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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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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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