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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 11, 2016

HMHT-302, CLB-2 CONDUCT EXTERNAL LIFTS

By Lance Cpl. Erick Galera, II Marine Expeditionary Force
11 Jan 2016

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 and Combat Logistics Battalion 2 conducted external lifts at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 6, 2016.

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January 6, 2016

School of Infantry-East Marines conduct Machine Gun Qualification

Date Taken:12.16.2015 | Date Posted:01.06.2016 14:53

Alpha Company, Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), School of Infantry-East, conducted a live fire range as part of their Machine Gunner qualification.

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India Company Marines navigate the confidence course

Date Taken:12.17.2015 | Date Posted:01.06.2016 14:58

Entry-level Marines with India Company, Marine Combat Training Battalion (MCT), School of Infantry-East, navigate the confidence course on Camp Devil Dog, N.C., Dec. 17, 2015. MCT is a 29-day training evolution where entry-level Marines are training in basic infantryman skills.

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January 4, 2016

Today’s Task Force Al Asad

By Gunnery Sgt. Christine Polvorosa | I Marine Expeditionary Force | January 4, 2016

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- At the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Al Asad was the second largest U.S. air base in Iraq, and home to thousands of deployed coalition personnel from II Marine Expeditionary Force/Multi-National Force West and other major tenant commands.

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December 27, 2015

WARFIGHTING LABORATORY EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW TECHNIQUES

By Cpl. Michael Dye, II Marine Expeditionary Force
21 Dec 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory/Future Directorate conducted a limited objective experiment, with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, Dec. 3-11, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The experiment was designed to evaluate a proposal to improve how direct support artillery can support dispersed forces

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December 21, 2015

BLT 1/6 Attends the Infantry Immersion Trainer

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders / 22 MEU/Released
Date Taken:12.14.2015 | Date Posted:12.21.2015 15:56

U.S. Marines assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (BLT 1/6), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in an infantry immersion training exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 14, 2015. BLT 1/6 conducted the training in preparation for a future deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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December 17, 2015

VA plans to propose expanded disability benefits eligibility for Veterans exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune

Posted on Thursday, December 17, 2015 2:30 pm

VA announced today that it plans to propose expanded disability compensation eligibility for Veterans exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

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December 14, 2015

TRAIN, ASSIST: II MEF TEAM PREPARES FOR AFGHANISTAN OPERATION RESOLUTE SUPPORT

By Cpl. Alexander Mitchell, II Marine Expeditionary Force
14 Dec 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- II Marine Expeditionary Force Marines with 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company conducted a mission rehearsal at Mairne Corps Base Camp Lejeune in support of an upcoming deployment to train and assist coalition forces in Afghanistan under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2189, Dec. 10, 2015.

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December 6, 2015

Well-oiled and ready to go: Marines with LAR Company maintain LAVs

by Cpl Joshua Brown
Date Taken:12.05.2015 | Date Posted:12.06.2015 11:17

USS KEARSARGE, Arabian Gulf - A light armored vehicle is running and a crewman notices oil leaking from the engine. He notifies an LAV mechanic and the process begins.

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December 3, 2015

STEADY HANDS: EOD TECHNICIANS DISARM GRIFFIN MISSILE

By Courtesy Story, II Marine Expeditionary Force
3 Dec 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company practice disassembling the Griffin missile to enhance their skills on unfamiliar weapons disassembly and to document a how-to procedure to safely remove the explosive ordinance from inside the Griffin missile at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Dec. 1, 2015.

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November 22, 2015

Bridging the gap: 8th, 9th ESB concludes MGB Bridge Master’s Course

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released
Date Taken:11.18.2015 | Date Posted:11.20.2015 09:13

Marine students attending the 8th Engineer Support Battalion Medium Girder Bridge Master’s Course during a field exercise at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 18, 2015.

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November 19, 2015

U.S. Marines send attack jets to kill ISIS fighters in Iraq

By Andrew deGrandpre, Staff writer 6:38 p.m. EST November 19, 2015

Thousands of U.S. Marines and sailors have moved into the Persian Gulf as part of the Obama administration's pledge to ramp up its air campaign against the Islamic State group after last week's terror attacks in Paris.

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November 17, 2015

Marines send more embassy guards to Paris after ISIS attack

By Gina Harkins, Staff writer 2:39 p.m. EST November 17, 2015

The Marine Corps sent additional embassy security guards to Paris following Friday's attack there, which left 129 dead and hundreds more wounded, as officials fear more strikes in Europe.

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Video: Mission Complete: VMFA-251 Returns from Operation Inherent Resolve

by LCpl Jonah Lovy
Date Posted:11.17.2015 3:08PM

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort from Operation Inherent Resolve. The Thunderbolts have been deployed aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt since March. VMFA-251 is with Marine Aircraft Group 31.

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November 12, 2015

Kearsarge Hosts Steel Beach Picnic at Sea

Story Number: NNS151112-17Release Date: 11/12/2015 1:01:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler Preston, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Public Affairs
RED SEA (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines enjoyed a day of barbeque, games and music during a steel beach picnic on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Nov. 8.

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November 9, 2015

Marines gather to honor fallen brother’s memory

Story by Sgt Grace L. Waladkewics
Date Posted:11.09.2015 12:21

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C.- Marines and family members gathered at a New River Air Station Chapel with heavy hearts to honor the life and service of fallen Staff Sgt. Denver Sugano during a memorial service at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Nov. 4.

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November 7, 2015

US Marines practice marksmanship at sea

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Staff Sgt. bobby J. Yarbrough/Released
Date Posted:11.07.2015 03:47

Marines and sailors with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, conduct close-quarter firing drills in the Gulf of Aden aboard the USS Oak Hill, Nov. 7. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is embarked on the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and is deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

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November 4, 2015

MCTOG graduates instructor class

by LCpl Levi Schultz
Date Taken:10.30.2015Date Posted:11.04.2015 13:38

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group held a graduation ceremony at the MCTOG classroom, Oct. 30, 2015. Maj. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, commanding general, 2nd Marine Division, impressed upon the graduates the importance of this training.

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November 1, 2015

Toys for Tots kicks off

By Lance Cpl. Joshua Grant Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Posted Nov 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM | Updated Nov 1, 2013 at 3:11 PM

The Toys for Tots annual gift-giving program aboard Camp Lejeune and across Onslow County started Nov. 1 and continues until Dec. 16.

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October 31, 2015

Commentary: Looking forward to the float

Story by Cpl Joshua Brown
Date Posted:10.22.2015 02:34

USS KEARSARGE— The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD). Marines and sailors aboard the ships live and work together each day, operating like a small city, with a common mission guiding them. Their personal expectations of the deployment will influence their experience while they are embarked.

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October 23, 2015

USS Arlington action

United States Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Austin Long/ Released
Date Taken:10.22.2015 | Date Posted:10.23.2015 12:57

During Trident Juncture 15, U.S. Marines with the Helicopter Support Team, Landing Support Detachment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington in an external lift training exercise. Trident Juncture is a NATO-led exercise designed to certify NATO response forces and develop interoperability among participating NATO and partner nations.

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Video: 32nd Beirut Bombing Memorial Observance Ceremony

Courtesy video:
Date Posted:10.23.2015 3:05PM

The 32nd Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony, a special ceremony to honor the fallen service members and survivors who served in Lebanon from 1958 to 1984 and in Grenada. was held at the Beirut Memorial in the Lejeune Memorial Gardens on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Oct. 23.

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October 17, 2015

26th MEU Marine Dies of Non-Combat Related Illness

Daily News Staff
Posted Oct 17, 2015 at 1:06 PM
Updated Oct 17, 2015 at 1:09 PM

A Camp Lejeune Marine has died of a non-combat related illness.

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October 11, 2015

USS Arlington prepares for departure

Photo by Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins
Date Taken:10.09.2015 | Date Posted:10.11.2015 11:30

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), lands on the flight deck of the USS Arlington (LPD 24) Oct. 9, 2015. The Arlington is deployed as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.

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October 8, 2015

Commandant speaks to Marines aboard Camp Lejeune

Posted Oct 8, 2015 at 5:38 PM | Updated at 5:39 PM
JDNews

There’s no room for anything less than 100 percent.

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October 7, 2015

Kearsarge ARG Deploys for Europe, Middle East Operations

By: Megan Eckstein
October 7, 2015 11:46 AM

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed Oct. 6 from the East Coast for a deployment to the Middle East.

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September 28, 2015

MARINES GAIN CONFIDENCE IN OVERTURNED VEHICLES

By Cpl. Paul S. Martinez, II Marine Expeditionary Force
28 Sep 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, conducted vehicle rollover training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Sept. 23.

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September 5, 2015

Uncle: Fallen Marine was 'one heck of a human being'

By Dianna Cahn
The Virginian-Pilot
Published: September 5, 2015

NORFOLK (Tribune News Service) — The exercise was complex and dangerous, involving rappelling and fast-ropes techniques on a moving helicopter that can enable a Hampton Roads-based anti-terror unit to get into difficult terrain where aircraft might not be able to land.

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August 15, 2015

HMHT-302, CLB-6 PERFORM DUAL TRAINING IN EXTERNAL LIFTS

By Lance Cpl. Fatmeh Saad, II Marine Expeditionary Force
11 Aug 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 and Combat Logistics Battalion 6 participated in a dual-point, external lift training exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 5, 2015.

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August 6, 2015

SECURITY MEASURES; 2ND LEB PROTECTS VALUABLE ASSETS

By Cpl. Preston McDonald, II Marine Expeditionary Force
6 Aug. 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- Forty Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, conducted a week long exercise simulating the protection operations of a submarine during fueling at a port, at range Greater Sandy Run Area Forward Operating Base at Camp Lejeune, August 4-7, 2015.

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August 3, 2015

10 years later: From grief to fellowship for Lima Company survivors

By Holly Zachariah
The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
Published: August 3, 2015

Note: This article has been corrected.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Tribune News Service) — Sara made the punch, and she lined up the plates of sandwiches and homemade cookies on the antique tables in the dining room of her old, brick farmhouse.

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July 27, 2015

Marines and sailors successfully complete USS Arlington’s first NEO training mission

by Sgt Austin Long
Date Posted:07.27.2015 10:43

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group aboard the USS Arlington (LPD 24) trained for receiving non-combatant evacuees aboard the USS Arlington (LPD 24) during a mock Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation, July 23, at sea in the Atlantic Ocean.

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July 20, 2015

Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group completes seven-month deployment

Date Posted:07.20.2015 10:33

MAYPORT, Fla. - More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed a seven-month deployment July 15-20, returning to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. and Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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July 18, 2015

Lejeune Marines first to deploy as new deterrence force in Bulgaria

By James K. Sanborn, Staff writer 11:40 a.m. EDT July 18, 2015

About 1,750 North Carolina-based Marines have deployed to Europe for a six-month rotation, including a brand new contingent that will operate in Bulgaria amid growing Russian aggression.

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July 16, 2015

Marines at Al Taqaddum advise Iraqis behind Ramadi takeback effort

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 5:12 p.m. EDT July 16, 2015

The recent fall of Ramadi to marauding terrorists was a shocking setback to U.S. efforts to turn security over to Iraqi forces and it was a psychic blow to Marines who successfully fought to stabilize the notoriously violent Anbar province. But not quite two months later, Marine leaders on the ground say the momentum is rapidly shifting as better trained and newly inspired Iraqis are being sent back into the fight.

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July 15, 2015

Iwo Jima ARG returning from seven-month deployment

By Lance M. Bacon, Staff writer 6:32 p.m. EDT July 15, 2015

The 4,500 sailors and Marines who comprise the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group are nearly home after a successful, and atypical seven-month deployment to 5th Fleet.

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July 6, 2015

DOD Announces Winners of the 2015 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No: NR-265-15July 06, 2015

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today the 2015 recipients of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence:

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June 29, 2015

Marines with the 26th MEU conduct a visit, board, search, and seizure off the East Coast of the United States

By Cpl. Jeraco Jenkins
Date Taken:06.27.2015 | Date Posted:06.29.2015 17:48

U.S. Marines assigned to Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conducting a simulated visit, board, search, and seizure off the East Coast of the United States, June 27, 2015. Marines with the 26th MEU and sailors with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group are conducting an amphibious integration exercise in preparation for a deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations later this fall

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June 24, 2015

How elite, newly renamed Marine Raider units will visually mark history

By Dan Lamothe June 24, 2015

After years of debate, the Marine Corps’ elite Special Operations force just made a major change, adopting the name of the combat-hardened Raider units that fought in the fierce Pacific island-hopping campaign of World War II. Marine officials marked the decision Friday with a brief ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., 10 months after the decision was made.

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June 22, 2015

Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group departs US 5th Fleet

Story by Lt. Lily Hinz, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs
Date Posted:06.22.2015 12:32

USS IWO JIMA, Mediterranean Sea - The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWOARG), with embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), departed U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO) June 21.

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Marines and Sailors aboard USS Arlington conduct RAS

By Lance Cpl. Dalton A. Precht
Date Taken:06.21.2015 | Date Posted:06.22.2015 23:11

U.S. Marines and Sailors aboard the USS Arlington working together during replenishment at sea off the East Coast of the United States June 21, 2015. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors with the Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group are conducting an amphibious integration exercise in preparation for a deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations later this fall.

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June 21, 2015

Maritime Raid Force, 26th MEU: swift, silent, deadly

Story by Cpl Joshua Brown
Date Posted:06.21.2015 12:29

USS KEARSARGE — Force Reconnaissance Marines and special amphibious reconnaissance corpsmen provide the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with capabilities that extend beyond the barriers of every day operations. The MEU becomes more than just combat ready with Recon assets; they gain surveillance, ship-born raid, airborne raid and visit, board, search and seizure capabilities. The Recon Marines comprise more than the standard unit. They are the Maritime Raid Force.

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Marines, families celebrate daddy-daughter dance

Bianca Strzalkowski
Posted Jun 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM

Military dads say it’s the moments together that matter — not the ones spent apart.

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June 16, 2015

24th MEU 'FiST' shapes battlefield during Eager Lion

Story by Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Taken:05.18.2015 | Date Posted:06.16.2015 13:37

JORDAN - Beneath the desert sun in Jordan, a notional enemy of armored vehicles prepares to make a stand against U.S. Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Jordanian armed forces and Italian Marines, who wait just beyond the horizon of the battlefield.

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June 8, 2015

Marines and Sailors remember Midway at sea

Story by Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Taken:06.06.2015 | Date Posted:06.08.2015 22:43

USS FORT MCHENRY, AT SEA — Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors assigned to the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) paid homage to the Battle of Midway during a ceremony while at sea in the Gulf of Aden, June 6, 2015.

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June 3, 2015

ARFF MARINES TEST SKILLS

By Lance Cpl. Samantha Torres, 10066
3 Jun 2015

BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Marines with the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort put their skills to the test as they rotate teams putting out fuel fires on a model jet, May 28.

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May 26, 2015

Marine court-martialed for refusing to remove Bible verse

By Todd Starnes Published May 26, 2015 FoxNews.com

A United States Marine was convicted at a court-martial for refusing to remove a Bible verse on her computer – a verse of Scripture the military determined “could easily be seen as contrary to good order and discipline.”

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May 12, 2015

Video: US Marines, Sailors Clean Up Park in Romania

by Sgt S.T. Stewart
Date Taken:05.8.2015 | Date Posted:05.12.2015 5:44AM

Approximately 30 U.S. Marines and Sailors with Black Sea Rotational Force volunteered for a park clean up in Constanta, Romania, May 8, 2015.

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May 11, 2015

Marines 'beef up' security on Navy minesweeper

Story by Cpl Todd Michalek
Date Posted:05.11.2015 22:27

USS NEW YORK, at sea — The Marine Corps’ rich history of providing security for naval ships dates back to its inception in 1775. In the 239 years since, the Marine Corps has expanded into a force that excels at missions in the air and on land while remaining faithful to its amphibious, sea-borne capabilities. Given current military technology, U.S. Navy vessels are fully capable of defending themselves from threats, but both the Marine Corps and Navy strive for better ways to improve their fighting strength.

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Video: 22nd MEU, USS Wasp Conclude Fleet Week Port Everglades 2015

by LCpl Kyle Kauffman
Date Taken:05.10.2015 | Date Posted:05.11.2015 9:41PM

The U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Port Everglades, Florida, May 10 aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1) concluding Fleet Week 2015.

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May 9, 2015

Fishing tournament welcomes Marines, Sailors

Story by Sgt James Smith
Date Taken:05.08.2015 | Date Posted:05.09.2015 12:36

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) spent the day away from their usual tasks to relax with a day of fishing during the seventh annual Take a Hero Fishing Tournament at the Lauderdale Marina in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during Fleet Week Port Everglades May 8, 2015.

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Hundreds of US Marines heading to Central America

By Carol Rosenberg
Miami Herald (Tribune News Service)
Published: May 9, 2015

Some 280 U.S. Marines are landing in Central America any day now.

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April 24, 2015

8th Comm. Bn. conducts ‘Bring your child to work day’

Story by Cpl Michael Dye
Date Taken:04.23.2015 | Date Posted:04.24.2015 13:22

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors at 8th Communications Battalion, spent the day with their children during a "Bring Your Child To Work Day" aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 23, 2015.

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Video: 22nd MEU Marines, Sailors, Coalition Forces Assist Project Homecoming for Navy Week

U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Kyle Kauffman/Released)
Date Posted:04.24.2015 9:36PM

U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) volunteer along with members of the Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy for a community relations project for Project Homecoming during Navy Week 2015 in New Orleans, April 24, 2015. Marines and Sailors of the MEU, from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., participated in Navy Week New Orleans April 23-29.

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April 21, 2015

Marines set their sights on Designated Marksman title

Story by LCpl Ryan Young
Date Posted:04.21.2015 16:23

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Patience, breath control, and a slow, steady trigger squeeze make up some of the basics of long-distance marksmanship. These fundamentals and more are taught during the Division Combat Skills Center’s Designated Marksman Course.

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April 17, 2015

Video: 1/6 Counters IED Threats

Date Taken:04.15.2015 | Date Posted:04.17.2015 2:32PM

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division counter improvised explosive device threats during IED lane training aboard Home Station Training Lane, Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 15, 2015.

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Video: 2nd LAR Uses Stealth and Fire-Power to Surprise the Enemy

by Cpl. Michael Dye
Date Taken:04.16.2015 | Date Posted:04.17.2015 12:16PM

Marines and sailors with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance, 2nd Marine Division conduct a platoon-size, live-fire exercise attacks aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 15, 2015.

Continue reading "Video: 2nd LAR Uses Stealth and Fire-Power to Surprise the Enemy" »

April 16, 2015

Video: Marines Return from Middle East Deployment

by Sgt Valerie Eppler
Date Taken:04.14.2015 | Date Posted:04.16.2015 7:21PM

Marines and Sailors who deployed with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command returned in several groups to Camp Pendleton April 5-14.

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April 11, 2015

News: ‘Wardogs’ return from special purpose

Story by LCpl Medina Ayala-Lo
Date Taken:04.06.2015 | Date Posted:04.11.2015 21:24

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Proud parents, anxious wives and eager children welcomed home Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment at Del Valle Field, April 6, 2015.

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Images: 'Wardogs' return home

Photos by Lance Cpl. Medina Ayala-Lo

Date Taken:03.30.2015 | Date Posted:04.06.2015 12:51

The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment’s Marines and sailors return to Del Valle Field, March 30, 2015 from deployment. Marines and sailors of 2/7 served as part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force -Crisis Response- Central Command.

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April 8, 2015

Last 9th Marines battalion deactivates at Lejeune

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 5:34 p.m. EDT April 8, 2015

The battalion of the Marine Corps' most recent Medal of Honor recipient was deactivated last week in a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

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April 6, 2015

Images: USS New York activity

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan B. Trejo
Date Taken:04.02.2015 | Date Posted:04.06.2015 11:50

Marines on the USS New York (LPD 21), conducts a visit, board, search and seizure boarding drill. New York is a part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

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April 5, 2015

Images: Marines, Sailors aboard LSD 43 have some fun in the sun

Photos by Sgt. Devin Nichols
Date Taken:04.02.2015 | Date Posted:04.05.2015 15:01

Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in some fun in the sun “Halfway Block Party” aboard the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), April 2, 2015.

Continue reading "Images: Marines, Sailors aboard LSD 43 have some fun in the sun" »

24th MEU Marines pinned during promotion ceremony [Image 1 of 5]

Photos by Sgt. Devin Nichols
Date Taken:04.01.2015 | Date Posted:04.05.2015 15:52

Newly promoted Marines with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), April 1, 2015.

Continue reading "24th MEU Marines pinned during promotion ceremony [Image 1 of 5]" »

April 2, 2015

Video: 2nd Bn., 9th Marines Deactivation

Video by Cpl. Krista James
Date Taken:04.1.2015 | Date Posted:04.2.2015 2:14PM

The Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division conducted a deactivation ceremony for the unit aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 1, 2015.

Continue reading "Video: 2nd Bn., 9th Marines Deactivation" »

March 31, 2015

MARINES COMPLETE RIOT-CONTROL TRAINING

By Lance Cpl. Fatmeh Saad, Defense Media Activity
31 Mar 2015

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- “Shields!” shouts the platoon leader.

Continue reading "MARINES COMPLETE RIOT-CONTROL TRAINING" »

March 20, 2015

MARSOC corpsman awarded Silver Star Medal

Story by Sgt Donovan Lee
Date Posted:03.20.2015 17:27

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin D. Baskin, a special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman with 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, was awarded the Silver Star Medal during a ceremony at Stone Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 20, for his actions in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "MARSOC corpsman awarded Silver Star Medal" »

March 18, 2015

Video: MWHS-2 7 Mile Conditioning Hike

Video by Sgt. Orlando Perez
Date Taken:03.17.2015 | Date Posted:03.18.2015 11:20AM

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 conduct a 7 mile conditioning hike at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 17, 2015. The conditioning hike was conducted in order to maintain combat readiness, build unit cohesion, increase fitness, and esprit de corps.

Continue reading "Video: MWHS-2 7 Mile Conditioning Hike" »

Video: Netherland Marine Corps Fast Rope Exercise

Video by Cpl. James R. Skelton
Date Taken:03.17.2015 | Date Posted:03.18.2015 2:32PM

Korps Mariniers assigned to the Netherland Marine Corps, conduct fast rope exercises at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 17, 2015. The Korps Mariniers were able to conduct the exercise with the assistance, training, and supervision of both Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 and Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.

Continue reading "Video: Netherland Marine Corps Fast Rope Exercise" »

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 11, 2015

2-star: Rescue efforts continue in helo crash

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff writer 5:55 p.m. EDT March 11, 2015

The effort to locate 11 missing Marines and guardsmen in a UH-60 Black Hawk that crashed off the coast of Florida Tuesday night remains a search-and-rescue operation and has not transitioned into a recovery mission, according to an Army general.

Continue reading "2-star: Rescue efforts continue in helo crash" »

March 6, 2015

5th Fleet mission has USS New York showing off its ‘amphibiosity’

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 6, 2015

ABOARD THE USS NEW YORK IN THE PERSIAN GULF — “The only solid plan was yesterday’s plan.”

Continue reading "5th Fleet mission has USS New York showing off its ‘amphibiosity’" »

March 5, 2015

CENTCOM exercise aims to strengthen military ties with Kuwait

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 5, 2015

ABOARD THE USS NEW YORK IN THE PERSIAN GULF — As some 700 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit wrapped up a month of training in Kuwait and returned to ship Sunday, Kuwaiti and U.S. officials were finalizing a large-scale U.S. Central Command exercise later this month in the Persian Gulf state.

Continue reading "CENTCOM exercise aims to strengthen military ties with Kuwait" »

March 4, 2015

24th MEU Marine in footsteps of father

Story by Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Posted:03.04.2015 06:41

USS FORT MCHENRY– Parents often share special bonds with their children, creating relationships that are close and certain. Fathers and sons, in particular, might enjoy playing catch, watching their favorite football team or restoring a car together. Sergeant Cody L. Olson, an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, shares a special bond with his father, Richard—they both belong to the same “gun club.”

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March 1, 2015

Marines continue fighting alongside Georgians in Afghanistan

By Derrick Perkins, Staff writer 10:31 a.m. EST March 1, 2015

As the bulk of the Corps bid farewell to Afghanistan months ago, a small group of Marines stayed behind, continuing the fight in the war-torn country.

Continue reading "Marines continue fighting alongside Georgians in Afghanistan" »

February 28, 2015

24th MEU Conducts Noncombatant Evacuation Operations Training

by Cpl Todd Michalek
Date Taken:02.18.2015 | Date Posted:02.28.2015 18:03

Marines with the India Battery, the artillery attachment for Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct noncombatant evacuation training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Feb. 18, 2015. A contingent of MEU Marines is ashore in Kuwait as part of scheduled sustainment training.

Continue reading "24th MEU Conducts Noncombatant Evacuation Operations Training" »

February 27, 2015

2nd Marine Logistics Group endures the cold during CPX

Story by Cpl Chelsea Toombs
Date Taken:02.25.2015 | Date Posted:02.27.2015 15:15

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A variety of weather conditions greeted Marines with Headquarters Regiment, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, during the command post exercise Feb. 20-27, 2015. Marines from Headquarters Regiment stood alongside various units within 2nd MLG during stints of snow, sleet and rain during the weeklong CPX.

Continue reading "2nd Marine Logistics Group endures the cold during CPX" »

February 20, 2015

‘Zero room for error,’ 2nd MAW Harrier pilot earns Air Medal

Story by Cpl Grace L. Waladkewics
Date Taken:02.12.2015| Date Posted:02.20.2015 08:43

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Capt. William Mahoney took off from the flight deck of the USS Bataan one day in June 2014 expecting nothing more than a routine flight, though there is nothing strictly routine about launching from or landing aboard a moving 840 foot runway at sea.

Continue reading "‘Zero room for error,’ 2nd MAW Harrier pilot earns Air Medal" »

February 14, 2015

CLB 24 prepares for HST lift

by LCpl Austin Lewis
Date Taken:02.13.2015 | Date Posted:02.14.2015 11:45

Landing support specialists with Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, sit atop a packaged 8,400 pound rotor head in preparation for helicopter support team operations at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 13, 2015. The rotor head, a high-priority part, was carried from Djibouti to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) using a CH-53E Super Stallion from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), 24th MEU. The 24th MEU is embarked on the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

Continue reading "CLB 24 prepares for HST lift" »

February 13, 2015

2nd LAAD hones ground-based air defense

Story by Cpl J. R. Heins
Date Posted:02.13.2015 14:50

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines with Alpha Battery, 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, conducted ground-base air defense training at Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic, North Carolina, Feb. 2-6.

Continue reading "2nd LAAD hones ground-based air defense" »

Iwo Jima Enjoys Grand Opening of "Black Sands Cafe"

Story Number: NNS150213-14Release Date: 2/13/2015 11:20:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Megan Anuci, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines enjoyed fresh smoothies at the grand opening ceremony the "Black Sands Cafe" aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) last week.

Continue reading "Iwo Jima Enjoys Grand Opening of "Black Sands Cafe"" »

February 11, 2015

Logistics Combat Element Returns from Africa Deployment

Marine Corps News | Feb 11, 2015 | by 1st Lt. Maida Kalic

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- After conducting missions in Africa and remaining alert to respond to crises, the Marines and Sailors of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, also known as Detachment A (Det A), safely returned home to Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb 5.

Continue reading "Logistics Combat Element Returns from Africa Deployment" »

February 5, 2015

Give your marriage a fighting edge; going all 12 rounds with CREDO retreats

Story by Sgt Austin Hazard
Date Posted:02.05.2015 09:24

SWANSBORO, N.C. – Marriage in the military can be a real challenge. In some cases, it’s a fight to survive. Every early-morning unit workout is a jab, each training exercise a haymaker and every deployment an uppercut. If you go in unprepared, you might get knocked around or even knocked out.

Continue reading "Give your marriage a fighting edge; going all 12 rounds with CREDO retreats" »

Weapons Co. conducts TRAP exercise with French forces

by Cpl Joey Mendez
Date Taken:02.02.2015 | Date Posted:02.05.2015 13:23

Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, run to security positions during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel drill in Djibouti, Feb. 2, 2015.

Continue reading "Weapons Co. conducts TRAP exercise with French forces" »

January 28, 2015

Supply on the Fly: Crisis Response Marines Complete External-Load Lift With MV-22 Osprey in Spain

by Sgt Paul Peterson
Date Posted:01.28.2015 10:52AM

U.S. Marine Corps landing support specialists with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response – Africa perform an exercise to maintain their proficiency in conducting single-point external lifts with the Osprey, a versatile vehicle capable of completing vertical lifts. at Morón Air Base, Spain, Jan. 19, 2015.

Continue reading "Supply on the Fly: Crisis Response Marines Complete External-Load Lift With MV-22 Osprey in Spain" »

Paving the Way: TF Al Asad Trains Iraqi Army in CIED Drills

Story by Cpl Carson Gramley
Date Taken:01.18.2015 | Date Posted:01.28.2015 10:18

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND - U.S. Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, Task Force Al Asad, facilitated a Counter Improvised Explosive Device class for members of the Iraqi Army to teach them basic IED reaction and mitigation skills at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 18, 2015.

Continue reading "Paving the Way: TF Al Asad Trains Iraqi Army in CIED Drills" »

January 27, 2015

NATO Allies, Partner Nations and Marines complete Platinum Lion 15

Story by LCpl Ryan Young
Date Posted:01.27.2015 06:21

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - Marines and Sailors from the Black Sea Rotational Force spent the month of January alongside soldiers from the nations of Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania during Platinum Lion 15, a multi-nation training exercise at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria.

Continue reading "NATO Allies, Partner Nations and Marines complete Platinum Lion 15" »

January 20, 2015

Marines poised for crisis response mission in Yemen

By James K. Sanborn, Staff Writer 4:34 p.m. EST January 20, 2015

Marines in Yemen and the surrounding region remain ready to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy there — or even evacuate personnel, if needed — as rebels seized the presidential palace Tuesday morning in the capital of Sanaa.

Continue reading "Marines poised for crisis response mission in Yemen" »

Romanian Soldiers, Black Sea Rotational Force Marines partner for Platinum Lion

Story by LCpl Ryan Young
2015Date Posted:01.20.2015 12:35

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria - The Romanian soldiers listened intently to their commander, 2nd Lt. Vasile Ionut, as he laid out the plan of action. The commander had to ensure each of his men knew their exact role in the upcoming attack.

Continue reading "Romanian Soldiers, Black Sea Rotational Force Marines partner for Platinum Lion" »

January 19, 2015

24th MEU conducts live-fire exercise aboard USS Iwo Jima

by Lance Cpl. Dani A. Zunun
Date Taken:01.18.2015 | Date Posted:01.19.2015 10:52

Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participating in a live-fire exercise aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Jan. 18, 2015.

Continue reading "24th MEU conducts live-fire exercise aboard USS Iwo Jima" »

January 18, 2015

Marine Prowlers fight Islamic State over Iraq, Syria

Joshua Stewart, Staff Writer
January 18, 2015

They're old, gray and approaching retirement — but the Marine Corps' EA-6B Prowlers are still fighting terrorists. The service's aging fleet of jets used for electronic warfare have flown hundreds of hours over Iraq and Syria in support of the fight against the Islamic State group. They may be some of the final combat missions for Prowler squadrons before the Corps starts to retire the aircraft and adds electronic warfare capabilities to a variety of platforms.

Continue reading "Marine Prowlers fight Islamic State over Iraq, Syria" »

January 17, 2015

New guided bullet could make Marine snipers deadlier

By James K. Sanborn, Staff Writer 10:36 a.m. EST January 17, 2015

The agency responsible for developing the Defense Department's next generation, science fiction-like technology is working to bring guided bullets that can change direction mid-flight to the military's most elite marksmen.

Continue reading "New guided bullet could make Marine snipers deadlier" »

January 14, 2015

Marine Corps to end local search and rescue missions

Joshua Stewart, Staff Writer 3:54 p.m. EST January 14, 2015

Budget cuts are pushing Marine aviators out of the search and rescue business.

Continue reading "Marine Corps to end local search and rescue missions" »

January 11, 2015

Cyber Marines get tactical during Bold Alligator

By James K. Sanborn, Staff writer 6:13 p.m. EST January 11, 2015

Developers with the Office of Naval Research are pushing cyber warfare training further than ever by incorporating it into tactical crisis response scenarios, including those at Exercise Bold Alligator 14.

Continue reading "Cyber Marines get tactical during Bold Alligator" »

Iwo Jima ARG/MEU Transits U.S. 6th Fleet to U.S. 5th Fleet

BY DANIELSCHUMACHER – JANUARY 11, 2015
POSTED IN: EUROPE, NEWS - EUROPE

MEDITERRANEAN SEA – The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group/ 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit transits from U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO) to U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of responsibility Jan. 10, 2015.

Continue reading "Iwo Jima ARG/MEU Transits U.S. 6th Fleet to U.S. 5th Fleet" »

January 10, 2015

24th MEU conducts MOPP gear refresher course

by LCpl Austin Lewis
Date Taken:01.08.2015 | Date Posted:01.09.2015 14:21

Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in a drill to don-and-clear his mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) gear while aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Jan. 8, 2015.

Continue reading "24th MEU conducts MOPP gear refresher course" »

January 9, 2015

24th MEU operations

by LCpl Austin Lewis
Date Taken:01.07.2015 | Date Posted:01.09.2015 01:59

In preparation for a live-fire exercise in the Mediterranean Sea the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group are conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

Continue reading "24th MEU operations" »

January 8, 2015

Lejeune Marines prepare for deployment to Afghanistan

By Derrick Perkins, Staff Writer 7:52 p.m. EST January 8, 2015

Just months after marking the end of the Corps' combat operations in Afghanistan, officials revealed that Marines are headed back into the war-torn country, but details of the deployment remain scarce.

Continue reading "Lejeune Marines prepare for deployment to Afghanistan" »

January 3, 2015

USS Iwo Jima heads into Mediterranean [Image 1 of 4]

by LCpl Dani Zunun
Date Taken:12.27.2014 | Date Posted:01.03.2015 10:39

The Iwo Jima was transiting through the Strait of Gibraltar. The 24th MEU and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group are conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

Continue reading "USS Iwo Jima heads into Mediterranean [Image 1 of 4]" »

December 30, 2014

USS Fort McHenry to Spend New Year's in Valencia, Spain

Story Number: NNS141230-05Release Date: 12/30/2014 11:09:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Austin, USS Fort McHenry Public Affairs

VALENCIA, Spain (NNS) -- The Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) pulled in to Valencia, Spain for a scheduled port visit Dec. 29.

Continue reading "USS Fort McHenry to Spend New Year's in Valencia, Spain" »

December 29, 2014

U.S. MARINES, SPANISH SOLDIERS TRAIN IN MOUNTAIN WARFARE

By 1st Lt. Gerard Farao, Marine Forces Europe and Africa
29 Dec. 2014

MORÓN AIR BASE, Spain -- U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa conducted mountain warfare training with 1st Mountain Troops Command in Candancu, Spain.

Continue reading "U.S. MARINES, SPANISH SOLDIERS TRAIN IN MOUNTAIN WARFARE" »

December 28, 2014

Status of the Fleet: Dec. 27, 2014

BY LADMIN – DECEMBER 28, 2014
POSTED IN: CURRENT OPERATIONS

Sailors, operating forward in the U.S. 6th Fleet, conduct daily operations, port visits and engage with allies and partners to maintain a forward presence throughout Europe and Africa and improve maritime security.

Continue reading "Status of the Fleet: Dec. 27, 2014" »

December 20, 2014

2015 Deployment Week 1

by LCpl Dani Zunun
Date Taken:12.19.2014 | Date Posted:12.20.2014 17:47

Marines with Security Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in a live-fire shoot on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima, Dec. 19, 2014. The 24th MEU deployed last week.

Continue reading "2015 Deployment Week 1" »

December 16, 2014

Do tanks really float?

by LCpl Preston McDonald
Date Taken:12.14.2014 | Date Posted:12.16.2014 15:55

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with Improved Ribbon Bridge platoon, Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, conducted river crossing exercises in which they transported M1A1 Abrams tanks across New River aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 14.

Continue reading "Do tanks really float?" »

December 15, 2014

U.S. Marines, Moldovan Army partnerships strengthened through Advanced Weapons Workshop

Story by MSgt Chad McMeen
Date Posted:12.15.2014 10:52

BALTI, Moldova – One week after the November 30th Moldovan elections, where pro-European parties maintained their majority in parliament, a military unit here hosted an anti-armor workshop with U.S. Marines.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines, Moldovan Army partnerships strengthened through Advanced Weapons Workshop" »

U.S. Marines, Moldovan Army partnerships strengthened through Advanced Weapons Workshop

Story by MSgt Chad McMeen
Date Posted:12.15.2014 10:52

BALTI, Moldova – One week after the November 30th Moldovan elections, where pro-European parties maintained their majority in parliament, a military unit here hosted an anti-armor workshop with U.S. Marines.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines, Moldovan Army partnerships strengthened through Advanced Weapons Workshop" »

December 11, 2014

24th MEU set to deploy

By Daily News Staff - [email protected]
Published: Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 06:24 PM

It’s time to set sail.

Continue reading "24th MEU set to deploy" »

December 9, 2014

Back to basics: Combat engineers conduct platoon defense exercise

Story by Cpl Joshua Brown
Date Posted:12.09.2014 15:26

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Combat engineers work in direct support of infantrymen. Their primary objective is to maneuver an enemy force with the use of obstacles, explosives and other man-designed elements that complicate and disrupt enemy movements. As a combat-arms military occupational specialty, basic infantrymen skills are taught and reinforced during training.

Continue reading "Back to basics: Combat engineers conduct platoon defense exercise" »

US Marines visit Japanese high schools, share culture

Story by Cpl Drew Tech
Date Posted:12.09.2014 00:46

KUMAMOTO PREFECTURE, Japan — U.S. Marines participating in exercise Forest Light 15-1 visited with high school students Dec. 5 in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan.

Continue reading "US Marines visit Japanese high schools, share culture" »

Pittsburgh Marine earns honor graduate distinction at Officer Candidate Course

Story by Sgt Pedro Cardenas
Date Posted:12.09.2014 07:1

PITTSBURGH - Marine officers exemplify the phrase Ductus Exemplo, Latin for “Leadership by Example.” Some find the task of becoming an officer impossible and are dropped from the course. While others like Staff Sgt. James J.W. Geiger, embrace the challenge.

Continue reading "Pittsburgh Marine earns honor graduate distinction at Officer Candidate Course" »

December 8, 2014

Images: HMLA-467

Photos by LCpl Olivia McDonald
Date Taken:12.06.2014 | Date Posted:12.08.2014 10:35

Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., from a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Dec. 6, 2014.

Continue reading "Images: HMLA-467" »

November 28, 2014

Hard work recognized in Liberia

Story by SGT Matthew Britton
Date Posted:11.28.2014 15:39

MONROVIA, Liberia – After the daily morning briefing at the Barclay Training Center here, a young U.S. Marine corporal stands in the middle of a sea of Army officers. The commanding general is beside him and is praising the Marine's hard work. The CG hands him an Air Assault coin, shakes his hand and tells him he'll be flying with him today.

Continue reading "Hard work recognized in Liberia" »

November 24, 2014

Corps' new seminar grooms lance corporals to become NCOs

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff Writer 7:35 p.m. EST November 24, 2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — At zero-six hundred, lance corporals with 8th Engineer Support Battalion dressed in physical training gear took turns staring into a cardboard box filled with assorted office supplies in a race to memorize every detail about the contents before their 30-second time limit was up.

Continue reading "Corps' new seminar grooms lance corporals to become NCOs" »

Corps' new seminar grooms lance corporals to become NCOs

By Hope Hodge Seck, Staff Writer 7:35 p.m. EST November 24, 2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — At zero-six hundred, lance corporals with 8th Engineer Support Battalion dressed in physical training gear took turns staring into a cardboard box filled with assorted office supplies in a race to memorize every detail about the contents before their 30-second time limit was up.

Continue reading "Corps' new seminar grooms lance corporals to become NCOs" »

November 19, 2014

Secretary of Defense visits Integrated Task Force Marines

Story by Sgt Alicia R. Leaders
Date Posted:11.18.2014 17:41

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Marines with the Anti-Armor Section, Weapons Company, Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force during a live-fire MK153 shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon (SMAW) rocket launcher shoot at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Nov. 18, 2014.

Continue reading "Secretary of Defense visits Integrated Task Force Marines" »

November 18, 2014

Deployed sailors, Marines get free phone cards for holidays

By Karen Jowers, Staff writer 4:40 p.m. EST November 18, 2014

Sailors and Marines deployed with more than 70 units and those forward-deployed to overseas ports during the holidays will receive free $10 prepaid phone cards.

Continue reading "Deployed sailors, Marines get free phone cards for holidays" »

November 15, 2014

Marines, Romanian soldiers build partnership and cohesion during Platinum Lynx 15.3

Story by LCpl Ryan Young
Date Posted:11.13.2014 10:21

FOCSANI, Romania - Marines and Sailors from the Black Sea Rotational Force, along with members of the Romanian Land Forces and 300th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, worked hand-in-hand during training events on exercise Platinum Lynx 15 in Focsani, Romania, Nov. 2-7, 2014.

Continue reading "Marines, Romanian soldiers build partnership and cohesion during Platinum Lynx 15.3" »

November 14, 2014

Cherry Point family celebrates son’s birthday, life at Disney resort

Story by Cpl Unique B. Roberts
Date Posted:11.14.2014 16:56

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Ask any Marine what Nov. 10 means to them and you’re likely to hear a tale of a birth that took place in a Philadelphia tavern in 1775. One Cherry Point family had much more to celebrate this Nov. 10 than the inception of the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Cherry Point family celebrates son’s birthday, life at Disney resort" »

November 10, 2014

Khe Sanh veterans remember fellow Marines at Vietnam War's bloodiest battle

By Joe DePriest
The Charlotte Observer (MCT)
Published: November 10, 2014

They met on a hill in a far corner of Vietnam.

Continue reading "Khe Sanh veterans remember fellow Marines at Vietnam War's bloodiest battle" »

November 7, 2014

24th MEU wraps up PTP, ready for deployment

Story by Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Posted:11.07.2014 13:10

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Marines and Sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit closed the book on another six-month pre-deployment training cycle after a successful amphibious assault on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 27, 2014.

Continue reading "24th MEU wraps up PTP, ready for deployment" »

November 6, 2014

Video: Navy-Marine Team Reaches From the Sea During Bold Alligator 14

Courtesy Video free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:10.31.2014 | Date Posted:11.6.2014 7:35AM

Marines and sailors with II Marine Expeditionary Force utilize amphibious assault vehicles and Navy landing craft air cushions during beach operations for exercise Bold Alligator 14 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 31, 2014. Service members with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, II Marine Expeditionary Force and supporting elements conducted operations as part of exercise Bold Alligator, a multi-faceted, joint training event involving thousands of participants and numerous naval vessels in an effort to practice the different roles the Marine Corps may take in a deployed environment.

Continue reading "Video: Navy-Marine Team Reaches From the Sea During Bold Alligator 14" »

November 3, 2014

U.S. Marines to Retire Harrier Fleet Earlier Than Planned, Extend Life of Hornets

By: Dave Majumdar
Published: November 3, 2014 6:12 PM • Updated: November 3, 2014 9:46 PM

The U.S. Marine Corps will phase out the Boeing AV-8B Harrier II jump jet by 2025 — about five years earlier than planned — and will instead extend the life of its fleet of aging Boeing F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters, according to the service’s recently released 2015 aviation plan.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines to Retire Harrier Fleet Earlier Than Planned, Extend Life of Hornets" »

A Day in the Life: Plastics Room Aboard the USS Iwo Jima

by Cpl Todd Michalek
Date Posted:11.3.2014 10:17PM

Video about the duties of a Sailor who works in the plastics room aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

Continue reading "A Day in the Life: Plastics Room Aboard the USS Iwo Jima" »

November 2, 2014

ACE Marines ‘turn wrenches’ to keep ‘birds’ flying

Story by Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Posted:11.02.2014 12:22

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea—The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Aviation Combat Element is an integral component of MEU operations.

Continue reading "ACE Marines ‘turn wrenches’ to keep ‘birds’ flying" »

October 31, 2014

Video: Aircraft operations aboard the USS Kearsarge during exercise Bold Alligator 2014

Video by Cpl James Skelton
Date Taken:10.29.2014 | Date Posted:10.31.2014 3:03PM

U.S. Marines and Sailors land aircraft aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) in support of exercise Bold Alligator 14 off the eastern coast of the United States, Oct. 29, 2014. Exercise Bold Alligator 14 is a multi-national, synthetic naval amphibious exercise designed to train across the full range of amphibious capabilities in order to provide unique and contemporary solutions to global challenges.

Continue reading "Video: Aircraft operations aboard the USS Kearsarge during exercise Bold Alligator 2014" »

Video: USS Bataan's Homecoming

Courtesy Video. This work, USS Bataan's Homecoming, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Posted:10.31.2014 4:12PM

USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is returning home from a nine-month deployment.

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October 30, 2014

Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Returns To Homeport

Story Number: NNS141030-29Release Date: 10/30/2014 10:26:00 PM
By USS Bataan Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed a nine-month deployment, returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Va. and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. Oct. 31, and Camp Lejeune, N.C. Oct. 28. While deployed, the Bataan ARG/MEU served in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).

Continue reading "Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Returns To Homeport" »

October 28, 2014

Sailors and Marines Visit Jordanian Mosque During COMREL

Story Number: NNS141028-08Release Date: 10/28/2014 2:28:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon M. Smith, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (NNS) -- Twenty-three USS Mesa Verde Sailors and Marines toured the Al-Sharif Al-Hussein bin Ali Mosque as part of a community relations project (COMREL) in Aqaba, Jordan, Aug. 25.

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Video: 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Homecoming

Courtesy Video | This work, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Homecoming, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Posted:10.28.2014 4:01PM

Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are reunited with their families and friends aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune after their extended deployment with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.

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October 26, 2014

24th MEU Marine runs MCM aboard warship at sea

Story 1st Lt. Joshua Larson
Date Posted:10.26.2014 21:17

USS NEW YORK, At Sea - He was perhaps the very first finisher of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon, but he didn’t finish anywhere near Arlington, Virginia. Instead, he finished at sea aboard the USS New York - on a treadmill.

Continue reading "24th MEU Marine runs MCM aboard warship at sea" »

U.S. Marine from Midland dies during training at Fort Bragg

By Brad Devereaux
October 26, 2014 at 4:04 PM, updated October 26, 2014 at 4:11 PM

MIDLAND, MI — A 24-year-old Marine from Midland died during a training exercise at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, according to his obituary and the Associated Press.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine from Midland dies during training at Fort Bragg" »

VMA-223 Homecoming

Video by Cpl Victoria Stewart
Date Posted:10.26.2014 3:06PM

U.S Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 return from a deployment with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) October 26, 2014, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. VMA-223 was deployed for over 7 months with the 22nd MEU.

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October 24, 2014

Comfortable in Chaos: 2/6 Marines ready for urban operations

Story by LCpl Tyler Andersen
Date Posted:10.24.2014 17:35

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division conducted live-fire, close–quarters, battle training with grenades at the MOC-3 range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 21.

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October 20, 2014

Nilsson retires following 30 years of service

Story by Cpl Grace L. Waladkewics
Date Taken:10.17.2014 | Date Posted:10.20.2014 17:14

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Sgt. Maj. Lisa K. Nilsson retired from her post as sergeant major of Marine Air Control Group 28 during a retirement ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 17.

Continue reading "Nilsson retires following 30 years of service" »

VMGR-252 conducts FISDU, props up detachment

Courtesy story
Date Posted:10.20.2014 13:37

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 sent one KC-130J Super Hercules to Moron, Spain, on a flight in support of deployed unit Oct. 15-18.

Continue reading "VMGR-252 conducts FISDU, props up detachment" »

October 17, 2014

U.S., Bulgaria resilient as regional threat looms

Story by Sgt Derrick Irions
Date Posted:10.17.2014 05:19

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria - U.S. and Bulgarian military exercises demonstrate a combined commitment to preserving European security amidst recent Russian aggression.

Continue reading "U.S., Bulgaria resilient as regional threat looms" »

October 10, 2014

1/2 returns from Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Krista James | II Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 10.10.2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A crowd of more than 300 friends and family members cheered as Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 9 following a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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October 9, 2014

USS Mesa Verde Departs Split, Croatia

Story Number: NNS141009-09Release Date: 10/9/2014 1:36:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon M. Smith, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

SPLIT, Croatia (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) departed Split, Croatia, Oct. 9, after a scheduled port visit.

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October 7, 2014

USS Mesa Verde Visits Split, Croatia

Story Number: NNS141007-12Release Date: 10/7/2014 3:56:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon M. Smith, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

SPLIT, Croatia (NNS) -- The USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), arrived in Split, Croatia, for a port visit, Oct. 6.

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October 3, 2014

Bataan Amphibious Ready Group transits Suez Canal, begins journey home

POSTED 2:55 PM, OCTOBER 3, 2014, BY MATT KNIGHT, UPDATED AT 02:56PM, OCTOBER 3, 2014

The ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal on Thursday, marking the beginning of their journey homeward.

Continue reading "Bataan Amphibious Ready Group transits Suez Canal, begins journey home" »

September 27, 2014

Corps sending 200 Marines to Central America for disaster relief, training

By Fred Lambert
Sept. 27, 2014 at 6:26 PM

MIAMI, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps plans to send 200 men next year to supplement an air-ground task force in the U.S. Southern Command, which oversees disaster relief, training and other operations in Central America and the Caribbean.

Continue reading "Corps sending 200 Marines to Central America for disaster relief, training" »

September 17, 2014

Marine from Suffolk killed in Afghanistan

By Ali Rockett [email protected]
5:00 p.m. EDT, September 17, 2014

A Marine from Suffolk was killed in Afghanistan this week, according to a U.S. Department of Defense statement.

Continue reading "Marine from Suffolk killed in Afghanistan " »

September 13, 2014

'The Hornet's Nest' emphasizes humanity, nobility of war

Sep. 13, 2014 - 10:48AM
By Hope Hodge Seck

Wildly jerky and almost nauseating hand-held camera shots hit the viewer in the early minutes of the film, producing a gut-tensing feeling of running in the middle of a firefight in Afghanistan. Father-and-son filmmakers Mike and Carlos Boettcher captured the helplessness and peril of combat simply by leaving their cameras on record as they dashed for cover from Taliban snipers or hit the ground on a signal from soldiers or Marines.

Continue reading "'The Hornet's Nest' emphasizes humanity, nobility of war" »

September 10, 2014

Marine Harrier strikes Islamic State near Haditha Dam

Story by Joshua Stewart
Sep. 10, 2014 - 03:25 PM

A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier has struck an Islamic State target near the Haditha Dam in Iraq.

Continue reading "Marine Harrier strikes Islamic State near Haditha Dam" »

September 4, 2014

24th MEU fast-ropes toward deployment

By Sgt. Devin Nichols | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | September 04, 2014

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines and Sailors with Lima and Weapons Companies, both from Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Ground Combat Element, received fast-rope qualifications by fast-roping from a 60-foot tower and an MV-22B tilt-rotor aircraft, August 20-21, 2014, at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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September 1, 2014

Update: Marine Helicopter Crashes in the Gulf of Aden

Story Number: NNS140901-01Release Date: 9/1/2014 2:03:00 PM
From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) crashed at 2:00 p.m. (GMT), today, at sea in the Gulf of Aden as it attempted to land aboard USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19).

Continue reading "Update: Marine Helicopter Crashes in the Gulf of Aden" »

August 31, 2014

Bataan group extended in Mideast

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 31, 2014

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Bataan amphibious ready group will remain in the Middle East for three more weeks, Navy officials announced Saturday.

Continue reading "Bataan group extended in Mideast" »

August 29, 2014

'Walking Dead' Marine battalion to be deactivated

By Jonathan Drew
The Associated Press
Published: August 29, 2014

RALEIGH, N.C. — Decades before the television show, a Marine Corps battalion decorated for extensive combat in World War II and Vietnam earned the nickname the "Walking Dead."

Continue reading "'Walking Dead' Marine battalion to be deactivated" »

Marines, sailors with Bravo Company conduct security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan

By Cpl. Cody Haas | Marine Expeditionary Brigade - Afghanistan | August 29, 2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Enemy insurgents continue to operate in Helmand province, Afghanistan. To mitigate this threat, infantry units conduct security patrols to build relationships with locals in the surrounding area of Camps Bastion and Leatherneck, and to rid local routes of improvised explosive devices.

Continue reading "Marines, sailors with Bravo Company conduct security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan" »

August 27, 2014

Lejeune mess hall dedicated to Marines who died stopping bomb truck

By Hope Hodge Seck
Aug. 27, 2014 - 05:41PM

Two Marines who earned posthumous Navy Crosses for standing in the way of a truck filled with explosives in Iraq will be honored in the renaming of a mess hall on the base they called home.

Continue reading "Lejeune mess hall dedicated to Marines who died stopping bomb truck" »

August 26, 2014

Video: 1/2 Charlie Company Deconstructs P.B. Boldak

Video by Cpl John Martinez
Date Taken:08.14.2014 | Date Posted:08.26.2014 6:01PM

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, conduct retrograde operations aboard Patrol Base Boldak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, from 14 to 19 August 2014. The remediation and closure of Patrol Base Boldak allows Charlie Company to continue their operations aboard the Bastion-Leatherneck Complex.

Continue reading "Video: 1/2 Charlie Company Deconstructs P.B. Boldak" »

1/2 Charlie Company Tears Down P.B. Boldak [Image 1 of 22]

Photos by Cpl John Martinez
Date Taken:08.16.2014 | Date Posted:08.26.2014 16:36

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment during the retrograde of Patrol Base Boldak in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on August 14, 2014.

Continue reading "1/2 Charlie Company Tears Down P.B. Boldak [Image 1 of 22]" »

2/8 Marines join forces with MARSOC to enhance partner nation force training capabilities

Story by CPT Barry Morris
Date Taken:08.25.2014 | Date Posted:08.26.2014 15:30

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – As the nature of conflict and challenges to the U.S. and its interests remain constant, so does the demands of the U.S. Marine Corps’ ability to operate and conduct operations as a closely integrated Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with interagency and multinational partners across the full range of military operations.

Continue reading "2/8 Marines join forces with MARSOC to enhance partner nation force training capabilities" »

August 22, 2014

Cherry Point Marines, Sailors build home for Marine family

By Lance Cpl. Grace L. Waladkewics | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | August 22, 2014

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --
More than 30 Marines and Sailors volunteered several weekends this summer with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point's Single Marine Program and the American Heroes Home Build of Pamlico County to build a home for the family of a fellow service member.

Continue reading "Cherry Point Marines, Sailors build home for Marine family" »

August 20, 2014

Marines with Weapons Company conduct security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 08.20.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Enemy insurgents continue to operate in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in the area surrounding Camps Bastion and Leatherneck. In order to mitigate this threat, patrols are conducted to clear the surrounding area of all suspicious individuals and threats.

Continue reading "Marines with Weapons Company conduct security patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan" »

August 15, 2014

Marines arrive aboard Mesa Verde, aircraft take cargo

Photos by Cpl Manuel Estrada
Date Taken:07.10.2014 | Date Posted:08.15.2014 10:16

Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), M32 grenadier and MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd MEU, aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during routine flight operations and taking on cargo. The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Continue reading "Marines arrive aboard Mesa Verde, aircraft take cargo" »

August 14, 2014

24th MEU conducts PMINT

Story by LCpl Joey Mendez and Sgt Devin Nichols
Date Posted:08.14.2014 17:07

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea - Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit caught their first glimpse of what their life will consist of while deployed aboard the USS Iwo Jima, USS New York, or the USS Fort McHenry, during Amphibious Squadron/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration, or PMINT, August 6—13.

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2/7 Marines Execute Evacuation Drills for Large Scale Exercise 2014

Story by Cpl Ricardo Hurtado
Date Posted:08.14.2014 17:09

MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, BRIDGEPORT, Calif. – Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, performed a tactical non-combatant personnel evacuation training mission via aircraft as part of Large Scale Exercise 2014 at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif., Aug. 13.

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August 11, 2014

US Marines to Modernize Equipment Stored in Norwegian Prepositioning Caves

Courtesy Story
Date Posted:08.11.2014 07:56

TRØNDELAG REGION, Norway – U.S. Marines, in coordination with their Norwegian counterparts, are scheduled to conduct a pre-planned Single Ship Movement and offload of military equipment from a Maritime Prepositioning Force ship in the Trøndelag region of Norway mid-August.

Continue reading "US Marines to Modernize Equipment Stored in Norwegian Prepositioning Caves" »

August 10, 2014

More than 100 aircraft, 8 ships ready for Iraq air campaign

Story by Jeff Schogol
Aug. 8, 2014 - 07:11PM

The U.S. has a massive force of ships and aircraft in the Persian Gulf for the air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq.

Continue reading "More than 100 aircraft, 8 ships ready for Iraq air campaign" »

August 7, 2014

22nd MEU Chaplain earns FMF officer pin

Photos by Sgt Alisa Helin
Date Taken:07.30.2014 | Date Posted:08.07.2014 01:50

U.S. Navy 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) chaplain and native of Panama City, Fla., stands at attention while being pinned with his Fleet Marine Force qualification aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Continue reading "22nd MEU Chaplain earns FMF officer pin" »

August 6, 2014

The past aligned with the future: MARSOC becomes Marine Raiders

By Gunnery Sgt. Josh Higgins | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command | August 06, 2014

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- During World War II, four Marine Raider battalions and two Raider regiments were formed and saw action in the Pacific Theater between 1942 and 1944. Formed to conduct amphibious raids and guerrilla operations behind enemy lines, the Raider battalions were the United States’ first special operations units.

Continue reading "The past aligned with the future: MARSOC becomes Marine Raiders" »

July 26, 2014

Bataan group's long stretch at sea symptomatic of smaller amphibious fleet

By Hendrick Simoes | Stars and Stripes
Published: July 26, 2014

MANAMA, Bahrain — The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan returned to open waters Friday after undergoing much-needed maintenance after its near-record 135 days at sea in an area of heightened tension, which put a strain on the amphibious ready group and the ship’s crew.

Continue reading "Bataan group's long stretch at sea symptomatic of smaller amphibious fleet" »

CENTCOM commander visits USS Bataan

Photos by Sgt Alisa Helin
Date Taken:07.26.2014 | Date Posted:07.27.2014 14:03

U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander, U.S. Central Command, visited on board the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Continue reading "CENTCOM commander visits USS Bataan" »

July 25, 2014

Combined Arms Breaching Training during Platinum Lion 14-1

Photos by LCpl Samantha Barajas
Date Taken:07.23.2014 | Date Posted:07.25.2014 02:1

Marines and soldiers from the United States, Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, along with our Azerbaijani interpreters, complete combined arms breaching training in Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, July 23, 2014.

Continue reading "Combined Arms Breaching Training during Platinum Lion 14-1" »

July 24, 2014

3/2 Marines are first in more than a decade to receive best rifle squad honors

Story by LCpl Kirstin Merrimarahajara
Date Posted:07.24.2014 08:52

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division were presented winners’ badges in front of the commanding general’s building July 18, 2014, for their performance in a rifle squad competition.

Continue reading "3/2 Marines are first in more than a decade to receive best rifle squad honors" »

Marines carry out raid exercise in Natural Bridge

Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2014 9:07 pm
By Amy Friedenberger The Roanoke Times

NATURAL BRIDGE -- The sound of an approaching aircraft sent screaming men and women dashing from their housing quarters out into the dark.

Continue reading "Marines carry out raid exercise in Natural Bridge" »

July 23, 2014

8 awarded Purple Heart for action in Afghanistan

By Matthew Adkins - [email protected]
Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 12:10 PM.

Eight military service members from the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment received Purple Heart medals Wednesday at Camp Lejeune for their actions during their recent deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "8 awarded Purple Heart for action in Afghanistan" »

July 13, 2014

1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, supply Marines account for $117 million worth of gear

Story by Sgt. Frances Johnson | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.13.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Tracking equipment required to sustain missions for an infantry battalion in a combat zone may seem like it would be the work for an entire battalion itself. For 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, the supply shop consists of only five Marines.

Continue reading "1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, supply Marines account for $117 million worth of gear" »

July 10, 2014

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 deploys to Western Pacific

BY STAFF REPORTS
July 10, 2014

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 departed Beaufort Wednesday, headed for a deployment in the Western Pacific.

Continue reading "Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 deploys to Western Pacific" »

July 7, 2014

Marines, sailors partner with task force in Gabon

Story by 1LT James Stenger
Date Posted:07.07.2014 15:07

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy - Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 completed a partnership exercise in Gabon, June 28.

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June 29, 2014

Swim call aboard the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea

Posted 4:18 PM, June 29, 2014, By Matt KniGht, Updated at 04:23PM, June 29, 2014

Swim call is only a short walk away when you serve on an amphibious assault ship. Check out the sailors and marines onboard the USS Bataan enjoying some time in the water.

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Marine's journey ends with ultimate sacrifice

Posted: Sunday, June 29, 2014 9:56 am

By TOM SILEO The Unknown Soldiers

On April 4, U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Garabrant updated his Facebook page as the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion left North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune for Afghanistan.

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June 27, 2014

BLT 1/6 rappels, fast ropes at sea

Photos by LCpl Caleb McDonald
Date Taken:06.23.2014 | Date Posted:06.27.2014 08:05

A U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepares to rappel out of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during a fast rope and rappel training exercise aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5), at sea, June 23, 2014. Elements of the 22nd MEU, embarked aboard Bataan, are operating in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to augment U.S. Crisis Response forces in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Caleb McDonald/Released)

Continue reading "BLT 1/6 rappels, fast ropes at sea" »

No landing gear at sea? No problem for this Marine pilot

BY DAN LAMOTHE June 27 at 1:27 PM

Say you’re a pilot for a minute. You’re in the middle of a deployment, and flying AV-8B Harrier jump jets over water when something scary happens: Your front landing gear refuses to work.

Continue reading "No landing gear at sea? No problem for this Marine pilot" »

Stafford County residents welcome home fallen Marine

Posted: Jun 27, 2014 6:40 AM CST Updated: Jun 27, 2014 7:07 PM CST
By Tom Fitzgerald, FOX 5 Reporter

STAFFORD, Va. -

It was a solemn welcome home ceremony for a local Marine killed in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. David Stewart was one of three Marines killed last week. His body arrived home to Stafford County in a patriotic motorcade Friday afternoon.

Continue reading "Stafford County residents welcome home fallen Marine" »

June 26, 2014

CARAT 2014

Photos by LCpl Austin Schlosser
Date Taken:06.26.2014 | Date Posted:07.01.2014 11:08

U.S. Marines assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment watch demonstrations during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014. In its 20th year, CARAT is a bilateral exercise series between the United States and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and Southeast Asia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Austin Schlosser/Released)

Continue reading "CARAT 2014" »

June 24, 2014

Iowa Marine dies in attack in Afghanistan

William Petroski, [email protected] 8:45 a.m. CDT June 24, 2014

An Ottumwa native known as a hard worker who was always kind to his classmates was one of three Marines killed in a Taliban attack as the United States draws down its military forces in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Iowa Marine dies in attack in Afghanistan" »

June 14, 2014

Bravo Company keeps Bastion, Leatherneck secure

Story by Cpl. Michael Dye | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.14.2014

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marines and sailors with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are tasked with the mission of protecting the Camps Bastion and Leatherneck. To achieve this crucial mission, the unit conducted a security patrol near the base, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 3, 2014.

Continue reading "Bravo Company keeps Bastion, Leatherneck secure" »

June 12, 2014

Urban operations put combat engineers to the test

By Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | June 12, 2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC -- Incoming rounds popped and whizzed past the heads of Marines, spiking their adrenaline as they darted through streets and around buildings.

Continue reading "Urban operations put combat engineers to the test" »

June 11, 2014

MARSOC Marine to receive Navy Cross

By MARSOC Public Affairs
Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 16:31 PM.

Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford, with 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, will be posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while deployed to Afghanistan in 2012.

Continue reading " MARSOC Marine to receive Navy Cross" »

June 8, 2014

US completes large-scale Middle East exercise, even with amphibious forces stretched

By Hendrick Simoes
Published: June 8, 2014

AQABA, Jordan — Although officials insisted the annual multinational Eager Lion exercise that ended here Sunday was unrelated to sectarian violence across Jordan’s borders, regional tensions nonetheless affected the course of the two-week exercise.

