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By Brigid Brett | Posted: Friday, September 30, 2011
Richard "Sunny" Farrand hates to see anyone who has been injured while serving in the military falling through the cracks. Which is why he spends pretty much all his time checking up on wounded warriors at Naval Medical Center San Diego and helping military families who are trapped in bureaucratic limbo.
To continue reading:
Friday, September 30, 2011
BY MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
STAFF WRITER
[email protected]
Marine Sgt. Joey Jones of Murrieta missed seven months with his two young sons while he was deployed to the Middle East, so he wanted to make sure his homecoming Friday was memorable.
To continue reading:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_smilitary01.3296d64.html
By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Friday, September 30, 2011
A half-dozen Marines with brain injuries from combat in Afghanistan or Iraq will crawl inside a hyperbaric chamber at Camp Pendleton next week to begin eight weeks of treatment breathing pure oxygen to see if it speeds their recovery.
To continue reading:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_b93bb889-8830-5f98-801b-0d5278c1871b.html
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77875/mps-give-marines-sailors-shocking-experience#.TocjeXKAqso
9/30/2011 By Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers Headquarters Marine Corps
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps has fought to preserve freedom in the United States from the Corps’ inception. In the last decade the Corps has joined a different fight to preserve energy and fossil fuels in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Since 2006, the Marine Corps has funded research into numerous products that not only decrease reliance on natural resources, but more importantly, save deployed Marine lives.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/ProtectingtheplanetalsosavesMarinelives.aspx
Friday, September 30, 2011
By Alexis Stevens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As a child, John Franklin Wimpey Cagle was full of energy and extremely loyal, his former youth pastor said Friday. That fierce loyalty to family and friends made him an ideal candidate for the Marines.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle, of the 2nd LAR:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/marine-from-tucker-dies-1191715.html
Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 09.30.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK - Second Maintenance Battalion concluded a seven-month deployment in support of International Security Assistance Force Operations as 2nd Supply Bn. took the reins as Marine Air Ground Task Force Support Bn. 11.2 during a transfer of authority ceremony here, Sept. 30.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77871/supply-relieves-maintenance-magtf-support-bn-helmand#.TochaXKAqso
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.30.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – It began in recruit training nearly 29 years ago, but Arlington, Va., native Maj. Brian Mullery said his love for physical fitness and running has become an integral part of his life ever since.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77816/virginia-marine-preps-marine-corps-marathon-helmand#.ToXEgVmAqso
The Corps faces budgetary pressures, need to overhaul fleet
Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
7:47 p.m., Sept. 29, 2011
As the Marines celebrate a century of shared aviation history with the Navy at the annual air show in San Diego beginning today, they are also looking to the future amid a high-stakes overhaul of their fleet.
To continue reading:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/29/marines-cloudy-flying-future/
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/anaheim-319667-marines-unit.html
9/29/2011 By Capt. Robert Shuford , 24th MEU
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit held an activation ceremony today at Camp Lejeune’s W.P.T. Hill Field officially signaling the unit’s preparation for deployment as the unit grew from its standing headquarters of approximately 100 Marines and sailors to a Marine Air-Ground Task Force of 2,200 as the MEU took charge of its three major subordinate elements.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/24thmeu/Pages/110929-M-activation.aspx
Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 7:14 am, Thu Sep 29, 2011.
By Pam Bauserman/News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Marine Cpl. Joseph J. Millunzi, of Lodi, has been in Afghanistan for the last four to five months, where he works as an aviation ordinance tech for the U.S. Marine Corps. His responsibilities include loading bombs on aircraft as well as loading all the rounds for the gun system. His duties also include making sure the weaponry systems are working.
To continue reading:
http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_69c68df2-76f3-5a76-85b0-289ddf72b338.html
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Sep 29, 2011 8:30:56 EDT
Marine forces in southwestern Afghanistan have broadly improved security there, but they must keep pushing before U.S. forces in country are reduced next year as part of a planned drawdown, the top officer in the region said.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-general-marines-could-cut-8k-in-afghanistan-092911/
Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.29.2011
MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — A Petal, Miss., native used his medical training to revive a drowned Afghan toddler while conducting counterinsurgency operations Sept. 11.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77748/mississippi-native-revives-drowned-afghan-child#.ToSL1lmAqso
Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine
Division | Date: 09.29.2011
FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan Local Police recruits stand against a wall, preparing to enter a compound at the ALP Academy on base. They bang against the gate, but the Marine instructors waiting inside, posing as insurgents, quickly tell them to go away. They bang again and again, each time receiving the same response, and decide to enter.
For more on the 1/9:
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/1stmardiv/Pages/MedalofHonorrecipientvisitscomrades.aspx
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.
For more on the 31st MEU:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/31stmeu/Pages/31stMEUdepartsOkinawaforpatrolofAsia-Pacificregion.aspx
By Malcolm Hall
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Sep 28, 2011
CARROLLTON —
With American flags and hundreds of people posted along state Route 43, Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright made his final journey home from the Afghanistan war zone.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, of the 1/6:
http://www.timesreporter.com/communities/carroll/x1214505229/Carroll-residents-honor-fallen-Marine
By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2011 – Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer plans to raise $1 million in scholarship money for the children of wounded Marines and Navy corpsmen, and challenges the American public to match it.
To continue reading:
11:27 PM, Sep. 28, 2011
Written by
From Staff Reports
Local Marine reservists who deployed to Afghanistan late last year will return home Saturday, spokesmen for the local unit say.
To continue reading:
By MARK WALKER [email protected] | Posted: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
More than 700 Marines and sailors are storming the shores of Camp Pendleton in a series of assault-style landings over the next few days.
