently opened in the Palm Springs International Airport to accommodate traveling troops and their families.

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Palm Springs USO opens doors to troops

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2007) -- A United Services Organization Center was recently opened in the Palm Springs International Airport to accommodate traveling troops and their families.

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TRAP platoon prepares for transfer of authority

AL ASAD, IRAQ - (Jan. 19, 2007) -- Men and women enlist in the Marine Corps with a few guarantees. The best military training money can buy, a paycheck twice a month and a guaranteed job field of their choice. But for the Marines of the Tactical Removal of Aircraft Personnel platoon, daily life is much different than what they signed up for.

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January 14, 2007

BLT 2/1 arrives to 31st MEU, replaces 1/5

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 14, 2007) -- Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment completed their six-month deployment here, Jan 14, after handing over their battalion’s mission to the Camp Pendleton-based 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment who will now serve as the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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January 13, 2007

Marine’s quick thinking saves lives in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province

AL ASAD, Iraq - Several Marines at this U.S. airbase in Iraq's Al Anbar Province say they are alive today because of one man's quick thinking.

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January 12, 2007

Medal of Honor Recipient Honored at Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2007 – The second servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq war was inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes today.

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Medal Of Honor Citation for Cpl. Jason L. Dunham

WASHINGTON (Jan. 12, 2007) -- The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

CORPORAL
JASON L. DUNHAM
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following

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Wounded Marine Doze arrives in Ohio from Iraq

MOUNT VERNON — Marine Sgt. Jesse Doze received a hero’s welcome Thursday night. He returned to his wife and child after sustaining injuries in a recent helicopter crash in Iraq.

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Combat team commander sees 'hope' in Iraq

U.S. Marine Col. William Crowe, commander of Regimental Combat Team 7, sees "rays of hope" in his area of operations across 30,000 square miles in Iraq.

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January 11, 2007

President Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Corporal Jason Dunham

THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the White House.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor a President can bestow. The Medal is given for gallantry in the face of an enemy attack that is above and beyond the call of duty. The Medal is part of a cherished American tradition that began in this house with the signature of President Abraham Lincoln.

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Bush awards Medal of Honor to Iraq war Marine

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A young Marine who fell on a hand grenade in Iraq two years ago, giving his life to save comrades, was given the Medal of Honor Thursday by President Bush, becoming only the second Iraq war recipient of the prestigious award.

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4,000 Marines to be extended in Iraq

By Kimberly Johnson
[email protected]

The deployments of some 4,000 Marines already in Iraq’s Anbar province will be extended as part of the overall “surge” of troops announced by President Bush on Wednesday night.

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Iraq tours extended for Twentynine Palms Marines of the 3/4 following Bush speech

Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. this morning has announced that following President George Bush's announcement of an increase in forces in Iraq in last night's speech the current Iraq tour of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment of Twentynine Palms will be extended for approximately 60 to 90 days.

Continue reading "Iraq tours extended for Twentynine Palms Marines of the 3/4 following Bush speech" »

January 9, 2007

Honor And Sacrifice: Roy & Cassie's Story

The young man speaking to me is Marine Corporal Roy Vanwey, an outpatient at the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio. He has gorgeous brown eyes but the rest of his face is badly scarred by burns he suffered in a roadside bomb attack near the Syrian border in Iraq.

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January 7, 2007

Leadership takes new steps in Iraq

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 7, 2007) -- Junior noncommissioned officers march by the airfield with NCO sabers at their side

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January 6, 2007

How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice? Three years ago, a fellow Marine gave his life

Two mothers join forces

EUREKA, Calif. -- Kelly Miller has the dream once or twice a week.

Continue reading "How Do You Repay A Hero's Sacrifice? Three years ago, a fellow Marine gave his life" »

January 5, 2007

Local Marine commander supports Iraqi police as they secure area, Ventura County native stationed near Iraqi-Syria border

The following is a guest column from a Marine corporal serving in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, stationed at Al Qaim in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The battalion's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott C. Shuster, a Camarillo native, is a graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High School.

In the days following the execution of Iraq's dethroned president, Saddam Hussein, U.S. policymakers continue to search for a strategy to resolve the four-year-old war that has left more than 3,000 American military personnel dead.

The escalation in sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims has led to near civil war. Although Iraq's major cities- Fallujah and Baghdad- are still rife with bombings and attacks, military officials at the western edges of Al Anbar province report that U.S. forces are helping to restore order there.

The Al Qaim region- - a cluster of cities and towns along the Euphrates River just east of the Iraq-Syria border, is currently the "safest place" in Al Anbar province, according to the region's mayor.

Continue reading "Local Marine commander supports Iraqi police as they secure area, Ventura County native stationed near Iraqi-Syria border" »

Service members unite in effort to save girl's life


CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Jan. 5, 2007) -- "She is our future... that's why we support the Iraqi Police, so they can provide a secure future for (Iraqi children)," said Lt. Col. Bob McCarthy, a 41-year-old Police Transition Team Leader from East Bridgewater, Mass., in response to an Iraqi tribal leader's gratitude toward U.S. forces for their efforts to save an Iraqi youth named Riyam Shihan.

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Yuma Marines joining Southeast Asia float

VMFA-214 to deploy with 31st MEU

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Army readying 10,000 troops for Iraq duty if requested, DOD official says

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 5, 2007

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Army is prepared to send about 10,000 extra troops to Iraq if requested by President Bush, a defense official said Thursday.

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The Girl, the Grunt, the Miracle

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq -- "She is our future... that's why we support the Iraqi Police, so they can provide a secure future for (Iraqi children)," said Lt. Col. Bob McCarthy, a 41-year-old Police Transition Team Leader from East Bridgewater, Mass., in response to an Iraqi tribal leader's gratitude toward U.S. forces for their efforts to save an Iraqi youth named Riyam Shihan.

Continue reading "The Girl, the Grunt, the Miracle" »

January 2, 2007

RCT-2 prepares Lionesses for "the wild"

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, IRAQ - (Feb. 1, 2007) -- In the animal kingdom, lions are widely recognized as one of the top species. Their immense strength, lightning speed and razor sharp jaws and claws make them a force to be reckoned with.

Continue reading "RCT-2 prepares Lionesses for "the wild"" »

December 31, 2006

21-year-old Marine squad leader dedicates himself to fellow “grunts,” chooses Iraq over home

HUSAYBAH, Iraq - Commitment and dedication. Those are the two words U.S. Marines here use to describe Cpl. Jason Getty"s recent decision to extend his current enlistment to stay in Iraq.

Continue reading "21-year-old Marine squad leader dedicates himself to fellow “grunts,” chooses Iraq over home" »

December 30, 2006

Field Artillery Marines Salute Ford With 21-Gun Salute

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Dec. 30, 2006 – Field artillery Marines from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., conducted a 21-gun salute today as part of the departure ceremony for the California portion of the state funeral for former President Gerald R. Ford.

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December 29, 2006

Marine’s uncommon valor in combat earns him medal during last few months in Marine Corps

AL ASAD, Iraq - Marines and sailors here say that a sergeant leading a convoy through Iraq"s western Al Anbar province showed uncommon valor in May when he pulled several Marines from a burning humvee ignited by an improvised explosive.

Continue reading "Marine’s uncommon valor in combat earns him medal during last few months in Marine Corps" »

December 28, 2006

15th MEU to return from Iraq, Injured city native part of Marine unit

WASHINGTON - The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently deployed in Iraq’s volatile Anbar province, will be relieved next month by Army troops, allowing the 2,200 Marines and sailors to return to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in March as scheduled, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.

Continue reading "15th MEU to return from Iraq, Injured city native part of Marine unit" »

Bush Considers Up to 20,000 More Troops for Iraq

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 — The Bush administration is considering an increase in troop levels in Iraq of 17,000 to 20,000, which would be accomplished in part by delaying the departure of two Marine regiments now deployed in Anbar Province, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

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December 27, 2006

“Magnificent Bastards” wrap-up search operation in Haditha, where security is steadily improving, U.S. Marines say

HADITHA, Iraq - After six days of searching markets, homes and other key locations in this Euphrates River city of 30,000, U.S. Marines are reporting that security in this once insurgent-heavy region is steadily increasing.

Continue reading "“Magnificent Bastards” wrap-up search operation in Haditha, where security is steadily improving, U.S. Marines say" »

December 26, 2006

California-based Marines, “Magnificent Bastards,” continue to turn up weapons caches in Iraq’s Haditha region

HADITHA, Iraq (Dec 26, 2006) - While U.S. politicians and military leaders debate whether or not to send additional U.S. troops to Iraq, U.S. Marines here are taking weapons out of the hands of insurgents - one cache at a time.

Continue reading "California-based Marines, “Magnificent Bastards,” continue to turn up weapons caches in Iraq’s Haditha region" »

Gates' order sending up to 3,300 troops to Kuwait

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed orders that will send the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade to Kuwait shortly after the new year, senior defense officials said today.

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December 22, 2006

31st MEU turns the page to a new chapter

OKINAWA, Japan (Dec. 22, 2006) -- The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit flips the calendar to the new year as its Marines and Sailors recall the past two deployment cycles that have forged timeless memories for III Marine Expeditionary Force’s Maritime Contingency Force.

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December 17, 2006

Marines bring smiles, relief, hope for the future to refugees

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (December 17, 2006) -- The candy coated grins on the children’s faces were matched only by the smiles of the Marines handing out the treats.

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December 15, 2006

Additional Coalition Forces, construction of dirt “berms” increase security conditions in Iraq’s Haditha Triad region

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 15, 2006) - Coalition Forces recently completed construction of an 8-foot high, dirt berm with traffic control points along the eastern perimeter of Barwanah, Iraq, to deny insurgents freedom of movement into the city.

Continue reading "Additional Coalition Forces, construction of dirt “berms” increase security conditions in Iraq’s Haditha Triad region" »

December 12, 2006

Marines lose a friendly face from Whidbey Island, Highest-ranking woman to die in Iraq was public affairs officer

To journalists covering the war in Iraq, Marine Corps Maj. Megan Malia McClung was a professional yet friendly face, working hard as a public affairs officer to help them do their jobs.

Continue reading "Marines lose a friendly face from Whidbey Island, Highest-ranking woman to die in Iraq was public affairs officer" »

December 11, 2006

Target Sends Christmas Package to Marines in Iraq

Target Specialty Products sent a Christmas care package to Pvt. James Carruba and his Marine platoon. The package was shipped Dec. 4 to Headquarters Platoon, D Company, 3rd AA Battalion, stationed in Iraq.

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December 6, 2006

Swift destruction, deadly tactics; 1st Recon lands at Combat Center

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2006) -- Small in numbers but strong in warfighting tactics, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion hit the ranges of the Combat Center as they progressed through Mojave Viper training Saturday through Wednesday.

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Southern Calif.-based Marines combine holiday spirit with esprit de corps in northwestern Iraq

AL QA"IM, Iraq, - Tis" the first week of December and Americans have already began stirring up the holiday spirits - even in Iraq.

Continue reading "Southern Calif.-based Marines combine holiday spirit with esprit de corps in northwestern Iraq" »

December 3, 2006

Marines new to Anbar must adjust quickly

RAMADI, Iraq — Even as leading Democrats talk about gradually sending troops home from Iraq, thousands of recently deployed Marines are getting their first taste of the war.

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Thousands of Marines getting their first taste of war

RAMADI, Iraq -- Even as leading Democrats talk about gradually sending troops home from Iraq, thousands of recently deployed Marines are getting their first taste of the war.

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December 2, 2006

Marine Corps Capt. Jason Torbensen, Air Force 1st Lt. Dustin Torbensen

Blackanthem Military News, SOUTHWEST ASIA — Being in different services, they never thought their military paths would cross, but two Kaysville, Utah, brothers are sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Continue reading "Marine Corps Capt. Jason Torbensen, Air Force 1st Lt. Dustin Torbensen" »

December 1, 2006

Sailors save young girl's life

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2006) -- The nine-(and-a-half)-year-old Iraqi girl would have died without their help.

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Ambushes target morale, As insurgents aim for casualties, Marines train to neutralize tactic

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – When he closes his eyes, Marine Cpl. Christopher Shelhamer can feel the bullet that tore through his body when he was ambushed while on foot patrol outside Fallujah, Iraq.

Continue reading "Ambushes target morale, As insurgents aim for casualties, Marines train to neutralize tactic" »

November 30, 2006

Hot to trot, Warhorses take to Iraq’s skies

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 30, 2006) -- World class assault support … Any time, any zone is the motto for operations conducted by the most-recent heavy helicopter squadron to arrive in support of Coalition Forces in western Iraq.

Continue reading "Hot to trot, Warhorses take to Iraq’s skies" »

November 29, 2006

Woman warrior works to build trust

On 2nd tour in Iraq, Alabama Marine aids female search team

Part of Marine Cpl. Jennifer Holt's mission in Iraq is to help repair roads around the dangerous city of Fallujah.

Above and beyond that, the former Clay-Chalkville High cheerleader is trying to build trust between Iraqis and the Marines who patrol their neighborhoods and sometimes search their homes.

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U.S. Marines’ teamwork in Iraq gets the “big gun” in the air, supports infantry on the ground

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 29, 2006) - U.S. Marines have brought in the "big guns" to combat insurgents in Iraq"s western Al Anbar Province.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines’ teamwork in Iraq gets the “big gun” in the air, supports infantry on the ground" »

November 28, 2006

15th MEU (SOC) Marines and Sailors receive a little holiday cheer in Iraq

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (Nov 28, 2006) -- The plain, nondescript boxes came with labels directing them to troops in Iraq. Inside, the individually wrapped packages from school children carrying the kind words of holiday cheer along with a few comforts of home.

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UNIT TO DEPART FOR IRAQ IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and Sailors from 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered here, will begin deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to relieve forces currently in the Al Anbar province of Iraq as part of a scheduled rotation.

This information was found on the following website under Press Releases.

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November 27, 2006

Combat Center honors fallen from 1/7

Seven stacks of sandbags sat aligned in the green grass of Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field Nov. 16. Twenty-one Marines in groups of three stood in dress blues behind each stack of sandbags. Each Marine held a rifle, Kevlar, or boots and dog tags. When the names of the fallen Marines and sailor from 1st Battalion, 7th regiment were called, one Marine with a rifle stepped forward and stuck the rifle with a bayonet attached into the stack of sand bags. A second Marine then placed a Kevlar on top of the buttstock of the rifle, followed by the Marine with the boots and dog tags.

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November 24, 2006

Western Anbar’s senior Marine commander, enlisted, visit troops along Iraq-Syria border posts for Thanksgiving

AL QA"IM, Iraq - Regimental Combat Team-7"s commander and sergeant major commended and expressed thanks to their Marines and sailors here for the "phenomenal things" they"re doing for the citizens of the Al Qa"im region.

Continue reading "Western Anbar’s senior Marine commander, enlisted, visit troops along Iraq-Syria border posts for Thanksgiving" »

November 21, 2006

MALS-16 munitions section provides Marine aviation with firepower

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 21, 2006) -- If the job requires high explosives delivered from the air with devastating force, then Marine aviators in Iraq have a sure-thing option … Place an order with the Marines who provide such ordnance.

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MALS-16 munitions section provides Marine aviation with firepower

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 21, 2006) -- If the job requires high explosives delivered from the air with devastating force, then Marine aviators in Iraq have a sure-thing option … Place an order with the Marines who provide such ordnance.

Continue reading "MALS-16 munitions section provides Marine aviation with firepower" »

November 19, 2006

15TH MEU gets new fighting vehicle

CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait (Nov. 19, 2006) -- A familiar looking vehicle with a new facelift recently arrived in Kuwait to meet the Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

Though this vehicle may look like the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle of years, this particular HMMWV, or the M1114, is quite different.

Note: Outside link to the M1114 can be found here:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m1114.htm

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November 15, 2006

15th MEU gets orders to Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — About 2,200 members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit soon will set boots in Iraq to boost security in Anbar province, officials confirmed Wednesday.

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November 12, 2006

Dead men walking

Steven Schultz had part of his head blown off in Iraq. Shrapnel took much of Todd Herman’s face. Christopher Malone has had his legs sewn together. Ten years ago these soldiers would have died on the battlefield. Ariel Leve talks to them.

The US marine Corporal Steven Schulz, 22, talks softly and quickly as a result of his brain injury. His mother, Debbie, is sitting next to him and tells him to slow down. He nods, just a little bit embarrassed.

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November 10, 2006

*Pendleton Marines celebrate Corps' 231st birthday

The Marines at Camp Pendleton kicked off their 231st birthday celebration a day early Thursday with a color guard, a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony, and a traditional pageant featuring period uniforms.

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November 9, 2006

Marines in Fallujah respecting boundries

FALLUJAH — Marines here are preventing violence by showing genuine interest in the welfare of the local citizens they are charged with protecting.

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Dolphins protect Naval assets against threats

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (Nov. 9, 2006) -- “This was an unbelievable experience. I was impressed with the longevity of the mammals and how well they were trained,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Pagano, Marine Aircraft Group 46, S-1 Officer and CH-53 pilot, when describing his dolphin transport mission in support of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (“NMMP”).

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Dolphins protect Naval assets against threats

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – (Nov. 9, 2006) -- “This was an unbelievable experience. I was impressed with the longevity of the mammals and how well they were trained,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Pagano, Marine Aircraft Group 46, S-1 Officer and CH-53 pilot, when describing his dolphin transport mission in support of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (“NMMP”).

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Military police keep safety top priority at Al Asad

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2006) -- Although the service members forward deployed are in a combat zone and walking on dangerous ground compared to their bases and stations in the United States, there is a group of Marines assigned the task of providing internal security to keep them safe during the nights and days when they aren't on missions.

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HMLA-367 returns to Al Taqaddum mission ready

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2006) -- Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 officially returned to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Oct. 14, taking over the responsibilities of providing close air support and casualty evacuation escort missions from HMLA-169, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

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HMLA-367 returns to Al Taqaddum mission ready

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Nov. 9, 2006) -- Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 officially returned to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Oct. 14, taking over the responsibilities of providing close air support and casualty evacuation escort missions from HMLA-169, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward).