Continue reading "US completes large-scale Middle East exercise, even with amphibious forces stretched" »

US Navy rescues 282 people in Mediterranean Sea

By Hendrick Simoes
Published: June 8, 2014

The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan rescued 282 people in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday and transferred them to Malta’s military the next day, Navy officials said. Five of those rescued had to be medically evacuated.

Continue reading "US Navy rescues 282 people in Mediterranean Sea" »

June 7, 2014

Family adopts Marine dog that was with their son when he was killed

By Tony Perry
Los Angeles Times
Published: June 7, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON - In a brief but poignant ceremony Saturday, a bomb-sniffing dog was declared retired and officially adopted by the family of his Marine handler who was killed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Family adopts Marine dog that was with their son when he was killed" »

June 6, 2014

US, Jordanian forces demonstrate combat power at Eager Lion

By Hendrick Simoes
Published: June 6, 2014

JEBEL PETRA, Jordan — Moments after fighter aircraft pummeled the exercise area with bombs, U.S. Marine and Jordanian armored vehicles advanced into it while low-flying AH1-F Cobra attack helicopters zoomed past them to provide cover. Each action was precise, taking place on cue.

Continue reading "US, Jordanian forces demonstrate combat power at Eager Lion" »

June 2, 2014

VMGR-252 aerial refuels HMX-1 during trans-Atlantic flight

By Cpl. S.T. Stewart | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | June 02, 2014

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Three KC-130J Super Hercules from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 left Cherry Point May 27 for a week-long deployment in support of Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 as the helicopter squadron completed its first trans-Atlantic flight in the squadron’s MV-22B Ospreys.

Continue reading "VMGR-252 aerial refuels HMX-1 during trans-Atlantic flight" »

May 28, 2014

Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines take control of the fight in southern Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Michael Dye | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.28.2014

PATROL BASE BOLDAK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, completed the turnover with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, and took control over Patrol Base Boldak and its area of operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 20, 2014.

Continue reading "Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines take control of the fight in southern Helmand province" »

U.S. citizens urged to leave Libya; Bataan moves into Mediterranean

By Lolita C. Baldor
May. 28, 2014 - 12:07PM

WASHINGTON — The State Department recommended Tuesday that Americans leave Libya immediately and warned U.S. citizens against any travel to the North African country.

Continue reading "U.S. citizens urged to leave Libya; Bataan moves into Mediterranean" »

Marine to get Medal of Honor for blocking grenade; has Gainesville connections

By The Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday, May 28th 2014 at 7:30pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cpl. Kyle Carpenter remembers lying on his back on a rooftop in Marjah, Afghanistan, crammed up against sandbags alongside his friend and fellow Marine, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Eufrazio.

Continue reading "Marine to get Medal of Honor for blocking grenade; has Gainesville connections" »

May 24, 2014

2nd LAR Marines, sailors remember fallen comrades

By Lance Cpl Krista James | 2nd Marine Division | May 22, 2014

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. --
Marines, sailors and distinguished guests with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, gathered together at the battalion headquarters aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for a memorial service, May 21, 2014.

Continue reading "2nd LAR Marines, sailors remember fallen comrades" »

James Capodanno, who kept alive memory of his brother, Father Vincent Capodanno, dies at 94

By Tom Wrobleski
May 23, 2014 at 4:00 PM, updated May 24, 2014 at 2:18 PM

ELTINGVILLE – James Capodanno, a World War II Marine Corps veteran who kept alive the memory of his hero brother, the Rev. Vincent R. Capodanno, has died at the age of 94, his family said.

Continue reading "James Capodanno, who kept alive memory of his brother, Father Vincent Capodanno, dies at 94" »

May 19, 2014

It's official: Medal of Honor for Marine Kyle Carpenter

By James K. Sanborn | Staff writer
May. 19, 2014 - 05:24PM

Retired Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, 24, will receive the Medal of Honor for heroism in Afghanistan in 2010, the White House announced today. He will become only the second living Marine to receive the award for actions during the Global War on Terrorism.

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May 15, 2014

MWSS-271 hones communication abilities

Story by Cpl Unique B. Roberts
Date Posted:05.15.2014 12:34

BOGUE, N.C. - Members of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 conducted their annual Communication Exercise, May 5 – 9 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C.

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May 12, 2014

Marines stretch sea legs as Afghanistan winds down

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 12, 2014

As the U.S. military concludes its mission in Afghanistan and the Marine Corps is in the midst of reducing its current active-duty strength, many Marines are wondering what their postwar role will be.

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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

VMA-223 Marines return from supporting 31st MEU

Story by LCpl Unique Roberts
Date Posted:05.08.2014 16:53

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Approximately 30 Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 223 returned to Cherry Point from Okinawa, Japan, and Korea after supporting the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during a Unit Deployment Program April 30.

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MALS-14 Marine crowned Ordnance Marine of the Year

Story by LCpl Andrea Cleopatra
Date Posted:05.08.2014 09:16

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - It is initiative that proved vital in the success of Sgt. Jason Connolly, an aviation ordnance systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14. He recently earned the Marine Corps Aviation Association’s Ordnance Marine of the Year Award.

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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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May 3, 2014

America’s Battalion takes Texas: Destroy the enemy from the air

Story by Cpl Austin Long
Date Posted:05.03.2014 22:11

FORT BLISS, Texas - When troops are in a grueling firefight while on patrol, the sound of an approaching attack helicopter can give hope for the Marines and sailors engaging the enemy. Attack helicopters provide troops with an advantage over ground forces when trying to accomplish a mission. It provides them with a better view point of the battlefield and superior fire power unmatched by enemy ground forces.

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New automatic weapon being fielded at 2nd LAR

Posted: Thursday, May 3, 2012 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. James Frazer 2nd Marine Division

The Marine Corps got its first chance, in December 2010, to test the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle developed by the Heckler & Koch firearm company. Marines with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, recently got their first chance to try out the newest weapon chosen to join the arsenal of the Marine infantry units.

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April 29, 2014

Combat engineer Marines conduct Transfer of Authority Ceremony in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl Cody Haas
Date Posted:04.29.2014 08:26

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan –Marines and sailors with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion relieved 1st CEB during a transfer of authority ceremony aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, April 20.

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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 13, 2014

USS Bataan activity

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark Hays
Date Taken:04.12.2014 | Date Posted:04.13.2014 11:53

Sailors and Marines from the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) play basketball during a steel beach picnic April 12. Bataan is the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 22nd 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 Mark Hays/Released) www.facebook.com/ussbataan

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April 11, 2014

MK Airbase showcases capabilities during Different School Week

Story by SSG Alexander Burnett
Date Posted:04.11.2014 02:22

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania - Romanian and U.S. service members and airport employees showcased their occupational specialties and unique service equipment during Different School Week at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase April 7-11.

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Maintenance is key to mission success, readiness

Story by LCpl Jorden Wells
Date Posted: 04.11.2013 09:00

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Without the hard work and diligent attention to detail that mechanics possess, the many missions that are carried out by squadrons such as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 would not be possible, said Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael Keatley, VMM-263 maintenance chief.

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Marine shot at Camp Lejeune took bullet for a friend

Therese Apel, The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger 11:56 a.m. EDT April 11, 2014

Twins Mike and Mark Boterf knew when they decided to go into the Marines together during wartime that they might not come out of it together.

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April 10, 2014

Farmers market coming to Camp Lejeune

By Cpl. Jackeline Perez Rivera | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | April 10, 2014

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --

There’s nothing like strolling through a vibrant farmers market. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables overflowing from baskets; the smell of fresh-baked cookies and pies lingering in the air, and the hum of a community coming together – it’s enough to entice anyone.

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April 9, 2014

North Texas Marine killed in Camp Lejeune shooting

Associated Press
Posted on April 9, 2014 at 10:23 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:37 PM

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — A Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday that the fatal shooting of a North texas Marine on guard duty by a colleague at a North Carolina base appears to have been an accident.

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April 8, 2014

Marine guard shot to death by colleague at Camp Lejeune

Hope Hodge Seck, Marine Corps Times 10:32 p.m. EDT April 8, 2014

Military officials are investigating a shooting at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Tuesday, where a Marine gate guard killed a colleague with his service rifle.

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Official: Marine fatally shoots fellow Marine at Camp Lejeune main gate

By WCTI Staff
POSTED: 7:24 PM Apr 08 2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, ONSLOW COUNTY -

[UPDATE: 4/8 10:15 P.M.] The Marine guard shot and killed by another Marine at Camp Lejeune's main gate died from a single gunshot wound, officials said.

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Marines land in Morocco, demonstrate crisis response capability

Story by CPT David David
Date Taken:04.07.2014 | Date Posted:04.08.2014 09:12

MORON AIR BASE, Spain - In today’s security environment, the ability to quickly place military personnel on a location anywhere on the globe is at a premium. In order to stay ready for that task, the U.S. Marines of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force conducted a training mission in Tifnit, Morocco, April 3, 2014.

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April 1, 2014

Exercise African Lion 2014 is underway in Agadir, Morocco

Courtesy story
Date Taken:03.28.2014 | Date Posted:04.01.2014 19:14

AGADIR, Morocco – Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, members of the Federal Republic of Germany Armed Forces, a small representation of NATO personnel and U.S. personnel with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade along with representatives from 13 African and European partner nations began Exercise African Lion, March 26, 2014.

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March 31, 2014

Marines and Sailors receive two tons of mail aboard the Bataan

Story by Sgt Austin Hazard
Date Taken:03.20.2014 | Date Posted:03.31.2014 02:48

GULF OF ADEN - The U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and USS Bataan (LHD 5) received and sorted more than 5,000 pounds of mail, one of the largest deliveries to date, aboard the Bataan, March 20, 2014.

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March 28, 2014

Marines and Romanians conduct first live-fire exercise of current BSRF iteration

By Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting | Marine Forces Europe and Africa | March 28, 2014

BABADAG TRAINING AREA, Romania --
Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division assigned to Black Sea Rotational Force 14 got their first taste of what BSRF is all about by participating in their first international military exercise aboard Babadag Training Area in Romania March 26, 2014.

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March 18, 2014

Sailors, Marines Baptized in the Jordan River during Port Visit to Israel

Story Number: NNS140318-05 | Release Date: 3/18/2014 8:52:00 AM
By Seaman Phylicia A. Hanson, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

HAIFA, Israel (NNS) -- Sailors attached to amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and Marines assigned to 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) were baptized in the Jordan River while exploring the Holy sites of Israel during a scheduled port visit March 8.

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March 17, 2014

Time-lapse video: The USS Bataan transits the Suez Canal

Posted on: 4:40 pm, March 17, 2014, by Matt Knight

Check out this time-lapse of the USS Bataan traveling through the Suez Canal. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are deployed to the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. The Bataan ARG is comprised of the USS Bataan, USS Mesa Verde, and the USS Gunston Hall.

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March 14, 2014

Marines help in an unusual camel rescue in Afghanistan

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / STAFF WRITER
Published: March 14, 2014 Updated: March 15, 2014 10:30 a.m.

As the military wind-down continues in Afghanistan, some troops are applying the Marine Oohrah in gentler ways.

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24th MEU Marines recognize the Sgt. Maj. Gallegos legacy

Story by 1LT Joshua Larson
Date Posted:03.14.2014 15:59

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has a long and illustrious history dating back to the early 1980s, but few would argue that the unit’s 18th sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos Jr., hasn’t made an impact on that unit’s history. The Marines say the Gallegos legacy is simple—a “Marine’s Marine” with selfless devotion and a straightforward, never-give-up, “no-BS” attitude.

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24th Marine Expeditionary Unit welcomes the Marine Corps’ first female MEU sergeant major

Story by Cpl. Joshua W. Grant
Date Posted:03.14.2014 17:18

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos, Jr. relinquished the duties of sergeant major of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Sgt. Maj. Lanette Wright aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, March 14.

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March 13, 2014

Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Enters US 5th Fleet

Story Number: NNS140313-17Release Date: 3/13/2014 2:47:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) John J. Belanger, USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) with embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal March 13, entering U.S. 5th Fleet's area of operations.

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March 11, 2014

Corps names first woman to serve as MEU sergeant major

Mar. 11, 2014 - 11:31AM
Staff report | Sgt. Rachael Moore/Marine Corps

Sgt. Maj. Lanette Wright will make history this week when she is named the Corps’ first female sergeant major of a Marine expeditionary unit.

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March 9, 2014

Marines and Norwegians firing mounted .50 cal machine guns from BVs

Photo by MSgt Chad McMeen
Date Posted:03.06.2014 10:15

The Warlords of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division fire .50 caliber machine guns on a range in Norway from mounted BV positions. This live-fire range is part of the integration training prior to the March 10th start of Exercise Cold Response 2014 which is a Norwegian-led multinational exercise above the Arctic Circle designed prepare for crisis response operations. During the exercise forces from 17 countries will unify to strengthen the strong military bond between participating nations.

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March 8, 2014

Deployed Marines gather to remember fallen brother

Story by Cpl. Joshua Young | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.08.2014

Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, gathered to remember a fallen brother aboard Camp Leatherneck, March 7.

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22nd MEU passes through Strait of Messina

by Sgt Austin Hazard
Date Taken:03.06.2014 | Date Posted:03.08.2014 15:40

The USS Bataan (LHD 5) passes through the Strait of Messina March 6, 2014. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released)

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March 7, 2014

SMAW Weapons Drills

by Cpl Joshua Rudy
Date Taken:03.5.2014Date | Posted:03.7.2014 5:56PM

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conduct weapons drills with the Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon aboard the USS Bataan (LHD 5), at sea, March 5, 2014. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious missions across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Joshua M. Rudy/Released)

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March 5, 2014

22nd MEU, USS Bataan Volunteer While at Port

by Sgt Alisa Helin
Date Taken:02.28.2014 | Date Posted:03.5.2014 1:02PM

U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and U.S. Navy Sailors with the USS Bataan (LHD 5) participate in a community relations event in Lisbon, Portugual, Feb. 28, 2014. The Marines and Sailors picked oranges for a local food bank and volunteered at a local convent. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious mission across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Alisa J. Helin and U.S. Navy video by MC3 Chase Hawley/Released)

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March 4, 2014

Corpsman with 9th Marine Regiment recognized for actions in Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.04.2014

PATROL BASE BOLDAK, Afghanistan – If a Marine is seriously injured during a patrol, having a skilled Navy corpsman on the scene can mean the difference between life and death.

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22nd MEU Spanish PHIBLEX Offload

This work, 22nd MEU Spanish PHIBLEX Offload, by Sgt Alisa Helin
Date Taken:02.19.2014Date | Posted:03.4.2014 1:39PM

U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) off-load from the USS Bataan (LHD 5) to begin Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2014 at Sierra del Retin, Spain, Feb. 19. Spanish PHIBLEX is an annual exercise designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and develop professional and personal relationships between U.S. forces and participating nations. The MEU is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious mission across the full range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Alisa J. Helin/Released)

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March 1, 2014

1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment Marines patrol Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Cody Haas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.01.2014

PATROL BASE BOLDAK, Afghanistan –Early each morning aboard Patrol Base Boldak, a team of infantry Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, dons their gear and prepares to leave for a daily patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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February 24, 2014

Marines to train with equipment stored underground in Arctic

Cold Response 2014 brings troops from 16 countries to Norway

By Gina Harkins
Staff write
Feb. 24, 2014 - 06:00AM

About 440 North Carolina-based Marines will move prepositioned gear out of caves in Norway for the first time in decades during a multinational exercise aimed at cold weather military training.

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February 21, 2014

22nd MEU to participate in exercise with Portuguese, Spanish forces

02.21.2014 | USEUCOM, AT SEA
Story by Capt. Stewart Coles

ROTA, Spain – U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) will be working together with Portuguese Marines and Spanish Marines for Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2014.

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February 19, 2014

2/6 returns from seven month Japan deployment

By THOMAS BRENNAN Daily News Staff
Published: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 13:25 PM.

One little princess finally got to bring her king back to his castle.

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February 17, 2014

Lejeune Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Mike Voorheis - StarNews of Wilmington
Published: Monday, February 17, 2014 at 11:34 AM.

Master Sgt. Aaron Torian was remembered Sunday as a dedicated Marine, family man and superior physical specimen by several communities who grew to respect him. Torian died Saturday while deployed in Afghanistan.

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February 13, 2014

Ragnarok Co completes winter training

Posted in The Globe Thursday, February 13, 2014 12:00 am
by Lance Cpl. Sullivan Laramie 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Blinding snow during the day, bitter cold at night and the threat of attack at any moment added to the stress Ragnarok Company faced each day it spent in the mountains.

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February 8, 2014

VMGR-252 returns from Afghanistan

Story by LCpl Victor Arriaga
Date Posted:02.08.2014 14:17

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - More than 80 Marines and Sailors with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point returned from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan Feb. 2 and 5.

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Warlords ‘fight’ in winter environment

By Staff Sgt. Steve Cushman | 2nd Marine Regiment | February 08, 2014

Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif. – -- A quiet winter morning in a mountain field, the natural silence is shattered by a landing helicopter. Marines quickly exit the helicopter into knee deep snow, and drag their 90-pound packs through the snow to set up security, then rapidly trudge through the snow to the nearby tree line.

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Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Deploys

Story Number: NNS140208-07Release Date: 2/8/2014 5:26:00 PM
By Lieutenant Patricia Kreuzberger, USS Bataan (LHD 5) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed from Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment, Feb. 8.

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February 5, 2014

Marines, sailors to conduct training in Senegal

Published JDN news: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 09:46 AM

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy - Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 recently arrived in Senegal to conduct a theater security cooperation engagement.

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Groups rally to plan dinner for wounded Marine

By Andy Fillmore
Correspondent
Published: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 6:19 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 6:19 p.m.

Lance Cpl. David Garrett Burgess, wounded in December while serving with the U. S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan, will be honored Saturday with an official “welcome home” fundraising dinner to benefit him and his wife Emily, and their son Joseph.

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February 4, 2014

22nd MEU Marines, sailors depart for deployment

By USMC
Published: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 13:39 PM.

U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are slated to depart North Carolina and begin their scheduled eight-month deployment with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

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January 14, 2014

Marine receives award for rescuing young girl

By Cpl. Devin Nichols | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | January 14, 2014

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- With the arrival of the weekend, Marines and their friends gathered together to head to North Topsail Beach, N.C.

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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.

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Marines train to fight in the cold in Finland

By Gina Harkins
Staff Writer
Jan. 11, 2014 - 06:00AM

Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force are training with Finnish soldiers for the first time, swapping skills on arctic and urban warfare in areas that average single-digit temperatures in January.

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January 8, 2014

Troopers identify Camp Lejeune Marines found dead in submerged vehicle

Posted: Jan 08, 2014 9:44 AM CST Updated: Jan 08, 2014 1:48 PM CST
By: WECT Staff

CAMPE LEJEUNE, NC (WECT) - The Highway Patrol has identified the two Camp Lejeune Marines who were found dead inside a submerged vehicle, according to WITN.

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Family members identify Lejeune Marines killed on Catfish Lake Road

Mom of victim: Road "is nothing but a death hole"

By Justine Borst, Producer
POSTED: 4:58 AM Jan 08 2014

CRAVEN COUNTY -
Two missing Camp Lejeune Marines were found dead in an overturned car late Tuesday night.

Continue reading "Family members identify Lejeune Marines killed on Catfish Lake Road" »

January 6, 2014

Lake Placid native receives Bronze Star

Story by Cpl Mel Johnson
Date Posted:01.06.2014 18:15

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Corporal Joshua M. McKee, a rifleman with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, received the Bronze Star medal with combat distinguishing device during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 27.

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December 25, 2013

Wounded Marine Behind Viral Email Gets New Helmet Hand-Delivered To Afghanistan By Corps' Top General

Paul Szoldra
December 25, 2013

The Marine behind an email that went viral on military networks was surprised by the Corps’ top general and senior enlisted leader Monday, when they both showed up in Afghanistan to present him with a brand new helmet.

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Abington Marine dies in Afghanistan

Town’s first combat loss since Vietnam

Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Erin Smith

The Abington community was left mourning the loss yesterday of a young U.S. Marine — the town’s first serviceman to die in combat since the Vietnam War.

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December 19, 2013

22nd MEU completes final major pre-deployment exercise

By Sgt. Austin Hazard | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | December 19, 2013

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. --

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the U.S. Navy Sailors and ships of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6 off the East Coast, at sea, Dec. 15, 2013.

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December 16, 2013

Field exercise prepares Marines, sailors for overseas service

Story by LCpl Sullivan Laramie
Date Posted:12.16.2013 12:36

Approximately 200 Marines and sailors with Ragnarok Company, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in a field exercise here Dec. 9 to 12.

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December 15, 2013

In The Heat of Battle: Marines Engage in Hourslong Firefight

By CPL. PAUL PETERSON
SPECIAL TO THE LEDGER
Published: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:47 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 11:47 p.m.

NAD ALI DISTRICT, Afghanistan | A threatening calm settled around 2nd Platoon as the whir of helicopter blades faded into the night. It was 5:15 a.m. with dawn nearing fast

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December 6, 2013

Breaking down the MEU: reinforcements return to parent commands

Story by LCpl Joshua Brown
Date Posted:12.06.2013 14:20

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will decomposite after an eight-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleets areas of responsibility Dec. 6, 2013.

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December 1, 2013

One year later, remembering a fallen Marine

Posted at: 12/01/2013 2:16 AM | Updated at: 12/01/2013 3:59 PM
By: Steve Flamisch

MECHANICVILLE – U.S. Marine Lance Corporals Anthony Denier and Erik Jacobsen were "six feet away" from one another when an enemy combatant opened fire in Afghanistan on Dec. 2, 2012.

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November 25, 2013

3rd Battalion, 8th Marines conducts battalion field exercise

Story by Sgt Ed Galo
Date Posted:11.25.2013 10:21

FORT PICKETT, Va. – In preparation for an upcoming deployment to locations throughout Europe and Africa, Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment conducted a week long field training exercise aboard Fort Pickett, Va., from Nov. 12-17.

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November 12, 2013

Sailors train with new mobile life support system

Story by LCpl Sullivan Laramie
Date Posted:11.12.2013 09:19

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Sailors with Medical Logistics Company, 4th Medical Battalion, and 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marines Logistics group trained with a new device for the Portable Patient Transport Life Support System program here Nov. 5 to 7. The training was coordinated by the Combat Support Systems (CSS) program management office of Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC).

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November 11, 2013

Combat Logistics Battalion 8 cases its colors

By THOMAS BRENNAN Daily News Staff
Published: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 07:30 AM.

Combat Logistics Battalion 8 cased its colors for good this week as the Marine Corps continues toward a drawdown.

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November 7, 2013

Corpsman carries on ‘family tradition’

Story by LCpl Jose Mendez Jr.
Date Posted:11.07.2013 14:13

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Family traditions and heritage are like blood – passed down from one generation to the next.

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November 6, 2013

News: 26th MEU returns home with its head held high

Story by Cpl Michael Lockett
Date Taken:11.03.2013 | Date Posted:11.06.2013 11:25

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to North Carolina Nov. 1-5, 2013, marking the end to a successful eight month deployment. The Marines and sailors deployed aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, sailing around the world as the Nation’s crisis response force, and participating in training and theater security cooperation exercises with friendly and allied nations across oceans, continents, and hemispheres.

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October 29, 2013

9 Marines, 1 sailor awarded Purple Heart medals

Story by LCpl Michael Dye
Date Taken:10.24.2013 | Date Posted:10.29.2013 08:50

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE – Nine Marines and one sailor with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, received the Purple Heart medal and one Marine received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for their actions in their support of Operation Enduring Freedom, October 24, 2013

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October 26, 2013

22nd MEU continues pre-deployment training with ARG/MEU Ex

By 22nd MEU Public Affairs | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | October 26, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) are set to conduct the ARG/MEU Exercise (ARG/MEU Ex) in preparation for their upcoming deployment.

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October 25, 2013

1st MLG commanding general awards Purple Heart to son

Story by Cpl Timothy Childers
Date Posted:10.25.2013 17:49

SCHWENKSVILLE, Pa. – Standing on the porch were two Marines. On the right was an older Marine wearing a service uniform with a stack of ribbons below his left shoulder. To his left was a much younger Marine; a veteran standing at attention as the senior Marine pinned a Purple Heart to his chest. The senior Marine was his father.

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Service Milestones: Combat engineer becomes first female “Gunny”

by Cpl Paul Peterson
Date Posted:10.25.2013 01:00

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Raised rough and tumble in the modest midwestern city of Mineral Point, Wis., Gunnery Sgt. Robin Baker came from an extended family dominated by males.

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October 24, 2013

Images: 26th MEU’s wash down aboard Naval Station Rota

Photos by Cpl Kyle N. Runnels
Date Taken:10.20.2013-10.20.2013 | Date Posted:10.24.2013 04:25

U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) perform duties during the 26th MEU's wash down aboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, Oct. 20, 2013.

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October 21, 2013

Images: 2/2 Fox Co. Returns Home

Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michael C. Dye
Date Taken:10.18.2013 | Date Posted:10.21.2013 14:26

Marines and sailors with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, return home after about a 8 month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Oct. 18, 2013.

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America’s Battalion returns home

By THOMAS BRENNAN Daily News Staff
Published: Monday, October 21, 2013 at 20:28 PM.

Hundreds of Marines from America’s Battalion returned Monday night under escort of the Patriot Guard.

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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.

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October 12, 2013

Marine Corps' supreme fitness center opens at Camp Lejeune

By Thomas Brennan
The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.
Published: October 12, 2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Marine Corps’ largest fitness center opened this week.

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September 30, 2013

Corporal becomes first female Marine assault climber

By Gina Harkins
Sep. 30, 2013 - 06:00AM

A North Carolina-based Marine became the first woman to complete the demanding three-week Assault Climbers Course,which culminates with a near-vertical, 200-foot climb in California’s Sierra Nevada.

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September 16, 2013

Iowa Marine receives Silver Star

Ryan Steinkamp is lauded for leadership in Afghan combat

Written by
William Petroski
Sep. 16, 2013

Hurling hand grenades and with his weapon blazing, Sgt. Ryan Steinkamp led a squad of about a dozen Marines last year on a death-defying mission against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s treacherous Helmand province.

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Marines Complete Urban Training in Central Va.

Sept. 16, 2013

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has completed its training in Central Virginia.

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September 7, 2013

Through their eyes: Armored vehicle driver in Afghanistan

By Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | September 07, 2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Like many areas of Afghanistan, the shifting desert surrounding the town of Now Zad in northern Helmand province is deceptive. The parched surroundings stand in stark contrast to the village’s tree-lined streets and the emergent green of nearby fields.

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September 6, 2013

Brothers in arms: honoring the past

By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | September 06, 2013

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea --
U.S. and French Marines alike are built around their customs, traditions and deep history composed of honor and selfless sacrifice. Quinton Ennius, a poet often considered the father of Roman poetry said, “Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men.”

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MACS-2 Marines return from operations in Spain

By Pfc. Victor A. Arriaga | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | September 06, 2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT,N.C. -- Eight Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 2 returned to Cherry Point Friday after a five-month deployment to Spain.

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September 5, 2013

Marine extremely humbled to receive Silver Star

September 5, 2013 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting 2nd Marine Division

Earning a Silver Star is one of the most prestigious achievements for someone in the military, and service members have to distinguish themselves with gallantry in action to be awarded the military’s third-highest honor.

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Last U.S. Marine tank unit heading home from Afghanistan

September 5th, 2013 | Afghanistan Infantry Kajaki Musa Qala Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The Marine Corps made national headlines in fall 2010 when it sent tanks to northern Helmand province to bolster firepower there. It was a first for the U.S. in the war, which was nine years old at the time.

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September 4, 2013

USS San Antonio arrives in Haifa, Israel

Stars and Stripes
Published: September 4, 2013

NAPLES, Italy — The USS San Antonio, an amphibious ship carrying hundreds of Marines, arrived Wednesday in Haifa, Israel, amid regional tensions over possible U.S. military strikes against Syria.

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R4OG deploy as Corps’ unsung heroes

Story by Cpl Charles Clark
Date Posted:09.04.2013 15:06

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors with the Retrograde and Redeployment in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, boarded buses as an advance party deploying to Afghanistan at the Maintenance Battalion’s maintenance bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 29.

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August 30, 2013

Afghan streets: NYPD officer serves in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.30.2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Before the War on Terror, the toppling of the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, or the attacks of Sept. 11, a young boy from the Bronx knew one thing: he wanted to help.

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August 29, 2013

22nd MEU Marines complete non-lethal weapons course

By Sgt. Alisa J. Helin | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | August 29, 2013

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. --
Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in a non-lethal weapons course at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 5-16, 2013.

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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.

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August 25, 2013

BLT 1/6 Marines complete tactical site exploitation training

Story by Sgt Alisa Helin
08.25.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), completed tactical site exploitation training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 19-21, 2013.

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August 24, 2013

Newest Marine unit trains with Spanish soldiers

Story by 1LT Joshua Larson
08.22.2013

PRINCIPE TRAINING CAMP, Spain – Marines and sailors with the Marine Corps’ newest unit, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, joined forces with the Spanish army for bilateral live-fire training at the Principe Training Camp in Spain, July 29 through Aug. 1, 2013.

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August 23, 2013

Lightning strikes twice in Beaufort

Story by Sgt Marcy Sanchez
08.23.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Distinguished guests and media witnessed a first in Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort history when the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter debuted to the Beaufort, S.C. community during a showcase of the aircraft aboard MCAS Beaufort, Aug. 20.

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August 20, 2013

HMLA-269 transitions to UH-1Y

By Lance Cpl. Ryan Joyner | Marine Corps Air Station New River | August 20, 2012

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. --
Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 gained proficiency in the new UH-1Y “Venom” Hueys by practicing flying and landing in confined areas aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 9.

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August 16, 2013

Combat Logistics Battalion 26 trains in non-combatant evacuation operations

Story by 1LT Gerard Farao
08.16.2013

USS SAN ANTONIO, At Sea – U.S. Marines assigned Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted training in non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO) aboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 17), at sea, August 16, 2013.

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MWSS-272 conducts MOC during ITX

By Pfc. Andy Orozco | Marine Corps Air Station New River | August 16, 2013

Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. --
Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 Motor Transport Company Marines conducted a motorized operations course aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Aug. 1, as part of the squadron’s Integrated Training Exercise.

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Families, friends welcome VMM-264 home

By Lance Cpl. Jorden M. Wells | Marine Corps Air Station New River | August 16, 2013

Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. --
After more than seven months in the arid desert of Afghanistan, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 made their triumphant return to their awaiting families in the early morning hours of Aug. 10, inside their hanger aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River

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August 13, 2013

3/9 cases its colors

By By THOMAS BRENNAN - Daily News Staff
Published: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 18:14 PM.

Tuesday marked the fifth time in its history that a specific Camp Lejeune unit has been disbanded.

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August 9, 2013

Marine, Army convoy brings ‘Home’ to Helmand

By Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | August 09, 2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- There’s a small, ramshackle hut just beyond the entrance to Forward Operating Base Kajaki, which overlooks an elbow in the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan.

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August 2, 2013

Marines attack Range 401

By Lance Cpl. Alejandro Bedoya | Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center | August 02, 2013

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. --
Marines and sailors with Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 8th Marine Regiment, participated in a company-sized attack at the Combat Center’s Range 401, July 26.

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July 29, 2013

Area Marine honored for valor

Cpl. Ryan T. McSweeney is a native of Middletown.

By Hannah Poturalski
Staff Writer
Posted: 3:41 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —

A Middletown native and U.S. Marine was recently honored for bravery during combat in Afghanistan.

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July 24, 2013

Marine Urges Others to ‘Pay It Forward’

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Krista James
2nd Marine Division

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., July 24, 2013 – It all started with a note and a piece of candy taped to a barracks room door. The note read, “Pay it forward,” and told the reader to contact the person who put it there if they ever needed anything. It was a small token of kindness with a huge meaning behind it: to do things for other people.

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July 23, 2013

Texas Marine recognized for valor in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 07.23.2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Joel T. Murray, an engineer heavy equipment operator with Combat Logistics Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, Regional Command (Southwest), received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device in recognition of his “heroic achievement” during the defense of Forward Operating Base Shir Ghazi in the Helmand province.

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July 20, 2013

3rd Battalion 9th Marines set to deactivate

By Daily News Staff
Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 18:04 PM.

Camp Lejeune will host a deactivation ceremony on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. for 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines at WPT Field aboard the base.

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July 16, 2013

Gentry Community Mourns Loss Of Marine

Posted on: 2:58 pm, July 16, 2013, by Alicia Agent and Aubry Killion, updated on: 11:19pm, July 16, 2013

The U.S. Department of Defense is investigating the death in Germany over the weekend of a Marine from Gentry.

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July 13, 2013

Warlords protect Bastion, Leatherneck, Shorabak

Story by Cpl. Lia Adkins
07.13.2013

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - With fighting season well underway and in preparation for Ramadan, the Warlords of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, were in a high operations tempo to counter a possible increase in insurgent activity.

Continue reading "Warlords protect Bastion, Leatherneck, Shorabak" »

July 10, 2013

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Pointt

Story by Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki
07.10.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 is scheduled to deploy to Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., to support Integrated Training Exercise 5-13, from mid-July to mid-August.

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July 7, 2013

Halfway to home

By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | July 07, 2013

USS KEARSARGE, At sea --
Sailing through the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of responsibility on three Navy vessels assigned to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have made it to the halfway mark of returning home to their friends and family during their 2013 deployment.

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July 3, 2013

MALS-40 heads to Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 07.03.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - More than 50 Marines from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 14 left Cherry Point for Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, June 28.

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2nd MarDiv Band lights up stage for July 4th

Story by Pfc. Jose Mendez Jr. | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.03.2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - In celebration of July 4th the 2nd Marine Division Band held a concert at the Base Theatre aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, July 2.

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June 29, 2013

Ready to Roll: Marine mechanics keep vehicles moving

Story by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 06.29.2013

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan—Shrill screams of trucks backing up, sounds of clanging wrenches tightening loose screws and music resonate throughout the mechanic shop. Sand-coated grease stains cover the faces of Marines working beneath trucks and repairing damaged vehicles.

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June 24, 2013

Charlottesville Marine awarded Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan

Posted: Monday, June 24, 2013 9:05 pm | Updated: 11:22 am, Tue Jun 25, 2013.
BY LIANA BAYNE

Capt. Daniel O’Brien and his wife, Morgan O’Brien, received a welcome to Charlottesville on Monday that was a little bigger than a backyard barbecue.

Continue reading "Charlottesville Marine awarded Bronze Star for service in Afghanistan" »

June 19, 2013

VMAQT-1 stands up, assumes responsibility for Prowler training

By Lance Cpl. Andrea Cleopatra Dickerson | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | June 19, 2013

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

Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 became Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 during a redesignation ceremony aboard Cherry Point Friday.

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June 18, 2013

Jordanian-led exercise poses unique challenges to US Marines

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 18, 2013

AL QUWEIRA, Jordan — It’s hot, barren and isolated, and the living conditions for the 2,400 Marines here assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are spartan.

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June 14, 2013

Intel Marines complete interoperability exercise for 22nd MEU deployment

Story by Sgt. Austin Hazard | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.14.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s intelligence section will complete integration training with intelligence Marines from its future support elements at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 15, 2013, in preparation for their deployment early next year.

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June 13, 2013

A walk on the dry side: Navy junior officers go ashore with Marines

A walk on the dry side: Navy junior officers go ashore with Marines
By Cpl. Michael S. Lockett
June 13, 2013

The very nature of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarking thousands of Marines on Navy amphibious assault ships, means that Marines are, by rote, exposed to the Navy way of life; to watches, to flight quarters, to a life of passageways, ladder wells, decks, and hatches. Occasionally, though, it goes in reverse.

Continue reading "A walk on the dry side: Navy junior officers go ashore with Marines" »

June 12, 2013

US participating in international Eager Lion exercise in Jordan

By Hendrick Simoes
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 12, 2013

AMMAN, Jordan — Eager Lion, a 12-day annual military exercise involving 8,000 personnel from 19 countries, is underway as the civil war rages next door in Syria.

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June 11, 2013

The 26th MEU prepares for Eager Lion

Story by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.08.2013
Date Posted: 06.11.2013 04:03

AQABA, Jordan – Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and sailors assigned to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, are participating in bilateral and multilateral training evolutions in various parts of Jordan during exercise Eager Lion, June 9 to June 20, 2013.

Continue reading "The 26th MEU prepares for Eager Lion" »

June 10, 2013

America’s Battalion returns to southern Helmand

Story by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 06.10.2013

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan— After years spent in Helmand province, the U.S. Marines are making strides toward bringing the last deployed service members home.

Continue reading "America’s Battalion returns to southern Helmand" »

June 4, 2013

SP-MAGTF Crisis Response Arrives in Spain

By Staff Sgt. Lukas Atwell | Marine Corps Forces Africa | June 04, 2013

MORON DE LA FRONTERA, Spain --

Approximately 500 Marines and sailors arrived aboard Moron Air Base, May 5- 13, to serve as Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response, a new expeditionary unit positioned forward to respond to limited crisis within the Mediterranean and African area-of-responsibility .

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June 3, 2013

Intel Marines complete new training for 22nd MEU deployment

By Sgt. Austin Hazard | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | June 03, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
Marines from 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, completed a new course designed to prepare them for a deployment with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit early next year, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 22, 2013.

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Everybody Should Read General John Kelly's Speech About Two Marines In The Path Of A Truck Bomb

GEOFFREY INGERSOLL
JUN. 3, 2013, 11:20 AM 452,450 73

Five years ago, two Marines from two different walks of life who had literally just met were told to stand guard in front of their outpost's entry control point.

Continue reading "Everybody Should Read General John Kelly's Speech About Two Marines In The Path Of A Truck Bomb" »

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.

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May 24, 2013

Physical training: Keeping Marines in shape on ship

By Cpl. Michael S. Lockett
May 24, 2013

USS CARTER HALL, At sea -- Ship life is a triumph of design by efficiency. Each minute of the day is designed to help contribute to the smooth running of the vessel. That means the day to day routine aboard a naval vessel, especially for the Marines it conveys from one shore to the next, can be precisely that: routine. Many Marines need something else in their day-to-day with a bit of variety -- a bit of zest -- to keep things interesting.

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May 21, 2013

U.S. Marines aboard the USS San Antonio

Story by 2nd Lt. Gerard Farao | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 05.21.2013

USS San Antonio, At Sea – U.S. Marines have been at sea since 1775 and the U.S. Navy has been landing Marine forces ashore since the Battle of Nassau when a battalion of Marines led by Capt. Samuel Nicholas landed on the shores of New Providence in the Bahamas, March 3, 1776, during the Revolutionary War.

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May 20, 2013

Fallen 1/9 Marines legacy set in stone

Courtesy Story | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.20.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - More than 300 local residents attended a memorial dedication at Veterans Memorial Park May 20, 2013, honoring seven Marines from 1st Battalion, 9th Marines who died while training nearby.

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May 11, 2013

US Marines pack up in Afghanistan as Taliban wages spring offensive

It's the beginning of the end of an era for U.S. Marines stationed in Afghanistan.

By Jim Maceda, Correspondent, NBC News
May 11, 2013

It was the summer of 2012 and the most dangerous part of the mission – when soldiers get complacent and make mistakes. So, even in 130-degree heat, Cpl. Randy Derstine and his men of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, patrolled hard in the mountainous, heavily disputed Kajaki Dam area of Helmand province

Continue reading "US Marines pack up in Afghanistan as Taliban wages spring offensive" »

May 9, 2013

Technology aids ordnance Marines

By DREW C. WILSON - Havelock News
Published: Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:30 PM.

Improvised explosive devices have killed and maimed thousands of U.S. service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the number is decreasing today thanks to the use of robots to detect and diffuse the bombs.

Continue reading "Technology aids ordnance Marines" »

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 6, 2013

Ramsey Graduate Killed in Afghanistan

The 39-year-old Marine will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, family friends say

By Jessica Mazzola
Email the author
May 6, 2013

A 1993 Ramsey High School graduate serving overseas in Afghanistan was killed Saturday, according to a friend of the soldier’s family.

Continue reading " Ramsey Graduate Killed in Afghanistan" »

Parker Marine killed in action in Afghanistan, dog tried to save him

By Ryan Parker
The Denver Post
Posted: 05/06/2013 05:10:45 PM MDT
Updated: 05/06/2013 11:52:59 PM MDT

A 23-year-old Marine from Parker — and the Military Working Dog that was trying to save him — were killed during a combat operation in Afghanistan's Farah province Saturday, Major Jeff Landis of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command told The Denver Post on Monday.

Continue reading "Parker Marine killed in action in Afghanistan, dog tried to save him" »

May 4, 2013

VMM-266 (Rein.) conducts MV-22B maintenance

Story by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 05.04.2013

AT SEA - With the help of sailors assigned to the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted maintenance on MV-22B Ospreys on the flight deck of the Kearsarge’s flight deck, at sea, May 4, 2013.

Continue reading "VMM-266 (Rein.) conducts MV-22B maintenance" »

May 3, 2013

Devil Dog Open drives Marines to links

By Lance Cpl. Glen E. Santy | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | May 03, 2013

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

Kneeling behind the golf ball, Kevin Lagrutta plans his next putt. His friends comedically commentate as if he were making the putt of his career. Lagrutta stands and addresses the ball. A light tap sends it rolling slowly toward the hole. Time nearly stops as it slows to a snail’s pace before dropping into the hole. “It’s hard being this awesome,” said Lagrutta, dropping his club and slowly turning and walking away.

Continue reading "Devil Dog Open drives Marines to links " »

April 29, 2013

VMA-231 Homecoming

Video
Date Posted:04.29.2013 10:56PM

Marines with VMA-231 return home from deployment to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "VMA-231 Homecoming" »

April 22, 2013

U.S. Marines arrive in Qatar desert for Eagle Resolve 2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Kenny Holston | 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs | Date: 04.21.2013
Date Posted:04.22.2013 12:18

AL-GALAIL, Qatar -- Approximately 300 U.S. artillery, infantry and combat logistics Marines assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, came ashore from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) off of the Gulf today, arriving here to participate in Exercise Eagle Resolve 2013.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines arrive in Qatar desert for Eagle Resolve 2013" »

April 16, 2013

FAST Marines depart 5th Fleet

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Bryan Blair | U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet | Date: 04.16.2013

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Bahrain –Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Platoon, Marines close the book on a seven-month deployment in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) later this month.

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April 13, 2013

VMAQ-3 Homecoming

Video
Date Posted:04.13.2013 9:48PM

Marines return from Afghanistan.

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April 6, 2013

26th MEU enters 5th Fleet area of responsibility

By Capt. Lucas Burke | April 06, 2013

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY --

The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to assume the duties from the Peleliu ARG, April 5.

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March 29, 2013

Family eulogizes Marine killed in mortar blast

By Michelle Janaye Nealy - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Mar 29, 2013 17:57:42 EDT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Family members described William Taylor Wild IV as a loving son, caring brother and consummate Marine during a funeral Friday for the 21-year-old who was killed along with six others last week when a mortar shell exploded during a training exercise at a base in Nevada.

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USS Carter Hall promotes steps to quit tobacco

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Karen Blankenship | Navy Public Affairs Support Element East | Date: 03.29.2013

AT SEA – The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) kicked off a tobacco cessation program for sailors and Marines on March 25.

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March 28, 2013

The underdog Devil Dogs claim victory in Steel Chef

By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | March 28, 2013

USS KEARSARGE, At sea -- Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors aboard the USS Kearsarge went head-to-head in the 2nd Annual Steel Chef competition aboard the amphibious assault ship while at sea March 23, 2013. The team composed of three Marines – team No Mercy – competed against a team made up of three sailors – team Safety Ates.

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March 26, 2013

Remembering the Fallen: the battle of An Nasiriyah

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.26.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – As the country reflects on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the ground war in Iraq, one battle stands alone.

Continue reading "Remembering the Fallen: the battle of An Nasiriyah" »

March 21, 2013

Community rallies around family of killed Severna Park Marine

Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 12:07 pm, Thu Mar 21, 2013.
By TIM PRUDENTE Staff Writer

They came in the morning, two Marines, walking up the driveway to the Severna Park home.

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March 20, 2013

Names of seven Marines killed in Hawthorne incident released

Courtesy Story | II Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 03.20.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Seven Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, were killed and eight others were injured, which includes a Navy Corpsman, in an explosion during a live-fire training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev., shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2013.

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Nevada town mourns Marines who died in explosion

By SCOTT SONNER and TED BRIDIS | Associated Press – March 20, 2013

HAWTHORNE, Nev. (AP) — Hundreds of residents in a rural community steeped in military history turned out to mourn the loss of seven Marines as investigators arrived at an ammunition depot to try to determine how a mortar shell exploded at the Nevada base and sent shrapnel flying into troops during a training exercise.

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Marines killed in training were young, lives ahead

By A. BREED and EMERY P. DALESIO | Associated Press – March 20, 2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — They're called "leathernecks" or "Devil Dogs," but some of the Marines killed in a desert training accident this week were just a year or so out of high school, their boyish faces not yet weathered by life's hardships.

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March 19, 2013

Corps suspends mortar use after blast kills 7

Dead, wounded from 1st Battalion, 9th Marines

By Hope Hodge - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 19, 2013 12:32:03 EDT

Update 4:26p.m. EDT: In a 4p.m. press conference aboard Camp Lejeune, 2nd Marine Division Commander Brig. Gen. Jim Lukeman told reporters the deadly training accident had been the result of a malfunction when the 60mm mortar round exploded inside a tube prior to firing. Contrary to earlier reports, Lukeman said, the Marine Corps did not place a moratorium on all 60mm mortar training following the tragedy, but suspended use of the specific lot of 60mm ammunition that was used in the blast.

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March 18, 2013

Off the map: 26th MEU arrives in Georgia

Story by Cpl. Michael Lockett | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 03.18.2013

VAZIANI AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA – Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in the Republic of Georgia March 15, 2013, to take part in Agile Spirit, a cooperative exercise with the Georgian military in conjunction with the Black Sea Rotational Force 13.

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March 6, 2013

MAG-40 Homecoming

Video
Date Posted:03.6.2013 12:58PM

MAG-40 returns home from an Afghanistan deployment.

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February 27, 2013

26th MEU captain receives Bronze Star

By Hope Hodge - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 27, 2013 11:36:52 EST

A captain with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit received a Bronze Star with combat “V” device while at sea aboard the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge on Feb. 16, the unit reported.

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February 26, 2013

Last Marines arrive, all Guahan Shield personnel here

Story by Capt. Justin Jacobs | III Marine Expeditionary Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific | Date: 02.26.2013

DEDEDO, Guam - The last members of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division arrived here Feb. 25, rounding out the final personnel deployed to Guam in support of Exercise Guahan Shield.

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February 23, 2013

Corpsmen work to keep blood flowing

Story by 1st Lt. Nicole Yuhas | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.23.2013

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Two minutes. his is the time it can take for a person to bleed out after suffering an arterial wound.

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February 20, 2013

It’s a girl: Marine father meets baby girl

Story by Lance Cpl. Devin Nichols | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 02.20.2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - It’s time.

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America’s Battalion: Journey into the IT

Story by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.20.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. – A chilling breeze swept across Camp Wilson, as the sun started to gleam over the steeply sloped Californian mountains of the Mojave Desert.

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February 15, 2013

MCAS Beaufort helps student live his dream

Story by Lance Cpl. Sarah Cherry | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 02.15.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort helped a Bluffton High School senior experience his dream – before it becomes impossible. Eighteen-year-old Charlie Bowers got a tour of MCAS Beaufort, Feb. 15, and had no idea about the surprise tour until he got to the Air Station.

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Marines prepare for Okinawa

By Lance Cpl. Austin Long | 2nd Marine Division | February 15, 2013

Camp Lejeune, N.C. --
“We are a force in readiness,” said Sgt. Joshua Washington, a squad leader with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “Although we are training to prepare for our deployment to Okinawa, we still need to be ready to go anywhere in the world.”

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February 14, 2013

Service members spread the Valentine spirit

Story by Lance Cpl. Devin Nichols | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 02.14.2013

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Soft, harmonious music filled the air as service members escorted residents into the ballroom, which was decorated with heart-shaped balloons, pink tablecloths and red center pieces.

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February 8, 2013

Instructor dedicated to future enlisted leaders

By Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group
February 08, 2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- He paced the field and quietly made his way from one squad to the next. His time with the Marines was almost over.

Sgt. Ryan J. Schmidt, the chief instructor for 2nd Marine Logistics Group’s Corporals Course, patiently offered advice on tactics and maneuvering as his students prepared for their final head-to-head challenge here Feb. 5 and 6.

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February 5, 2013

Marine crisis response force deactivates after extended deployment

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert L. Fisher III | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.05.2013

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and Sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit bid each other farewell Feb. 4, 2012, as the unit deactivated after spending 17 months together through an extremely busy work-ups and deployment cycle as America’s expeditionary crisis response force.

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February 4, 2013

2/2 Marines to lead exercises in Eastern Europe

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 4, 2013 7:30:37 EST

The Marine Corps will deploy about 300 infantry Marines to Eastern Europe this spring as part of an annual rotational force slated to train with foreign militaries from 20 countries.

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February 1, 2013

Commanding general shares outlook on 2nd MAW's future

By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
February 01, 2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, shared his thoughts on 2012 and his outlook for the new year in a recent interview.

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January 22, 2013

1/6 gets crew-served

Story by Lance Cpl. Mel Johnson | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.22.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A breeze blew across the field, picking up dust and depositing it on the Marines preparing themselves for an assault.

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January 18, 2013

After Long Deployment, Leaders Praise Navy-Marine Team

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
January 18, 2013

WASHINGTON -- The commanding officers of a team of 2,000 sailors and 2,300 Marines sat down yesterday with reporters from the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service to discuss the challenges and successes of their extended nine-month deployment.

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January 17, 2013

II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) deploys

Courtesy Story | II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) | Date: 01.17.2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) are in the process of deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and will complete the deployment process in February.

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Tax center opens on Cherry Point

Story by Lance Cpl. Paul E. Wyatt | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.17.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The Cherry Point Tax Center is set to open Wednesday.

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MAW (Fwd) takes fight to Afghanistan

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Story by Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki
01.17.2013

CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) command element and subordinate units deployed to Afghanistan in a series of recent flights. In the coming weeks, 2nd MAW (Fwd.) is scheduled to take over aerial responsibility for southwestern Afghanistan from 3rd MAW (Fwd.) as part of NATO operations in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces.

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January 16, 2013

Harvest HAWK Marines ready for Afghan war

Story by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.16.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - More than 80 Marines and four KC-130J Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan within the next month.

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January 15, 2013

'Breacher you have control!'

By Lance Cpl. Austin Long
Headquarters Marine Corps
January 15, 2013

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A line of eight Marines sprints towards a house with closed doors and windows, one carries explosives and the others carry various tools used to gain entrance into a building. One holds the blast blanket, a flexible shield used by Marines to protect them from the initial blast and flying debris, others provide security, and two Marines plant the explosives on the door. After an instructor checks the placement and safety of everyone, he hands over control to the lead man in the group yelling out, “Breacher you have control!”

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January 11, 2013

2nd Supply Battalion trains for the future

By Cpl Paul Peterson
Marines.mil
Jan 11 2013

Second Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group broke new ground in the area of simulator training while preparing for its future logistics-support roles.

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January 4, 2013

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 Marines Awarded Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for Valor

Story by 1st Lt. Roberto Martins | Marine Corps Air Station New River | Date: 01.04.2013

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. – Three Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 will be awarded the Air Medal with the combat distinguishing device for valor, during a ceremony at the VMM-266 hangar at 8 a.m. Monday, January 7, 2013.

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December 28, 2012

2012: A year in review for the 26th MEU

Story by Cpl. Michael Lockett | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.28.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - It’s been a long and busy year for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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December 27, 2012

Search and rescue Marines stay ready through constant training

By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
December 27, 2012

Frequent, tough, realistic training helps maintain the prowess demanded of America’s expeditionary force in readiness. Marine Transport Squadron 1’s search and rescue members train as often as two or three times a day to be ready in case they have to jump into action.

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December 21, 2012

8th Engineer Support Battalion conducts dismounted patrols

By Cpl. Paul Peterson | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | December 21, 2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- What was meant to be an overwhelming ambush quickly shifted into a rolling engagement on multiple fronts for the Marines of Charlie Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

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December 20, 2012

Quick, decisive action saves Marine’s life at Camp Lejeune

By 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs Office | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | December 20, 2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A Marine with Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group saved the life of one of his own in the pre-dawn hours here, Dec. 11.

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Three steps closer to deployment

Story by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.20.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit checked off another box as their group sail, the third major training evolution of their pre-deployment training program, came to an end, Dec. 18, 2012.

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Maritime raid force seizes the USS San Antonio

Story by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.20.2012

USS SAN ANTONIO - Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force conducted a maritime interdiction operation training exercise at sea aboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 17), Dec. 18, 2012.

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December 18, 2012

Trading snow for sand, North Pole Marine deploys to Afghanistan

By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Headquarters Marine Corps
December 18, 2012

COMBAT OUTPOST TAGHAZ, Afghanistan -- A Marine from a town most commonly associated with elves, Santa Claus, reindeer and snow has heard all the jokes since he joined the Marine Corps. He is from a town with candy cane themed street lights, a Santa Claus Lane and where thousands of childrens’ letters arrive for Santa. Now with the holiday season upon the Marines, the North Pole, Alaska, native is surrounded by sand and dirt, a long way from the snow and ice he is familiar with this time of year.

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December 16, 2012

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns from deployment

Story by Capt. Robert Shuford | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.16.2012

OFF THE COAST OF CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has returned to the U.S. after completing nearly nine months deployed as an expeditionary crisis response force with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group.

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December 14, 2012

Marines, Sailors of 24th MEU prepare for next phase: post-deployment

By Cpl. Michael Petersheim | | December 14, 2012

ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit will return home next week, nine months after departing the Carolina Coast near Camp Lejeune, N.C., last March. Surely, smiles and long-anticipated embraces from friends and family members await them, but the MEU’s Marines and Sailors remain focused — they understand the mission isn’t over.

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Operation Coming Home provides wounded Marine veteran with new home

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.14.2012

CAMERON, N.C. – The cheers of the gathered crowds overpowered the roaring of the motorcycles that escorted Lance Cpl. Richie Chavis as he arrived at his new home. Marines with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Chavis’ former unit, joined vendors, friends and family in applause as he arrived to receive the keys.

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December 13, 2012

For 24th MEU, embassy mission was a close call

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Thursday Dec 13, 2012 11:56:36 EST

As violent protests erupted across the Middle East and North Africa this fall, the 4,000 Marines and sailors comprising the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group were on alert, ready to go in. In fact, they remained on that status for 150 days, the majority of their deployment in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

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VMA-542 returns from Asia-Pacific deployment

By Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki | | December 13, 2012

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Dec. 9, 2012) -- A detachment of 122 Marines from Marine Attack Squadron 542 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sunday from a deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which patrols the Asia-Pacific region.

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December 12, 2012

Sandy Marines return to sea

Story by Cpl. Michael Lockett | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 12.12.2012

USS BATAAN, At Sea – Embarked aboard the USS Bataan, the USS San Antonio, and the USS Carter Hall, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to the waves once more Dec. 11, 2012.

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December 11, 2012

Budweiser Clydesdales make a splash at Camp Lejeune

Story by Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 12.11.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Budweiser Clydesdale horses recognizable from the brewing company’s Super Bowl commercials and other promotions visited Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Dec. 8 as part of an East Coast military installations tour.

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December 10, 2012

24th MEU to be home for the holidays

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 10, 2012 15:31:40 EST

More than 4,000 Marines and sailors extended on deployment in the Mediterranean Sea last month due to unrest in the Middle East are on their way home — again, an official confirmed Monday.

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December 3, 2012

Mechanicville Marine Anthony Denier killed in Afghanistan

Published: Monday, December 03, 2012
By DANIELLE SANZONE
[email protected]
Twitter.com/DanielleSanzone

MECHANICVILLE — The last time Mary Morgan heard from her son, Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier, was just a few hours before he was shot by enemy fire in Afghanistan while serving his country with the U.S. Marines.

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November 29, 2012

Return to Marjah: Marines work with much improved ANSF

Courtesy Story | Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.29.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, recently returned to southern Afghanistan, two years after their deployment to the Marjah area.

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November 28, 2012

24th MEU CO updates status

By AMANDA WILCOX - Daily News Staff
Published: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 20:55 PM.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s commanding officer took to Facebook recently to provide families an update on the unit’s status after the MEU’s 8-month deployment was extended indefinitely last week. But a date of return was not a part of that message.

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November 27, 2012

Ocean County Marine dies in Afghanistan

By Tomas Dinges/The Star-Ledger
on November 27, 2012 at 6:27 PM, updated November 28, 2012 at 7:41 AM

OCEAN GATE — Marine Cpl. Christopher Monahan Jr. was the guy everybody looked up to. The oldest of three siblings, he was a guiding light for his mother and a role model for his three young children, family members said.

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November 22, 2012

Marines, sailors celebrate Thanksgiving at sea

Courtesy Story | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.22.2012

U.S. 6th FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS – Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit celebrated Thanksgiving Day aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, Nov. 22, 2012.

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3/9 celebrates Thanksgiving in Helmand province

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.22.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, were in the holiday spirit this Thanksgiving.

Continue reading "3/9 celebrates Thanksgiving in Helmand province" »

November 20, 2012

Navy sends three warships, Marines to waters off Israel

By Cristina Silva
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 20, 2012

NAPLES, Italy — The U.S. Navy directed three warships and the Marines aboard last week to remain on standby near the coast of Israel as a security precaution as the Gaza Strip conflict between Israel and Hamas continued to escalate.

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November 19, 2012

24th MEU extends in 6th Fleet

Courtesy Story | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.19.2012

U.S. SIXTH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) have been extended due to operational commitments in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility until further notice.

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Marines conduct wash down in Spain

By Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher III | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | November 19, 2012

U.S. NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain -- Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS New York conducted final wash down operations in Rota, Spain Nov. 11-14, 2012, to prepare for their voyage home after an eight-month deployment in the U.S. European and Central Command theaters of operation.

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November 18, 2012

Marines under microscope, teach Afghan Army proper patrols, tactics

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.18.2012

SOUTHERN HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Afghan sun beat down on the patrol and gusts of wind threw sand and dirt on the faces of the men as they talked to locals and searched for any insurgent activity.

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November 14, 2012

24th MEU celebrates 237th birthday while sailing home

By Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | November 14, 2012

U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY --

Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group celebrated 237 years of Marine Corps history with a cake-cutting ceremony aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima ARG in honor of the Marine Corps birthday, Nov. 10-11, 2012.

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November 12, 2012

Marines arrive at Camp Fuji

By Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Suhr | Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji | November 12, 2012

CAMP FUJI, Japan -- Marines and sailors with Mike Battery and a headquarters element with 12th Marine Regiment deployed to Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji Nov. 6 to conduct Artillery Relocation Training Program 12-3.

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November 10, 2012

Marines conduct underway "wash down" on way home

By 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | November 10, 2012

U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has been busy aboard the ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group the first weeks of November conducting “wash down” operations in preparation for their upcoming scheduled return stateside.

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November 9, 2012

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit lands in Queens

Story by Cpl. Michael Lockett | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.09.2012

AT SEA, USS Wasp – Marines are amphibious in nature. It’s one of the things that set them apart and above any other fighting force in the world; a legacy of spilled blood, hard fought and hard won ground on beaches a world over. But not every beach landing they make is for the purpose of carrying warfare to a foreign country.

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November 7, 2012

Marines push NYC cleanup as new storm looms

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Nov 7, 2012 10:31:39 EST

Marines continue their efforts to clean up areas of New York hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy, even as officials order some in those same communities to evacuate as they brace for a winter storm to slam the already devastated region.

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November 6, 2012

Photo Essay: 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit initiates training engagement team in Jordan; platoon-sized training events provide unique opportunity for junior Marines

By Capt. Robert Shuford | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | November 06, 2012

Jordan --

Over the past couple of months approximately 150 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit had the unique opportunity to participate in training events at the platoon level with members of the Jordanian Marine Corps in southern Jordan.

Continue reading "Photo Essay: 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit initiates training engagement team in Jordan; platoon-sized training events provide unique opportunity for junior Marines" »

November 1, 2012

26th MEU deploys in support of Hurricane Sandy disaster relief

By Capt. Lucas Burke | Headquarters Marine Corps | November 01, 2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed aboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) on November 1 in support of Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts in New York and New Jersey.

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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.

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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 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" »

Warriors and dogs bond on battlefield

Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

1:25AM EDT October 19. 2012 - CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The shrapnel tore into his midsection and blood was squirting from his right leg. Marine Cpl. Joseph Singer plugged the hole in his leg with a finger and fretted about his dog.

Continue reading "Warriors and dogs bond on battlefield" »

October 18, 2012

Bill designates road a memorial highway after local Marine

The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa.
Published: October 18, 2012

A House bill pending the governor's signature would designate a section of Rt. 233 in Cumberland County the Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas B. Morrison Memorial Highway.

Continue reading "Bill designates road a memorial highway after local Marine" »

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" »

October 11, 2012

Dog on patrol: Meet Crank, the bomb-sniffing, cigar-eating wonder

October 11th, 2012 | Afghanistan Animals Embedded journalism Infantry | Posted by Dan Lamothe

COMBAT OUTPOST TAGHAZ, Afghanistan – I was lifting weights Tuesday night in the dusty, prison-inspired gym here when Cpl. Byron Willis ran up to two of his fellow Marines.

Continue reading "Dog on patrol: Meet Crank, the bomb-sniffing, cigar-eating wonder" »

October 6, 2012

On to life on Afghanistan’s frontier at COP Taghaz

October 6th, 2012 | Afghanistan Embedded journalism Infantry | Posted by Dan Lamothe

COMBAT OUTPOST TAGHAZ, Afghanistan – If you’re going to spend a month in Afghanistan, you may as well visit the frontier while you’re there.

Continue reading "On to life on Afghanistan’s frontier at COP Taghaz" »

U.S. Marines get promoted while deployed at sea

Story by Capt. Robert Shuford | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 10.06.2012

U.S. NAVY’S 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – On the first of each month the U.S. Marine Corps authorizes a certain number of promotions for different ranks and job fields. For Marines deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit being deployed at sea doesn’t keep them from moving up to the next rank.

Continue reading "U.S. Marines get promoted while deployed at sea" »

September 26, 2012

Gas station in the sky - 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit pushes the range of amphibious reach with aerial refueling capability

Story by Capt. Robert Shuford | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.26.2012

U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY – When most people think of amphibious operations they still garner visions of World War II-era assaults on heavily defended beaches. This couldn’t be farther from the truth for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Continue reading "Gas station in the sky - 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit pushes the range of amphibious reach with aerial refueling capability" »

September 24, 2012

Running toward gunfire: Marines, British forces repel insurgents attacking Camp Bastion

9/24/2012 By Sgt. John Jackson , Marine Attack Squadron 211

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan —
Sgt. Rasheem Thomas never thought his first night working on Camp Bastion would turn into a gun battle with 15 insurgents.

Continue reading " Running toward gunfire: Marines, British forces repel insurgents attacking Camp Bastion " »

September 23, 2012

A Marine's Death Brings Together His Dad and His Battlefield Buddy

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS
Updated September 23, 2012, 2:43 p.m. ET

HOOVER, Ala.—Two years ago, Matthew Proctor dropped to his knees in the Afghan dirt and watched his best friend bleed to death.

Continue reading "A Marine's Death Brings Together His Dad and His Battlefield Buddy " »

September 21, 2012

Camp Lejeune Marine earned Swain award by helping Afghans

By Rusty Dennen
The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.
Published: September 21, 2012

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Marine Lance Cpl. Lauren Kohls can't talk much about her work in military intelligence, but others will be happy to do it tonight.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune Marine earned Swain award by helping Afghans" »

September 20, 2012

Warrior competition pits U.S. Marines against each other in mountains of Djibouti

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.16.2012
Date Posted: 09.20.2012 04:19

DJIBOUTI – Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit concluded a three-week training package in Djibouti Sept. 16, 2012, with a five-day competition designed to test everything they learned while ashore.