To continue reading:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_117226d3-bc19-5cb5-bbb9-0fdec18be053.html
Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 09.28.2011
KABUL, Afghanistan – Combined Afghan and coalition security forces conducted a major narcotics seizure in Baghran district, Helmand province, Monday. To continue reading:
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77677/drug-find-largest-partnerships-history#.ToM3eOwhWSo
9/27/2011 By Staff Sgt. Clinton Firstbrook , Recruiting Station Twin Cities
COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The Combat Center Show Band stopped at Coon Rapids High School today during their Midwest Fall tour and surprised students with a wall-shaking performance.
To continue reading:
By Tom Vanden Brook - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 21:18:29 EDT
Accidents are the major cause of helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, despite the recent shootdown of a Chinook that killed 30 U.S. troops, records state.
To continue reading:
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2011/09/gannett-afghanistan-helicopter-crashes-092711/
Story by Cpl. Colby Brown | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 09.27.2011
GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Another clearing operation means another chance to pinpoint a different perspective on deployment through the eyes Marines with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
For more on the 1/3:
Monday, September 26, 2011 | 10:07 a.m. CDT; updated 12:12 p.m. CDT, Monday, September 26, 2011
BY Hilary Niles
COLUMBIA — Seventy-five star-emblazoned luminaries lit the paths to the island in Stephens Lake Park on Sunday night as military families and their supporters celebrated Gold Star Mother's Day in honor of mothers whose children died while serving their country.
To continue reading:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/09/26/families-fallen-soldiers-honored/
By CATHRYN GRAN [email protected] September 26, 2011 5:22PM
Alex Brown is home.
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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.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-marines-fine-meaning-order-in-combat-zone-life-092611/
Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.26.2011
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan – In preparation for the eventual drawdown of coalition security forces, coalition mentor teams are busy imparting their skills to the Afghan National Security Forces responsible for keeping law and order.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77571/corpus-christi-texas-native-mentors-afghan-police#.ToB5FuwhWSo
By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 26, 2011 7:51:18 EDT
It takes guts to be the point man breaching a door and heading into the unknown. What’s on the other side? It could be an empty room. There could be a family huddled in the corner. Or a Marine could find himself staring down the barrel of an enemy AK-47.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-pocketbot-robot-smart-video-092611/
2011-09-S-061
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release
KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 26, 2011) – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents and confiscated multiple weapons during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Nurgal district, Kunar province.
To continue reading:
Phones and other smart devices are being tested across all branches of the military. Seeing an opportunity, software firms and defense contractors are developing apps that will enable soldiers to pass along intelligence, view reconnaissance images or even pilot small drones by remote control.
By W.J. Hennigan, Los Angeles Times
September 25, 2011, 8:28 p.m.
As a Cobra attack helicopter pilot, Marine Capt. Jim "Hottie" Carlson was running support missions above Afghanistan last summer when it occurred to him that it was taking far too long to find where U.S. troops were under attack.
To continue reading:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-isoldiers-20110926,0,2255882,full.story
2011-09-S- 057
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release
KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 25, 2011) – A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the Tangi Valley in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province.
To continue reading:
http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-joint-command-morning-operational-update-11.html
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Sep 25, 2011 13:42:51 EDT
WASHINGTON — A Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday that the U.S. should consider military action against Pakistan if it continues to support terrorist attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-senator-consider-all-options-with-pakistan-092511/
21-year-old Lance Corporal Franklyn Watson, from Vonore, was killed in action in Afghanistan.
Posted: 6:14 PM Sep 25, 2011
Reporter: Kate Burgess
VONORE, Tenn. (WVLT)--A local Marine from Vonore is dead, killed in action in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Franklyn "Frankie" Watson was with the 1/6 Alpha Company 2nd Marine Division sweeping for IED's when his unit was attacked. Watson was 21 years old.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson, of the 4th CEB:
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 25, 2011 9:59:19 EDT
When members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploy next year, their packing list will include some of the Corps’ newest nonlethal force-protection gear.
For more on the 24th MEU:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-meu-to-deploy-with-force-protection-gear-092511/
September 24, 2011 6:38 PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Camp Lejeune will present the prestigious Silver Star medal to a base Marine next week.
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Story by Cpl. Jad Sleiman | Marine Forces Reserve | Date: 09.24.2011
FORT A.P. HILL, Va. - On the afternoon of Sept. 19, in a stack of tan shipping containers meant to resemble a mosque, a group of grown men are using their imaginations.
To continue reading:
Published: Friday, September 23, 2011
RICHLAND — Luminaries will be on display in driveways and porches around the United States on Sunday evening in honor of the mothers of men and women who have died in military service since World War I.
To continue reading:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/09/luminary_displays_in_richland.html
By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, September 24, 2:10 AM
FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — After the suicide bombing, the U.S. Marine dog handler lay on a stretcher, his bloodied legs laced with shrapnel. They brought in his wounded dog, too. Blood dripped from the haunches of the Belgian Malinois.
To continue reading:
Story by Staff Sgt. Andrew Miller | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 09.24.2011
CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Michael Barrett, visited the Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment here, Sept. 22.
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Story by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay | Date: 09.24.2011
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Waist-deep in a row of fighting holes, teams of sweat-starched infantrymen labored without shelter from the unforgiving desert sun. Scoop by scoop, they slung rocks and dirt from their dusty chasms, hewing out defensive positions to prepare for the enemy’s inevitable night attack.