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November 8, 2006

Napoleon invades Camp Fallujah

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2006) -- Napoleon Dynamite that is.

Actually, it was Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Neilon, a motor transport driver for Transportation Support Company, dressed as the movie character Napoleon.

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Shatrujeet a success for Marines; India

ABOARD THE USS BOXER (LHD 4) (Nov. 8, 2006) -- Marines and Sailors of Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned to the USS Boxer (LHD 4) after participating in Exercise Shatrujeet 06, Belgaum, India for almost two weeks.

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“The only reason why I am back here is for my brothers” – Wounded Houston Marine turns down option to return to U.S., stays in Iraq

AL QA"IM, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2006) - Cpl. Shayne C. Lameyer didn"t want to go home after being wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq"s Al Anbar Province. He couldn"t bear to leave his fellow Marines in a combat zone while he was home safe and sound.

Continue reading "“The only reason why I am back here is for my brothers” – Wounded Houston Marine turns down option to return to U.S., stays in Iraq" »

November 7, 2006

(CLB-1) Security Marines change the pace of logistics

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2006) -- Marines with Security Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), provide security for re-supply and explosive ordinance disposal missions throughout the restive Al Anbar Province.

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Female Marines in Fallujah focus eyes on Iraqi's

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2006) -- Instead of just kicking down doors outside the safety of Camp Fallujah's barriers, Marines are also trying to open doors and dissolve barriers within the minds of the Iraqi people.

In an effort to prevent further violence, as well as encourage a more positive relationship, some female Marines are shedding combat- service-support roles and leaving the base to become part of the Marine Corps FST, or female search team.

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Task force charges into danger to provide security

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2006) -- The room is silent but for a few snores. The door opens and a silhouetted figure speaks only two words.

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November 3, 2006

Chuck Norris Kicks Up Morale in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Multi-National Forces – West received an exponential boost in power when action films stars Chuck Norris and Marshall Teague visited Camp Fallujah Nov. 1.

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Hornet maintainers toil away in shadows, missing limelight

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 4, 2006) -- Behind the scenes, film-industry carpenters toil in obscurity to create ornate movie sets, and their only recognition is a single line in the film credits, shown long after the crowds have left.

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*Former county resident commands a battalion in Iraq

The Iraqi city of Al Qaim lines the banks of the great Euphrates River at the western edge of the Al Anbar Province just miles from the Syrian border.

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November 2, 2006

*Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron continues surveillance in Iraq

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2006) -- While it has no onboard pilot, its small frame carries a high-performance camera that provides instant tactical information to ground troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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November 1, 2006

Wounded warriors recuperate together

"The Marines talk all the time here. 'I'm having trouble with this. I need help with this,' " Staff Sgt. Lawrence Sommer says. "It's very therapeutic for them."

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October 28, 2006

*MCAGCC's exclusive Range 400 provides overhead live-fire realism

With more than 930 square miles of desert, the Combat Center is home to some of the Marine Corps' most realistic pre-deployment training for troops headed to Iraq.

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October 25, 2006

US marines to train Sri Lankan navy

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) US Marines will conduct exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy later this month, deploying more than 1,000 personnel and support ships for amphibious and counter-insurgency manoeuvres with the aim of 'containing' growing Chinese presence in the region and to test its latest theories on 'littoral battle' without putting American soldiers at risk.

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US marines to train Sri Lankan navy

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) US Marines will conduct exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy later this month, deploying more than 1,000 personnel and support ships for amphibious and counter-insurgency manoeuvres with the aim of 'containing' growing Chinese presence in the region and to test its latest theories on 'littoral battle' without putting American soldiers at risk.

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October 22, 2006

*Freedom calls allow troops to phone home

Michele Strandburg was able to see and talk to her husband of 19 years, Shawn — for the first time in the seven weeks he has been deployed in Iraq — on Sunday via a video conference at the Yuma County Board of Supervisors auditorium.

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October 20, 2006

*Local Marines come home

Another happy homecoming for some Marines based at Twentynine Palms. They're back with their families and friends this morning, after a big welcome home celebration last night.

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October 15, 2006

*1/7 decorates 12 Marines with Purple Heart

Twelve Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, were awarded the Purple Heart at the base theater Oct. 5.

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*Eight heroes remembered

The image of eight M-16A2 service rifles bayonetted into the ground with helmets perched on top of the butt stocks, dog tag chains dangling from pistol grips, and empty combat boots is a familiar and haunting picture. Below each memorial is a picture of each fallen hero; seven Marines and one Navy corpsman. All eight troops in this case were with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and was remembered by the Combat Center Oct. 6.

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October 10, 2006

*13th MEU Marine lends helping hand

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2006) -- More oft than not, Marines will jump at a chance to help others in need. Such was the case with Lance Cpl. Gilbert Cabrera, a weather observer with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s intelligence section.

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*3rd LAR returns to MCAGCC, greeted by wounded buddy

It's a brotherhood not many can understand. They fight side by side putting their lives in each others hands. They spend months together in the roughest places many will never endure. They count down the days together, eat together and live together. They suffer the loss of fellow Marines, and they carry on when others are injured

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October 8, 2006

For Headquarters Marines, “a typical day is anything but” in Iraq

Editor"s Note: This article was originally written in October, however, its publication was postponed due to operational security reasons.

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 8, 2006) - Coalition Forces wrapped up a counterinsurgency mission along the Euphrates River in western Al Anbar province late last month.

Continue reading "For Headquarters Marines, “a typical day is anything but” in Iraq" »

*Mix of Marines accomplishes logistical mission

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 8, 2006) -- While Marines from units around the world are found in locations throughout Iraq, one battalion here has managed to put them all in one place.

Combat Logistics Battalion 5-2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), is made of Marines and sailors from 56 separate battalions – active and reserve – representing each of the three Marine Expeditionary Forces and Marine Forces Reserve.

Continue reading "*Mix of Marines accomplishes logistical mission" »

In ambush, he lost a friend. Then he became a hero.

A Marine is up for the Medal of Honor after killing 11 insurgents in Iraq in close combat, but the award would be posthumous.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One November day in 2004, in 30 minutes of close combat, Marine Pfc. Chris Adlesperger, a soft-spoken, religious young man who loved poetry and art, attacked an enemy stronghold in Fallujah, Iraq, and killed at least 11 insurgents.

Continue reading "In ambush, he lost a friend. Then he became a hero." »

October 7, 2006

*A day in the life of motor transport

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 7, 2006) -- Endless days of traveling across the hot, unforgiving desert of Iraq, that might be how to best describe the lives of some Marines engaged in operations throughout Al Anbar Province. They travel along roads susceptible to attack by improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.

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October 6, 2006

*New software teaches basics of Iraq culture, language

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 6, 2006) -- Video and computer games continue to be a popular pastime, captivating many with visual graphics, dynamic settings and realistic gaming scenarios. The Marine Corps is capitalizing on this technology by training a younger generation who grew up with computer graphics rather than the foreign language books and flash cards of the past.

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*Camp Fuji exercise teaches artillery Marines to thwart terrorist tactics

EAST FUJI MANEUVER AREA, Japan. (Oct. 6, 2006) -- Raining steel on target, firing thousands of machine gun rounds, detaining suspected terrorists and engaging in firefights with enemy ambushers; all in a day's work for the approximately 480 artillery Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

Continue reading "*Camp Fuji exercise teaches artillery Marines to thwart terrorist tactics" »

October 4, 2006

*Marines tear into improved Camp Fallujah ranges

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 4, 2006) -- Regimental Combat Team 5’s gun nuts have a haven for letting loose with everything in the arsenal from 9 mm pistols to M-1A1 Main Battle Tanks.

Continue reading "*Marines tear into improved Camp Fallujah ranges" »

October 3, 2006

*3/7 first unit to complete Bridgeport package in a year, finishes with massive air support

After more than one year without a unit completing a full "summer package," Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, some of whom have spent nearly two months at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., completed their training package Sept. 21 and returned home to the Combat Center.

Continue reading "*3/7 first unit to complete Bridgeport package in a year, finishes with massive air support" »

*3/7 wraps up at MWTC Bridgeport

The Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, finished their month-long training evolution in Bridgeport, Calif., Sept. 18, with a battalion-scale exercise which spanned three days and tested their wits in rugged mountainous terrain.

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October 2, 2006

*Marines, civilians deploy recovered weapons

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Oct. 2, 2006) -- Since March 2003, coalition forces have seized thousands of unauthorized small arms through security patrols and urban search operations.

Marines and civilians with Ammunition Platoon, Supply Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are redeploying these weapon systems into the Iraqi Army, turning insurgent resources into coalition assets.

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October 1, 2006

*Marines in combat zone reenlist under the hand of commandant

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 1, 2006) -- The Marine Corps’ top commander personally reenlisted more than 25 Marines from the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based Regimental Combat Team 7 at Al Asad Air Base Oct. 1.

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September 30, 2006

Friend: Marine had plan to disappear

BOULDER, Colo. --A Marine who went missing in the Colorado mountains had a plan to avoid returning to duty and had hoped to be presumed dead so he could collect insurance money from his brother, the beneficiary, his girlfriend said.

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September 28, 2006

*Marines return home to Twentynine Palms

Another group of Marines is back with their families tonight after a happy homecoming at Twentynine Palms. The Third Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion just got back from Iraq.

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*Welcome home, troops

About 227 Marines and sailors returned to Twentynine Palms Wednesday afternoon after a seven-month deployment in Iraq's strife-torn Al Anbar Province.

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September 24, 2006

Wounded soldier welcomed home as hero

Candia – Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Stamatelos Jr. doesn't think he's a hero, but his hometown begs to differ and gave him a hero's welcome this weekend.

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September 23, 2006

*1/7 Marines return from third deployment to warm welcome

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2006) -- The police vehicles rounded the bend with their sirens blaring, but there were no accidents or fires in sight. Following the sirens came three white buses, packed full with Marines who were leaning out of the windows with grins on their faces and disposable cameras in their hands.

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September 22, 2006

*MEU BLT preps for nighttime boat raids

KIN BLUE, Okinawa (Sept. 22, 2006) -- More than 100 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's battalion landing team rehearsed boat landing raids Sept. 11 at Kin Blue.

Continue reading "*MEU BLT preps for nighttime boat raids" »

September 21, 2006

Troops to arrive home from Iraqi-Syrian border

TWENTYNINE PALMS - About 800 Marines and sailors from Twentynine Palms are returning from Iraq, where they have been deployed since March.

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September 20, 2006

General: Iraq Deployments To Continue For Years, 7-Month Stints Set For Next Few Years

SAN DIEGO -- Unless there's a dramatic improvement on the ground in Iraq, Camp Pendleton Marines will likely spend the next few years deploying for seven-month cycles

Continue reading "General: Iraq Deployments To Continue For Years, 7-Month Stints Set For Next Few Years" »

September 19, 2006

NH Marine is home to recover after being hit by enemy sniper in Iraq

CANDIA – A young man wounded this summer during Operation Iraqi Freedom says the support of his family, excellent medical care and the prayers of his community have helped answer his wish.

Louis Stamatelos Jr., who celebrates his 21st birthday in a week, will be headed home in three days for the upcoming celebration of Candia's Old Home Days festival, and friends say he may also attend the Deerfield Fair.

Continue reading "NH Marine is home to recover after being hit by enemy sniper in Iraq" »

September 18, 2006

Marine Cpl. Rides At The Door praised and honored in BTBC ceremonies.

Already having served two tours of duty in Iraq and earning the Purple Heart via a roadside bomb in 2004, Browning High School graduate Jonas Rides At The Door was honored in ceremonies Friday, Sept. 8, at Blackfeet Tribal Headquarters in Browning.

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Marines Adopt 7-Month Deployment Schedule

7-Month Stints Set For Next Few Years

SAN DIEGO -- Unless there's a dramatic improvement on the ground in Iraq, Camp Pendleton Marines will likely spend the next few years deploying for seven-month cycles.

Continue reading "Marines Adopt 7-Month Deployment Schedule" »

Big day for 1/7's advance party as they return from Iraq

The notorious Mojave Desert sun shined bright on Victory Field, but showed compassion in keeping the heat to a minimum.

Sept. 6 was the perfect day for more than 100 people aboard the Combat Center. Two hours past noon and a section of Victory Field was full of life. The energy level of family members and friends was above normal for a Wednesday as they awaited the arrival of their loved ones after a 7-month Iraq deployment.

Continue reading "Big day for 1/7's advance party as they return from Iraq" »

MWSS-374 returns to Combat Center

Over a period of seven months, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374 carried out aviation support missions in Al Anbar Province of Iraq. During that time the Marines and sailors of the battalion developed an experience on the frontlines only deployed service members can understand.

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Lima 3/12 readies for war

Lima Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, conducted a re-familiarization shoot Sept. 6 and 7, at the Combat Center's Lead Mountain training area to prepare for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom later this month.

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September 15, 2006

*Ironmen finish deployment, prepare to head home

AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 15, 2006) -- The Marines of the Incident Response Platoon, Engineers Platoon, Expeditionary Airfields, Hot Pits and many other aviation ground support platoons within Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 have been in the slow transition of turning their jobs over to their replacements.

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September 13, 2006

*Strike Group Five departs for Persian Gulf

SAN DIEGO – Some 6,000 U.S. sailors and Marines sailed out of Naval Station San Diego Wednesday morning under an overcast sky that seemed to reflect the mood of the families who watched them leave.

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31st MEU takes to the deep blue of Kin Blue to practice boat raids

By Cindy Fisher, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, September 13, 2006

KIN BLUE, Okinawa — Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit took to the temperate waters off of Kin Blue to practice boat raids Monday as part of a larger MEU exercise.

Continue reading "31st MEU takes to the deep blue of Kin Blue to practice boat raids" »

September 12, 2006

*HMM-364 continues CASEVAC tradition, replacing HMM-268

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Sept. 12, 2006) -- The Purple Foxes of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), assumed authority from the Red Dragons of HMM-268 at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, Aug. 29, for providing casualty evacuation, general transportation and raid flights.

Continue reading "*HMM-364 continues CASEVAC tradition, replacing HMM-268" »

*More Yuma Marines deploying

Tuesday's deployment was the first time Wendi Whitaker had to say goodbye to her Marine husband, who was leaving to serve in the Pacific Ocean.

"There is really nothing you can do about it," Whitaker said. "But I'm holding up so far."

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Boxer, ESG 5 to deploy

September 12, 2006
By Gidget Fuentes
Staff writer

SAN DIEGO — The amphibious assault ship Boxer, flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group 5, and its eight-ship force will head west Wednesday for Hawaii with 6,000 sailors and Marines on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf regions.

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*Sept. 11 homecoming for Yuma Marines

About 100 Marines returned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma after a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq on Monday, the five-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that launched the global war on terror.

The Marines from Yuma's Marine Air Control Squadron-1 unit work with the tactical air operations center, but in Iraq they worked on security details, said Capt. Jeff Meeker.

Continue reading "*Sept. 11 homecoming for Yuma Marines" »

*Sept. 11 homecoming for Yuma Marines

About 100 Marines returned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma after a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq on Monday, the five-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that launched the global war on terror.

The Marines from Yuma's Marine Air Control Squadron-1 unit work with the tactical air operations center, but in Iraq they worked on security details, said Capt. Jeff Meeker.

Continue reading "*Sept. 11 homecoming for Yuma Marines" »

September 11, 2006

Police, Marines provide more than security

GHARMAH — Iraqi Police in Gharman provide more than a safe community—they are also helping some of the area’s most needy children.

Continue reading "Police, Marines provide more than security" »

*MACS-1 Marines return home safe and sound

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. (Sept. 11, 2006) -- More than 100 Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron 1 returned home to the hugs and handshakes of family, friends and fellow Marines at the Marine Attack Squadron 513 hangar here Monday.

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*9/11 more than just a day of remembrance for Marine 'Tankers' in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 11, 2006) -- It’s a mission his Marines have made many times during six months in Iraq, but for 1st Lt. Anthony Bariletti, today’s resupply convoy to a nearby U.S. military outpost is a little special.

Continue reading "*9/11 more than just a day of remembrance for Marine 'Tankers' in Iraq" »

*Marine 'gave his all' before dying

Benson had just two months to go in his second tour of duty in Iraq when a bomb exploded under his vehicle on June 17. He died Saturday night from his injuries.

Moments after Marine Cpl. Johnathan Benson's bomb-wracked body endured a second stroke, his mother knew the end was near.
"His goal as a kid was to serve in the military," Marjorie Benson said Sunday from Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, where she and her husband, Steve, were making funeral arrangements for their 21-year-old son. "Even lying in the bed the Marines here asked him, 'Are you a Marine?' He said, 'Yes sir, I'm still a Marine. I want to go back over."

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*Capo stages 9/11 salute to 1/11 Marine regiment

San Juan Capistrano will mark its adoption of a Marine battalion today with a cannon ceremony.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – The city today will formally adopt the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment – marking the occasion with a booming ceremonial cannon salute.

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September 10, 2006

Bats take over in Iraq, Hawks return to U.S.

AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 10, 2006) -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 arrived at Al Asad, Iraq, Aug. 13, taking responsibility from VMFA(AW)-533, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), and allowing them to return to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.

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September 9, 2006

*CLB-7 returns home after big role in OIF

Family and friends gathered at the Combat Center's Victory Field Sunday to welcome home more than 130 Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 7 after a seven-month tour in Iraq.

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*The ‘Darkside' is at it again

3/4 deploys for fourth Iraq tour

They are modern day heroes. They have fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and spouses and kids. They are part of the elite, adored by many and criticized by others. They lay their lives on the line day in and day out serving amongst the best. They miss holidays and birthdays and that first step their child took. They are by no means ordinary.

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September 8, 2006

31st MEU infantry practices maneuver warfare tactics

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan (Sept. 8, 2006) -- Infantry Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit emphasized becoming an agile, fast-moving force during a recent training exercise in the Okinawa Central Training Area.