Continue reading "Warrior competition pits U.S. Marines against each other in mountains of Djibouti" »

‘America’s Battalion’ unwinds through battalion Olympics

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 09.20.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Second Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, gave their weathered camouflage utilities a week-long break to carry out a battalion size Olympics promoting unit cohesion and competitive spirits.

Continue reading "‘America’s Battalion’ unwinds through battalion Olympics" »

September 17, 2012

26th MEU Train with AT-4

Video by Gunnery Sgt. Michael Kropiewnicki | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.17.2012

Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), train with the AT-4 light anti-armor weapon during a familiarization and live fire exercise at Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 17, 2012.

Continue reading "26th MEU Train with AT-4" »

Marines, sailors execute mass casualty exercise

9/17/2012 By Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels , 26th MEU

FORT PICKETT, Va. — The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a mass casualty training event at Fort Pickett, Va., as part of their pre-deployment training program Sept. 14.

Continue reading " Marines, sailors execute mass casualty exercise" »

September 14, 2012

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" »

September 11, 2012

Georgia native, corpsman serves country on first deployment

Story by Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 09.11.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan – As a senior in high school, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ricky Lattimore made the decision to serve his country. One month after his May 2008 graduation, he was on his way to basic training.

Continue reading "Georgia native, corpsman serves country on first deployment" »

September 7, 2012

26th MEU composites to a full Marine Air-Ground Task Force

Story by Cpl. Kyle N. Runnels | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 09.07.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit command element acquired its three additional elements in order to become a complete Marine Air-Ground Task Force, 2,200 Marines and sailors strong, Sept. 7.

Continue reading "26th MEU composites to a full Marine Air-Ground Task Force " »

West Virginia Marine awarded Bronze Star for heroic actions in combat

9/7/2012 By Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The first thing Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Faircloth did once he regained consciousness after being shot in the head in a firefight in Afghanistan in 2011 was look at his family picture in the back of his Kevlar helmet. Never mind the blood gushing from the back of his head, he just wanted to make sure the one thing that kept him strong through his deployment was protected – a picture of his wife and three children.

Continue reading " West Virginia Marine awarded Bronze Star for heroic actions in combat " »

Military Working Dogs Homecoming

Video by Cpl. Daniel Wulz | II Marine Expeditionary Force | Date: 09.07.2012

Marines of 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion arrive at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune after concluding their deployment to Afghanistan, September 7, 2012.

Continue reading "Military Working Dogs Homecoming" »

September 5, 2012

Marines receive Silver Stars for Afghan heroics

By Gina Harkins - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Sep 5, 2012 13:20:00 EDT

Two Marines have received the nation’s third-highest award for combat valor in recognition of their heroic actions during separate battles last year in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines receive Silver Stars for Afghan heroics" »

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 30, 2012

NAS Pensacola personnel evacuate, return home

Story by Nathan Hanks | Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany | Date: 08.28.2012
Date Posted:08.30.2012 15:59

ALBANY, Ga. - More than 3,900 Marines, Sailors and Airmen from Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., arrived here Monday afternoon to escape Hurricane Isaac’s impending landfall between the panhandle of Florida and the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

Continue reading "NAS Pensacola personnel evacuate, return home" »

August 28, 2012

Philadelphia native receives Silver Star for valor in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.23.2012
Date Posted:08.28.2012 16:20

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – When a patrol of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; Afghan National Army soldiers and Afghan National Civil Order Police patrolmen was ambushed by insurgents March 5, 2011, Cpl. Jason M. Hassinger quickly realized that many of his comrades were trapped, unable to maneuver or engage the attacking enemy. The Marines requested air support, but it was not immediately available, so Hassinger led his section through the gunfire to rescue his trapped brothers in arms.

Continue reading "Philadelphia native receives Silver Star for valor in Afghanistan" »

August 25, 2012

Following the scent: An explosive detector dog and his handler protect Marines

Story by Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.25.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Riding in an armored truck over Afghanistan’s rutted dirt roads is scarcely a smooth or comfortable experience.

Continue reading "Following the scent: An explosive detector dog and his handler protect Marines" »

August 24, 2012

Rolling thunder: Marine tankers provide safety for operational forces

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.24.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, have been supporting the most dangerous operations in northern Helmand province since they first arrived about two months ago.

Continue reading "Rolling thunder: Marine tankers provide safety for operational forces" »

August 14, 2012

San Diegan among Marines killed in Afghanistan

Shot by Afghan working at shared installation

Written by
Loic Hostetter
7:01 p.m., Aug. 14, 2012

A staff sergeant from San Diego was one of three Marines who were fatally shot Friday night in the Garmser district of southern Afghanistan.

Continue reading " San Diegan among Marines killed in Afghanistan" »

August 13, 2012

24th MEU, Iwo Jima ARG celebrate hump day

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 08.13.2012

USS NEW YORK - The Marines and Sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group celebrated the halfway point of their deployment aboard the USS New York, July 28, 2012.

Continue reading "24th MEU, Iwo Jima ARG celebrate hump day" »

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 9, 2012

'First step of justice' for ailing Camp Lejeune vets, families

By Tom Philpott
Published: August 9, 2012

President Obama signed a bipartisan bill Monday that, for the first time, offers veterans and family members government-funded hospitalization and medical services for 15 specific ailments presumed linked to drinking water contamination at Camp Lejeune, N.C., over 31 years, ending in 1987.

Continue reading "'First step of justice' for ailing Camp Lejeune vets, families" »

August 8, 2012

Marine Declines Scholarship to Serve

By Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter
Regimental Combat Team 6

COMBAT OUTPOST JAKER, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2012 – For some people, history is just another subject in school. For Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua Taylor, being a part of history was a calling.

Continue reading "Marine Declines Scholarship to Serve" »

August 6, 2012

37 years later, Marine laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans

Had been shot down off Cambodia during Vietnam War

Written by
Nathan Max
3:36 p.m., Aug. 6, 2012
Updated 5:02 p.m.

There has been a tombstone with U.S. Marine Richard W. Rivenburgh’s name on it at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery since the CH-53 helicopter he was flying in was shot down off the coast of Cambodia in 1975.

Continue reading "37 years later, Marine laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans" »

August 5, 2012

Afghan combat support soldiers work with Marine advisors

Story by Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.05.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST FIDDLERS GREEN, Afghanistan – The future success of Afghanistan’s security depends largely on the abilities of the country’s armed forces.

Continue reading "Afghan combat support soldiers work with Marine advisors" »

August 3, 2012

Logistics battalion field training exercise presents real-life scenarios

8/3/2012 By Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — More than 350 servicemembers with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participate in a field training exercise here, from July 30 to Aug. 3.

Continue reading " Logistics battalion field training exercise presents real-life scenarios " »

August 2, 2012

Rancho Cucamonga Marine Joshua Ashley laid to rest on Thursday

By Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created: 08/02/2012 01:16:50 PM PDT

Rancho Cucamonga Marine Joshua Ashley laid to rest on Thursday.

Continue reading "Rancho Cucamonga Marine Joshua Ashley laid to rest on Thursday" »

Afghan forces increasingly in security lead in southern Helmand province

Story by Staff Sgt. Brian Buckwalter | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 08.02.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST DEHLI, Afghanistan — As Marines drove along the narrow dirt roads of southern Helmand province they watched farmers tend to their corn fields and livestock. They saw children running alongside vehicles and swimming in a river that irrigates the fields surrounding it. Trucks carrying bags of wheat and other products passed the Marines' convoy regularly on their way to deliver their goods to bazaars and customers in the area.

Continue reading "Afghan forces increasingly in security lead in southern Helmand province" »

July 30, 2012

Marines, sailors hone machine gunning skills for Afghan deployment

7/30/2012 By Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group are slated to deploy to Afghanistan in the coming months, but they are not wasting any time preparing each and every member of the unit.

Continue reading " Marines, sailors hone machine gunning skills for Afghan deployment " »

Decorated MARSOC gunnies killed in Afghanistan

By Andrew deGrandpré - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 30, 2012 20:49:42 EDT

Two elite special operations Marines were killed in combat Sunday in northwestern Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Decorated MARSOC gunnies killed in Afghanistan" »

July 26, 2012

Local marine dies in combat in Afghanistan

By Bill O'Brien, and Vanessa McCray [email protected], [email protected]
July 26, 2012

WILLIAMSBURG — A blue spruce stands sentry in the corner of Rick Hansen's back yard, a gift from his son that's grown from sapling to a stout 12 feet or more over the past two decades.

Continue reading "Local marine dies in combat in Afghanistan" »

July 22, 2012

Marine advisors mentor Afghan police in Kajaki

Story by Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | I Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) | Date: 07.22.2012

KAJAKI DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marines with the Kajaki Police Advisor Team have been working with local security officials since they arrived in Afghanistan, nearly a month ago.

Continue reading "Marine advisors mentor Afghan police in Kajaki" »

July 20, 2012

Combat engineers conduct expansion operation, increase patrol base size, capabilities

7/20/2012 By Sgt. Michele Watson , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

PATROL BASE EREDVI, Afghanistan — More than 100 Marines from Engineer Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) completed their largest mission to date in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, here, July 15.

Continue reading " Combat engineers conduct expansion operation, increase patrol base size, capabilities" »

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

Five Cherry Point Marines selflessly save couple on Memorial Day

Story by Lance Cpl. Stephen Stewart | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 07.17.2012

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. – When a group of Marines took a trip to Fort Macon Park in Atlantic Beach, N.C., to enjoy the sun and relax over the Memorial Day holiday, they had no clue they would soon find themselves fighting to save the lives of two strangers.

Continue reading "Five Cherry Point Marines selflessly save couple on Memorial Day" »

July 15, 2012

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 14, 2012

Silver Star recipient recalls Marjah attack

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 14, 2012 11:39:37 EDT

Pinned down in a canal under fire and without working radios, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cole made a decision: He would face the Taliban with an M240B machine gun.

Continue reading "Silver Star recipient recalls Marjah attack" »

Marine brother, Sailor sister link up while deployed at sea

Courtesy Story | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 07.14.2012

USS SAMPSON, Red Sea - As siblings grow up and lead separate lives it’s sometimes difficult to stay in touch. Add the extra separation of being in the military and deploying around the world and some family members are lucky if they ever see each other.

Continue reading "Marine brother, Sailor sister link up while deployed at sea" »

July 12, 2012

CLB-8 Marines prepare for deployment to Afghanistan

7/12/2012 By Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — More than 100 troops with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in a pre-deployment training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., from July 9 to 13, where they received up-to-date instruction on how to operate in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "CLB-8 Marines prepare for deployment to Afghanistan " »

July 11, 2012

Georgia Marine awarded Silver Star for heroic actions in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.11.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – He watched as five Marines beside him dropped, struck by the sheer force of insurgent machine gun fire. Within seconds, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cole joined his brothers as a three-round burst lifted his 200-pound frame and 80 pounds of gear completely off the ground, moved him five feet in the air, and slammed him into the dirt– all in less than half a second.

Continue reading "Georgia Marine awarded Silver Star for heroic actions in Afghanistan" »

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.

Continue reading "Belleau Wood Marines conduct historic transfer of authority in Helmand province " »

Coming Home: 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines’ families reunited at last

Story by Cpl. Timothy Solano | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.09.2012

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Elements of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, returned from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan last week, welcomed by crowds of friends and family outside the Wallace Creek barracks on base.

Continue reading "Coming Home: 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines’ families reunited at last" »

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" »

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 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" »

June 29, 2012

Fallen Marine not forgotten

6/29/2012 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines and sailors with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group filled the pews of the Protestant Chapel here, June 29, during a memorial service to commemorate the life of one of their own.

Continue reading "Fallen Marine not forgotten " »

Combat Camera Marine documents war, progress in Kajaki, Afghanistan

Story by Sgt. James Mercure | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 06.29.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KISHTIWAN – He carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution on every combat operation he’s documented and returns with history in his camera.

Continue reading "Combat Camera Marine documents war, progress in Kajaki, Afghanistan" »

June 28, 2012

Marines perform moonlight maintenance in Kuwait

6/28/2012 By Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher , 24th MEU

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — The Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit maximized mission readiness by working the graveyard shift to avoid the daily heat during a maintenance stand down upon their arrival to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in June.

Continue reading "Marines perform moonlight maintenance in Kuwait " »

June 27, 2012

Father of fallen U.S. Marine talks about his last phone call

By: Cheryl Conner
Wednesday, June 27, 2012

LAUREL, Md. - Gene Mills walked out his front door on Father's Day 2008. He grew up in Laurel, graduated from High Road Academy, and before he turned 18 his dad signed the papers for him to join the U.S. Marines. It’s a mission he had since 9-11.

Continue reading "Father of fallen U.S. Marine talks about his last phone call " »

June 24, 2012

Marine Eugene C. Mills III of Maryland is killed in Afghanistan

By Martin Weil, Published: June 24

The people who knew Eugene C. Mills III, and watched him grow up in the Maryland suburbs, could not praise him enough. In part, they said, it was his family who made him the man he was, and it was also the Marine Corps.

Continue reading "Marine Eugene C. Mills III of Maryland is killed in Afghanistan" »

3/8 Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers patrol in Garmsir District

Courtesy Photos | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.24.2012

U.S. Marines with 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Kilo Company, 3D Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (3/8), Regimental Combat Team 5 patrol out of Forward Operating Base Dehli, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan June 17, 2012.

Continue reading "3/8 Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers patrol in Garmsir District" »

June 21, 2012

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" »

June 13, 2012

The flight line footprint: ‘The first and finest’ Harrier squadron ramps up for Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 06.13.2012

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Urgency is settling in as the Corps’ oldest aviation squadron, “the first and finest since 1919,” prepares its Marines and AV-8B Harriers for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "The flight line footprint: ‘The first and finest’ Harrier squadron ramps up for Afghanistan" »

May 30, 2012

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 24, 2012

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

Combat: Behind the scenes

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.21.2012
Date Posted:05.22.2012 11:19

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan — The Marines and sailors with Regimental Combat Team 6 and its subordinate battalions have been working nonstop on a combat operation referred to as Operation Jaws since February.

Continue reading "Combat: Behind the scenes" »

May 17, 2012

Lejeune Marines clear Afghan valley of insurgents

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.17.2012

NIMRUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan — As the early morning sun peeks over the mountains the Nimruz province of Afghanistan, the Marines and sailors with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, began an operation in the Gostan Valley.

Continue reading "Lejeune Marines clear Afghan valley of insurgents" »

May 14, 2012

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participates in largest partnered exercise in the Middle East

Courtesy Story | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 05.14.2012

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea — Approximately 1,000 Marines and sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are set to participate in the largest multi-nation exercise in the Middle East region this year.

Continue reading "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participates in largest partnered exercise in the Middle East" »

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.

Continue reading "RCT-6 Weekly Message" »

May 12, 2012

Marines in Afghanistan thinking about mom at home

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.12.2012

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines serving in Marjah, Afghanistan, say when they have the time, they often think about the luxuries and comforts they miss at home. Naturally, there’s always one lady missed very much by a deployed Marine – his mother.

Continue reading "Marines in Afghanistan thinking about mom at home" »

May 11, 2012

Motivated NCO improves self, Marines

Story by Lance Cpl. Manuel Estrada | Marine Corps Air Station New River | Date: 05.11.2012

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - As a sergeant of Marines, one must set the example for others to emulate, be professional both on and off duty, be responsible for the accomplishments of assigned missions and for the safety, professional development and well-being of the Marines under his charge. A sergeant must embody the Marine Corps institutional core values of honor, courage and commitment while leading his Marines with firmness, fairness and dignity.

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May 10, 2012

USS New York marks another milestone

Completed successful Suez Canal transit

Updated: Thursday, 10 May 2012, 6:17 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 10 May 2012, 1:44 PM EDT

USS NEW YORK, at sea (WAVY) - USS New York continues to meet milestones. The latest was on May 9, when the amphibious transport dock ship completed a successful transit through the Suez Canal.

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May 8, 2012

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns home

5/8/2012 By Cpl. Michael S. Lockett , 26th MEU

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — From April 9, 2012, when they departed aboard the USS Wasp from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., to May 2, 2012, when they returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., the Marines and sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit supported fleet week celebrations in New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., representing the inherent strength of today’s Navy-Marine Corps team to the local people.

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Marines reduce footprint in Marjah

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.08.2012

Marines here are making big moves for the future of Afghanistan.

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May 7, 2012

Junior Marines ready for more responsibilities in rifle platoon

Story by Sgt. Michael Cifuentes | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.07.2012

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Taylor Adkins has been a Marine for nearly a year and a half and is already taking advantage of leadership opportunities.

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Sighting in on the big picture, Afghans see independence

5/7/2012 By Cpl. Timothy Lenzo , 1st Marine Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan — The unmistakable sound of gunfire breaks the mid-morning calm. The Afghan instructor paces behind several Afghan National Army soldiers, who are lying in the prone position. The sun is rising to their backs, casting long shadows, stretching before the green targets in front of them.

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May 6, 2012

Taliban test Afghans as Kajaki handoff looms

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 6, 2012 13:59:07 EDT

KAJAKI, Afghanistan — It was an eerie mission: The Afghan police wanted to crash a Taliban funeral, and they needed Marines to help.

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May 3, 2012

Wisconsin native leads Marines through firefights during deployment

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.03.2012

TREK NAWA, Afghanistan – Leadership is a fundamental part of the Marine Corps. Leaders train new leaders: from a fire team of four, to Marines at the highest levels.

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Celebrate the Heritage: Marine rehearses for Air Show performance

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrea Dickerson | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing & Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 05.03.2012

CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Clad in traditional Tahitian warrior attire on the flightline at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Sgt. Nathaniel Z. Duarosan channeled his inner warrior April 25 and perfected his Polynesian dance preparing to perform in front of thousands of people at the 2012 Cherry Point air show, May 6.

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Lejeune Marines and Afghan forces unleash Operation Reservoir Dogs

Story by Sgt. James Mercure | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 05.03.2012

SABZIKAR, Afghanistan -- After the sun came up, all hell broke loose.

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Breaking bread key to building trust between Afghans, Marines

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.03.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan – “Shana ba shana” is a Dari saying that Sgt. Christopher Scott has heard since he arrived here in December 2011. The saying translates to shoulder-to-shoulder. Afghan forces say it’s a way to describe someone’s work ethic and shows the effort they put in with others.

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May 2, 2012

Georgia native goes above and beyond for man’s best friend

Story by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | 1st Marine Division | Date: 05.02.2012

TREK NAWA, Afghanistan – Many children beg their parents for a dog. The floppy ears and wagging tail seems to attract children to man’s best friend. But many parents know that caring for a dog means a lot of responsibility, training and effort.

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May 1, 2012

'America's Battalion' Marines patrol Garmsir as district prepares for transition

Photos by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.28.2012
Date Posted:05.01.2012

The 3/3 India Marines gave a battlefield tour of the Safar region to their replacements with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. After arriving in Helmand province's Garmsir district in October 2011, the 'America's Battalion' Marines are nearing the end of their seven-month deployment. During the deployment, they aided Afghan National Security Forces in assuming lead security responsibility of Garmsir, developing and expanding legitimate Afghan governance by defeating insurgent forces and securing the people of Garmsir.

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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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Marine pilot earns honor for heroic Libya rescue

By Andy Matarrese - Medill News Service
Posted : Monday Apr 30, 2012 7:52:01 EDT

Maj. J. Eric Grunke had just left a late-evening briefing to grab some chow when the rumors started to circulate aboard the Kearsarge: There was a friendly jet down in Libya.

Continue reading "Marine pilot earns honor for heroic Libya rescue" »

April 29, 2012

Marines hunt Taliban hiding in tunnels

By Dan Lamothe - [email protected]
Posted : Sunday Apr 29, 2012 15:54:10 EDT

OBSERVATION POST SHRINE, Afghanistan — Under cover of darkness, the Marines stalked their enemy, looking to pick a fight.

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April 27, 2012

Fallen MARSOC operator awarded Silver Star

Staff report
Posted : Friday Apr 27, 2012 9:38:17 EDT

An operator with Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command will posthumously receive the Silver Star for life-saving heroism in Badghis province, Afghanistan.

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April 26, 2012

USS Iwo Jima

Photos by Lance Cpl. Tucker Wolf
Date Taken:04.26.2012
Date Posted:04.26.2012 15:17

The 24th MEU, partnered with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

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24th MEU deployment 2012

Photos by 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson
Date Taken:04.23.2012
Date Posted:04.26.2012 05:40

The 24th MEU, along with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is currently deployed as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian service and disaster relief.

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April 25, 2012

Carlisle native witnesses Afghan progress

Story by Master Sgt. Brenda Varnadore | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.25.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST JAKER, Afghanistan – “Post One, Post One,” said an Afghan boy about 8 years old. “Do you need anything? Some water, anything from bazaar?”

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‘Here to protect’: Marines stay involved in Kajaki

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz | 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.25.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WHITEHOUSE, Afghanistan - As coalition forces continue to transfer security responsibilities to Afghan National Army and police in Afghanistan, the Marines here continue to patrol to keep the people of Kajaki safe.

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April 24, 2012

Marines and sailors remember caring, fearless brother in Marjah

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.24.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST DULUTH, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines and sailors with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, formed a line in front of a battlefield cross, assembled in honor of Lance Cpl. Abraham Tarwoe, a dog handler and mortarman who served with Weapons Company, after the conclusion of his memorial service here, April 22.

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April 23, 2012

Tactics – a universal language of Marines worldwide

4/23/2012 By Sgt. Richard Blumenstein , 24th MEU

SIERRA DEL RETIN, Spain — Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit joined the Spanish Marine Corps, the Infanteria DeMarina, for two days of tactics sharing during bi-lateral training, April 16-17.

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Marines protect dam, train Afghans in Kajaki

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 23, 2012 18:06:41 EDT

KAJAKI, Afghanistan —– The attack on Forward Operating Base White House began during a sandstorm. A team of at least four insurgents targeted guard posts with 7.62mm machine-gun fire while there was limited visibility, sparking a firefight that lasted nearly an hour, Marines here said.

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Division Psychiatry helps Marines get back in the fight

4/23/2012 By Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.. — Life as a service member can be quite stressful, especially in the Marine Corps. Deployments, frequent training and even the stress of balancing family life with military obligation, all weigh in on the individual Marine at one point or another and can sometimes overwhelm the service member to the point where they need a helping hand.

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April 20, 2012

The new tradition of E-18

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.20.2012

NAWA DISTRICT, Afghanistan— Throughout the Marine Corps, the bulk of combat operations are conducted at a non commissioned officer level and below.

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April 18, 2012

Marine mortar men arrive by sea, attack on land, extract by air

4/18/2012 By Cpl. Tyler Main , Marine Forces Africa

CAP DRAA, Morocco — Marine mortar men from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in support of African Lion 2012, executed a quick-strike, indirect-fire mission on a simulated enemy fuel convoy at Cap Draa, Morocco, April 9.

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24th Marine Expeditionary Unit honors fallen Marines while at sea

Story by 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.18.2012

OFF THE COAST OF MOROCCO – Marines and sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group gathered together to honor Cpl. Derek Kerns and Cpl. Robby Reyes during a memorial ceremony aboard the USS Iwo Jima April 18.

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8th Engineer Support Battalion mentors reservists during raft operations

4/18/2012 By Sgt. Justin J. Shemanski , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A portion of the New River adjacent to Camp Lejeune was home to an afternoon of raft operations hosted by the Marines of 8th Engineer Support Battalion’s Bridge Company, April 17.

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Moroccans, Marines prep for final exercise at Exercise Africa Lion 2012

4/18/2012 By Cpl. Tyler Main , Marine Forces Africa

CAP DRAA, Morocco — Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Battalion Landing Team, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Moroccan Armed Forces service members, teamed up to rehearse the final exercise for Exercise Africa Lion 2012 in Cap Draa, Morocco, April 16.

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April 17, 2012

Marine electrician keeps power on in southern Helmand province

4/17/2012 By Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes , Regimental Combat Team 5

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Sometimes little luxuries like air conditioning, heat and power go unnoticed… just not in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine electrician keeps power on in southern Helmand province " »

April 16, 2012

US Ambassador to Morocco, senior officers visit Marines and sailors aboard USS Iwo Jima

Story by 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.16.2012

OFF THE COAST OF MOROCCO – The U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Sam Kaplan, along with senior members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the commanding general of U.S. Africa Command, Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, spent an afternoon with members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group aboard the USS Iwo Jima, April 16, to learn about the unique capabilities of the amphibious assault ship and the Marines who operate from it.

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8th Marine Regiment clears enemies down range

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.16.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, recently spent two days conducting live-fire exercises, including platoons working to destroy all enemy territories.

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Moroccans join 24th MEU for Amphibious ‘Day at the Beach’ during African Lion 12

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Fisher | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.16.2012

MOROCCO - Marines and Sailors of Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, landed on the shores of the Kingdom of Morocco, April 10, to participate in Exercise African Lion 12.

Continue reading "Moroccans join 24th MEU for Amphibious ‘Day at the Beach’ during African Lion 12" »

Raids, helo ops hit Afghan drug smugglers

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 16, 2012 8:19:44 EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marines are running heliborne operations and other raids this spring to stem the flow of stored poppy out of the country ahead of the next harvest, said the two-star general overseeing ground operations here.

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April 15, 2012

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit “Raven” flies the skies of Morocco

4/15/2012 By 2nd Lt. Joushua Larson , 24th MEU

AGADIR, Morocco — Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit demonstrated the capabilities of the MEU’s unmanned aerial system assets for members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, April 12, at Inezgane Airfield.

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April 14, 2012

U.S. Marine Sgt. Fitzpatrick awarded for saving life of hospital corpsman

By Ellie Oleson
CORRESPONDENT
Saturday, April 14, 2012

OXFORD — During a firefight in Afghanistan last fall, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kory M. Fitzpatrick, 23, risked his own life to save severely wounded Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Wengloski.

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U.S. Marine Sgt. Fitzpatrick awarded for saving life of hospital corpsman

By Ellie Oleson
CORRESPONDENT
Saturday, April 14, 2012

OXFORD — During a firefight in Afghanistan last fall, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kory M. Fitzpatrick, 23, risked his own life to save severely wounded Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael Wengloski.

Continue reading "U.S. Marine Sgt. Fitzpatrick awarded for saving life of hospital corpsman" »

April 13, 2012

African Lion 12 Underway After 'Historic' Maritime Offload

By Gunnery Sgt. William Price
U.S. Marine Forces Africa

AGADIR, Morocco,
Apr 13, 2012 — Service members from all over the United States teamed up with the Moroccan Armed Forces to kick off Exercise African Lion 2012, in Agadir, Morocco, April 7-18.

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April 12, 2012

Marine's gift to Ithaca comes at a huge price

Written by
Dave Bohrer
11:31 PM, Apr. 12, 2012

A man sobbed uncontrollably, doubled over on the sidewalk Tuesday night as the last of Cpl. Christopher D. Bordoni's flag-draped casket escorted by Marines in their crisp dress blues disappeared through the doors of Bangs Funeral Home on the other side of Green Street.

Continue reading "Marine's gift to Ithaca comes at a huge price" »

Marines defend Kajaki at “The Shrine”

April 12th, 2012 | Posted by Dan Lamothe

OBSERVATION POST SHRINE, Afghanistan – Somewhere on the edge of Taliban country, we’ll be spending the night amidst the sound of coyotes, crickets and Afghan music.

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Official: Osprey crashed after Marines unloaded

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Apr 12, 2012 9:21:15 EDT

Two Marines were killed and two severely injured in the crash of an MV-22 Osprey during a training exercise in southern Morocco, the Marine Corps confirmed Wednesday.

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Two New River Marines Killed In Osprey Crash

Posted: Wed 10:53 PM, Apr 11, 2012
Updated: Thu 10:17 AM, Apr 12, 2012

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune is releasing more information about the deadly Osprey crash in Morocco Wednesday, including confirming the two killed were from the New River Air Station.

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April 11, 2012

Marine Osprey Crashes During Exercise in Africa

April 11th, 2012

NAPLES, Italy — An MV-22 Osprey operating from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) crashed in a Royal Moroccan military training area southwest of Agadir, Morocco, while participating in the bilateral Exercise African Lion.

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African Lion 2012

Photos by Cpl. Michael Petersheim, 24th MEU
April 11, 2012

Marines from Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct classes on different weapons with members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces on a beach in Morocco April 10, during Exercise African Lion 12.

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April 8, 2012

Ithaca Marine's funeral will follow time-honored tradition

8:50 PM, Apr. 8, 2012

Ithaca -- When the Marine Corps honor guard presents the folded flag to Cpl. Christopher Bordoni's widow, Jesse, the guard will do so on behalf of the president, the Marine Corps commandant and a grateful nation.

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April 7, 2012

USS New York Sailors and Marines to Run Around the World

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ian Carver, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs
Story Number: NNS120407-06
Release Date: 4/7/2012 9:08:00 AM

USS NEW YORK, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) are challenging themselves to collectively run enough miles to circumnavigate the earth - a competition that started April 1 and will continue until New York returns home from its maiden deployment to accumulate the 24,900 miles needed to complete the challenge.

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April 6, 2012

To Ramadi and back

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 04.06.2012

TREK NAWA, Afghanistan — The men and women who have earned the title of Marine share a unique history and tradition only found in the Corps. In some cases, this history and tradition is shared by generations of Marines from the same family.

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Doc with “million dollar wound” still helping Marines on second deployment

Story by Sgt. James Mercure | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 04.06.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WHITEHOUSE, Afghanistan – Petty Officer Third Class Chase Speed still has the blood-soaked belt he was wearing when an insurgent put a bullet through it last year.

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April 5, 2012

Dog handlers train canines, save Marine lives in Afghanistan

Courtesy Story | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.24.2012
Date Posted:04.05.2012 07:31

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan – The Improvised Detection Dog Program has spent years training Labrador retrievers to detect IEDs.

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April 2, 2012

Blue Knights give 2/6 a lift

4/2/2012 By Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The rotor blades are spinning and low chatter is drifting in over the internal communication system. The flight crews of the two MV-22B Ospreys awaiting takeoff – again – have been flying since before 5 a.m., March 28. It’s late morning now and their day is far from over.

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24th MEU deployment

Photo by Lance Cpl. Tucker Wolf | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 04.02.2012

Marines with the survey and meteorological section, India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct routine vehicle maintenance in preparation for an upcoming exercise April 2, 2012.

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March 30, 2012

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploys with Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, starts journey across Atlantic

3/30/2012 By 24th MEU Public Affairs Office , 24th MEU

OFF THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA — The 2,300 Marines and Sailors of the Camp Lejeune-based 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are headed across the Atlantic on a scheduled eight-month deployment to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force in support of the U.S. European, Africa and Central Commands.

Continue reading "24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploys with Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, starts journey across Atlantic " »

March 29, 2012

Leveraging technology adds force multiplier, saves lives in combat

Story by Chief Petty Officer Leslie Shively | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.29.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Although Marines are not the transformers seen in films on the silver screen, they are equipped with some of the latest technologies available today.

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March 28, 2012

Marine sergeant from Waldwick remembered as 'great kid' who 'wanted to be wherever the action was'

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Last updated: Wednesday March 28, 2012, 7:13 PM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
WALDWICK SUBURBAN NEWS
NorthJersey.com

Sgt. Joseph D'Augustine of the U.S. Marine Corps was killed in Afghanistan this week. He was 29.

Continue reading "Marine sergeant from Waldwick remembered as 'great kid' who 'wanted to be wherever the action was'" »

March 27, 2012

USS Iwo Jima leads deployment from Norfolk

By Hugh Lessig, [email protected] |
2:55 p.m. EDT, March 27, 2012

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK—

— The waters around the Middle East and Africa present a variety of challenges for any Navy ship.

Continue reading "USS Iwo Jima leads deployment from Norfolk" »

Iwo Jima ARG deployment could last 8 months

Associated Press| WVEC.com
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 5:55 AM
Updated today at 8:01 AM

NORFOLK (AP) -- Three Hampton Roads-based amphibious ships deployed Tuesday and could be gone as long as eight months.

Continue reading "Iwo Jima ARG deployment could last 8 months " »

March 26, 2012

24th MEU heads out for 8 month deployment

SUZANNE ULBRICH - DAILY NEWS STAFF
March 26, 2012 4:42 PM

Col. Frank Donovan had a reassuring message for a young boy upset about his father leaving on a scheduled deployment.

Continue reading "24th MEU heads out for 8 month deployment" »

No short days, just short nights

Story by Spc. Chelsea Russell | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.26.2012

ZARANJ, Afghanistan - Despite all the bad things that can happen during a deployment, Marine Corps Col. Michael Gann, the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) operations officer for Afghan National Security Forces Development stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said his experiences in Afghanistan have taught him to never forget the simple things in life.

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March 23, 2012

Fallen Corpsman honored for service, sacrifice

Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 03.23.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - “Every corpsman wants to be out there to help protect and save the Marines that we serve with,” said Petty Officer 1st Class George Fricke, leading petty officer, Regimental Aid Station, Regimental Combat Team 6.

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March 22, 2012

Renewed bazaar a sign of progress in Kajaki

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.22.2012

TANGYE BAZAAR, Afghanistan – When Maj. Joseph R. Jackson arrived here in October 2011, the bazaar was almost completely abandoned. More than 400 stalls lay empty except for a lone bakery supplying bread to the Afghan Uniformed Police and local nationals. Since then, businesses have began opening in the bazaar as Kajaki residents felt safe and optimistic enough to return for the first time since 2006.

Continue reading "Renewed bazaar a sign of progress in Kajaki" »

Marine police advisors learn culture to work with Afghan police

Story by Sgt. Jacob Harrer | 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.22.2012

KAJAKI DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marine advisors with Police Advisory Team 1, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, frequently visit the Afghan Uniformed Police district headquarters here. Before entering the compound, the Marines leave their body armor and helmets in the vehicles outside as a gesture of trust that the Afghan police secured the area, and the Marines would not need their body armor around their counterparts.

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March 18, 2012

Marines find downtime while deployed

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.17.2012
Date Posted:03.18.2012 04:01

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan —Deployed Marines work grueling hours to accomplish their individual missions; however, the Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 found time in their busy schedules to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a barbeque, March 17.

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March 17, 2012

The Brave Ducklings

Tom Sileo
Saturday, March 17, 2012

Earlier this year, Cpl. Philip McGeath was still alive. Today his smile is a cherished memory to his grieving mother.

Continue reading "The Brave Ducklings" »

I am not a hero

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 03.17.2012

PATROL BASE LAMBADAND, Afghanistan — Marines across the globe perform admirably in high stress, difficult situations on a daily basis.

Continue reading "I am not a hero" »

March 11, 2012

1st Battalion, 8th Marines demolishes insurgent fighting position

Story by Sgt. James Mercure | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.05.2012
Date Posted: 03.11.2012

COMBAT OUTPOST PENNSYLVANIA, Afghanistan - Historically, insurgents will fight with increased tenacity during the summer months, and during the winter and early spring they prepare.

Continue reading "1st Battalion, 8th Marines demolishes insurgent fighting position" »

March 9, 2012

RCT-6 Marines train for combat first aid

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 03.09.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Marines are known as warriors. They train with near religious zeal to confront, close with and engage the enemy. However, when someone is injured, the Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 aboard Camp Delaram II are prepared to help by taking the Combat Lifesavers Course.

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March 7, 2012

Mom Copes With the Loss of Marine Son

Circling the Wagons

March 7th, 2012 // By Phyllis McGeath as told to Lance Cpl. Chelsea Flowers

I know what it means to be a Marine mom. I’ve been one since 2008 when my oldest son, Philip, enlisted. Since then, two more of my seven children have become Marines. But this past January, every Marine mom’s nightmare became my reality – I lost a child. On Jan. 18, 2012 my oldest son Philip was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. My life changed forever.

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March 3, 2012

MARSOC Marines will train on dirt bikes

By Andrew deGrandpré - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Mar 3, 2012 10:36:02 EST

Small teams of special operations Marines will learn to ride and repair off-road motorcycles before deploying to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "MARSOC Marines will train on dirt bikes" »

March 1, 2012

Shock trauma platoon awarded for success in Helmand

Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Storm | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 03.01.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - The Marines and sailors of the Shock Trauma platoon, 2nd Medical Battalion, received a certificate of commendation aboard Forward Operating Base Delaram II for their work during August 2011 to March 2012.

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February 27, 2012

W. Va. Marine Dies During Calif. Desert Training

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. February 27, 2012 (AP)

The Marine Corps says a Marine who died after collapsing at a California training base was from West Virginia.

Continue reading "W. Va. Marine Dies During Calif. Desert Training" »

February 23, 2012

Boom goes the dynamite

Story by Pfc. Franklin Mercado | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 02.23.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Being a Marine is dangerous in itself, but within the ranks of the Corps, there lies an even greater danger – the job of an explosive ordnance disposal technician.

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Afghan police, Marines maintain security gains at Pinjadoo precinct

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 02.23.2012

PINJADOO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – As coalition forces continue their shift to an advisory role in Nawa and Afghan National Security Forces take the lead in counterinsurgency operations, some areas within the district are more than ready for the changeover to begin.

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February 19, 2012

Former MARSOC Marine seeks book deal

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 19, 2012 10:12:30 EST

Michael Golembesky is poised to publish the first book detailing experiences of Marine special operators in Afghanistan. And unlike career writers who drop into an outpost for a quick embed, Golembesky was there, as a member of Marine Special Operations Team 8222 during one of its hardest deployments.

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February 18, 2012

Combat-hardened Marines get amphib training

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Feb 18, 2012 10:05:25 EST

ABOARD THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP WASP — Steaming toward the coastline to face an enemy with uncertain plans, Marines and sailors on this 41,000-ton warship watched as surrounding vessels pulled together tightly in formation.

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February 17, 2012

Marines visit wounded buddies

CNN|Added on February 17, 2012
News video

Marines just back from war in Afghanistan reunite with their injured buddies, CNN's Barbara Starr reports.

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February 16, 2012

For visiting Marines, an 'incredibly powerful, healing measure'

By Carlos Bongioanni
Stars and Stripes
Published: February 16, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va. — It wasn’t easy to talk about. Four Marines awarded Purple Hearts Thursday in front of the national Marine Corps Memorial found it difficult to open up about their recent deployment to Afghanistan.

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February 13, 2012

Marines put shooting skills to test, participate in CIAP shooting matches

Story by Cpl. Miranda Blackburn | Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | Date: 02.13.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The ethos “Every Marine is rifleman” is something that is ingrained into the minds of Marines.

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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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February 7, 2012

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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February 6, 2012

Whidbey Island, 22nd MEU return to US after record-breaking deployment

Courtesy Story | U.S. Naval Forces, 5th Fleet Public Affairs | Date: 02.05.2012

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael L. Leslie
USS Whidbey Island Public Affairs

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. – Sailors and Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), returned to the United States following a 10 1/2-month deployment when it pulled into Morehead City, N.C., Feb. 4.

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February 5, 2012

Ohio native’s initiative changes face of Afghan communications

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.05.2012

CAMP SHORABAK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Something spoke to 1st Lt. Joseph M. Russell’s heart as he watched the Twin Towers fall to rubble on that infamous day in September 2001. The Richmond Heights, Ohio, native heard a voice inside of him telling him to stand up against the wrongs done that day and fight for his country … so he did, not knowing his contributions would change how an entire Afghan National Army unit operates.

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February 3, 2012

22nd MEU returns to Camp Lejeune

Courtesy Story | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 02.03.2012

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are scheduled arrive here Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4, after completing a 10-month deployment at sea.

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February 1, 2012

Afghanistan chapel dedicated to fallen Marines

2/1/2012 By Cpl. Justin M. Boling , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — A newly constructed chapel at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, was dedicated in a ceremony, Jan. 31, to Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

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January 27, 2012

ANA soldiers complete designated marksman course with Marine scout snipers

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.25.2012
Date Posted:01.27.2012 13:37

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers with 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps participated in a designated marksman course here, Jan. 21-25.

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January 26, 2012

Cherry Point MP Company de-activates after 3 years

1/26/2012 By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Military Police Company stood in formation for the last time today before their company first sergeant dismissed them, following the unit's de-activation during a ceremony at their headquarters building aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

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Marine’s best friend, insurgent’s worst enemy

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.24.2012
Date Posted: 01:26:2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – When Cpl. Ross T. Gundlach enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2008, the last thing he expected to do was rely on a dog for survival while patrolling the rugged terrain of southern Helmand province.

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January 23, 2012

Operation Tageer Shamal: ANA conducts clearing operation through Shorshorak

Story by Cpl. Johnny Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.18.2012
Date posted: 01:23:2012

SHORSHORAK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers with 1st Brigade, 215th Corps conducted a clearing operation as part of the ongoing Operation Tageer Shamal (Shifting Winds) here Jan. 12-14.

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Blue Knights deploy to Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. John Suleski | Marine Corps Air Station New River | Date: 01.23.2012

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - The parking lot in front of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365’s hangar was full of families posing for one last photo, children reaching for their parents, and lovers embracing each other and not wanting to let go.

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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.

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January 21, 2012

2nd CEB holds memorial service for 26 fallen members

January 21, 2012 4:29 AM
HOPE HODGE - DAILY NEWS STAFF

It has been eight-and-a-half years since Jary and Sheryl Kleiboeker received word that their son, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kleiboeker, of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, was killed by an exploding munitions bunker near Al Hillah, Iraq on May 13, 2003, becoming the first unit casualty from the Wars on Terror. For other families who joined the Kleiboekers at the battalion’s headquarters on Friday, only a year had passed since the dreaded knock of a casualty assistance officer.

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Marines earn Air Medals for resupply mission

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 21, 2012 12:57:09 EST

It was the hottest landing zone they’d seen. On June 12, when the MV-22 Osprey touched down in Sangin, Afghanistan, its four-man crew faced multiple enemy fighting positions less than 100 yards away. It was a hellish three minutes scrambling to unload food, water and ammunition to infantrymen who’d been pinned down all day, and marked the first time in Afghanistan or Iraq that a Marine Osprey crew engaged the enemy with the aircraft’s ramp-mounted machine gun.

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January 20, 2012

Flags Ordered at Half-Staff for Cpl. McGeath

Updated: Friday, 20 Jan 2012, 9:26 PM MST
Published : Friday, 20 Jan 2012, 9:26 PM MST

PHOENIX - When you are out and about this weekend, you'll noticed that flags around town and across the state are lowered to half staff.

Continue reading " Flags Ordered at Half-Staff for Cpl. McGeath" »

Hard-bitten battalion heads home after 3rd consecutive combat deployment

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 6 | Date: 01.20.2012

KAJAKI SOFLA, Afghanistan - With three deployments in three years, the men of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment were called upon to serve as the tip of the spear for large scale offensive operations across Afghanistan’s contentions Helmand Province

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January 19, 2012

Engineers learn convoy leadership

1/19/2012 By Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Improvised explosive device laden terrain presents an imminent threat to mission accomplishment but more importantly to the lives of service members serving throughout Afghanistan.

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January 17, 2012

Mission accomplished: Marine Osprey squadron flies last mission of Afghanistan deployment

Story by Cpl. Justin Boling | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 01.17.2012

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey squadron flew its final combat mission, Jan. 17, to complete its deployment to Afghanistan.

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January 13, 2012

Norwich, Conn., native accepts new challenge with Female Engagement Team

1/13/2012 By Cpl. Meredith Brown , 2nd Marine Division

SANGIN, 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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January 12, 2012

Atlanta Marine sees truth through war

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.12.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Modern cinema often portrays human life in a manner that seems too surreal, with large explosions and quick timelines that turn hours into a matter of minutes. Sergeant Mamadee Toure recalled growing up in Monrovia, Liberia, seemed like an over-dramatized movie in slow motion, but it was a childhood that led him to what he is doing today.

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January 10, 2012

Major route construction projects near completion in Helmand

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 01.10.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marine engineers with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have nearly completed two major route construction and improvement projects in Helmand province.

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January 9, 2012

22nd MEU heading home after long deployment

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 9, 2012 15:39:46 EST

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are slowly headed home. The Navy announced Saturday that the units were relieved of their 5th Fleet duties Jan. 5, paving the way for a February return to their respective East Coast ports after an extraordinarily long deployment.

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Great grandfather earns the French Fourragere, great grandson wears it

Story by Cpl. Jonathan Merkley | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.08.2012
Date Posted:01.09.2012 13:10

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A person would be hard pressed to find an organization with the history and traditions as rich as those of the United States Marine Corps.

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January 6, 2012

Combat engineers perform route recon mission, paving the way for road improvements in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Meredith Brown | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 01.06.2012

SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan - Two Marines carefully stepped out of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle and extended their metal detectors to full length during a route reconnaissance mission on Route Red, Jan. 1-3. The quick checks were conducted to calibrate the detectors and the Marines began the meticulous sweeping process, ensuring that the area was clear of improvised explosive devices.

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January 2, 2012

“A day in the life…" The division chaplain makes his way around Task Force Leatherneck, one FOB at a time.

Story by Maj. Bradley Gordon | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.02.2012

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - “This is what it’s all about,” said Cmdr. Christopher Fronk, chaplain for 2nd Marine Division (Forward). “There’s nothing better than getting out to the Marines, to share their time and their devotion.”

Continue reading "“A day in the life…" The division chaplain makes his way around Task Force Leatherneck, one FOB at a time." »

January 1, 2012

Postal Marines awarded for holiday season work ethic

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 01.01.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - When skimming through the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal citations for Lance Cpls. Caitlin E. Johnson and Markevis J. Seth, it was evident as to why they were standing tall and proud before a general officer, Dec. 30, 2011.

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Doc West: A corpsman dedicated to his Marines

Story by Cpl. Daniel Wulz | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.01.2012

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – Throughout the history of the Marine Corps, the navy corpsman has played a vital role alongside Marines, cauterizing wounds on ships as far back as the Revolutionary War and the days of the Continental Navy. Even in the iconic photo for the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bradley, a pharmacist's mate (a previous hospital corpsman rate), can be seen alongside Marines on Mt. Suribachi.

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2nd MLG (FWD) continues Operation Clean Sweep, Accounting for millions of dollars worth of gear and equipment

Story by 2nd Lt. James Stenger | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 01.01.2012

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Over the last three months, Marine and sailors of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have accounted for, sorted, cleaned and processed several millions of dollars worth of gear and equipment in support of Operation Clean Sweep aboard Camp Leatherneck and Camp Dwyer.

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December 29, 2011

Coventry Marine earns Bronze Star Medal

12/29/2011 - South Side Leader
By Maria Lindsay

COVENTRY — Responding to enemy fire May 27 at the Afghan National Civil Order Police Station in Pan Kaleh, Afghanistan, was what Coventry resident and U.S. Marine Cpl. Kevin Dobson was trained to do.

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Alabama Marine uses gift of encouragement in Helmand

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.29.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Those who work with Mario T. Handley on a daily basis clearly see there is something different about him. Being a Marine is not about doing a job for this Birmingham, Ala., native, but rather an opportunity to fulfill his purpose in life.

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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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Long live the King: Marine returns to Corps after 21 years, shares wisdom with juniors

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.27.2011

KAJAKI SOFLA, Afghanistan - He can be found in the early mornings, rousing exhausted twenty year-olds from the rack with a mug of steaming coffee in hand, or come evening, shrouded in a veil of cigar smoke, reclining in a leather armchair within a plank and plywood shack of his own construction.

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December 23, 2011

‘You always wish you could do more:’ Chaplain brings cheer to Marines in Helmand province during holiday season

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 12.23.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - For many Marines, missing holidays due to deployments is often a fact of life. It can be prepared and planned for, but when these festive occasions arrive, and the Marine is continents away, there is not much that makes the separation any easier.

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What is Task Force Belleau Wood

Story by Cpl. Timothy Solano | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.23.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Maintaining an area of operations comparable to the size of New York City and neighboring boroughs is a full time job for the service members of Task Force Belleau Wood, who have held down Camp Leatherneck and its surrounding area since the unit arrived in early 2011.

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December 20, 2011

'Walking Dead' passes torch to 'The Ready Battalion' in Nawa

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.18.2011
Date Posted:12.20.2011 08:43

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The people of Nawa have seen a clear difference since the Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, first arrived in their district.

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Uncommon valor, uncommon award

12/20/2011 By Cpl. Abigail Brown , Marine Corps Air Station New River

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — Four Marines from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 were awarded the Individual Action Air Medals with the combat distinguishing device, Dec. 16, for heroic actions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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The road less travelled; Marines push COIN along Route 611

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.20.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan - The dirt along Route 611 has been pulverized to dust, turned to a trail of fine powder dotted with boot prints belonging to the Marines of Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. The footprints cover the landscape, blown away by wind, convoys of armored transports and civilian caravans, only to be replaced the following morning by another series of exhausting patrols.

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December 17, 2011

Marines prepare for huge land, sea exercise

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Dec 17, 2011 9:26:34 EST

LITTLE CREEK-FORT STORY, Va. — It started with a foreign invasion, and the Marines have been called to assist.

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December 16, 2011

Getting the word out in the Upper Sangin Valley

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.16.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Nestled along Route 611, one of the few improved roads in Northern Helmand province, sits Patrol Base Florida, a home away from home for the Marines of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

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Getting the word out in the Upper Sangin Valley

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.16.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Nestled along Route 611, one of the few improved roads in Northern Helmand province, sits Patrol Base Florida, a home away from home for the Marines of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

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December 15, 2011

Motor transport platoon keeps Marines, Afghans supplied

Story by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.13.2011
Date Posted:12.15.2011 09:45

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Marine Corps is an American machine. This machine fights battles, participates in humanitarian relief efforts and executes counter-insurgency operations around the world on a daily basis.

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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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Mobile Marines reflect on epic summer

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

PATROL BASE BEATLEY, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The mobile section of 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, has provided reliable support for the platoon throughout its deployment by conducting a myriad of logistical missions and frequently supporting dismounted patrols. The section’s Marines have worked tirelessly since arriving in Afghanistan and continue to provide support as needed as the battalion nears its return to the United States.

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Medical initiative brings hope to isolated communities

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Nearly 100 civilians crowded the small dusty road outside of Patrol Base Florida, in the Sangin District, Dec. 2. Some had traveled by taxi from far off villages, having heard through word of mouth that the Marines and Afghan forces with 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, would be holding a medical initiative, or temporary clinic, that day.

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Marines near completion of successful deployment in Marjah district

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.15.2011

PATROL BASE BEATLEY, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Marines of 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, are nearing the end of their deployment in Marjah district, Helmand province, where they have worked diligently with their Afghan counterparts to continue to advance the once-troubled Marjah toward a future of stability and prosperity.

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December 14, 2011

Mother of Fallen Marine: "He paid the ultimate price for our freedom."

FOX8 Staff Writer
9:52 a.m. EST, December 14, 2011

HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP)—
The mother of a local marine shot in Afghanistan visited FOX8 on Wednesday to talk about the ultimate sacrifice her son made to protect his country.

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December 13, 2011

From the Sands of Iwo Jima to Life on the Seven Seas

12/13/2011 By Seaman Apprentice Jonathan L. Correa , 24th MEU

USS IWO JIMA — Experiencing things for the first time can be a scary or exciting moment in the lives of most people. Whether it is your first day of school, starting a new job, driving a car or for military members going on deployment; these firsts can at times be hectic.

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December 10, 2011

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.

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December 5, 2011

US Marines save, heal Afghan IED victim

Story by Cpl. Reece Lodder | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 12.02.2011
Date Posted:12.05.2011 11:51

SAR BANADAR, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Nine months ago, a quiet 15-year-old Afghan boy had the last normal morning of his life.

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December 4, 2011

CLC-6 engineers bolster Route 611 security forces during ‘Eastern Storm’

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 12.04.2011

PATROL BASE NEW JERSEY, Afghanistan - Fresh off a foot patrol, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, stepped out of an expeditionary field shower facility only to traipse through a courtyard blanketed by the region’s fine talcum powder-like sand where he was once again dusted with grime.

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December 1, 2011

Nebraska ‘Kidd’ matures for family, love of Corps

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.01.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Life in Beaver Lake, Neb., was a fun ride for the small-town boy. He spent most of his time riding four-wheelers, playing sports, and spending time with his girlfriend. Life was good. He never expected for it to be cut short at such a young age.

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Illinois Marine returns to Marjah district, reflects on progress

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 12.01.2011

PATROL BASE BEATLEY, Helmand province, Afghanistan – In February 2010, Des Plaines, Ill., native Cpl. Jeffery Rice pushed into Marjah, Helmand province, with other Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, to rid the area of a thriving insurgency during Operation Moshtarak.

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CLC-6 Marines support Task Force 1/6 during ‘Eastern Storm’

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 12.01.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan - Little more than two months ago, the region through which Route 611 traced north through Helmand province was a dangerous one, at best. Known as the last Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, the Upper Sangin Valley was gripped in terror and saw little activity in the way of local commerce and development along its main thoroughfare. The future was bleak.

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November 30, 2011

Local police train with the “Walking Dead”

Story by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez | Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division | Date: 11.30.2011

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Marines of the “Walking Dead”, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, have brought a new kind of police training program to the citizens of Nawa.

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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

Faith on the ‘front lines’: service members find strength in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.24.2011

MUSA QAL’EH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – For many, faith provides a foundation of core values and an inner strength required to accomplish any mission and weather any hardship. It is a difficult word to define, however, as it means many things to different people.

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November 23, 2011

Victory in Nawa: the final chapter

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.23.2011

Editor’s note: This is the final installment in a four-part series chronicling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Sailors and Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, slipped from the relative warmth of their sleeping bags, braving the morning chill, and began to prepare for the day. The final day of the Nawa Victory Walk was upon them, and the Marines were excited to finish the four-day, 30-mile patrol. The trek brought together Mercer Island, Wash., native Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski, the battalion commander, and Afghan Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, the kandak commander of 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, in a patrol across the district to promote confidence in Afghan security forces and talk to residents.

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Camp Lejeune Marine receives the Outstanding Veteran Award for exemplary service to the community.

11/23/2011 By Cpl. Andrew D. Johnston , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Town Hall was packed and the crowd was full of old time war vets who proudly served their country. One by one, honorees approached the city council where they were recognized for their outstanding work in the community—one of them stood out.

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Coming of age through war: Lance Cpl. Damien Mathis

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.23.2011

KAJAKI SOFLA, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - The walls are thick with furtively scratched lines and the roads exist only as hollowed lanes. Distinctive villagers earn a place on the landscape with detailed memories. Each patrol is inspiration and recorded in vast detail.

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November 22, 2011

Marine squadron in Afghanistan wins Pentagon’s top maintenance award

Story by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 11.22.2011

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Just days into their second deployment to Afghanistan in two years, the Marines of Marine Electronic Warfare Squadron 1, an EA-6B Prowler squadron deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., learned they received the Pentagon’s top maintenance award for their efforts in 2010.

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VMAQ-4 returns home: ICAP III proves critical to fight in Afghanistan

11/22/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 Marines returned to MCAS Cherry Point from Afghanistan Nov. 16 bringing a close to the historic first Marine deployment of the EA-6B Increased Capability III aircraft.

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November 20, 2011

Operation North Pole ramps up for holiday mail rush

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.20.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The Marines with the Postal Detachment, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are accustomed to moving upward of 10,000 pounds of mail per day, but with the holiday season approaching, that amount will nearly double.

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November 18, 2011

MP Support company Marine finds missing child aboard Camp Lejeune

11/18/2011 By Cpl. Walter D. Marino II , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Recently a mother momentarily lost her two-year-old daughter aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thanks to Marines with Military Working Dog Platoon, Military Police Support Company, 2nd Marine Headquarters Group, the child was quickly found.

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November 17, 2011

New girls in town: FET resets

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 11.17.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province – A surge of over 40 Marines with the Female Engagement Team came to Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Nov. 11-15, where they were able to kick up their boots and talk about their experiences in Afghanistan since they began their deployment.

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November 16, 2011

Victory in Nawa: voice of progress

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.16.2011

Editor’s note: This is the third installment in a four-part series chronicling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The third day of the Nawa Victory Walk began early. Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, woke as the sun rose, then filled up on energy bars for breakfast. They checked their equipment, refilled water containers, met up with their Afghan National Army counterparts, and headed for the front gate.

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Marines upgrade digital communications in Afghanistan

11/16/2011 By Cpl. Justin M. Boling , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — Coalition troops at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, now have better communications thanks to the nonstop efforts of a small detachment of Marines.

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November 14, 2011

Marine aviation key to major offensive in Afghanistan

11/14/2011 By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —

Under the veil of darkness, a team of Marine Corps CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters sped over the Helmand River valley in early October.

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November 11, 2011

For the local family of a Marine, Veterans Day is more than a day off

Written by
Kym Klass
6:01 AM, Nov. 11, 2011

Veterans Day for Berry and Heidi Cantrell means more than just a long weekend.

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November 10, 2011

Providing personal security in perilous places

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.10.2011

PATROL BASE WHITE HOUSE, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Nestled in the rolling mountains of Afghanistan near the Helmand River are the fighting warriors of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. They battle the threat of a waning insurgent force and bring peace to the local residents of Afghanistan one patrol, convoy, and firefight at a time.

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Marines smash, grab in motorized raid course

Story by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein | 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 11.10.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — “Landing in a hostile country, moving into an (enemy’s) backyard, punching them in the face, taking something from them, and then turning around and leaving back on the ship.”

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Birthday celebration capped off by motto-run

11/10/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — As the sun rose Nov. 8 on what Marines have come to know as “PT Road”, there was thousands of Marines running in formation and chanting cadence in the brisk morning air.

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Marines carry on traditions, honor fallen in Afghanistan

11/10/2011 By Cpl. Brian Adam Jones , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —

Over the course of a single day, Marines deployed with Marine Air Support Squadron 1 ran a combined 144 miles in Afghanistan, Nov. 9.

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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.

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November 9, 2011

Victory in Nawa: building a better tomorrow

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.09.2011

Editor’s note: This is the second installment in a four-part series chronicling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Sunlight crept silently through the windows lining the walls of the Loy Kolay precinct, an Afghan National Army security outpost, as the Marines and sailors awoke, each nudging the soundly sleeping service member next to him. Their legs sore from the previous day’s hike more than 14 kilometers, their shoulders strained from the weight of their body armor, the service members of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, prepared for another day of patrolling across the district with their Afghan counterparts.

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November 8, 2011

A Marine and His Dog

November 8, 2011

August 9th dawned scalding and dry across the Marjeh district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. In the blocks, a fertile swath of land watered by a canal network stretching dozens of square kilometers, farmers roused their mules early in order to complete ploughing before their relatives came visiting for Ramadan. A convoy of marines, accompanied by Afghan Local Police, rattled down a dusty strip between fields known as Panther road.

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Bratt Park renamed for fallen Marine Travis Nelson

Written by
Lindsay Ruebens
11:00 PM, Nov. 8, 2011

Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson loved the outdoors.

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November 7, 2011

Infantry trainer puts Marines through paces

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 7, 2011 8:11:31 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — In a first for the Corps, a live-fire training facility designed to simulate a sea-going merchant ship will be installed here, on land, making it easier and more cost-effective to practice boarding drills.

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November 3, 2011

Victory in Nawa: standing on the cusp of transition

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.03.2011

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a four-part series chronicling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – They arrived early by vehicle convoy to the small Afghan National Army outpost named Dangar in the northern part of the district. Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stood beside their Afghan counterparts, ready to depart for the four-day trek that lay before them – approximately 30 miles in total.

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Victory in Nawa: standing on the cusp of transition

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.03.2011

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a four-part series chronicling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan National Army soldiers.

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – They arrived early by vehicle convoy to the small Afghan National Army outpost named Dangar in the northern part of the district. Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stood beside their Afghan counterparts, ready to depart for the four-day trek that lay before them – approximately 30 miles in total.

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November 2, 2011

Young Marine remembered for bravery, friendship

By Stephanie Siegel
[email protected]
11/2/11

Scott “Boots” Harper of Douglasville is remembered by friends and family for his smile, his warmth and his love for his friends.

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2nd MLG moves north along 611, supports ‘Eastern Storm’

Story by 2nd Lt. James Stenger | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 11.02.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Combat Logistics Battalion 6 and 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are pushing north on Route 611, building patrol bases, combat outposts and village stability platforms in support of Task Force Leatherneck and Operation Tofan Sharq (Eastern Storm).

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November 1, 2011

Operation Eastern Storm returns commerce, residents to Kajaki Sofla Bazaar

Story by Cpl. James Clark | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 11.01.2011

KAJAKI SOFLA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Columns of mopeds, caravans of pack animals, and an endless stream of trucks, tractors and trailers heralds the return of local residents to the Kajaki Sofla District.

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October 27, 2011

OPERATION EASTERN STORM: Marines push through Kajaki Sofla

10/27/2011 By Cpl. James Clark , 2nd Marine Division

KAJAKI SOFLA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — The Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, are engaged in Operation Tofan Sharq (Eastern Storm), a major offensive operation to root out the Taliban-led insurgency in the Upper Sangin Valley region of Kajaki.

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Winning hearts and minds: Shock Trauma Platoon brings relief, relationships to Afghan locals

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 10.27.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM III, Afghanistan - There is a battle of sorts being won in southern Helmand province. The Marines and sailors at Forward Operating Base Delaram II, and specifically the Shock Trauma Platoon there, take pride in ‘winning’ the hearts and minds of locals.

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October 26, 2011

PMINT Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8) / 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Integration Training

25 Oct 2010 & 26 Oct 2011

Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8) / 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Integration Training (PMINT) took place Oct. 24 to Nov. 3. PMINT is focused on building the Navy-Marine Team and establish the working relationships and practices necessary to conduct operations from the sea.

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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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Ammo movers keep coalition weapons locked and loaded

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 10.26.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - At a Camp Leatherneck firing range, M-4 rifles and SAW machine guns break the still afternoon air with the staccato of gunfire. At Forward Operating and Patrol Bases across Helmand province, Marines load their weapons and go condition one prior to going on patrol missions.

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October 23, 2011

Cannons help gain territory in Operation Eastern Storm

Story by Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.23.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Howitzers recently fired over the mountains of Kajaki, striking targets they couldn't even see. United States Marines with Battery E, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, inserted themselves into an abandoned compound under the cover of night to establish Observation Post New York. The cannons rang out in support of the insertion, eliminating enemies holding positions against the Marines.

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October 22, 2011

US Marines continue Operation Eastern Storm

Story by 1st Lt. Timothy Irish | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Operation Eastern Storm continues to secure Route 611 from Sangin’s District Center to the Kajaki Dam.

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Should to shoulder: Ohio Reserve Marines support combat operations in Helmand

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 10.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan - Many of the familiar trappings of life are half a world away from the small base nestled atop a hill on the outskirts of the Sangin Valley, but a handful of the Buckeye State’s own who are based here have found echoes of home in each other.

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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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Captain receives Purple Heart for injuries in Afghanistan

10/21/2011 By Cpl. Walter D. Marino II , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — As a teenager working on farms and in construction in his hometown of Urbana, Ohio, Capt. Chase B. Wheeler never thought he would one day be a Marine combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient.

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Engineers keep fellow Marines in fight

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.21.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Black grease stains cover his arms after working for hours in the hot weather. The young Marine takes a drink from a warm water bottle that sat beside him as he worked. He accidentally smudges his face with grease as he wipes the sweat away. Then he looks up to his corporal standing over him and says, “All done boss,” with a grin on his face.

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Marines, Afghans enjoy pace of Nawa district’s unique countryside

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.21.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST JAKER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Cornfields, dirt paths, tree lines and canals dominate the backcountry of Nawa district, Helmand province. This rugged, fertile community is quite the sight to see, a place where residents wear traditional attire and live an agrarian lifestyle that may seem like a scene from the past.

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October 20, 2011

Douglas Co. Marine's body brought home

6:25 PM, Oct 20, 2011
Written by
11Alive Staff
Written by
Jerry Carnes

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. - Thousands of people lined the streets of Douglas County in a silent salute to a 21-year-old Marine described as a defender of the underdog.

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October 18, 2011

Marine offensive near Afghanistan’s Kajaki Dam comes into focus

October 18th, 2011 | Posted by Dan Lamothe

The Marine Corps’ next significant push in Afghanistan is well underway, and starting to get attention in the mainstream media.

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October 14, 2011

1/6 Comm Marines overcome adverse terrain, conditions

10/14/2011 By Cpl. James Clark , 1st Battalion (1/6)

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — For many, they began their first deployment just two months ago. Now, for the first time, they are seeing the landscape of Afghanistan as they have come to know it from story and rumor. The Marines of Communications Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, have made their way to Patrol Base Alcatraz, and their first order of business is rapidly establishing communications for the battalion.