For more on the 3/3:
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 24, 2011 9:33:57 EDT
U.S. troops in Afghanistan rely more and more on the superior noses of military working dogs to sniff out deadly improvised explosive devices.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-more-working-dogs-heading-to-the-front-092411/
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.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher, of the 1/5:
Story by Lance Cpl. Francisco Abundes | Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island | Date: 09.23.2011
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- “These recruits are entrusted in my care. I will train them to the best of my ability and develop them into physically fit, smartly disciplined, basically trained Marines … ” recited 34 new drill instructors who graduated Drill Instructor School Wednesday at the Lyceum.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77490/di-school-graduates-corps-newest-drill-instructors#.TnzoCOwhWSo
by Dave Franzman :: UPDATED: 23 September 2011
MARION – A Marine who was wounded in a blast in Afghanistan in late May still has a long way to go to meet his goal of returning to duty.
To continue reading:
http://thegazette.com/2011/09/23/wounded-marion-marine-on-road-to-recovery/
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.
For more on the 31st MEU:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/31stmeu/Pages/31stMEUbeginsboardingfornextdeployment.aspx
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.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher, of the 1/5:
By Ishtiaq Mahsud - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 14:09:44 EDT
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — An American drone fired two missiles at a house in a northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border Tuesday, killing three people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-pakistan-missile-strike-kills-3-092711/
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.
For more on the 5/11 Romeo Battery:
9/22/2011 By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —
Military experts have long-deemed limiting the enemy’s movement as vital to an effective campaign.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcascherrypoint/Pages/druginterdiction.aspx
Posted: Sep 21, 2011 12:57 PM by Victoria Craig
Updated: Sep 21, 2011 6:54 PM
COLUMBIA - Thanks to a $25,000 grant, MarineParents.com is working on expanding services offered to injured Marines and their families.
To continue reading:
http://www.komu.com/news/marine-parents-organization-receives-25-000-grant/
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.
To continue reading:
9/21/2011 By Cpl. Justin M. Boling , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —
Sgt. Chad John spends 12 hours a day with an aerial view of Afghanistan, but he rarely leaves the ground.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcascherrypoint/Pages/UAVoperatorguides.aspx
Written by
Jason Carmel Davis
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Sep 21, 2011
U.S. Marine and former Howell resident Matthew Johnson was "in shock" when he saw about 50 members of his family and friends at his father's Marion Township home at the start of a welcome-home party for the servicemember.
To continue reading:
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/109210305
MarineParents.com, Inc.
September 20, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MarineParents.com, Inc. is encouraging communities to recognize Gold Star Mothers and families this September 25 by displaying luminaries in front of residences. A Gold Star Mother is any woman who has lost a child in service to the US, but families of deceased are also recognized on this day.
The public can help honor those that have lost loved ones to the war by displaying a Gold Star luminary in front of their homes on the evening of Sunday, September 25. Local residents can also attend a Gold Star Mother’s Day luminary lighting ceremony on the same evening at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Mo. Nineteen states are represented in a list of those who have committed to lighting luminaries on September 25.
Marine Parents is asking supporters to spread the word about this important day to family and friends. For more information on Gold Star Mother’s Day, Gold Star luminaries and the luminary lighting ceremony in Columbia, Mo., please visit www.GoldStarMothersDay.com.
Marine Parents is an IRS approved public charity that offers support, information and services for U.S. Marines and their families. For more information on Marine Parents and its outreach programs, visit www.MarineParents.com.
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/Pages/CORPSMANAWARDEDVALORMEDALAFTER66YEARS.aspx
September 20, 2011 5:25 AM
HOPE HODGE
Like many inventions, it began with an unsolved problem.
To continue reading:
http://www.jdnews.com/articles/transport-95197-armored-marine.html
Hildebrand Bernier, Sr. of Buena Park grew up poor in New York, his youthful speed helping him as a company runner during World War II.
By HILDEBRAND BERNIER, JR. / FOR THE REGISTER
Published: Sept. 20, 2011 Updated: 3:32 p.m.
Hildebrand "Bernie" Bernier, Sr., my father, was born on Feb. 12, 1915 in the town of Rio Piedras in Puerto Rico. In 1928, he moved with his family to New York when his father, Erasmo Bernier, was sent as pastor to the Second Street Baptist Church on Manhattan Island.
To continue reading:
Resident Maria Bombace organizing remembrance for mothers of fallen soldiers on September 25, Gold Star Mother's Day
By James Kleimann
September 16, 2011
There's no way to overstate the loss of the brave soldiers who defend country never to return. Communities mourn and families grieve long after the fighting has ceased.
To continue reading:
http://ridgewood.patch.com/articles/remembering-all-those-who-fight
Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.20.2011
NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Afghanistan - In the wild west, a sheriff and his deputies brought justice to an otherwise lawless land. Hollywood has depicted a small group of men with long rifles and badges fighting against gangs of unruly outlaws usually wanting something from the town and taking it by force.
For more on the 3/2:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77277/marines-train-police-now-zad-independence#.TniEoewhWSo
Published September 19, 2011 | Associated Press
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A helicopter that went down during a training exercise at Southern California's Camp Pendleton killed two Marines and set off a two-acre brush fire on the base on Monday.
To continue reading:
9/19/2011 By Aquita Brown , Wounded Warrior Regiment
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va., (Sept 19, 2011) — Marine reservists who are combat wounded, injured stateside or fall ill while in a duty status can be assured that they will have someone on their side. Mark Brokaw, who works at the Wounded Warrior Regiment here, wants reserve Marines to know this. Brokaw works at the Regiment as the program manager for the Reserve Medical Entitlements Determination section. Unique to the Marine Corps, the Wounded Warrior Regiment has an RMED section that tracks and manages the non-medical and medical care of wounded, ill and injured reserve Marines.