Continue reading "31st MEU infantry practices maneuver warfare tactics" »

September 7, 2006

Friend of missing Marine arrested for false reporting

BOULDER COUNTY - The friend of Lance Hering was arrested Wednesday night on charges of false reporting less than a week after the massive search for Hering was called off.

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Sheriff Says Missing Marine Staged Disappearance, Hering's Friend Arrested, Faces False Reporting Charges

BOULDER, Colo. -- After five days of searching to no avail, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office now believes that the Marine who was lost in the mountains was never missing and may have staged his disappearance.

Continue reading "Sheriff Says Missing Marine Staged Disappearance, Hering's Friend Arrested, Faces False Reporting Charges" »

September 6, 2006

31st MEU starts MEUEX with CMO exercise

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan (Sept. 6, 2006) -- As the Marine Corps’ “911 force” in the Asia-Pacific region; warfighting isn’t the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s only capability. The MEU is capable of carrying out civil-military operations as well.

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Marines welcomed home from Iraq

About 146 Marines returned from duty in Iraq to the waiting arms of friends and families this morning.

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September 5, 2006

Marines And Sailors Return/Deploy

SAN DIEGO, CA - (9-4-06) 230 Marines and Sailors assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar are scheduled to deploy Monday morning. They are heading to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Searchers won't give up on Marine

Volunteers will continue an informal search today for a Boulder Marine who went missing in Eldorado Canyon State Park one week ago.

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September 4, 2006

A joyous return for Marines

Friends, family welcome 86 home from duty in Iraq

Sherrie Steely's one-year wedding anniversary was on Aug. 27, and she celebrated by spending time with friends and enjoying a phone call with her husband.

It was fun, but she plans to make up for it right away now that her husband is back from Iraq with 85 other members of Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Seventh Marine Regiment. They returned to Twentynine Palms on Sunday after a six-month deployment.

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Marines Arrive Back On U.S. Soil

(CBS) TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. About 200 people greeted the Marines when they returned Sunday.

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September 3, 2006

Search for missing climber called off

BOULDER COUNTY - The fifth day was the last day of a search for a missing Marine in Eldorado Canyon.

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Marine battalion heads to Iraq for fourth time


Tears flow as loved ones bid goodbye to unit members in Twentynine Palms

In a parking lot baked by the desert sun, a young Marine stands in line waiting to get on a bus. A young woman walks with him. They hold hands. They stare intently into each other's eyes, trying to communicate something that cannot be said. Her hand grips his arm, her knuckles white. Finally, they reach the door. He gives her one last kiss.

Continue reading "Marine battalion heads to Iraq for fourth time" »

September 2, 2006

Marine gets to see Tigers

Ed Holmgren of Ishpeming, left, greets Cpl. Neil Frustaglio of Ishpeming during a spaghetti dinner benefit at the Ishpeming Armory recently. Frustaglio planned to take a break from rehab this weekend at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Thanks to a group called the Wounded Warrior Project, he was offered a trip to today’s Detroit Tigers game. (Journal file photo)

ISHPEMING — Wounded Marine Cpl. Neil Frustaglio of Ishpeming Township will get a chance to take a break from his rehabilitation activities at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. — even if just for a few days — to attend today’s Detroit Tigers game against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park.

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Fellow Marines join park search

Third day ends with injured Boulder climber, 21, still missing

A group of fellow Marines joined the effort to find Lance Hering, and his mother donned a Semper Fi shirt Friday before heading up a mountain trail, but the third day of searching ended with the 21-year-old still missing.
Lloyd Hering believes his youngest son could be anywhere in the state -– disoriented and just trying to get by.

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September 1, 2006

3/14 finishes Mojave Viper, prepares mentally for Iraq

Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III A Marine with 3/14 aims in on suspicious activity during his watch into the first night of the final exercise during Mojave Viper on Monday.

Marines from various active and reserve units across the country joined to supplement Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, as they prepared to deploy to Iraq as Provisional Military Police Battalion, Task Force MP, 3/14.

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BLT 1/5 enforces goodwill

OKINAWA, Japan (Sept 1, 2006) -- A small fishing village pier sitting just outside the gates of Camp Hansen in the town of Kin, has become a popular weekend retreat for both Okinawans and Americans. It may be the attraction to the turquoise-colored waters of Kin Bay that catches the curiosity of passers by, but over the years, the pier’s serenity has been tainted by a small pollution problem.

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No luck in search

Volunteers spend second day looking for missing Marine who fell in Eldorado Canyon

ELDORADO CANYON - Tall pine trees and steep, rocky terrain continued to hide a young Marine from the view of helicopters hovering above and search-and-rescue teams scouring a mountain to find him Thursday.

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Missing climber's dad issues plea

ELDORADO SPRINGS CANYON — The father of a missing Marine who vanished with a head injury today asked for help in finding his son in the narrow, wooded canyon near Boulder.

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August 31, 2006

CAAT and Snipers conduct live-fire training at Fuji

COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI, Japan (Aug. 31, 2006) -- When heavy fire power is needed quickly, combined anti-armor teams are the ones who are called to action. The CAAT provides heavy fire power at a moment’s notice in the heat of battle. Two combined anti-armor teams and a sniper element with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team, spent a day conducting various live-fire exercises here Aug. 31.

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Injured Marine missing in park, Search to resume for Boulder climber on leave from Iraq

BOULDER - A Marine visiting home on leave from Iraq remained missing Wednesday night, one day after he injured his head in a climbing accident.

Continue reading "Injured Marine missing in park, Search to resume for Boulder climber on leave from Iraq" »

August 29, 2006

Wounded, but not out; Cullman Marine returns from bombing injuries to support platoon

Marine Cpl. Rowdy Zane Burney's hands, face and eyes were blasted with shrapnel May 6 when the Humvee he was riding in was blown up by a bomb hidden under a road in western Iraq.

Continue reading "Wounded, but not out; Cullman Marine returns from bombing injuries to support platoon" »

August 28, 2006

Local girl who befriended Iraq-deployed Marines, sailors needs immediate surgery to live, U.S. military doctors say

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (Aug. 28, 2006) -- After befriending Marines and sailors serving in this region of Iraq, a 12-year-old Iraqi girl who is in need of a kidney and liver transplant is now in a life-or-death struggle.

Continue reading "Local girl who befriended Iraq-deployed Marines, sailors needs immediate surgery to live, U.S. military doctors say" »

Programs help prepare, support families through deployments

Programs help prepare, support families through deployments

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- As members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit here make last-minute preparations for their upcoming deployment, Staff Sgt. Danny Sava and his family are getting their own affairs in order so they're ready for another long separation.

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August 26, 2006

Marines in Iraq memorialize two Marines, sailor killed just weeks after deaths of four others from same unit


RAWAH, Iraq (Aug. 26, 2006) -- Just more than two weeks after memorializing four Marines killed in action, Marines serving in this region of Al Anbar province gathered to remember three more – two Marines and a sailor – who died last week during combat operations in Iraq.

Continue reading "Marines in Iraq memorialize two Marines, sailor killed just weeks after deaths of four others from same unit" »

1/5 conquers the ‘mountain of warriors’

MOUNT FUJI, Japan (Aug. 26, 2006) -- Mount Fuji was once used as a Samurai training area, named by the Japanese as the “mountain of warriors.” The warrior tradition was upheld Aug. 26 when approximately 220 Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team, trekked nearly 4,300 feet to the mountain’s summit.

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August 25, 2006

Camp Pendleton Marines make final preparations for deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Just three weeks before they deploy for six months as U.S. Central Command's theater reserve force, Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit here say they're ready to get on with the mission despite pulls at their heartstrings over leaving home.

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RCT-5’s Headquarters Company makes trip to Hades and back

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2006) -- It was the mission from hell for Hades.

Continue reading "RCT-5’s Headquarters Company makes trip to Hades and back" »

August 22, 2006

Mattis: Success in Iraq now a test of wills


General James N. Mattis, commander of Marine forces in Iraq and new commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force.


CAMP PENDLETON -- The war in Iraq is now a test of perseverance, the commanding general of Marine Corps forces in the Middle East said Monday.

"It is mostly a matter of wills," Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis said during an exclusive interview with the North County Times. "Whose will is going to break first? Ours or the enemy's?"

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August 21, 2006

3/4 begins SASO basics at Range 215


Lance Cpl. Michael S. Cifuentes Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Middleton demonstrates the proper procedures for searching a hostile person, using Lance Cpl. Ahmad D. Dennis as an example at the Combat Center’s Range 215 Aug. 8


Third Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, rolled into their third week of Mojave Viper, a month long training evolution combining the Revised-Combined Arms Training Exercise and Security and Stability Operations training.

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VMU-1 named Air Command and Control Unit of the Year


Lance Cpl. Katelyn A. Knauer A RQ-2B Pioneer UAV takes off from an airfield south of Camp Wilson during a training mission. Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 was awarded the 2006 MCAA Edward S. Fris Award.


Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 was recognized by the Marine Corps Aviation Association for their achievements in support of training exercises and combat operations from May 2005 until April 2006.

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August 19, 2006

Hundreds say goodbye to fallen Marines at Camp Pendleton ceremony


Marines start to stand up after placing a pair of boots in front of each of the eight memorials for the Marines with the 3rd battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, who were killed in Iraq, during a memorial service at Camp Pendleton on Friday.
Photo by Hayne Palmour IV


CAMP PENDLETON ---- One Marine after another filed onto the stage of a Camp Pendleton theater Friday to bid a final farewell to eight of their comrades who died in Iraq during the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's most recent deployment to Iraq.

(there is a slide show of the service, just click on the original link)

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Marines, city toast their union of 54 years


Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Ray Wilburn laughs Friday while celebrating the commemoration of the Marines at Twentynine Palms.

Jay Calderon, The Desert Sun


When Sgt. Major Ray Wilburn was stationed on the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base in 1954, trailers were the only housing and the doorways and bathtubs would fill up with sand whenever the wind blew.
Since joining the Marines in 1939 - for $20.80 a month - 87-year-old Wilburn served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Then after 35 years of retirement, he donned a new uniform Friday and returned to active duty. For one day.

Continue reading "Marines, city toast their union of 54 years" »

Southern Calif.-based Marines memorialize Sun Valley, Nev., native, killed in Iraq

ZELLA, Iraq (Aug. 19, 2006) -- Marines and sailors stationed at a small, dusty outpost along one of Iraq’s main highways in Al Anbar Province gathered to pay their final respects to one of their own Aug. 19, 2006.

Continue reading "Southern Calif.-based Marines memorialize Sun Valley, Nev., native, killed in Iraq" »

August 18, 2006

Marine Corps dedicates 29 palm trees in Twentynine Palms


Some of the 29 palm trees dedicated this morning on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. Each tree is paired with a significant battle in Marine Corps history.
Michelle Mitchell, The Desert Sun

Members of the Marine Corps and civilian community members dedicated 29 palm trees to celebrate the birthday of the Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms this morning.

The trees are meant to commemorate both the history of the Marine Corps and its connection to the community.

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August 17, 2006

Marines, sailors return home to Miramar


MIRAMAR, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Jose Carranza (center), avionics electrician technician, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Aircraft Group 16, surrounds himself with loved ones during his homecoming Aug. 15. Carranza and approximately 250 Marines and sailors returned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar after a six-month deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Western Pacific and Middle East Region. Photo by: Cpl. Skye Jones


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Aug. 15, 2006) -- Approximately 250 Marines and sailors deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar early afternoon Aug. 15, after a six month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East Region.

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Prepare to March: 7th Marine Regiment marks 89 years of history, heritage


Col. W. Blake Crowe, commanding officer, 7th Marine Regiment, addresses Marines, sailors and soldiers during a ceremony Aug. 14, 2006, in recognition of the unit’s 89th anniversary. The Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based unit, designated Regimental Combat Team 7 while deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar Province, was formed during World War I in Philadelphia, Pa. The recent ceremony included a cake cutting, a reading of the regiment’s history and lineage, and Crowe’s comments. “What was the first regiment who came over here in ’91? 7th Marines,” said Crowe. “What was one of the first regiments who got called out during OIF I? 7th Marines.”


AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 14, 2006) -- It wasn’t a formal birthday ball with all the bells and whistles, but Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller would have been proud.

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August 16, 2006

Tank mechanics crucial to Marines’ efforts in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 16, 2006) -- Leaning on an American tank in Iraq’s Al Anbar province, Cpl. Manuel Morangomez says he doesn’t need any medals or “atta boys” to help him get through a seven month deployment.

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Tank mechanics work around clock to keep tanks running, Marines safe

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Tank mechanics with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based C Company, 1st Tank Battalion log in 12-plus hour days, usually six or more days a week, turning wrenches and repairing parts to keep a fleet of 68-ton M1A1 Main Battle Tanks operational.

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Tank mechanics work around clock to keep tanks running, Marines safe

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 17, 2006) -- Tank mechanics with the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based C Company, 1st Tank Battalion log in 12-plus hour days, usually six or more days a week, turning wrenches and repairing parts to keep a fleet of 68-ton M1A1 Main Battle Tanks operational.

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August 15, 2006

3/11 Mike Battery deploys to Okinawa

More than 100 Marines and sailors from Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, departed the Combat Center for a six-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan, Monday.

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August 13, 2006

Female Marines train for Iraq border security

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (Aug. 13, 2006) -- To strengthen the fight in the War on Terrorism, female Marines have been implemented at tactical control points along the Iraqi borders to stop insurgents from using women smugglers to gain funds or weapons to support their efforts.

(Lots of pictures are posted with the original article, click on the link)

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August 9, 2006

Darkhorse Marines find, capture Jill Carroll's kidnappers

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq - Jill Carroll’s kidnappers are now locked up.

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Marine mechanics fix trucks while making life easier for operators

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Aug. 9, 2006) -- Working in a series of massive tents erected on an open corner of this desert camp surrounded by baby powder fine sand, a group of Marines responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of vehicles have been playing a crucial role in making sure logistics operations continue uninterrupted.

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BLT 1/5 sharpens security support for MSPF

NAVAL COMPUTER AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS STATION, Guam (Aug. 8, 2006) -- The security element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Special Purpose Force practiced blocking positions techniques near a simulated target site here Aug. 8 as part of Training in an Urban Environment Exercise or “TRUEX.”

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August 7, 2006

Combat zone ingenuity protects Marines, earns $5,000

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Aug. 7, 2006) -- Seven Marines were presented with a $5,000 award for their combat zone ingenuity in designing and creating a protective armor kit for military forklifts and front end loaders, commonly called TRAMs, at a ceremony here Aug. 6.

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Iraqi police unearth weapons caches; conduct ‘solo’ operations in Iraq

KARABILAH, Iraq (Aug. 7, 2006) -- Coalition Forces are not the only ones taking bomb-making material and other weapons out of insurgents’ hands – Iraqi police in this city bordering Syria recently found two hidden stashes of munitions and weapons.

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Pendleton to do 'the right thing' for wounded

New barracks will assist Marines, sailors in recovery

The first West Coast barracks for Marines and sailors wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan will open Thursday at Camp Pendleton.

Much more than a roof and walls, the Wounded Warrior Center is designed to give troops a sanctuary where they can recuperate while planning for the next step in their lives.

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August 6, 2006

Night mission


Ar-Rutbah, Iraq Just after midnight, the night patrol embarks from its small but heavily bunkered and concertina-wired outpost on the edge of this small town in southwestern Al Anbar Province. They are 10 young American Marines, venturing into the darkness on the other side of the world.

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Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment returns from Iraq

CAMP SAN MATEO ---- Families waited several hours Saturday for the return of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment to Camp Pendleton after a seven-month deployment in Iraq.

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August 5, 2006

Annual ‘Soldier Ride' receives local support

Lima 3/7 Marine, double amputee, among cyclists

More than eight months have passed since 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment's Cpl. Neil Frustaglio lost both his legs in Iraq. As a 22-year-old double amputee, Frustaglio came back to Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 26 on a modified bicycle alongside 10 other cyclists as part of Soldier Ride, an annual cross-country cycling event designed to motivate recovering amputees and raise donations for the Wounded Warrior Project.

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‘Darkside” unleashes arsenal at Range 400

As the fervent sunlight shined on the surface of the Combat Center's training area, a company of ‘Darkside' Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, treaded the land in a company-sized assault exercise.

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August 3, 2006

In Ramadi, Steel Nerves Needed for Night Ride

U.S. Crew Knows Risks Of Iraq Bomb-Clearing

RAMADI, Iraq -- A red sun sinks behind a dusty row of tents at Camp Ramadi, and another shift begins for the dogged crew of soldiers and Marines who nightly scour this city's streets for bombs.

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Lake Region grad always planned to be a Marine

WINTER HAVEN - A week before he died, Christian Williams told his father that he was bored with his station in Iraq.

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Family, Friends Recall Haven Man as Dedicated Marine


Jack Williams talked his son Chris into coming home to Winter Haven after his first enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps, but it didn't take. "I wanted him to go to school and he did for six months, then he said `Dad, I'm not happy. I want to go back to the Corps.' That was where he was happiest and where he felt he belonged," Williams said Wednesday.

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August 2, 2006

Marine From Polk Killed In Iraq

LAKELAND - A 27-year-old Marine sergeant from Winter Haven was killed Saturday in Iraq's violent Anbar province, the Department of Defense reported Tuesday.

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August 1, 2006

Thurmont Marine killed in Iraq

THURMONT-- If everything had gone as planned, Deborah Higgins of Thurmont would be welcoming her son James home in three weeks. Instead, she is planning his funeral.

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July 30, 2006

Marine photographer says Kevlar helmet saved him from enemy bullet in Iraq

Cpl. Brian M. Henner, a 22-year-old Marine from Rochester, N.Y., displays the Kevlar helmet he wore July 23, 2006, when he was shot in the head by an insurgent. Henner, a combat photographer with Regimental Combat Team 7, was shot in the helmet when insurgents, hidden in a near-by tree-line, fired upon Marines manning a vehicle inspection checkpoint. The incident took place in Haqlaniyah – one of three Euphrates River valley cities in the western portion of Al Anbar Province which make up the Haditha Triad region. “If I didn’t have it on, it probably would have went into the top of my head,” said Henner, a two-time veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “It didn’t just graze, it dug in to the helmet, but that’s why we wear them, though.” Henner was photographing the Marines’ activities when the gun fight began, and was caught in the middle. After firing several rounds at the insurgents, he began crawling along the median away from the insurgents’ fire – that’s when he was shot in the head, he said.