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October 13, 2011

Failure not an option for motor transport Marines in Helmand

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.13.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province - Marines from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment’s, Motor Transport Platoon don’t accept failure. They have been heavily relied upon throughout 1/9’s deployment to provide motorized logistics and personnel support and have built a reputation within their battalion for consistently getting the job done.

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October 9, 2011

Empathy & War: Fighting an enemy, fighting to understand the ‘enemy'

Story by Cpl. James W. Clark | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.09.2011

SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - In fairy tales, it’s the wicked witch who desperately wants a pair of shiny shoes or the brutish baron of some dark and spooky tower who really just needs a hug. In romantic comedies, it’s the stuck up frat boy who belittles the scrawny underdog and his goofy cadre of friends in front of the dream girl.

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October 7, 2011

Marjah district opens schools, develops future generations

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.07.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan opened several schools within the district recently, intent on educating tomorrow’s future for the nation.

The residents of Marjah celebrated more than six school openings in the past month. Government representatives, local residents, students and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, gathered on several occasions to commemorate opening day ceremonies at various locations.

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Virginia native dies three times, returns to Marjah

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 10.07.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Some Marines involved in the battle for Marjah in 2010 say they stared death in the face. One Manassas, Va., native involved in the intense fighting not only stared death in the face, but shook its hand as well.

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October 6, 2011

Wheat seed distribution gives hope to Helmand Afghans

Story by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 10.06.2011

KAJAKI, Afghanistan - For decades now, Afghan locals have been relying on a crop cycle of poppy and cannabis to provide income and a stable livelihood for their families.

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October 5, 2011

West Coast Marines take over Afghanistan aviation support from East Coast Marines

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 10.05.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The gentle thump of helicopter blades wafts over a formation of Marines at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

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October 4, 2011

Marine brother serves with Air Force sister in Afghanistan

10/4/2011 By Cpl. Justin M. Boling , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Allen Rader’s service to the Air Force took his family from their home in Charleston, W.Va., to Alaska, Arizona, and Florida. Even overseas.

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September 30, 2011

Marine from Tucker dies in Afghanistan

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.

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Supply relieves Maintenance as MAGTF Support Bn. in Helmand

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.

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Virginia Marine preps for Marine Corps Marathon in Helmand

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.

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September 29, 2011

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit forms for training, deployment

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.

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Mississippi native revives drowned Afghan child

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.

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Nawa increases security as course graduates Afghan Local Police

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.

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September 28, 2011

Carroll residents honor fallen Marine

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.

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September 26, 2011

Corpus Christi, Texas, native mentors Afghan police

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.

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September 25, 2011

Family and friends remember Monroe County Marine killed in Afghanistan

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.

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MEU to deploy with new force-protection gear

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.

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September 24, 2011

Marine to receive Silver Star

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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Commandant of the Marine Corps visits 3/6 Marines and sailors in Marjah

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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September 22, 2011

Coalition forces deny insurgency movement, money in Afghanistan

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.

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September 21, 2011

U.S. Marine welcomed home

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.

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September 20, 2011

Marines train police of Now Zad to independence

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.

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September 18, 2011

The battle within: Trying to find the man inside the Marine

Photos and story by Sarah Weiser, The Herald
Published: Sunday, September 18, 2011

LAKE STEVENS -- The crowd's shouts were lighthearted.

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September 17, 2011

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.

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September 16, 2011

If we rebuild school in Now Zad and give children a future, we can do it anywhere and there's hope for Afghanistan

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.

Continue reading "If we rebuild school in Now Zad and give children a future, we can do it anywhere and there's hope for Afghanistan " »

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.

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September 10, 2011

Ten years after initial invasion, Marine pilot returns to Afghanistan in command

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.

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September 9, 2011

NY native Navy corpsman reflects on 9/11

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.”

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September 8, 2011

Tennessee native finds adventure where the rubber meets the road

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.

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Christmas morning: When deployed Marines receive care packages

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.

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September 6, 2011

South Carolina corpsman supports ‘Bad Company’

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.

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Texas native survives head shot, continues mission

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.

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Trek Nawa gets new beginning with Patrol Base Jersey

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.

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September 5, 2011

Marines battle to educate Afghan children

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.

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Woodland Marine takes the long way home from Afghanistan

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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September 4, 2011

Houston Marine reflects on 9/11, his reason for serving

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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September 3, 2011

Seattle Marine trades desert uniform for scrubs

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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September 2, 2011

Marines blow holes into Camp Lejeune walls

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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Truck Company sergeant leads by example

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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September 1, 2011

Afghans execute first solo patrol in eastern Marjah

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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August 31, 2011

Marjah residents take stand against insurgents, rebuild community

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.31.2011

MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Before Afghan and coalition forces began security operations here last year, the insurgency cast an oppressive shadow over the city’s residents. Few local citizens stood up to the insurgents for fear of kidnapping or death. Times were dark, but one family decided enough was enough and stood up for what was right, knowing full well the risks

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August 29, 2011

Michigan native discovers opportunity through hardship

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.29.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST AZADI, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Combat boots kick clouds of powdered dust threatening to stifle the Marines and sailors as they patrol down the dusty, Afghan roads. Seventy pounds of personal protective equipment, water, and ammunition weigh the men down, and the unrelenting sun slowly siphons their strength. Sweat pours, lips smack, and blistering, tasteless water is barely enough to quell their unyielding thirst.

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Detroit native keeps smilin’ through deployment

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.29.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST AZADI, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The title of United States Marine is earned, never given, but along with the title comes sacrifice. Marines give up time with friends and family to deploy to foreign lands in unselfish service to the nation.

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CLB-6 resupplies Sangin-area Marines, assists with realignment and retrograde

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.28.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) convoyed to various bases in the vicinity of Helmand’s volatile Sangin district, Aug. 26.

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August 26, 2011

Marines train Afghan police to handle special tactics missions

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 08.26.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marine Corps instructors at the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest at Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, are in the process of training an elite group of Afghan Uniformed Police in a first-of-its-kind training program.

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August 25, 2011

Iron Horses stampede insurgency

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.25.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Waves of rounds fly back and forth between the two forces. Marines move in pairs and continue to suppress the enemy while insurgents answer back with harassing fire. Clouds of dust suddenly emerge hundreds of meters behind the Marines’ position and enemy rounds stop hissing by. The echoing sounds and muzzle flashes of AK-47 assault rifles cease. It’s as if the insurgent forces knew big trouble was headed their way.

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August 24, 2011

Travis Nelson, Marine killed in Afghanistan, to be buried Friday in Atmore

Published: Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 7:57 AM

ATMORE, Alabama -- For Lance Cpl. Travis Nelson, 19, killed in action last week in Afghanistan, there was no worthier goal than to serve in the U.S. Marines, according to his father, Scott Nelson.

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Shaping the battle in Afghanistan: Marine general reflects on coalition air efforts

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 08.24.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Since taking the helm of air combat operations in March, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) has supported more than 600 combat operations in southwestern Afghanistan.

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August 23, 2011

Pushing through the shadow of the insurgency

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 08.23.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – “There are no [insurgents] here. He says they aren’t here.”

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August 19, 2011

2/8 returns home, leaves Marjah better than found

Story by Pfc. Phillip Clark | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 08.19.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – As they loaded gear into storage containers, climbed aboard armored trucks or into helicopters, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment bade farewell to northern Marjah District and began their journey home to North Carolina. They leave the area in the hands of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, which participated in Operation Moshtarak, the initial push to remove insurgents from the city, last year.

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August 12, 2011

Operation Black Sand blasts the insurgency to dust

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.12.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Helmand province, Afghanistan – A blast of fire, triggered by 1,750 pounds of C4 explosive, erupted from the ground sending a shockwave ripping through the air. Secondary explosions suggested local improvised explosive devices sympathetically detonated as a massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

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August 10, 2011

'He loved the mission, he loved serving with the guys' Dennis E. Kancler remembered for quiet but dedicated spirit

Published: Wednesday, August 10, 2011
By Mike Kezdi, Sun News

A man who loved his family, country and the men with whom he served is the most succinct way to describe Marine Sgt. Dennis E. Kancler.
"He was a good son, a very good son," his mother, Paula Kancler, said from her Brecksville home Aug. 8.

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August 9, 2011

Coming of age through war: Cpl. Timothy Stark

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 08.09.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Cpl. Timothy Stark wrings his hands, unconsciously tapping the wedding band on his ring finger as he speaks about his wife and unborn daughter.

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August 8, 2011

2/8 Fox company returns home safely

8/8/2011 By Pfc. Phillip R. Clark , 2nd Marine Division

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, returned home Aug. 6, 2011, from a seven month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Marine Sgt. Dennis E. Kancler of Brecksville dies in Afghanistan

Published: Thursday, August 04, 2011
By Pat Galbincea, The Plain Dealer

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio -- Dennis E. Kancler, the son of former Brecksville Police Chief Dennis A. Kancler, died Sunday in Afghanistan, military officials confirmed Wednesday.

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Father remembers fallen son as dedicated, loving, compassionate Marine

By Katie Sullivan (Staff Writer)
Published: August 8, 2011

Tom Dolphin didn't just lose a son to the war in Afghanistan - he lost a friend and a man he respected - Staff Sgt. Patrick R. Dolphin.

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Female Marines launch first Musa Qal’eh woman’s school

Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe
Date Taken: 08.04.2011
Date Posted: 08.08.2011 05:25

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QAL'EH, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Afghanistan harbors a harsh environment where street smarts are more common than a formal education, especially for women. Many skills that are learned from experience can be the difference between life and death, but with limited formal education, the society can only advance so far.

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August 7, 2011

3/2 holds Route Landy Nawa, improves travel through Helmand province

Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.07.2011

SHIR GHAZAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan - The road between Combat Outpost Shir Ghazay and Forward Operating Base Now Zad, known as Route Landy Nawa, is nothing more than tire tracks through powdery dirt. For miles in any direction there is nothing to be seen but the occasional dust devil and local citizens driving through.

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Marine mechanic realizes role in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Brian Adam Jones | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 08.07.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - To Cpl. Leonard R. Knudsen Jr., his job can feel the same whether he is at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., or Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

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Saving lives on the battlefield: Air support begins with ordnance Marines

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 08.07.2011

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Thousands of Marines, Afghan and coalition troops rely on 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) for close air support. At Kandahar Airfield, that responsibility is carried on the wings of Marine Attack Squadron 513’s AV-8B Harriers.

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August 6, 2011

Coram, N.Y. native leads Marines in Afghan fight

Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.06.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Helmand province, Afghanistan - First impressions are usually lasting ones and one Coram, N.Y. Marine will always remember the first sights and sounds of his initial introduction to the real war in Afghanistan.

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August 4, 2011

Nawa Marines notice Afghan police ‘step their game up’

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.04.2011

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Policemen with the Afghan Uniform Police all over Nawa intensify self-sufficiency as the deadline nears for United States forces to pull out of Afghanistan.

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1/6 Returns to Marjah

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 08.04.2011

MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan – When Marines moved on the former insurgent stronghold of Marjah last year, they took the first step toward laying the foundation for the counterinsurgency strategy that turned the tide in Iraq but had yet to be proven in Afghanistan.

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August 3, 2011

Wednesday's Readers' Page centerpiece: Cpl. Kyle Schneider's family thanks community

Published: Wednesday, August 03, 2011, 5:00 AM

To the Editor:
Cpl. Kyle Schneider’s family would like to extend our deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of support from the people of the towns of Baldwinsville, Phoenix and Clay, as well as the greater Syracuse and Central New York areas, the state of New York, and a grieving nation for their fallen hero.

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2001 Dallastown grad, a Marine, dies in Afghanistan

By TED CZECH
Daily Record/Sunday News
08/03/2011

A 2001 Dallastown Area High School graduate died while serving in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Air Force Mortuary Operations Public Affairs Office.

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August 2, 2011

Nawa celebrates opening of new justice center

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.02.2011

NAWA DISTRICT CENTER, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Marines with Civil Affairs Team 3 joined the local residents of Nawa to celebrate the grand opening of the new justice center, recently.

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Marines increase water production, distribution in Musa Qala District

Story by Sgt. Rachael Moore | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 08.02.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QALA, Afghanistan – Water purification systems continue to take the place of bottled water, increasing the expeditionary capability of troops in Afghanistan.

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August 1, 2011

Family, friends welcome 'hero' home from Afghanistan

Glenn Dayton Jr. said Afghanistan helped put life in perspective.

By Andy Fillmore
Correspondent
Published: Monday, August 1, 2011

Family members and friends of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Glenn Dayton Jr. welcomed their hero home last weekend from a tour of combat duty in Afghanistan, and some expressed hope that the public and politicians alike would better appreciate soldiers' sacrifices.

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Afghan soldiers blaze ahead with support from US Marines

8/1/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan —

Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 turned up the heat for new Afghan National Army firefighters during the final evaluation of a basic firefighting course at Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Afghanistan, July 26.

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Honolulu native helps build strong foundation for Afghan future

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 08.01.2011

SANGIN, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Men and women around the world love to pick up power tools and build. The project may be as small as a birdhouse or as large as a sky-scraper, but when completed, it will always award the craftsman with the feeling of accomplishment. Those who build can see a tangible difference from start to finish and have something to show for their time and effort.

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July 31, 2011

Afghan farmers trade poppy seeds for wheat seeds

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.31.2011

NAWA, Helmand province, Afghanistan - The change of agriculture in Afghanistan is steadily steering away from the illegal crops which fund insurgent forces year after year. Civil Affairs Team 3, which is supporting the Afghan government, plans to continue providing wheat as an alternative to growing poppy and cannabis in Afghanistan’s Nawa District to drive the country into future.

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Afghan police broaden horizons through local literacy program

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.31.2011

NAWA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Among the biggest challenges the local government faces as the United States prepares to draw down thousands of troops from Afghanistan is its literacy rate. Only one in 10 recruits who sign up for Afghanistan's police and army can read and write according to a recent Reuters article. Many of the local residents find something as simple as spelling their own names a challenge.

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Coming of age through war: Lance Cpl. Ernest Prempeh

Story by Cpl. James Clark | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 07.31.2011

CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Life, for the most part, is gray. The passing moments are not unpleasant, nor are they particularly remarkable -- just a colorless blur of regularity and routine.

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July 28, 2011

Marine sergeant major, son serve together in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 07.28.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Upon hearing the news that his son would be deploying to Afghanistan, Sgt. Maj. Robert Allen of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 began making the arrangements to join the fight.

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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.

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Boys of Company G push insurgency from Trek Nawa

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.27.2011

CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The sweltering, afternoon sun stretches across the cloudless, Afghan sky causing sweat to drip from the Marines’ faces. Living in mud compounds and sweltering tents, eating packaged meals-ready-to-eat three times a day, patrolling for hours on end with 100-pound packs – this is the life of a Marine with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

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Combat innovations multiply Marine Corps Harriers’ punch

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 07.27.2011

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Singled out by their red helmets, ordnance Marines can be seen as the muscle of a squadron, the ones who provide weaponry and ensure each aircraft is battle ready.

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Pittsburgh native survives blast, returns to duty

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.27.2011

CAMP HANSON, Helmand province, Afghanistan – “My bell was rung,” said Pittsburgh native Zachary Beamer as he recounted his story of survival from an Improvised Explosive Device detonation.

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July 23, 2011

Honoring Ullom: Hospital corpsman laid to rest

By Kelly Dame Midland Daily News
Posted: Saturday, July 23, 2011 7:00 am

In ceremonies steeped in military rituals, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Aaron D. “Doc” Ullom was honored at his Friday funeral services as a hero who died saving another man’s life. Midlanders recognized his sacrifice by coming out in droves to pay their respects to him and to support his family.

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July 20, 2011

IED strike brings father, son closer

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 07.20.2011

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- “By the time I had the radio to my mouth, the whole truck exploded.”

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A hero's death for B'klyn man

Marine dies trying to save pal

By KATE SHEEHY and FRANK ROSARIO
Last Updated: 4:03 AM, July 20, 2011
Posted: 3:04 AM, July 20, 2011

A young Brooklyn man who became a Marine to be just like his dad was mortally wounded trying to save a comrade during a bloody clash in Afghanistan last week, grieving kin and the military said yesterday.

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July 19, 2011

Afghan villagers join forces with U.S. coalition to bring peace to Marjah

By Matt Millham
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 19, 2011

NORTHERN MARJAH, Afghanistan — Ali Mohammad pleaded with the Taliban to stop putting improvised bombs around his compound, explaining that they were more likely to kill children or goats than they were to injure U.S. Marines, who stomped into Marjah district in March 2010.

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July 18, 2011

Marines in Afghanistan honor departed osprey crew chief

Story by Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 07.18.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghansitan - Deployed Marines and sailors gathered at the Regional Command Southwest Memorial Chapel on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, to honor the life of Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dudley, July 18.

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Wounded corpsman earns Silver Star

By Sam Fellman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 18, 2011 13:48:16 EDT

When he saw a Marine in his squad fall, then-Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (FMF) Jake Emmott rushed headlong into insurgent gunfire to reach him. It was April 20, 2010, and Emmott’s squad had fallen under heavy fire during a combat patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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July 16, 2011

Marine mechanics work hard, train hard, fight for each other

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.16.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Helmand province, Afghanistan - The high-pitched warning beeps of trucks backing up, wrenches turning, and popular American music of all genres echo throughout the mechanic shop. Tan combat vehicles sit on floor jacks while Marines work under the hoods, replacing damaged or dysfunctional parts.

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Ohio rifleman reflects on loss of fallen Marine

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.16.2011

PATROL BASE TALIBJAN, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Marines in Afghanistan strive daily to defeat insurgents and support development efforts. Some end up paying the ultimate price, giving their lives for their fellow Marines.

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Marine pilots recount daring rescue mission

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jul 16, 2011 10:14:53 EDT

Minutes after an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crashed in Libya late on March 21, the pilot of the downed aircraft made a simple radio plea: “Tell my wife I love her.”

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July 15, 2011

Lejeune Prepares for 'Green' Biodiesel Fuel Delivery

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:20:00 -0500
From a Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune News Release

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., July 15, 2011 - Officials here are preparing for the scheduled July 18 delivery of the inaugural shipment of biodiesel fuel that's grown, processed and blended exclusively in North Carolina for the military.

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Soldier's friend: Local support 'made me proud'

Published: Friday, Jul. 15, 2011
Andrew Dys Columnist - [email protected]

ROCK HILL --

The bagpiper had finished, and the only flag at the graveside was taken from the coffin, folded and given to a wife whose grief is immeasurable as she held three fatherless children.

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Point man leads way for J Company, 42 Commando in Helmand province

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.15.2011

NAD’ALI DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — Imagine how much courage it takes to be a point man in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks and improvised explosive devices are a common occurrence. Now imagine your specific mission is to detect and locate IEDs as the point man for a patrol.

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Marines make reality out of a ‘Mehraj’

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.15.2011

PATROL BASE MEHRAJ, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Every drop of sweat from their foreheads cools their faces as Marines patrol through the Afghan heat. Every cautious step through the cratered terrain and dusty roads is a step closer to completing the mission. Every hour spent standing watch brings them closer to the sweet smell of home-cooked meals or catching the big game on a Monday night.

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July 14, 2011

Midland sailor killed in Afghanistan

By Kelly Dame
Posted: Thursday, July 14, 2011

Family and friends are remembering Midlander Aaron Ullom, a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Tuesday, as brave, strong and smart.

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Marines keep rolling through dangerous terrain

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.14.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Engine roars burst under the sunny morning sky from the monstrous trucks and off they go outside their protected walls, where potential threats are constant and the terrain is unforgiving. From sunrise to sunset, these hard-working Marines are always on the move. It’s their mission to roll through the rough roads of Afghanistan from patrol base to patrol base, supplying their fellow warriors with the food, water and any other supplies they need.

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Pennsylvania native makes connections in Helmand

Courtesy Story | 2nd Marine Division (FWD) Combat Camera | Date: 07.14.2011

MUSA QAL’EH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Showers and cold drinks in the 120-degree heat of the Afghan summer exist only in a Marine’s memory at some of the smaller patrol bases in the area, but one Grove City, Pa., Marine is determined to keep the unforgiving temperatures and desert sand storms from degrading a vital asset Marines and sailors use daily.

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Fort Mill Marine killed in Afghanistan returns home

Published: Thursday, Jul. 14, 2011
By Nicole E. Smith - [email protected]

CHARLOTTE --

The air was warm and the mood solemn Wednesday morning as the family of Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas Joseph "T.J." Dudley walked into the hangar at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

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Mila Kunis Keeping Date with Marine

By LUCHINA FISHER
July 14, 2011

Mila Kunis is keeping her date with Marine Sgt. Scott Moore.

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Bakersfield, Calif., twins serve together in Afghanistan

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.14.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Serving in Afghanistan usually means being away from family for several months. For identical twin sisters Lance Cpls. Ashley Sallee and Kimberly Gastelum, however, being deployed to Helmand province has brought them closer together.

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Marines keep rolling through dangerous terrain

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.14.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Helmand province, Afghanistan -- Engine roars burst under the sunny morning sky from the monstrous trucks and off they go outside their protected walls, where potential threats are constant and the terrain is unforgiving. From sunrise to sunset, these hard-working Marines are always on the move. It’s their mission to roll through the rough roads of Afghanistan from patrol base to patrol base, supplying their fellow warriors with the food, water and any other supplies they need.

Continue reading "Marines keep rolling through dangerous terrain" »

July 13, 2011

Logistics squadron keeps Marine aircraft flying in Afghanistan

7/13/2011 By By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40 has one mission, to guarantee 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) squadrons are never left without ordnance, working equipment or the parts they need to keep aircraft in the fight in Afghanistan.

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July 11, 2011

Jamaican marine sergeant killed in Afghanistan laid to rest

2011-07-11 10:09:45

LAKE WORTH- Florida- CMC - A Jamaican-born, United States marine sergeant who was killed in Afghanistan last month has been laid to rest with full military honors at a US veterans cemetery here.

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Indiana native graduates from football field to battlefield

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.11.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan – Williamsport, Ind., native Thomas Marshall never thought the Seeger Memorial High School football team would go so far. The small, country town began to take notice of the team’s success, however, in 2004 when the team won game after game in the regular season.

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July 10, 2011

Havertown Marine gets warm sendoff

Published: Sunday, July 10, 2011
By JEFF WOLFE
[email protected]

Marine Lance Cpl. Tom Boran IV got a big send off Thursday night as he prepares to deploy to Afghanistan next week.

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Guardian of patrols: Afghan dog fights like Marine

Story by Cpl. Jeff Drew | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 07.10.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Helmand province, Afghanistan – He defends Marines and sailors with love and tenacity, protecting them as any Marine would protect a brother-in-arms. He is the epitome of man’s best friend, shielding service members from the enemy while providing companionship and camaraderie. His name is Willy Pete, and he’s a warrior, a protector, a friend. He’s also a dog.

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July 9, 2011

2nd Maintainance Battalion: Fueling the fight

Story by Sgt. Rachael Moore | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 07.09.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan – International Security Assistance Force operations require fuel for every mission. Whether the fuel is used for vehicles or generators, it’s an important asset to mission accomplishment.

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July 8, 2011

Fort Mill Marine is killed in Afghanistan

Posted: Jul 08, 2011 2:23 PM CDT
WBTV News

FORT MILL - A Fort Mill Marine is being honored by his community after he was killed during combat in Afghanistan on Thursday.

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Marine puts Hollywood music career on hold to serve in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.08.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Whether Sgt. Sean Castaneda is recording an album in Hollywood, Calif., or providing imagery intelligence to troops on the ground in the desert of southern Afghanistan, serving his country while pursuing his music dreams are just another day.

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July 6, 2011

Fallen Marine remembered in Mullins

by Lisa Edge
Posted: 07.06.2011 at 3:41 PM
Updated: 07.06.2011 at 8:20 PM

MULLINS -- GySgt E.J. Pate, 29, died in action on June 26, 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His body was brought back to the U.S. on the 4th of July. His funeral was held at Mullins High School Thursday afternoon.

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July 4, 2011

Marines celebrate Independence Day in Afghanistan

July 04, 2011 6:10 PM
LINDELL KAY

Camp Lejeune Marines stationed in Afghanistan took time off Monday to listen to music, play a few sports, call their loved ones at home and joke with British troops about the beating they took during America’s fight for freedom from England 235 years ago.

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Bedford Marine getting job done quietly in Afghanistan

By GREG KWASNIK
Union Leader Correspondent
Published Jul 4, 2011 at 3:00 am

BEDFORD — Half a world away, in the deserts of Afghanistan, one New Hampshire Marine is proving that she doesn’t have to be on the front lines to help win a war.

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Cherry Point Marines spends July 4 on frontlines

July 04, 2011 10:36 AM
By Sue Book
Freedom ENC

Independence Day is a holiday for most in the United States to celebrate the fight for freedom marked by the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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July 3, 2011

Kyle Schneider dies in Afghanistan, pursuing his military dream

Published: Sunday, July 03, 2011, 11:41 AM
By Dave Tobin / The Post-Standard

Nothing was going to stop Kyle Schneider from becoming a Marine and going to war.

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Marines from Arkansas use background to succeed in Afghan training mission

Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel Wulz | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 07.03.2011

MOBILE OPERATING BASE LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan - Over the years, Arkansas has produced Marines who have had a lasting effect on the Corps.

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July 2, 2011

Oregon Marine pursues photography passion in Afghanistan

7/2/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Capturing moments in time is a passion Sgt. Tristeza Castellanoz finds great pleasure in. What began as a casual interest in photography has grown into a long-term hobby, a method of expression and a potential career for the Nyssa, Ore., native.

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July 1, 2011

Humor, heroism define fallen Marine

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 07.01.2011

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Silence settled over Patrol Base Lambert after Cpl. Matthew T. Richard’s memorial service. A steady current of hot desert air coursed its way through the Helmand combat position where Richard’s squad huddled together, finding comfort in each other’s presence.

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June 30, 2011

Local Marine killed in action in Afghanistan

Posted: Jun 27, 2011 11:14 AM CDT Updated: Jun 30, 2011 6:57 AM CDT
WMBF News

MARION, SC (WMBF) – A family in Marion is mourning the loss of a 29-year-old Marine after he was killed during combat in Afghanistan Sunday.

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Decades later, servicemen’s remains returning to Spokane

Kevin Graman The Spokesman-Review
June 30, 2011 in City

A Marine private lost at the Battle of Tarawa in 1943 and an Army captain who died as a prisoner of the North Koreans in 1951 are finally coming home to Spokane.

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June 29, 2011

Friends remember area Marine killed in Afghanistan

Posted: 5:24 AM Jun 29, 2011
Reporter: WEAU 13 News Staff

"He changed anyone and everyone's life around him in Spring Valley. He did so much and just probably wasn't even aware of it," Sarah Friberg remembered.

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Billings Marine greeted by supporters after Afghanistan deploymen

Story By CHELSEA KROTZER Photos By CASEY PAGE Of The Gazette Staff‌ | Posted: Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Family, friends and community members gathered at Billings Logan International Airport on Tuesday night awaiting the arrival of one of Billings’ servicemen.

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Marines complete bilateral exercise with Spanish forces

Courtesy Story | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit | Date: 06.29.2011

USS BATAAN, At sea – Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Bataan Amphibious Ready Group completed the Spanish Amphibious Bilateral Landing Exercise, also known as PHIBLEX 2011, off the coast of Spain, June 29.

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June 28, 2011

Military intelligence Marines speak on recent accomplishments

6/28/2011 By Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — The military intelligence community of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) said they are finding new ways to stay ahead of insurgents in Afghanistan.

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June 27, 2011

New living areas to bring aviation Marines closer to the flight

6/27/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan —

Marines and sailors in Afghanistan are nearing completion on a major land excavation project for new living areas for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Marines who work on the flightline at Camp Bastion.

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June 25, 2011

Newport News Marine to get posthumous award for valor

By Corinne Reilly
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 25, 2011

A Newport News Marine who was killed in Afghanistan in February will posthumously receive the National Intelligence Medal for Valor on Wednesday.

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June 22, 2011

No Security Like Personal Security Detachment

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Picture yourself in a foreign country full of sand, hot weather, and insurgents who want nothing more than to take your life. Your job is to drive and patrol through this combat zone and protect a commanding officer as he conducts his daily duties.

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Marine Duo Powers Up Area of Operations

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The typical American may wake up, drink their coffee along with a small nutritious breakfast, and then head out the door to their nine to five job, with expectations of being home by six p.m. every evening. Life is much different for two Marines attached to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment.

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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 18, 2011

IED blast in Afghanistan kills Marine

FATHER RECALLS CUBA NATIVE SGT. MARK BRADLEY, 25, AS ‘A TRUE PATRIOT AND A TRUE HERO’

By Maki Becker
Published:June 18, 2011, 12:00 AM
Updated: June 18, 2011, 9:08 AM

A Marine sniper who grew up in Cuba, in Allegany County, died Thursday from injuries he suffered from an improvised explosive device in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.
Sgt. Mark A. Bradley was 25.

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June 17, 2011

Fallen hero laid to rest in Armstrong County

By Mitch Fryer, LEADER TIMES
Friday, June 17, 2011
Last updated: 8:16 am

DISTANT — Hundreds of people, many who didn't know Sgt. Joseph Michael "Joey" Garrison, lined the street leading to the Oakland Church of God on Thursday to show their gratitude and grief for the fallen Marine.

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June 16, 2011

The thin line between crazy, brave

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.15.2011
Date Posted: 06.16.2011 15:31

WASHIR, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan—Most people who I’ve talked to about the occupation field where the job description requires you to go into some of the world’s most dangerous places and look for homemade bombs generally give the impression that anyone who would perform this duty walks the fine line of crazy and brave.

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2nd MAW Band parades through Troy, NY

6/16/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

TROY, N.Y. (June 16, 2011) — The Marines of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band have performed at more than 50,000 events, both military and civilian, since its activation in 1941. By playing at these events, the band supports 2nd MAW in a way just as important as any other unit.

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2nd MAW Band travels to New York, honors American flag

6/16/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

TROY, N.Y. (June 16, 2011) — In a dimly lit concert hall in Troy, N.Y., nearly 800 people came together to honor the American flag with music from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. The lights in the concert hall had been turned off, leaving one solitary spotlight shining on the American flag carried by a United States Air Force color guard.

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June 15, 2011

Video: Cpl. Aine Feaser and Cpl. Aisling Feaser (WFLA-TV), Part 2

Courtesy Video | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 06.15.2011

Two Marines talk to a WFLA-TV reporter about their family, joining the Marines, their responsibilities and what they deployment has been like in Afghanistan. Part 2 of 2

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Operation Afghan Warrior continues

Story by 1st Lt. Timothy Irish | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.15.2011

WASHIR, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Afghan forces now stand guard over every street in the Washir marketplace and man observations posts on hilltops surrounding the villages.

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June 14, 2011

'Hell Of A Leader': Marines Remember Sgt. Garrison

by Tom Bowman
June 14, 2011

On Friday, Marines will gather to remember Sgt. Joseph Garrison at a small combat outpost in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

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Fallen Marine a 'Born Hero'

Reporter: A.J. Ross
Web Producer: Sean RoweFallen Marine a 'Born Hero'
Posted: Tuesday, June 14 2011, 03:16 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Defense on Monday confirmed the death of a U.S. Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Navy aerospace physiologist keeps pilots safe in Afghanistan

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 06.14.2011

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Amber Biles’ mother is a doctor. Her father served as a U.S. Navy pilot for 23 years. So perhaps it was only natural she became an aerospace physiologist.

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Aircraft wing Marines augment NATO military police

6/14/2011 By Pfc. Sean Dennison , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) deployed to southwestern Afghanistan with a primary mission: to provide support for Marines and their Afghan and coalition partners on the ground.

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June 12, 2011

Waterford Marine experiences improvements during second tour to Nad ‘Ali South

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.12.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Before every deployment, Marines are trained up on the area of operation they will perform their duties to prepare them for mission success.

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Marine light attack helicopter squadron answers call to duty

6/12/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan —

The commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 received a phone call from his higher headquarters in May. More attack helicopters were needed to support Marines and their coalition partners in southwestern Afghanistan in preparation of the fighting season.

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June 11, 2011

Light Armored Reconnaissance Trades in Wheels

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.11.2011

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan—The Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion geared up recently to drive their Light Armored Vehicles to Camp Dwyer swap them out for recently overhauled LAVs.

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June 10, 2011

Groton recalls Marine killed overseas

Joining Corps was Woitowicz’s dream

By Ben Wolford
Globe Correspondent / June 10, 2011

GROTON — William Woitowicz was a tall, lanky high schooler — “all arms and legs,’’ one teacher said.

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Semper FiPad: Marine Corps aviators use popular tablet in Afghanistan

6/10/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

Marine Corps aviators in Afghanistan are using one of the hottest electronic devices on the market to help keep Afghan civilians and coalition ground troops safe. CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — “iPads allow close-air support aircrew several advantages,” said Maj. Marc Blankenbicker, the lead fire control officer for the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron Harvest Hawk detachment at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan. “First is the ability to carry 500 large charts, known as gridded reference graphics, on one electronic tablet.”

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Knowledge is power: Marines train Afghan troops in generator maintenance

6/10/2011 By Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

They say knowledge is power, and in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, U.S. Marines are giving Afghan forces the knowledge of power. CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 are training Afghan soldiers and police in generator maintenance and basic electrician skills.

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June 9, 2011

Marines earn Navy Cross for Ganjgal heroism

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jun 9, 2011 16:16:24 EDT

Two Marines who survived a bloody ambush in eastern Afghanistan in September 2009 will receive the Navy Cross on Friday for heroism, Marine officials said.

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Cherry Point community warriors gather, pay Memorial Day tribute

6/9/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

NEW BERN, N.C. (June 9, 2011) — Dozens of senior men filed into the New Bern National Cemetery with serious, stern looks on their faces. Many of them wore veteran’s hats, displayed with a solemn pride that they had served their country in times of war during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. They came to pay respects to the friends they served with but had not made it back.

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VMR-1 certifies for search, rescue

6/9/2011 By Pfc Cory D. Polom , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — The ocean’s choppy waves cause the water to rush inside the boat slowly, causing it to sink. In the middle of the ocean, as a growing fear sets in, a loud rumble is heard overhead in the dark night. Looking up in the sky, a bright light breaks the darkness, and down comes a man on a rope yelling he’s here to help. He then puts a strap around your waist and begins to hoist you from the cold water and toward the helicopter with the spotlight.

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June 8, 2011

Groton Marine William Woitowicz Killed in Afganistan

June 8, 2011
By Editor

Flags throughout Groton were lowered to half-staff this afternoon and evening in honor of Marine Corporal William Woitowicz, killed in a “combat operation” on June 7 in Badghis, a province in Afghanistan. The 2007 graduate of Groton-Dunstable Regional High School entered the Marines when he graduated, and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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Fontana Marine Develops Troops in Combat Through Unique Leadership

Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.08.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Capt. Ramon Pattugalan, of Fontana, Calif., had two objectives before this deployment to Afghanistan began: bring all his Marines back home alive and make them better than they were before they left. It is safe to say he completed that mission

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June 7, 2011

Marines struggle to convince Afghans that they won't abandon them

By Matt Millham
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 7, 2011

MUSA QALA, Afghanistan — More than a year after U.S. Marines took responsibility from British forces for the northern reaches of Helmand’s Musa Qala district, they are struggling to convince skeptical locals that this time, Western forces are going to make sure the stability is lasting.

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New Radio Helps Marines Accomplish Mission

Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel Wulz | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.07.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – Upon arrival to Forward Operating Base Marjah, Marines from Communications Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, were introduced to a new piece of equipment, the AN/PRC-117G radio.

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Man on the ship, 24th MEU

6/7/2011 By Sgt. Richard Blumenstein , 24th MEU

Aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD -7) — As Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit head home to Camp Lejeune aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD -7), they are left with time to reflect on their experiences during Fleet Week New York 2011, which took place May 25 to June 1.

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Marine Advisor Team Trains Afghans to Lead Themselves

Story by Lance Cpl. Daniel Wulz | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.07.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Since November 2010, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment advisor team has been guiding and teaching Afghan National Army soldiers here.

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Marine aircraft wing chaplain provides ‘ministry on the fly’

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 06.07.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM, Afghansitan - It’s 2:53 p.m. at Forward Operating Base Delaram, Afghanistan, and religious programs specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Gallagher is looking quite nervous. Pacing in the blazing Afghanistan sun, Gallagher knows that he and the Navy chaplain he is sworn to protect have a convoy to catch in seven minutes, one that very well may leave them stranded if they are late.

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June 6, 2011

Corinth Marine Survives Two IEDs, Stays in Fight

6/6/2011 By Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard , II MEF (FWD)

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Armstrong’s fellow Marines call him, “Rock.” The name fits him well. The Corinth, N.Y., native has survived not one, but two improvised explosive devices. He is still in the fight and shows no signs of stopping. However, the memory of the first IED will always be engraved in his mind.

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June 4, 2011

Hundreds salute Marine Peter Clore at Courthouse

By Lee Morrison
TimesReporter.com staff writer
Posted Jun 04, 2011 @ 11:22 PM

NEW PHILADELPHIA —

More than 400 area residents climbed the Tuscarawas County Courthouse stairs Saturday to pay their respects to Marine Lance Cpl. Peter Clore, who was remembered as a laughing, friendly person, always helping others.

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June 3, 2011

New Philadelphia soldier arrives home for burial

By Jon Baker
Times-Reporter.com staff writer
Posted Jun 03, 2011 @ 10:44 PM

NEW PHILADELPHIA —

Marine Lance Cpl. Peter Clore completed the last leg of his long journey home from Afghanistan as a mile-long procession escorted his remains to Tuscarawas County from the Akron-Canton Airport on Friday.

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Marine from York injured by shrapnel in Afghanistan

Wounded Propst won't come home without unit

Andrew Dys - Columnist
Published: Friday, Jun. 03, 2011

YORK --

When you are the son of a guy who runs a sawmill in rural western York County - and your grandfather and great-grandfather that ran that mill - you grow up tough and hard-nosed.

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Radio Battalion Helps ANGLICO Intercept Insurgents

Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.03.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines see a man walking, he does not see them. He hunches down and starts to dig. The Marines believe he is planting an improvised explosive device, but they do not know for sure. There is nothing that identifies him as the enemy.

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ANA Powered By ANGLICO

Story by Cpl. Adam Leyendecker | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 06.03.2011

Waiting behind trees, rocks, thick brush and sometimes behind their own people, the insurgents of Afghanistan are smart and sometimes difficult to locate and suppress.

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June 1, 2011

Louisiana Marine Survives IED Blast, Continues to Fight

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 06.01.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – “I thought it was just another day on the 45-minute drive to get to the location. My teammate and I were coming up with a plan of attack,” said Winnfield, La., native Staff Sgt. Tony Palomo. “I never thought I’d be the one to set off the (improvised explosive device).”

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Injured marine gets warm welcome home

He's home from war early, not unscathed. It's the first time Marine Lance Cpl. Johnathan Bedwell has been back since he was injured in an IED Explosion in Afghanistan.

Posted: 5:46 PM Jun 1, 2011
Reporter: Sara Shookman
Email Address: [email protected]

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A wounded warrior is home with family in East Tennessee Wednesday.

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Marines wrestle with exasperation in battle for hearts and minds

By Matt Millham
Stars and Stripes
Published: June 1, 2011

PATROL BASE MIRAGE, Afghanistan — First Lt. Tor Peery stood in front of a black and white map tacked to a piece of plywood in his command center, raised a massive arm and pointed to a pizza-slice-shaped bit of acreage south of the blue thumbtack representing his current position.

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May 30, 2011

Navy chaplain spreads good word, good will to deployed troops

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 05.30.2011

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - A young James C. Ragain found himself face to face with tragedy in his seventh-grade year. His father, a Navy dentist, had moved his family to Parris Island, S.C. where Ragain recalled his first contact with military chaplains that would forever change his life.

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May 28, 2011

Gossip shuts down Bataan’s Facebook page

By Joshua Stewart - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday May 28, 2011 10:13:36 EDT

Loose tweets sink fleets, and as sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship Bataan learned, unchecked gossip can bring down a command’s Facebook page.

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Missoula-born Marine killed in NYC crash

By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian missoulian.com | Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2011 7:33 am

Like every parent of a military member sent into harm's way, Chuck Jorgenson of Missoula lived with the worry that the Marines might come knocking on his door with the worst of news.

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May 27, 2011

Americans Don’t Wait for Memorial Day to Unite in Helmand

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Pauline Franklin | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.27.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – At 6:50 p.m., May 25, a Marion, Iowa, Marine struck an improvised explosive device while patrolling in southern Garmser district. The infantry point man with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, was wounded and needed care, but just as the communication lines began to light up to coordinate transportation for him, a sandstorm brought it all to a halt, putting the Marine in grave danger of bleeding to death before he reached medical assistance.

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War 101: Don't bring a motorbike to a tank fight

By Matt Millham
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 27, 2011

MUSA QALA, Afghanistan — For the first five months of the deployment, insurgents were smart enough to stay out of Freak Show’s way.

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Marines move into tough neighborhood in Helmand

By Matt Millham
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 27, 2011

PATROL BASE SALAAM BAZAAR, Afghanistan — Company L Marines weren’t on the ground six hours when the welcome they’d expected came screaming in. A barrage of heavy rounds, possibly from a recoilless rifle or mortar, slammed into the ring of not-yet-filled Hesco barriers that made up their new desert base.

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May 25, 2011

Fleet Week kicks off in New York

By Verena Dobnik - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday May 25, 2011 14:18:36 EDT

NEW YORK — As the 24th annual Fleet Week festivities got under way Wednesday with a parade of military vessels sailing up the Hudson River, the Navy secretary said the small number of participating boats this year was a reflection of the Navy’s work around the world responding to disasters and conflicts.

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2nd Recon Second to None in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.25.2011

PATROL BASE ALCATRAZ, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Swift, silent, deadly -- those three words rest on the spear of 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion’s insignia.

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May 24, 2011

MCCS Marines inaugurate new MCX at FOB Edinburgh

Story by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 05.24.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan – A small base home to many Marines and sailors of 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) recently received an upgrade to better serve those on the outer rim of Regional Command Southwest in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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May 23, 2011

Back in Afghanistan

North soldier takes latest deployment in stride

Monday, May 23, 2011 2:12 AM EDT

Osama bin Laden may be history, but keeping the pressure on the Taliban is an ongoing job for 1st Sgt. Marc R. Chabot and his fellow Marines serving with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

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Back in Afghanistan

North soldier takes latest deployment in stride

Monday, May 23, 2011 2:12 AM EDT

Osama bin Laden may be history, but keeping the pressure on the Taliban is an ongoing job for 1st Sgt. Marc R. Chabot and his fellow Marines serving with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

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Buffalo Marine Leads Recon Through Danger Zone

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.23.2011

PATROL BASE ALCATRAZ, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Down by the “Mini Helmand River,” as local residents call it, Marines maneuver through the night to conduct surveillance. They are led by a Reconnaissance Marine who fearlessly clears a path for his fellow brothers in arms.

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May 22, 2011

Arizona’s Own Joins Corps’ Tradition

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.22.2011

PATROL BASE ALCATRAZ, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Families all over America have certain traditions they honor. Some go on annual camping trips, and others have special items they’ve passed down from generation to generation. One Mesa, Ariz., native made joining the Marine Corps a family tradition.

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May 21, 2011

Marines dedicate Afghanistan compound to fallen lieutenant colonel

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 05.21.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Deployed Marines and sailors honored the life and service of former 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion commanding officer, Lt. Col. Benjamin J. Palmer, by dedicating to him the Marine Air Control Group 28 compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 21.

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Aviation elements return to Cherry Point from 26th MEU

5/21/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (May 21) — The Marine Corps prides itself on being a force in readiness, able to be wherever needed at a moment’s notice. Epitomizing the mission is the Marine expeditionary unit, a force of approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors that operate from amphibious platforms at sea.

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May 19, 2011

Fallen 8th Comm. Marine Honored at Leatherneck

Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.19.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marines and sailors with 8th Communication Battalion, Task Force Belleau Wood, gathered together to honor Sgt. Kevin B. Balduf aboard Camp Leatherneck, May 19. Balduf, a native of Nashville, Tenn., was killed while working with a mentoring team that provides support to the Afghan National Civil Order Police, May 12. He was 27-years-old.

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2nd ANGLICO Watches Over Georgian Forces

Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.19.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan -- In a combat environment, the word liaison represents a means of communication for ensuring mission accomplishment, which is exactly the mission of 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company does.

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From Hueys to Harvest Hawk: Ordnance Marine arms aircraft in Afghanistan

5/19/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — “I remember him starting to tear up and saying that when the aircraft were flying over head, the insurgents seemed to disappear,” said Gunnery Sgt. Brian D. Cook. “That moment made me realize how much my job means.”

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May 18, 2011

Family mourns Marine killed in action

By Keith Edwards [email protected]
Staff Writer
Posted: May 18, 2011

RICHMOND — A Marine sergeant whose wife and in-laws live in Richmond was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan last week.

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Sgt. Kevin Balduf remembered as 'a Marine's Marine, gung ho'

The Nashville, Tenn. native, married to Amy Balduf of Richmond, was killed in Afghanistan last week.

By KEITH EDWARDS Kennebec Journal
May 18 , 2011

RICHMOND — The father-in-law of a Marine sergeant killed in combat last week in Afghanistan said his son-in-law was "a nice guy who tended to put other people before himself."

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New details in Afghan police center killings

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 18, 2011 16:59:46 EDT

It was chow time May 12 when the Marine advisory team sat down to dinner. Its members didn’t know a gun-wielding Afghan policeman was around the corner and about to open fire.

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The costs of war

BY FRANK MORTIMER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 2:57 AM EDT

FOXBORO - A young Marine from Foxboro was seriously wounded this week in an attack by insurgents in a rugged desert region in southwestern Afghanistan.

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May 17, 2011

New Details: Families Grieve As 2 Marines From The East Killed By Afghan Police Officer

By Chris Brown , Smitha Rao
Published: May 16, 2011
Updated: May 17, 2011 - 5:53 PM

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - An Afghan police officer opened fire on a training base in Helmand Province and killed two Marines from the east.

Continue reading "New Details: Families Grieve As 2 Marines From The East Killed By Afghan Police Officer" »

May 16, 2011

Former POW to depart Afghanistan for senior post in US European command

5/16/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan —

A senior leader of Marines in southwestern Afghanistan has been selected for promotion to brigadier general, and will soon depart Camp Leatherneck for duties at the U.S. European Command.

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Force Recon rededicates monument

5/16/2011 By Cpl. Ed Galo , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines and prior-service Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, gathered outside the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion office for a ceremony for a monument.

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May 13, 2011

Gaylord Marine SSgt. David Day remembered, honored at funeral

by Andrew Keller
Posted: 05.13.2011 at 6:52 PM

GAYLORD, MI -- Hundreds of people gathered in Gaylord to say their final goodbyes to a local American Hero, a Marine, who was killed in combat while serving in Afghanistan. Friday, his funeral was held.

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Moondogs return to hero’s welcome

5/13/2011 By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (May 13) — After six months of patiently waiting loved ones welcomed home the Marines and Sailors of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 upon their arrival to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from Afghanistan May 7.

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May 12, 2011

MALS-31 conducts squadron run, barbecue for departing commanding officer

Story by Lance Cpl. Kelvin Clark | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 05.12.2011

In the Marine Corps, when a Marine leaves a command, his unit wants him to leave with a lasting memory. For the Marines and sailors of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, they wanted to leave one Marine with a memory he would never forget.

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May 11, 2011

Sniper Platoon Keeps Cool Under Fire

Story by Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 05.11.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HANSON, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Stealthy, methodical and deadly -- these traits have come to symbolize the Marine sniper community and what scouts/snipers have come to survive by. These traits also enable the Marines to accomplish their mission proficiently, save Marines’ lives, and eliminate enemy threats.

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New concussion care center opens at Camp Leatherneck

Story by 2nd Lt. Joshua Smith | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 05.11.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Concussion Restoration Care Center opened a new, updated facility to continue treatment for the number one battle injury sustained in Afghanistan.

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May 10, 2011

Humboldt Park Marine strives to make better life for family

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.10.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Every Marine joins the Corps for their own reasons, and Sgt. Ivan Vega-Pacheco is no different.

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May 9, 2011

Project runway: Marines move 12 million pounds of matting in Afghanistan

5/9/2011 By Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan —

Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, with the help of Marines from around 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), completed the removal of aluminum matting formerly used as the expeditionary runway at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, May 8

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May 7, 2011

The New Breed: Corps unleashes Labradors in counter-IED fight

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 05.07.2011

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marine Corps believes it has found the right dog for the counter-IED fight, but it’s not the traditional military working dog.

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May 6, 2011

Beloved leader, guitarist remembered for deft touch

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 05.06.2011

The world keeps turning
The sun keeps burning
For all to learn what
Heaven only knows
Why do some
Get taken too young
All these answers
That heaven only knows

- "I Couldn't Explain Why," The Rainwater LP (2010), Citizen Cope

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Whether plucking the strings of his guitar or expertly navigating the complex scales of authority to help his Marines, Sgt. Sean T. Callahan had a deft touch.

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“Possessed of Selflessness and Loyalty”:Lejeune battalion remembers fallen hero

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 05.06.2011

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan -- One final time, duty came between Lance Cpl. Dominic Ciaramitaro and his loved ones.

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Oregon Marine watches over ground troops in Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 05.06.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan - An Oregon Marine was awarded by the commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) for her work with a Marine Corps unmanned aerial vehicle squadron at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 4.

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May 5, 2011

Cincinnati Marine stays motivated during second combat deployment

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.05.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - By the age of six, Cpl. Derrik M. Nixon, a fire team leader with 1st Platoon, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), was telling anybody willing to listen that he was a future Marine.

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Body of fallen Marine returns home

Updated: Thursday, 05 May 2011, 8:53 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 05 May 2011, 6:31 PM EDT

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A local Marine killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan has been brought home.

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May 4, 2011

Marines escort new kandak to Helmand Province

5/4/2011 By Sgt. Rachael K. A. Moore , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — US forces are continuously working with Afghan National Security Forces to help them become an independent military.

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May 3, 2011

Father salutes slain Marine son when news breaks

May 3, 2011
By Ben Wolford | Staff Writer

Word reached Robert Gilbert Sr. that Osama bin Laden died around the same time it reached everyone else, late Sunday night.

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CLB 8 engineers expand COP Shukvani for Georgian Army

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 05.03.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Working under the sun’s ruthless heat, 36 Marines and one sailor with 1st Platoon, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) worked to expand Combat Outpost Shukvani, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 18-30.

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May 2, 2011

Virginia Marine killed in Afghanistan buried at Arlington National Cemetery

By Christy Goodman, Published: May 2

A team of white horses carried Sgt. Sean T. Callahan’s flag-draped coffin on a caisson Monday as about 300 friends, family members and U.S. Marines followed to Section 60 in Arlington National Cemetery.

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Unit awarded Puller Leadership Award for second time

5/2/2011 By Cpl. Melissa A. Latty , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Every year a small, medium and large-sized unit within the II Marine Expeditionary Force is awarded the Lieutenant General Chesty Puller Outstanding Leadership Award to commend the unit for superior leadership.

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May 1, 2011

Mass. marine awarded for heroism overseas

By Erin Smith
Lowell Sun / May 1, 2011

DRACUT, Mass.—Cpl. Brian Cozy's squad was positioned atop a hillside in Afghanistan when gunfire erupted around them.

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'Honor and duty became the driving force' of fallen South Lyon Marine

12:28 AM, May. 1, 2011

Before there were words, there were tears.

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April 30, 2011

Marine weathermen crucial to Afghan fight

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Apr 30, 2011 9:36:22 EDT

The birds are chirping, the poppies are ready for harvesting and unrelenting sandstorms are on the way. It’s springtime in Afghanistan.

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April 29, 2011

Exclusive combat award for Marjah Marine

By Andrew Theen - Special to Marine Corps Times
Posted : Friday Apr 29, 2011 10:11:21 EDT

A company commander involved in last year’s assault on the Taliban stronghold of Marjah has been named the Marine Corps’ next Leftwich Trophy recipient for his courage and outstanding leadership in combat.

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Amphibious Ready Groups and Marine Expeditionary Units Complete Turnover

Courtesy Story | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 04.29.2011

USS BATAAN, Mediterranean Sea – The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Group relieved the Kearsarge ARG and 26th MEU of their duties in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility April 27.

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With improved vehicles comes advanced training, saved lives

Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.28.2011
Date Posted:04.29.2011 04:09

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Motor transport Marines trained on the Marine Corps’ newest Mine Resistant Ambush Protected recovery vehicle on Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 26.

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April 28, 2011

Third generation Marine sets example

4/28/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Marine Corps has seen its fair share of noncommissioned officers come and go, and in that time, those NCO’s have left the mold of what everyone has come to expect from their leaders.

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April 27, 2011

Brenstville graduate Sean Callahan killed in Afghanistan

By Aileen Streng
Published: April 27, 2011

BRENTSVILLE, Va. --

Marine Sgt. Sean T. Callahan had a lust for life. He loved to have fun, play the guitar and he had lots of friends.

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COC staff, the eyes and ears of the MLG

Story by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego | 2nd Marine Logistics Group | Date: 04.27.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Regional Command Southwest in Afghanistan is comprised of Helmand and Nimruz provinces, which covers 39,000 square miles.

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Two IED blasts can't stop BLT 3/8 Marine

4/27/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper , 26th MEU

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — "I think psychologically it started to get to me. It was like, all right I just stepped on an IED again; I've got to be hurt. There's no way I'm not hurt. ... How many guys do you hear that step on two IEDs in one deployment?"

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April 26, 2011

Roadside bombs kill 2 Marines from Michigan

Written by
JOE ROSSITER
DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
April 26, 2011

Two Marines from Michigan and another from Virginia were killed in fighting in Afghanistan during the weekend.

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Ariz. Native Has Big Job in Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Phillip Clark | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.26.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A four-year-old boy rode in a parade with his father, who was in his unmistakably identifiable uniform: the Marine Corps dress blues. From that day forward, the Kearny, Ariz., child wanted to be a United States Marine, exactly like his father.

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April 23, 2011

BLT 2/2 Conducts Ship-to-Shore Aviation-Borne Raid

Story by Cpl. John Raufmann | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 04.23.2011

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted an aviation-borne raid aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 8.

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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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Marines become leaders at austere combat outpost

Story by Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 04.23.2011

COMBAT OUTPOST OUELLETTE, Afghanistan - By the light of a full Afghan moon, a handful of young Marines are hard at work. They lay a thick plastic liner over a hollow square. When finished, they will have created a container for more than 40,000 gallons of jet fuel – extending the range for Marine helicopters supporting ground troops near Sangin, Afghanistan.

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April 22, 2011

Artillery Marines hold back insurgents in key Afghan district

Story by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.22.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGGE, Afghanistan - Kajaki District is usually dangerous, occasionally beautiful, always strategically important, and for the last six months its security has been lead by a single Marine Corps artillery battery.

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April 21, 2011

3/8 Marines continues battalion legacy at COP Ouellette

Story by Cpl. Katherine Keleher | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.21.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – “I will never forget who I am or what I represent. I will challenge myself to the limit and be ever attentive to duty.”

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April 20, 2011

Steak Team Mission Brings Taste of Texas to Helmand

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.21.2011
Date Posted:04.20.2011 16:43

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The 8-ounce fillets hit the grill in a sizzle and the juice dripped down on the red coals, causing a flow of white to billow from the smoker. The line of Marines rapidly grew longer as they waited anxiously for the metaphorical dinner bell to ring, where some would receive their first home-cooked meal in months.

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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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April 19, 2011

Texas Marine Earns Marine of the Quarter

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.19.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – He hails from the southern tip of Texas, where warm weather radiates and sun-kissed residents roam the subtropical City of Palms. All he wanted was to broaden his horizons and fulfill his father’s dream of becoming a service member; he never expected to earn the prestigious title of Marine of the Quarter.

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April 18, 2011

Jason Rogers' mother talks about the community support

Posted: Apr 18, 2011 6:10 PM CDT Updated: Apr 19, 2011 2:08 PM CDT

Marine Staff Sergeant Jason Rogers was laid to rest last Saturday in the new Brandon cemetery. The combat engineer was killed over a week ago in Afghanistan while getting two badly wounded marines to safety.

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April 17, 2011

New York Marine Helps Steer Unit Success

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.17.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Life as a motor transport operator in Afghanistan doesn’t just consist of driving around all day, transporting personnel and equipment.

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April 15, 2011

Florida Marine Makes History with Combat Promotion

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.15.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan - "Marines to be promoted, Center! March!" commanded Sgt. Maj. Octaviano Gallegos with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment.

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April 14, 2011

No suits, just combat boots

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha | 2nd Marine Division | Date: 04.14.2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan - They might not wear the fancy black suits and matching ties like the secret service, but their mission to protect and serve remains the same.

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April 12, 2011

FET works with Now Zad District governor to improve, rebuild area

Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 04.12.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The female engagement team in Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, is pushing for the speedy development of a women’s center, new school and other community projects.

Continue reading "FET works with Now Zad District governor to improve, rebuild area" »

April 11, 2011

Marine Corps makes aviation history with intercontinental Osprey flight

4/11/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — The Marine Corps completed an aviation first, April 8, by flying MV-22B Ospreys on the aircraft’s longest movement to date

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April 7, 2011

Initial Response Force demonstrate their capabilities for JGSDF

Posted 4/7/2011

4/7/2011 - Marines from Naval Support Facility, Indian Head, Md., demonstrate their capabilities to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 6, 2011.

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Sky no limit for 2nd MAW (Fwd) crew chief

Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs | Date: 04.07.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Cpl. Erin C. Pesti is afraid of heights, but she said that doesn’t keep her down.

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April 6, 2011

The Initial Response Force lands at Yokota Air Base

Posted 4/6/2011
(U.S. Air Force photo by/Master Sgt. Jeromy K. Cross)

4/6/2011 - A U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy carrying Marines and their equipment from the Initial Response Force lands at Yokota Air Base, April 3.

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April 5, 2011

Sgt. survives sniper round to the head

By Brian Shane - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 5, 2011 5:08:53 EDT

Manning the top of a compound south of Sangin, Afghanistan, Sgt. Paul Boothroyd III took a sniper round to the head. He landed face down onto the muddy roof with a thud.

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April 3, 2011

Pay, recognition up combat instructor appeal

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Apr 3, 2011 9:34:36 EDT

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Training newly minted Marines in common combat skills wasn’t always a coveted job; some even saw it as baby-sitting and few volunteered.

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April 1, 2011

Off the coast of Libya, on board America's floating fortress

The USS Kearsarge carries 1,000 marines and boasts enough military hardware to invade a small country. Its aircraft are already in action over Libya, but aboard the giant assault ship, the biggest concern is spending enough time in the gym

Tom Kington
The Guardian
Friday 1 April 2011

At dawn, the PA crackles into life and a country and western tune is broadcast to all decks, followed by an announcement urging marines on board to "get their game on" and sign up for the basketball tournament being held in the cavernous hangar where mechanics are toiling over a half-aircraft, half-helicopter that has flown straight out of a science-fiction film.

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22nd MEU Air Combat Element Lands Aboard Bataan

Release Date: 4/1/2011 3:58:00 PM
From USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) Air Combat Element (ACE) completed a successful embark of aircraft and aircrews aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5), April 1.

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Motivator leads by example

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney White | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 04.01.2011

A Marine shows up to work early, stays several hours late, takes time to help any Marine who needs help, makes time for the gym and takes pride in serving the Marine Corps.

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KC-130J Harvest Hawk: Marine Corps teaches old plane new tricks in Afghanistan

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs | Date: 04.01.2011

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - One of the U.S. military’s most seasoned aircraft has found a new purpose as a one-of- a- kind weapon for the Marine Corps in support of troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

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March 31, 2011

RCT-8 spreads goodwill to neighbors, recharges batteries

Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.30.2011
Date Posted:03.31.2011 13:38

GAVMISHI, Afghanistan -- “They deserve the same rights we do,” said Lance Cpl. Jared Beard, a motor transportation operator with Regimental Combat Team 8. Beard was referring to Gavmishi’s residents and the Afghan population as a whole. He was gathering supplies to distribute to the underprivileged population of the small village.

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13 Marines receive recognition for actions in Afghanistan

3/31/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, were recognized during an award ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 24, 2011.

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March 28, 2011

Malachowski recalled as a hero, friend and son of Carroll County

Funeral of Marine killed in Afghanistan draws hundreds to Manchester

By Kevin Dayhoff
[email protected]
Posted 3/28/11

“It's hard to find God amidst the horror and chaos of war. … And what we have here are the results.”

With those words, Army Chaplain Shawn Hunze invited a packed St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Manchester on Monday to remember, honor and celebrate the life of Staff Sgt. James “Jimmy” Malachowski, a Carroll County native and U.S. Marine who died performing a duty that family members say he held dear.

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Relics of Defeat: Marines uncover insurgent caches

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 03.28.2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Like tomb raiders, the Marines unearth the deadly treasures of those who no longer rule Helmand province. Scouring dry creek beds and abandoned compounds, they collect caches of AK-47s, Soviet era grenades and homemade explosives buried by the Taliban.

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Lejeune Marines prepare to deploy off Libyan coast

Monday, March 28, 2011
Shae Crisson

CAMP LEJEUNE (WTVD) -- Twenty-two hundred Marines and sailors from Camp Lejeune are preparing to deploy off the coast of Libya in northern Africa. They said goodbye to their families Monday afternoon, and they'll be leaving in the days ahead.

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March 26, 2011

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

Navy corpsman earns medal after actions in Afghanistan

By PATRICK DONOHUE
[email protected]
Published Friday, March 25, 2011

A corpsman at Naval Hospital Beaufort now has a prestigious combat decoration to commemorate his first patrol in Afghanistan.

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Marine a loving friend to the end

Tom Sileo
March 25, 2011 8:53am EDT

As Lance Cpl. Thomas Rivers Jr. patrolled Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand Province, he knew God had his back. The Marine often carried a Bible, but even on days he didn’t have room for anything but essential combat gear, Rivers felt protected by Psalm 91:1, which was tattooed on his back.

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March 24, 2011

HMH-461 Marines receive award for extraordinary lift

Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs | Date: 03.24.2011

When Cpl. Michael K. Nelson woke early on the morning of March 20 to his gunnery sergeant yelling, he wasn’t sure what to expect.

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Engineers thwart culvert attacks

Story by Staff Sgt. Theresa Seng | 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 03.24.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Afghans residing in Regional Command Southwest’s area of operation, as well as coalition forces who work in the area, now can be less wary of improvised explosive devices hidden in culverts.

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22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit To Deploy

By WCTI Staff
POSTED: 2:19 pm EDT March 24, 2011

ONSLOW COUNTY -- Approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Lejeune received deployment orders to support the commanders of the U.S. European, African and Central commands, and will leave in April.

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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

Eight of 10 injured in Rolling Thunder exercise return to Camp Lejeune

Susy Raybon
03.23.2011

It was learned today that eight of the ten Marines and sailors who were injured in a training accident at Ft. Bragg last week have returned to Camp Lejeune.

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Bataan ARG heads to Libya duty in Med

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 23, 2011 14:47:03 EDT

NORFOLK, Va. — A journey into uncertainty began Wednesday as the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group left its Norfolk bases, bound for the Mediterranean and a yet-to-be-determined role in the coalition operations off the coast of strife-torn Libya.

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March 22, 2011

Marines rescue downed pilot after fighter jet crashes in Libya

3/22/2011 By Staff , Headquarters Marine Corps

ARLINGTON, Va. — Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit rescued a U.S. Air Force pilot downed in Libya March 22.

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March 21, 2011

Marines step onto Afghan soil with eyes on skies

3/21/2011 By Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marine Air Control Group 28 has arrived in Afghanistan and is ready to provide command and control for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) and its coalition partners.

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26th MEU aims to safeguard Libyans, key city

3/21/2011 By Capt. Richard K. Ulsh , 26th MEU

USS Kearsarge, at sea — In an effort to safeguard the Libyan populace and infrastructure in and around the city of Ajdabiyah from further attacks by regime forces, 26th MEU, as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, launched a second round of strikes by AV-8B Harrier jump jets, March 20.

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March 20, 2011

Cherry Point Marines involved in Libya attack

March 20, 2011 3:13 PM
Staff and wire reports

CHERRY POINT — Marine AV-8B Harriers from Cherry Point air station were among aircraft that attacked Libyan surface and ground targets Sunday.