To continue reading:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/hqmc/mnra/wwr/Pages/ProgramaidswoundedreserveMarines.aspx
9/19/2011 By Cpl. Reece Lodder , 3rd Battalion (3/3)
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Storming through the desert on helicopters and tracked vehicles, the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, practiced counterinsurgency operations during Exercise Clear, Hold, Build 2 at Range 210 on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., from Aug. 14 to 19.
To continue reading:
Two Marines from Pulaski finish walk at Lambeau
Reporter:Beth Jones
Updated: Monday, 19 Sep 2011, 6:32 AM CDT
Published : Sunday, 18 Sep 2011, 3:47 PM CDT
GREEN BAY - Two former Marines from Pulaski ended a hike from Wausau to Lambeau Field Sunday.
To continue reading:
http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/former-marines-complete-100-mile-trek
Photos and story by Sarah Weiser, The Herald
Published: Sunday, September 18, 2011
LAKE STEVENS -- The crowd's shouts were lighthearted.
To continue reading:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110918/NEWS01/709189970/-1/News
By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 18, 2011 9:31:27 EDT
Marines in Arizona will soon duke it out with a crop duster and a Russian helo in a new effort to understand enemy tactics and weaponry.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-train-with-russian-aircraft-091811/
Published: September 17, 2011
Last year the Marine Corps’ 3rd Aircraft Wing purchased 32 iPads in an effort to increase efficiency and gain an advance in aerial warfare. Now, iPads are being used in Afghanistan and save about 15 minutes of communication time during close-air missions, according to an article by DefenseNews.
To continue reading:
http://www.stripes.com/news/ipads-now-helping-marines-communicate-mark-targets-in-battle-1.155443
Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 09.17.2011
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - When Douglas Acero was turning his M-16A2 rifle to the armory at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., the world changed.
To continue reading:
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 17, 2011 10:14:08 EDT
Dogged by durability issues, MARSOC’s newest camouflage uniforms are getting upgraded.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-marsoc-addresses-camo-complaints-091711/
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.
For more on the 3/4:
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/16/3915972/photo-essay-marines-fight-on-in.html
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/77169/lifeline-marine-kc-130js-resupply-fight-afghanistan#.TnSpT-whWSo
9/17/2011 By Cpl. Katherine Keleher , II MEF (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Hundreds of service members aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, attended a memorial ceremony to reflect upon the tragic events and lives lost on September 11, 2001.
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TSGLI Payments Will Be Made for Qualifying Injuries
September 16, 2011
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to Servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period Oct. 7, 2001 to Nov. 30, 2005, regardless of the geographic location where the injuries occurred.
To continue reading:
quote from: Captain Brech Perry
VIRGINIA WHEELER,
Defence Editor in Now Zad, Afghanistan
Friday, 16 September 2011
IT'S the gateway to the most dangerous part of Afghanistan – a remote British-built outpost in the shadow of the mountainous Taliban badlands.
To continue reading
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 16, 2011 11:46:19 EDT
Glistening with sweat, decked out in his dress blues, Dakota Meyer looked uncomfortable early in the ceremony at which he received the Medal of Honor.
For more on Sgt. Dakota L. Meyer, Medal of Honor recipient:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-medal-of-honor-dakota-meyer-091611/
by Tom Gjelten
September 16, 2011
Napoleon declared that "an army marches on its stomach." Gen. Omar Bradley said, "Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics." Successful military commanders have long recognized that few requirements rank higher in wartime than the need to maintain reliable supply lines.
To continue reading:
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/16/140510790/u-s-now-relies-on-alternate-afghan-supply-routes
9/16/2011 By Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza , Marine Corps Bases Japan
KIN TOWN, OKINAWA, Japan — For almost two decades, Marines and sailors with 7th Communication Battalion have volunteered their time and energy at Hikarigaoka Nursing Home in Kin-Cho. From sweeping the parking lots, to mowing the grass or just spending the holidays with the residents of the nursing home, the service members have made a lasting impression on their local community.
For more on the 7th Comm. Bn:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcbjapan/Pages/2011/110916-nursing.aspx
Cpl. Dakota L. Meyer of Kentucky defied orders and braved enemy fire in Afghanistan to save his comrades.
By David S. Cloud and Alexa Vaughn, Washington Bureau
September 15, 2011, 6:26 p.m.
Reporting from Washington—
The desperate call crackled over the radio in predawn darkness: A small team of American and Afghan troops was pinned down in a remote village under withering fire from three sides. A young lieutenant was begging for artillery or air support. Without it, he yelled, "we are going to die out here."
For more on Sgt. Dakota L. Meyer, Medal of Honor recipient:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-medal-of-honor-20110916,0,7367691,full.story
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Erica DiSalvo
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif., Sept. 15, 2011 – Marine Corps Sgt. Colin M. Bell, an aviation supply specialist with Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 here, beat the competition during an episode of Discovery Channel’s “One Man Army” television show that aired Sept. 2.
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By Tabassum Zakaria
WASHINGTON | Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:04pm EDT
(Reuters) - The U.S. agency that operates spy satellites is helping the military spot homemade bombs before they kill American troops on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.
To continue reading:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/us-usa-security-bombs-idUSTRE78E51Z20110915
By JULIE PACE
Associated Press
Sep 15, 3:39 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Thursday bestowed the nation's highest military honor on Dakota Meyer, a young and humble Marine who defied orders and barreled straight into a ferocious "killing zone" in Afghanistan to save 36 lives at extraordinary risk to himself.
For more on Sgt. Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor recipient:
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.