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July 29, 2006

Combat engineers: Valuable asset to U.S., Iraqi security operations in western Iraq

Cpl. Bryan D. Escobedo, a U.S. Marine and combat engineer attached to the Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.-based 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, carries lumber for use in the construction of bunkers July 27, 2006, at Camp Korean Village, Iraq. Bunkers are just one example of the various construction projects combat engineers frequently build to help protect Marines and Iraqi soldiers throughout the country’s Al Anbar Province. The engineers, trained in demolition, mine detection, and construction, operate in this vast desert stretching from the Jordanian border about 120 miles east towards the Euphrates River. Most of the engineers’ time is focused on beefing up security measures at the various U.S. military bases throughout Anbar’s western desert region. “We’re jacks of all trades,” said Cpl. Joshua T. Raney, a 21-year-old combat engineer attached to the battalion’s engineer detachment. “Without us, a lot of weapons caches, and IEDs would not have been found, and a lot of stuff wouldn’t have been built- we just make things a little easier for everyone.” In addition to the fortifications, combat engineers are keeping Coalition Forces safer by disposing of unexploded ordnance. Since their arrival in March, the engineers disposed of more than 500 pounds of ordnance – mortars, rockets, bombs, and other munitions. “We’re cutting down on the insurgents’ munitions,” said Raney. “For every piece we blow up, that is one less IED.” Escobedo is a 21-year-old from Houston, Texas.

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HEAT readies Marines for rollovers

Across the horizon, a humvee makes its way along a ridgeline when suddenly the ground under it begins to give way. The vehicle immediately tips down, crashes into the dirt and begins rolling into a ravine. No one inside sees daylight because of the dust and debris that seems to come from everywhere.

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July 28, 2006

25 Yuma Marines head to Iraq

Twenty-five Marines from Yuma were scheduled to leave this morning on deployment to Iraq.

The Marines, assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron 1, were scheduled to leave the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma at 6 a.m. by bus for March Air Force Base near Riverside, Calif., where they would catch a flight to Al Asad, Iraq.

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31st MEU's new BLT receives warm welcome

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa (July 28, 2006) -- Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa and the United Service Organizations welcomed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's new battalion landing team to Okinawa and Camp Hansen with a barbecue and games July 23.

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July 27, 2006

X-ray system aids postal Marines in Iraq

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 27, 2006) -- If you’re a Marine in Iraq, there’s a new set of eyes scanning the mail you’re sending home.

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July 25, 2006

31st MEU personnel visit Kin nursery

KIN TOWN, Okinawa, Japan (July 25, 2006) -- Laughter filled the class rooms as children interacted with the Marines and sailor who visited the Suginoko Nursery School here July 25.

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July 23, 2006

Coalition Forces build bridge to boost local Iraqi economy

KARABILAH, Iraq (July 23, 2006) -- Thousands of Iraqis from Euphrates River villages near the Iraq-Syria border now have access to the cities of Husaybah and Karabilah, thanks to a new – albeit temporary – bridge constructed by Coalition Forces recently.

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July 22, 2006

Marines in Habbaniyah give frontline accounts to hometown media

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 22, 2006) -- Sgt. Jeff Bell is Denver’s latest hometown celebrity.

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July 20, 2006

Along Iraqi-Syrian border, Marines’ progress notable despite recent insurgent suicide bombings

KARABILAH, Iraq (July 20, 2007) -- Thanks to the protection from his body armor Lance Cpl. Christopher G. West survived a car bomb attack in this Iraqi-Syrian border city of about 30,000.

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July 19, 2006

Call Sign: Havoc

For U.S. Marines in Fallujah, the deadly road has no end.

The Marines call it Route Michigan, a two-lane blacktop highway that’s the most direct route between Fallujah and a major U.S. airbase. For Lima Company, this time around, it’s their battleground. It’s not territory where they win hearts and minds, or where they score any noticeable victories, but just a stretch of road where, every hot, dusty, smelly day after hot, dusty, smelly day in Iraq, they saddle up with 100 pounds of Kevlar and gear, plus a weapon, ammunition, and water, and go on patrol for hours in the 115-degree heat, so that the road stays open and the local militants have somebody to shoot at.

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July 17, 2006

Harsh homecoming binds 3/5 parents

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — When the phone call from her son didn’t come on Mother’s Day, Deanna Pennington knew something was wrong.

Their previous telephone conversation May 1 had left her feeling that all was fine with her son, a 21-year-old who was in Iraq with his infantry battalion.

But the silence May 14 left her uneasy.

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July 15, 2006

Iraqis graduate advanced marksmanship course

Six Iraqi soldiers from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division graduated from an advanced marksmanship course taught by Marines from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment July 15. The soldiers were awarded certificates of completion from the course in front of their Marine instructors. Lt. Col. David J. Furness, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment’s commanding officer, offered words of congratulation to the soldiers for a job well done. The soldiers learned techniques to make them a more lethal fighting force to combat the insurgency in Iraq.

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July 13, 2006

Santee, Calif., Marine awarded Bronze Star medal for heroic actions in Iraq

RAMANA, Iraq (July 13, 2006) -- Staff Sgt. Jeffery V. Escalderon experienced some of the fiercest fighting along the Iraqi-Syrian border city of Husaybah – against insurgents wielding machine guns, mortars and rocket propelled grenades.

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Young Marine faces toughest battle of all


Private First Class Kris Taylor faces a battle for his life.


A Conroe teenager dreamed of becoming a Marine and serving his country.

Private First Class Kris Taylor faces a battle for his life. He was living that dream when doctors uncovered a serious problem. Now the young Marine is facing a new fight.

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‘One step closer to not having to be here’ for Marines in Al Anbar

OBSERVATION POST OMAR, Iraq — Lance Cpl. Noah Welter has lugged his rifle and body armor down Route Mets so many times now the 21-year-old U.S. Marine has lost count.

“Our first patrol down this road turned into a five-hour hump-a-thon — in the rain,” the native of Snohomish, Wash., recalled as he scanned the route for signs of roadside bombs on Saturday. “Not fun.”

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July 10, 2006

Orange County band rocks Al Asad

Alternative rock band, Hollowell, plays for service members at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building at Al Asad, Iraq, June 29. The Orange County, Calif., rock band played at several different bases in Iraq and Kuwait as a way to show support to the men and women stationed away from home.

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July 8, 2006

Marine detachment in Ramadi provides transportation, building capabilities for increased security operations

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq (July 8, 2006) -- After securing the Ramadi General Hospital earlier this week, efforts are being made to construct a nearby combat outpost where U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces will operate from in an effort to maintain a permanent presence in the area

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3/7 Marine awarded Bronze Star

Action came quick for assaultman Sgt. Mark E. Dean, a former section leader with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

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July 7, 2006

Marines thwart insurgents’ attempt to destroy new Iraqi school for girls

KARABILAH, Iraq (July 7, 2006) -- Thanks to the work of Marines and Iraqi Security Forces, 800 elementary-aged girls will now have a school to attend this fall.

Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment unveiled a brand-new grade school in this city of about 30,000 on the Iraq-Syria border in western Al Anbar Province July 7, 2006.

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California-based Marines reflect on recent combat operations in Fallujah

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (July 7, 2006) -- After more than a month of living out of armored vehicles and combating insurgents daily near Fallujah, nearly 100 U.S. Marines recently returned to this region in western Al Anbar province to continue security and stability operations.

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July 6, 2006

Lima Company rejoins Darkhorse battalion

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 6, 2006) -- Marines of L Company have reunited with the rest of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Habbaniyah, after spending six months operating near Fallujah.

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Marines get machine gun training while at sea

ABOARD THE USS GERMANTOWN (July 6, 2006) -- Marines from Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Camp Pendleton, Calif., are currently taking a machine gunners course during the MEU’s final weeks of their deployment July 3-20.

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U.S. Marines working round-the-clock to reinforce new police force

AL QA’IM, Iraq (June 27, 2006) -- More than 300 local Iraqis from Euphrates River towns near the Iraqi-Syrian border lined up at the Marines’ outpost June 27, 2006, in hopes of becoming policemen in one of Iraq’s newest police districts.

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July 3, 2006

Store's grand opening provides goods, boosts morale for service members in Iraq

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 3, 2006) -- People go to convenience stores to buy pampers and baby formula or stock up on chips and dip for the next day's big game. But in Iraq, military stores known as post exchanges, play a far more important role.

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July 2, 2006

Ark-La-Tex Wounded Marine Speaks Out About Iraq War

Just two months ago...reading a book was out of reach for Sergeant Scott Flynn.

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Marines battle the elements while facing insurgents and improvised explosive devices

ZELLA, Iraq (July 2, 2006) -- When the Marines of the small outpost near this Euphrates River village of Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province aren’t responding to the latest shower of mortar fire, they’re doing one of two things – working out or sleeping.

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July 1, 2006

Battalion pauses for three fallen warriors

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 1, 2006) -- Marines 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment paused to honor three men who gave their all for the cost of freedom.

A memorial service was held here July 1 to honor Staff Sgt. Benjamin D. Williams, Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Webb and Pfc. Christopher N. White. All three men were killed in action June 20.

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June 29, 2006

“Street Fight in Iraq,” No Place for the Meek

This Best Seller leaves no doubts if you wonder what it’s like fighting with the US Marine Corps Expeditionary Forces in Iraq, you are in for a hair raising ride when you read Leatherneck Publishing’s latest and greatest book release by Gunnery Sergeant Patrick Tracy.

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June 28, 2006

Tanks support 'Darkhorse' grunts in Habbaniyah

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (June 28, 2006) -- Marines of Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion are supporting the grunts of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment by maintaining a constant presence with their M1-A1 Main Battle Tanks along the main highways in the battalion’s new area of operations.

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June 26, 2006

Scout sniper serving in Iraq awarded U.S. military's third highest award for valor

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq - When Sgt. Jarred L. Adams retrieved the body of a fallen Marine from a burning humvee, he says he was simply doing his job.

The 22-year-old scout sniper assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was awarded the Silver Star June 10 while currently deployed to Iraq with the southern Calif.-based unit for a second time.

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Iraqi soldiers receive training for new fleet of humvees

The Iraqi Army’s 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division at Camp Al Qa’im, Iraq, received 50 brand-new, tan Humvees this month from Iraq’s Ministry of Defense in an effort to provide Iraqi Security Forces more heavily armored – and reliable – vehicles. Before the soldiers can begin conducting security operations in their new trucks, Marines of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, are equipping the soldiers with the training and knowledge they’ll need to operate the up-armored vehicles. Here, an Iraqi student tests on the driving portion of the Humvee course where he is required to maneuver the vehicle around a set of road cones June 17, 2006. “For someone who has never been behind the wheel of a Humvee, they’re doing pretty good,” said Cpl. Alfredo Solis, a motor transport operator and instructor for the course.

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VMA-513 Flying Nightmares connect with loved ones in U.S.

Staff Sgt. Andrew E. Calime sees and talks to his wife, in Yuma, Ariz., with the help of video teleconference calls at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building at Al Asad, Iraq, June 17. Calime, power line staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, uses VTCs because they are a way for deployed service members to not only hear the voices of their loved ones, but also see them.

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Perimeter patrol teams scan desert to keep Al Asad secure

AL ASAD, Iraq - A humvee cruises up a dusty slope during a perimeter patrol June 21. Being the primary source of transportation for the Marines of the Perimeter Patrol Teams with 2nd Platoon, E Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the humvee helps them accomplish their responsibilities of keeping the surrounding areas around Al Asad secure and free of any threats.

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June 22, 2006

Iraqis, Marines work together to rebuild lives in Al Anbar province

BARWANA, Iraq (June 22, 2006) -- As Sgt. Brett Bartels stood in front of a military vehicle handing out hundreds of stuffed animals and soccer balls on a dusty road in Barwana, his goal was simple – make sure each child went home with a smile on his face.

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June 21, 2006

Former ‘Magnificent Bastards’ react to sniper rifle recovery

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 21, 2006) -- Call it a little bit of justice.

Marine snipers from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment shot and killed an insurgent sniper and spotter preparing to shoot at passing Marines, June 16. And the insurgents were going to use a stolen Marine sniper rifle for the attack.

That rifle – an M-40A1 – belonged to the “Magnificent Bastards” of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a battalion within the Regimental Combat Team 5 family. It was taken by insurgents when a team of four Marines were killed in a rooftop outpost June 21, 2004, in Ramadi.

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June 20, 2006

Darkhorse snipers kill insurgent sniper, recover stolen Marine sniper rifle

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (June 20, 2006) -- Scout snipers from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment killed an enemy sniper and recovered a Marine sniper rifle lost nearly two years ago during a mission near Habbaniyah June 16.

The rifle was the one formerly used by four Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment who were killed on a rooftop in Ramadi June 21, 2004.

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Diamondback 3 ensures Al Asad's security through mounted patrols

A humvee filled with Marines conducting a mounted combat patrol cruises through the desert of Iraq during the setting sun near Al Asad, Iraq, June 15. The Marines are with the mounted combat patrol team Diamondback 3 under 1st Platoon, Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Note: There are lots of pictures associated with this article, just click on the link below

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June 17, 2006

Support Marines brave Iraq’s roads daily in western Al Anbar province

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (June 17, 2006) -- In order for the battalion commander to move throughout his area of operations, he must be able to count on the security of a special team of Marines.

For Lt. Col. Nicholas F. Marano, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, that team is his personal security detachment, a Combined Anti-Armor Team called “CAAT Black” for short.

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June 15, 2006

FOB may not be much, but it does have Wi-Fi

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, June 15, 2006

Soldiers arrived a few months ago at a forward operating base in Husaybah, Iraq — converted from a battle-scarred youth center — to learn they had no phones and no chow hall.

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Marines near Iraqi-Syrian border mourn loss of three of their own

AL BU HARDAN, Iraq (June 15, 2006) -- Marines and sailors gathered at a small headquarters outpost near the Euphrates River to pay respects to three fallen brothers.

Two Marines and one sailor lost their lives while conducting security operations in a village near the Iraqi-Syrian border. Their vehicle struck a mine on one of the region’s dangerous roadways June 9, 2006.

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Marines near Iraqi-Syrian border mourn loss of three of their own

AL BU HARDAN, Iraq (June 15, 2006) -- Marines and sailors gathered at a small headquarters outpost near the Euphrates River to pay respects to three fallen brothers.

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June 14, 2006

Darkhorse Marines secure road to Ramadi

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (June 14, 2006) -- A stretch of highway once called “IED Alley” just might get a new nickname.

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June 13, 2006

LAR patrols the streets of Habbaniyah

CAMP HANBBANIYAH, Iraq (June 13, 2006) -- Marines from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion wouldn’t consider themselves good neighbors unless they lent a hand combating snipers, small-arms fire and roadside bombs in 120 degree heat.

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Marines working with local police in Qaim

CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq -- A Marine Corps police transition team is working here to equip and train Iraqi police. While there are many obstacles to surmount, there are signs of progress, U.S. officials here said.

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June 12, 2006

Marines living ‘outside the wire’ on Syrian border see progress

Battalion focuses on foot patrols, contact with locals

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, June 12, 2006

OBEIDI, Iraq — One month ago, out in the far western corner of Iraq, the Marines set up a new forward operating base. Navy Seabees wired it for electricity. Air conditioners were installed. And a platoon of Marines moved into the desert encampment.

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June 11, 2006

Medical evaluations among latest operations Marines, sailors teach Iraqi Security Forces

WESTERN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (June 11, 2006) -- Iraqis from the Euphrates River villages of Al Amari, Haffha and Zella say they have never had immediate, quality health care.

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MARINES PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO TWO IRAQI CHILDREN WOUNDED BY IED

Description: AL ASAD, Iraq – U.S. Marines and Iraqi Soldiers operating in western al Anbar province, Iraq, expedited the medical evacuation of two Iraqi boys who sustained wounds from an improvised explosive device June 9.

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June 10, 2006

15th MEU adjusts to ship life

USS BOXER (June 10, 2006) -- In the Marine Corps, as a department of the Navy, Marines have always studied and learned about their strong naval founding and traditions even though it is something that a majority of Marines will never experience.

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Scout sniper serving in Iraq awarded U.S. military’s third highest award for valor

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (June 10, 2006) -- When Sgt. Jarred L. Adams retrieved the body of a fallen Marine from a burning humvee, he says he was simply doing his job.

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June 9, 2006

Operation ‘Cool Carpet’ bridges relationships

Iraqi Army Cpl. Husein Abass Husein unloaded a box of prayer rugs for a local mosque. Operation Cool Carpet combined Marines with A Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and soldiers from the Iraqi Army to deliver the rugs along with two new air conditioning units.

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June 8, 2006

U.S., Saudi Marines unite in bilateral training exercises

RAS AL GHAR, Saudi Arabia - Marines from B Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operationa Capable) conducted Nautical Union, a bilateral training exercise with the Saudi Arabia Marines June 2-8.

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June 6, 2006

Marine brings welding skills to fight against insurgency

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (June 6, 2006) -- When he joined the Marine Corps in 2002, Cpl. Joshua W. Dale never thought he would be using his welding experience to defeat insurgents in western Iraq.

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Iraq-deployed Marines prepare for emergency rescues in Al Anbar province

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq - Marines from Regimental Combat Team 7 prepare to board the back of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter May 29 to practice off-loading and security procedures for a tactical rescue of aircraft and personnel, or TRAP. The Marines, part of the regiment’s provisional rifle platoon, haven’t been called upon to conduct a rescue mission since they deployed to Iraq four months ago, but still train regularly for the mission: Jump in a helicopter, fly to the scene of a down aircraft, set up security, and help recover the pilots or salvage crucial equipment from the scene.