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Better barracks under construction at Lejeune

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Mar 20, 2011 10:37:46 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Today, hard-hatted workmen are busy hammering nails, and the rumble of heavy construction equipment shakes the earth. But come August, when the first members of 8th Marines move into the Wallace Creek regimental complex here, construction will be complete and Marines will experience a new side of barracks life.

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26th MEU planes strike Libya

3/20/2011 By Capt. Richard K. Ulsh , 26th MEU

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which is centered on protecting Libyan citizens from any further harm from the Libyan Leader Muammar al-Qadhafi regime, now involves 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aircraft, as part of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, Mar. 20. USS Kearsarge, At sea —

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2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) takes flight for Operation Rawhide II

3/20/2011 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Recently an operation bringing together five of the six functions of the aviation combat element began here in the Regional Command Southwest area of operations in Afghanistan.

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March 18, 2011

Bataan going to Mediterranean ahead of schedule

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 18, 2011 14:50:19 EDT

The amphibious assault ship Bataan, two sister ships and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will deploy ahead of schedule next week in response to the crisis in Libya, the Navy’s 2nd Fleet announced Friday.

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Civil Affairs Group looks to alternative power in Now Zad

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 03.18.2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – The civil affairs team, from 4th Civil Affairs Group attached to Regimental Combat Team 8, are investigating a way to produce green energy for the citizens of Now Zad District, Helmand province.

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Romeo Battery joins III MEF team

3/18/2011 By Sgt. Rebekka S. Heite , Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa — More than 130 Marines with Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., arrived on Okinawa to augment 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as part of the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program March 11.

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March 17, 2011

Marines recovering from training accident on howitzer in use in Afghanistan

By Dan Blottenberger
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 17, 2011

BAMBERG, Germany — Five of the 10 servicemembers injured in an apparent explosion at Fort Bragg, N.C., during an artillery training exercise Monday have been released from the hospital, according to a 2nd Marine Division press release.

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March 16, 2011

All-female unit gets loving gift from locals

1:13 AM, Mar. 16, 2011
Written by
CapiLynn

Camouflage-colored prayer shawls, crocheted and knitted right here in Salem, were on the must-pack list this week for a group of female Marines headed for Afghanistan.

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March 15, 2011

From The Frontline: Mementos from home

By Chris Brown
Published: March 14, 2011
Updated: March 15, 2011 - 12:09 AM

MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN - Just because they’re 7,000 miles away doesn't mean our Marines in Afghanistan aren’t thinking of their family and friends.

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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

Wounded Warrior shows true grit to stay in the fight

3/14/2011 By Maj. Paul Greenberg , Wounded Warrior Battalion-East

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 14, 2011) — In September 2001, Than Naing was cooking hamburgers in a fast-food restaurant in New York City and taking prerequisite classes part-time at the City College of New York in hopes of pursuing an engineering degree.

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Eight second ride: Marine ropes, rides in New Bern rodeo

3/14/2011 By Cpl. Melissa A. Latty , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — He lowers himself onto the fierce, muscular animal. He takes a few seconds to prepare himself, wrapping the rope tight around his hand. He gives a nod, signaling he’s ready to go.

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Vermont Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan

2:38 PM, Mar. 14, 2011

DANVILLE — Cpl. Ian M. Muller was made to be a Marine.

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March 12, 2011

Marine saves three lives in Beaufort

Story by Pfc. Justin Boling | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 03.12.2011

Marines are taught in recruit training to overcome whatever fear could stop them from accomplishing the mission or saving a life.

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March 11, 2011

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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March 10, 2011

Marine company moves into ‘Green Zone'

March 10, 2011 7:14 PM
GUNNERY SGT. BRYCE PIPER
Special to the Sun Journal

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 8, moved into Helmand province’s “Green Zone” last week, where Taliban insurgents had previously roamed nearly uncontested.

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Marine decorated for valor

Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:00 am |
Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado, 2nd Marine Logistics Group The Globe |

A Marine with Ordnance Maintenance Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, was decorated for valor during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Feb. 24.

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Marines, sailors win hearts and minds by healing

Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:00 am
Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit The Globe |

Helmand Province, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines and sailors conducting counterinsurgency operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, conducted a community health initiative in Kakar village, March 1, and a second one in Aminollah Kariz village, March 2.

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MALS-14 cryogenic Marines lend cool hand to 2nd MAW

Story by Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 03.10.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- When a Marine says he or she is a cryogenic technician it is easy to be unclear with what that entails. Possibly for movie buffs the first thing that comes to mind is the movie Demolition Man, when villain Wesley Snipes and hero Sylvester Stallone are cryogenically frozen for years until they are thawed and upon doing so rekindle their tension in a new era.

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‘Every little detail counts’

3/10/2011 By Cpl. Melissa A. Latty , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Anyone driving around Camp Lejeune’s surrounding cities on any given afternoon will see various types of cars. Many Marines rev their engines at stop lights in their Mustangs and Camaros. Others seem larger than life in their lifted trucks with tires that can compare in size to those of a Marine Corps “7-ton” Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement.

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2nd MAW (Fwd) assumes aviation combat responsibilities in Afghanistan from 3rd MAW (Fwd)

3/10/2011 By Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd)

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd.) accepted responsibility of coalition air combat efforts in the Regional Command Southwest area of operations from 3rd MAW (Fwd.) in a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, March 9.

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March 9, 2011

Marine pursued 'a more certain path'

By KRISTY CHU
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: March 8, 2011
Updated: March 9, 2011 9:26 a.m.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Since his deployment to Afghanistan in November, Cpl. Jordan R. Stanton was only able to speak to his father twice, most recently a week ago.

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22nd MEU heads to Mediterranean

March 09, 2011 7:34 AM
HOPE HODGE

Camp Lejeune’s 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will deploy next month to the Mediterranean, according to Marine Corps officials.

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March 8, 2011

Lejeune's infrastructure progress, the road ahead

Story by Lance Cpl. Damany Coleman | Camp LeJeune Base Public Affairs | Date: 03.07.2011
Date Posted: 03.08.2011 12:50

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- With the improvements and construction underway for the new entry road and front gate, the goal of an infrastructure that can accommodate the increase of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune personnel may seem distant.

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Marines announce deployment of 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

3/8/2011
22nd MEU Capt. Binford R. Strickland
MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C.

(910) 451-0428/0717 or (910) 546-4421
[email protected]
ARLINGTON, Va. —

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Camp Lejeune, N.C. will deploy in support of the U.S. Africa, European and Central Commands in mid-April with approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors.

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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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March 7, 2011

From the Frontline: Spending the night with Marines of the 2/8

March 07, 2011
Eyewitness News 9, North Carolina

News video
MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN -- Reporter, Chris Brown, has made it to Mariah with the 2/8.

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March 6, 2011

Tunisia Evacuation

Photos by Lance Cpl. Tammy Hineline | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 03.05.2011
Date Posted: 03.06.2011 15:17

Photos of the 26th MEU who were directed by the Department of Defense to help evacuate Egyptians, who fled to the Tunisian border from Libya, get back to Egypt.

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In and Out, RCT-8 team expedites movement across battle space

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 03.05.2011
Date Posted: 03.06.2011 12:51

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Moving personnel and parts throughout the battle space can be a difficult task for any unit working on the front lines of the war on terror. Without the added support of a small section of Marines, tracking and facilitating the flow of worn out equipment and fresh troops would come to a near halt.

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MWSS-373 convoys

Photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Public Affairs | Date: 03.05.2011
Date Posted: 03.06.2011 05:23

More than 50 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 returned to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, after completing an independent convoy to Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, March 5.

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Souda Bay Onload

Courtesy Photos | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 03.04.2011
Date Posted: 03.06.2011 16:12

Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, who are augmenting 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, board USS Kearsarge at Souda Bay, Greece, March 4.

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March 4, 2011

2d MLG (FWD) takes logistical reigns in southern Afghanistan

Story by 2nd Lt. Joshua Smith | 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 03.04.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Brig. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, commanding general of 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), transferred authority to Brig. Gen. Michael G. Dana, commanding general of 2nd MLG (FWD), during a ceremony here, March 4.

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March 3, 2011

Marines clear multiple IEDs from Afghan village

March 03, 2011 5:45 PM
GUNNERY SGT. BRYCE PIPER
26th MEU Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Gunnery Sgt. Brad Rickabaugh and his team cleared improvised explosive devices from the village of Kakar near Combat Outpost Ouellette in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Saint Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.

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RCT-2 Marines and sailors honor their fallen after year-long deployment

Posted: Thursday, March 3, 2011 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. Johnny Merkley, 2nd Marine Division

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. - Marines, sailors and family members from Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, honored their 87 fallen comrades Feb. 23, 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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East meets West: 2nd MLG (Fwd) prepares to take baton

Posted: Thursday, March 3, 2011 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN - Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) continue to arrive at Camp Leatherneck to begin replacing their West Coast counterparts as 1st MLG (Fwd.) finishes their tour of duty.

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March 2, 2011

Lejeune troops ready for spectrum of Libya operations

March 02, 2011 9:21 AM
HOPE HODGE

Marines from Camp Lejeune may soon be landing yet again on the shores of Tripoli.

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I MHG transfers authority to II MHG

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark A. Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 03.02.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward) assumed command from I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward) during a transfer of authority ceremony here, March 2.

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Marines Boot Social Media Pioneers From Afghanistan After Facebook Freakout

By Spencer Ackerman
March 2, 2011

It started off as an experimental effort to cover the war in the era of social media. But launching a forum where anyone could weigh in about a combat unit’s fight proved to be more than the Marines were willing to handle. The media pioneers have been sent home — largely over some comments left on a Facebook wall.

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February 28, 2011

Now Zad wasn’t built in a day

2/28/2011 By Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe, Regimental Combat Team 8

NOW ZAD, AFGHANISTAN — Buildings lay in ruins. Vast stretches of the city are either destroyed or abandoned. Fields are bordered with rocks painted red and white, signifying if they are cleared of mines or if they are still unsafe to walk in. A destroyed Soviet tank lays to the wayside of the streets, clearly identifying the rough battles this area has seen.

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February 26, 2011

3/2 Civil Affairs rolls in heavy

Story by 2nd Lt. Timothy Irish | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.25.2011
Date Posted: 02.26.2011 04:02

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan - When a new unit rotates into Afghanistan much of the turnover of information can be placed neatly into a book for easy reading. However, personal relationships forged by time cannot simply be signed over. This is the challenge a new civil affairs unit faces.

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February 25, 2011

2nd generation Marine leaves small town roots

2/25/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — From the quiet streets of Indiana, to the hectic pace of Marine Corps life, Lance Cpl. Jonathon Rockey managed to make it a smooth transition in joining his family business of serving his country.

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Coalition forces, Afghans increase security presence in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark A. Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.25.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan- Marines from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Kilo Company, and Afghan forces increased local Afghans freedom of movement with operations that focused on security in Marjah Feb 16-18.

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Artillery unit to Japan, UDP getting new life

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 25, 2011 8:42:52 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Marines of Romeo Battery are deploying again, only this time they’ll be in Okinawa, Japan, and on the lookout for something other than bad guys.

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February 24, 2011

22nd MEU Marine to receive Bronze Star

Courtesy Story | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 02.24.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is scheduled to receive high honors during a ceremony tomorrow, Feb. 25, for actions while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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1st platoon, Kilo Company, an essential piece of Operation Sulaiman

Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.24.2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment were an essential part of Operation Sulaiman, Feb. 16-18.

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New mortar system fires first combat rounds

February 24, 2011 3:18 PM
Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper
26th MEU Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines fired the first rounds using the Expeditionary Fire Support System during combat operations recently.

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Marines build relationships with Afghans in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Mark A. Garcia | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.24.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan- Afghans and Marines from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment came together for a shura in Marjah, Feb. 12.

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Operation Beckham kicks good will into action

Posted: Thursday, February 24, 2011 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe, 2nd Marine Division

It can be a very humbling experience to share your abundance with those less fortunate. That is precisely what the Marines of the Police Advisory Team, Regimental Combat Team 8, did. On Feb. 15, the PAT Marines along with the Afghan Uniformed Police patrolled through the city of Delaram, Afghanistan, to deliver toys to the children of the Delaram Boys School.

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February 23, 2011

'My son is coming home'

Family members of Marine killed in Afghanistan express love, sorrow

February 23, 2011
By Paris Achen
Mail Tribune

Oregon Marine Sgt. Matthew J. DeYoung of Talent rarely had time during his deployment in Afghanistan to talk with his family at leisure.

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Marine delivers daughter in restaurant parking lot

2/23/2011 By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2011) — With his pregnant wife on the verge of giving birth beside him, Staff Sgt. Johnathon M. Waytas frantically drove himself and his wife in their four-door SUV down U.S. Highway 70 toward the Morehead City, N.C., hospital Feb. 7.

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February 22, 2011

Cheverus graduate earns Bronze Star

Sgt. John Spring Jr., a Windham native, receives the combat award for his actions in Afghanistan in 2009.

By David Hench [email protected]
Staff Writer
Posted: February 22

Sgt. John Spring Jr. tried to prepare his squad of 20 Marines for the coming battle. A veteran of two tours in Iraq, the Windham native and 2005 Cheverus graduate was one of the few in the company with combat experience.

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San Jose Bronze Star recipient to honor friend with medal

By Lisa M. Krieger
[email protected]
Posted: 02/21/2011 08:36:00 PM PST
Updated: 02/22/2011 02:45:36 AM PST

Bellarmine College Prep graduate Al Flores Jr. has been awarded the prestigious Bronze Star Medal with Valor as a commanding officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan.

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February 21, 2011

Wounded lance cpl. taken off life support

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 21, 2011 11:06:33 EST

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — The parents of a Marine wounded in Afghanistan say he has been taken off life support.

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February 20, 2011

Under Marines' watch, Marjah makes strides

Legitimate businesses displace town's opium bazaar

By Saeed Shah - McClatchy Newspapers North County Times - The Californian | Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2011 12:05 am

MARJAH, Afghanistan ---- Nothing better illustrates the transformation of this southern Afghan town than the central Koru Chareh market, where an entire street functioned as a drug bazaar when the Taliban were in control. Today tailors have set up business at one end, and legitimate enterprises have started filling the empty shops.

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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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Marine 'compassionate beyond belief'

3:40 PM, Feb. 19, 2011
Written by
Steve Kemme
[email protected]

LIBERTY TWP. - Cathy Clore witnessed Lucas T. Pyeatt's persistence and emotional and spiritual growth at each stage of his life - Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Eagle Scout, missionary and Marine.

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February 18, 2011

Hammerhead detachment returns from Afghanistan

Photo by Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 02.18.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines, friends and families waited for more than a hundred Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 to return from a seven-month deployment from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Feb. 9.

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Fightertown families find focus outside of deployments

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pettway | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 02.18.2011

Every year, hundreds of families endure months of separation from their loved ones as they defend the nation. Service members travel afar to keep their loved ones safe, while sacrificing a luxury many take for granted – being near their family.

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Sweathogs train on airfield recovery, restoration

Story by Pfc. Justin Boling | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 02.18.2011

The Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 recently conducted Base Recovery After Attack Training commonly known to Marines as BRAAT Feb. 10 and continued throughout this week.

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Memories of a fallen brother remembered

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 02.18.2011

The words stumble from his mouth like a child who misses a step. Memories are flashing through his mind as he remembers details of a friend who had fallen in the line of duty.

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2nd Marine Division Band, serving the Corps since 1798

2/18/2011 By Lance Cpl. Walter D. Marino II , 2nd Marine Division

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune — Nearly every day aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., the sound of trumpets, tubas and drums escape from the 2nd Marine Division Band’s work shop.

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February 17, 2011

Tailor shops displace opium bazaar in Afghan town

By Saeed Shah | McClatchy Newspaper
* Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Nothing better illustrates the transformation of this southern Afghan town than the central Koru Chareh market, where an entire street functioned as a drug bazaar when the Taliban were in control. Today tailors have set up business at one end, and legitimate enterprises have started filling the empty shops.

Continue reading "Tailor shops displace opium bazaar in Afghan town" »

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.

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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

Purple Heart recipient looks forward to returning to duty

2/16/2011 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marjah, Afghanistan, was the site of countless casualties and deaths, while Marines and coalition forces seized the city early last year in an attempt to rid it of Taliban forces. Fallen service members were given the proper respect and wounded Marines were decorated with the honors they deserved, but even one year after the initial assault, the urban center remains a dangerous region of Helmand province.

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Their D-Day; Marjah veterans look back a year to where they were, lessons learned

2/16/2011 By Cpl. James W. Clark , II MEF

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — It is glorified in film and photography, praised with emotionally charged words in literature and poetry and exalted during news reels. However, no format ever does justice to that three letter word – war, or its six letter counterpart – combat.

Continue reading "Their D-Day; Marjah veterans look back a year to where they were, lessons learned" »

February 15, 2011

Second Radio Battalion honors fallen Marine

Story by Sgt. Jeremy Ross | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 02.15.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan– Marines and sailors with 2nd Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), paused to honor Cpl. Lucas T. Pyeatt, a team leader and linguist with C Company, 2nd Radio Bn., during a memorial service at the LSA 7 chapel here, Feb. 15.

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2nd MLG (FWD) departs for Afghanistan

Photos by Sgt. Justin Shemanski | 2nd Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 02.15.2011

The members of 2nd MLG (FWD) will embark on a year-long deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand province in support of International Security Assistance Force operations.

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Funeral arrangements set for West Chester Marine

02.15.11

WEST CHESTER, OH (FOX19) - Funeral arrangements have been finalized for a local Marine killed in Afghanistan

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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.

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February 13, 2011

After rains, Marines reach out to Afghans

2/13/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper , 26th MEU

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan —
After three days of heavy rain, U.S. Marines have reached out to residents in the Afghan villages of Turah Shah Ghundey and South Gavmishi to lend assistance. Marines with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 8, visited the villages to offer medical and minor engineering help.

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February 11, 2011

United States Military Warships Sent To The Suez Canal

Suez : Egypt | Feb 11, 2011
By Dava Castillo

The arrival of U.S. naval, marine and air forces in the Suez Canal’s Greater Bitter Lake could indicate that the crisis in Egypt is swerving out of control.

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2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment returns home

2/11/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Children tossed and tumbled on a giant inflatable giraffe bouncy-house, while the smell of barbeque wafted toward the clouds. Giggles and laughter playfully battled the melodious lyrics of Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” as family members and friends gathered aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for the homecoming of Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, recently.

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Valor in the Face of the Enemy

2/11/2011 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew , 2nd Marine Division

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. — The sun drew behind the clouds in quiet reverence as the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division gathered into formation aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently.

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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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BLT 3/8 honors fallen brother, names post

2/11/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper , 26th MEU

Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan —
An Improvised Explosive Device blast sent a squad of Marines on foot patrol scrambling for cover in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Mar. 22, 2009. Ignoring his fatal wounds, the squad leader continued to direct his Marines' fire and call in supporting attack helicopters to fight off the Taliban assault that followed the blast, while a quick reaction force raced to the Marines’ position. For his actions, Squad Leader Cpl. Michael W. Ouellette was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

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‘Battle for Marjah’ vividly portrays one unit’s experience

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 11, 2011 14:02:20 EST

One year ago on Feb. 13, thousands of Marines led a massive assault on the violent Taliban stronghold of Marjah, a collection of farming villages in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

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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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EFSS goes to war, fires first combat rounds

2/11/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper , 26th MEU

Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan —
U.S. Marines fired the first rounds using the Expeditionary Fire Support System during combat operations, Jan. 29. In support of the International Security Assistance Force, Marines with F Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, fired the new 120mm mortar system from Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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February 10, 2011

Lejeune, New River place 24 Onslow shops off limits to Marines

February 10, 2011 1:51 PM
HOPE HODGE

Camp Lejeune officials have released a list of local shops declared off-limits to troops on account of spice, the synthetic cannabinnoid banned by the Marine Corps last year.

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Werewolves serve as guardians to ground forces in Afghanistan

Story by Pfc. Justin Boling | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 02.10.2011

Since arriving in Afghanistan in late November, Fightertown’s own Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 has provided air support for ground forces while deployed to Kandahar Air Field in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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2/9 returns from mission in Marjah

February 10, 2011 3:46 AM
HOPE HODGE

An embattled region of southwest Afghanistan is now safer, more secure, and a little bit friendlier, returning troops from Camp Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines said Wednesday morning.

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February 9, 2011

Cherry Point hosts students for job shadow day

2/9/2011 By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Feb. 2, 2011) — As part of National Groundhog Job Shadow Day, students from multiple Craven County schools came to Cherry Point Feb. 2 for a firsthand look at the various vocations aboard the air station.

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VMAQ-3 Marines maintain mission readiness in Afghanistan

2/9/2011 By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Feb. 9, 2011) — It’s been a little over three months since the Marines of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 departed Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point en route to Afghanistan in October 2010.

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February 8, 2011

Marine corporal from Newport News killed in Afghanistan

By Corinne Reilly
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 8, 2011

A Marine corporal who grew up in Newport News was killed in combat in Afghanistan this weekend.

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February 7, 2011

HITT gym takes different approach to gym exercise

3/1/2011 By Lance Cpl. Victor Barrera , Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — To many the word gym brings to mind an endless row of treadmills, countless exercise bikes and free weights stacked against the walls. The High Intensity Tactical Training Gym however, is something totally different.

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Local Marine killed in Afghanistan

By Carrie Whitaker • [email protected] • February 7, 2011

WEST CHESTER -- Marine Cpl. Lucas T. Pyeatt, the 24-year-old son of a West Chester Township couple, has died in combat in southern Afghanistan.

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February 4, 2011

2 NC-based Marines to be honored with bronze stars

The Associated Press
Posted: Friday, Feb. 04, 2011

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. Two North Carolina-based Marines are being honored for their actions in Afghanistan.

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February 3, 2011

24th MEU Marines’ walk in the woods gets gaseous

2/3/2011 By 24th MEU Public Affairs Office , 24th MEU

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were engulfed in clouds of CS Gas, a non-lethal riot control substance, during a different rendition of their annual chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense training Feb. 3, in the dense forest behind the Marine Corps Base Gas Chamber.

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'Flying Tigers' retract claws; 'Ironhorse' assumes heavy-lift responsibility

Story by Sgt. Derek Carlson | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs | Date: 02.01.2011
Date Posted:02.03.2011 05:41

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – The Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 “Flying Tigers” transferred responsibilities to HMH-461 “Ironhorse” during a Transfer of Authority ceremony here Feb. 1.

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February 2, 2011

CLB Marines train to provide humanitarian assistance

2/12/2011 By Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson , 22nd MEU

FORT PICKETT, VA. — Marines are known for their tactical prowess, their ability to persevere through austere conditions and their bravery in combat.

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February 1, 2011

Not left empty handed

Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division | Date: 01.31.2011
Date Posted:02.01.2011 10:15

DELARAM, Afghanistan -- What do the children of Afghanistan want? For some it is no more than a pencil. Education is the foundation of civilization and an important building block in today’s modern societies.

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2/8 Marines replace 2/9 in Afghanistan

February 1st, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry Marjah Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe

America’s Battalion is taking over Northern Marjah.

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2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment honors fallen brothers

Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter | 1st Marine Division | Date: 01.31.2011
Date Posted:02.01.2011 06:37

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors from Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, held a memorial ceremony at Camp Leatherneck, Jan. 31, to honor Cpl. Jacob A. Tate, Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Giese, and Lance Cpl. Maung P. Htaik, all riflemen with 2/9 who were killed in action in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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Opium Wars

A key step to securing peace will be to wean Afghan farmers off growing poppies.

By Robert Draper
Photograph by David Guttenfelder

The chief of police has a memorable way of demonstrating that he's not afraid of the drug smugglers. He holds up his right hand, revealing the absence of his middle finger. Four years ago, Brig. Gen. Aqa Noor Kintuz was hired as provincial chief of police in the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan and charged with destroying its plentiful poppy fields. "After I finished one of the first eradications," he says, "my vehicle was blown up by a remote-control bomb." He rolls up his right shirtsleeve. His forearm is badly mangled. In the years since, he has received innumerable death threats. Women and children of poppy farmers have hurled stones at his policemen. One of his eradication tractors was torched.

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January 30, 2011

2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment leaves Northern Marjah a safer place

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 01.30.2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Nearly one year ago, Marjah was the scene of some of the deadliest fighting since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. Now, after the persistence of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, the area is lauded as proof that counterinsurgency operations can work.

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Marines, sailors provide emergency medical aid to hiker on Guatemalan volcano

1/30/2011 By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jeffery Tilghman Williams, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) Public Affairs , Southern Partnership Station - 2011

SAN JUAN, Guatemala (NNS) —
Sailors and Marines supporting Southern Partnership Station (2011) in South America provided emergency medical assistance to a hiker on Pacaya Volcano, near San Juan, Jan. 30.

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January 29, 2011

Marines help Afghans build brighter future

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 01.29.2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – In their fight against the Taliban, the Afghan government, alongside 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, have made an effort to win the people’s support by providing employment and skills-based education while improving the quality of life in Musa Qal’ah.

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BLT 3/8 enters Helmand province

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 01.29.2011

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, have established a presence in Helmand province, during the past two weeks. BLT 3/8 deployed to Afghanistan to exploit RCT 2's gains in establishing security in Helmand province in support of the International Security Assistance Force.

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January 28, 2011

American interpreter takes a stand in Afghanistan

By Nancy Montgomery
Stars and Stripes
Published: January 28, 2011

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Maybe the last person you’d expect to see arguing with an Afghan soldier in a goat-filled bazaar is the former manager of a Los Angeles-area Victoria’s Secret.

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FET enacts shura with Afghan women

1/28/2011 By Cpl. Katherine Keleher , II MEF (FWD)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Colorful carpets laid over the dusty wooden floor in a cramped, small room lit by sunlight through small window. Despite the lack of electricity, heat and uncomfortable living situation -- 14 women sat and huddled together, having just met for the first time.

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2nd MAW (Fwd) activates for Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) | Date: 01.28.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) activated in a ceremony aboard Cherry Point, Nov. 23.

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Marine recounts time with female engagement team

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison
January 28, 2011

To quote the Rolling Stones, "Cool, calm and collected," that's the impression Lance Cpl. Sorina Langer, base operations flight clearance clerk, gives off when talking to her. Who would guess, listening to her soft voice and watching her movements, that she was a previous member of a Female Engagement Team?

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January 27, 2011

Albany Marine Band brings home honors

1/27/2011 By Pamela Jackson , Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. — Albany’s best kept secret is out of the bag! While they may be small in numbers, when the 48 members of the Albany Marine Band get together, their sounds can be heard all over Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany when they practice for their next performance. Marine Corps Logistics Command’s Albany Marine Band was recently named the FY2010 Marine Corps Band of the Year and honored during the annual Marine Corps Leadership Symposium Dec. 14, 2010, in Chicago, Ill.

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II MHG deploys in full, first time

1/27/2011 By Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wulz , II MEF (FWD)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — For the first time since 2001 all of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force command element and its subordinate units will be deployed at the same time.

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January 26, 2011

2nd MAW commanding general hosts heroes dinner

1/26/2011 By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Jan. 18, 2011) — Heroism is often the result of instinct, instilled in Marines from their creation by the intellectual branding of the heroic stories from the likes of Chesty Puller, Dan Daly and Jason Dunham. All of whom are etched in Marine Corps lore because of their unrivaled acts of courage and initiative.

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January 25, 2011

Family, friends honor fallen Marine

Updated: Tuesday, 25 Jan 2011, 8:39 AM CST
Published : Monday, 24 Jan 2011, 9:44 PM CST
* Paige Malone

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - Since Cpl. Joe Whitehead's body arrived in Mobile on Monday, members of the U.S. Marines have not left his side.

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January 24, 2011

Marine receives big welcome home in Haverford

(With Video)

Published: Monday, January 24, 2011
By LOIS PUGLIONESI
Times Correspondent

AVERFORD — The community pulled out all the stops to welcome home U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Roy C. Basis as he returns from a four-year tour of duty that included service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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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" »

January 21, 2011

Battle-hardened Marine Teaches Others

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Jan. 21, 2011 – Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William Abernathy, the company first sergeant for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group’s Military Police Support Company, has no trouble getting the attention of his Marines.

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Marine welcomes daughter into the world from halfway around it

Story by Staff Sgt. Danielle Bacon | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 01.21.2011

USS KEARSARGE - “Push baby. Push. You are doing great sweetie. You’re almost done. Push. Push - just a couple more. You are doing great, Jana, almost there. There you go. Good job baby. You did great … yeah; she does have a good set of lungs.”

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Afghan Uniformed Police Headquarters opens in Musa Qal’eh

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.20.2011
Date Posted: 01.21.2011 00:11

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – A new Afghan Uniformed Police headquarters building officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony here, Jan. 19.

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January 20, 2011

Stream of life: livelihood to flow into Now Zad waterways

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.20.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFFARETTA, Afghanistan – Staring into a gaping hole in the earth, Marines walked along its edge, making notes of the project’s progress. Muddy Afghan workers deep in the holes laugh and wave for the Marines to join them. “No Thanks,” the Marines call back and slowly press on. This isn’t the only site they’ll need to visit today

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January 19, 2011

Battle hardened Marine uses experience, wisdom to teach others

1/19/2011 By Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard , II MEF (FWD)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — "Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is."

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January 18, 2011

Santa, Clark American Legion Visit Recovering Marine Sgt. Michael Brattole

Before he headed back to base, Santa and the American Legion paid Michael Brattole a visit.

By Lauren Mazzarella and Jessica Remo
01.18.11

Marine Sergeant Michael Brattole was on the nice list this year.

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Marines say insurgency weakening in northern Marjah

1/18/2011 By Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston , Regimental Combat Team 1

MARJAH, Afghanistan — It was early morning and the moon still lit the sky. A frigid winter breeze lashed the Marines as they trudged across frost-covered farmland, quietly making their way to the landing zone. In the cover of darkness, they crouched in an empty canal and awaited their flight.

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January 17, 2011

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit begins arriving in Helmand

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 01.17.2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – An aviation detachment of Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit began arriving at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province this week in support of ongoing operations in Afghanistan.

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January 16, 2011

Welcome to Now Zad: New roads to bring better life to Afghan people

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.16.2011

FORWARD OPERATING BASE CAFFARETTA, Afghanistan - Marines on patrol use little more than rocks and dirt to draw the plans for an upcoming project. For as far as the eye can see; rough roads stretch across the desert valley. Soon roads here will be paved and goods will pour into the villages of Now Zad.

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January 15, 2011

Indiana family copes with sudden death of Marine

Jan 15, 2011 3:00am

COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) — Since February, Hadley North Mac McQueary has grown to look more like his father and learned how to walk and talk, his family said.

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‘Rest easy, my hero': Marine’s life remembered at funeral

By Heather Darenberg, Staff Writer
Posted: 7:53 PM Jan 15, 2011

LAWRENCEVILLE — Ryan Giese took his first step home in the baptismal of First Christian Church of Atlanta, where his grandfather served as pastor for many years.

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January 14, 2011

Marjah continues to benefit from education advances

Story by Cpl. Brian Gabriel Jr. | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.14.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The education system in Marjah, Afghanistan, has seen substantial improvements since the previous school year, including a 100-percent increase in open schools and a 450-percent increase in enrolled students.

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Marine officer from Hartsville awarded Legion of Merit for service in Afghanistan

By CONTRIBUTED/SENIOR AIRMAN ANNA-MARIE WYANT
Published: January 14, 2011

Approximately 40 service members and civilians gathered at the Special Operations Forces Memorial on Dec. 3, 2010 to watch Lt. Col. David L. Odom of the U.S. Marine Corps receive the Legion of Merit medal during a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base.

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22nd MEU Marine to receive Bronze Star

Courtesy Story | 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 01.14.2011

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – A Marine from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is scheduled to receive high honors during a ceremony Friday, Jan. 14, for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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January 13, 2011

Chaplain donates 2/8 handmade memorial to Museum of the Marine

Posted: Thursday, January 13, 2011 12:00 am
Lance Cpl. Victor A. Barrera Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

"All of them." What had first started off as a single radio message to higher headquarters became the focus point for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment’s Chaplain as he tried to the best of his ability to recreate what Company E had been through on their last deployment.

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Camp Hanson Marines cozy up to improved living conditions

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 01.13.2011

CAMP HANSON - When Marines broke ground here in northern Marjah, the camp was little more than a barren desert. Aside from tiny farming compounds scattered throughout the area, the Marines were isolated. They lived out of their rucksacks and slept under the stars.

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January 12, 2011

Winder Marine is killed in Afghanistan

By Merritt Melancon - [email protected]
Published Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Despite his family's misgivings about him serving in a war zone, 24-year-old Ryan Giese of Winder always knew he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.

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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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Back from Battle: Marine from Alameda

Contra Costa Times
Posted: 01/10/2011 12:48:22 PM PST
Updated: 01/11/2011 09:08:05 AM PST

Over nearly a decade of American-led combat between the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, thousands of military personnel from the Bay Area have deployed, often several times, into combat zones. Most have returned home to friends, family and civilian lives forever changed.

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Fallen Marine Memorialized At Lake Worth High School

Name Of 19-Year-Old Killed In Afghanistan Etched In Graduate Memorial Wall

POSTED: 1:55 pm EST January 11, 2011

LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- A somber tribute was held Tuesday morning at Lake Worth High School for a U.S. Marine and former student who was killed in Afghanistan.

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Now Zad school enrollment doubles, more renovations planned

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 01.11.2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – When the Marines of the civil affairs team in support of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, arrived to Now Zad district, Helmand province, an estimated 200 students were in attendance at the schools in the local area. Now nearly 500 children attend classes here daily.

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January 10, 2011

Local Marine will hunt explosives with specially trained K-9 partner

Published: Monday, January 10, 2011 at 7:45 a.m.

WINTER HAVEN - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Yanchura, with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalian at Camp Lejuene, N.C., recently completed the Improvised Explosive Device Detection Dog Handler Course.

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January 9, 2011

Lejeune targets dangerous drivers

Strict penalties include revocation of driving privileges

By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 9, 2011 9:27:02 EST

Camp Lejeune, N.C., is in the midst of a dangerous-driver crack down aimed at those who text, speed, talk on their phones or don’t wear seatbelts on base.

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January 8, 2011

Fallen Marine loved his country

By ANDREW SCHOTZ
[email protected]
9:35 p.m. EST, January 8, 2011

FREDERICK, Md. —
Lance Cpl. Maung P. "Samuel" Htaik's parents weren't sure why their son wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps. They tried to dissuade him, but he enlisted and was sent to Afghanistan several months ago to fight.

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January 7, 2011

Eight years later, 26th MEU returns to Afghanistan to hold the line

January 07, 2011 10:00 PM
HOPE HODGE

Following humanitarian aid missions in flooded Pakistan and training operations in Africa, elements of Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will set a course for combat zones in Afghanistan later this month.

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New life, fresh sadness at end of deployment

January 07, 2011 8:02 AM
HOPE HODGE

In single file, the troops of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment marched in, still in desert camouflage utilities with gear slung on their backs. Wives and mothers and fathers and children shouted names of loved ones or strained to see their faces in the sea of uniforms.

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Cherry Point, 2nd MAW soar forward in 2010

Story by The Windsock Cherry Point | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.06.2011
Date Posted:01.07.2011 09:50

CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines, sailors and civilians who live and work on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point experienced another eventful year in 2010. The challenges faced by the air station and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing were met head-on as the wing deployed elements to Operation Enduring Freedom while also activating 2nd MAW (Forward) for deployment to Afghanistan in early 2011.

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2nd MAW band looks back on 2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.06.2011
Date Posted: 01.07.2011 09:59

CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band had several golden moments during 2010, including playing for the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, Canada, performing at the opening of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky., the 2010 Cherry Point Air Show, the Cherry Point Christmas Concert, and a top Marine Corps performance award.

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Afghan police learn advance tactics

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 01.07.2011

KABUL, Afghanistan – Fifteen Afghan Uniformed Police recently participated in a 10-day advanced training course taught by the Police Advisory Team with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, in Musa Qal’ah, Helmand province.

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January 6, 2011

26th MEU to support Operation Enduring Freedom

Courtesy Story | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 01.06.2011

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea - Following a request by the commander of United States Forces Afghanistan, in coordination with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. James N. Mattis, has ordered elements from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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MACG-28’s year in review

Story by Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.06.2011

The beginning of 2011 starts another busy year in the books for Marine Air Control Group 28. Yet looking back, 2010 was a busy year for MACG-28, from training to sending units on deployments, to the changing of leadership throughout the group.

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Marine Unit Deploys About 1,400 Troops to Afghanistan

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2011 – About 1,400 service members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will deploy to southwestern Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command officials announced today.

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VMR-1 saves 47 lives in 2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 01.06.2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marine Transport Squadron 1 had a dynamic year supporting the service members of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and citizens in the local area. In 2010 alone VMR-1 conducted 65 missions, 140 flight hours and saved 47 lives.

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January 5, 2011

Marine with local ties killed in Afghanistan

Written by Julia M. Dendinger/News-Bulletin
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 06:00

A Marine with Belen ties was killed Dec. 27 while leading a patrol in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

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Family says goodbye to fallen Marine, a Tech graduate

By Larry Bivins • Times Washington correspondent • January 5, 2011

WASHINGTON — Through the words of U.S. Navy Lt. Jonathan Bush, the nation said a final thank you Tuesday to Marine Cpl. Sean Osterman, who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Marines, Locals Prompt Partnership in Nimruz

Video by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.05.2011

Package about how Marines and Sailors of Regimental Combat Team 2 visited the village of Dhemazong, in Nimruz province, Afghanistan,.

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Marine’s lifelong passion supports deployed operations

Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 01.05.2011

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – An energetic and upbeat Marine from the countryside of Dutton, Va., spends his time here doing a job he has always loved to do.

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Navy, Army, Marines Conduct Joint Logistical Link Up

1/5/2011 By PO3 Kristin L. Grover , 26th MEU

USS CARTER HALL, At Sea —
USS Carter Hall conducted a stern gate transfer with the assistance of U.S. Army vessels to facilitate the movement of elements of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit going ashore to conduct scheduled sustainment training in Kuwait, Dec. 23.

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Christmas Wish Complete: Marine Finally Receives New Teeth

1/5/2011 By PO1 Phil Beaufort , 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea —
All Lance Cpl. Bryan Greene wanted for Christmas were his three front teeth. After un-dergoing multiple root canal procedures and appointment after appointment at Camp Lejeune to prepare his mouth for prosthetic teeth during the busy pre-deployment work-up schedule, Greene appeared to see September as the month he would finally be done with his dental adventures. Then came the order to deploy ear¬ly. Getting his dental work completed before leaving seemed like an afterthought for Greene.

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January 4, 2011

Smithsburg graduate remembered as quiet and nice

By DON AINES
[email protected]
7:57 p.m. EST, January 4, 2011

Maung P. Htaik came to the United States in 2002, and he died fighting for the country in Afghanistan on the first day of 2011.


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Nellis Airmen, joint partners prep Marines for Afghanistan

Posted 1/4/2011
by Casey E. Bain
United States Joint Forces Command Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team

1/4/2011 - CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AFNS) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command joint fires experts joined Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and other joint enablers during a mission rehearsal exercise here to prepare Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team-8 for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

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New Year to include Cherry Point deployments, construction

January 04, 2011 5:13 PM
By Drew C. Wilson
Havelock News

Cherry Point Marines, who have been active in the War on Terror, will once again be on the frontlines in 2011 when the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) deploys to Afghanistan later this year.

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Anthony Henderson Triggered A Marine Triumph In Afghanistan

By VICTOR REKLAITIS, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Posted 01/04/2011 05:24 PM ET

One key for leaders is to find a balance between getting out front and sitting back to see the big picture, says Lt. Col. Anthony Henderson.

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Hero Boxes

Courtesy Photo | 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs | Date: 01.02.2011
Date Posted: 01.04.2011 04:53

Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors with USS Kearsarge open Hero Boxes in the main mess deck aboard USS Kearsarge, Jan. 2. The 26th MEU is deployed aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility and acting as the theater reserve force.

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January 3, 2011

Faces and Places - Afghanistan

Monday, January 03, 2011

The pictures speak for themselves......

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3 brothers in combat home for the holidays

BY JERRY DAVICH Post-Tribune Jan 3, 2011 02:33AM

Matt Sabo and his three brothers were all raised in Lake Station.

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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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Local Afghans, Marines celebrate New Years Day together in Bareckzai

Photo by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 01.01.2011

Photos of Marines and sailors with the Civil Affairs and Female Engagement Teams, assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.

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December 30, 2010

Cherry Point wins best Blue Angel Air Show of the Year award

12/30/2010 By Cpl. Daniel A. Negrete, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT N.C. — The 2010 Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Air Show was the first military installation to receive the Blue Angel Air Show of the Year award for 2010 at the International Council of Air Shows annual convention Dec. 7 in Las Vegas.

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Rolls-Royce increases knowledge, enhances safety, one Marine at a time

12/30/2010 By Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT N.C. — They go by the motto “Increasing knowledge, enhancing safety, one Marine at a time”

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December 29, 2010

2/6 reflects as they give final farewell to fallen brother

Story by 1st Lt. Alex Lim | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.28.2010
Date Posted: 12.29.2010 12:27

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan -- When it was all said and done, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment had a significant role in the progress made in Marjah the past seven months. From school and shop openings, to a concrete relationship with the local nationals; from a defining partnership with the local security forces to the neighborhood watch program, 2/6 was the backbone in making all this possible.

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Progress 'slow but steady' in Afghan flashpoint

By Claire Truscott (AFP) – 12.29.10

PATROL BASE GONZO, Afghanistan — US Marines fire mortars over the walls of their newest base in southern Afghanistan to defend ground freshly captured from the Taliban -- a sign of progress, they say, after years of stalemate.

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December 28, 2010

Fallen Mid-South marine's mother says her son lived out calling

Posted: Dec 28, 2010 10:48 PM EST
By Lori Brown

ARLINGTON, TN (WMC-TV) - The mother of a fallen Mid-South marine says her son felt called to become a marine.

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Coalition engineers build bridge for Afghans in Marjah

Courtesy Story | ISAF Joint Command | Date: 12.28.2010

KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition engineers fabricated a bridge at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Dec. 21, which will later be installed in Marjah and serve as a permanent replacement for a medium-girder bridge.

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December 27, 2010

RCT-2 celebrates Christmas Eve with candlelight service

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 12.27.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Cmdr. Bill Appleton, Regimental Chaplain of Regimental Combat Team 2, hosted a Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Forward Operating Base Delaram II dining facility, Dec. 24, 2010.

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Marine Corps top leaders visit Marines in Marjah Christmas Eve

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.24.2010
Date Posted:12.27.2010 03:50

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan— Gen. James Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps and Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, visited Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, at Camp Hanson in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Dec. 24.

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Two 26th MEU innovators recognized

12/27/2010 By Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper, 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea — When a Marine receives an award, his fellow unit members share the pride of having one of their own recognized for his accomplishments. Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have twice as many reasons to share that pride, with two unit members selected to receive the prestigious Copernicus Award this year.

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December 25, 2010

Top US general visits troops in Afghanistan

By ELENA BECATOROS
Associated Press
Dec 25, 7:57 AM EST

MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) -- The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan crisscrossed the country on Saturday, visiting coalition troops on Christmas at some of the main battle fronts in a show of appreciation and support in the tenth year of the war against the Taliban.

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December 24, 2010

Signs of Progress in Afghanistan

Marine Corps commandant visits troops, thanks them for service

December 24, 2010

News video General Amos, Marine Corps Commandant, visiting Marines in Afghanistan.

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In Clinton Marine's final moments, he asked medics to save his dog

Former Red Devils football player killed in Afghanistan

By Ron Barnett • Staff writer • Published: December 24. 2010 2:00AM

Billy Crouse lived life on the edge, and that’s how he died, in the service of his country.

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December 23, 2010

Marine Assigned To Dangerous Duty Killed In Afghanistan

By Maureen Mespell
By Jeff Neumeyer
December 23, 2010

FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- Making the ultimate sacrifice for country and for your fellow servicemen. 22-year old Lance Corporal Billy Crouse, a Marine who attended Northrop High School for part of his teen years, died Tuesday in Afghanistan, along with his bomb-sniffing dog, doing a job that is considered one of the war effort's most dangerous.

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December 21, 2010

Carolers sound off

12/21/2010 By Lance Cpl. Casey F. Meehan , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — ‘Twas nine nights before Christmas when all through the base, Marines were busy working, keeping it safe. The families paced restlessly because they all cared, About the Marines who couldn’t be there; “But worry not,” said the band to the families in plight. “Your Marines will return after they finish their fight. “In the meantime, let’s honor their brave sacrifice, By singing Christmas carols all through the night.”

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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.

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Marines celebrate Christmas with their second family

Story by Cpl. Megan Sindelar | Regional Command Southwest | Date: 12.21.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – In a combat zone it is hard for Marines to spend Christmas away from their families, but this year Marines at Camp Leatherneck are celebrating Christmas with their second family: each other

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December 20, 2010

Princeton Marine dies of Afghanistan injuries

Cpl. Sean Osterman, on his second tour of duty, had planned to attend college.

By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
December 20, 2010 - 9:09 PM

After graduating from high school in 2007, Sean Osterman knew he was headed to the military, but took his time researching which branch might be best for him.

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December 18, 2010

Derry Marine had 'Heart of a Lion'

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent
December 18, 2010

DERRY -- To the hundreds of mourners lining Crystal Avenue yesterday morning, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Geary’s death was much more than a sad story. He was one of them.
Geary, 20, was killed in combat Dec. 8 while serving with Fox Company 2/9 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

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December 17, 2010

‘Workhorse of the Wing’ repairs national park roadways

12/17/2010 By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT N.C. — Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 Marines partnered with members of the Croatan District Office Dec. 6-10 to help repair the damaged roads, which are used by forest rangers, outdoor enthusiasts and the general public alike.

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Com. Company – you’re connected

12/17/2010 By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Marines with the communications section attached to 2nd Marine logistics Group (Forward) kept troops connected during a Command Post Exercise aboard Camp Lejeune N.C., Dec.16.

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Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks to Marines and Sailors in Afghanistan

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Dec. 17, 2010) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus speaks to Marines and Sailors assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines.

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Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus speaks to Marines and Sailors

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Dec. 17, 2010) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus speaks to Marines and Sailors assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment.

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Marines patrol the streets of Marjah, Afghanistan.

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Dec. 17, 2010) Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, patrol the streets of Marjah, Afghanistan. (US Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin O'Brien)

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December 16, 2010

Mullen Gets Unvarnished Look at Afghanistan Mission

Story by Jim Garamone | Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs | Date: 12.16.2010

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen got the clear and unvarnished truth about conditions in some of the toughest areas in Afghanistan when he stopped at forward operating bases in Helmand and Kandahar provinces Dec. 16.

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Pinkerton gathers to pay its final respects

By CAROL ROBIDOUX
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
12.16.10

DERRY – Pinkerton Academy's school community mounted a touching farewell Wednesday for one of its own -- Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Geary, a 2009 graduate of the school who died in combat last week in Afghanistan.

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A quarter-million Americans respond to Marine’s call to keep children warm in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date 12.08.2010
Date Posted: 12.16.2010 00:36

MARJAH, Afghanistan— It all started with a click of a button. One strike of the keyboard and the email was sent. Like a wild fire, the message quickly spread.

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Coalition engineers improve road in Sangin

Courtesy Story | Navy Visual News Service | Date: 12.16.2010

KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition engineers recently conducted route improvement operations in the Sangin district, Helmand proivnce.

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Letters from children warm hearts aboard Kearsarge

12/16/2010 By Petty Officer 3rd Class Cristina Gabaldon , 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea —
Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge had a special holiday treat when they were granted the opportunity to receive and respond to letters from children back in the United States.

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December 15, 2010

True hero: Lake Worth Marine steps on land mine, protects unit

December 15, 2010 11:50 PM
By JUAN CARLOS FANJUL / CBS12.com

Lake Worth, Fla.-- The family of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Jose Hernandez was understandably grief stricken Wednesday night.

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Marine remembered for his determination

N.H. resident slain in combat in Afghanistan

By Thomas Byrne
Globe Correspondent / December 15, 2010

MALDEN — Lance Corporal Michael E. Geary was a determined, level-headed teenager who decided at an early age he wanted to be a US Marine, his family says.

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Marines Return to Amphibious Roots

By Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Patrick
2nd Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Dec. 15, 2010 – After nearly a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps has been inappropriately branded as a second land army.

Continue reading "Marines Return to Amphibious Roots" »

MCX to grow in size, become one-stop shopping destination

Posted: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 2:43 pm
Lance Cpl. Victor A. Barrera, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

The Marine Corps Exchange aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is currently going through construction that will provide service members and their families a one-stop shopping destination.

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December 12, 2010

ANA platoons learn new tactics in Musa Qal’eh

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 12.12.2010

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers with 3rd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps undertook a platoon tactics course, taught by the Marine Advisor Team with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, at the Afghan National Army compound in Musa Qal’eh, Dec. 8.

Continue reading "ANA platoons learn new tactics in Musa Qal’eh" »

December 11, 2010

Obama honors Pendleton corpsman

President presents Keegan Purcell with Purple Heart in Afghanistan

Posted: Saturday, December 11, 2010 12:15 am | Updated: 9:27 am, Sat Dec 11, 2010.
By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian

One moment Pendleton native Keegan Purcell was lying on an Afghanistan battlefield fighting for his life.

Continue reading "Obama honors Pendleton corpsman" »

December 9, 2010

4 bases selected to host Marine F-35Bs

By Susanne M. Schafer - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Dec 9, 2010 20:33:35 EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The military plans to put 400 of the Marine Corps’ new vertical take-off F-35B fighter jets at four installations in North Carolina, South Carolina, California and Arizona.

Continue reading "4 bases selected to host Marine F-35Bs" »

NH Marine killed in Afghanistan, lauded as hero

By Norma Love
Associated Press / December 9, 2010

CONCORD, N.H.—Michael Geary was so proud to be a Marine he wore his dress uniform to show his Pinkerton Academy English teacher after he completed training.

Continue reading "NH Marine killed in Afghanistan, lauded as hero" »

Thousands gather to pay tribute to fallen Marine

By KAREN STEIN, Staff Writer Ledger Independent | Posted: Thursday, December 9, 2010 9:25 pm

PEEBLES, Ohio -- Close to a thousand mourners lined the streets of Peebles Thursday afternoon to watch a police motorcade escort the body of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Lucas C. Scott home.

Continue reading "Thousands gather to pay tribute to fallen Marine" »

Navy, Marine Corps Prepare for Amphibious Training

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2010 – For the past 10 years, the word “Marine” in the Marine Corps has seemed a misnomer: combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the majority of Marines land locked, with little or no experience in amphibious operations.

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2nd MLG Marines receive Purple Heart medal

12/9/2010 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Three Marines with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group received Purple Heart medals during a ceremony aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 2.

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All-female U.S. Marine team in Afghanistan

12.09.10

Here is a selection from the photo essay by Getty Images photojournalist Paula Bronstein that Getty moved this morning. Photographed last month, the images depict the women deployed as the second Female Engagement team in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "All-female U.S. Marine team in Afghanistan" »

December 8, 2010

1/8 Marines, ANSF foster relationships with local Afghans

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 12.08.2010

MUSA QAL’EH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The Afghan people are the most important factor in the fight against the Taliban. A fact well known by the Marines of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, who are battling the Taliban and protecting the people of Karimanda.

Continue reading "1/8 Marines, ANSF foster relationships with local Afghans" »

2nd MLG sergeant says goodbye to unit after years of service

12/8/2010 By Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Sergeant Deryl B. Stockton is ready for a non-deployable billet.

Continue reading "2nd MLG sergeant says goodbye to unit after years of service" »

December 7, 2010

Marines work on forest roads

December 07, 2010 3:54 PM
By Drew C. Wilson
Havelock News

Any hunter knows how easy it is to get stuck on a muddy road deep in the Croatan National Forest after a hard rainfall.

Continue reading "Marines work on forest roads" »

US general: Battle in Marjah is over

By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press
Dec 7, 4:53 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senior Marine general in Afghanistan on Tuesday declared the battle in the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah "essentially over."

Continue reading "US general: Battle in Marjah is over" »

Division Band Caroling in Base Housing

12/7/2010 By powerpoint , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Division Band Caroling in Base Housing MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 2nd Marine Division Band will travel around Berkley Manor and Tarawa Terrace, Dec. 16, to spread holiday cheer to the residents of those neighborhoods. At approximately 6 p.m., the Marines will begin caroling. In addition to singing for the residents, the Marines will be delivering hot chocolate door-to-door. They are expected to finish around 8 p.m.

Continue reading "Division Band Caroling in Base Housing" »

New school gets under way in Marjah

Courtesy Story | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 12.07.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Days after the ribbon cutting of the Balakino School in Southern Marjah, local workers ground out the dirty side of the job in another pocket of the district.

Continue reading "New school gets under way in Marjah" »

December 6, 2010

MP Company upgrades MCMAP training

12/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. Marco G. Mancha , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
The Marine Corps’ most deadly weapon doesn’t come from a factory and isn’t carried on a sling. The deadliest weapon is the Marine himself. Marines with Military Police Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, spent time refreshing and upgrading their Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training recently.

Continue reading "MP Company upgrades MCMAP training" »

Regimental training prepares Marines for the challenges of command

12/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. James D. Frazer , 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9)

Regimental training prepares Marines for the challenges of command —
A lot of different things may go through a Marine’s mind while he is patrolling a town in search of a bomb factory. However, it is critical Marines remain focused on the tasks at hand in order for everyone to return home safe.

Continue reading "Regimental training prepares Marines for the challenges of command" »

Tango battery wins 2010 'Top Gun' competition

12/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew , 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —

When someone says the words “Top Gun,” most people immediately envision Maverick and Goose fighting together in the high skies and flying into the danger zone. This time, however, no one is singing, “You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin.’”

Continue reading "Tango battery wins 2010 'Top Gun' competition" »

Ohio Marine killed in Afghanistan

By KAREN STEIN, Staff Writer Ledger Independent
Posted: Monday, December 6, 2010 9:15 pm

PEEBLES, Ohio -- The body of a 20-year-old Ohio Marine who was killed in Afghanistan is scheduled to be flown home this week.

Continue reading "Ohio Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

Marines, Navy to Conduct Synthetic Amphibious Exercise

By Jian DeLeon
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2010 – For nearly a decade the Marines have been heavily involved in land-locked battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, the Marine Corps’ II Marine Expeditionary Force is teaming up with the U.S. Navy’s Second Fleet for Exercise Bold Alligator 2011, a synthetic training exercise that’ll test the Marines’ famed amphibious capabilities.

Continue reading "Marines, Navy to Conduct Synthetic Amphibious Exercise" »

Marine commandant visits desert troops

10:38 PM PST on Monday, December 6, 2010
By MARK MUCKENFUSS
The Press-Enterprise

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER - Touching down in a cloud of dust, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos emerged from a helicopter in the middle of the Mojave Desert on Monday to spend about an hour with troops in the field training near Twentynine Palms.

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December 5, 2010

'We move it all': Heavy equipment operators transport supplies to troops on frontlines

12/5/2010 By Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik , 1st Marine Logistics Group (FWD)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ROBINSON, Afghanistan — It takes a lot of heavy lifting to transport the tons of food, water, ammunition and other supplies needed to sustain warfighters on the frontlines, which is why heavy equipment operators are so vital to the counterinsurgency mission in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "'We move it all': Heavy equipment operators transport supplies to troops on frontlines" »

Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Roads, 20, Burney; killed while on patrol in Afghanistan

By Kurt Streeter, Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2010

The death of Tyler Roads, a Marine killed in Afghanistan this summer, seemed to touch nearly everyone in Burney, the tiny Northern California town where he grew up.

Continue reading "Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Roads, 20, Burney; killed while on patrol in Afghanistan" »

Female Marines prepare for deployment, mission

December 05, 2010 10:09 AM
HOPE HODGE

A dozen women sit huddled on the floor of a narrow carpeted room.

Continue reading "Female Marines prepare for deployment, mission" »

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.

Continue reading "Infantry automatic rifle is Afghan-bound" »

December 4, 2010

Marines on the hunt for IEDs in Afghanistan

December 04, 2010, 8:22PM

Eagle eyes and upset stomachs help U.S Marines do their job as they look for signs of possible roadside bombs near Marjah, Afghanistan. Video by Cali Bagby/Special to The Oregonian

Continue reading "Marines on the hunt for IEDs in Afghanistan" »

Winning Afghanistan... one cow at a time

4 December 2010 Last updated at 19:43 ET

Ten months ago, foreign forces in south-west Afghanistan launched a major operation to clear Taliban insurgents from the district of Marjah, in Helmand province. As the BBC's Michael Buchanan found on a visit to Marjah, recent months have seen signs of progress for local people.

It was an unusual school opening. Wandering among the smiling student faces were about two dozen heavily armed US marines as well as armed guards provided by the local community.

Continue reading "Winning Afghanistan... one cow at a time" »

December 2, 2010

2nd MAW Band tunes up for holiday concert

Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 12.02.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band is scheduled to hold its free annual Christmas concert at the Cherry Point theater Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

Continue reading "2nd MAW Band tunes up for holiday concert" »

November 30, 2010

2nd MAW unit receives highest DOD maintenance award

11/30/2010 By Cpl. Rashaun X. James , 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — A 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing squadron took home one of the Department of Defense’s highest awards for maintenance performance, Nov. 17. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 40 received the 2010 Phoenix Award, part of the 2010 Secretary of Defense maintenance awards program, at the DOD’s maintenance symposium and exhibition in Tampa, Fla.

Continue reading "2nd MAW unit receives highest DOD maintenance award" »

November 29, 2010

‘Pappy' Boyington possessions donated to VMF-214 squadron

November 29, 2010 7:11 AM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

When retired Air Force officer Greg Boyington Jr. decided to preserve some of his famous father's possessions, he said the choice of what to do with them was an easy one.

Continue reading "‘Pappy' Boyington possessions donated to VMF-214 squadron" »

November 27, 2010

1/8 Marines celebrate, give thanks

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 11.25.2010
Date Posted:11.27.2010 06:15

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, gathered at a festively decorated chow hall to celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional dinner, Nov. 25.

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November 26, 2010

Marine engineers leave 'long term impact' during Afghanistan deployment

Story by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Brofer | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 11.25.2010
Date Posted:11.26.2010 08:17

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Marines of 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) transferred authority to the North Carolina-based 8th Engineer Support Battalion in a ceremony here, Nov. 25, officially marking the completion of their seven-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "Marine engineers leave 'long term impact' during Afghanistan deployment" »

ScanEagle keeps eyes in sky across Afghanistan

Story by Cpl. Derek Carlson | 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs | Date: 11.26.2010

FORWARD OPERATING BASE EDINBURGH, Afghanistan - Edinburgh is a small forward operating base, which lies surrounded by mountains and conflict in the northern region of Helmand province.

Continue reading "ScanEagle keeps eyes in sky across Afghanistan" »

November 24, 2010

Pakistan Flood Relief

Video by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper
Date Taken:11.24.2010
Date Posted:11.24.2010 1:11PM
Category:Package
Video ID:101355
Filename:DOD_100101180
Size:11.2 MB
Length:00:02:10
Location:PK

In response to severe flooding in Pakistan in the autumn of 2010, the United States responded with a massive humanitarian relief effort. As part of that effort, for two months, Marines with 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units saved thousands of lives by using helicopters to deliver world food program supplies to stranded Pakistanis.

Continue reading "Pakistan Flood Relief" »

Charismatic coach helps Marines shoot on target

Story by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 11.24.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - “Every Marine is a rifleman” is a well-known phrase throughout the Marine Corps and is demonstrated nearly every week on Cherry Point’s rifle range.

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November 23, 2010

2nd Med. Bn. shares thanks before future deployments

11/23/2010 By Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — It’s safe to say that the Marine Corps and Navy family aboard Camp Lejeune is much larger than your average American family.

Continue reading "2nd Med. Bn. shares thanks before future deployments" »

81 Millimeter Mortars Platoon battles Taliban through counter insurgency

11.23.10, Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan – Counter-insurgency is the weapon of choice for the Marines of 1st Lt. Robert E. Rain’s platoon, the 81 Millimeter Mortars Platoon, attached to Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 2, who aim to provide security, support and friendship to the Afghan people.

Continue reading "81 Millimeter Mortars Platoon battles Taliban through counter insurgency" »

2nd MAW (Fwd.) activates for Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 11.23.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) activated in a ceremony aboard Cherry Point Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Continue reading "2nd MAW (Fwd.) activates for Afghanistan" »

November 19, 2010

CLB-6 gets back to the basics with first post-deployment exercise

11/19/2010 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — In these times of cell phones, computers and other technological advances, the old way of doing things can become archaic, often foreign to new generations.

Continue reading "CLB-6 gets back to the basics with first post-deployment exercise" »

Marines honor ancestors, ties to Navajo Code Talkers

11/19/2010 By By Sgt. Dean Davis , Regimental Combat Team 2

FOB DELARAM II, Afghanistan — Many triumphs and sacrifices distinguish the military service of the Navajo people. Perhaps most famous, is the story of the Navajo Code Talkers. During WWII these men ciphered thousands of battlefield messages in the Pacific theatre, saving countless lives and helping end the war. Few of these men are still here today to tell their account, but as Lance Cpl. Devin Bidtah, a Navajo Code Talker descendant explains, their legacy still thrives, and their story that inspired so many, will be honored.

Continue reading "Marines honor ancestors, ties to Navajo Code Talkers" »

‘Purple Foxes’ hone their skills

11/19/2010 By Lance Cpl. Lisa M. Tourtelot , Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Flying over the dark blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, the CH-46 Sea Knight seems like a smooth ride; suddenly, the horizon disappears and the crew in the back are sucked into their seats as the aircraft performs a 180-degree turn nearly in place.

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November 18, 2010

Language resources available to Cherry Point Marines

Story by Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | Date: 11.18.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Marines are stationed and deployed in “every clime and place,” so they have to be ready to encounter the civilian populace wherever they go.

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November 17, 2010

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

All-female teams support MEUs

FETs called important to culturally sensitive missions

By James K. Sanborn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 16, 2010 14:19:03 EST

Female Engagement Teams are earning an important spot on Marine Expeditionary Units, especially on deployments to regions where cultural sensitivities can preclude male Marines from interacting with local women. Several MEUs have now deployed with FETs including the 26th MEU which is operating in the 5th Fleet area of operations.

Continue reading "All-female teams support MEUs" »

Marines honor fallen platoon commander

11/16/2010 By Sgt. Jesse Stence , Regimental Combat Team 1

PATROL BASE SHANFIELD, Afghanistan — The dust of Patrol Base Shanfield turned to gold as the sun started a long plunge toward the Marjah countryside. As the Marines came forward to pay their final respects, it peeked over hesco walls and snuck under the camouflage netting that covered the place where they knelt in honor of 1st Lt. James R. Zimmerman.

Continue reading "Marines honor fallen platoon commander" »

Afghan Uniformed Police stand up commando unit

11/16/2010 By LCpl. Joshua Hines , Regimental Combat Team 2

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan — There is a new force emerging in the Afghan Uniformed Police ready to take the fight to the enemy in a brand new way: The Musa Qal’eh Commando Police. This elite unit is trained to deal with high-priority targets and act as a quick-reaction force here in Musa Qal’eh.

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November 15, 2010

Werewolves of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 head to Afghanistan

By PATRICK DONOHUE
[email protected]
843-706-8152
Published Monday, November 15, 2010

For the first time since Marine Corps combat operations in Iraq ended earlier this year, an F-18 Hornet squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is headed to a war zone.

Continue reading "Werewolves of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 head to Afghanistan" »

November 14, 2010

US Marine honors his brother by deploying to Afghanistan

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 11.14.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - It started off like any other day for the Aurora, Ohio, native, Cpl. Amos T. Benjamin, an infantry-man with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment.

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November 12, 2010

26th MEU Marines endure African climate to train in Djibouti

11/12/2010 By Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr , 26th MEU

DJIBOUTI, Africa —
Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on the shores of a Djiboutian beach to scorching temperatures and the site of donkeys, camels and a mountainous landscape to conduct sustainment training at the end of October 2010.