For more on the 7th ESB:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmlg/Pages/Engineersprovidepurifiedwatertoremoteoutpost.aspx
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.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marines-afghanistan-move-north-helmand-sangin-091411w/
Young Marine to receive Medal of Honor for action in Afghanistan
Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
6:34 p.m., Sept. 14, 2011
When Dakota Meyer, a 23-year-old Marine who fought to save his comrades from an enemy ambush in Afghanistan, is awarded the Medal of Honor Thursday, he will join a small and rapidly dwindling group of veterans.
For more on Cpl. Dakota Meyer, MOH recipient:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/dwindling-living-legacy-valor-adds-one-ranks/
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."
For more on the 1/5:
Filed by Chronicle-Telegram Staff September 13th, 2011
LORAIN — A Lorain man who died from a roadside bomb while serving in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan in 2009 will be honored by having the portion of state Route 2 running through Lorain County named in his honor.
To continue reading about Fallen Hero, Lance Cpl. David R. Hall:
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/09/13/road-to-be-named-for-marine-who-died-in-war/
Attrition, recruiting in south remain challenges as force swells
By Gretel C. Kovach, Reporter - Military
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 5:43 p.m.
The number of Afghan security forces is expected to swell by 47,000 in the next year to 352,000, even as the international coalition struggles to reduce attrition nationwide and boost recruiting among southern Pashtuns in traditional Taliban strongholds, according to Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, the U.S. Army general who heads the NATO mission to train Afghan security forces.
To continue reading:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/13/mission-train-afghan-security-forces-critical-amid/
Military duties by day, rap battles by night
By Patrick Hruby
The Washington Times
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Squeezed inside the empty closet of an upstairs bedroom of a Herndon townhouse, Derek Meitzer leans into an upright microphone, ready to flow. You have to start somewhere.
To continue reading:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/13/marine-with-a-mic/?page=all#pagebreak
ALISON ST JOHN, Senior Metro Reporter
September 13, 2011
Forget the old image of barracks with 40 bunks to a room, no air conditioning and a tiny storage locker at the foot of each bed. The latest Marine Corps barracks opening on Camp Pendleton are a far cry from the last generation of barracks, built in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
To continue reading:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/sep/13/new-marine-barracks-base-four-star-hotel/
9/13/2011 By Cpl. Bryan Nygaard , II MEF (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province — During the first week of September, Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, a reserve infantry battalion based out of the New England area, conducted integration training aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan.
For more on the 1/25:
By Mandy Clark
September 12, 2011 8:32 PM
(CBS News)
SAFAR BAZAAR, Afghanistan - A year ago, Safaar Bazaar was so full of home-made bombs that U.S. forces used rocket propelled explosives to blast their way in.
For more on the 1/3:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/12/eveningnews/main20105117.shtml
9/12/2011 By Cpl. Reece Lodder , Marine Corps Base Hawaii
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Silhouetted by a burnt orange sunrise, a platoon of Marines slapped magazines into their weapons as if fueling them with adrenaline.
To continue reading:
9/12/2011 By Cpl. Reece Lodder , Marine Corps Base Hawaii
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Tucked behind a rocky mountainside, a company of Marines spread out by platoons along its base. After a countdown, an explosion growled beyond the thick shield of rocks. As vibrations coursed through the ground, the infantrymen rushed through a breached concertina wire obstacle to begin their assault.
For more on the 3/3:
9/12/2011 By Cpl. Reece Lodder , Marine Corps Base Hawaii
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Crammed on narrow benches within a 26-ton steel beast, a squad of Marines jostled around as their tracked vehicle powered through the desert toward its objective.
For more on the 3/3:
9/12/2011 By Cpl. Reece Lodder , Marine Corps Base Hawaii
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Cali. — Cloaked by darkness in a silent wilderness, two teams of anti-tank missilemen itched with anticipation to reign destruction from afar.
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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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By Dave Majumdar - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 12, 2011 8:00:43 EDT
It doesn’t take a multibillion-dollar defense contract to design and build a state-of-the-art airborne electronic attack pod. The Marine Corps has developed its own.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-jammer-harrier-pod-091211/
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.
For more on the 1/5:
http://news.yahoo.com/generation-goes-sept-11-classrooms-war-070132826.html
By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
Published: September 11, 2011
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Lucas Wallek was toiling at the family farm in Alice, Texas, when he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps, partly out of patriotism, partly from a desire to leave the familiar terrain of sagebrush and oil fields.
To continue reading:
http://www.stripes.com/news/demands-of-war-take-toll-on-troops-families-1.154729
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76818/towers-falling-call-arms-rusk-woman#.TmzsUuwhWSo
Nearly half of Afghans are too young to have firsthand recollection of that day, or the invasion that followed. Among older people there is a sense the conflict has moved beyond its original impetus.
By Laura King, Los Angeles Times
September 11, 2011
Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan—
In the country where the Sept. 11 plot was hatched and its Al Qaeda masterminds found shelter, public knowledge of the link between the devastating events of a decade ago and today's war has grown hazy.
To continue reading:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-911-20110911,0,6701900.story
September 11th, 2011
Most Americans probably remember the moment they first saw images of airplanes flying into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
To continue reading:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/11/in-rural-afghanistan-many-don%E2%80%99t-know-911/
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.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76803/marines-go-hunting-sangin-style#.Tmwv3uwhWSo
Ceremony to be broadcast live Sunday, 5:30 a.m. Pacific
Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
4:04 p.m., Sept. 10, 2011
As Americans observe the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks Sunday, their ceremonies and private moments will hold special resonance in a handful of places. In New York City and Washington D.C. where the terrorists killed almost 3,000 people, and in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda acolytes plotted in the refuge of their Taliban hosts.