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June 3, 2006

Darkhorse Marines move camps once again

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (June 3, 2006) -- No one can say the Darkhorse isn’t willing to relocate.

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June 2, 2006

Taking Chance

EDITOR'S NOTE: PFC Chance Phelps, 19, died April 9 from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was buried in Dubois, Wyoming on April 17. The below story was written by LtCol. Mike Strobl, assigned to Manpower Management Officer Assignments at Quantico, who volunteered to be the escort officer for PFC Phelps during his journey home. LtCol Strobl's mission as escort officer was to ensure PFC Phelps arrived home with dignity and honor and in a professional and timely manner.

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Battalion honors three fallen warriors

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 2, 2006) -- Marines of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment paused to honor three men who gave the full measure for freedom.

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June 1, 2006

Tribal dynamics back up Iraqi town's security

Marines' alliance with Abu Mahals provides support for fragile government

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, June 1, 2006

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — One year ago, tribal warfare broke out in this dusty border town and many families from one prominent tribe, the Abu Mahals, were forced from their homes in a bloody purge that left many tribal leaders dead — some beheaded.

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May 31, 2006

City leaders fight for peace in Husaybah

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, May 31, 2006

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Tribal leaders have espoused an unwavering optimism since November, when thousands of U.S. Marines fought fierce opposition to quell this troubled border city that was a haven for insurgents and smugglers.

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May 30, 2006

Corps’ top leader discusses war fighting concept, Core Values with Iraq-deployed Marines, sailors

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (May 30, 2006) -- The Corps’ top officer recently stated that the Marine Corps is headed in the right direction in the future of war fighting, and will stand up its first, fully operational distributed operations-capable battalion by next year.

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Communication during convoys a must for Marines in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 30, 2006) -- As the sun goes down, a convoy pushes across the treacherous roads of the Al Anbar province performing combat operations under the cloak of the settling darkness.

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May 29, 2006

Country music star visits southern California-based Marine unit in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (May 29, 2006) -- Marines and Sailors serving in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province were treated to a musical performance by one of Coalition Forces’ greatest supporters – Toby Keith.

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New police force in Iraqi-Syrian border town ready for the streets

HUSAYBAH, Iraq(May 29, 2006) -- Despite two recent suicide bombings on a new police station here, one Iraqi police officer in this Iraq-Syria border town says his men are undeterred in their duties and are ready to work on their own.

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The War Comes Home: One family lost a son, but the nation gained a hero


SNOHOMISH -- A year ago here in the foothills to the Cascades, Brian and Shellie Starr began Memorial Day as they always had. It was the start of summer, a weekend of camping, cookouts and catching up.

Brian drove to his office. "I had all these errands to run," Shellie recalls.

Continue reading "The War Comes Home: One family lost a son, but the nation gained a hero" »

May 27, 2006

Vista honors two fallen troops with banners

VISTA ---- The solemn sound of the song "Amazing Grace" performed on bagpipes filled the few empty spaces at the Vista Wal-Mart parking lot Saturday during an early, outdoor Memorial Day ceremony.

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Fallen Marine Remembered At Memorial Service

Twenty-seven-year-old Lance Corporeal Eric Palmisano of Florence was remembered Saturday, for his courage, his leadership, but most of all, his sense of humor.

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Darkhorse Marines repel attack, maintain vigilance

FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 27, 2006) -- Insurgents are finding out Marines are a “Force In Readiness,” whether the insurgents are adequately prepared or not.

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May 26, 2006

ANGLICO Marines Based At Camp Pendleton

LOS ANGELES -- There is a special group of marines based at Camp Pendleton, who are doing some of the most complicated work of the war in Iraq. They number just 150, but their significance to the fight is tremendous. NBC4's Kelly Mack visited them during training in Oceanside.

By clicking on the following link, there is an NBC video of 1st ANGLICO. A transcript of the video follows below

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LAR Marines keep eight-wheeled vehicles in the fight

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 26, 2006) -- They wear their skinned knuckles and greasy fingernails as badges of honor. They’re the ones who keep the machinery humming for D Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

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A love story without limits

This is a story of love between a husband and wife, a Marine and Americans, and between two strangers.

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Detainee treatment serious business with Darkhorse battalion

FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 26, 2006) -- Not all detainees are taken so easily. For instance, suspected insurgents were taken into custody after they were found transporting the body of another insurgent killed while handling an improvised explosive device.

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May 23, 2006

Iraqis see police force restored after three-year hiatus

HUSAYBAH, Iraq(May 23, 2006) -- After three years without a police presence in this western Iraqi town of approximately 10,000, the community is beginning to see a fully-restored police force with the introduction of two new police stations.

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May 22, 2006

Darkhorse Marine Decorated for Valor

Camp Fallujah, Iraq - A Darkhorse Marine was decorated with the nation’s fourth highest award for valor by the 1st Marine Division commanding general here, May 19.

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Long deployments cause emotional rollercoaster for service members

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 22, 2006) -- Many emotions are stirred when you talk about leaving home for an extended period of time. The fact that many of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marines and sailors have deployed for a full year to the war-torn region of the world known as Iraq, adds to the strain on personal feelings from service members, family members and loved ones.

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Darkside steps it out

“Step it out! Keep it moving! Just a few more miles. Keep pushing! Stretch your legs! Cover down!”

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Coming soon: 29 palms to Combat Center

Former Combat Center commanding general, Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer, had an idea in the summer of 2005 to make the Combat Center's main entrance more welcoming.

Continue reading "Coming soon: 29 palms to Combat Center" »

May 21, 2006

Attack on Iraqi police station shatters calm in border town

First suicide attack in six months kills five police officers

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, May 21, 2006

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — A suicide bomber wearing a vest strapped with explosives attacked a newly established police station in this Syrian border town Saturday, killing five Iraqi police officers and shattering the relative calm the city has sustained for more than six months.

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May 16, 2006

Lives are riding on a swift response

Iraq helicopter unit answers the call for those in dire need

Al-Taqaddum, Iraq -- Just after 9 on a Saturday morning, an old-fashioned brass bell rings and everyone starts running.

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May 14, 2006

Fox 2/7 masters MOUT

Patrolling through a desolate, dusty range far from civilization while wearing full gear in the sweltering desert heat, Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practiced their urban warfare skills over a two-day exercise to prepare them for their next deployment to Iraq.

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3/4 Weapons Company prepares for any mission

“I'm up, he sees me, I'm down,” screamed a group of Marines as they stormed the desolate dry lake bed near the physical fitness track. While a commonly used phrase for infantry units practicing squad rushes, it is one not often heard from a group of 81mm mortar men.

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3/11 Marines honor 63 years of service, carry on legacy

The colors of 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, were rededicated May 4 on the Combat Center parade field in honor of their 63rd year of service.

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Mess hall named after fallen warrior

Building 1460, commonly known as the 7th Marines mess hall, was renamed Phelps Hall during a ceremony in front of the facility May 4.

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Body armor keeps Marine in the fight

GHARMAH, Iraq (May 14, 2006) -- When an optional piece of gear became mandatory, complaints were lodged, but when the gear did its job - saving a Marine’s life - a few opinions were changed.

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May 12, 2006

Parris Island DI awarded Navy Cross

A drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., was awarded the nation’s second highest award for combat heroism during a ceremony held at the depot today, according to a Marine Corps release.

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Division Marines depart for Cobra Gold aboard HSV

KIN RED PORT, OKINAWA, Japan (May 12, 2006) -- More than 150 Marines and sailors with K Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, and Combat Logistics Platoon 3 departed for Thailand aboard the high-speed vessel Westpac Express May 8 to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold 2006.

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May 11, 2006

Iraqi soldiers keep criminals out of former smuggler’s town

AR RUTBAH, Iraq (May 11, 2006) -- In this urban city located in the center of miles of open desert in western Al Anbar province, Iraqi soldiers are taking the lead in operations to keep criminals and insurgents out of the region.

Continue reading "Iraqi soldiers keep criminals out of former smuggler’s town" »

Iraqi soldiers keep criminals out of former smuggler’s town

AR RUTBAH, Iraq (May 11, 2006) -- In this urban city located in the center of miles of open desert in western Al Anbar province, Iraqi soldiers are taking the lead in operations to keep criminals and insurgents out of the region.

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For wounded soldier, a wealth of support

Somerset Marine hospitalized after being seriously injured in Iraq

MARION STATION -- Insurgent fire shot off his lower jaw. Damage to his left leg was so severe, doctors amputated beneath the knee. Shrapnel from a May 1 roadway bombing near Fallujah still penetrates his skin, in some places 2 inches deep.

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May 5, 2006

Marines and Iraqi police patrol Khandari

KHANDARI, Iraq (May 5, 2006) -- Iraqi motorists were held up by a line of tan and blue – Marines and Iraqi police – working side by side here recently.

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May 3, 2006

Marine's story inspires Iraq movie

HBO has ordered a movie based on a US Marine's experience transporting the body of a fallen colleague home from Iraq.

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May 1, 2006

Vipers assume responsibility over Al Anbar skies

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (May 1, 2006) -- The Vipers of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 assumed authority from the Gunfighters of HMLA-369, for providing close air support, escort, surveillance, and reconnaissance to coalition ground and assault support forces in western Iraq.

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April 29, 2006

On Iraqi-Jordanian border, hundreds of Iraqis seek refuge from Baghdad violence

JORDANIAN BORDER, Iraq (April 29, 2006) -- Near the Iraqi-Jordanian border, key leaders from the Iraqi Government and the United Nations met to figure out the fate of a growing number of Iraqis of Palestinian heritage who are trying to leave Iraq due to recent violence in Baghdad.

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‘Suicide Charley’ mourn fallen Marine in Iraq

KARABILAH, Iraq (April 29, 2006) -- A two-time veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lance Cpl. Aaron W. Simons was a Marine who could be counted on in any situation.

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Marine is remembered for his humor and antics

He died in a flood 60 days after he was deployed to Iraq.

God must have built Lance Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano without a filter, because he would say exactly what was on his mind -- and it was always hilarious.

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“I have been in the company of heroes...” 2/7 memorializes 13 fallen

Before leaving home for his second tour to Iraq, Staff Sgt. Daniel Clay left a letter with his family and an instruction to open it only in the event of his death. Clay was killed in action in Iraq on Dec. 1, 2005.

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3/11 Mike Battery lights up Niland

Hailing from the harsh and barren terrain of the Combat Center, Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, composed of roughly 100 Marines, trekked to a similarly desolate and unwelcoming desert of southern California to participate in the four-week Weapons and Tactics Instructors course March 24 to April 21.

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April 28, 2006

'Now it's time for our country to serve him'

Marine who survived two tours in Iraq now in coma due to accident hours after return

PALM SPRINGS - "Be careful."

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1st Tanks Marines returns home after third deployment

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 28, 2006) -- Family and friends waited anxiously at the Combat Center’s Victory Field for the Marines and Sailors of 1st Tank Battalion, TOW Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, to come home April 19.

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Orlando Marine dies at turning point in life

"He had a brilliant mind, motivated by the heart of a child"

If you ever dined at Brio Tuscan Grille or the Black Fin restaurants in Winter Park, Eric Palmisano might have been the kid who parked your car.

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April 27, 2006

Military Engagement: The homecoming, finally

Back from the war, Luke and Theresa reunite just days before the wedding

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Editor's Note: This continuing series has followed the lives of Luke Anderson, 25, and Daily News reporter Theresa Stahl, 28. The couple was engaged last May and they were planning an April wedding — after Luke returned from Iraq. This column runs two days before their Saturday ceremony.

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Marine finds 'the good life' in desert

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 27, 2006) -- Sleeping in dusty, wind-battered tents, waking up at 4 a.m. to carry heavy packs long distances and showering with wet wipes is just a brief description of life in the field.

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Andvaced weapons course offers relevant shooting fundamentals

MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCE TRAINING CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 27, 2006) -- Ready… Aim… Fire. Those three simple words become a lot more complex if your target has a weapon.

The Enhanced Marksmanship Program provides Marines, as well as the sailors who deploy with them, valuable training on how to shoot effectively in close quarters.

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Andvaced weapons course offers relevant shooting fundamentals

MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCE TRAINING CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 27, 2006) -- Ready… Aim… Fire. Those three simple words become a lot more complex if your target has a weapon.

The Enhanced Marksmanship Program provides Marines, as well as the sailors who deploy with them, valuable training on how to shoot effectively in close quarters.

Continue reading "Andvaced weapons course offers relevant shooting fundamentals" »

April 22, 2006

Snipers draw a bead on insurgents

GHARMAH, Iraq (April 22, 2006) -- A sniper team from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment’s B Company collected several confirmed kills and spoiled an insurgent ambush during one recent day’s fighting here.

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Road to progress: California-based Marines train Iraqi soldiers in urban military tactics

JOINT BORDER COORDINATION CENTER RUTBAH, Iraq (April 22, 2006) -- fter four days of patrolling the vast deserts of southern Al Anbar Province, the revolving patrols of Marines return to their base here for a day or two of rest before going back “outside the wire.”

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April 19, 2006

Crowd blocks grieving family from protestors, Marine killed in Iraq laid to rest

Hundreds of people blocked a grieving family from protestors at funeral services for a fallen Marine Wednesday morning. Lance Corporal Philip Martini was killed in Iraq earlier this month. He was buried in South Holland.

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April 15, 2006

Iraqi soldiers join search for missing U.S. servicemember in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province

AL ASAD, Iraq (April 15, 2006) -- Iraqi soldiers joined dozens of U.S. troops in the search for a sailor who has been missing since last week due to a vehicle rollover accident near the Marines’ base here April 2.

Continue reading "Iraqi soldiers join search for missing U.S. servicemember in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province" »

April 14, 2006

President Bush to visit the Coachella Valley

President George Bush is set to visit the Coachella Valley and the Marine Base in Twentynine Palms April 22-23, after a trip to Northern California to meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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U.S. Military Buys Back Stolen Flash Drives With Sensitive Data in Afghan Shops

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Shopkeepers outside U.S. military headquarters in Afghanistan said Friday that American investigators have paid them thousands of dollars to return stolen computer drives, many of which contained sensitive military data.

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April 13, 2006

Improved food service raises morale in Iraq

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (April 13, 2006) -- Life becomes simple while serving in a combat zone. Trips to multi-story malls for designer clothing are replaced by quick stops at an improvised convenience store for green undershirts. Service members watch movies on small, portable DVD players instead of large-screen cinemas.

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April 12, 2006

Marines return to Miramar and loved ones

MIRAMAR ---- A jumbo jet carrying about 260 Marines taxied to a terminal at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station on Wednesday morning, as cheers roared through a crowd of hundreds of friends and family members waving American flags and homemade signs to greet loved ones returning from a seven-month deployment in Iraq.

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April 10, 2006

Corps’ top officer says Marines, sailors are winning the war on terror

HADITHA, Iraq (April 10, 2006) -- The Marine Corps’ top officer recently stated he was confident Coalition Forces were going to win the Global War on Terrorism.

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April 9, 2006

Flying Nightmares target terrorism with new munitions system

AL ASAD, Iraq (April 9, 2006) -- Sweat slowly drips off of the Marines as they carefully raise the 500- and 1000-pound munitions to the weapons carriage on the AV-8B Harrier - the Flying Nightmares are readying for action.

Marine Attack Squadron 513, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is the first Harrier squadron to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munitions in a combat zone.

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April 8, 2006

Marines mourn the loss of a light-hearted friend

CAMP TAQADDUM (Apr. 8, 2006) -- “He could take the worst job in the world and make it ok,” said Sgt. Nicholas Cunningham with a somber look and grief in his eyes.

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April 7, 2006

Darkhorse moves to new camp, better facilities

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 7, 2006) -- It’s not plush, manicured lawns and neatly-designed suburbia, but Darkhorse Marine are stepping up their standard of living.

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April 6, 2006

Air traffic controllers keep eyes on skies in Al Anbar Province

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (April 6, 2006) -- The eyes of the controller search the dusty and overcast horizon, to locate the incoming aircraft and guide them safely to the ground below.

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Dragoons swoop in for action

NORTHERN REGIMENTAL SECURITY AREA, Iraq (April 6, 2006) -- The concepts of speed and surprise are as old as warfare itself, and one unit proves they are still as effective as ever.

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Marines and Iraqi Forces find caches in Operation Hastings

GHARMAH, Iraq (April 6, 2006) -- They dug up the buried weapons by the truckload.

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April 2, 2006

Combat Train keeps wheels rolling for 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq (April 2, 2006) -- It isn’t the drone of the hulking seven-ton truck engines that keeps Staff Sgt. Alberto M. PerezTorres awake. It’s not even bottomless cups of coffee or nicotine-induced pick-ups.

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April 1, 2006

Marine mechanics in Iraq keep supply convoys rolling

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (April 1, 2006) -- Working long hours under the sweltering Iraqi sun may not sound like an ideal work environment, but Marine mechanics here are not only unfazed by the situation, they're enjoying it.

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March 31, 2006

Silver and Bronze Stars awarded to Weapons Company Marines

CAMP PENDLETON ---- The two Marines say they were just doing their jobs when they led their troops in beating back an insurgent assault last year in Ramadi, Iraq.

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March 30, 2006

MTACS-38 maintain operations in TACC

AL ASAD, Iraq (Mar. 30, 2006) -- A Marine's eyes stared intensely at the loudspeaker on the small talk-box, as a voice flowed through the static. Indirect fire had smashed into the starlit streets only moments ago, and the reaction plan was already in effect. The Marine then began relaying transmissions, setting up networks and stabilizing communications for the Tactical Air Command Center, as the air base came alive in the dark of night.

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March 29, 2006

Marines keep watchful eyes on Iraq’s rural western region

JOINT BORDER COORDINATION CENTER RUTBAH, Iraq (March 29, 2006) -- Trading one desert for another, Marines based in California’s Mojave Desert have returned for another deployment to Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

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March 28, 2006

IEDs no deterrent for Hawaii-based Marines in Al Anbar Province

BARWANAH, Iraq(March 28, 2006) -- Hawaii-based Marines searching a known hotspot for insurgent-placed “improvised explosive devices” say the danger posed by these deadly devices do not deter them from providing security to the local populace here.