Continue reading "26th MEU Marines endure African climate to train in Djibouti" »

Embedded: 'I did the best I could to show you what is going on there'

By Kelly Koopmans KVAL News
Story Published: Nov 12, 2010 at 10:49 PM PST

EUGENE, Ore. -- When a mission ends and the sun sets, Marines 7,000 miles from the Unites States call Camp Marjah in Marjah, Afghanistan, home.

Continue reading "Embedded: 'I did the best I could to show you what is going on there'" »

November 11, 2010

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" »

Area Marine killed in Afghanistan

By John Andrew Prime • [email protected] • November 11, 2010

A Greenwood man who joined the U.S. Marine Corps a year ago has been killed in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Area Marine killed in Afghanistan" »

On Veterans Day, honoring Marine who lost limbs in Afghanistan, but not spirit

By Michael E. Ruane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 11, 2010; 9:28 AM

The morning that Marine Cpl. Todd A. Nicely received his medal for valor, he and his wife, Crystal, paused in a restroom at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to pull the trousers of his uniform over his artificial legs.

Continue reading "On Veterans Day, honoring Marine who lost limbs in Afghanistan, but not spirit" »

November 10, 2010

Mother of fallen Marine is presented with her son’s Navy Cross

11/10/2010 By Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes , Headquarters Marine Corps

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Donna Ouellette said she lived the most bittersweet moment of her life when she accepted her son’s Navy Cross on his behalf.

Continue reading "Mother of fallen Marine is presented with her son’s Navy Cross" »

26th MEU Marines observe Marine Corps birthday, end of mission

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper
Date: 11.10.2010

PANO AQIL, Pakistan - Marines across the Corps observe, Nov. 10, as their birthday, whether in garrison or deployed to the far reaches of the globe. Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting flood relief operations in Pakistan had the rare opportunity to observe their birthday on the same day they observed a ceremony marking the end of their current mission.

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November 5, 2010

Martin County detachment renamed for slain Marine from Palm City

By Jim Mayfield
Posted November 5, 2010

STUART — On the eve of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 235th birthday, the Martin County Detachment 1045, Marine Corps League celebrated Friday by changing its name in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Wilson, the first serviceman from Martin County to lose his life in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Martin County detachment renamed for slain Marine from Palm City" »

November 4, 2010

Pumped up

Story by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pettway | Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort | Date: 11.04.2010

Fightertown is no different from the human body, which is composed of many operating parts. The heart and soul of the Air Station is the aircraft and maintainers aboard it, while the fuel used by the aircraft and vehicles could be considered the blood

Continue reading "Pumped up" »

Maine Marine recalled as ‘a fine young man’

11/4/10 07:51 pm Updated: 11/4/10 08:02 pm
By Jen Lynds
BDN Staff

HOULTON, Maine — For Mark Jago, the former headmaster of Greater Houlton Christian Academy, memories of 1st Lt. James Zimmerman are both plentiful and powerful. Jago watched the 25-year-old GHCA graduate and U.S. Marine, who was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday, grow up inside the classroom and out on the playground with his five daughters. He helped guide him through some tough academic years and smiled broadly when he turned Zimmerman’s tassel on graduation day in 2003.

Continue reading "Maine Marine recalled as ‘a fine young man’" »

Polar Plunge: Freezin’ for a reason

Story by Lance Cpl. Victor Barrera | Camp LeJeune Base Public Affairs | Date: 11.04.2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune will once again host the annual Polar Plunge at Onslow Beach, January 2011.

Continue reading "Polar Plunge: Freezin’ for a reason" »

New generation of troops inherit Afghan war

By TODD PITMAN - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Nov 4, 2010 15:21:53 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Jacob Adams was in 5th grade math class when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. His parents took him out of school early that day.

Continue reading "New generation of troops inherit Afghan war" »

November 3, 2010

CLB-22 increases unit capabilities through Fort Bragg-based training

11/3/2010 By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Nearly three hundred Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, participated in a pre-deployment field training exercise at Fort Bragg, N.C. from Oct. 20-27.

Continue reading "CLB-22 increases unit capabilities through Fort Bragg-based training" »

Small town girl, big time heart

11/3/2010 By Cpl. M. Foster , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Amidst the tall, broad and burly Marines, whose biceps won’t fit in the largest of sleeves, is a distinctly smaller Marine, with a distinctly bigger muscle: her heart.

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November 1, 2010

US Marines conduct full-fledge clearing operation boosting security in Northern Marjah

Regimental Combat Team 1
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date Posted: 11.01.2010 04:51

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Engines roaring, a massive convoy charged toward Sistani, a region in Marjah notorious for remnant Taliban fighters who harass the local population.

Continue reading "US Marines conduct full-fledge clearing operation boosting security in Northern Marjah" »

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, honor fallen brother

Regimental Combat Team 1 - Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston - 11.01.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Throughout history, Marines have been called upon to fight enemies who oppress people and endanger our country’s freedom. Thousands of Marines have unselfishly stepped into harm’s way and answered that call with their lives. The legacy of past battles, fallen comrades, and sacrifices for country and Corps has permanently imprinted their names into history for generations to come.

Continue reading "2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, honor fallen brother" »

October 30, 2010

Marjah leaders rally locals for peace as US Marines see signs of stability in the region

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 10.30.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - When 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment arrived in Marjah, parts of the region were unstable from months of fighting with Taliban forces. Many locals fled.

Continue reading "Marjah leaders rally locals for peace as US Marines see signs of stability in the region" »

October 29, 2010

Injured Marine returns to the fight

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date: 10.24.2010
Date Posted: 10.29.2010 11:53

DEMAZONG, Afghanistan – Slightly more than a month ago, a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) suffered a grade-three concussion in a blast from an improvised explosive device. Today, he is back on top of his game as a combat engineer who just completed a mission helping build Patrol Base Demazong.

Continue reading "Injured Marine returns to the fight" »

Marines, Afghan soldiers conduct security operations in Demazong

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date: 10.18.2010
Date Posted: 10.29.2010 11:43

DEMAZONG, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers conducted vechicle checkpoint operations, Oct. 18, in an effort to halt the flow of illegal items from entering the country along Route 606, one of the few paved roads in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan soldiers conduct security operations in Demazong" »

Marines, Afghan soldiers conduct security operations in Demazong

1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Kenneth Jasik
Date: 10.18.2010
Date Posted: 10.29.2010 11:43

DEMAZONG, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers conducted vechicle checkpoint operations, Oct. 18, in an effort to halt the flow of illegal items from entering the country along Route 606, one of the few paved roads in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marines, Afghan soldiers conduct security operations in Demazong" »

Audio recording of the memorial service, October 21, 2010, Musa Qala, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Tivadar Domaniczky

1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Musa Qala, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Memorial service in memory of HN Edwin P. Gonzalez, USN (February 6, 1989-October 8, 2010) and LCpl. Raymon L. Johnson, USMC (August 29, 1988-October 13, 2010) at Musa Qala district center, Helmand province, Afghanistan, October 21, 2010.

Continue reading "Audio recording of the memorial service, October 21, 2010, Musa Qala, Helmand province, Afghanistan." »

October 28, 2010

Oct. 23, 1983: Remembering Beirut

10/28/2010 By ROTOVUE Staff , Marine Corps Air Station New River

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER — In the early morning of October 23, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon, the First Battalion, 8th Marines Headquarters building was destroyed by a non-Lebanese, terrorist-driven truck, laden with compressed gas-enhanced explosives.

Continue reading "Oct. 23, 1983: Remembering Beirut" »

Afghan district holds lessons as US makes gains

By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Todd Pitman, Associated Press – Wed Oct 27, 5:14 pm ET

MARJAH, Afghanistan – With bandoliers of bullets wrapped over both shoulders, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Seth Little knelt in a trench, his machine gun pointing toward a clutch of farmers in a field who stared silently back.

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October 27, 2010

ANP distribute alfalfa seed to local villagers in Kajaki.

Story by 1st Lt. Barry Morris | Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs | Date: 10.27.2010

KAJAKI, Afghanistan - Seasonal change brings with it a shift in weather as well as climate. For the Afghans living around the Kajaki Dam, every opportunity to prepare for the winter months ahead is essential for their continued success and survival.

Continue reading "ANP distribute alfalfa seed to local villagers in Kajaki." »

October 26, 2010

Afghanistan: Life on the front line

October 26, 2010
Todd Pitman

INTERACTIVE: To get a sense of what life is like on the front lines in Afghanistan, take a look at Todd's audio slideshow.

Continue reading "Afghanistan: Life on the front line" »

October 25, 2010

RCT-8 Marines gain combat lifesaving skills

10/25/2010 By Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith , 8th Marine Regiment

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. —

“You can’t put blood back into the body,” shouted Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Otero to his class. “STOP the massive bleeding before you move on to the rest!”

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October 24, 2010

8 enemy deaths, 46 shootings: War by the numbers

By TODD PITMAN
The Associated Press
Sunday, October 24, 2010; 12:44 PM

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- In the first two months of a seven-month tour, U.S. Marine Cpl. Chuck Martin has been in 16 firefights.

Continue reading "8 enemy deaths, 46 shootings: War by the numbers" »

MWSS-271 CO visits Continuing Promise Marines, sailors at sea

Story by Cpl. Alicia R. Giron | Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force | Date: 10.24.2010

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA– Lt. Col. Paul D. Baker, commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, visited Marines and sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 aboard USS Iwo Jima, Oct. 22-23, 2010.

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Marines, Afghans come together for way forward in Marjah

Story by Sgt. Dean Davis | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 10.24.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST TURBETT, Afghanistan – Few would argue that in recent months Marjah has become a safer place, and if you ask 1st Lt. Taylor Williams, platoon commander for Weapons Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, he’ll tell you there has been tremendous success. However, these Marines aren’t done yet.

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RCT-8 trains for war

10/24/2010 By Lance Cpl. Clayton L. VonDerAhe, 8th Marine Regiment

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. —
The desert stretches as far as the eye can see. Dust storms come screaming through a small combat outpost without warning, tearing down tents while people are still inside. When someone makes a mistake, it is quickly corrected, because mistakes can be the difference between success and failure, life and death. Though this may not be a combat zone, the Marines with Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division are treating it as such so when a situation occurs, they can rise to it.

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CLR-15 (FWD) Marines augment CLB-3 during Afghanistan deployment

Story by Cpl. Daniel Woodall | 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs | Date: 10.24.2010

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Only a few days after accepting sole logistical responsibility in a large area of operations, and less than one month into their deployment in support of the International Security Assistance Force, the Marines and sailors of Hawaii-based Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) have already conducted several operations throughout Helmand province.

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October 23, 2010

2/8 Marines to honor the fallen at Beirut Memorial

October 23, 2010 1:41 AM
HOPE HODGE

Most of the Marines participating in the Beirut memorial ceremony Thursday weren’t even born in 1983, when a terrorist attack on a Marine barracks in Lebanon killed nearly 300 peacekeeping troops from Camp Lejeune.

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Seabees help Devil Dogs in Marjah

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston | Regimental Combat Team 1 | Date: 10.23.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Their historic track record of building and bulldozing dates back to World War II. Around the world, they erect entire bases out of nothing, in the harshest of conditions. Their unit logo is a bee charging full speed ahead, hauling a variety construction tools. They’re not just busy-bees; they’re “Seabees.”

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October 21, 2010

Life and Basketball: LeBarre the Marine, mother, hooper

10/21/2010 By Lance Cpl. R.J. Driver , Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. — When backed into a corner and all odds are against you, what do you do?

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Honor Corps history Savannah style

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Story by Cpl. Christopher Zahn
Date 10.21.2010

BEAUFORT, S.C. - Every year Marines gather to celebrate the birth of their Corps in many ways. Whether it’s a piece of pound cake from a Meal, Ready to Eat with a match for a candle or the extravagant celebration of a formal Marine Corps Ball, Nov. 10, is always recognized.

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Conquer the CFT

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken
Date 10.21.2010

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - In the combat fitness test, every second counts.

Continue reading "Conquer the CFT" »

October 19, 2010

‘I’m still here:’ Local Marine who lost arm is grateful for family

Tuesday, October 19, 2010 10:40 PM EDT
By LISETTE VELASQUEZ
Staff Writer

NEW BRITAIN — In the warmth of his mother Ana Mendoza’s apartment, 21-year-old Manuel Jimenez is back from war, back to the comfort and normalcy of home, with his nephews and older brother Hector watching football highlights and Saturday morning cartoons.

Continue reading "‘I’m still here:’ Local Marine who lost arm is grateful for family" »

Marjah governor tells citizens 'stand up to Taliban' during shura

Regimental Combat Team 1
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date 10.06.2010
Date Posted: 10.19.2010 02:01

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan - As the local government begins to take the lead role in counterinsurgency efforts, the Marines occasionally find themselves following the Afghan people’s example. So Oct. 6, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment personnel found themselves sitting in a circle, shoeless, alongside Marjah District Gov. Abdul Mutalib Majbor and local village elders. Gathered at Camp Hanson, Afghanistan, this motley crew held a shura to discuss issues related to Marjah’s progress in security, development and governance.

Continue reading " Marjah governor tells citizens 'stand up to Taliban' during shura" »

October 18, 2010

In Afghan town, insurgents vanish after battles

By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Writer,
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 10:58 a.m.

MARJAH, Afghanistan — The Marines have found bloody clothes and spent bullet casings and bombs meant to kill them. They've heard bullets flying overhead and seen muzzle flashes in tree lines.

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‘Ugly Angels’ support ANA, coalition forces during Operation Stargey

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla
Date 10.17.2010
Date Posted: 10.18.2010 23:54
Location:JAHAZI, AF

JAHAZI, Afghanistan – Two CH-53D Sea Stallions from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), landed here early in the morning Oct.17 with approximately 30 Afghan National Army troops and Marines from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, on board for Operation Stargey.

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'Dad, I've been hit'

By Mike LaBella
The Eagle Tribune
Mon Oct 18, 2010, 02:30 AM EDT

HAVERHILL — Ron Powell, a three-time Purple Heart decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, has had many sleepless nights since his three sons followed in his footsteps.

Continue reading "'Dad, I've been hit'" »

Marines, sailors help 1,000 students register for school

ISAF Joint Command
Courtesy Story
Date 10.18.2010

KABUL, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, alongside Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, took part in a joint school supply distribution and school registration at the local school house in Musa Qal’eh, Oct. 11.

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Chesapeake mom's gifts keep memory of Marine son alive

By Hattie Brown Garrow
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 18, 2010

CHESAPEAKE

Signs of Cody are everywhere. American and Marine Corps flags wave in the front yard. Smaller flags line the sidewalk. // Inside, Wendy Childers opens a triangular wooden box at the foot of the fireplace. Tucked inside is the flag that draped her son's coffin.

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October 16, 2010

N.C. Marines get uncommon training opportunity at MCAS Yuma

October 16, 2010 3:51 PM
DESERT WARRIOR STAFF

In a rare training opportunity, a visiting Marine squadron specializing in electronic warfare launched 14 radar-seeking missiles Oct. 7-8 at targets in the Pacific Ocean after launching its planes from the station flight line.

Continue reading "N.C. Marines get uncommon training opportunity at MCAS Yuma" »

October 15, 2010

8th ESB Marines test new threat detection system

10/15/2010 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Troops deployed to combat zones put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis, but due to recent innovations their mission may be a bit safer.

Continue reading " 8th ESB Marines test new threat detection system" »

October 14, 2010

Bulldogs get new boss

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Story by Lance Cpl. Brian Adam Jones
Date 10.13.2010
Date Posted:10.14.2010 13:33

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marine Attack Squadron 223 underwent a change of command as Lt. Col. John K. Adams relinquished command of the squadron to Lt. Col. Thomas D. Gore during a ceremony at the squadron’s hangar Wednesday, Oct. 13.

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Berthings makes barracks seem like life of luxury

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Story by Lance Cpl. Kelvin Clark
Date 10.14.2010

For many of the service members aboard the Air Station, their home on base is the four walls they share with another person-someone they never knew or someone they work with. For single Marines, the barracks are somewhere they can go after a long day of work and just relax before they return the next day.

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Area Marine dies supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

Posted: Oct 14, 2010 10:50 AM PDT

MIDLAND, GA (WTVM) – News Leader 9 has learned a local Marine has died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Continue reading "Area Marine dies supporting Operation Enduring Freedom" »

Marine Raymon Johnson, former Shaw High student, dies in Afghanistan

BY LARRY GIERER - ledger-enquirer.com
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010

Lance Cpl. Raymon Johnson, a 22-year-old Marine from Columbus, has been killed while serving in Afghanistan. He was killed Wednesday. The family got the news the same day.

Continue reading "Marine Raymon Johnson, former Shaw High student, dies in Afghanistan" »

October 13, 2010

2nd Battalion, 6th Marines honors Marines, hardens resolve

Regimental Combat Team 1
Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence
Date 10.13.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - If only Lance Cpl. Scott A. Lynch and Sgt. Matthew D. Matteoni could have heard what their brothers said. Or maybe Lynch, the clever rifleman, and Matteoni, the gregarious machine gunner, were gazing down on their memorial ceremony -- possibly saying a prayer for their brothers in 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

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October 12, 2010

Reno Marine Dies In Afghanistan While On Patrol

Twenty-three-year old Marine Sergeant Frank Zaehringer III, born and raised in Reno, was killed in action early Monday while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Posted: 3:00 PM Oct 12, 2010
Reporter: Scott Howard

RENO - Twenty-three-year old Marine Sergeant Frank Zaehringer III, born and raised in Reno, was killed in action early Monday while on patrol in Afghanistan.

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1/2 Marines reflect on fallen comrades

By Lance Cpl. Clayton L. VonDerAhe, 2nd Marine Division
10/12/2010

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Death is an inevitable part of life. Some reach ripe old ages and blink out of existence while others may be gone well before their time. It is never a joyous occasion when life is plucked prematurely, but either old or young, the actions performed and memories left behind will, in a sense, make them immortal.

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Marine demonstrates how uncommon valor is a common Corps virtue

10/12/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew , 2nd Marine Division

FORT A.P.HILL, Va. — “My name is 1st Sgt. LaFountain and I am absolutely humbled to be in your presence. I know of all the great things that you have done in the past, the legacy of the (Marine rifleman). I know that they are the backbone of the Marine Corps; they inspire me. I am so proud to serve with them,” said 1st Sgt. Philip Joseph LaFountain, company first sergeant, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

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Welcome Home: Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 returns from Afghanistan

10/12/2010
By Lance Cpl. Justin M. Boling,
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

MCAS BEAUFORT, SC — Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 returned to their families early in the morning Oct. 2 after a seven month deployment.

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Gov. Granholm orders flags lowered for Marine

Associated Press • October 12, 2010

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff statewide for a Marine from southwestern Michigan who died while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Gov. Granholm orders flags lowered for Marine" »

October 10, 2010

North Miami Beach sailor dies in Afghanistan

Camp Lejeune (military base)
By Fred Tasker, The Miami Herald
6:22 p.m. EDT, October 10, 2010

U.S. Navy sailor Edwin Gonzalez's friends called him Superman. He liked the idea so much he had a 5-inch "S'' tattooed on his chest.

Continue reading "North Miami Beach sailor dies in Afghanistan" »

October 9, 2010

Marine Cpl. from Ga. Killed in Afghanistan

WSB News
By Jay Black
October 9, 2010 3:19 AM

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
(AP) Military officials say a Marine based at Camp Lejeune has been killed in Afghanistan.

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1/8 PMT, police advisers conduct partnered training with Musa Qal’eh ANP

By Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines, Regimental Combat Team 2
10/9/2010

Musa Qal'eh, Afghanistan, Afghan National Police received tactical training supported by Marines and sailors with the Police Mentor Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, alongside contracted police advisors during a training session aboard an ANP compound in Musa Qal’eh, Oct. 7.

Continue reading "1/8 PMT, police advisers conduct partnered training with Musa Qal’eh ANP" »

October 7, 2010

Professor, Vietnam journalist records war life in Afghanistan

Published: October 7, 2010, 1:46 am ET
By Jimmy Young Collegian Staff

Captivated by the first of many radiant sunrises he would see during his nearly ten-week stay near Kenjak-e Olya, Afghanistan last summer, journalism professor Robert Hodierne said that the evening sunsets were probably just as spectacular.

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Journalist aims to educate others about war as anniversary hits

HOPE HODGE
October 07, 2010 12:01 AM

One journalist is out to defeat American ignorance about the war in Afghanistan. His weapon of choice is Facebook and his project is timely. Today marks the ninth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, following the events of Sept. 11, 2001

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Marines In Marjah Face Full-blown Insurgency

8 Months After Clearing Operation, Marines In Marjah Face Full-blown Insurgency

Oct. 07, 2010

(AP) MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) - The young Marine had a simple question for the farmer with the white beard: Have you seen any Taliban today?

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MWSS-274 returns home

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken
Date 10.07.2010

MARINE CORP AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Family and friends crowded the gymnasium at the Cherry Point Tree House Saturday to welcome back more than 240 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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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

Gas Chamber training preps Marines for worst case scenarios

10/6/2010 By Sgt. Justin J. Shemanski , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Teary eyes, burning skin and hacking coughs can all result after a brush with chlorobenzal malononitrile – an experience Marines know all too well.

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Marines to Afghan youth: 'Go to school, not to firefights'

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Oct 6, 2010 at 12:12 PM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST NAREA, Marjah, Afghanistan - Shots fire off in the near distance as 1st Squad of Weapons Company and the Afghan National Army gather to discuss the day’s patrol.

Continue reading "Marines to Afghan youth: 'Go to school, not to firefights'" »

CLR-2 1st Sgt receives Bronze Star medal

By Cpl. M. Foster, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
10/6/2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — For Combat Logistics Regiment 2 Marines, receiving the Bronze Star medal is a rare accomplishment. One Marine in particular- 1st Sgt. Christopher Combs, the Headquarters Company first sergeant, CLR-2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, distinguished himself during the regiment’s recent deployment to Afghanistan and was awarded the medal on Oct, 4, 2010 aboard Camp Lejeune.

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October 5, 2010

Exercise in creativity: Marines, sailors stay fit aboard ship

10/5/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tammy Hineline , 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea —
At 8 p.m. aboard USS Kearsarge sounds of screaming and stomping carry throughout the spaces. There's no reason to worry, however. It isn't an enemy assault. It is simply an aerobic exercise regime in which exercises projected on a video screen are performed in rapid succession, increasing speed every repetition with nothing but 30 seconds rest between sets. Participants sweat, shout, and “hate life” -- but more and more show up for class each night. It's just one of many opportunities Marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit seize to push themselves in their physical training aboard ship.

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October 4, 2010

Helmand province deputy governor condemns poppy trade

Regimental Combat Team 1
Story by 1st Lt. Alex Lim
Date 10.03.2010
Date Posted: 10.04.2010 11:21

MARJAH, Afghanistan - The deputy governor of Helmand province tackled the region’s problem of narcotics during a shura, including more than 100 local elders, at the district center here, Oct. 3.

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2nd MAW Band filming

Oct 04 2010
Video

2nd MAW Band filming at Fort Macon for a Marine Corps promotional

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Marine killed in Afghanistan returns home

October 04, 2010 8:53 AM
UNION CITY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3)

A West Michigan Marine killed in Afghanistan returns home Monday.

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October 3, 2010

Marines in Afghanistan flex military and municipal might

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Sunday, October 3, 2010

COMBAT OUTPOST NAREA, Marjah, Afghanistan - First Squad of Weapons Company and the Afghan National Army (ANA) based out of Combat Outpost Narea go on patrol to secure the area and check on a few projects.

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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.

Continue reading "76 Marines killed in Afghanistan since May 1" »

October 2, 2010

Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 returns to Cherry Point

Unit was in Afghanistan for seven months

October 02, 2010 3:38 PM

Sgt. Horton Brickman’s youngest daughter Savannah was just two months old when he left for a seven month deployment to Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 returns to Cherry Point" »

Marine pilots work together to obtain mission accomplishment.

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Story by Capt. Paul Duncan
Date 10.01.2010
Date Posted: 10.02.2010 01:19

PANO AQILl, Pakistan - The Marine pilots of HMM-165 Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and VMM-266, 26th MEU combine their unique capabilities to solve complex disaster relief issues in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan.

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For Female Marines, Tea Comes With Bullets

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: October 2, 2010

MARJA, Afghanistan — They expected tea, not firefights.

Continue reading "For Female Marines, Tea Comes With Bullets" »

Marine, Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

POSTED: 4:37 pm EDT October 2, 2010

CORBIN, Ky. -- The Department of Defense said a Marine from southeastern Kentucky has died during combat operations in Afghanistan.

Continue reading "Marine, Soldier Killed in Afghanistan" »

Marjah Officials Note Progress, Weakening Insurgency

Regimental Combat Team 1
Story by 1st Lt. Alex Lim
10/2/10

MARJAH, Afghanistan - As dawn approached, locals cleared the roads to the District Center, not because they were in any kind of danger, but to make way for the two leaders responsible for the reconstruction taking place here.

Continue reading "Marjah Officials Note Progress, Weakening Insurgency" »

Marines solve for X, seek education at sea

10/2/2010 By Lance Cpl. Tammy Hineline , 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea — With Harriers and helicopters to fly, missions to organize, physical training to conduct, and numerous daily tasks aboard a Naval ship, it might seem impossible to pursue personal education in the little free time available. However, Marines and Sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are making the time to achieve their educational goals in the classroom.

Continue reading "Marines solve for X, seek education at sea" »

October 1, 2010

Ky. Marine killed during combat in Afghanistan

The Associated Press
Friday, Oct. 01, 2010

CORBIN, Ky. -- The Department of Defense says a Marine from southeastern Kentucky has died during combat operations in Afghanistan.

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Air Delivery Platoon supports ANGLICO during pre-deployment training

10/1/2010
By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego, 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — When Marines operate in enemy controlled territory, keeping established supply lines open can quickly become impractical.

Continue reading "Air Delivery Platoon supports ANGLICO during pre-deployment training" »

1/8 Corpsmen train ANA soldiers as Combat Life Savers

Date09.28.2010
Date Posted:10.01.2010 04:23
Courtesy Story

MUSA QAL’EH, Afghanistan - The Combat Life Savers course is a training program designed to bridge the gap between basic first aid taught to Marines and the advanced training a corpsman receives. In an effort to help the Afghan National Army become self-reliant, the corpsmen with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, began training ANA soldiers to become Combat Life Savers, Sep. 28, 2010.

Continue reading "1/8 Corpsmen train ANA soldiers as Combat Life Savers" »

Firefight with Taliban 'all in a day’s work'

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Oct 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST NAREA, Marjah, Afghanistan — Squad leader LCpl Gil Frazier patrols on a regular basis, interacting will locals, either helping with wells and employment or questioning them about the Taliban in the area.

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September 30, 2010

Marines to receive Bronze Stars

September 30, 2010 11:15 PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Four Camp Lejeune Marines will receive Bronze Stars with combat "V" device Friday from the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division (Force Generating Element).

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Heroes welcome in the rain for 1/2

September 30, 2010 12:03 AM
HOPE HODGE

A lot can happen in seven months, but Tana Fisher was determined that one thing would wait.

Continue reading "Heroes welcome in the rain for 1/2" »

September 29, 2010

Camp Lejeune Marines return home from Afghanistan

By: Ashley White
Updated 6:39 PM September 29, 2010

CAMP LELJEUNE—After receiving a warm welcome, marines and sailors from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and 2nd Marine Division returned home to Camp Lejeune.

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A figurehead in small unit leadership

9/29/2010
By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew, 2nd Marine Division

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — “All you can do is take life by the wheel and steer toward the enemy,” Lance Cpl. Ryan A. McCauley said confidently as he took a knee. With one deployment under his belt, the 23-year old is gearing up for his second trip to Afghanistan, ready to take on all obstacles in his way.

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Marines returning to Cherry Point

September 29, 2010 12:40 PM

More than 400 Marines are scheduled to be reunited with friends and family this week.

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Saber training prepares 2/8 Marines for deployment

9/29/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jeff Drew , 2nd Marine Division

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. —
The Sun dipped down behind the tree line of Range OP2, here, igniting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and red. As twilight set in, the nocturnal warriors of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment continued to work into the night hours, constantly striving to improve their knowledge of the different weapons systems they employ. With unending endurance, they rode humvee’s to the top of the range to look out over the vast blast area, eager to test their knowledge of the M41A1 Saber System.

September 28, 2010

Afghans want 'a bright future using the pen instead of the weapon'

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Sep 28, 2010 at 8:00 AM PDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan - As important figures from the community cut the red ribbon, men and children lay down bricks tied with bows.

Continue reading "Afghans want 'a bright future using the pen instead of the weapon'" »

Once upon a time, 26th MEU Marines read to their children

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Story by Staff Sgt. Danielle Bacon
Date 09.28.2010

USS PONCE, At Sea -- Deployments are difficult for service members and spouses, but can be especially difficult for their children. Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have an opportunity to alleviate that stress and connect with their families through reading

Continue reading "Once upon a time, 26th MEU Marines read to their children" »

September 27, 2010

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

IEDs show troop surge working, U.S. officers say

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
September 26, 2010

MUSA QALA DISTRICT, Afghanistan — From Marine headquarters here, Maj. Robert "Barney" Barnhart ticks off names of comrades killed by roadside bombs, pausing at the mention of a sergeant Barnhart had persuaded to re-enlist for the fight.

Continue reading "IEDs show troop surge working, U.S. officers say" »

September 25, 2010

Family pride: Brothers-in-law serve together in Marine Corps

By Melanie Tucker
Originally published: September 25. 2010

On Aug. 26 and then again on Sept. 3, an exit was made from Blount County that left two families with aching hearts but also huge pride.

Continue reading "Family pride: Brothers-in-law serve together in Marine Corps" »

September 24, 2010

U.S. Marine from Vt. killed in Afghanistan

Swanton, Vermont - September 24, 2010

Vermont has suffered another loss in the War in Afghanistan. A young Marine from Swanton has been killed in the war zone.

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Waltham Marine comes home with memories from Afghanistan

By Jen Judson
Wicked Local Waltham
Posted Sep 24, 2010 @ 02:09 PM

WALTHAM — While serving in Afghanistan, Marine Lance Corporal Sean Peachey, 25, of Waltham, slept in holes, was often under fire, and lost a few buddies – a couple to gunshots and a couple to improvised explosive devices, he said.

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September 22, 2010

PFC Josh Ose Remembered By Family

Reported by: Joy Lambert
Last Update: 9/22 10:24 pm

HERNANDO, MS - A Hernando Marine, killed in Afghanistan, arrived back in the states Wednesday. Private First Class Josh Ose was killed in Afghanistan on Monday, September 20.

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September 21, 2010

Camp Lejeune Marine Dies In Afghanistan

Posted: 7:33 PM Sep 21, 2010

The Department of Defense says a Camp Lejeune Marine from Mississippi was killed Monday in Afghanistan.

The Marine Corps says 19-year-old Pfc. Joshua S. Ose of Hernando was part of a foot patrol and died after being struck by small arms fire in the southern Helmand Province.

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Machine Gunners Course preps 2nd MLG Marines for combat

9/21/2010 By Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — During any kind of mission in Afghanistan, Marines can find themselves subject to an enemy ambush, where split-second decision making and muscle memory can be the determining factor for one’s survival and mission accomplishment.

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Election Day in Afghanistan: Ballots, bullets and bombs

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Created: Sep 21, 2010 at 11:23 AM PDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — “Look sharp, it’s a big day for you guys,” LtCol Kyle Ellison tells the Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) on the morning of parliamentary elections in Marjah. “No one gets in here without a detailed inspection.”

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September 20, 2010

Local Marine glad to be home with wife, new twins

Published: Monday, September 20, 2010

COLLEGEVILLE — Sgt. Jonathan Minkler of the United States Marines was the guest of honor at his welcome home party following his second overseas deployment Sunday afternoon.

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September 19, 2010

Marjah marketplace reopening marks economic progress

ISAF Joint Command
Courtesy Story
Date 09.19.2010

KABUL - The Marjah marketplace reopening Sept. 11 during a festival known as Mela marked economic development and infrastructure growth not seen for more than five years in this agricultural region of Helmand province.

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Female Marines a new weapon in Afghanistan

By Gretel C. Kovach
Originally published September 19, 2010 at 3 p.m., updated September 18, 2010 at 7:32 p.m.

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Sgt. Vanessa Jones and her teammates filed through the countryside with a squad of U.S. infantrymen and Afghan troops. They pushed through tall grass and leaped over canals, spilling into fields of sunflowers and the emerald spikes of marijuana plants rustling above their helmets. Then they waited, tucked into a ridge of dirt, while fellow Marines checked on a bomb dug into the road.

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Serviceman home from warfront

September 19, 2010 - By R.A. WALKER - [email protected]

Saturday was a good day for the friends and family of Robert Scott Elder III because the 21-year-old U.S. Navy medical corpsman was home from the war and with them.

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September 18, 2010

Afghan Vote Marked by Light Turnout and Violence

By ELISABETH BUMILLER and ROD NORDLAND
Published: September 18, 2010

MARJA, Afghanistan — The first voter here was Muhammad Akbar, 22, who dipped his finger in the indelible purple ink, collected his ballot and had just stepped into the cardboard box that serves as a voting booth when gunfire broke out.

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Marja Turnout Low, but No Injuries in Attack on Marine Base

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
Published: September 18, 2010

MARJA, Afghanistan — Voter turnout for Saturday’s Parliamentary elections was extremely low in Marja, a Helmand Province battleground, as bullets flew over the polling station near the district center, firefights erupted in the fields lining the network of canals and insurgents launched a rocket-propelled grenade into the main United States Marine base here.

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September 17, 2010

A wounded warrior goes back to work

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Sep 17, 2010 at 4:17 PM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST SEMINOLE, Afghanistan - The Marines prepare for today’s mission slated for 1300, the most miserable part of the day.

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Election Eve in Marja

By ELISABETH BUMILLER
September 17, 2010, 5:24 pm

MARJA, Afghanistan—Marines here in this Helmand Province battleground say they expect the Taliban to try to attack polling sites for Saturday’s Parliamentary elections with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades and so have spent much of the week devising security plans.

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September 16, 2010

2nd MLG Combat Camera Marines receive new “TIPS” for combat deployment

By Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
9/16/2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — For the Marines of 2nd Marine Logistics Group Combat Camera, processing photos and videos in garrison is different than in an austere combat environment such as Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

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Kearsarge ARG, 26th MEU Arrive To Begin Pakistan Relief

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Courtesy Story
By Petty Officer 1st Class Darius O. Jackson
Date 09.16.2010

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea - Sailors with Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and embarked Marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, Sept. 16.

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September 15, 2010

Living on ship: 26th MEU Marines balance duty and downtime

9/15/2010 By Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr , 26th MEU

USS KEARSARGE, AT SEA —
“Reveille, reveille, reveille,” a high-pitch, garbled voice loudly announces over the intercom, sending reverberations throughout the compact living area. Six a.m. and Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Taft is awake, though his body rebels at the adjustment as the ship sailed east through another time zone the night before.

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September 13, 2010

Gadgets Give Soldiers in Afghanistan a Slice of Home

By Victor J. Blue
September 13, 2010 | 6:00 am

The heat and the dust and the diesel fumes. The constant drone of the generators, of vehicles, of radio static. The same food everyday, the same meal in the same brown plastic bag. The constant danger and uncertainty. The confusion, wonder and consequences waiting for you outside the wire.

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September 11, 2010

MWSS-274 wraps up deployment, prepares to head home

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs
Story by Cpl. Ryan Rholes
Date 09.11.2010

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – About 600 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), are packing up and preparing to head back to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., after more than seven months serving as ground support for Regional Command (Southwest)’s air combat element.

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September 10, 2010

2 Hoosiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan

Marine from Columbus was serving his third tour of duty

Star report
Posted: September 10, 2010

Two Indiana servicemen died this week in fighting in the Middle East, one of them among the first U.S. service members killed in Iraq since President Barack Obama declared an end to combat operations in the country last week.

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September 9, 2010

SE Indiana Marine Killed In Afghanistan

Man Was On Third Tour Of Duty

POSTED: 11:57 am EDT September 9, 2010

VERSAILLES, Ind. -- A local Marine who was killed in Afghanistan was on his third tour of duty overseas, but the first one in that country.

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September 8, 2010

Coweta lawmen to head to Afghanistan

By Elizabeth Richardson
Published Wednesday, September 08, 2010
The Times-Herald

Coweta County will commemorate the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 by honoring public safety members who have served or now serve in the armed forces.

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NH Marine killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press
Posted: Wednesday, Sep. 08, 2010

CONCORD, N.H. New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter says a Marine from Goffstown has been killed in Afghanistan.

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Good food equals high morale for Marines in Marjah

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date 09.08.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan – According to the United States Census Bureau, this year the average American will consume 73 pounds of poultry, 110 pounds of red meat, 196 pounds of flour and cereal products, 249 pounds of eggs and 606 pounds of dairy products.

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2/6 Marines honored during memorial

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin
Date 09.05.2010
Date Posted:09.08.2010 07:40

PATROL BASE BEIRUT, Afghanistan — Marines of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, paid tribute to the lives and service of two fallen brothers during a joint memorial service at Patrol Base Beirut, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5.

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Hub City Home Run Derby to raise money for Marine Corps unit

Hub City Home Run Derby to raise money for Marine Corps unit
Collection will be taken to benefit the members of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, F Co.

By BOB PARASILITI
September 8, 2010
[email protected]

A home run contest Saturday at Municipal Stadium will do more than entertain those in attendance. It also will serve as a fundraiser to benefit a U.S. Marine Corps unit in Afghanistan, of which a local man is a member.

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Taliban attack Marines in 'Wild West' of Afghanistan

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com
Story Published: Sep 8, 2010 at 5:09 PM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST SEMINOLE, Marjah, Afghanistan — Something explodes through the air, followed by rounds of gunfire.

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September 7, 2010

Marines honor fallen brother, machine gunner

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly
Date09.07.2010

COMBAT OUTPOST KHERSE, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Marines of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, paid tribute to the life and service of a fallen brother during a memorial service at Combat Outpost Kherse, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5.

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September 6, 2010

Marine from Wilmington dies in Afghanistan

Laney graduate was killed while on patrol

By Amy Hotz
[email protected]
Published: Monday, September 6, 2010 at 3:44 p.m.

On Sept. 3, Laney High School graduate and Marine Lance Cpl. Ross Carver, 21, was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan.

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September 5, 2010

School, future built for Marjah children

Regional Command Southwest
Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci
Date09.05.2010

MARJAH DISTRICT, Afghanistan -- Four new schools opened in Marjah District, Afghanistan, just in time for the beginning of the school year, Sept. 5.

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Marines receive bronze stars

September 05, 2010 6:41 PM

Three explosive ordnance disposal Marines from Camp Lejeune were awarded bronze stars with combat distinguishing devices for heroic actions during a recent deployment.

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2nd Bn., 4th Marines honor fallen warrior

9/5/2010 By 1st Lt. Barry Morris , Regimental Combat Team 2

CAMP Delaram II, Afghanistan —
Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, held a memorial service, Sept. 3, to commemorate the life of Cpl. Christopher J. Boyd, who was killed in action, Aug. 19. He was 22 years old.

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September 4, 2010

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.

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September 3, 2010

'Due to the Afghan culture, our male Marines can’t talk to them'

By Cali Bagby for KVAL.com Story Published: Sep 3, 2010 at 11:44 AM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST SEMINOLE, Afghanistan - Cultural sensitivity poses challenges for Marines in Afghanistan - challenges that insurgents try to exploit.

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2nd ANGLICO Marines train with Army for Afghanistan deployment

9/3/2010 By Staff Sgt. Jayson Price, II Marine
Expeditionary Force Public Affairs, II MEF

FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Marines from 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group trained with Army soldiers at the Army’s National Training Center aboard Fort Irwin, Calif., July and Aug. 2010 to prepare for an upcoming Afghanistan deployment.

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Post Office renamed after fallen Marine

Updated: Friday, 03 Sep 2010, 7:50 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 02 Sep 2010, 11:20 PM EDT
* Aaron Mason
* Posted by: Eli George

HORNELL, N.Y. (WIVB) - It is a tremendous honor for the family of a fallen Marine from the southern tier.

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Marine from Penns Manor killed in Afghanistan

By RANDY WELLS
Published: Friday, September 3, 2010 11:15 AM EDT

KENWOOD - Penns Manor High School teachers remembered one of their former students who died Thursday in Afghanistan as a jovial young man with many friends who enjoyed having a good time and lighting up a classroom with his personality.

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September 2, 2010

Griffin Marine killed in Afghanistan

by Matthew W. Quinn
The Griffin Daily News
September 2, 2010

A Marine from Griffin was killed in Afghanistan Wednesday morning.

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Unusual calm: 2/6 Marines remain vigilant, optimistic

By Staff Sgt. Luis Agostini, 1st Marine Division
02 SEP 2010

Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, recently patrolled the Marjah area surrounding Combat Outpost Angry, and returned without receiving one round of enemy fire.

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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.

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LSSS takes care of Marines and sailors to fullest extent of the law

9/2/2010 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Constant movement, hectic work schedules and the steady flow of Marines and sailors coming in for legal advice and services keeps the Legal Services Support Section, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, busier than any other in the Marine Corps.

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September 1, 2010

Boise marine killed in Afghanistan

Story Published: Sep 1, 2010 at 10:50 PM MDT

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Department of Defense confirms a Boise marine has been killed in Afghanistan.

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August 30, 2010

Lejeune Marine heroes remembered in comic panel

August 30, 2010 5:47 AM
HOPE HODGE

Two Camp Lejeune Marines who gave everything for their country in 2008, are remembered two years later in an unusual way: a comic strip.

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August 29, 2010

Lejeune Navy casualty identified

THE DAILY NEWS, JACKSONVILLE, N.C. | August 29, 2010

Aug. 29--The Defense Department has identified a Navy casualty from Camp Lejeune.

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August 28, 2010

3rd MAW (Fwd) Hosts MEU Helos Preparing for Pakistan

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Deanne Hurla
Date08.27.2010
Date Posted:08.28.2010 12:04

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) proved its versatility and flexibility as they stepped up to support the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit on its way to Pakistan – without compromising its already-intense combat operations support.

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August 27, 2010

Mother of fallen Marine shares her grief with public

By Justin George and Emily Nipps, Times Staff Writers
In Print: Friday, August 27, 2010

TAMPA — Liza Natkin wants people to know about the boy in the pictures: her son at the Keys, in his senior portrait, holding a rifle, flexing his muscles in the mirror, playing electric guitar.

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August 26, 2010

Moment of silence, memorial service planned to remember fallen Marine

By Ashok Selvam | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 8/26/2010

A moment of silence is planned Friday to remember fallen Marine C.J. Boyd during Palatine High School's away football game versus Lake Forest High School.

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August 25, 2010

'Let’s go, we’re gonna blow an IED'

By Cali Bagby and Dan Morrison
Story Published: Aug 25, 2010 at 6:00 AM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST TURBETT, Afghanistan - “Let’s go, we’re gonna blow an IED,” said Staff Sargeant Michael Sickles, Fox Company's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician.

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August 24, 2010

Local Marine dies Sunday in Afghanistan

BY BILL O'BRIEN, ALEX PIAZZA, and LINDSAY VANHULLE
Traverse City Record Eagle
August 24, 2010

TRAVERSE CITY — Jason Dean Calo was a bona fide leader who quarterbacked his football team to victory against area rivals.

Continue reading "Local Marine dies Sunday in Afghanistan" »

Military announces Marine death in Afghanistan

Military announces Marine death in Afghanistan

Posted: August 24, 2010
Associated Press

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Military officials say a North Carolina-based Marine has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

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26th MEU deploys to support Pakistan flood relief

8/24/2010 By Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr, 26th MEU

Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will depart from here beginning Thursday afternoon to board the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in Norfolk. The Marines will continue to board personnel and equipment throughout the weekend.

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August 23, 2010

Marines marry at baseball game

by Jeff Mason
KMOV.com
Posted on August 22, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Updated Monday, Aug 23 at 1:13 PM

(KMOV) -- A St. Charles marine almost had his wedding plans ruined when his deployment date was moved up.

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Military announces Marine death in Afghanistan

Posted on Monday, 08.23.10
The Associated Press

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Military officials say a North Carolina-based Marine has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

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August 22, 2010

Why Marines in Afghanistan want the Taliban to open fire

By Dan Morrison for KVAL.com
Story Published: Aug 22, 2010 at 1:00 PM MDT

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - 1st Platoon, off to our west, made contact with the Taliban before we did.

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August 21, 2010

On patrol in Afghanistan: 'It was a good firefight'

By Cali Bagby and Dan Morrison for KVAL.com
Story Published: Aug 21, 2010

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - 2nd Platoon, 4th Squad, Fox Company, 2/6 Marine Infantry pushed out of Combat Outpost Turbett before sunrise.

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Marine from Chesapeake killed in Afghanistan

By Hattie Brown Garrow
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 21, 2010

Lance Cpl. Cody S. Childers, 19, died Friday while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the Department of Defense announced today.

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Marines open renovated mosque for Afghans in Marjah

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date08.20.2010
Date Posted:08.21.2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Marines and sailors with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, gathered with a group of local Afghans to celebrate the grand opening of a newly renovated mosque, Aug 20, in Marjah.

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Lejeune Marine killed in Afghanistan

August 21, 2010
WRAL.com

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — A Camp Lejeune-based Marine died Friday in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.

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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.

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August 20, 2010

Deeper down the foxhole in Afghanistan

By Dan Morrison for KVAL.com
Story Published: Aug 20, 2010

COMBAT OUTPOST TURBET, Helmand Province, Afghanistan - When Cali Bagby and I began this trip, we were originally slotted to embed with a unit near the Pakistan border.

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NC Marines prepare for deployment to Afghanistan

Posted: August 20, 2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — More than 20,000 North Carolina-based Marines and sailors are preparing to take over operations in Afghanistan.

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August 18, 2010

Marines protect Afghans during firefight in Marjah

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs
Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Johnston
Date: 08.16.2010
Date Posted: 08.18.2010 10:58

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Marines and sailors with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, engaged enemy insurgents in a firefight while conducting a census patrol in Marjah, Aug. 16.

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'The enemy, they love to hit the Marines'

By Cali Bagby and Dan Morrison for KVAL.com
Story Published: Aug 18, 2010 at 6:00 AM PDT

COMBAT OUTPOST TURBETT, Marjah district, Afghanistan with 4th Squad, 2nd Platoon, Fox Company -

“Should I kick it down?” one of the Marines asks when they reach the first compound.

Continue reading "'The enemy, they love to hit the Marines'" »

August 17, 2010

Unusual calm keeps Marjah Marines vigilant, optimistic

Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

Story by Staff Sgt. Luis Agostini
Date08.16.2010
Date Posted:08.17.2010 04:33

MARJAH, Afghanistan – The Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, recently patrolled the Marjah area surrounding Combat Outpost Angry, and returned without receiving one round of enemy fire.

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August 13, 2010

Reunited, feels so good

8/13/2010 By Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Children played in the nearby grass as the sun beamed down on the crowd of family and friends waiting eagerly outside the French Creek Recreation Center aboard Camp Lejeune for their Marine or sailor to return.

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LCpl. Kevin M. Cornelius

By BILL WEST -
August 13, 2010
Star Beacon

ASHTABULA — Lance Corporal Kevin Michael Cornelius, age 20, died Saturday, August 7, 2010, in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, while serving in the United States Marine Corps in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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26th MEU to support Pakistan relief efforts

August 13, 2010 9:10 AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will soon depart for Pakistan to support relief efforts, according to Marine Corps officials.

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August 12, 2010

MLG Marines, sailors fight alongside foreign armies

8/12/2010 By Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Everyday in the rough and barren mountainous landscape of eastern Afghanistan, some of the most important and incredible scenes from the U.S.’s longest conflict play out like they could be read from famous war novels and memoirs.

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Vincent E. Gammone III

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:22 am

Pfc Vincent E. Gammone III, 19, of Christiana passed away Saturday, August 7, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afganistan.

Continue reading "Vincent E. Gammone III" »

26th MEU to support Pakistan flood relief efforts

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs
Courtesy Story
08.12.2010

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.– Marines and sailors from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will support relief efforts to help the Pakistani government alleviate the suffering of its citizens following flooding that began in mid-July

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2nd MLG bomb fighters awarded Bronze Stars

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Some people put their lives on the line to help and protect others; like police officers, who enforce the law and fight crime. Some people take it a little further and join the armed forces, swearing an oath to protect and defend the United States.

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Marine presented Purple Heart

August 12, 2010

A Camp Lejeune corpsman was presented a Purple Heart this month for wounds sustained while caring for injured troops on a recent deployment.

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August 11, 2010

VMA-223 pilots return from 24th MEU

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Six AV-8B Harriers and pilots from Marine Attack Squadron 223 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Aug. 10, after a seven-month deployment with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Continue reading " VMA-223 pilots return from 24th MEU" »

Marines arrive home after 7-month deployment

CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- The majority of marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit heading home this week arrived Wednesday. Most of the 150 marines, who have been deployed for seven months, touched down at Cherry Point at about 11 a.m.

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August 10, 2010

VMAQ-3 one step closer to Afghanistan

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT — Marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 returned to Cherry Point Aug. 2, after completing Red Flag 10-4, a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

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Escaped detainee was under Afghan control

A detainee who killed two Marines on Saturday escaped from a room at an Afghan-controlled detention center and obtained a rifle before opening fire on Marines and Afghan security forces who gave chase, a Marine spokesman said.

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26th MEU Marine saves teen

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A Marine with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit saved the life of a teenager who drifted more than 100 yards off the pier at North Topsail Beach Saturday Aug. 7, 2010, according to the North Topsail Beach Police Department.

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August 9, 2010

Pentagon identifies fallen Lejeune Marines

Two Marines were killed during an attempted prisoner escape this weekend in southern Afghanistan.

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Tommy; corpsman, twin, motivator

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Thomas ‘Tommy’ Rathbun. His meek demeanor accompanied by a bright, optimistic personality proves to be an effective combination both in the workplace and out. The story of Tommy is a song less sung, not one of supreme heroism or definitive sociological impact. No, Tommy’s story is more behind the scenes, a man with driving motivation who gives much and asks for little.

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General Conway visits East Coast Marines

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. — As his tenure as the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps draws to a close, Gen. James T. Conway took an opportunity to swing through Marine Corps installations on the East Coast to visit his Marines and sailors, August 4-6, 2010.

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Marjah Secures Brighter Future During School Groundbreaking Ceremony

MARJAH, Afghanistan – One plant of a shovel symbolically transformed a sprawling patch of Marjah farmland into a future primary school site during a groundbreaking ceremony in Marjah, Afghanistan, Aug. 9.

Continue reading "Marjah Secures Brighter Future During School Groundbreaking Ceremony" »

2/9 Assumes Control of Northern Marjah From 3/6

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan -- Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, officially took over all operations from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during a transfer of authority ceremony, Aug. 8, at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, Afghanistan.

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August 7, 2010

2/9 Steps Up IED Awareness in Northern Marjah

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan - Step by step, a group of Marines moved slowly down the road, their eyes scanning delicately the ground that lay ahead.

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August 6, 2010

Sheppton man awarded Bronze Star

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas C. Latham didn't tell his mother he saved the life of a soldier who stepped on and detonated an improvised explosive device.

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August 4, 2010

EOD techs take bite out of bombs during inertion training

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines from Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in an inerting operation training exercise as part of annual qualifications July 30 at EOD site two aboard Camp Lejeune.

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Marine engineers repair school, provide facility for Mozambican youth

MOAMBA, Mozambique — Trash riddles the compound where the two grimy, aging cinder-block buildings stand. The ground is covered with pieces of broken glass that seem even more abundant than the particles of dust in the air - not the ideal setting one might imagine for the education and development of a country’s youth.

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Injured Navy corpsman receives Purple Heart

PORTSMOUTH

Angelo Anderson likes taking care of patients - mothers and babies at Camp Lejeune, clients at the infectious disease clinic at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, and more than anything, Marine infantry troops on duty in Afghanistan.

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Silver Star hero Jeremy Torrisi came to defense of wounded in Afghanistan after taking bullet in leg

CAMP MOREHEAD, Afghanistan - Jeremy Torrisi's scuffed-up canvas medic's bag still has bloodstains from the day he saved four Marines' lives in a fearsome firefight.

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August 3, 2010

Marines return from Horn of Africa

More than 50 Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 and stationed at Cherry Point returned from a deployment to the Horn of Africa on Monday morning, according to officials with the air station.

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VMAQ-3 prowls Nevada skies

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — More than 100 Marines of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 continue to train in the arid desert outside Las Vegas, where triple-digit temperatures have been the norm.

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VMAQ-3 prowls Nevada skies

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — More than 100 Marines of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 continue to train in the arid desert outside Las Vegas, where triple-digit temperatures have been the norm.

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Williamstown Marine home safe from Afghanistan tour

MONROE TWP. - Richard Janofsky was outside his brother's new home in Williamstown Monday morning, helping install posts in the ground for a fence. His brother Max, a township police officer, was at work. Janofsky was simply there to help him out.

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Williamstown Marine home safe from Afghanistan tour

MONROE TWP. - Richard Janofsky was outside his brother's new home in Williamstown Monday morning, helping install posts in the ground for a fence. His brother Max, a township police officer, was at work. Janofsky was simply there to help him out.

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An honorable distinction for North Attleboro Marine

Marine recognized for valor in combat

NORTH ATTLEBORO - A Marine from North Attleboro has been recognized for valor in combat in Afghanistan, where in separate engagements his accurate shooting destroyed threats to his unit and the evacuation of a wounded comrade.

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August 1, 2010

2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment Unphased by First IED Attack

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan – Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, walked away from one of their first roadside bomb attacks unharmed, when a mine-resistant, ambush-protective vehicle was hit during a routine personnel convoy July 27, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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Family in Far Places

Although he was half a world away from home, DeAvila was quickly surrounded by family and friends, due to a strong military family and community.

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Afghanistan: In Marjah, US forces battle for hearts and minds

Months after the invasion of Marjah, few signs of progress.

COMBAT OUTPOST COUTU, Afghanistan — The stomach turning “thud” of an exploding homemade bomb on a recent hot July afternoon blew into the small villages and across the wheat fields that make up Lima Company’s area of operations in northern Marjah.

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'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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CLB-6 Passes Reigns to CLB-2 in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Signaling the end of their deployment in support of combat operations in Helmand province, Combat Logistics Battalion 6 retired their organizational colors as Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) took charge during a transfer of authority ceremony here, July 31.

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Local Marine has landed

Describes overseas tour as leave begins

Marine Lance Cpl. Gus Haas, 20, of Evansville, began planning for his three-week leave as soon as he was deployed to Afghanistan in December.

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July 31, 2010

Loved ones, Marines mourn fallen 19-year-old

July 31, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A funeral was held Saturday for a Marine from the western suburbs. Lance Cpl. Frederik Vazquez was killed in Afghanistan last week.

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CLB-6 Marine Awarded for Valor in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – When duty calls, Cpl. Rory MacEachern fires back with precision, and for his efforts in support of International Security Assistance Force operations he was awarded for valor in a ceremony here, July 30.

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July 28, 2010

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 27, 2010

Marines Train On Board Uss Carter Hall During Comptuex

USS CARTER HALL, ATLANTIC OCEAN —
Marines from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are training aboard USS Carter Hall during a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX).

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MARSOC Marine Wins Harley Davidson

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – When Sgt. Edmund Hatch snapped a photo of an Afghanistan National Army soldier standing guard in the Morghab Valley, in the Herat Province, Afghanistan, during a patrol last Thanksgiving, he was sure he had captured an image that would at least win him an iPod in the Hesco Bastion Ltd. Photo Competition.

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July 25, 2010

26th MEU completes COMPTUEX

Marines with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit ended their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) today. This was the second of three major exercises in 26th MEU's pre-deployment training period before its scheduled fall deployment. USS KEARSARGE, Off the coast of Camp Lejeune — After loading onto the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group during the first week of July, the Marines and sailors also supported a bilateral exercise with United Kingdom Royal Marines and sailors, AURIGA 2010. Marines and their UK counterparts teamed up for a Supporting Arms Coordination Exercise early in the training evolution to practice and refine indirect fire and combined arms integration at ranges on Camp Lejeune.

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July 24, 2010

A Marine Comes Home From War

Marines who fought in the battle at Marjah in Afghanistan are returning home and parents who nervously watched the war from afar are anxious to see their children. Catherine Welch of member station WHQR in Wilmington, N.C., was with one family to witness a homecoming.

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July 20, 2010

2/9 replaces 3/6 in Afghanistan

“Hell in a helmet” is en route to Afghanistan.

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Father claims son was killed by another Marine

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno - Guam Pacific Daily News via Gannett
Posted : Tuesday Jul 20, 2010 14:56:54 EDT

ROTA, Northern Mariana Islands — As the father of a Marine in a war zone, David Mundo Santos’ heart sank when he saw a pair of unexpected visitors walk up to his front door.

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July 19, 2010

Marine Corps jump jet crashes in Ocala National Forest; pilot ejects with minor injuries

A U.S. Marine Corps pilot wasn't seriously injured late Sunday when his AV8B Harrier jet crashed in the Pine Castle area of Ocala National Forest.

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Marine Harrier jet crashes in northern Fla.

Staff report
Posted : Monday Jul 19, 2010 13:59:30 EDT

A Marine AV-8B Harrier jet crashed Sunday night in northern Florida, according to local media.

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Signs (and banners) point to happy homecoming for CLB-6

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — There are many customary ways of counting down special occasions in American culture. Christmas is preceded by advent calendars. Jailbirds make tic marks on cell walls. Dick Clark still oversees a glittering ball-drop at Times Square each New Year's Eve. Family members at Camp Lejeune marking their final days of separation from their deployed Marines and sailors have a more artistic tradition - they paint.

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2 NC-based Marine killed in southern Afghanistan

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
Department of Defense officials say two North Carolina-based Marines have been killed in Afghanistan

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July 18, 2010

AV8B Harrier Jet Crashes in Ocala National Forest

MARION COUNTY, Fla. -- The pilot who ejected from his Harrier jet shortly before it crashed is continuing to recover from his injuries.

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Golf Company: Number Eight

"60 Minutes" Producer Henry Schuster Reflects On The Death of An American Soldier

I stared at the e-mail with disbelief. The header read "Sad News."

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July 17, 2010

Grief and gratitude at funeral for Marine Tyler Roads

At one point in high school, Tyler Allen Roads was struggling with his grades, so Larry Snelling, superintendent of the Fall River Joint Unified School District, went to have a chat with the boy he’d known for years.

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Prospects for stability in Musa Qala: challenges and possible solutions

Poppy cultivation and processing into opium is a way of life throughout Helmand, and Musa Qala is no exception. The drug is illegal in Afghanistan, and therefore its lucrative trade is irrevocably tied to government instability and corruption. According to the United Nations, opium cultivation has increased 663% in Musa Qala from 2005 to 2008, making it one of the fastest growing areas in the country.

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2/9 deployment scheduled

Marines from Camp Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this week in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to officials with the 2nd Marine Division.

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July 16, 2010

In Memory...Lance Cpl. Tyler Allen Roads

The Rev. Ken Frazier and the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard officiated at the graveside service for Lance Cpl. Tyler Allen Roads Saturday, July 17, 2010, at the Burney District Cemetery on Bailey Avenue. Among the friends and family speaking before the nearly 600 in attendance were Supt. Larry Snelling of the Fall River Joint Unified School District.

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Hospitalman receives bronze star for saving Marine's life

CAMP LEJEUNE -- Hospitalman Nicholas Latham of the Third Battalion 10th Marines received a bronze star Friday at Camp Lejeune for saving the life of a Marine who was severely injured in Afghanistan in December 2009.

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Cherry Point Marine receives Purple Heart

Huber was injured in Afghanistan

When a suicide bomber blew up his ball bearing-laden vest near the entrance to Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, the concussion from the blast knocked Lance Cpl. Jason Huber off his feet.

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July 15, 2010

When two leaders were killed in Afghanistan before their men arrived, sergeant put his life on hold

MARJAH, Afghanistan — The two bombs went off seconds apart at corners of the building. By chance, Sgt. Zachary Walters was standing in one corner, Sgt. Derek Shanfield in the other.

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VMAQ-3 viva Las Vegas

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Marines with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 flew out of MCAS Cherry Point for Las Vegas, July 15, to participate in Red Flag, a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise hosted at Nellis Air Force Base.

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Pleasant View Marine killed in Afghanistan

A Marine from Pleasant View was just a month away from coming home when he was killed in Afghanistan on July 9, his mother said Tuesday.

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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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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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Two Lejeune Marines killed in Afghanistan

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Two Marines based at Camp Lejeune died last week in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense 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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Schwarzenegger offers condolences to fallen Marine

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger offered his condolences today to the family of Lance Cpl. Tyler Allen Roads of Burney.

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July 12, 2010

Soldier Reunited With His Family After Surviving Afghan Tour

U.S. Marine Fulfills His 'World News' Wish to Hug His Sisters Upon His Arrival in U.S.

Lance Cpl. Michael Acquaviva felt like a rock star Sunday night, as he lifted his two sisters in a warm embrace.

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3 Norfolk-based Marines drown at Gitmo

Died while swimming at recreational beach July 4th

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (WAVY) - The Navy says three Norfolk-based Marines died while swimming on July 4 at one of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's recreational beaches.

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A MARSOC Marine attributes accomplishment to leadership

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Back in 1995, at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Ga., a 15-year-old Erik Housman listens to Larry Hughes, his high school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Instructor tell stories from his time spent in Vietnam from his career as a Marine Corps Master Sergeant. Tales Housman says inspired him to enlist after completing high school.

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Palm City Marine killed in Afghanistan buried in Arlington with full honors

ARLINGTON, VA. — Lance Wilson, father of Marine Justin Wilson of Palm City, still has not taken off his son's dog tags.

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N.C. Marines return after 7 months in Afghanistan

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- North Carolina-based Marines are returning home after seven months in southern Afghanistan.

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Family, friends recount fallen Marine's life

Family and friends of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler Allen Roads spent today on what would have been his 21st birthday mourning and recounting memories of his life.

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July 11, 2010

Bikers pay tribute to local fallen Marine

Almost three weeks since a Spokane Valley Marine was killed in action in Afghanistan, hundreds of motorcyclists, including retired Marines, roared outside of his childhood home to pay tribute to the young man.

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U.S. Marine from Clay: Being shot makes you grow up fast

On a perfect summer day, Kyle Francis sat in a rocking chair on his parents’ front porch in Clay and talked about the worst part of having visible war wounds: People asking him what happened.

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20-year-old Marine from Burney killed in combat

Burney residents are in mourning as word spreads of the death of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler Allen Roads of Burney, who was shot and killed Friday in an Afghanistan combat zone.

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July 10, 2010

Months after Marjah offensive, success still elusive

MARJAH, Afghanistan — In the incongruous way of this nearly nine-year war, a 28-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., told an old man here how to improve his life and the life of his family. He was not convincing.

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Former DI Reunites With Legacy Recruits During Afghanistan Deployment

During the summer of 2002, Hattman and his team of dedicated drill instructors began to mold Hemenway into the Marine he is today and in the training cycles that followed, the legacy continued with Sgts. Jeremiah Rees and Jeffery Aaron.

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July 9, 2010

2nd ANGLICO Marines train with British soldiers

OTTERBURN, United Kingdom —

Marines of 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, recently completed a pre-deployment exercise that gave training a whole new meaning. Instead of trudging through the sands of 29 Palms, Calif., the Marines of 2nd ANGLICO trained on grassy fields in the mild temperatures of the English countryside.

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Family, friends honor Spokane Valley Marine killed in Afghanistan

Joshua Dumaw remembered in standing-room-only service

Joshua R. Dumaw was remembered Thursday as a man of courage, loyalty, and leadership; a man of adventure who had an endless smile for any soul who crossed his path.

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Royal, U.S. Marine Once a Marine, Twice a Marine, Always a Marine

Staff Sgt. Oliver Salder earned his place as a Marine well before he stepped on the famed yellow foot prints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Paris Island. So when recruit Salder piled off that bus in 2000 amidst terrified peers, this salty, rugby-playing Brit was probably more entertained than scared. Or maybe he was just glad it was only going to take him 13 weeks to graduate this time.

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July 8, 2010

26th MEU and PHIBRON-4 bring it together for COMPTUEX

NORFOLK, Va. (July 8, 2010) —
Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit began their second-to-last pre-deployment exercise, boarding the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group for Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), this week.