To continue reading:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/10/marines-afghanistan-remember-911-attacks/
Five years after they joined the Marines, one of the Shipp twins is home and thankful for help from family and veterans programs
September 10, 2011
[email protected]
Five years ago, fraternal twin brothers from Hauser Lake realized their lifelong dream of enlisting in the U.S. Marines. They were eager to “see action” in Iraq or Afghanistan and defend their country.
To continue reading:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/10/enlisting-support/
Posted: Sat, Sep 10, 2011
Tearing down the highway in a black Chevy S-10 pickup, Adam Betz knew he was heading toward war.
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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.
For more on the 1/5:
Story by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 09.10.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - It’s Sept. 12, 2001. The wreckage from the attacks the day before still smolders. An aircraft carrier with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit lies off the eastern shore of the United States.
For more on the HMH-464 commander:
SAN FRANCISCO | Fri Sep 9, 2011 3:38pm EDT
(Reuters) - Jordan Towers said he was unpacking a truck during a family move from Truckee, California, to the state capital of Sacramento when he heard the news that a plane had flown into New York's World Trade Center.
To continue reading:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-sept11-people-towers-idUSTRE78864320110909
Story by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay | Date: 09.09.2011
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Translating communication into firepower from afar, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, performed a fire support coordination exercise on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., from Aug. 5 through 7, 2011.
For more on the 3/3:
Story by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Marine Corps Base Hawaii – Kaneohe Bay | Date: 09.09.2011
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Silhouetted by a burnt orange sunrise, a platoon of Marines slapped magazines into their weapons as if fueling them with adrenaline.
For more on the 3/3:
Disruptions continue for local military installations
Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
9:47 a.m., Sept. 9, 2011
Updated 2:11 p.m.
Power was restored to most of Camp Pendleton Friday morning, other than a small area of Camp Del Mar.
To continue reading:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/09/power-restored-majority-camp-pendleton/
Dec. 16, 1990 - Sept. 7, 2011
MIDDLETOWN, Ind. — Chase Alan Wray, 20, resident of Middletown, passed away Sept. 7, 2011, at his home.
To continue reading:
http://heraldbulletin.com/obituaries/x1078455004/Chase-Alan-Wray
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.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-marines-and-taliban-fight-battle-of-perceptions-090911/
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.09.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – “Being there that day and seeing the things I saw left an indelible mark on my psyche, my soul; I couldn’t get beyond it. The more I thought about it I realized I wanted to give back in some way; I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure something like that could never happen again.”
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76738/ny-native-navy-corpsman-reflects-9-11#.TmoX-uwhWSo
Story by Sgt. Whitney N. Frasier | Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego | Date: 09.08.2011
SAN DIEGO - “I was sitting in math class. We were about to switch to our next period when we heard it. The sound of the engine was so loud it made the windows rattle, not more than a few seconds later I heard a huge explosion. I knew right away we were under attack.”
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76686/di-recounts-sept-11-attacks#.TmpmGOwhWSo
By PATRICK DONOHUE
[email protected]
Published Thursday, September 8, 2011
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island mourned the death Thursday of the depot's most popular -- and cuddliest -- Marine sergeant.
To continue reading:
http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/09/08/1785302/memories-of-parris-island-mascot.html
Story by Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton | Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island | Date: 09.08.2011
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Pfc. Seth Morgan, with Platoon 1066, Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, is the fourth person in his family to follow the tradition of joining the Corps’ ranks.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76655/family-guy-fourth-brother-earns-title#.Tmk4CuwhWSo
Story by Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton | Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island | Date: 09.08.2011
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- A 21-year-old from Orange County, N.Y., who was influenced by the events of 9/11, graduates today as the honor graduate of Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76653/bravo-honor-grad-motivated-9-11#.Tmk23ewhWSo
Story by Cpl. Colby Brown | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 09.08.2011
GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — With every partnered patrol or operation the Afghan National Army conducts, their soldiers gain valuable military experience.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76663/afghan-soldiers-and-lava-dogs-clear-garmsir-roads#.Tmk1WuwhWSo
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.08.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The rolling hills and farmlands of Gallatin, Tenn., offered endless opportunities for horseback riding, hiking and outdoor sports for a young Corey Collier as he grew up in the small town. The Cumberland River and its many connecting waterways served as a perfect fishing retreat during his youth.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76642/tennessee-native-finds-adventure-rubber-meets-road#.TmkzKuwhWSo
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.”
To continue reading:
Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.08.2011
FIRE BASE FIDDLERS GREEN, Helmand province, Afghanistan – In 2008, a Newhall, Calif., native had a dream job in Hollywood’s entertainment industry. He worked as a color assistant, editing video footage for “Desperate Housewives” and was even able to meet the cast. He loved his job and saw it as something he could do long-term. Unfortunately, things change.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76636/newhall-native-trades-hollywood-helmand#.TmkuX-whWSo
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.08.2011
MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Operation Moshtarak, a Dari word meaning “together,” began in February 2010 as a way for Afghan and coalition forces to assert authority in central Helmand and for the Afghan government to demonstrate its commitment to the people living there, according to the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense.
For more on the 3/6:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76627/marjah-security-tightens-marines-push-progress#.TmkspuwhWSo
Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Young | I Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 09.08.2011
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “It was one of the most terrifying feelings that I’ve ever felt or will probably ever feel,” he said. “I’ve been in combat, but nothing has scared me the way I was scared that day. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
To continue reading:
Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.08.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A lot has changed since Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General in 1775. We no longer depend on the Pony Express to take mail from one side of the country to another. Social networking sites and e-mail have replaced hand-written letters offering an almost instant connection to service members deployed thousands of miles from home.
For more on the 3/6:
Published: Wednesday, September 07, 2011
By Daniela Forte
“If it wasn’t for people in the military, and people in the CIA and FBI, still out there doing their jobs, Osama Bin Laden would still be out there.”