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March 27, 2006

Marines helping to line up Sunnis for Iraq's army

U.S. military seeks to diversify a mostly Shiite fighting force

Qaim, Iraq -- They came by the hundreds. Iraqi men, mostly young but a few graybeards, milling about the desert or squatting in the sand with their robes tucked between their legs and turbans fluttering in the breeze.

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Iraqi soldiers go solo in western Iraq

UBAYDI, Iraq (March 27, 2006) -- Iraqi soldiers have taken their first steps toward functioning entirely on their own In this remote region of northwestern Iraq.

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1st Tanks scouts demonstrate that diligence is key in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Not every day is a “jackpot day” in Iraq, but one unit proves that a patient and persistent approach to counter-insurgency operations can be very effective.

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VMU-1 welcomed home after 7 months in Iraq

Georgine Thompson laughed restlessly with friends and fellow spouses as she waited for the arrival of her husband. Victory Field had filled with more than 150 anxious family members, friends and fellow remain behind element Marines in anticipation of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1's return to the Combat Center Monday.

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Several Hundred Marines Head For Iraq

Several hundred Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing are headed for Iraq.

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Extra armor cuts mobility, Marines say Equipment issued 'to make people back home feel better.'

HUSAYBAH, Iraq -- Extra body armor -- the lack of which caused a political storm in the United States -- has flooded into Iraq, but many Marines here promptly stuck it in lockers or under bunks. Too heavy and cumbersome, many say.

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March 26, 2006

Congressional Delegates visit troops at Camp Fallujah

Camp Fallujah, Iraq (Mar. 26, 2006) -- Elected officials from nine different states sat to meet with service members from their states at a dining facility during a command visit here Sunday.

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Navy ‘Docs’ focus on keeping Marines, Iraqis alive

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (Mar. 26, 2006) -- Saving lives. These two simple words sum up one vital endeavor for the sailors of the Alpha Surgical unit here.

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March 25, 2006

Marines patrol Army territory near Abu Ghraib

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq (March 25, 2006) -- Marines expanded their area of operations to assist U.S. Army forces recently.

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March 24, 2006

Combat engineers unearth 500-plus weapons caches, save lives in Iraq

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (March 24, 2006) -- Iraq’s roadways are a bit safer, thanks to a platoon of Marine combat engineers here.

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Joint Operation Seeks to Disrupt Insurgents, Operation Northern Lights seeks to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad.

BAGHDAD, March 24, 2006 — Iraqi army and Coalition Forces, approximately 1,400 personnel, kicked off Operation Northern Lights March 22 to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces and to find and destroy terrorist caches in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad.

Continue reading "Joint Operation Seeks to Disrupt Insurgents, Operation Northern Lights seeks to disrupt anti-Iraqi forces in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad." »

California-based Marine battalion starts second tour in Iraq’s Qa’im region

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (March 24, 2006) -- Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment never thought they’d see the Al Qa’im region of Iraq again when they departed their military camp here in March last year.

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Combat engineers unearth 500-plus weapons caches, save lives in Iraq

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (March 24, 2006) -- Iraq’s roadways are a bit safer, thanks to a platoon of Marine combat engineers here.

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Wounded (1/1) Marine back home--Grenade attack near Fallujah, Iraq, left Lance Cpl. Shane Chambers' right leg paralyzed

Two weeks and two days after Lance Cpl. Shane Chambers was wounded during an attack near Fallujah, Iraq, the Marine was greeted by his family Thursday as he returned home.

Continue reading "Wounded (1/1) Marine back home--Grenade attack near Fallujah, Iraq, left Lance Cpl. Shane Chambers' right leg paralyzed" »

March 23, 2006

Marines escort pilgrims across western Al Anbar during religious pilgrimage

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq -- Marines operating in western Iraq provided a security escort Sunday for several buses of travelers making a religious pilgrimage across the Middle East to the holy city of Najaf, Iraq.

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March 22, 2006

After seven months of battling insurgents, restoring security, North Carolina Marines near end of tour in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (March 22, 2006) -- After spending seven months of routing out insurgents and stabilizing the Al Qa’im region in western Al Anbar Province, Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment say they’re leaving the region in better shape then when they arrived last year.

Continue reading "After seven months of battling insurgents, restoring security, North Carolina Marines near end of tour in Iraq" »

Marines teach Iraqis humvee maintenance

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 22, 2006) -- Marines are making knuckle-busting, wrench-turners out of Iraqi soldiers.

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March 21, 2006

Reporter's Notebook — Camp Fallujah: First Impressions

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Camp Fallujah is enormous. Nearly 20,000 Marines, soldiers and airmen make their home here or at any of the numerous, but smaller forward-operating bases. They live in the most volatile and critical part of Iraq: the guts of the Sunni Triangle.

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March 20, 2006

Canton, Mich., Marine brothers cross paths in Iraq

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (March 20, 2006) -- After enlisting in the Marine Corps more than a year apart, two brothers from Canton, Mich., have crossed paths in Iraq, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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US visit aborted in cyclone's path, CYCLONE Larry has cost Townsville millions of dollars before it even hit the coast.

The USS Peleliu, USS Ogden and USS Germantown with 4000 servicemen on board were due to berth in Townsville yesterday.

Continue reading "US visit aborted in cyclone's path, CYCLONE Larry has cost Townsville millions of dollars before it even hit the coast." »

March 18, 2006

Charlie Co. hones skills 'Down Under'

TOWNSVILLE, Australia (March 18, 2006) -- Marines from Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif., conducted a four-day weapons-training evolution in the desolate outback here, March 13-17.

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Iraqi soldiers roll in armor, thanks to Marines

CAMP HABBINYAH, Iraq (March 18, 2006) -- Iraqi soldiers in Fallujah are rolling in armored humvees, just like their Marine counterparts.

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Hawaii-based unit, 'America’s Battalion, arrives in Al Anbar Province

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (March 18, 2006) -- Just eight months after their deployment to Afghanistan, Hawaii-based Marines from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment departed Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, recently to begin their seven-month deployment here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Delta Company, 3rd AABn., dismount from AAVS, storm MOUT facility

According to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion's Web site, the mission of an amphibious assault battalion is to land the surface assault elements of the landing force and their equipment in a single lift from assault shipping during amphibious operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized operations and related combat support in subsequent mechanized operations ashore.

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Hawaii-based unit, 'America’s Battalion, arrives in Al Anbar Province

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (March 18, 2006) -- Just eight months after their deployment to Afghanistan, Hawaii-based Marines from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment departed Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, recently to begin their seven-month deployment here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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March 16, 2006

A Mother Drives Her Son's Memory Home

(CBS) One military mother is going to extraordinary lengths to pay tribute to her fallen son. Jerry Bowen reports on her journey in the fourth part of the CBS Evening News special series, "The Iraq War: Three Years and Counting."

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Marines build relationships in local Iraqi community

GHARMAH, Iraq (March 16, 2006) -- It was the sort of patrol Marines dream about – lots of kids and no problems. It’s also one of the most important things Marines do here. They talked directly to Iraqi citizens hearing their concerns during a brief stop along their patrol route.

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Darkhorse Marines deliver new wheelchair to Iraqi girl

CAMP SMITTY, Iraq(March 16, 2006) -- An Iraqi family had just set the noon meal on the table when some unexpected visitors knocked on their front door.

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A Mother Drives Her Son's Memory Home

Karla Comfort Takes Her Tribute To Her Marine Son On The Road

(CBS) One military mother is going to extraordinary lengths to pay tribute to her fallen son. Jerry Bowen reports on her journey in the fourth part of the CBS Evening News special series, "The Iraq War: Three Years and Counting."

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March 15, 2006

Marines fired up about indoor shooting range in Iraq

CAMP SMITTY, Iraq (March 15, 2006) -- The sound of gunfire rips through a long building, bouncing off walls and resonates throughout the entire Marine base near Ferris Town. No one even raises an eyebrow.

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Iraqi soldiers on track for independent operations in Al Anbar Province

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq (March 15, 2006) -- Iraqi soldiers are right on schedule with training requirements that will allow them to eventually relieve U.S. military forces in western Al Anbar Province, according to Marine officials here.

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March 14, 2006

Marines bring computers, web access to Iraqi schools

CAMP SMITTY, Iraq(March 14, 2006) -- Marines and Soldiers attached to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment recently made a special delivery to the future of Iraq – the children.

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March 13, 2006

STAYING TRUE. PHASING OUT: IRAQ

"A partnership between Regimental Combat Team 5 and the Iraqi Army here was cemented when commanders from the coalition shook hands yesterday."

Operation Iraqi Freedom was intent on spreading democracy, though naysayers broadcast it was an invasion. Those endorsing the Operation regard the motive being a liberation.

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Photo Essay: Marines land in Australia for sustainment training

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA (March 13, 2006) -- The Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable) caused a sensation with the locals here when they rode their Landing Craft Air Cushioned from the sea right into the Port of Townsville. Entire families came out to enjoy the sunny day and witness and photograph the rare sight of an LCAC maneuvering off the shore, crossing a major street and landing in a nearby field. (11th MEU)

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March 11, 2006

Marines carry six-pack attack

CAMP MERCURY, Iraq(March 9, 2006) -- Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to want one.

Marines with Regimental Combat Team 5, based in Camp Fallujah, test-fired the latest in the Corps’ arsenal of weapons’ improvement, the M-32 Multiple shot Grenade Launcher. It’s a six-barreled, 40 mm beast of weapon that has just about enough attitude for Marines.

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March 10, 2006

Donation from Boston keeps Shreveport, La., boxer swinging


CAMP MERCURY, Iraq (March 10, 2006) -- Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment have a new way to blow off steam at the end of the day. All they have to do is strap on a set of gloves and take a swing at another Marine.

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March 9, 2006

Fricke earns medal for combat valor

MOUNT PULASKI - Twenty-one-year-old Cpl. Matthew Fricke is a hero - not just to his dad, but to the whole U.S. Marine Corps. (3/7)

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New scope proves worth with Darkhorse snipers

CAMP MERCURY, Iraq (March 9, 2006) -- Marine snipers here put the Corps’ latest sniper optic to the test and it proved to be spot-on. Proof is one less bad guy planting roadside bombs.

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1/7 deploys to Iraq for third time


More than 900 Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, began their seven-month deployment to Iraq during the final three days of February.

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March 8, 2006

Marine engineers ‘dig’ broad mission in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 8, 2006) -- Whether they’re sweeping for improvised explosive devices, reinforcing outlying posts or joining foot patrols, combat engineers with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, stay busy.

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March 7, 2006

Regimental Combat Team 7 wraps up counterinsurgency disruption operation in Al Anbar Province

PRESS RELEASE
CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq -- Regimental Combat Team 7 concluded a five-day long disruption operation dubbed Al Asad (Lion) Sunday morning.

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RCT-5 partners with Iraqi brigade

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 7, 2006) -- A partnership between Regimental Combat Team 5 and the Iraqi Army here was cemented when commanders from the coalition shook hands yesterday.

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March 5, 2006

Marines take refuge in Bull Pen to keep in touch

CAMP MERCURY, Iraq (March 5, 2006) -- Marines sit patiently on wooden benches and wait their turn to call home. A voice calls “Computer five, time’s up!”

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March 4, 2006

Dunham bill finally on way to president

SCIO - The bill to rename the Scio post office after Jason Dunham is on its way to the desk of President George W. Bush.

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March 2, 2006

Rolling memorial carries 'Comfort'

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (March 2, 2006) -- Karla Comfort received a lot of looks and even some salutes from people when she drove from Benton, Ark., to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in her newly-painted, custom Hummer H3 March 2.

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March 1, 2006

Pendleton Marines continue progress in western Iraq, prepare for return home


HADITHA DAM, Iraq (March 1, 2006) -- For more than six months, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment has brought stability to the people of western Iraq by training Iraqi Army soldiers and ridding the region of anti-Iraqi forces.

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February 27, 2006

Marines leave no place for insurgents to hide in western Al Anbar

KHAFFAJIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 26, 2006) -- Marines in the Haditha Dam region continued to keep insurgents on their heels during another counterinsurgency operation here Feb. 26.

Continue reading "Marines leave no place for insurgents to hide in western Al Anbar" »

February 25, 2006

Darkhorse Marines find, destroy stacks of buried munitions

CAMP MERCURY, Iraq(Feb. 25, 2006) -- Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Edward looked at the stacks of unearthed munitions and shook his head in disbelief.

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1/7 Family Day provides unit, family integration


Friends and family members of the Marines and Sailors of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, gathered for the unit's Family Day at the Combat Center's Victory Field Feb. 17.

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February 23, 2006

1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment flies Newport Beach flag

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Feb. 23, 2006) -- Marines from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment have a new dash of color in the skies here.

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Grunts receive new tools to defeat IEDs

CAMP MERCURY, Iraq (Feb. 23, 2006) -- Technology continues to make its way to the front lines, giving Marines new tools to counter improvised explosive devices, the biggest threat to Marine patrols in the area.

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February 22, 2006

Regimental Combat Team 5 begins operations in Al Anbar Province

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Regimental Combat Team 5 successfully conducted a relief-in-place with Regimental Combat Team 8 and assumed responsibility for an area of operations in eastern Al Anbar Province today.

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‘Darkhorse’ pauses to honor their fallen

CAMP SMITTY, Iraq(Feb. 22, 2006) -- Marines of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 gathered here to remember two fallen men Monday, Feb. 20.

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Regimental Combat Team 5 begins operations in Al Anbar Province

Feb. 22, 2006

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Regimental Combat Team 5 successfully conducted a relief-in-place with Regimental Combat Team 8 and assumed responsibility for an area of operations in eastern Al Anbar Province today.

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February 21, 2006

For Headquarters Company, training is continuous

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Feb. 21, 2006) -- Navy Seaman Apprentice Bradley L. Jones has one good reason for getting better at handling his rifle in Iraq.

“I will protect my patients at all costs.”

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February 19, 2006

13th MEU, 2/1 return after seven months afloat

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2006) -- Around 3,000 Camp Pendleton-based Marines reunited with their families after seven months afloat Feb. 19.

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February 17, 2006

Marines patrol with Iraqi Army

SUBIYHAT, Iraq (Feb. 17, 2006) -- The sight of Marines and Iraqi soldiers patrolling the streets together is becoming more common throughout villages on the outskirts of Fallujah.

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February 15, 2006

Tattoos Honor Marines Killed In Iraq and Help the Survivors

RAMADI, Iraq -- Not long before the invasion of Iraq, when death still seemed far over the horizon, Jason Lemieux joked that he would tattoo Ruben Valdez's name on his arm if his buddy were killed in action.

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February 14, 2006

3/7, Iraqi Army work together making Ramadi streets safer


AR RAMADI, Iraq (Feb. 14, 2006) -- The patrol almost screams to a stop, with humvees speeding past the targeted vehicle only to turn suddenly and cordon off the traffic while Marines and Iraqi soldiers quickly climb out and secure the area. While the selected vehicle is rapidly emptied and searched thoroughly, another squad searches the occupants for anything that might link them to the insurgency and asks them if they have information that could prove helpful.

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Iraqi sniper gives reporter a rude welcome to Ramadi

Editor's note: Antonio Castaneda, an Associated Press reporter, is embedded with Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment. Here is his first-person account:

Ramadi, Iraq - A loud "zing" echoed across the street, as if someone had swung an aluminum bat against a pole. I instinctively ducked, then quickly pressed up against the front- right tire of the car nearest me.

Continue reading "Iraqi sniper gives reporter a rude welcome to Ramadi" »

February 13, 2006

15th MEU Marines get 'dunked' during water ditching course

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2006) -- Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit recently attended the Basic Aircraft Ditching Course as part of their annual training in preparation for deployment later this year.

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February 10, 2006

Deploying infantry Marines raid MOUT town

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2006) -- Cpl. Glen R. Clacher knows the best way to prepare for Iraq is to get a little taste of it before he deploys.

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January 31, 2006

20-year-old Pendleton man succumbs to injuries from Iraq explosion

English teacher Gayle Smith could always count on Hugo Lopez to come around to see her, first as a student at her Fullerton high school and later as a faithful volunteer who showed up every Friday morning to help drive other teens to volunteer jobs at a nearby elementary school.

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January 30, 2006

Sensational Country Music Romance Is Hot as Jessica Hawthorn's "High Heels" Album

Hollywood . Nashville . New York . Palms, CA -- Marine Corps Base (PRWEB) January 30, 2006 -- Jessica Hawthorn's a country music singer from Texas. Justin Hawthorn is a Marine Corps veteran with two tours of duty in Iraq. They met and fell in love. They were married and then Justin was immediately deployed to Iraq for another tour of duty. For seven long months, Jessica has anticipated what his homecoming is going to be like.

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January 29, 2006

War Dogs come back from Iraq, return to new lives

The Combat Center's Victory Field was filled with high spirits Sunday afternoon when the families and friends of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, gathered to greet their returning heroes.

The celebration called for balloons, ribbons, flags, cheering, banners and posters that read, "Welcome home".

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Some stay, some go, all proud

As the final year of a Marine's enlistment approaches, he or she may be unsure whether or not to stay in the Corps. What some Marines may not take into consideration is that there are benefits in staying Marine.

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January 26, 2006

Marines revamp training after learning what works, what doesn't in Iraq

TWENTYNINE PALMS – The last time Lt. James Richardson went to war, his men trained in abandoned military housing not far from an outlet mall in Riverside County.

Despite the unlikely venue, the Marines thought the training program would give them an edge against insurgents in Iraq. (1/7)

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January 22, 2006

The Fewer. The Proud. The Corpsmen.

Wherever Marines go, there are corpsmen following, guarding and watching over the wellbeing of the Marine unit. Seaman John Bradley was the corpsman with the notorious 28th Marine Regiment who raised the American flag on Mt. Suribachi during the invasion of Iwo Jima. (3/11)

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January 21, 2006

250 depart for duty in Anbar province

CAMP PENDLETON – About 250 troops from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment left the base yesterday to begin a seven-month deployment in Iraq.