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July 7, 2010

‘Nothing Else Matters:’ Security detail provides safe passage throughout battlespace for CLB-6 commander

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — A small group of heavily equipped tactical vehicles speed along Route 1, the only strip of paved road in the region, bound for a turn-off point somewhere in the distance where they will carve their own path to their final destination. The turret gunners constantly scan the landscape as it is revealed before them at 40 miles per hour and the crackle of the occasional radio message can be heard from the phone-like receiver clipped to the Modular Tactical Vest of the vehicle commander seated to the right of the driver.

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July 2, 2010

Mortars light up Now Zad sky, suppress insurgents

NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan —

When it takes something more than the direct fire of machine guns to drive the enemy back, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, relies on a pair of mortarmen to get the job done.

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July 1, 2010

Time for Marines to hunt in Sistani?

As moments in Afghanistan went, they were some of the eeriest ones I experienced.

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On the Ground: The Taliban's Changing, and Deadly, Tactics

Marine Sergeant Landon McLilly squinted into his rifle scope at a group of suspected Taliban militants in the hazy near distance. The next time he looked, they were gone. "If we go that way, I have a feeling something bad is going to happen," he said, recalling how the last time his squad of Marines had walked down the same road, they had come under fierce attack. But orders required them to interdict all potential enemy fighters, and they could not leave the area without checking out whether the people he saw were in fact Taliban.

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GIRoA, ANSF, Marine Leaders Gather at Sher Wali to Discuss Permanent Police Force in Marjah

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan – Representatives from Regional Command Southwest, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Civil Order Police and the Afghan National Army packed into a tent at Forward Operating Base Sher Wali, in Marjah, June 29, to discuss the emergence of Marjah’s soon-to-be permanent police force.

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In Afghanistan, No Direct Route to Success

On the Ground With Bravo Co. in Marja, Marines Struggle Amid Casualties, Mistrust

Since U.S. Marines launched a major coordinated assault on this agricultural community last February it has been called a "catastrophic success," a "failure," "doomed" and most memorably "a bleeding ulcer." Marja is all and none of these. Marja is a work in progress, the outcome of which is still in question.

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June 29, 2010

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts liberty visit in Seychelles

MAHE, SEYCHELLES — Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit along with Sailors assigned to USS Nassau participated in a liberty port stop here June 25-28 to take some time off and visit the east-African island after being deployed at sea for approximately five months without a port call.

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Josh Dumaw was a Marine's Marine

SPOKANE -- A week since his death in Afghanistan was announced by the Pentagon members of Marine Corporal Josh Dumaw’s family have taken some time to honor their son’s memory and service.

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June 28, 2010

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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Ospreys leave new belly gun in the dust

Left at bases, 7.62mm gun is seldom used

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 28, 2010 9:56:49 EDT

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — In answer to criticism calling the Osprey vulnerable to enemy attack and lacking fire power, the Marine Corps shipped a handful of 7.62mm belly guns to Afghanistan last winter.

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June 27, 2010

Alpha Company Provides Medical Care to Now Zad Residents

KABUL- As the city of Now Zad grows, so does the need for medical aid, so the Marine medics of Alpha Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, on Combat Outpost Cafferetta, treat overflow patients both day and night.

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June 25, 2010

Anatomy of a Taliban Ambush

Taliban Ambush Teams Attack Marine Patrol as It Returns to Base Outside Marja

In Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province this morning, a Marine squad headed into one of the Marja district's many villages looking to make friends.

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Small Projects Reap Large Gains

PATROL BASE MINDEN, Helmand province, Afghanistan – An old saying goes, ‘good things come in small packages,’ but in the isolated, rural villages of Afghanistan the saying is, ‘good things come in small projects.’

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June 24, 2010

Spokane Valley Marine killed in Afghanistan

SPOKANE VALLEY -- Friends are saying goodbye to a young local Marine killed in Afghanistan.

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26th MEU raid force hones maritime interception skills

BARNWELL, S.C. — Marines prepare to fast-rope onto a building as their hovering Navy MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter begins to inch closer to the rooftop.

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MCAS Cherry Point cpl. dies in Nimroz province

A North Carolina-based Marine died Tuesday while supporting combat operations in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Thursday.

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June 23, 2010

In Afghanistan, U.S. Troops Ponder the Possible Loss of a Commander

The commander of international forces in Afghanistan was scheduled to pay a surprise visit to Marines at Combat Outpost Hanson in Marjah this week, some four months after they waged a fierce offensive to break the Taliban's grip. Instead, General Stanley McChrystal headed back to Washington, his job in jeopardy over published remarks that criticize President Obama and senior staff members for hamstringing efforts to turn around the nine-year war.

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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

As McChrystal Stumbles, the U.S. Campaign in Marjah Struggles

The squad of Marines walks an alternating route, first along rutted dirt roads and then on trails running along the edges of fields, often stopping to squint at farmers through the magnifying scopes of their M4 rifles. Sometimes they skip the trails and tree lines entirely, cutting straight through the fields, sinking in muddy furrows and jumping the irrigation canals in between. Other times, they plunge directly into the canals — better to get wet than risk the bridges where they've been before. The squad's leader, Sergeant Dennis Andersen, explains the strategy: When they first arrived, they walked on roads. Then they started hitting IEDs on the roads, so they walked in fields. Then they started hitting IEDs there too. Now they mix it up and bet on luck.

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Marine awarded for stopping purse snatching

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 22, 2010 7:09:20 EDT

JACKSONVILE, N.C. — A North Carolina Marine who prevented a purse snatching is being recognized.

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June 21, 2010

Undisciplined Afghans endanger Marjah Marines

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jun 21, 2010 10:17:34 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Many Afghan National Army troops who work and patrol with U.S. Marines are considered a nuisance at best and a danger at worst.

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Marines maintain presence in Marjah

MARJAH, HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, stepped into the scorching heat of Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, June 18, to clear their area of weapons caches, improvised explosive device-making factories and any Taliban insurgents in the area.

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June 19, 2010

Routine Operation Meets Resistance

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, combined with Afghan National Security Forces, headed north to show face in an area not often visited by friendly forces, June 9.

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June 17, 2010

Lejeune Marines deploying to Afghanistan

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 17, 2010 8:44:45 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — More North Carolina-based Marines are headed to Afghanistan as U.S. and Afghan forces battle a resurgent Taliban.

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June 16, 2010

Assault Amphibious Crewmen ready themselves for upcoming deployment to Latin America, practice MOUT

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune — A dirt road breaks away from the main highway and cuts deep into the North Carolina forest. Suddenly and almost mysteriously, a row of young date palms grow in a patch of earth where tall evergreens once stood. The sound of Islamic prayer resonates off in the distance as periodic exchanges of NATO and 7.62 rounds echo across the tree-line. A full-scale town comes into view – hastily constructed as it would be on the set of a 1960s Spaghetti Western.

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June 15, 2010

The Real-Life Hurt Locker: Battling IEDs in Afghanistan

Gunnery Sergeant Matthew "Gunney" Small, 32, has a mustache, a thick Boston accent and a tendency to pepper his instructions with curse words. In a single day, Small investigated the site of an improvised explosive device (IED) blast, engaged in a 30-min. firefight with insurgents, blew up a bridge and then swept a road for more IEDs. On the way home, he paused for an intravenous drip — he was dehydrated — and then, after a 12-hour mission, called it a day.

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June 14, 2010

From kinetics to culture: 26th MEU Marines learn valuable lessons

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — A long gravel road paved in heat waves led to a small village with only a handful of people milling around dressed in foreign clothing, all of which could be found in countries of the middle east and southwest Asia.

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June 12, 2010

26th MEU Marines, EOD blast through training

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — "If you put this charge along the beams of a bridge, you can weaken the bridge. The first time a tank rolls over it … kurplunk … now you’ve taken out a bridge and the tank."

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June 11, 2010

Arnold man killed in Afghanistan

Marine Lance Cpl. Gavin Brummund, a former Bret Harte High School athlete and nearly lifelong Arnold resident, was killed in Afghanistan this week, family members learned late Thursday.

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Local Marine dies in Afghanistan

An e-mail he received in Afghanistan gave Sgt. Zachary J. Walters of Palm Coast the answer he had been hoping for.

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June 10, 2010

Hastings Marine killed in Afghanistan

It seemed like Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield was born to be a Marine.

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June 9, 2010

Afghan Journal: Marines try to build trust

CAMP HANSEN, AFGHANISTAN

Far from the flagpole. That's what they say about places like this, a gritty compound of Marines bedded down in Marjah - the heart of Afghanistan's poppy fields in Helmand province and the hub of the Taliban.

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Marines, Locals Celebrate New Government Center

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MUSA QAL'EH, Afghanistan – Every government needs a government building, a designated space to conduct business and enforce laws. Today, the construction for that building begins here.

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Brothers Reunite in Afghanistan After Five-month Separation

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, Afghanistan – Like many twin brothers, Lance Cpls. Aaron and Adam Voelker do everything together.

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June 8, 2010

Marines face continued ambushes around Marjah

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jun 8, 2010 18:05:30 EDT

NAD ALI, Afghanistan — With the sun dropping lower on the baked horizon, two squads of Marines pushed north into the countryside here, uncertain what dangers were ahead.

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Marjah: Like ‘petting zoo in hell’

KABUL, Afghanistan — The slower pace of things here in the last few days have given me a chance to reflect on some of the more unexpected things that I’ve seen in the last six weeks while reporting from the southern half of this country.

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Helping Now Zad Locals Help Themselves

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan – The population of Now Zad is growing at a rapid rate. However, if the towns' medical facility doesn't grow with the population, the people won't be able to get the care they deserve.

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Marines Near End of Deployment Continue to Patrol Amidst Taliban Attacks

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – Waking up in the early morning, the Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, mark down one more day until they can return home to wives and children, their families and friends and perhaps most importantly, leave the past several months behind them.

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June 7, 2010

Afghanistan: Looking for a Few Good Cops in Marjah

No one showed up for start of official recruitment for Marjah's first local police force. No one showed up until the third and last day at a U.S. Marines base in North Marjah, the Afghan district invaded by American and Afghan military forces in February. Locals told the 3rd Division 6th Marines that they had reservations about joining the force — they were too scared or too intimidated by the Taliban to risk allying themselves with foreign forces in a landscape that the Marines are still struggling to bring under control.

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June 6, 2010

Visitation today for Macomb Marine

Visitation is to be held today for Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony DiLisio, a Macomb Township soldier who died May 30 in Afghanistan.

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June 4, 2010

Flags ordered at half staff Monday for slain Macomb Township Marine

Lansing -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Friday ordered U.S. flags to be lowered to half staff Monday in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony A. DiLisio of Macomb Township.

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26th MEU prepares for urban warfare

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. —
Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit initiated their last major land-based pre-deployment exercise, Realistic Urban Training, aboard Fort AP Hill, Va., June 2.

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26th MEU prepares for urban warfare

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. —
Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit initiated their last major land-based pre-deployment exercise, Realistic Urban Training, aboard Fort AP Hill, Va., June 2.

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Taliban fighters turn to deadlier IEDs

Militants adapting to Marines’ strategies, using various forms of bombs

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 4, 2010 18:25:13 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — A Marine convoy comprising several Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles, or M-ATVs, was traveling on one of Marjah’s many dirt roads May 15 when the lead vehicle set off a new type of IED, sending a plume of dust, smoke and twisted metal 50 feet in the air.

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Road named for Marine killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 4, 2010 8:04:53 EDT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Gainesville road will be named for a 19-year-old Marine who was killed in Afghanistan this year.

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June 3, 2010

Fallen Marine felt duty to serve

He was killed in an ambush, supporting combat operations

Twenty-year-old Anthony DiLisio always wanted to find a way to give back to his community and help people.

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LB-6 Honors Purple Heart Recipients During Memorial Day Service

Five Marines from Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) were presented with Purple Heart medals in a ceremony, May 31.

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Post office to be named in honor of fallen Marine

The New Jersey State Senate unanimously passed a resolution last week to rename the post office building at 216 Westwood Ave. after Christopher Hrbek, a Marine Sergeant from Westwood who was killed in Afghanistan on Jan. 14.

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June 2, 2010

Macomb Marine killed in Afghanistan

Macomb Township -- A 20-year-old U.S. Marine was killed while serving in Afghanistan after he volunteered for patrol despite an option to stay in his camp, his girlfriend said.

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Marjah Marine Departs U.S. As a Photographer, Leaves As 'honorary Grunt'

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHER WALI, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When the infantry Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, were first told they were getting a combat camera Marine attached to their platoon for Operation Moshtarak's push into Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, they didn't know what to expect.

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June 1, 2010

Marines, DEA, Afghan police nab drug kingpin in early morning raid

MARJAH, Afghanistan — A swift and decisive pre-dawn raid on a known Taliban commander's compound snared the Drug Enforcement Administration's and the Afghan government's primary drug and terrorist target in Marjah, May 18.

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Voluntown remembers slain Marine on Memorial Day

Voluntown, Conn. —

Voluntown’s annual Memorial Day tributes took on an especially somber air Monday, less than two months after Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tyler Griffin joined the roll of the town’s sons who have fallen in service to the country.

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Fleet Week Service Members Gather for Memorial Day Ceremony

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. - Every Memorial Day, citizens and veterans from New York City gather at the Soldier's and Sailor's monument in Manhattan, N.Y., for the annual Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial Day Observation.

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May 31, 2010

Marines See Benefits of 'Hunt and Help' in Helmand

Aid for Locals Seen as Key to Reduced Violence in Taliban Heartland in Afghanistan

Southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan, is the opium capital of the world and the financial base of the Taliban. It is one of the most dangerous parts of country.

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Banding Together to Get Better

Banding Together to Get BetterAmputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Rely on Each Other For Inspiration to Push Themselves to Walk Again

(CBS) May was a cruel month. The number of servicemen and women who lost an arm or a leg since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began went over 1,000, many of them more than one. They come to the physical therapy room at Walter Reed, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

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May 30, 2010

Firefights frequent for Marines in schoolhouse

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday May 30, 2010 8:49:00 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Shots snapped overhead angrily, and the Marines jumped into canals lining both sides of the dirt trail. Within seconds, the squad was trudging through knee-deep sludge, maneuvering to fire back against four gun-wielding insurgents.

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May 28, 2010

DEA, Marines and Afghan Police Nab Drug Kingpin in Early Morning Raid

PATROL BASE LITTLEFOOT, Helmand province, Afghanistan- A swift and decisive pre-dawn raid on a known Taliban commander's compound snared the Drug Enforcement Administration's and the Afghan government's primary drug and terrorist target in Marjah, May 18.

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Bravo Battery mixes brains with brawn while supporting 24thMEU

MIDDLE EAST — A common impression of artillerymen is guys pulling triggers on big guns and firing rounds over long distances, but that is only a small part of a job that requires Marines to perform many tasks normally assigned to an infantry line company.

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Marine Cpl. Nicolas Parada-Rodriguez is memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery

The U.S. Marines fired three rifle volleys. A bugler played taps.

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May 27, 2010

Capella Strike: MAG-14 Marines Prep Harriers to Train Aboard Ship

ABOARD THE HMS ARK ROYAL, Atlantic Ocean - More than 150 Marines and Sailors of Marine Aircraft Group 14 are spending nights aboard HMS Ark Royal, the British Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier.

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Marines Work to Gain Trust of Afghan Locals

When it Comes to Winning the Trust of Taliban-Fearing Residents, Hammers and Shovels areas Important as Guns

(CBS) For Marines in Marjah, counterinsurgency comes down to this: if you build it, they will come.

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May 26, 2010

Marines brave sniper fire in Marjah

Enemy target patrols with precision fire

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 26, 2010 17:23:53 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — As they pushed through dusty farm compounds looking for insurgents, the members of this Marine fire team were wound tighter than a steel spring.

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PMT Patrols Through Now Zad

NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Marines go on local patrols through villages and rural areas every day to ensure the security of Now Zad, but no patrol is identical to another.

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May 25, 2010

Kilo Company Squads Engage Insurgents After Ambush

COMBAT OUTPOST REILLY, Afghanistan – Last night, I went on my last foot patrol of this embed assignment.

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Remembering a Marine, Step by Step

COMBAT OUTPOST LILY, Helmand Province
— For Marines who have experienced combat together, the many rituals and gestures of bidding farewell to the dead, beginning from the point of medevac and continuing beyond the fallen Marine’s journey to the grave, are observed with a devotion that is at once quiet, fiercely followed and unsummoned. The more formal rituals are matters of tradition, like memorial services in the field and the escorts who accompany a dead Marine through his or her funeral back home. Some Marines are further memorialized in the names of outposts and landing zones; thus, “Combat Outpost Hanson” and the adjacent “Landing Zone Currier,” named after two Marines from Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, who were killed several hundred yards from here in fighting against the Taliban in February. Other gestures are impromptu, spontaneous and intensely personal, propelled by feelings that take hold within young infantrymen who fight through ambush after ambush together, and who find, as their tattoos often say, that they are bound by blood and then by a set of memories that will be theirs alone for the decades ahead.

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May 24, 2010

Counting the Close Calls

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – I'm not an infantryman, far from it. I'm as much of a 'pog' (meaning person other than grunt) as one can be, but with the Marine Corps being what it is, even Pog's are afforded the opportunity to see combat. While in Helmand province, Afghanistan with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, I've nearly been shot several times. I've wound up pinned down in a muddy canal by sniper fire and have watched stunned as a rocket-propelled grenade spiraled through the air, bounce of a doorframe and skid to a halt, ten feet away.

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McChrystal calls Marjah a bleeding ulcer' in Afghan campaign

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top allied military commander in Afghanistan, sat gazing at maps of Marjah as a Marine battalion commander asked him for more time to oust Taliban fighters from a longtime stronghold in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province.

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Marines Take Final Leap to Become Assault Climbers: 26th MEU Marines Reach New Heights, Part 2

KINGWOOD, W.Va. – Toes to the edge of a cliff in the mountains of West Virginia, Lance Cpl. Luke Turner faced his fears and put trust in what he learned as he leapt from one cliff to another -- about eight feet away.

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May 23, 2010

2nd LAR Brings Lasting Security to Helmand Province

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines of Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion wrapped up five months of security operations in Helmand province, turning their area of operations over to the Marines of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

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2nd LAR Marines Called Afghan Desert 'home'

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Cpl. Brandon T. Templeton, a team leader from Garden City, Mich., lived out of his vehicle for five months, conducting security operations in the deserts of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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U.S. Tries to Reintegrate Taliban Soldiers

MIAN POSHTEH, Afghanistan — The young Taliban prisoner was led blindfolded to a sweltering military tent, seated among 17 village elders and then, eyes uncovered, faced a chief accuser brandishing a document with the elders’ signatures or thumbprints.

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May 22, 2010

In Afghan Fields, a Challenge to Opium’s Luster

COMBAT OUTPOST HANSON, Afghanistan — The annual Afghan opium harvest finished this month with production sharply down from last year, Afghan farmers and American military officers say. Now, growers and smugglers who had long been unchallenged here face tough choices created by the poor crop and new government and military pressure.

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War's painful toll hits Marine's family

Stafford Marine killed in Afghanistan last week is buried at Quantico

Donald J. Lamar II was born on July 4, 1986. His mother, Coleen Lamar of Stafford County, remembers that his grandmother had prepared a sign just for the occasion, also the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

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May 20, 2010

War kills a young couple's dreams

Marine Lance Cpl. Philip P. Clark and his wife, Ashton, were making big plans for his return from Afghanistan this summer.

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Revisiting Combat Outpost Reilly

The summer fighting season has returned to southern Afghanistan, which means the Obama administration’s and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s counterinsurgency effort here will face some of its most difficult tests. Temperatures are soaring over 100 degrees, the opium crop has been harvested and laborers are freed up for fighting in environmental conditions that strain equipment and challenge even the most fit Western soldiers and Marines.

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Marine EOD Community Honors Fallen Fathers, Husbands, Sons

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Second Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, held a memorial service at the Protestant Chapel here, May 17, to honor five of their own who made the ultimate sacrifice while supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom from February 2008 to February 2010.

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May 19, 2010

Marine Corporal Nicolas Parada-Rodriguez, from Stafford, dies in Afghanistan

He was an immigrant, the son of immigrants, who came to the United States 19 years ago, graduated from high school in Fairfax County, and, his sister said, wanted to defend his country.

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In Ambush, a Glimpse of a Long Afghan Summer

BALUCH, Afghanistan — Minutes after surviving the first ambush, Cpl. John M. Boone, a Marine sniper, called over his radio. “We’ve got a civilian here who got shot in his gut,” he said.

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May 18, 2010

2nd Radio Bn. receives Puller, linguist awards

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —

Second Radio Battalion was recently honored with two esteemed awards. While the unit received the 2009 Lt. Gen. Chesty Puller Award (Medium Unit for Overall Command Excellence), Staff Sgt. James R. Courteau, a crypto logic linguist with the battalion, was named not only 2009 Marine Corps Linguist of the Year, but also Linguist of the Year for the entire Department of Defense.

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Wait ends for friends, family of 2/2 Marines, sailors

The Warlords are home.

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May 15, 2010

Marine Sgt. Donald J. Lamar II killed in Afghanistan; Stafford High graduate

A Fredericksburg Marine who played football and coached wrestling at Stafford High School has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, according to the Defense Department and family friends.

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Marine mourned

LUDLOW - When Frank Evangelista, owner of Frank's Diner on East Street, thinks of the late Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges he remembers a smiling young man in a Santa Claus hat.

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May 14, 2010

IED Attack Kills Two 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.

Patrol Base Karma, Afghanistan

About 10 o'clock last Tuesday morning we heard an explosion to the north of Patrol Base Karma - minutes later we heard there were two Marines down - members of a patrol that had left the base at 6 am.

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'Red Cloud' Marines Rub Elbows With Afghan Locals During Latest Logistics Patrol

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- During their latest combat logistics patrol in the region May 7-11, Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), were able to spend time getting to know the native population on friendly terms.

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Hometown hero honored

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- People are calling Corporal Tyler Southern a hometown hero.

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Hard Corps Pipes: Accomplished CLB-6 Bagpipe Player Laces Afghan Air With Musical Motivation

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- Aside from the periodic hum of a hovering MV-22 Osprey in the distance or the muted chatter of the thousands of soldiers, sailors and Marines milling about in front of the stage, all else was silent.

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May 13, 2010

Marines Answer the Call at Any Hour: Heavy Guns Bring Security

NOW ZAD, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Most Marines wake up knowing how long they will work and what their job will involve, but the Marines with the Quick Reaction Force for Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, have learned to expect the unexpected.

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Marines, journalist caught under sniper fire

MARJAH, Afghanistan — The tension was obvious even before leaving the wire on a 6 a.m. patrol.

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May 12, 2010

26th MEU Marines Reach New Heights, Part 1

KINGWOOD, W.Va. —

The high-pitch sound of clanging metal broke the rhythmic chirping of birds in the foothills of West Virginia as 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines made their way to their classroom -- a cliff-face.

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Marjah Bazaar Centerpiece for Civic Projects, Work Programs

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Just over two months ago, trash littered the streets and shops made of wood and aluminum stood uneasily, ready to collapse at any moment, at the Koru Chareh bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan. Today crowds pass through the market place or wait near checkpoints manned by Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, to register for civic work programs, May 5.

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Corpsmen Keep Marjah Marines in the Fight

MARJAH, Afghanistan— For corpsmen with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, a slow day is a good day.

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Marines Maintain Fitness in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan —Capt. Robert Schotter doesn't want to hear any excuses about the inability to find time or equipment for a workout.

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Marine Cpl. Kurt Shea of Frederick, Md., killed in Afghanistan

The family of Cpl. Kurt S. Shea, a 21-year-old Marine from Frederick, had been planning a party for July 4 to celebrate the end of his tour in Afghanistan. Instead, on Tuesday, relatives were preparing to go to Dover Air Force Base to retrieve the body of Shea, who was killed Monday in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.

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Marine's Fast Reaction Saves Life

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The blast hit just outside his patrol base – a small, concrete schoolhouse in northern Marjah, May 4. The impact, said Cpl. Jason Ducote, made him feel "like all the fillings had fallen out of his teeth."

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Marines Remember and Honor a Fallen Brother

COMBAT OUTPOST CAFFERETTA, Afghanistan – Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, gathered aboard Combat Outpost Cafferetta, to honor their fallen brother-in-arms, May 12.

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May 11, 2010

FRO publishes book of poetry

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point — When asked what motivates her to get out of bed every morning, Gunnery Sgt. Laura Stanislaw looked down at her desert camouflage uniform through big, piercing blue eyes. Her slender fingers and well-manicured fingernails play with the pen on her desk. “I’m just happy,” she said with a shrug and a smile. The family readiness officer for Marine Aircraft Group 40 describes her job as, “the most rewarding work I’ve done in the Marine Corps.”

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Lejeune troops learn to win hearts, minds in Afghanistan

Troops from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment recently began preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan in a way that had nothing to do with PT or weapons training.

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VMA-231 Wraps Up Deployment, Prepares to Head Home

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Almost 200 warriors from Marine Attack Squadron 231 are packing up and preparing to head home after spending six months supporting daily operations despite rocket attacks, extreme temperatures and sand storms.

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May 10, 2010

MAG-26 FRO receives Military Motherhood Award

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point — Marine Aircraft Group 26’s family readiness officer has been awarded the Military Motherhood Award.

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Perry Marine lauded for attitude, spirit

Perry High School's wrestling coach knew that Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis would be a good Marine because of his drive and determination.

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S.A. Marine killed in Afghanistan

Listed on a roster as 5 feet 9 inches and just 165 pounds, Chris Rangel was a leader on the field in one of the last football seasons at West Campus High School.

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May 9, 2010

Swift and bloody: the Taliban’s revenge

Rebels have returned to terrorise a former stronghold with shootings and beatings, raising doubts about America’s ability to secure Kandahar

The sniper’s aim was merciless. Lieutenant Brandon Barrett was shovelling sand into bags to fortify his post in the Helmand town of Marjah when a Taliban gunman slotted a bullet between armoured vehicles pulled around for protection, hitting him in the chest.

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'Steady' Perry Marine killed in Afghanistan combat

A U.S. Marine from Perry has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Corps officials confirmed Saturday.

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May 8, 2010

Mom: Fallen Marine 'passionate' about mission

The letter with instructions about where 1st Lt. Brandon Barrett wanted to be buried told friends back home in Indiana that — even if he didn't talk about it — he understood he might not survive his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

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May 7, 2010

Boston beach to be stormed by Marines

BOSTON —

The Marines are planning a full on assault at Carson Beach May 8.
They will be combining their combat elements from the air and on the ground when storming the South Boston waterfront, just to show the city how strong their force is when flexing their muscle.

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May 6, 2010

Marines Mentor Afghan Police

MARJAH, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The struggle for stability continues in Marjah, Afghanistan.

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Gunny Glew: the Adhesive That Keeps India Company Together

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Gunnery Sgt. Jason Glew is a workhorse.

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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

Iron Man

As Lance Cpl. Thomas Rivers Jr. patrolled Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province, he knew God had his back. The Marine often carried a Bible, yet even on days when he only had room for essential combat gear, Rivers felt protected by Psalm 91:1, which was tattooed on his back.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

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May 4, 2010

One step closer to deployment, 26th MEU stretches sea legs, builds interoperable team with Navy

After two weeks of in-depth training aboard the ships USS Kearsarge, USS New York and USS Carter Hall, Marines and sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit wrapped up Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON)/MEU Integration (PMINT) training, May 3.

Continue reading "One step closer to deployment, 26th MEU stretches sea legs, builds interoperable team with Navy" »

2nd MAW Band visits Louisville Ky. for Derby Week

Thousands of spectators cheered as a few dozen Marines marched down Broadway in Louisville, Ky., April 29.

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May 3, 2010

Toggling Between Fighting and Outreach in Afghanistan

However the Afghan war is faring over all, across the wide and varied expanse of Afghanistan, with all of its political and cultural complexity, one thing is abundantly clear: toggling between fighting and outreach can create head-spinning scenes. Some of these scenes underline the difficulties inherent in a counterinsurgency doctrine that mixes lopsided violence with attempts to make nice. But they also simultaneously demonstrate that the efforts to follow the doctrine far from Kabul, out on remote ground, have become a central part of how the war is waged, even as the merits of the doctrine are quietly debated.

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May 1, 2010

Lejeune memorial honors Marines slain in Afghanistan

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Camp Lejeune held a memorial service Friday morning to honor 90 Marines and sailors who died while spearheading the first wave of troops sent to Afghanistan by President Barack Obama.

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Care Packages to Afghanistan Boosts Deployed Troops Morale

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marines located on large bases such as Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, have the option to visit the Marine Corps Exchange any day to purchase supplies, hygiene products and other items a Marine might want. However, Marines in outlying areas throughout Helmand province may rarely get the opportunity to obtain essential supplies and hygiene products because of scattered convoy schedules.

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Marine recalls attack, works toward future

Phillip Martinovich reupped in January to serve another four years in the Marine Corps. He was wooed by a bonus and the opportunity to serve with a non-deployable unit in Germany.

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Building Structures and Relationships Between ISAF and Afghans

MUSA QA'LAH DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan – Marines in Musa Qa'lah District Center, Helmand province, Afghanistan put in a substantial amount of time and effort interacting with local Afghans and continuing friendly relationships between themselves and the community.

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April 30, 2010

High operational tempo supports mission readiness

Tactical vehicles play a substantial role in all Marine Corps operations around the world by transporting troops safely to and from various locations in support of their mission.

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Nine VMAQ-1 Marines meet newborn children for first time

Marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 1 returned from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan to a hangar full of anxiously waiting family members and friends at 1:30 a.m, April 21.

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Logistics Battalion Storms Fort Bragg En Route to Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - More than 500 Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, descended upon a massive training area at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 19 - 27, to conduct essential training for their upcoming seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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Water Technicians Supply Critical Resource at Fort Bragg

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - One of the worst things that can happen when conducting a foot patrol or supply convoy while deployed to a blistering climate like Afghanistan, is to put your lips around the drinking tube of your CamelBak hydration system, pull the bite valve open with your teeth and attempt to suck in much-needed water - only to realize there is no more.

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April 29, 2010

Weather Forecasters Ensure Smooth Sailing

Marines, Sailors aboard USS Kearsarge work together in preparation for deployment.

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A slow journey back for wounded Marine

Marine slowly getting his life back together after being shot in Afghanistan

Lewis Skerry is adjusting to a new, strangely diminished life.

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April 28, 2010

Marines Man Isolated Patrol Base to Watch Over Known Taliban Hot Spot

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – From inside of a small compound, known as Patrol Base Khodi Rhom, the Marines of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, alongside a section of Afghan national army soldiers, patrol an area once known for large amounts of enemy activity in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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April 27, 2010

Marines Provide Marjah Farmers With Fertilizer, Seeds During Crucial Harvest Season

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, along with members of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, are helping Marjah farmers cope with one of the toughest harvesting seasons in southern Afghanistan in recent memory through a food zone distribution program.

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XO's Road Show Brings a Little of Everything to 3/6's Marines

MARJAH, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines and Sailors from a variety of military occupational specialties stepped out of their normal routines April 23-25, to contribute to the XO's Road Show. The mobile exhibition toured each of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment's, company operating bases in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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April 26, 2010

Farmers Transition to Different Crops, Marines, Afghan Forces Provide Aid

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Afghanistan – Through a joint effort, the Afghan national army, non-governmental organizations and Marines are overseeing the Marjah Accelerated Agricultural Transition program, which has moved into its next stage, April 22.

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Logistics battalion storms Ft. Bragg en route to Afghanistan

More than 500 Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, descended upon a massive training area at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 19 - 27, to conduct essential training for their upcoming seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

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April 25, 2010

Local Projects Help to Better Infrastructure, Economy

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – As Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, continue to push Taliban forces out of Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, certain areas have begun to rebuild.

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April 24, 2010

Dakota, Improvised Explosive Device Detector Dog, Survives Firefight

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The black labrador retriever named Dakota, laid on the floor with a blood-seeped gauze taped to her hip, letting out a melancholic cry when her handler moved out of her sight.

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A Firsthand Look at Firefights in Marja

During the initial American-led assault earlier this year into Marja, the last large Taliban-dominated population center in Helmand Province, Marines in several companies encountered something unusual in the American experience of the Afghan war – insurgent snipers.

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April 23, 2010

Marines and Sailors Train, Deploy Side-by-side

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - When a corpsman goes down, Marines need to be as prepared to treat their medical needs as the sailors. When corpsmen are attached to Marine units running convoys, going on patrol or called to simply "go outside the wire," they need to be as prepared as the Marines when it comes to interacting with the local populace and reacting to enemy contact.

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Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon Crushes the Enemy's Will to Fight

SALAAM BAZAAR, Afghanistan – Rapidly trekking though the rugged terrain and mine laden country side of Salaam Bazaar, the Marines of 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, took the fight to the Taliban April 14, during Operation Rising Tide.

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April 22, 2010

2nd MEB Marines return

About 100 Marines and sailors of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade returned home to Camp Lejeune very early Thursday morning after a year of supporting operations in Afghanistan. The troops were due to return Monday morning, but their homecoming was delayed multiple times.

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2nd MEB Marines return

About 100 Marines and sailors of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade returned home to Camp Lejeune very early Thursday morning after a year of supporting operations in Afghanistan. The troops were due to return Monday morning, but their homecoming was delayed multiple times.

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Facing Danger, Overcoming Fear

SALAM BAZAAR, Afghanistan – Adrenalin was rushing the morning of April 14th, 2010 as Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2 and members of the Afghan National Security Forces approached the Salam Bazaar in Helmand province.

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26th MEU Trains Aboard Ship, Builds Rapport With Sailors

NORFOLK, Va.– Marines and Sailors with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit took another big step in their training schedule by traveling more than 150 miles to Norfolk, Va., to participate in an Amphibious Squadron/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training exercise with the Sailors of PHIBRON-4 aboard USS Kearsarge, USS New York, and USS Carter Hall, this week.

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April 20, 2010

Sowing Seeds of Support; Marines Facilitate Crop Change Through Agriculture Transition Program

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — A little more than a week since it first began, the Marjah Accelerated Agricultural Transition program has begun to gain momentum in Marjah, Afghanistan, April 14. The program is one of several others, including programs provided by non-governmental organizations, which the Afghan government and coalition forces are conducting in order to foster agricultural growth.

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April 19, 2010

Maintaining the Fight; 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Headquarters Personnel Provide Much Needed Support

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH - What began with the tedious process of filling sandbags, laying concertina wire and constructing posts from strips of wood, hammered together by nails scrounged up from the sand, has developed into the large scale construction and upkeep of Forward Operating Base Marjah. Nearly two months have passed since the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment began the offensive to take the Taliban stronghold, and now, standing where coalition forces took rocket and assorted small-arms fire, is the battalion's new home.

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April 18, 2010

"I Just Graduated Yesterday and Now I'm in the Middle of a War!"

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Upon graduation from recruit training and the School of Infantry, infantry Marines usually go to their permanent duty stations where most experience life in the Marine Corps operating forces for months or even years before deploying overseas. While in the operating forces, they are able to practice and improve at their military occupational specialties in a controlled environment. Very rarely will they get to their duty stations and deploy to a combat zone almost immediately after completing SOI.

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April 17, 2010

Marines Establish New Patrol Base in Southern Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines and Sailors with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, established a new patrol base in the area of Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30.

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April 16, 2010

Regimental Combat Team-2 Puts Boots on Ground in Afghanistan

CAMP DELARAM II, Afghanistan – While gentle winds blew through the rotors of a CH-53 D helicopter, the final group of Regimental Combat Team 2 Marines and Sailors dismounted, completing the unit's transition into Camp Delaram II, Feb. 27.

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April 15, 2010

MWSS-274 Tests Its Skills, Makes Leatherneck Safer for Fellow Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Twenty one Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 finished a four-day, 24-hour operation to move an entire helicopter landing pad to a more remote location, April 15.

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N.C.-based combat engineer supersedes her peers

A female Marine who hails from the South American country of Brazil is shattering all myths about what it means to be a female Marine.

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April 13, 2010

Marines try unorthodox tactics to disrupt Afghan opium harvest

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. Marines are mounting an intensive effort to disrupt the opium harvest in the former Taliban enclave of Marja by confiscating tools from migrant workers, compensating poppy farmers who plow under their fields and collaborating with Drug Enforcement Administration personnel to raid collection sites.

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Pocket-Sized Pieces of Mind: Deployed Marines Keep Reminders of Home, Luck and Faith Close to Their Hearts

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The young Marine checked his gear for the last time just a few hours before he was to depart friendly lines. The plan was to leave under the cloak of darkness, bound for yet another remote outpost in need of resupply deep in the heart of Helmand province. Regardless of the somewhat safer guise of night, the Marine knew the enemy would be watching ... waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, as they had so many other times during his last few combat logistics patrols.

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April 12, 2010

Key Afghan town still at risk, U.S. general says

Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson says the work to secure Marja, site of a massive February offensive against the Taliban, is far from over.

The safety situation for Afghan villagers remains precarious in Marja, where U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers mounted a massive assault in February to oust the Taliban from control, the Marine general who led the assault said late Sunday.

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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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April 11, 2010

Rocket range tests skills, develops leadership for assaultmen in Djibouti

(March 28, 2010) The Marines don’t just let anybody fire high explosive rockets intended on destroying enemy bunkers and penetrating armor. But with the training Weapon’s Platoon received in the desolate landscape of this east-African country, the Corps can rest assured that some of their up and coming warriors are prepared to deliver.

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MWSS-274 Keeps Critical Base Opertational

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - There are no gun shots, no explosions, no confusion or chaos – only a thick, enveloping dust that mixes with sweat on exposed skin leaving a thin film of mud, and settles in the lungs making it difficult to breathe. This is Camp Dwyer, where a vast expanse of nothingness stretches to the horizon. The only activities across this deserted landscape are aircraft buzzing in and out and the Marines who live on this patch of desert, supporting the base.

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April 10, 2010

USS Ashland Captures Pirates

USS ASHLAND, Gulf of Aden (NNS) -- At approximately 5:00 a.m. local time, the USS Ashland (LSD 48), was fired upon by a skiff manned by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 330 nautical miles off the coast of Djibouti.

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April 8, 2010

Fueling the fighters; messmen keep Marines moving

They rise long before the sun and toil nonstop through reveille each morning and continue doing so, often unnoticed well after taps sounds each night.

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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

Friendships forged with tank firepower between Marines, French Foreign Legion

(March 30, 2010) The rock-ribbed mountain terrain of Djibouti, Africa, furiously trembled as Marines and French Foreign Legionnaires barraged the earth with their battle tanks when the two militaries joined forces to conduct a bi-lateral training exercise here last month.

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April 6, 2010

24th MEU Marines and Sailors lend Navy a hand for DIMDEX

USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) joined 12 other warships from around the world at the Doha international port to participate in the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference March 29-31.

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April 5, 2010

Moustache-growing competition motivates Marines

sil•kies

noun

1. a type of Marine Corps running shorts characterized for being short and revealing.

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April 4, 2010

3rd MAW (Fwd.) Assumes Responsibilities From MAG-40

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Marine Aircraft Group 40 transferred responsibilities as the aviation combat element of Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) during a transfer of authority ceremony, April 4.

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Slain Voluntown Marine returns home

‘He just looked out for others’

Friends and members of the Voluntown Baptist Church remembered Tyler Owen Griffin on Sunday as a kindhearted, giving young man who loved football and his country.

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April 3, 2010

Not Your Average Automotive Shop: MWSS-274 Maintenance Platoon Keeps Mission-essential Vehicles Running

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – It takes many different types of vehicles to accomplish the Marine Corps mission here. From bulldozers that build berms to humvees that bring troops to combat, keeping them all going in this austere environment is quite a chore.

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Hurting U.S. Efforts to Win Minds, Taliban Disrupt Pay

MARJA, Afghanistan — Since their offensive here in February, the Marines have flooded Marja with hundreds of thousands of dollars a week. The tactic aims to win over wary locals by paying them compensation for property damage or putting to work men who would otherwise look to the Taliban for support.

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April 2, 2010

Cherry Point Marine nominated for major general

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert S. Walsh, assistant wing commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point air station, has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.

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Babies, wives and dogs among the greeters as 150 Marines return

CHERRY POINT — Pfc. Vince Sloan cradled his infant daughter in his hands for the first time Friday afternoon.

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26th MEU Food Service Techs and Messmen Keep Comrades Nourished During Deployment Training

FORT PICKETT, Va. – At 3:00 a.m., long before sunrise, they report to the kitchen to set up what they need to do their job. As they move around the kitchen finalizing the eggs and hash browns prepared the night before, they gather their necessary ingredients to provide a nutritious and hearty meal to a multitude of hungry Marines and Sailors.

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CLB-26 Provides Invaluable Support for 26th MEU During Fort Pickett Exercise

FORT PICKETT, Va. - When a Marine Expeditionary Unit forms by gathering its major subordinate elements into its command, the first major challenge for the unit is to complete its initial deployment training, including required classes, weapons firing and an abundance of other training events. It's a full schedule.

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April 1, 2010

For Marines, Marjah market is battleground for Afghans' trust

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Among the U.S. Marines at Combat Outpost Turbett, Gunnery Sgt. Brandon Dickinson is better known as "Gunny D."

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March 31, 2010

HMH-466 Provides Heavy Lift for Marines in Marjah

Since the start of operations in Marjah, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, has flown more than 275 hours, carried more than 1,500 passengers and transported more than 500,000 pounds of cargo in support of Operation Moshtarak.

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March 29, 2010

Marine corporal exceeds expectations, helps fight cancer

Dependable. Determined. Motivated. Those are just three of the many words Gunnery Sgt. Derrick Hayes, assistant staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the flammables section, 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, uses to describe Cpl. Dana Hineline.

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Marines break from training, spread goodwill at orphanges in Djibouti

As servicemembers from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit scaled mountains, shot an array of weapons, and learned to survive in the deserts of Djibouti, Africa, several Marines and Sailors were given an opportunity to break from their training for something the Marine Corps sees as a critical part of their deployment as well - volunteering in local communities of the countries they train in.

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Marines Keep Vigilance High During Marjah Patrol

MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – It's been approximately 45 days since the Marines breached enemy lines into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, and the Marines remain as vigilant as ever.

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In Afghanistan, Soldiers Use Diplomacy to Win the Battle

In this week's "Unplugged Under 40," First Lt. Patrick Nevins shows us how Marines fighting in Afghanistan must use more than military tactics to accomplish their mission.

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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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Mortarmen Bring 81s to the Fight

MARJAH, Afghanistan – The Marines and Soldiers were going about their daily business, setting up their new company operating base in Marjah, Afghanistan, March 21. There wasn't much going on at the time.

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March 26, 2010

Female Marine Leads Platoon, Inspires Others

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Sgt. Tanell Nedd is one of the busiest non-commissioned officers working in the 2nd Marine Logistics Group these days. While she directs and mentors her platoon of young Marines, she is also preparing them for a grueling future deployment to Afghanistan.

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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 25, 2010

Photo gallery: Fight in the field

Photos and text by Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Online Edition, Thursday, March 25, 2010

A platoon of Marines from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, along with Afghan soldiers, had been on patrol for two days near a school in Marjah, Afghanistan, that Taliban fighters had been reportedly using as a base. Graffiti inside the school indicated that Taliban had been active in the area, and just the previous day, March 10, a Marine had been shot in the back after a running gunbattle with insurgents that had lasted most of the afternoon.

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Bataan, 22nd MEU headed home from Haiti

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Mar 25, 2010 15:23:29 EDT

The amphibious assault ship Bataan was released from the humanitarian assistance mission off Haiti on Wednesday, marking the end of a Navy response that, at its peak, included an entire armada of warships, Coast Guard cutters and other U.S. vessels.

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Milton Marine loses leg in blast in Afghanistan

Central graduate stepped on IED in Afghanistan

About 5 a.m. Saturday, Becky Palmer, 25, got the phone call.

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March 24, 2010

Curbing Taliban opium trade risks loss of support

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Curbing the Taliban's multimillion dollar opium poppy business was a major goal of a military operation to seize this former insurgent stronghold. With the town in NATO hands, the Marines face a conundrum: If they destroy the crops and curb the trade, they lose the support of the population — a problem for which they have no easy solution.

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Marines Conduct Census Patrols to Better Understand Surrounding Villages

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, along with soldiers from the 6th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205 Corps, Afghan National Army, conducted a census patrol in the vicinity of Mian Poshteh, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 19.

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26th MEU to train at Fort Pickett, Va.

The Marines and sailors will conduct individual and small unit training to certify across a wide range of skills, including weapons firing, foot and vehicle maneuver, urban operations, breaching and demolitions, hand grenade practice, as well as other training events, according to Maj. Cesar A. Unzueta, assistant operations officer for 26th MEU.

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Milton Marine hurt in blast

A Marine from Milton is recovering in a German hospital after being severely injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan Saturday.

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Uphill task for US Marines on Afghan healthcare

MARJAH, Afghanistan, March 24, 2010 (AFP) - When US Major James Coffman presented a plan to restore healthcare to a southern Afghan town after years of Taliban rule and weeks of fighting, he thought it was a winner.

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Local Marine injured in Afghanistan

MILTON, Fla. (WALA) - A Milton Marine stepped right onto a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. His foot had to be amputated and he's being treated for injuries in Germany. His family is keeping in close contact with him and is thankful he's still alive.

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March 23, 2010

Uneasy quiet, then a Taliban ambush

By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 23, 2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Matthew W. McElhinney faded in and out of consciousness as the morphine kicked in.

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March 22, 2010

Marja Embed: Six Weeks in Helmand Province

After spending more than six weeks with the Marines and Afghan National Army in Helmand Province, Tyler Hicks and I left Afghanistan in early March. We plan to return a few times this year. Meanwhile, our colleagues will follow developments there, as Rod Nordland just did. But even as the conversation pitches forward, there are items from the opening of the Marja offensive that merit more attention. The limits of space in the newspaper, as well the shortages of electricity and time while on the ground, meant that material worth sharing at the outset never found an outlet.

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MAG-40 Corpsman Recognized for Heroic Actions

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. The Marines don't have that problem," former president Ronald Reagan once said.

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March 21, 2010

Reuters photographer and Marine meet again in Helmand

Almost two years ago, Reuters photographer Goran Tomasevic captured a dramatic shot of U.S. Marine Sergeant William Bee, from Wooster, Ohio, the moment a Taliban bullet hit a wall inches from this head.

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Newest Taliban tactic in Marjah: IED blasts

By Heidi Vogt - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Mar 21, 2010 8:43:10 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Explosions rumble through this former Taliban stronghold three or four times a day — an ominous sign that the insurgents have not given up despite losing control of this town to U.S. and Afghan forces about two weeks ago.

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Marines offer cash in fight against Afghan opium

(Reuters) - After weeks of intense fighting over the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, U.S. Marines are now taking cautious aim at the drugs trade, with a program designed to pay opium farmers to destroy their own crops without a fight.

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March 20, 2010

Taliban adjust, wage bomb attacks in Afghan town

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Explosions rumble through this former Taliban stronghold three or four times a day - an ominous sign that the insurgents have not given up despite losing control of this town to U.S. and Afghan forces about two weeks ago.

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March 19, 2010

An up close look at the military life in Marjah

-- EDITOR'S NOTE - Associated Press photographer David Guttenfelder was embedded with U.S. forces during the offensive in Marjah, Afghanistan. Here is his account of some of the photos he made of the soldiers' daily lives.

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MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) - For months, the U.S. military had been openly saying it was getting ready to crush the Taliban in its last stronghold in Afghanistan's Helmand province - the world's opium bazaar.

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Marine patrols still meet snipers in Afghan town

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- The first shots came from the north, sending Marines ducking into the nearest ditch - some filled with putrid water. More shots rang out from the southwest: a possible ambush from two sides.

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Corpsmen Teach Afghan Soldiers Basic Medical Skills

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Corpsmen with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, showed Afghan national army soldiers from the 6th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, how to save lives on the battlefield on March 9-11.

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March 18, 2010

Behind the Scenes of Embarkation, Logistics

Living in an area without food, water or shelter can make survival very difficult, especially in a hostile environment. Even in garrison, without supplies, mission accomplishment is an impossible task to complete.

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Marines try to buy good will in Marjah

Goal is to persuade wavering Afghans to turn away from the Taliban

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Crouched on packed earth at a barricaded Marine encampment, the village elders issued their complaint: U.S. troops had killed an innocent 14-year-old boy. Secretly, the Marines didn't believe them. No matter. They apologized, called the death a tragedy and promised to offer a condolence payment to the boy's family.

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French Army teaches 24th MEU Marines desert survival skills

The desert is an unforgiving and potentially lethal ecosystem; and where most Marines find themselves operating while deployed. This makes garnering basic desert survival skills essential to every Marine.

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Bazaar flourishes after nine months of closure

Just outside of Combat Outpost Sharp, in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, there sits the Zan Zier bazaar. What was just months ago completely abandoned, is now home to 66 different shops that provide the Mian Poshteh area with goods.

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March 17, 2010

Taliban using fear campaign in Marjah

By Heidi Vogt - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Mar 17, 2010 20:22:02 EDT

MARJAH, Afghanistan — A month after losing control of their southern base in Marjah, the Taliban have begun to fight back, launching a campaign of assassination and intimidation to frighten people from supporting the U.S. and its Afghan allies.

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Marines endure fleas, flies, filth in Marjah

By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 17, 2010

KAREZ-E-SAYYIDI, Afghanistan — By any estimate, the living conditions at Combat Outpost Coutu can only be described as grim.

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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 16, 2010

Jump Platoon: Taking Knocks for the Colonel

This story was filed by CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark, who was embedded with the 3/6 Jump Platoon during the recent operation to rid the town of Marjah, in Afghanistan's Helmand province, of Taliban fighters.

Jump Platoon has one mission: Protect the Battalion Commander as he moves in his battle space. Where he goes, they go.

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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 10, 2010

Armored Trucks Shield Marines From Taliban Bombs

The shooting is largely over in the Marjah area of southern Afghanistan that was recaptured by U.S. and Afghan forces last month. But a deadly threat remains: homemade bombs.

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2nd Dental Battalion Female Marine Makes Waves in Local Community

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The antiquated thought that a woman's place is 'at home, in the kitchen' is not long gone, but steadily fading away. Women are more educated today, work in more demanding jobs than in years past and are more globally diverse than their foremothers.

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March 8, 2010

From fighters to fixers: Marines woo villagers

Yesterday I wrote a piece for Afghanistan Crossroads touching on the main challenge facing the coalition now that the fighting in Marjah has come to an end: winning over the local population.

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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

Deploy the MEF: Not just a saying, a way of life

Deploy the Marine Expeditionary Force is not just a saying for the Marines of Combat Logistics Company 21, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, it’s a way of life. The Marines from CLC-21 work tirelessly seven days a week to ensure Marines and gear from II MEF and the other units in the Marine Corps get where they need to go.

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March 3, 2010

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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RCT-2 Puts Boots on Ground in Afghanistan

CAMP DELARAM II, Afghanistan — While gentle winds blew through the rotors of a CH-53 D helicopter, the final group of Regimental Combat Team 2 Marines and sailors dismounted, completing the unit's transition into Camp Delaram II, Feb. 27.

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March 2, 2010

Military Police Marines Attend Mine Detector Course

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, attended a two-day mine detecting course aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 22 -23.

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McChrystal, others visit Marja, Afghanistan, as offensive enters governing phase

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- The initial phase of the military offensive in southern Afghanistan to wrest Marja from insurgent control has largely ended, but the more daunting task of building a credible government in the place of Taliban rule has just begun, according to senior U.S. and Afghan officials.

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McChrystal, others visit Marja, Afghanistan, as offensive enters governing phase

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- The initial phase of the military offensive in southern Afghanistan to wrest Marja from insurgent control has largely ended, but the more daunting task of building a credible government in the place of Taliban rule has just begun, according to senior U.S. and Afghan officials.

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March 1, 2010

Taliban Flees Marjah, Threat Remains For Marines

In southern Afghanistan, U.S. Marines and their Afghan counterparts are tightening their hold on the Taliban stronghold of Marjah. Each day, troops are uncovering weapons caches left behind by Taliban fighters who ran away or are hiding among the local population.

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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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Residents of Marjah wary of U.S. after Taliban ouster

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- One by one, the men of Marjah tentatively approached the high-ranking Afghan official with their complaints.

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24th MEU Marines take MCMAP to the sea

ABOARD USS NASSAU, Mediterranean Sea — The sound of agonizing grunts, bodies being slammed into padded mats and the stench of heavy sweat mixed with salt water fills the hangar bay aboard USS Nassau as 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines and Sailors push their physical and mental limits in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program beginning Feb. 14.

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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 28, 2010

With Marja Largely Won, Marines Try to Win Trust

SEMITAY BAZAAR, Afghanistan — After the declaration this weekend that the battle for the Taliban enclave of Marja had been won, for the Marines standing behind sandbags and walking patrols, the more complicated work has begun. With it will be a test of the strategy selected by President Obama and the generals now running the Afghan war.

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Marines, Afghan troops to be stationed in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan — More than 2,000 U.S. Marines and about 1,000 Afghan troops who stormed the Taliban town of Marjah as part of a major NATO offensive against a resurgent Taliban will stay for the next several months to help ensure insurgents don't return, Marine commanders said Sunday.

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February 27, 2010

Insurgents disappear as US, Afghan forces clear last areas of former Taliban stronghold Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Marines and Afghan troops who fought through the centre of Marjah linked up Saturday with American soldiers on the northern edge of the former Taliban stronghold, clearing the town's last major pocket of resistance.

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Normalcy takes root in Marjah after allied offensive

By Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times
Stars and Stripes online edition, Saturday, February 27, 2010

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Just a few dozen yards from the bullet-riddled government building, Marine Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson found more proof Saturday that the battle for Marjah was over.

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US, Afghan forces clear last parts of Taliban area

MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) -- U.S. and Afghan forces say they have cleared the last major pocket of resistance from the former Taliban stronghold of Marjah.

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February 26, 2010

Marine with Minnesota ties killed in Afghanistan

A U.S. Marine with Minnesota family ties has been killed in Afghanistan.

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February 25, 2010

Taking It to the Taliban

Two days before launching the most ambitious military campaign of the Obama Administration, General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, convened a meeting in Kabul of 450 tribal elders and scholars from Helmand province. The general's objective: to build support for Operation Moshtarak, a massive offensive on the Taliban stronghold of Marjah. McChrystal ran through the military phase of the plan, which would involve 6,000 U.S. Marines and British soldiers and 4,500 Afghan troops and police. Then he described how these troops would protect the town while a "government in a box" — a corps of Afghan officials who had been training for this moment for months — would start administering the town. The elders all signed off on the plan, but not before one of them warned the American general, "You have to understand that if you don't do what you say, we'll all be killed."

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Chaplains help Marines cope with offensive in Afghanistan

WILMINGTON – Chaplains deployed to Afghanistan have provided support for Marines dealing with the loss of their own in recent battles. After two weeks of intense fighting in Afghanistan, an Afghan flag now flies over Marjah, a former Taliban stronghold.

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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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US-led troops inch close to victory in Afghan assault

MARJAH, Afghanistan : US-led troops were inching closer to declaring victory over a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan as a senior commander said Wednesday militant resistance had fallen dramatically.

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Afghans displaced by Marja offensive fret in a cold limbo

At least 24,000 people have fled since the assault on the Taliban began. Each passing day is a countdown to ruin for farm families.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan - In wind-whipped tents, makeshift shelters and overcrowded family compounds, Afghans who fled the battleground town of Marja are asking themselves and one another: When will it be safe to go home?

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February 24, 2010

Marines Clearing Last Taliban Pockets In Marjah

More than 100 Marines and their Afghan counterparts are pushing into a neighborhood they say is the last significant stronghold of insurgents.

Marines are starting a push to clear the last pockets of Taliban insurgents from Marjah.

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Camp Lejeune Marines Continue Their Work In Haiti

Marines from Camp Lejeune remain in Haiti, some 6 weeks after the devastating earthquake.

Officials on the ground say the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is not just handing out aid, but is helping to unite the people and governments of Haiti with non-governmental organizations and international aid workers.

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Army, Marines, Afghan National Army Team Up to Clear Vital Route of Roadside Bombs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the Route Clearance Platoon, 162nd Engineer Company, 105th Engineer Battalion, Oregon National Guard, worked to remove any IEDs on Route "Cowboys," in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 14-16.

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February 23, 2010

Pfc. Jason Hill Estopinal, 21: Marine was killed in Afghanistan

Cindy Sharpe was about to board a plane for a return trip to Atlanta when her phone rang.

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US offensive yet to persuade Afghans in key town

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Bouwudin courteously greeted the Afghan and American officers who came to meet him, offering tea and eventually a meal as the meeting lingered on. No amount of invitations could get him to walk a few hundred yards to the Marines base.

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1/2 to deploy from Lejeune to Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 23, 2010 17:14:49 EST

The Marine Corps will have another battalion in Afghanistan within the next 10 days, swelling Marine forces in southern Afghanistan to more than 12,000 Marines.

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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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Battle for Marja not only militarily significant

A year ago, the mention of Marja, a speck on the map in southern Afghanistan, would have drawn befuddled stares in the Pentagon.

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US-led troops make 'steady progress' in Marjah

US-led forces fighting to clear a Taliban stronghold in south Afghanistan are making "steady progress", the most senior US military commander says.

Adm Mike Mullen said the operation in the town of Marjah in Helmand province was "messy... but that doesn't mean that it's not worth the cost".

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Hundreds give fallen Canton Marine a hero's welcome

Lucy Smithers didn’t know Marine Cpl. Jacob Turbett, hadn’t ever met him or anyone who knew him and knew nothing about Monday’s show of support for the fallen Marine until reading the local paper Sunday night.

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Progress in Marjah, But Civilian Trust Elusive

MARJAH, Afghanistan—Ten days into the fight for Marjah, U.S. and Afghan troops continue to seize ground, often battling the Taliban from one mud-walled compound to the next. But progress has been slower in winning over local civilians, many of whom are unsure which side will make life safer for their families.

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Reporter's diary: Inside Operation Moshtarak

For more than a week, CNN International Correspondent Atia Abawi has been embedded with U.S. Marines who are working alongside Afghan soldiers to rout out Taliban forces from the southern Afghan province of Marjah. Abawi filed this inside look at Operation Moshtarak:

It's been over a week now since Operation Moshtarak began here in southern Afghanistan. The city of Marjah shakes with the sound of improvised explosive devices, most of them set off by controlled explosions. Between IED blasts, the air is filled with the sounds of whizzing bullets, booming mortars, clacking helicopters, and other noises of war that I can't even express in writing.

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February 21, 2010

Afghans Voice Their Fears Amid Marja Campaign

MARJA, Afghanistan — Since the American-led offensive into the last large Taliban enclave in Helmand Province began nine days ago, local Afghans have faced a dangerous and uncertain world.

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Marines target Taliban holdouts in Marjah

Fighter jets, drone and attack helicopters focus on part of city

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Outnumbered and outgunned, Taliban fighters are mounting a tougher fight than expected in Marjah, Afghan officials said Sunday, as U.S.-led forces converged on a pocket of militants in a western section of the town.

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Military sweep of Marja focuses on pocket of 'determined resistance'

Marines and Afghan troops fight to clear holdout insurgents from one corner of the city in southern Afghanistan. NATO says there is another casualty among Western troops, bringing the total to 13.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Nawa, Afghanistan -- Backed by fighter jets and attack helicopters, U.S. Marines and Afghan troops closed in on an insurgent-ridden sector of Marja on Sunday, the ninth day of a coalition bid to wrest control of the southern Afghan town from the Taliban.

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Afghans frustrated in bid to remake Taliban-free towns

Nawa's district governor, upset by the unresponsive provincial government, pleads with residents not to become disenchanted and ally with insurgents.

Reporting from Nawa, Afghanistan — Haji Abdul Manaf, the district governor for this region of Helmand Province, was incensed.

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Marines Converge On Taliban Holdouts In Marjah

NATO Forces Face 'Determined Resistance'

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Marines and Afghan units converged Sunday on a dangerous western quarter of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, with NATO forces facing "determined resistance" as their assault on the southern town entered its second week.

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February 20, 2010

Taliban Resistance Stalls New Rule in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan—The Taliban grenade that whizzed overhead was John Kael Weston's first indication that this town might not be ready for an influx of diplomats, agriculturalists and economic-development specialists.

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Londonderry Marine, 21, killed in Afghanistan

He died 'doing something respectful'

LONDONDERRY — A 21-year-old Londonderry Marine was killed by enemy fire Wednesday in Afghanistan.

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Marines Do Heavy Lifting as Afghan Army Lags in Battle

ARJA, Afghanistan — As American Marines and Afghan soldiers have fought their way into this Taliban stronghold, the performance of the Afghan troops has tested a core premise of the American military effort here: in the not-too-distant future, the security of this country can be turned over to indigenous forces created at the cost of American money and blood.

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Afghan police deployed in wake of NATO offensive

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan police were deployed on Saturday in an area recaptured from the Taliban by U.S. Marines this week, in the early phase of a plan to put the country firmly under the control of Afghan authorities.

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In Marja, it's war the old-fashioned way

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- They had slogged through knee-deep mud carrying 100 pounds of gear, fingers glued to the triggers of their M-4 carbines, all the while on the lookout for insurgents. Now, after five near-sleepless nights, trying to avoid hypothermia in freezing temperatures, the grunts of the 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment finally had a moment to relax.

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February 19, 2010

Troops Face Pockets of Resistance in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan—The Taliban grenade that whizzed overhead was John Kael Weston's first indication that this embattled town might not be ready for an influx of diplomats, agriculturalists and economic-development specialists.

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US Marines seize Taliban headquarters, IDs, photos

MARJAH, Afghanistan – After a fierce gunfight, U.S. Marines seized a strongly defended compound Friday that appears to have been a Taliban headquarters — complete with photos of fighters posing with their weapons, dozens of Taliban-issued ID cards and graduation diplomas from a training camp in Pakistan.

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Marines in Marja focus on sniper threat

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan — Following the deadliest day yet for coalition forces seeking to drive the Taliban from the town of Marja in southern Afghanistan, U.S. Marines took aim Friday at the threat posed by insurgent snipers.

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In Afghanistan, Marines handling detainees by the book

The Marines have been ordered not to treat Afghans roughly. When making an arrest, they are instructed to ask their suspect to voluntarily go with them. Most do.

Reporting from Spin Ghar, Afghanistan - The three men were blindfolded, their hands bound in front of them with plastic flex cuffs, and each was in the firm grip of a Marine. Their loose-fitting clothes were faded and dusty, their thick beards beginning to show gray.

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February 18, 2010

Marines dropped behind Taliban lines; NATO now controls key roads in Marjah but progress slow

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Two U.S. helicopters dropped elite Marine recon teams behind Taliban lines before dawn Friday as the U.S.-led force stepped up operations to break resistance on the seventh day of fighting in the besieged militant stronghold of Marjah.

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Local Marine in Afghanistan: 'I just have to stay alive'

KABUL, Afghanistan - For the U.S. Marines, including Justin Blancas of Mount Prospect, who are deployed to the battlefields of southern Afghanistan, life is fragile and thoughts focus on the day they see their families again. But something about this war is different.

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Marines still looking over shoulder for Taliban

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - It's only been six days since NATO launched a major assault against the Taliban and some Afghans are already asking Marines when they can reopen their shops.

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February 17, 2010

Snipers Imperil U.S.-Led Forces in Afghan Offensive

MARJA, Afghanistan — In five days of fighting, the Taliban have shown a side not often seen in nearly a decade of American military action in Afghanistan: the use of snipers, both working alone and integrated into guerrilla-style ambushes.

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US forces move swiftly to take control of region north of Marjah

US Marines moving from the north of Marjah have joined up with US troops who were dropped into the area by helicopter four days ago, helping to increase their control over a crucial area known as the “Pork Chop”.

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Michigan Marine killed in Afghanistan to be buried at Arlington

A Marine who graduated from Canton High School in 2007 and died recently in Afghanistan had known for years that he wanted to be in the military, according to one of his former teachers.

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Embattled Afghan Taliban rely on human shields

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Taliban fighters holding out in Marjah are increasingly using civilians as human shields, firing from compounds where U.S. and Afghan forces can clearly see women and children on rooftops or in windows, Afghan and U.S. troops said Wednesday.