To continue reading:
http://www.countytimes.com/articles/2011/09/07/news/doc4e67930c9381e232225298.txt?viewmode=fullstory
Attacks moved many to serve their country
8:34 AM, Sep. 7, 2011
Written by
Denise Goolsby
The Desert Sun
They didn't impulsively run out to join the military after the 9/11 attacks — most were only children.
To continue reading:
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?’
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76547/casualties-war-bolster-sangin-brotherhood-resolve#.TmeP_OwhWSo
Story by Cpl. Tatum Vayavananda | Black Sea Rotational Force | Date: 09.07.2011
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania — Many believe the modern Marine non-commissioned officer to be the embodiment of Marine Corps history and traditions. Marine NCOs of past and present have weaved a timeless legacy of honor, courage and commitment into the tapestry of historic battles and amazing feats.
To continue reading:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76578/black-sea-marines-shows-takes-marine-nco#.TmeOrOwhWSo
By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY
September 7, 2011
GREENSBURG, Ky. – When Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer plunged into Afghanistan's Ganjgal Valley, he was sure he wouldn't come out alive.
For more on Cpl. Dakota Meyer, Marine Medal of Honor recipient:
10:07 AM, Sep. 7, 2011
Written by
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO — San Diego police say surveillance tape shows a person dressed like Gumby telling a convenience store clerk he is being robbed, fumbling inside the costume as if to pull a gun, dropping 27 cents and leaving.
To continue reading:
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 6, 2011 15:47:20 EDT
GREENSBURG, Ky. — Two years later, it still hurts. The guilt. The frustration. The sadness. They’re all still there, although perhaps they have become more manageable.
For more on Cpl. Dakota Meyer, Marine Medal of Honor recipient:
Five years after a gunshot changed his life, the author reflects on what a decade of war has cost Americans
By Justin Constantine
Sep 6 2011
I cry whenever I think of a memorial service I attended in Iraq. From the back of the hot, packed room next to the chaplain's office, I looked down the center aisle and saw six sets of boots, rifles, helmets, and dog tags. Six Americans had lost their lives defending their country. I had seen these Marines hug each other before heading out on patrol -- real hugs, as if they guessed they might not see each other again. They had been in Iraq for a while and knew how dangerous every mission was.
To continue reading:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/09/wounded-in-iraq-a-marines-story/244592/
Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.06.2011
PATROL BASE PASERLAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan — The Marine Corps is quite frequently referred to as a brotherhood. Marines spend months on end training for and executing deployments. They form unforgettable memories during this time and forge relationships which can last a lifetime. The sailors attached to Marine units may not carry the eagle, globe and anchor, but one corpsman with Bravo Company said he feels just as much a part of his unit as the Marines he serves beside.
For more on the 1/9:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76512/south-carolina-corpsman-supports-bad-company#.TmZ5YGohWSo
Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.06.2011
NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — The Marines with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, are all too familiar with the reality of war, but they can honestly say they have been fortunate in not taking any casualties during their deployment in Afghanistan. One Texas native with the platoon can attest to that good fortune first-hand.
For more on the 1/9:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76508/texas-native-survives-head-shot-continues-mission#.TmZ3-mohWSo
Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.06.2011
NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — In the past several years, Nawa has become the hallmark of what the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is striving to achieve within Helmand province. The Afghan National Security Forces and the Marines of Bravo Company have moved into a new patrol base within the district to further promote peace and limit the movement of what is left of insurgent fighters operating in the area.
For more on the 1/9:
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76507/trek-nawa-gets-new-beginning-with-patrol-base-jersey#.TmZ2xmohWSo
By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 6, 2011 10:33:54 EDT
Marine officials have reversed a policy that barred recruiters from using the cameras on their smartphones to photograph potential recruits and document their tattoos and overall appearance.
To continue reading:
http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-recruiters-receive-ok-smartphone-camera-use-090611/
Commanders say it's a cornerstone of their strategy to defeat the insurgency
Written by
Gretel C. Kovach
4:27 p.m., Sept. 5, 2011
The end-of-summer, back-to-school ritual familiar to generations of American students is becoming a way of life for swelling numbers of children in the most war-torn corners of Afghanistan, thanks in large part to the U.S. military.
To continue reading:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/05/marines-battle-to-educate-afghan-children/
BOBBY ROSS JR. | The Christian Chronicle
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - On a Sunday afternoon, the high-pitched chatter of boys and girls playing fills the home of Marine Staff Sgt. Ahmal Coles and his wife, Whitney.
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By MATTHEW KIMEL
Created: 09/05/2011 12:31:23 AM PDT
It wasn't by design. He didn't have a choice. Lance Cpl. Mike Abele had to take the long way home.
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By CARY ASPINWALL World Staff Writer
Published: 9/4/2011 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 9/4/2011 7:07 AM
All his life, Jared Shoemaker wanted to be part of a team.
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http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid;=20110904_11_A1_CUTLIN610459
By R. Norman Moody - Florida Today
Posted : Sunday Sep 4, 2011 11:09:15 EDT
With the touch of a button, Russ Marek’s easy chair lifts him to a standing position.
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http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/gannett-wounded-vets-applaud-new-caregivers-plan-090411/
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 4, 2011 9:10:04 EDT
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – One enlisted Marine’s ingenuity is paying off. Sgt. Zachary Lucas, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, took lessons learned from the war zone and devised a seat upgrade for the Corps’ UH-1Y Huey.