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Marines honored at Bob Hope Classic

Bob Hope would have been proud.

The late, legendary star and Palm Springs resident was renowned for entertaining U.S. troops through four wars and six decades. On Friday, his namesake PGA golf tournament, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, continued the tradition.

Some 80 U.S. Marines and their families stationed in Twentynine Palms were special guests of the tournament and corporate sponsor Marriott Vacation Club International.

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January 20, 2006

Marines enjoy family and friends one last time before deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Jan. 20, 2006) -- Marines from Camp Pendleton enjoyed a day of rest and relaxation during an afternoon, lakeside barbecue here Jan. 20 as an impending deployment to Iraq creeps up on them in the coming weeks.

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January 16, 2006

3/1 Marines and Iraqi Army unearth weapons caches


BARWANAH, Iraq (Jan. 15, 2006) -- The day is chilly and windy in the middle of a wadi on the outskirts of Barwanah where aside from the view of the city, there is nothing except barren desert. (3/1)

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Norwalk, Calif., native keeps commander safe


HADITHA DAM, Iraq(Jan. 16, 2006) -- The job of lead vehicle gunner for a convoy in Iraq is one of the most dangerous and demanding jobs for a Marine, as insurgents continue to place roadside bombs aimed at injuring Marines, Iraqi soldiers, police and civilians.
(3/1)

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January 15, 2006

Thrice-hurt Marine undeterred

PROUD PARENTS — Leslie and Doyle Perkins look at a photo album and read letters from their son, Lance Cpl. Preston “Cody” Perkins, pictured in foreground. Cody Perkins, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, also known as the “Thundering Third,” has been a Marine for just 21/2 years but has already been awarded three Purple Hearts. PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT / THE MERIDIAN STAR

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January 14, 2006

Baldwin, Wis., native works alongside Iraqi troops

AL TAMAL, Iraq (Jan. 14, 2006) -- The last time Corporal Matt D. McGee was deployed to Iraq he was responsible for finding and destroying the enemy and maintaining his personal weapon and light armored vehicle.

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Kenai, Alaska, “doc” confirms calling in Iraq

AL TAMAL, Iraq (Jan. 14, 2006) -- Seaman Bryan W. Stocks, a 20-year-old Kenai, Alaska, native and platoon hospital corpsman for 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, had a tough choice to make when he was considering enlisting into the Navy: nuclear physics or medicine

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War Dogs' advance party comes home

After seven grueling months of carrying out combat operations in Iraq, more than 40 Marines of the advance party of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, returned to the Combat Center Wednesday to reunite with their loved ones and lives left behind.

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January 13, 2006

Los Angeles native trains Iraqi soldiers

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Jan. 13, 2006) -- Any drill instructor can tell you that making warriors out of young men and women fresh from the civilian world is challenging, but ultimately a rewarding task. The long hours, the high expectations and the cost of failure all weigh heavily before the ultimate day of graduation and the turning over of their charge to the wide world mark their success.

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January 12, 2006

Purple Heart received after 55 years

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Jan. 12, 2006) -- Private First Class Frank Albano, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, was injured by shrapnel at Inchon, South Korea in 1950, just two years after enlisting in the Marine Corps. More than five decades later, the 76-year-old veteran was awarded his Purple Heart.
(1/1)

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January 11, 2006

3/11 Kilo prodigies prepare to deploy

Cannoneers with Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, take advantage of some down time behind their M198 Towed Howitzer aboard the Combat Center's training area Dec. 8. Kilo Battery switched from the M777 Lightweight Howitzer and began training with the M198 Towed Howitzer in preparation of their upcoming deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

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January 10, 2006

Southern Calif., Marine keeps Light Armor Recon running

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq(Jan. 11, 2006) -- Without a continuous flow of supplies, combat-ready units within the Marine Corps would cease to function. This is where Marines like Lance Cpl. Kevin J. Bourbon, a supply administration and operations clerk, play a big role in ensuring that does not happen. (1st LAR)

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3/11 Mike Battery causes chaos with new howitzer

During Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 in January 2003, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, provided artillery support crucial in allowing I Marine Expeditionary Force to penetrate deep into Iraqi territory and bring down Saddam Hussein's regime in 21 days of major combat operations, according to the 3/11 Web site.

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January 9, 2006

Operation Red Bull disrupts terrorism in “Triad” area

WESTERN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Jan. 9, 2006) -- For more than two weeks, Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, conducted sweeps along the Euphrates River shore to disrupt terrorist operations in the area.

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January 8, 2006

Operation Long Horn impacts uncharted territory

LAKE THAR THAR, Iraq(Jan. 8, 2006) -- Marines with Mobile Assault Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, rooted out insurgents in remote areas of western Al Anbar province Jan. 5 to the 10.

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With hugs goodbye, Marines off for Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON – Pfc. Norman Burge knelt next to his wife and sleeping baby boy and smoked a cigarette. His black rifle leaned against a backpack. Absent-mindedly, he turned his gold wedding band. (3/5)

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Marine Battalion Taking 3rd Tour to Iraq


About 300 troops from Camp Pendleton will help train Iraqi security forces. For their loved ones, the worrying and waiting never get easier.

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Camp Pendleton Marines leave for Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON ---- Wearing a pink jacket amid a sea of camouflage uniforms, Emma McCurdy grabbed her dad's ears and removed his hat and put it on her head multiple times Saturday morning, prompting him to smile and embrace the 20-month-old girl tightly. (3/5)

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Family night a success for 7th Marines

Fun, food and family was the name of the game as more than 200 Marines, Sailors and their families gathered for the Headquarters Company's, 7th Marine Regiment, family night Dec. 15 at Victory Field.

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Iraqi Freedom vets prepare for third deployment

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2006) -- When Lance Cpl. Joseph T. Fischer learned that he would be deploying to Iraq this year, he knew coming back alive was going to depend on some solid training from his battalion’s combat veterans. (1/7)

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January 7, 2006

25,000 from region in troop rotation


Once more into the breach.

Today, the first trickle of Camp Pendleton Marines will head back to Iraq. During the coming weeks, 25,000 Marines and sailors based in Southern California will follow them in an important troop rotation for the U.S. campaign in Iraq.

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Camp Pendleton Marines Deployed To Iraq For 3rd Time

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Hundreds of San Diego County-based U.S. Marines and sailors began a seven-month deployment Saturday in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (3/5)

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3/5 says farewell, heads to Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2006) -- Before the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stepped off to another deployment in Iraq, they got one last chance to bid farewell to their families in Camp San Mateo Jan. 7.

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January 5, 2006

Marines provide escort as Iraqis unload critical medical supplies

Iraqi soldiers deliver two-month stockpile in Ramadi

By Monte Morin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, January 5, 2006

RAMADI, Iraq — It was no time for cigarettes and chai.

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Memorial unveiled for fallen "Darkhorse" Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2006) -- The memory of fallen Marines lives on in a new painting at the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's command post in Camp San Mateo.

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Hundreds Of Marines, Sailors Set To Deploy This Weekend

3/5
Battalion's Deployment To Iraq Will Be Its Third Since 2003

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Marine division in fatal crash had served two tours of duty in Iraq

RANCHO BERNARDO ---- A Marine and a sailor killed Wednesday night in a military vehicle accident on Interstate 15 were identified Thursday by Marine officials, and remembered by friends. (3rd LAR Marines)

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January 4, 2006

Painting honors Marines fighting in Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON ---- As they near deployment back to Iraq, many for the third time since the initial U.S. invasion in 2003, Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment paused Tuesday to honor their comrades killed fighting in Fallujah in 2004.

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December 29, 2005

Santa Ana, Calif. native keeps Marines battle-ready


HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Dec. 27, 2005) -- Known as one of a Marine’s best friends, the Navy field corpsman spends most of his time keeping Marines healthy and battle-ready while operating in the most hostile combat environments.

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Marine Sweeps for IEDs in Haqlaniyah

U.S. Marine Corps
Lance Cpl. Darin Wittnebel

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December 18, 2005

Combat Center units return from Western Pacific

Roughing a cold desert night, friends and family members of the Marines and Sailors of India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, excitedly awaited the arrival of their loved ones Dec. 7 at Victory Field.

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December 14, 2005

Oconomowoc, Wis., native sweeps for IEDs in Haqlaniyah


HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 14, 2005) -- In the town of Haqlaniyah, the “Raiders” of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, continue to patrol the streets every day, keeping the area safe from the ongoing insurgency.

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December 12, 2005

Gift idea for soldier gets Bookman's help

W. Douglas Pritchard just wanted to send a book as a Christmas gift for a friend serving in Iraq.
Now, it looks as if Pritchard could be helping to send potentially hundreds of books to service personnel in Iraq in the coming months, with the support of a Central Tucson bookstore.

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Headquarters Company 7th Marines prepares to march into combat

The mission of a Marine Corps rifle squad is to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat. (7th Marine HQ)

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11th MEU Marines, sailors learn ship life is hard work, plenty of play

ABOARD THE USS PELELIU (Dec. 12, 2005) -- Many Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are getting their first taste of ship life during Composite Training Unit Exercise here off the coast of Camp Pendleton Nov. 29-Dec. 14.

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December 9, 2005

3/7 Marines discover weapons caches during Operation Machete

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, with support from the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and the local Iraqi Army unit, unearthed the largest cache of hidden insurgent weapons found by the unit near the Euphrates River Nov. 20.

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Combat engineers work with 3/7 to find IEDs

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 9, 2005) -- Marines from Company C, 1st Combat Engineers Battalion, recently accompanied Combined Anti-Armor Team White on a raid Nov.1 to search local businesses for weapons caches and insurgent information. (3/7 and 1st CEB)

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Marines in Iraq reflect on Thanksgiving Day

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq (Dec. 9, 2005) -- Across Iraq, service members celebrated Thanksgiving Day with turkey served in chow halls, turkey meals-ready-to-eat for those outside of bases, and services commemorating an event older than the United States itself. For some, it was a time to remember their families and friends back home, for others who were recently involved in combat against insurgents during Operation Steel Curtain, it was a moment to reflect and give thanks. (2/1)

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New Movie needs OUR help! Make Peace or Die: The First Days of War in Iraq with 1/5

MOVIE: Make Peace or Die: The First Days of War in Iraq with 1st Battalion 5th Marines

INTRO:
March 2003 - Thousands of troops are massed on the border of Iraq poised for war. Among the first to cross the line of departure is one of the most decorated units in the American military having served since World War I: First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. The Marine Corps infantry unit known as “1/5” (one-five) carries to battle a flag with its salient motto, “Make Peace or Die.”

Show your support and help make this film public.

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December 7, 2005

Hagee visits Marines in Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq — Marine Commandant Gen. Mike Hagee dropped in on the leathernecks of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines today, in a visit to what a top commander here calls “the most dangerous place in Iraq.”

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December 6, 2005

Patrolling Haqlaniyah


On patrol with the Raiders of Kilo Company in Haqlaniyah

HAQLANIYAH, IRAQ: The drive from Haditha Dam to Haglaniyah was fast and furious. The night starts with a ride in the back of an open 7 ton transport with a crew from Sky News and a team of Marines. The convoy roared down the roads at high speed during the night in blackout conditions, making turns a truck that large had no right making. The trip from the dam to Raider Nation, the foward position of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion,1st Marines, was low key save some interesting driving.

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Marines died inside old mill

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Marine Corps updated their report Tuesday on the deaths of 10 Marines on Dec. 1.

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December 3, 2005

3/7 finishes Operation Shank

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 3, 2005) -- Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment recently worked with Iraqi Army soldiers during Operation Shank in an effort to decrease the insurgent threat before the upcoming elections.

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December 2, 2005

Operation Shank begins in Ramadi

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq — Approximately 200 Iraqi Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 7th Division and 300 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, launched Operation Harba (Shank) today in Ar Ramadi.

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Injured USC graduate returns home for holidays


Marine sustained injuries to right side of body during war in Iraq (3/1)

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November 29, 2005

Pendleton Marine Awarded Silver Star


CAMP PENDLETON – A Marine sergeant who rescued his platoon commander from a burning vehicle during a firefight with Iraqi insurgents last year is to receive the Silver Star Wednesday in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton Marine Base (1/5)

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November 25, 2005

2/7 lieutenant comes across hardships during honorable service

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.(Nov. 25, 2005) -- Semper Fidelis is more than just a motto to for Marines; it’s a way of life. It’s a commitment Marines all share to the country, to the Corps and to each other.

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November 24, 2005

Just another day in Iraq

Holiday bittersweet for U.S. troops far from home
U.S. Marines receive special Thanksgiving dinners at a U.S. Marine base near the Syrian border Thursday. (1st LAR)

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November 23, 2005

Family to bring Marines turkey


MERIDALE — Thanksgiving dinner for Reggie Ross II is going to be a lot different this year.

For one thing, the 20-year-old Marine is not going to be in Iraq eating canned turkey like last year.

And he’s not even going to be at Camp Lejeune, N.C., eating mess hall food.

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November 20, 2005

San Jose, Calif., native helps CAG patrol through city

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- During a recent civil affairs patrol, some of the Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment guard force were asked to come along as a security element. For the guard Marines, who usually spend their days and nights keeping watch from guard towers, getting the opportunity to participate in a foot patrol was an exciting opportunity that they have looked forward to since arriving in country more than two months ago.

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Marine Corps birthday more than a ball for Marines of 3/7

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- Third Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s commander, Lt. Col. Roger Turner, and sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Walter Kilgore, toured the city of Ar Ramadi Nov. 10.

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November 18, 2005

2/7's RBE Fights Battle Off Battlefield

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2005) -- “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem.” — Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States; 1985

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November 15, 2005

Combat Center brings intense glimpse of urban warfare to Marines

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.(Nov. 15, 2005) -- As Marines are steadily deploying to fight the war on terrorism, the Marine Corps is progressively preparing for the real deal with an imitation of Iraq’s urban infrastructure in training exercises. There are numerous military operations on urban terrain facilities that attempt to capture the reality of urban warfare. (3/5)

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November 14, 2005

Marines, Iraqi troops fight on through house and street fighting


UBAYDI, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2005) -- Third platoon, Company E, and other Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, continued the morning push into the city here Nov. 14. Temporarily assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2 for Operation Steel Curtain, the Marines, and Iraqi troops with the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the Iraqi Army, previously encountered an entrenched enemy at Ubaydi’s city gates.

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3rd Platoon confronts enemy at Ubaydi


UBAYDI, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2005) -- At an assembly area in the Iraqi desert, Nov. 14 began with a wake up at 3 a.m. Marines with 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable), roused up from their sleeping bags and gathered up their equipment.

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A Bomb and Birthday in Karabilah; 3rd Platoon continues push

KARABILAH, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2005) -- The platoon of Marines set off on foot the morning of Nov. 8 towards Karabilah. In the first three days of Operation Steel Curtain, 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, temporarily under Regimental Combat Team 2, had cleared parts of Husaybah.

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November 11, 2005

L.A. native mans posts to keep Marines safe

BARWANA, Iraq(Nov. 10, 2005) -- Being an infantryman and standing security posts go hand in hand when in Iraq. While some are in security positions and others are regulating traffic, these posts are an important part of keeping Marines safe here. (3/1)

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Marines continue sweep in Husaybah

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, November 11, 2005

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Marines on Thursday marched though garden courtyards, climbed over crumbling stone walls and ducked under clotheslines as they continued their house-by-house search of this Syrian border city and neared the close of one of their largest operations in months. (2/1)

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November 10, 2005

3/5 tests mettle at Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.(Nov. 10, 2005) -- The battle-tested Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment are currently undergoing Mojave Viper, a month-long combined arms exercise designed to prepare them for their return to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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November 8, 2005

Making Tribal War Work for the U.S. in Iraq

TIME's Chris Allbritton, with Marines in Huseybah, finds that the U.S. has turned former enemies into allies by fighting their pro-Qaeda tribal rivals (2/1)

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Offensive in western Iraq ends,

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Two thousand Marine infantrymen completed a four-day sweep through the city Tuesday and continued their advance into a suburban strip leading east to the riverside town of Karabilah. (2/1)

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Marines find it's a small Marine Corps, build lasting friendship

HADITHA DAM, Iraq(Nov. 8, 2005) -- The phrase, ‘It’s a small world,’ is used when people unexpectedly reunite. For two Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, it’s not just a small world, it’s a small Marine Corps.

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November 7, 2005

Third Platoon, Company E, pushes thru west Iraq

HUSAYBAH, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2005) -- The Marines were on the constant move against insurgents in Al Anbar province, Iraq since their deployment to Iraq last October. Temporarily assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2, the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), helped provide security for the main supply routes in the desert lands of western Iraq near Syria and Jordan.

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November 5, 2005

Did local Marines see themselves in movie 'Jarhead'?

A theater full of Twentynine Palms Marines watching a movie scene depicting a theater full of Twentynine Palms Marines cheering as they watched a movie scene of Air Cavalry choppers roaring over the beaches of Vietnam in the movie "Apocalypse Now." (3rd LAR Charlie Co. )

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November 3, 2005

Marines Behind The Machines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Nov. 3, 2005) -- Marines from several Camp Pendleton-based units honed their machine gun skills recently for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (3/5)

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Company L works with ISF on humanitarian mission

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines recently assisted members of the local Iraqi Security Force and 6th Civil Affairs Group in delivering more than $500,000 of medical supplies to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital here Oct. 25. (3/7 Lima Co. Wpns CAAT Blue / 6th CAG)

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Corpsman continues to care for Marines after losing leg

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- It is unadulterated courage in the face of horrifying danger and risk. It is being able to perform under fire while knowing you are probably going to lose a leg. It is taking care of your Marines when everything is on the line. It is duty, courage and love all together. It is what Nathaniel Leoncio showed the Marines of Company L the morning of Oct. 4. (3/7 Co. L)

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November 2, 2005

Advanced technology saves Texas Marine

Video Clip of 3/4 Marine recovering after 4/19/2005 injuries sustained while in Iraq.