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http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-creates-better-seat-for-huey-helos-090411/
9/4/2011 By Cpl. Katherine Keleher , II MEF (FWD)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Many Americans remember where they were when they heard the news on September 11, 2001. They remember watching the planes crash into the World Trade Center towers and listening to the news about the plane crash at the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 crashing into a field in Shanksville, Pa. Some felt sorrow, anger or fear. Others felt a call to serve. First Lt. John McJunkin was one of the latter.
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http://www.marines.mil/unit/iimef/iimef-fwd/Pages/HoustonMarinereflectson911hisreasonforserving.aspx
Sep 3, 2011
Written by
David Rising
Associated Press
LANDSTUHL, Germany - Volunteer staff from the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center huddle outside the emergency room doors, waiting under heat lamps on a crisp morning for what has become a daily routine in a decade of war - the arrival on a blue bus of the latest casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, September 3, 2011 10:49 am
David Rand cheerfully acknowledges he's an overprotective father. An ex-Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, he's also a single dad to 5-year-old Emma.
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http://www.journaltimes.com/news/national/us/article_54800ee7-f4a6-57b6-a0d8-50f37ff7f640.html
Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.03.2011
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The brown-eyed, caramel-skinned Marine works seemingly endless hours to ensure the Marines she supports have what they need to accomplish their mission. Her days spent in the Afghan heat, which can reach more than 110 degrees, consist of maintaining accountability for gear and equipment stored on the supply lot, issuing items to sections, mastering mechanical equipment, interacting with many different personalities, and hours of clerical work. The hard work and unstoppable drive she demonstrates daily are her investment toward a lifelong dream.
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http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76393/seattle-marine-trades-desert-uniform-scrubs#.TmJdYWohWSo
By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 3, 2011 9:56:22 EDT
Marine Forces Reserve has a new $1 million motorcycle safety training center in New Orleans, complete with a track, 12 motorcycles, and state-of-the-art simulators.
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http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/marine-new-center-to-train-marine-motorcyclists-090311/
By Janese Silvey - The Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune via AP
Posted : Saturday Sep 3, 2011 10:18:36 EDT
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Aaron Johnson applauded when Stella, a boxer mix, made it through a dark, curved tunnel on an obstacle course at Columbia Canine Sports Center.
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http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/09/ap-shelter-dogs-train-aid-vets-ptsd-090311/
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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http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_d48bbc5b-40ca-51d5-a37b-4d4c15629c69.html
9/2/2011 By Pfc. James Frazer , 2nd Marine Division
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — When Marines perform on-foot patrols during deployments, they must sometimes move quickly through obstacles such as locked doors or roads littered with improvised explosive devices. It’s times like that when having the knowledge to use an explosive charge to blow a door away or create a new path through a wall is beneficial.
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http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmardiv/Pages/MarinesblowholesintoCampLejeunewalls.aspx
9/2/2011 By Capt. Jill L. Wolf , Wounded Warrior Regiment
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Some service members who are catastrophically wounded, ill or injured are now eligible for compensation designed to offset the economic burden primary caregivers incur when assisting them.
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9/2/2011 By Cpl. Walter D. Marino II , 2nd Marine Division
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE N.C. — It has been said that the sergeant is the back bone of the Marine Corps. Holding true to that, Sgt. Derrick E. Keene, squad leader and assistant platoon sergeant keeps his Marines upright and on the road to success. Keene is responsible for 17 Marines and not only trains his Marines to be the best but also sets an example of what a squared away Marine should act like.
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http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmardiv/Pages/TruckCompanysergeantleadsbyexample.aspx
An eastern Kentucky Marine is happy to be back in the mountains after spending months in Afghanistan. He arrived home in August, which was the deadliest month yet for United States forces in the nearly 10-year-old war.
Posted: 11:31 PM Sep 2, 2011
Reporter: Paige Quiggins
An eastern Kentucky Marine is happy to be back in the mountains after spending months in Afghanistan
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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.
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http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/Pages/EveryMarineaRifleman.aspx
Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.01.2011
NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines patrol in full gear – a combat load of ammunition, flak jackets, helmets, rifles – and many must add communications radios, extra rounds or squad automatic weapons to their loads. These items get very heavy over the course of a three- or four-hour security patrol.
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Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.01.2011
MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers with 2nd platoon, 1st Tolai, 3rd Kandak, partnered with Afghan Local Police patrolmen to execute the first Afghan-only patrol in eastern Marjah.
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http://www.dvidshub.net/news/76267/afghans-execute-first-solo-patrol-eastern-marjah#.Tl-aYGohWSo
The stories behind the intricate tats of our armed forces
by: Tiffanie Gabrielse
September 1, 2011
Stewed, screwed and totally tattooed isn’t the most graceful expression, but its originator, Sailor Jerry (or Norman Collins), is known as a sharp, gruff Pacific “sea dog” who is the most infamous tattoo artist to ink the men of our military for over 40 years. It is impossible to understand the culture that surrounds the military and the tattoo art form without Sailor Jerry. Today in Jacksonville, across the various tattoo shops in town, one can find countless options for nautical ink: chickens and pigs or WWII pin-ups with busting bosoms, and of course thousands of USMC designs.
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Posted: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 12:34 pm, Wed Aug 31, 2011.
Pfc. Jackeline M. Perez Rivera
Now that Hurricane Irene has passed through Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, base officials have been working around the clock to pick up the damage caused by the hurricane.
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http://www.camplejeuneglobe.com/news/article_49d497b0-d3ed-11e0-b3fa-001cc4c002e0.html
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.
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http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/September/01/Yurista_award-01Sep11.htm
BY DI STAFF | SEPTEMBER 01, 2011 7:20 AM
Iowa coaching legend Hayden Fry was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame last weekend, a release from the UI reported Wednesday.
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