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October 31, 2005

3/11 families see green side at ‘Warrior Day’

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2005) -- “STANDBY!” She pulls the lanyard taut as she awaits the command to fire. “FIRE!” With the other end connected to a M777 155 mm lightweight howitzer ready to fire, she pulls the lanyard, sending a high explosive round down range with an earth-shaking explosion, its impact visible on a nearby mountain as a cloud of smoke and dust.

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October 30, 2005

Young soldier takes not one but two bullets in same week

John McClellan’s buddies call him lucky.

His mom looks above and thanks a higher power for her son’s relative well being. 2/3

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Away from bases in Iraq, GIs often become univited guests

HADITHA, Iraq - The Marines call it a necessary evil - taking over houses and buildings for military use. For the Iraqis who become unwilling hosts, it can be anything from a mild inconvenience to a disruption that tears apart lives. (3/1)

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October 29, 2005

'To Iraq and Back'

2/7 families tread same distance as deployed loved ones

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Marine from Dallas decorated

Silver Star honors captain who led platoon to safety in Iraq

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October 28, 2005

Marine receives Silver Star medal for combat valor

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON, Washington D.C. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- The annals of Marine Corps history are filled with stories of men and women who have sacrificed their all in service to their country. Puller, Basilone, Lejeune, Butler, Daley—names that are synonymous with valor in combat and Marine Corps lore.

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3rd LAR Wolfpack's Charlie Company sinks fangs into combat readiness

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- A legion of light armored vehicles appeared at dawn traveling in a pack through the Combat Center, journeying into a training area. (3rd LAR / pic at ext link)

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Marines ‘borrow’ Haditha homes

HADITHA, Iraq — The Marines call it a necessary evil — taking over houses and buildings for military use. For the Iraqis who become unwilling hosts, it can be anything from a mild inconvenience to a disruption that tears apart lives. (3/1)

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Mount students hear Marine’s speech from Iraq

Marine Cpl. Ryan Groves, who was injured while on military duty in Iraq, returned to Mount Union College on Thursday to discuss his personal experiences. Groves, 25, who is from Portage County, lost much of his left leg when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded near him. (3/1 Marine)

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1st LAR finds weapons cache in underground bunker

BARWANA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion uncovered a cache of weapons after receiving a tip on the site’s approximate location. (1st LAR / RCT-2 / 2nd Brigade Combat Team)

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Kuwaiti-born Marine on third deployment in Iraq

BARWANA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- While many service members view a deployment to Iraq as a long separation from their family, Cpl. Yousef A. Badou sees it as a chance to visit his family who live in Kuwait near a U.S. military base. (1st LAR / pic at ext link)

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Civil affairs impacts Haditha

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Seven members of 6th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment 3, Team 5 spend each day here helping rebuild a war-torn city so people can live normal lives again. (6th CAG / 3/1)

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EOD keeps roads safe in Haditha

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Even though the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment aren’t fighting insurgents face-to-face, they are still fighting an explosive enemy that lurks beneath them as they patrol the city.

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October 27, 2005

Logistics progressing toward future

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (10/27/2005) -- Marine Corps logistics has taken a step into the future with an overhaul of its logistics units enabling the Corps to better support the War on Terrorism as well as future operations. (1st FSSG / 1st MLG)

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Supply management Marines prepare for Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(10/27/2005) -- Marines need everything from food to fuel to firepower to get the mission done in Iraq. For Supply Management Unit Marines, getting these supplies from Point A to Point B is a crucial job. (1st FSSG)

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Houston native's former DI now his platoon sergeant

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 27, 2005) -- Like many new Marines fresh out of their military occupational specialty school, Lance Cpl. Richard D. Poulis was worried he wouldn't know anyone in his unit. (1/5)

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Iraqi commander visits Marines and Iraqi soldiers in Haditha

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- The commander of Iraqi ground forces met with the Iraqi troops and leaders of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, here Oct. 12 to discuss joint successes during Operation River Gate.

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October 26, 2005

Idaho Falls native keeps convoys safe in Iraq

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Oct. 26, 2005) -- Traveling on the roads in Iraq can be dangerous as insurgents continue placing roadside bombs and targeting Marines and civilians. (3/1)

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October 23, 2005

MITT teams building ISF up with hard work

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 14, 2005) -- One of the biggest challenges, and key factors in creating a stable Iraqi state is helping to create and train a national army that can protect and uphold the principles of freedom that Coalition Forces is fighting. (3/7 Kilo photos at external link)

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October 22, 2005

Unseen Enemy Is at Its Fiercest in a Sunni City

RAMADI, Iraq, Oct. 22 - The Bradley fighting vehicles moved slowly down this city's main boulevard. Suddenly, a homemade bomb exploded, punching into one vehicle. Then another explosion hit, briefly lifting a second vehicle up onto its side before it dropped back down again. (3/7 Lima and Kilo in depth)

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A daily struggle for control

RAMADI, IRAQ - The Bradley fighting vehicles moved slowly down Ramadi's main boulevard. Suddenly, a homemade bomb exploded, punching into one vehicle. Then another explosion hit, lifting a second vehicle onto its side before it dropped down again. (3/7 K)

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Owosso, Mich., native excited to serve in Iraq

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- The challenge of the military is a draw for many. For Lance Cpl. Troy White, the choice boiled down to which path would provide the biggest test. It didn’t take him long to come up with the right answer – The Marine Corps. (3/7 Lima 2nd Plt. / photos at external link)

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3/7 works with ISF, IECI during national elections

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- With each passing day, the people of Iraq take another step toward self-sufficiency and away from the horrors and oppression they have lived under for most of their lives. On Oct. 15, the people of Ar Ramadi participated in the referendum vote on a proposed national constitution. If approved, it would be a major leap forward in the struggle for democracy. (3/7 6th CAG and Kilo 2nd Plt / photo at external link)

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3/7 Marines construct living space for ISF

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- To help with training operations involving the Iraqi Security Force, Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, helped build a new berthing area for Iraqi troops working out of the Snake Pit base. (3/7 Lima and 1st CEB / photos at external link)

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Oxnard, Calif., native gets experience to succeed

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- Being a Navy corpsman is one of the most demanding and respected jobs in the military. Not only are they expected to be fully capable of performing life-saving field medicine under fire, they also must maintain the standards and discipline of the Marines they work with. For Seaman Allen Pham, a corpsman with 2nd Platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, the challenge of deploying and working with the best was part of the appeal.

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Members of CAG and 3/7 meet the people of Ar Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- Marines from 6th Civil Affairs Group and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s recently conducted a presence patrol to survey the Ramadi citizen’s willingness to vote, determine the level of support for the proposed constitution and to see if the local schools needed support. (CAG photos at ext. link)

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Marines sweep through Ar Ramadi during Operation Bowie

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- Two platoons from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, along with two Army units and a company from the Iraqi Security Force, took part in Operation Bowie, Oct.2 through the 4 in order to disrupt insurgent positions in southern Ar Ramadi.

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October 21, 2005

Stafford, Va., native serves in Operation Iraq Freedom

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Being a Marine is something Lance Cpl. Joel Mulligan always wanted to be. Coming from a military family, the choice wasn’t hard for the 20-year-old from Stafford, Va.

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Missoula, Mont., native seeing the world and loving it

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- People join the military for many reasons. Some join for adventure, some for college money, some for travel and some join for the experience and chance to serve their country. Lance Cpl. Brandon Holland, a 20-year-old from Missoula, Mont., decided to enlist and become a Marine for all those reasons and more. (3/7)

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Chicago native finds direction, guidance in the Marine Corps

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Some people need the guidance and direction the Marine Corps provides and Pfc. David Smush, a machine gunner with Weapons Platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was one of them.

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Orange County, Calif., native joins Corps for many reasons

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. James Loomis joined the Marine Corps for a number of reasons. While some people join for adventure or college money, others join for the chance to travel and experience other cultures. Loomis, a machine gunner from Orange County, Calif., enlisted in the Corps for all those reasons and more.

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Centralia, Wash., native doing his part in Ar Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Many young men and women harbor dreams of serving their country and enlisting in the Marine Corps. Joe Bier from Centralia, Wash., is following that dream. (3/7L)

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The battle continues for Marine leader

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.(Oct. 21, 2005) -- The stories of authentic warriors are told, retold and passed down through generations of Marines. Even in a culture that demands elite performance from its members, there are a few special warriors who overshadow all expectations and become legendary. (3/11)

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11th MEU wraps up TRUE, first step to SOC

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2005) -- The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted its Training in an Urban Environment exercise here, Oct. 11-20, in preparation for their upcoming deployment. (MHS 166, MEUSSG 11, 1/4 BLT 1st Bn / pics at ext link)

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October 20, 2005

Recovering Marines treated with DVDs, PS2s and other accommodations at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 20, 2005) -- Wounded servicemembers will no longer settle for a few channels of television as new entertainment equipment was provided to improve their stay during the healing process.

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Edgewood, Iowa native gets college and whole lot more


AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 20, 2005) -- For many, getting a four-year degree from a college or university is the path to accomplishing their career goals. However, for a number of people, the cost of attending those schools is prohibitive. Private First Class David Shellito Jr., found a way to pay for his school, as well as gain valuable leadership skills when he joined the Marine Corps. (3/7)

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October 19, 2005

3/1 cooks keep Marines happy

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005) -- Most people get stressed out when they have to prepare a Thanksgiving Day meal and the whole family is coming.

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Peoria, Ill., native becoming a man in the Corps

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 19, 2005) -- In the eyes of Josey Wenger, the Marine Corps offered a chance to test himself in the most strenuous of circumstances – War. Private First Class
Wenger, a rifleman with 2nd platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, decided to become a Marine to find out more about himself. (3/7)

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Pomona, Calif., native supports Iraqi referendum in Haditha

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 15, 2005) -- Iraqi Security Forces and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment provided security for the constitutional referendum as citizens cast their vote here Oct. 15. (3/1 / pics at ext. link)

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October 18, 2005

Man’s best friend patrols beside Marines

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005) -- The use of dogs as guardians of military camps to protect against surprise attacks dates back to ancient Egypt. Today, dogs are not only guarding bases but also patrolling with Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in Iraq

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Newport Beach honors Marines

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2005) -- When Marine 1st Sgt. John S. Kob returned home from Iraq in June, his family was ready to receive him with open arms, but 140,000 arms could get exhausting. (1/1)

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October 17, 2005

12th Marines engage in live-fire training at Fuji

Exercises aim for better assessment of arms proficiency

Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, October 17, 2005

Three elements of the 12th Marines — Company B, 1st Battalion; Company L, 3rd Battalion; and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion — will take part in an exercise called Fuji Combined Arms Operation, according to Marine Corps public affairs. (3/11)

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October 15, 2005

Tanks roll back home, reunite with their loved ones

Seven months of nervousness and restless nights finally came to end for a lot of loving family members and friends, and the time to celebrate with the ones they missed the most returned

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October 13, 2005

Camp Pendleton-based rifleman awarded Silver Star

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2005) -- When rocket-propelled grenades, machineguns and small arms fire headed in Cpl. Abraham McCarver's direction, he fought back - while saving the life of his platoon commander in the process.

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October 12, 2005

For one corporal, small-unit leadership more important than ever

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 12, 2005) -- It’s 4 a.m., and the frigid morning temperatures have left the ground frozen and forced Cpl. Rey Leal, a fire team leader for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, into his over-night cocoon.

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October 7, 2005

Marines find insurgency's deadly tools in Haditha

Weapons cache found buried in courtyard of mosque (3/1)

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Balancing duty and family while striving for victory

TWENTYNINE PALMS - Fernando Linares is 3 years old, turns 4 on Halloween. On Wednesday, he wore khaki-colored desert fatigues just like his daddy's, right down to his tiny camouflage cap, and waited with his mommy, Carmen, for a father he has rarely seen.

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October 6, 2005

1/5 returns from tour in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Oct. 6, 2005) -- The excitement intensified for the Marines and sailors as their convoy of white busses carried them closer to the camp here during the early-morning hours of Sept. 28.

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BLT 1/4 conducts nonlethal force training

PHOTO ESSAY- go to USMC website for more

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3/11 artillerymen strut into Victory Field for a safe return to their families

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2005) -- During Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 in January 2003, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, provided timely and accurate fires that were crucial in allowing I Marine Expeditionary Force to progress deep into Iraqi territory and bring down Saddam Hussein’s Regime in 21 days of major combat operations. (3/11 )

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150 Twentynine Palms Marines return home from Iraq

More than 150 Twentynine Palms Marines returned home from Iraq today. The two units served in Al Anbar province since the Spring. NewsChannel 3 was at the Marine homecoming on base this afternoon.

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October 3, 2005

“Beastmasters” provide Camp Fallujah with counter battery fire

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Oct. 3, 2005) -- Amidst the noises created by the operating forces here daily, nothing penetrates the ear drum more precisely than the cannon blasts emanating from the outer perimeter of the base. (1/11)

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Michigan Marine keeps howitzer in fight

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 2, 2005) -- Moving quickly in the midst of outgoing artillery fire here, the cannoneers work methodically and with precision as they deliver devastating salvos in support of Marines operating within the nearby area.

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October 2, 2005

Training to protect freedom...

YAUSUBETSU, Japan (Oct. 1, 2002) -- A Marine shouts out "fire mission!" and the command is repeated several times across the gun line as the King of Battle spontaneously springs into action.

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September 29, 2005

Return to Iraq3

FALLUJAH, Iraq—When the Marines attacked through the city last November, inside 17 houses they found cell blocks, chains screwed into ceilings, blood-splattered walls, the flags and propaganda pamphlets of al-Qaida, and mutilated corpses. There was a torture house somewhere on just about every major street—one torture chamber for every 20,000 residents. The Jolan district in the northeast, where the 2nd Iraqi Battalion was working, had the highest incidence of intimidation and killings. (2/7)

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September 28, 2005

Encinitas Elks serve up a good time to Marines

ENCINITAS ---- After two back-to-back combat tours in Iraq, 22-year-old Marine Sgt. Rene Escobar said he is often touched by the simple gestures of civilians who reach out to thank him and his fellow Marines. (3rd AAB)

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September 26, 2005

'He Was Always A Joy to Be Around'

KIRKLAND - When terrorists launched the Sept. 11 attacks, a young man in Kirkland made a decision. Lance Cpl. Shane Swanberg decided to join the Marines, so he could make a difference.

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Return to Fallujah

FALLUJAH, Iraq—Marine Staff Sgt. Gordon Van Schoik of Battalion 2/7 found the two insurgents digging under the hardtop of Route Boston at 8 in the morning. The discovery wasn't luck. Weeks earlier, a little farther down the highway, an improvised explosive device had blown up under a Humvee, killing Pfc. Romano Romero, 19, of Long Beach, Calif. He was the 160th American to die in that violence-racked city and the first fatality suffered by 2/7.

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September 25, 2005

3/7 Marines and ISF plan, execute raid

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Marines from 1st and 3rd Squads, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and members from the local Iraqi Security Forces recently participated in a raid to capture four men suspected of attacking Coalition Forces during the previous month. (3/7 Lima)

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Honoring Their Own

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- It’s the hardest thing to do, especially in a brotherhood as close as the Marine Corps. Saying good-bye to one of your own, a fellow Marine lost on the battlefield. The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment recently paid their respects and honored their own when a memorial service was held for Lance Cpl. Shane Swanberg, who died from indirect fire Sept. 15.

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Trial by fire, incoming Marines come under attack

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- As part of continuing operations to eliminate the insurgency in Ar Ramadi and to help acquaint the incoming 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment to the neighborhoods they will be responsible for, 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment recently conducted a number of patrols to find both insurgents.

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3/7 corpsmen go back to basics

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- On the battlefield, the difference between life and death is often very small. Little things like proper first aid skills and administration of ‘buddy aid’ often prove to be the difference between Marines coming home safe or not at all. (3/7)

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Bloomington, Ind., native follows family footsteps

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Some people know, even as a small child, what they want to do with their life. Lance Cpl. Chris Snell has wanted to be a Marine for as long as he could remember, and now his dream has come true. (3/7 Wpns CAAT)

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September 23, 2005

11th Marines show their big guns

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2005) -- Eruptions took place deep in the Mojave Desert from September 13 to the 23rd. The Earth shook and peace in the desolate region was no longer existent. There were trails left behind from demolishing mobs of nomads that caused the raucous – trails of dust, smoke and markings of fire. The legions that created such havoc came from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Their battalions of artillery and their support joined forces at the Combat Center’s training area where they left nothing but destruction.

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Artilleryman is knocked off feet, returns for more

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.(Sept. 23, 2005) -- There are countless threatening missions and operations taking place daily in Operation Iraqi Freedom, some of which are convoy operations.

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Marines cruise Pacific on Zodiacs


KIN BLUE, OKINAWA, Japan(Sept. 23, 2005) -- Pacific Ocean waves tossed and flipped 17 Marines in their Zodiac boats as they participate in the Basic Coxswain Skills Course Sept. 8-28. (2/4)

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September 22, 2005

Identical twins cross paths in Iraq

CAMP HIT, Iraq (Sept. 22, 2005) -- Being born a twin is an uncommon occurrence, but an even more unusual occasion is when two identical twins get a chance to hold a reunion on the sandy terrain of Iraq.

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September 21, 2005

Mission accomplished for Elizabeth City combat vet’s team

Seven months ago, the city’s crumbling buildings and nearly empty streets greeted the Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. Major combat operations had ceased in Fallujah, but the ruins and desolation all around spoke of a conflict not long past.

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August 15, 2005

Weaverville Marine annihilates insurgents

CAMP RAMADI, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Aug. 15, 2005) -- Insurgents have Cpl. Nicholas H. Cole and other combat engineers with 4th Platoon, Company A, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, to blame when they revisit their weapons cache sites and find them empty or destroyed. (1st CEB)

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August 11, 2005

Howitzer booms at Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Aug. 11, 2005) -- Earthquakes aren't the only things rumbling in southern California.

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January 5, 2005

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