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Marjah inroads slowed by new bombs

Lt Col Cal Worth, who commands one of two Marine battalions leading the offensive against Taliban fighters here, set off at 7am on Wednesday for the return journey to his battalion headquarters from a combat outpost less than four miles away.

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February 16, 2010

Marines link up in Afghan Taliban stronghold

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Marines moving by land from the north linked up Tuesday with U.S. units that have faced nearly constant Taliban attack in the four days since they were dropped by helicopter into this insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan.

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Site of Marjah Government Offices Seized

MARJAH, Afghanistan—U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers seized the site of Marjah's government offices, setting the stage for Kabul to attempt to resume its authority in a town long run by the Taliban.

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Marines: Taliban resistance more disorganized

MARJAH, Afghanistan — U.S. and Afghan forces traded gunfire with insurgents shooting from haystacks in poppy fields in the Taliban stronghold of Marjah as they pressed ahead in NATO's assault on the militants' heartland in southern Afghanistan.

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Marine from Canton Township killed in Afghanistan

Canton Township -- A Marine from Michigan who would have turned 22 on St. Patrick's Day has been killed in Afghanistan.

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February 15, 2010

The Marines move on Marja: A perilous slog against Afghanistan's Taliban

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- For the Marines of Charlie Company's 3rd Platoon, Sunday's mission was simple enough: Head west for a little more than a mile to link up with Alpha Company in preparation for a mission to secure the few ramshackle government buildings in this farming community.

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U.S., Afghan Troops Battle Snipers in Marjah Offensive

MARJAH, Afghanistan—U.S. Marines sent reinforcements to a beleaguered outpost where insurgent fighters were using women and children to carry weapons and shield their attacks on coalition forces.

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U.S. Marine Walks Away From Shot to Helmet in Afghanistan

MARJAH, Afghanistan—It is hard to know whether Monday was a very bad day or a very good day for Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig.

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Soldiers Keep Up Push in Taliban Stronghold

MARJA, Afghanistan — Ten minutes after walking out of the small outpost on Monday morning, the Marines of Company K were ambushed again.

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February 14, 2010

Troops face gunfights and minefields in offensive against Taliban in Afghanistan

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers encountered pockets of stiff resistance and extensive minefields as they sought to press into this Taliban sanctuary in southern Afghanistan on Saturday.

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Errant U.S. Rocket Strike Kills Civilians in Afghanistan

MARJA, Afghanistan — An errant American rocket strike on Sunday hit a compound crowded with Afghan civilians in the last Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province, killing at least 10 people, including 5 children, military officials said.

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U.S. Troops Encounter Snipers, Bombs in Afghanistan Offensive

Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- U.S.-led forces encountered sniper fire and remote-controlled bombs as they fought for a second day to clear a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, NATO and Afghan officials said.

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U.S. and Afghan Troops Expand Control in Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan—Taliban insurgents tried to overrun a U.S. Marine outpost with a combination of rocket-propelled grenades and suicide bombers in a brazen attack just after sundown on Sunday.

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Marines, Afghan troops seek to secure their hold on Marja

On the offensive's second full day of fighting, Afghan officials say 27 insurgents have been killed. NATO reports 12 civilian deaths from a rocket strike and suspends use of the weapons involved.

Reporting from outside Marja and Kabul, Afghanistan — Insurgent holdouts in the town of Marja on Sunday aimed sporadic but sometimes intense fire at U.S. Marines and Afghan troops seeking to solidify their hold on the southern Afghan town.

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Troops, Taliban battle for second day in Afghan offensive

Marjah, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The Taliban put up a stiff resistance Sunday, as a coalition assault against the militant group entered its second day in southern Afghanistan.

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Marine commander says it could take weeks to fully reclaim Taliban haven

MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) — It could take weeks to reclaim the Taliban stronghold of Marjah, a top Marine commander said Sunday as thousands of U.S. troops and Afghan soldiers fought for a second day in NATO's most ambitious effort yet to break the militants' grip on Afghanistan's dangerous south.

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February 13, 2010

US, Afghan troops sweep into Taliban stronghold

MARJAH, Afghanistan — Thousands of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers stormed the Taliban stronghold of Marjah before dawn Saturday, sweeping by air and ground against scattered resistance into the biggest southern town under militant control. The massive offensive was aimed at breaking the Taliban grip over a wide area of their southern heartland.

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Attack Gives Marines a Taste of War

MARJA, Afghanistan — The helicopters landed before dawn Saturday in a poppy field beside a row of mud-walled compounds. The Marines ran into the darkness and crouched through the rotor-whipped dust as their aircraft lifted away.

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Surprise tactic in Afghanistan offensive befuddles Taliban

LASHKAR GAR, Afghanistan -- U.S. Marines and Afghan forces were airlifted over the Taliban-laid minefields into the center of town in Marjah Saturday, apparently surprising the insurgents and taking strategic positions from them, according to military officials.

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Coalition troops find 'minimal interference' in assault on Taliban

Marjah, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The major coalition assault against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan claimed the lives of two coalition troops, but military officials regard the hours-old push in war-ravaged Helmand province as very promising.

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Marines spearhead major Afghanistan offensive

MARJAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - U.S. Marines spearheaded one of NATO's biggest offensives against the Taliban in Afghanistan on Saturday, in an early test of President Barack Obama's troop surge policy.

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Marines take key positions in Marja

OUTSIDE MARJA and KABUL, Afghanistan _ Picking their way through a dense tangle of homemade bombs, U.S. Marines on Saturday seized key positions in the Taliban stronghold of Marja, as thousands of coalition troops consolidated their hold on a wide swath of desert and farm territory surrounding the southern Afghan town.

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Bombs slow U.S. advance in Afghan town

2 NATO troops, at least 20 insurgents reported killed on first day of assault

MARJAH, Afghanistan - Bombs and booby traps slowed the advance of thousands of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers moving Saturday through the Taliban-controlled town of Marjah — NATO's most ambitious effort yet to break the militants' grip over their southern heartland.

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Anti-Taliban Attack: 'Key Objectives Secured'

More than 1,000 British troops engaged in the launch of Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan have secured their "key objectives", the Ministry of Defence has said.

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February 12, 2010

Marines, Afghan Soldiers Take on Harsh Weather Conditions in Helmand Province

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The troops awoke from their tarp-covered fighting holes, Feb. 10, to find a blanket of frost, covering everything around them. Their boots, flak jackets, helmets and anything else exposed to the elements served as a frozen consequence of sleeping outside in the harsh desert of Helmand, province Afghanistan during the wintertime.

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Marines' life-and-death decisions in the 'fighting hole'

For the assault on Marja in southern Afghanistan, Marines are drilled yet again about the inadvertent killing of civilians, which could undermine what they are trying to accomplish.

Reporting from The Outskirts Of Marja, Afghanistan - The Marines of Charlie Company had just landed outside Marja and were itching for the fight with the Taliban when they learned that a group of Afghans with shovels and wheelbarrows were digging holes in the road nearby.

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Marines launch offensive in southern Afghanistan town

The long-discussed operation against the Taliban in Marja is one of the biggest of the war. Along with targeting the insurgents' grip on Helmand province, it's a test of the Afghan army's abilities.

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and The Outskirts Of Marja, Afghanistan -- Thousands of U.S., British and Afghan troops moved to seize the Taliban stronghold of Marja early Saturday in what the Marine general leading the assault called a "big, strong and fast" offensive aimed at challenging the insurgency's grip on a key southern Afghan province.

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Coalition Troops Storm a Taliban Haven

MARJA, Afghanistan — Thousands of American, Afghan and British troops attacked the watery Taliban fortress of Marja early Saturday, moving by land and through the air to destroy the insurgency’s largest haven and begin a campaign to reassert the dominance of the Afghan government across a large arc of southern Afghanistan.

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U.S. Marines launch major offensive in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN -- Thousands of U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers traveling in helicopters and mine-resistant vehicles began punching into a key Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan early Saturday, as one of the largest operations to assert government control over this country got underway.

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In the Cold of Morning, Descending Into Conflict

MARJA, Afghanistan — The helicopter was filled with men and dark in its cabin when a voice cut over the whir of the rotors.

“Five minutes out!”

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February 11, 2010

Marines roll out Assault Breacher Vehicles for Marjah Afghanistan offensive

When Marines rumble into the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province for one of the largest offensives of the Afghanistan war, they'll be battle-testing a powerful new weapon, the Assault Breacher Vehicle

When the the Marines currently stacked up in Afghanistan's Helmand province waiting for a long-planned offensive against the Taliban finally make their move, they'll be coming with a powerful new weapon that looks like a cross between a tank and hell's own backhoe.

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US and Afghan troops ring Taliban stronghold

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan -
U.S. and Afghan forces ringed the Taliban stronghold of Marjah on Thursday, sealing off escape routes and setting the stage for what is being described as the biggest offensive of the nine-year war.

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U.S. Troops Close Taliban Escape Route Before Major Offensive

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan — U.S. and Afghan forces ringed the Taliban stronghold of Marjah on Thursday, sealing off escape routes and setting the stage for what is being described as the biggest offensive of the nine-year war.

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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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Marines push 'The Breacher' against Taliban lines

SISTANI, Afghanistan -- In comes "The Joker."

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Taliban, Marines exchange fire as battle looms

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) -- U.S. Marines and Taliban insurgents exchanged gunfire Thursday on the outskirts of Marjah, a southern militant stronghold where American and Afghan forces are expected to launch a major attack in the coming days.

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February 10, 2010

U.S., Afghan Forces Poised to Seize Taliban Stronghold

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan — U.S. and Afghan forces pushed Tuesday to the edge of the southern Afghan town of Marjah, poised to seize the major Taliban supply and drug-smuggling stronghold in hopes of building public support by providing aid and services once the insurgents are gone.

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U.S. Inches Closer to Major Afghan Assault

Marines Test Taliban Defenses Before Attack on Key Militant Stronghold

(CBS/ AP) U.S. Marines fired smoke rounds Wednesday and armored vehicles maneuvered close to Taliban positions to test insurgent defenses ahead of an anticipated attack on the biggest militant-controlled town in southern Afghanistan.

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US Marines under fire ahead of Afghan assault

OUTSKIRTS OF MARJAH, Afghanistan — US Marines came under attack from insurgents armed with sniper guns and rocket-propelled grenades as they geared up Wednesday to overwhelm a Taliban bastion in Afghanistan.

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February 9, 2010

Marjah Marines Brace for Offensive

U.S. Marines Head up Force of 30,000 NATO and Afghan Troops Preparing to Attack Taliban Stronghold

(CBS) It is the eve of battle and today the Marines on the outskirts of Marjah got their marching orders from their commanding officer.

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Central Helmand Residents Encouraged to Remain in Homes

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan - In anticipation of operations in central Helmand, a variety of organizations and individuals, including combined force commanders, have been paying close attention to civilian movements. Commanders in the area are reporting no significant increase in persons moving out of Nad-e Ali District in the last month.

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US Marines expectantly await battle in harsh Afghan desert winter

OUTPOST BELLEAU WOOD, Afghanistan — Take a desert of yellow-orange dust so flat it looks like Mars, with a freezing wind that blows so hard it can lift a large tent.

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US Marines gear up for major Afghan assault

TOOR GHAR, Afghanistan — US Marines on Tuesday stepped up preparations for a major assault on a key Taliban bastion in southern Afghanistan hailed by officers as the biggest offensive of the eight-year war.

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Marines Fight Insurgents, Secure Key Intersection on Road to Marjeh

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, battled Taliban insurgents, Feb. 9, after conducting a successful helicopter-borne assault to seize a key intersection east of the insurgent stronghold city of Marjeh.

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February 8, 2010

Marines focus on civilian safety in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Heading into battle to seize a Taliban stronghold, U.S. Marines are keenly aware of one factor that could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory: Afghan civilian casualties.

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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 7, 2010

USS Nassau ARG/24th MEU Depart Haiti

ABOARD USS NASSAU, At Sea (NNS) -- The USS Nassau Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed Haiti Feb. 7, continuing on its originally scheduled deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

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Afghan assault to send 'strong signal': McChrystal

KABUL — The commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan said Sunday a major offensive will send a "strong signal" and clear insurgents from their southern stronghold, as residents fled ahead of the assault.

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Taliban dig in for big assault, say Afghan villagers

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban militants are massing and preparing for a big fight ahead of a major NATO offensive in an insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan, villagers fleeing the area said on Sunday.

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Rules of engagement mean Marines see victory in holding fire

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, February 7, 2010

COMBAT OUTPOST FIDDLER’S GREEN, Afghanistan

Sgt. Jefferson Haney is a rarity, and his fellow Marines look at him with just a little bit of envy.

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February 5, 2010

Marines poised for Marjeh offensive

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, February 5, 2010

CHAPAWALA, Afghanistan — When 35-year-old Lance Cpl. Robert McGuinn enlisted four years ago, he knew what to expect.

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February 4, 2010

Home Is Where the Pack Is: Marines Set Up Camp in Southern Afghan Desert

CAMP BELLEAU WOOD, Afghanistan – A desolate patch of Afghan desert has been transformed into the Marine Corps' newest installation in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, have been working night and day to establish Camp Belleau Wood, named after the famous World War I battle in which 3/6 valiantly fought many years ago.

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February 3, 2010

Marines, Afghan army plan massive assault on Taliban

The attack will be aimed at Marja, the last community held by the militia in Helmand province.

Reporting from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan - The U.S. Marines and Afghan army plan a massive assault on Taliban fighters in Marja, the last community under Taliban control in a sprawling, lawless region once dominated by the insurgency, a top Marine said Wednesday.

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February 2, 2010

Fighting a Thinking Enemy; Marines, Afghan Forces Engage Taliban With More Than Brute Force

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Beleaguered and tired, with combat boots half filled with water, Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and the Afghan national army soldiers attached to their unit, trudge through flooded canals in the Shorshurak region of Helmand province, Jan. 29.

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Marine deaths underline US struggle in Afghanistan

CAMP FIDDLER'S GREEN, Afghanistan — The incident, deadly and tragic as it was, rated only one short sentence on the official NATO website.

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February 1, 2010

US casualties in Afghanistan sow seeds of anger, frustration

SOUTHEAST OF MARJAH, Afghanistan: Anger, frustration and a hunger for revenge are running high among US Marines as casualties mount on the frontline of the battle against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan

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January 31, 2010

Marines prepare for Helmand campaign with shooting drills

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines from Headquarters and Service Company of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, arrived at the makeshift rifle range with large packs and complete sets of personal protective equipment under rain-threatening clouds the afternoon of Jan. 23, 2010, at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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US Marines facing a 'different war' in Afghanistan

SOUTHEAST OF MARJAH, Afghanistan — For the US Marines deployed to the battlefields of southern Afghanistan, life is fragile and thoughts focus on the day they see their families again, but something about this war is different

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January 23, 2010

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit off the coast of Haiti, ready to assist relief efforts

ABOARD USS NASSAU — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is off the coast of Haiti Jan. 23 staged to support ongoing relief efforts in Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake devastated the country last week.

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January 22, 2010

One Dog, One Marine, One Mission

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Worse than turbulence, their truck sways side to side and bumps up and down along a path in Afghanistan. What would be an intolerable ride for most is just something Lance Cpl. Paul N. Krist, a dog handler for 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and his dog Max have accepted as part of the job.

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22nd MEU delivers aid to Haiti's southern coast

COTES DE FER, Haiti — As the roar of the CH-53E Super Stallion came closer to shore, scores of men, women and children began looking to the sky in hope of relief.

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II MEF Commander Fields Questions From 22nd MEU Families

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Nearly two hundred family members of deployed Marines and sailors packed Camp Lejeune's Ball Center for a town hall style meeting with Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, Jan. 21.

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January 21, 2010

3/6 Arrives in Helmand Province, Prepare to Integrate With Afghan National Army

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines and Sailors from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment labored to get through the massive pile of gear in the center of the CH-53E Super Stallion and out into the burning sun of southern Afghanistan, Jan. 17, 2009. Almost instinctually, they hastily grabbed their bags and formed a neat pile of equipment several feet away from the flight line.

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24th MEU to arrive in Haiti this weekend

CAMP LEJEUNE — Marines and sailors from Camp Lejeune’s 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit pushed south from Morehead City Wednesday night, expecting to enter Haitian waters this weekend, officials with the 24th MEU said Thursday.

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Bombs and ambushes as Marines inch into Taliban bastion

SOUTHEAST OF MARJAH, Afghanistan — The crisp crackling of AK-47s breaks the morning silence as US Marines inch towards the outskirts of a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand.

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Marines Draw Out Taliban in Southern Helmand Province

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Stepping gingerly over rocks and uneven ground, Marines from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and the Afghan national army soldiers attached to them, patrolled to the north of Observation Post Huskars, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2010.

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MEU Diverted to Haiti From Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. --- The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it would send a second Marine unit to Haiti to support what has become an expanding relief effort for the Defense Department, deepening the American military’s role there.

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January 20, 2010

Gators deliver Marines, aid to Haiti

By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 20, 2010 9:41:46 EST

LEOGANE, Haiti — About 120 Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, landed via helicopters in Haiti on Tuesday morning, securing a landing zone and a water distribution point in this town west of Port-au-Prince.

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January 19, 2010

22nd MEU, Bataan Amphibious Ready Group arrive off Haiti Coast

The ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Haiti Monday to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for earthquake survivors and bolster relief operations already underway in support of Operation Unified Response.

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January 17, 2010

Marines, ANSF Respond to Local Riot

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A riotous crowd gathered within the Garmsir District Center bazaar, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 12. The riot was believed to have been orchestrated by the Taliban, on false pretenses of the desecration of a Koran by coalition forces earlier in the week.

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Boots Hit the Ground With Shovels in Hand; Marines Arrive, Fortify Observation Post Huskars

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A mounted patrol rolls up a mud path past spools of coiled concertina wire, which are uncurled as the column of vehicles passes and pulls into Observation Post Huskars, in Helmand province, Jan. 14, 2010.

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January 16, 2010

Cut From the Same Stone: Marine, Afghan Platoon Sergeants Lead Troops on Joint Ops

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Two men don flak jackets and Kevlar helmets, one set coyote brown, the other forest green, each with an emblem of their nation. Stepping out of their tent and walking with their squad leaders in step, Staff Sgt. Galen P. Hafner, a Marine platoon sergeant with Alpha Co., 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and Staff Sgt. Gulwazir Harin, an Afghan national army platoon sergeant, attached to Alpha Co., 1/6, prepare to set out on a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 15.

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January 15, 2010

Marine from Bergen County killed in Afghanistan will receive Bronze Star

WESTWOOD -- On Christmas Day, Marine Sgt. Christopher Hrbek called home to Bergen County from Afghanistan with the news he had been nominated for a Bronze Star.

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January 14, 2010

Conway: 22nd MEU tapped for earthquake relief

By Dan Lamothe and Amy McCullough - Staff writers
Posted : Thursday Jan 14, 2010 10:56:00 EST

The Marine Corps will send the North Carolina-based 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to earthquake-ravaged Haiti as part of an extensive U.S. relief plan for the island nation, the service’s top officer said Thursday.

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22nd MEU deploys in support of Haiti relief effort

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is deploying to Haiti to assist in disaster relief efforts in the wake of an earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation January 12.

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January 13, 2010

24th MEU awaits call to assist in Haiti

Troops from Camp Lejeune’s 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit may be called to Haiti to assist in disaster relief efforts, as base officials report that all units are at the ready and waiting for word from the commander-in-chief about upcoming missions.

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January 10, 2010

Marines Interact With Locals in New Territory

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Laki, a village in Afghanistan, located in the southern portion of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment's area of operation in the Garmsir District of Helmand province has never had a conventional coalition force visit or even walk down its streets.

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Marines, ANA Clear Laki Compounds

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Throughout Jan. 4-7, the Marines and sailors of Jump Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, rose from their dew covered sleeping bags, grabbed a meal ready to eat and prepared for a patrol.

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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

Afghan Soldiers Learn Infantry Basics From Marines

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The soldier's fingers gingerly curl around the hand guards of his brand new M-16A2 rifle, Jan. 5, at a Marine Corps range here in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Pushing the weapon into his shoulder and pressing his cheek against the buttstock he takes aim. The rows of wrinkles which span his haggard face seem to lengthen as he concentrates on the green target downrange. When he slowly, steadily squeezes the trigger, it marks the third time that he's fired his rifle.

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January 6, 2010

Afghan Soldiers Stand With Marine Counterparts

CAMP DWYER, Helmand province Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – It's mid-afternoon on New Year's Day, and a sea of men in green, brown and black camouflage uniforms shuffle awkwardly inside the crowded beige tent. Men with thick black beards and hard faces sit next to clean shaven youths with full smiles. Each one wears the uniform of their nation's military, and each one carries a weapon. They comprise the full company of Afghan national army soldiers, fresh out of boot camp, that has arrived at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, and is being integrated directly into Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

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January 5, 2010

VMGR-352 Raiders Transport Troops, Cargo for MEB-Afghanistan

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan — For the Marines in Afghanistan, the need for ammunition, fuel, water and other supplies is constant. But unlike in Iraq, most supplies need to be airlifted throughout the country due to fewer secure ground transportation routes.

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MACG-28 Marines Overcome Challenges, Provide Aerial Surveillance for MEB Commanders

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — More than a month ago, Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 40, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, took control of the airspace over the MEB's area of operations from their United Kingdom counterparts.

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January 4, 2010

Deployed U.S. Marines Focus on Target Identification

20:17 GMT, January 4, 2010 CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan | Adjusting his body armor, a designated marksman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, tracked the progress of a patrol of Marines from his perch atop a rocky hillside. The marksman followed the line of tan figures as they plodded along toward the platoon attack course at Range 3 here Jan. 2.

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December 31, 2009

Marines, Sailors Undertake Deployment in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Walking off the loading ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane and into vibrant sunlight, members of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment arrived at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Dec. 15.

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Assistant commandant pays ‘Warlords’ a visit on Christmas

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Gen. James F. Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, visited the Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, known as the “Warlords,” on Forward Operating Base Delhi, in Garmsir, Afghanistan, Christmas day

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December 30, 2009

Marine engineers fortify observation posts in Afghanistan

Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan –What is known as Cowboy Road to Marines in southern Afghanistan is also known as a road notorious for IEDs. Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion set out to eradicate that problem by building two observation posts specifically between the most hit areas on the road, Dec. 16.

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Sailor finds unique way to improve Marine morale

In Afghanistan high morale can be as necessary, and useful as weapons. Morale is defined as the mental and emotional condition of an individual or group, with regard to the function or tasks at hand. Therefore, while one may have the capability to fight with low morale, one may not have the drive.

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December 29, 2009

New Marine Tech Slams into Helmand

During Operation Cobra’s Anger earlier this month near the Afghan town of Now Zad in Helmand province, the Marine Corps rolled out a fearsome new weapon, the 62-ton Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV), a tracked, armored vehicle that can clear a lane through minefields, expose and detonate IEDs and plow a path though obstacles.

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December 28, 2009

Marines Serve in Afghanistan With Pride

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion are serving in southern Afghanistan with pride, despite the hardship of being away from their families during the holidays.

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Eerie outpost unnerves US Marines with strange lights and whispers in the night

The Marines found the bone as they scraped a shallow trench. Long, dry and unmistakably once part of a human leg, it was followed by others. They reburied most of them but also found bodies. Three of the graves were close together; in another was a skeleton still wearing a pair of glasses. The Marines covered the grave and told their successors to stay away from it.

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December 27, 2009

Marines Sacrifice Holidays to Fight for Country

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Last year the majority of Marines of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion were enjoying Christmas with their families. This year 2nd CEB are spread all over southern Afghanistan working hard building observational posts, searching for IEDs, and providing route clearance.

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December 26, 2009

Female Engagement Team Helps Establish Connection Between Marines and Afghan Women

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Throughout the Garmsir District in Afghanistan, Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, interact with multiple key leaders and locals to learn what the village needs.

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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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Marines Protect Thousands Aboard Camp Leatherneck

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – For service members deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, security is a top priority. Although much of the area surrounding it is open desert, the camp must still be well armed along its edges. This is where a group of Marines come in, whose sole mission is to ensure the camp is protected.

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December 17, 2009

From group to regiment, regiment to battalion: Marines continue to drawdown in Iraq

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Combat Logistics Battalion 46 officially took over for Combat Logistics Regiment 27 (Forward) as the logistics combat element during a Transfer of Authority ceremony aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 16.

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Family and Friends Say Goodbye to Fallen Marine

Family, friends and fellow Marines went to the Chase Parkway Memorial on Wednesday to pay their respects to Corporal Xhacob LaTorre, a proud Marine dedicated to serving his country who lost his life fighting for it.

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December 15, 2009

Hundreds of Marines and Sailors deployed to Afghanistan early Tuesday morning

Two weeks ago, President Obama said he was going to send more troops to Afghanistan, and this morning they are on their way.

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December 7, 2009

Afghan Villagers Embrace Marines, Afghan Forces After Months of Hiding

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A previous fear of the Taliban would have kept the people of Amir Agha hidden in their compounds, as Marines patrolled through their fields and town. Their willingness to talk increases with a growing since of security.

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Col. Lejeune's 1/6 to Lead Afghan Surge

A North Carolina-based infantry battalion will be the first U.S. unit to deploy to Afghanistan as part of an additional 30,000 troops who will be sent into combat during the next six months, said a Marine official overseeing the unit

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Marine Unit Comes Home to 77 New Babies!

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Camp LeJeune, NC missed a lot during their seven-month deployment at sea -- specifically 77 of their wives giving birth back at home. Lance Corporal Jasen Kratzer figured he'd be one of those dads who learned about his new baby via telegram while he was deployed.

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Numerous Lejeune units to deploy in surge

By Dan Lamothe and Trista Talton - Staff writers
Posted : Monday Dec 7, 2009 16:26:51 EST

The Pentagon announced Monday that 8,500 additional Marines will deploy to Afghanistan, including 1,500 by the end of the month as part of battalion task force headed by Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.

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December 3, 2009

In Taliban stronghold, U.S. medics win friends for Marines

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HASSANABAD, Afghanistan -- In the middle of a foot patrol Saturday through what may be the most dangerous part of the most dangerous province in Afghanistan for U.S. troops, Staff Sgt. John Nickerson peered through the scope of his assault rifle at a group of Afghan men who were rolling a wheelbarrow toward him.

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December 2, 2009

22nd MEU heads home to Lejeune

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Dec 2, 2009 16:56:45 EST

About 2,200 Marines and sailors with a North Carolina-based unit are returning home this week after a seven-month deployment.

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Afghan National Army welcomes newest soldiers at Marine patrol base

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The Taliban approached Afghan National Army Sgt. Nazir Mohammad with an offer he couldn't refuse. But he did.

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November 29, 2009

New family systems improves link to Marines

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 29, 2009 9:03:43 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The message on Gail Kroger’s cell phone said her son was home from Afghanistan.

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November 21, 2009

HMLA-367 'Scarface' Introduce Yankees

CAMP BASTION, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The sound of four blade rotors echoes across the Helmand sky, as the UH-1Y Huey helicopter made its first combat deployment with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 "Scarface."

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ANGLICO Marines Ensure Estonian Success in NATO Effort

PATROL BASE MASOOD, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan –"It was well planned," said Estonian 1st Lt. Alar Karileet, following an insurgent attack near Patrol Base Masood in late October. "The Taliban were in three positions of four to five men each."

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November 18, 2009

Medicine men: MEB-Afghanistan docs treat from the castle

KHAN NESHIN, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan –It would be hard to recognize the young boy bounding out of the medical tent nestled inside the castle walls. The boy was limping from scratches on his leg only moments before. An inflated surgical glove serves as a new play thing for him and his friend. Although this was only a flesh wound, Navy corpsmen spending a few moments to provide basic remedies shows the locals that U.S. forces are here to help in an area once poisoned by insurgent presence.

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November 17, 2009

Marines Welcome Replacements To The Afghan Fight

This month, the more than 800 Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment are finishing their deployment to Afghanistan. Some units of "America's Battalion," are returning this week to Camp Lejeune, N.C., after months fighting the Taliban. NPR reporters have been following these Marines since they left North Carolina in May.

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November 16, 2009

School is in session at the castle

RIG DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – First-grade student Yaar Gul bats a fly from his eye-lash with one hand as the other follows along in his school book. He repeats after his instructor again and again, “Nomads live under the tent. Nomads have a tent. Nomads sleep in the tent.”

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November 14, 2009

Marine Finds Innovative Ways to Exercise in Combat Zone

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Suspended off the side of a towering vehicle by cargo netting, 1st Lt. William R. Goodwin, the executive officer for Mobility Assault Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, pushes himself up for one more repetition. Goodwin built a fitness tool using duck tape, cargo netting and ratchet straps, to perform multiple exercises off the side of a vehicle, aboard Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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Celebration of 234 years brings deployed Marines together

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 27 (Forward) woke up with the Iraqi sun aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, knowing that the day, Nov. 10, marked 234 years of the Marine Corps’ existence.

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November 12, 2009

Marines welcome Iraqi Air Force

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — The Iraqi Ministry of Defense directed that one detachment of helicopters from 4th Squadron, Iraqi Air Force, be located at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, in order to provide a rotary wing transportation capability to the Anbar Operations Command, a command center for all Iraqi security forces in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

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November 11, 2009

Marines, Afghans, British Observe Remembrance Day

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, participated in a Remembrance Day ceremony aboard Forward Observation Base Delhi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 8.

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November 9, 2009

Lejeune IDs NCO killed on base

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 9, 2009 20:48:57 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A Camp Lejeune Marine accused late last week of killing a noncommissioned officer is now in the base brig after spending several hours in a local hospital being treated for self-inflicted wounds, Marine officials said Monday

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November 8, 2009

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 6, 2009

Osprey Joins the Fight in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – In another history-making moment for Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, the first MV-22B Ospreys entered the Task Force Leatherneck area of operations today, alighting in three waves at Camp Bastion Airfield.

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November 3, 2009

Marines Seek To Tame Afghan 'Snake's Head'

The marketplace of Garmsir in Afghanistan's Helmand province is bustling. A long line of shops sells piles of pomegranates, oranges and okra. Consumer goods are trucked in from Pakistan, ranging from children's toys to motorcycle spare parts.

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October 31, 2009

Marines leaving Al Taqaddum little by little

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — Marine Corps participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom is drawing to a close as Marines, sailors and equipment make their way back home or to other parts of the globe. As part of the departure, one of the Marine Corps’ largest bases in the country is on its way to being in the hands of the Iraqi government once again.

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October 30, 2009

Task Force East Marines close chapter on successful deployment

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Since the earliest days of the Marine Corps, all Marines have been taught they are riflemen first. This philosophy shines true with the Marines of Task Force East, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward). As they depart Iraq, they do so knowing the basic training they received was the cornerstone for the experiences they shared here. With their deployment at its end, the Marines of TFE reflect on their overall experiences and lessons learned.

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October 27, 2009

N.C. Marines will take part in the commissioning of USS New York

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — North Carolina Marines from several units recently joined to form Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 26. SPMAGTF-26 is scheduled to board the ship that will become USS New York, Oct. 29. The ship and embarked Marines will sail to New York City for the ship’s commissioning, Nov. 7, where it will be designated USS New York.
USS New York holds particular significance to the people of New York with 7 1/2 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center forged into her bow. The ship also honors the memory of those who lost their lives during the unprovoked attacks of 9/11.

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October 24, 2009

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 15, 2009

Second Lady Visits Deploying Marines

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2009 – Dr. Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, knows what it feels like to say goodbye to a son heading off to war and the joy of welcoming him home safely.

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October 14, 2009

Marines, Sailors Join Coalition in Exercise

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Oct. 14, 2009 – U.S. Marines and sailors were part of a four-nation coalition that stormed the beaches near here during a major amphibious assault demonstration Oct. 12.

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Marines Spread Good Will With Vet Care

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Oct. 14, 2009 – Marines here have brought new meaning to the expression “goat rope” by helping local farmers with free veterinary care for their goats, sheep and cows.

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October 13, 2009

2/8 Marines Conduct Counter Insurgency Operations in Lakari Village

PATROL BASE LAKARI, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Winning Afghan trust has been the cornerstone of the success of Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan as combat operations take them farther south into Helmand province.

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October 12, 2009

Advancing Marines test new Afghan war doctrine

BARCHA, Afghanistan, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Winning ground is one thing. Convincing Afghan villagers you will not leave, abandoning them to a vengeful Taliban, is a bigger challenge for U.S. Marines advancing deep into southern Helmand province.

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October 11, 2009

Recon Marines revisit insurgents in Helmand

More than 130 Marines from Alpha Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, accompanied by soldiers from the Afghan National Army, conducted an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in northeastern Helmand province.

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October 7, 2009

Marines Construct New Position Near Taliban Marketplace

PATROL BASE LAKARI, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – Since the first raid on Lakari Bazaar in mid July which turned up thousands of pounds of drugs and bomb-making materials, the Taliban has continued to use the market as a staging area for illegal activity – launching more than 20 attacks against coalition troops in the immediate vicinity from there.

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Estonian soldiers integrate with 2/8 Marines

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Many cultures throughout the world sustained themselves because they had men and women who had a warrior spirit and a willingness to fight for a common cause.

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October 6, 2009

Marines in Afghanistan: A Day in the Life

Unbearable Heat, Constant Mud, No Showers and Taliban Shooting At them, Marines Still Don't Complain

CBS) Wednesday will mark the 8-year anniversary of the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, and the situation for American troops there is not getting any better

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October 2, 2009

Battling the Taliban at close quarters

US helicopter comes under Taliban fire in Afghanistan

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October 1, 2009

Humble hero earns bronze star

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Bullets were spraying down range at Gunnery Sgt. Christopher J. Clookey and his platoon during spring 2008 in Afghanistan. With a wounded Marine needing helicopter evacuation, Clookey purposely exposed himself to enemy fire in order to locate the direction of their fire. After pinpointing the enemy, he led his Marines to destroy the opposing force’s position. Afterward, Clookey was able to mark the landing zone to evacuate the injured Marine and save his life.

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Marines save elderly man in car accident

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — When Staff Sgt. Chavis P. Bowers began his morning commute Sept. 22, he had no idea just how important his combat lifesaver training would be that day.

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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

Not Many ... but Much: ANGLICO Marines Help U.K. Hold Northern Post

LASHKAR GAH, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The evening began with a small group of U.S. Marines and U.K. soldiers gathered around a campfire of dimly-lit candles and a teapot boiling over a small fire.

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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 23, 2009

1/8 Marines and sailors return from Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
Friends and family of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, gathered together in the early morning hours of Sept 18, 2009, aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., to welcome home their Marines and sailors.

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September 21, 2009

2/8 draws enemy out to fight

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Around here, some Marines say a quiet day is a boring day, and a day they clash with the enemy, while unwelcome, is more personally satisfying.

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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 19, 2009

Viper Pilot Earns Distinguished Flying Cross

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A Marine with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, nicknamed the Vipers, recently received one of the highest honors of a Marine aviator for acts of heroism during Operating Iraqi Freedom.

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September 16, 2009

22nd MEU leaves Kuwait, returns to sea

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Sep 16, 2009 9:20:08 EDT

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are back to sea after training for more than a month in Kuwait.

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September 11, 2009

The children of 9/11 on the frontline

Eight years ago they were boys, now they're fighting in Afghanistan
Eight years ago today 2,974 people died in the September 11 attacks. It led the western world into a war on terror that British and American soldiers are still battling out today. Many of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, now stationed in the US Marines’ most remote outpost in Helmand, Afghanistan, were just children when the World Trade Center was attacked - but they still remember where they were.

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September 9, 2009

Marines Scale Back Vests in Afghan Fight

DARVESHAN, Afghanistan -- Marine Corps command in Southern Afghanistan is scaling back protective body armor vest requirements in a move that trades less protection for improved mobility.

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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 8, 2009

Marine's Award-winning Past Leads to His Significant Presence

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps, every potential Marine sits down with a recruiter and picks out the reasons they want to join from a stack of colorful cards with the words travel, education and discipline, among others that describe most of the reasons someone would make the decision to commit.

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September 6, 2009

Corpsmen ship nearly $3 million worth of supplies to Afghanistan

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq – As more U.S. troops are being sent to the fight in Afghanistan, the possibility of more troops being injured rises. To ensure those responsible for saving limbs and lives are equipped to handle such an enormous task, sailors with the 2nd Medical Logistics Company at Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, have sent about $3 million worth of medical supplies and equipment to the region.

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September 5, 2009

22nd MEU Marines Save Artificial Lives to Learn

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The sound of rifle shots crackle through the air. Explosions can be heard in the distance. Wounded men cry out for help, their blood seeping into the hard ground. Marines rush to the aid of the wounded, their training fresh in their minds. They can save these lives.

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Corpsman with 2nd LAR killed in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Sep 5, 2009 11:31:42 EDT

A Navy corpsman was killed Thursday while supporting Marines in southern Afghanistan, according to the Defense Department

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September 4, 2009

100 Days in Helmand

They are not the first Marines in Afghanistan, nor are they the first Marines in Helmand province. Combined Task Force-58, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Task Force 2/7, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Afghanistan, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command … these Marine units have also trod the unforgiving ground of southern Afghanistan

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August 30, 2009

Marines of 2nd CEB show Iraqi soldiers new moves

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
As U.S. forces have begun their responsible drawdown from Iraq, and as combat operations continue to decrease, other types of missions have moved to the forefront. U.S. forces have made a continued effort to pass on their knowledge to the Iraqi Security Forces that will help to ensure security and stability once U.S. forces are completely gone.

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New footbridge eases movement for locals, Marines in Helmand

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – “Building bridges,” as the expressions goes, is a vital task in connecting with the people in a counterinsurgency environment.

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August 29, 2009

Marine officer receives Bronze Star for leading attacks in Afghanistan

A Marine officer at Camp Pendleton has received the Bronze Star for bravery for leading multiple assaults on Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

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Man of the Cloth and Uniform

He looks like Sting," a Marine says about the man in the tan cammies wandering around Khan Neshin castle without the usual M-16 hanging on his shoulder and an unusual growth of beard.

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August 28, 2009

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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August 26, 2009

2/2 advances through Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
After fighting for nearly 90 minutes, the Marines entered the trench, secured the flanks and provided suppressive fire for other elements of their company advancing on the enemy position

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August 25, 2009

Flying to the fight, BLT 1/9 completes revamped Heliborne Company Raid Course

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
What begins as a hum in the distance escalates into a roaring thunder as MV-22 Ospreys and CH-53 Super Stallions emerge from the horizon and race across the sky. In minutes, a multitude of helicopters touch down and Marines rush out from the aircraft, storming the landscape for a swift and precise attack on an enemy stronghold.

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August 23, 2009

Marine Lance Cpl. Pedro Barboza Flores, 27, Glendale, killed by roadside bomb

Having a hard time finding his path in life, he revisited a childhood dream and overcame obstacles to make it come true.
When Pedro Barboza Flores walked into the Glendale recruiting office to volunteer for the U.S. Marine Corps two summers ago, he received a discouraging reply. At 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds he was too heavy, older than most at 25, and he needed to finish high school. Staff Sgt. James Anderson thought he'd never see him again.

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3rd Battalion, 9th Marines relieves 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
Third Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment relieved 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment during a certificate of relief ceremony Aug. 16, 2009.

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August 21, 2009

Marines Work and Live Hard in Afghanistan

No Beds, No Running Water and No Complaints from the Marines of Echo Company

(CBS) The U.S. Marines from Echo Company are in Afghanistan with a mission to hunt down the Taliban in dangerous Helmand Province so that voters could get to the polls yesterday. They weren't always successful and voter turnout was very low.

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My brother's a hero, says sister of Queens Marine killed in Afghanistan

Marine Lance Cpl. Leopold Damas survived two tours in Iraq before being sent deep into Taliban territory in Afghanistan three months ago.

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August 17, 2009

2nd LAR Marines interact with locals in southern Helmand

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marines from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan face many obstacles as they strive to bring peace to the population in southern Helmand.

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August 14, 2009

2nd MEB families rest assured after town hall meeting

Families of Marines and sailors deployed with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade had a chance to voice concerns to Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at a town hall meeting aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 11, 2009.

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Marines go further into town on 2nd day of offensive

By Alfred de Montesquiou - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 14, 2009 12:01:33 EDT

DAHANEH, Afghanistan — U.S. aircraft and missiles pounded Taliban mountainside positions around Dahaneh on Thursday as Marines pushed through mud-brick compounds searching for militants in the second day of fighting to seize this strategic southern town.

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August 13, 2009

U.S. Marines Fight House-to-House in Afghan Taliban Stronghold

EXCLUSIVE: FOX News' Greg Palkot is the only reporter traveling with a combined force of 500 Marines and Afghan soldiers as they carry out day two of air and ground assault Operation Eastern Resolve. The operation is aimed at liberating a key town in Northern Helmand province of Taliban and to secure a strategic pass used by Taliban fighters. What follows is Palkot's latest report.

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August 12, 2009

22nd MEU trains in Kuwait

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 12:40:45 EDT

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit began training in Kuwait in early August.

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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

Training to Prevent Tragedy; 24th MEU Marines prepare for worst case scenario

Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Battalion-24 teamed for a week of mass casualty drills, practicing the evacuation, evaluation and treatment of casualties here beginning Aug. 3.

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1/9 Marines ride in memory of fallen brother

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
On April 22, 2008, Christian Haerter was in Sag Harbor, N.Y., listening to the news at work when a broadcast announced two Marines were killed in Iraq. Christian took a step outside for a breath of fresh air and shortly afterward, saw a sight every parent fears.

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August 4, 2009

Marines fighting Taliban strive to win Afghan locals' trust

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Garrett sprints through a cloud of smoke and dust raised by the blast from a buried bomb.

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July 31, 2009

Communications: Critical to Marines on the Battlefield

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A squad of Marines is patrolling through the Helmand River valley in southern Afghanistan, and suddenly machinegun fire rings out from a nearby compound filled with insurgents. The Marines immediately attain a grid coordinate for the exact location and radio for a fire mission. Within minutes, a precision round lands directly on the target and neutralizes the threat.

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July 30, 2009

A Day Like Any Other for Marine Truckers

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Marines showed up for work at 2 a.m. to make sure their vehicles and the cargo loaded on them were ready for the long day ahead, July 28.

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July 24, 2009

Niles Marine sole survivor of Afghanistan attack

July 24, 2009 (NILES, Ill.) (WLS) -- A Marine from the Chicago area was wounded this week in Afghanistan.

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Marine earns Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for actions in Afghanistan

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
During the week of April 21, 2008, first platoon, Charlie company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine came under heavy fire from rockets, small arms and machineguns in southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan while serving in support of Operation Azada Wosa.

Continue reading "Marine earns Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for actions in Afghanistan" »

July 23, 2009

Marines one step closer to successful drawdown

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq —
The population of U.S. forces in Iraq is becoming less dispersed throughout the country as Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 4 and Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), are packing up and heading out of Camp Baharia and Combat Outpost Rahwah, two bases in Iraq’s Al Anbar province that have been home to Marines since early 2004 and 2005, respectively.

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July 21, 2009

Families Send Basics To Marines In Afghanistan

July 21, 2009 · For Marines serving in Afghanistan, mail call can be a little bit like Christmas in July. A package from home can supply everything from basic needs to small luxuries.

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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 16, 2009

Marines Waiting on Basic Supplies

U.S. Marines pushing deeper into Taliban territory in Afghanistan’s Helmand River Valley are short of basic equipment and supplies ranging from radios and vehicles to uniforms.

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July 13, 2009

Afghans Unite to Maintain Lifeline

GARMSIR, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — The Helmand River is the one major source of water in this desert region, and when a portion of that supply is diverted, it causes problems for entire communities.

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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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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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Afghan flag raises above Khan Neshin

KHAN NESHIN, Afghanistan — The Afghan national flag was raised above Khan Neshin castle in the Rig District Center July 8 for the first time, signaling the arrival of Afghan governance in the southern reaches of Helmand province.

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July 8, 2009

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 7, 2009

Marines secure southernmost point of operations in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — After a 10 hour bumpy, dusty drive through the desert, the United States Marine Corps has now secured the southernmost point of operations in Helmand province and begun construction on what will be the largest combat outpost ever built by Combat Logistics Batallion-8 out of Camp Lejuene, N.C.

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U.S. Marines Tread Softly in Southern Afghanistan

Can U.S. Marines Fight the Taliban and Win Popular Support in Helmand?

River Liberty was described as an operation. But it had the feel of an invasion. U.S. Marines were moving, as an expeditionary force, into the homeland of their enemy, the Taliban.

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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" »

COP Hit transfers, ISF take control

Children walk the streets safely, store fronts are filled with patrons buying goods and the Iraqi Security Forces are seen throughout the Al Anbar province keeping the Iraqi people safe from insurgents and terrorist activity.
With each passing month, the Iraqi army and police have proved more and more they can protect their citizens with less and less coalition help.

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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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New artillery system set for fielding

Staff report
Posted : Sunday Jul 5, 2009 8:59:11 EDT

The Corps’ new Internally Transportable Vehicle and Expeditionary Fire Support System have reached initial operational capability and are expected to be fielded by the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine officials said.

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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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Targets On Their Backs, Marines Enter Afghan Town

After final battle briefings, the Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment walk for more than a mile across the shin-high sand in Afghanistan that they call "moon dust" to the edge of a helicopter landing pad.
They settle in to catch some sleep — or try to.

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Marine from Adairsville killed in Afghanistan had been in country six weeks, uncle says

Lance Cpl. Seth Sharp, 20, a Marine from Adairsville who was killed Thursday in Afghanistan, signed up when he was 17 and had previously been deployed in Iraq, a relative said.

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June 30, 2009

3/9 Attacks Simulated Enemy in Enhanced Mojave Viper

Marines and Sailors with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment defended their position and attacked a simulated enemy during Clear, Hold, Build Exercise III in the Combat Center's Quackenbush and Gays Pass training areas, June 17 and 18.

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June 22, 2009

From country roots to combat boots, Marine sings his patriotism

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — Sittin’ in the desert, a thousand miles away from home, Lance Cpl. Stephen D. Davis, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, thinks about his lifetime and all the songs he wrote.

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Marines Train To Conquer Taliban, Their Own Fears

All Things Considered
June 22, 2009 · The Marines known as "America's Battalion" are in Afghanistan as part of the 21,000 additional forces President Obama is deploying in the administration's strategy to counter the Taliban insurgency. NPR is following the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment over the months of their deployment, focusing on the efforts of these Marines in Afghanistan and the burden shared by their families back home.

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Iredell soldier laid to rest

Family, friends, and military personnel gathered in New Prospect Baptist Church to say farewell to a young man taken too early.

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June 16, 2009

In Afghan Heat, Marines Prepare For The Storm

All Things Considered

The Marines known as "America's Battalion" are in Afghanistan as part of the 21,000 additional forces President Obama is deploying in the administration's strategy to counter the Taliban insurgency. NPR is following the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment over the months of their deployment, focusing on the efforts of these Marines in Afghanistan and the burden shared by their families back home.

Continue reading "In Afghan Heat, Marines Prepare For The Storm" »

June 12, 2009

Lionesses work to improve community in local Iraq city

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
Female Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), have been participating in civil affairs missions with the Civil Affairs Group 10, 2nd Marine Division for approximately three months in various cities surrounding Camp Korean Village, Iraq

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June 9, 2009

Afghan surge changes game, commander says

By Chris Brummitt - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 9, 2009 17:32:56 EDT

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Newly arrived U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan will target insurgents crossing into the country from Pakistan and be a “game changer” in a region long dominated by the Taliban, a top commander said Tuesday.

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Marines fan out across Afghan south

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Teams of builders worked through dust storms Monday to expand a base for a brigade of U.S. Marines now fanning out across southern Afghanistan to change the course of a war claiming American lives faster than ever before.

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8th Communications Battalion zeros in on combat marksmanship

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
United States Marines pride themselves on being America’s force-in-readiness. At any given time, Marines are prepared to deploy anywhere in the world to defend America and respond to crises. Even while deployed, they still find ways to continue their combat training in order to maintain their reputation of always being mission-ready.

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Building a FOB from the ground up

FORT A.P. HILL, Va —
A siren blast alerted the Marines who were sleeping at the forward operating base. They jumped up and put on their gear as they ran toward the source of the chaos. A suicide bomber hit one of the entry control points.

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June 8, 2009

US Marines fan out across dangerous Afghan south

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Teams of builders worked through dust storms Monday to expand a base for a brigade of U.S. Marines now fanning out across southern Afghanistan to change the course of a war claiming American lives faster than ever before

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2nd MEB Marines begin Afghanistan ops

7,000 Marines represent first wave of troops ordered Afghanistan by Obama

By Chris Brummitt - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 8, 2009 8:41:26 EDT

CAMP LEATHERHEAD, Afghanistan — Some 7,000 of the new U.S. troops ordered to Afghanistan are fanning out across the dangerous Afghan south on a mission to defeat the Taliban insurgency and to change the course of a war claiming American lives at a record pace.

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June 7, 2009

Out of the office and onto the roads of Al Anbar: Security Company protects their own

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq — As the last rays of sunlight duck behind the security barriers aboard Camp Baharia, Iraq, a chorus can be heard. It is not the crickets emerging to greet the night —it’s the Marines of Security Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), gearing up to provide security for a convoy.

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June 3, 2009

22nd MEU trains at Bulgarian base

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Jun 3, 2009 16:52:22 EDT

Members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s battalion landing team became the first Marines to train at a joint Bulgarian-American base.

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May 31, 2009

Father, son serve under same colors in Iraq

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq —
When Cpl. Jared P. Lopez joined the Marine Corps in September 2006, he always knew there would be a possibility that he would deploy at the same time as his father, who has served in the Marine Corps for nearly 20 years—but he didn’t think that they would end up on the same base in Iraq.

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May 25, 2009

Stalemate

A single company of U.S. Marines is slugging it out with the Taliban in Afghanistan’s toughest ghost town. The battle shows how limited troop numbers have hurt the war—and why the U.S. is changing its strategy.

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan

In a war over hearts and minds, Now Zad has neither.

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May 18, 2009

Emotional Goodbye For Afghanistan-Bound Marines

The Marines known as "America's Battalion" are heading to Afghanistan. They are part of the 21,000 additional forces President Obama is deploying in the administration's new strategy for the war effort in Afghanistan. The mission of these Marines will take them to places American forces have rarely been in large numbers. Over the months of their deployment, NPR will focus on the people — the Marines and their families — who will carry the fight in Afghanistan and the burden of keeping life together at home.

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Lejeune Marine dies in car wreck

Staff report
Posted : Monday May 18, 2009 12:24:24 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A Marine died early Sunday after being ejected from the car he was driving near Camp Lejeune.

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May 15, 2009

2nd Medical Battalion: 'A Well Oiled Machine'

UNITED STATES - The commonly heard phrase in the Marine Corps, "Navy corpsmen are a Marine's best friend," sums it all up.

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May 14, 2009

22nd MEU loads ships, prepares to deploy

By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 14, 2009 17:00:37 EDT

NORFOLK, Va. — The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group left Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday for a scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.

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NC Marines departing with Osprey on ships

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) - A Marine Corps unit is leaving for seven months in the Mediterranean and the Middle East with its first MV-22B Osprey aircraft.

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May 12, 2009

Marines, Afghan National Police Stay Vigilant in Southern Afghanistan

BAKWA, Afghanistan – Through binoculars, a Marine spotted suspicious men in the distance. Over the radio, he passed the word. The security convoy circled around and pushed up to investigate. As they moved in closer, shots rang out from the ridge ahead, May 4.

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May 11, 2009

24th MEU Marines plunge into water survival training; learn to think through hot water situation

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines completed the new Modular Amphibious Egress Training course, a pre-deployment training requirement designed to help Marines survive an aircraft crash into water, at the Water Survival Training Facility here, May 5.

Continue reading "24th MEU Marines plunge into water survival training; learn to think through hot water situation" »

2nd Medical Battalion: “A well-oiled Machine”

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
The commonly heard phrase in the Marine Corps, “Navy Corpsmen are a Marine’s best friend,” sums it all up.

Continue reading "2nd Medical Battalion: “A well-oiled Machine”" »

May 9, 2009

RCT-8 supports EPRT organize western Al Anbar Civic Leaders Conference

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
Western Al Anbar was considered ‘the wild west’ at the beginning of the insurgency in 2004. It wasn’t until after the Anbar awakening in 2006 that the area began to move forward democratically. Now civic leaders and politicians have assembled together to discuss better ways to reallocate provincial funding.

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May 7, 2009

Lejeune maps out new Wounded Warrior barracks

Staff report
Posted : Thursday May 7, 2009 21:41:11 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Marines recovering at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from wounds sustained in Afghanistan and Iraq are getting new digs conveniently located next to the base naval hospital.

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May 6, 2009

3/6 Kilo learns tough lessons from mountain warfare training

CAMP DAWSON, W.Va. —
What you don't know can hurt you.

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May 5, 2009

3/9 speaks to the benefits of training in Yuma

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
Marines are no stranger to being in the field. They rise early in the morning, pack into armored vehicles and prepare to press through strenuous training schedules.

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May 1, 2009

Sweathogs return home from Iraq

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. — Marines and sailors from Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 returned to Fightertown April 23 and 25 from a seven-month deployment to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Families waited in eager anticipation as they watched the commercial airliner taxi down the flightline towards the hangar. As the Marines and sailors stepped out of the plane and down the stairs, they were ordered to go see their families. A mass wave of people surged forward, reuniting with loved ones after seven months

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Female Marine serves as gunner, Lioness in Iraq

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — A city girl from coastal California shocked her relatives and friends when she became the first in her family to join the Marine Corps in 2005.

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April 24, 2009

3/9 raids Yuma’s ranges

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. — Camp Lejeune’s 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, assisted the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in the largest air assault exercise since the 1990s here, April 13.

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Removing unnecessary gear from Iraq: a crucial step in a responsible drawdown

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq — Even before Feb. 17, when President Barack Obama announced his strategy for Iraq, the operational tempo for Marines and sailors within the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) in Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq, was high.

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2/9 leaves no man behind, returns from deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Around 300 Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, returned home, April 22, after a seven month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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April 10, 2009

McKiernan, Afghans in Pre-surge Talks

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The top U.S. general in Afghanistan reached out to influential Afghan tribesmen in regions where U.S. troops will soon deploy, apologizing for past mistakes and saying he is now studying the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

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April 6, 2009

Civil Affairs, Provincial Reconstruction Teams Assist 3/8, Improve Southern Afghanistan

Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan

GOLESTAN, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ? The generosity of foreign aid has found its way to the isolated villages of one southern Afghan province through the hands of the provincial government with the help of Marines.

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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 1, 2009

Morale’s in full swing; Marines pair camaraderie with an American pastime

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —
The bat cracked, sending the baseball soaring into the outfield where a Marine’s failed attempt to catch the pop-fly elicited a commotion of cheers and jeers from each team, while the batter simultaneously took this chance at running the base paths. The catcher stood ready to catch the ball, intending to tag out the runner before he reached home plate but to no avail, the Marine ran home safely.

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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

Iraqi Commandos hone combat marksmanship techniques

Gunfire erupts and empty shell casings clatter to the ground as Iraqi soldiers take aim at close-range targets. As the shooting ceases, an Arabic voice shouts the commands through a megaphone, instructing the soldiers on the next course of fire. After the command to fire is given, the soldiers once again fire at their assigned targets. These drills are part of a training exercise formed to meet the needs of Iraqi Army personnel with the purpose of transforming them into more effective infantrymen.

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March 30, 2009

Afghan strategy a matter of trust

BAKWA, Afghanistan — Haji Gran, a 70-year-old poppy and wheat farmer, wants a pump for his well.

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March 27, 2009

Local Post Office Renamed For Fallen Central Texas Marine

LORENA (March 27, 2009)—During a ceremony Friday, the Lorena Post Office was renamed in honor of fallen Marine Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, a Lorena native who died in the explosion of a homemade bomb in March 2006 in Iraq’s then-volatile Anbar Province.

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March 23, 2009

Lejeune brigade prepares for Afghanistan

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 23, 2009 7:51:11 EDT

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The most important thing to remember is that Afghanistan is not Iraq.

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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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March 11, 2009

Coalition forces focus on helping victims of war

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
When Lt. Cmdr. Kobena Arthur arrived in Iraq for the first time in September 2008, he pledged to make an impact in the far reaches of the western Al Anbar desert.

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March 10, 2009

Marines shipping extra gear back home

By Ashley Rowland, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 10, 2009

CAMP EAGLE, Iraq — Which costs more: Buying a box full of toothbrushes or mailing it halfway around the world?

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March 9, 2009

A Few Good Women: All-female Marine Team Conducts First Mission in Southern Afghanistan

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, now have a special group of individuals to help them complete their mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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March 8, 2009

'Accomplishing the mission' in Afghanistan

As 8,000 Marines and sailors prepare to deploy to southern Afghanistan as part of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the commander of the Camp Lejeune-based infantry unit that has been serving in southern Afghanistan since November says they have made important gains even while suffering difficult losses.

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Afghan National Police, Marines Execute Cordon and Search in Southern Afghanistan

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Members of the Afghan national police and U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, successfully completed their first major mission in support of Operation Pathfinder, Feb. 9, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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March 6, 2009

Sailors, Marines from USS Iwo Jima clean up Sicilian oprphanage

SIGONELLA, Sicily — Sailors from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit volunteered to clean up the Cassa Della Beneficenza Orphanage March 5 in Floridia, Sicily.

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March 5, 2009

Afghan National Police, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Conduct Operation Pathfinder in Southern Afghanistan

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The Afghan national police joined forces with the U.S. Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, to execute Operation Pathfinder, Jan. 28 - March 7, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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February 27, 2009

Lejeune petty officer receives Silver Star

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 27, 2009 10:45:51 EST

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A Navy medic has received the Silver Star medal for heroic action during an ambush on a foot patrol in Afghanistan.

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CAG Marines learn conversational Arabic

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq – The famous poet Khalil Gibran once stated in Sand and Foam, “We shall never understand one another until we reduce the language to seven words.” Arabic and English are equally comprised of thousands of words, and Marines here have found each of the words as equally important to their linguistic counterparts.

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Navy Surgeon leaves family practice for front lines

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq —
In a combat environment it is not uncommon to see Navy corpsmen. These servicemembers often times sacrifice their personal safety to ensure Marines receive proper medical treatment in order to remain combat effective. For some corpsmen, the sacrifice is deeper than most people know.

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February 26, 2009

Where the Buffalo Roams - Bonecrusher Relentlessly Searches Out Improvised Explosive Devices

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – (February 26, 2009) He sat and pondered the question, “What is the best part of your job?”

Continue reading "Where the Buffalo Roams - Bonecrusher Relentlessly Searches Out Improvised Explosive Devices" »

February 22, 2009

CLB-2 makes long haul to remote location of Iraq

SAHL SINJAR AIRFIELD, Iraq — The sun had barely peaked over the horizon as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, affectionately known as the Battle Wagon, and more than 30 other vehicles carrying Marines, civilian contractors, and one interpreter, rolled out of Al Asad early Sunday morning, Feb. 8, 2009.

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February 14, 2009

Coming Home: 26th MEU conducts wash down

KUWAITI NAVAL BASE, Kuwait — After nearly two weeks of constant cleaning, scrubbing, spraying down and inspecting, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit has completed its wash down.

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February 9, 2009

Marines train with French navy

From the wide hallways and spacious planning areas to the Perrier and freshly baked baguettes, the French Ship Tonnerre has a certain "je ne sais quoi" that sets it apart from U.S. vessels.

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Bridgewater mourns loss of first soldier since Vietnam to die in combat

BRIDGEWATER — Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Preach, who died Saturday from injuries sustained in combat while in Afghanistan, will be remembered for his smile, his sense of humor, and his selflessness. He was 21.

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February 3, 2009

Afghan National Police, Marines Show Presence in Delaram Marketplace

DELARAM, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Afghan national policemen and U.S. Marines patrolled together through the marketplace of the district center of Delaram, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, in search of illegal activity and contraband Jan. 24.

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January 31, 2009

Marines build new outposts in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Jan 31, 2009 9:50:39 EST

Marines in Afghanistan’s Farah province have built three new combat outposts along a 27-mile stretch of Route 515, according to a Marine news release.

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January 29, 2009

2 Lejeune NCOs killed in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Jan 29, 2009 11:14:21 EST

Two North Carolina-based noncommissioned officers were killed Tuesday while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, the Defense Department reported Wednesday.

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January 28, 2009

Twin brothers meet by chance in Iraqi desert

What are the odds?

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January 27, 2009

Embedded with the Marines in Afghanistan

The crumbling wall of the parapet on the northwestern corner on the ancient caravanserai was built up with sandbags and topped with concertina wire. The long barrel of a .50 caliber machine gun (M2, or Ma Deuce as she is affectionately called) points north across the desert toward a very small mud-walled village 1000 yards out and a few smaller walled compounds more or less the same distance out. Sharply rising Afghan mountains here in Farah Province are about four miles beyond the village. This southern province touches Iran to the west and a corner of Helmand Province to the southeast, where abundant poppy farming produces 60 percent to 90 percent of the world’s heroin and where the Taliban flourish for an obvious reason, drug money.

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Lejeune Marine dies in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Jan 27, 2009 17:53:12 EST

A North Carolina-based Marine died Saturday after a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan’s Farah province, according to reports.

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January 25, 2009

Marines of 3/8 Clear Southern Afghanistan’s Deadly Route 515

Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 successfully completed Operation Gateway III, Dec. 28, 2008, through Jan. 25, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 successfully completed Operation Gateway III, Dec. 28, 2008, through Jan. 25, in Farah province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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Brothers meet up during deployment to Iraq

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq —
While deployed, Marines often depend on phone calls and e-mails to keep in contact with their families. Some Marines however, can find themselves separated from a loved one by just a few miles.

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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.

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January 22, 2009

Marines join counter-piracy mission

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 22, 2009 17:10:09 EST

Members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, a spokesman for Marine Corps headquarters said Thursday.

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January 21, 2009

Lejeune Marines die in auto wreck

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Jan 21, 2009 19:02:08 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Two North Carolina-based Marines are dead and another is in a Pennsylvania hospital after early morning vehicle accident Tuesday.

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January 18, 2009

‘Semper Fit’ more than motto to RCT-8 Marines

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq —
Keeping in peak physical condition isn’t an exception but more like a rule for Marines and this mindset doesn’t change during deployment.

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RCT-8 Communication Marines: keeping it connected during the fight

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq -- Constant communication between leaders at all levels is important whether they are deep in the sands of Iraq, the mountainous regions of Afghanistan or the confines of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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January 16, 2009

Logistics leathernecks train to evacuate U.S. citizens

FORT PICKETT, Va. — In 1990, the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation to rescue U.S. citizens and other third-country nationals from war-torn Liberia. The MEU operated in the West African nation for several weeks, evacuating more than 1,600 civilians in the longest-running NEO in history.

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January 10, 2009

Marines drop in on Fort Pickett out of the blue

FORT PICKETT, Va. — Marines from Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, participated in a parachute drop Jan. 10, 2009, at Blackstone Army Airfield aboard Fort Pickett, Va., a Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center.

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Marines conduct flight operations in urban Virginia

FORT PICKETT, Va. — MV-22B Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, stopped traffic and turned heads as they landed in several areas in and around Richmond, Va., Jan. 10, 2009.

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January 9, 2009

Chaplain's 'guardian' remains ready to fight

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 9, 2009) — If you search across the landscape of any battlefield where Marines fight, you’re bound to find a Navy chaplain nearby.

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RCT-8 moves forward to Al Asad, Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 8 said goodbye to their loved ones here Jan. 6 as they departed for a scheduled one-year deployment to al Asad, Iraq.

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January 6, 2009

Lejeune Marine dies in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Jan 6, 2009 20:25:39 EST

A North Carolina-based Marine was killed late last week after triggering a land mine in Afghanistan, his family said.

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January 1, 2009

26th MEU rings in New Year in Kuwait

CAMP BEUHRING, Kuwait — The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Kuwait today for it scheduled sustainment training at Camp Beuhring, Kuwait, and its surrounding ranges

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December 29, 2008

Fallen Marines to be awarded Navy Cross

Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, 19, had just arrived in Iraq.

Cpl. Jonathan Yale and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter saved Iraqi police and fellow Marines from a truck-driving suicide bomber, Marine brass say. The April attack could have slain dozens.

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December 26, 2008

Battalion takes root in new area of operations

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — The expeditionary nature of the Marine Corps requires a responsive and capable force able to adapt to the ever-changing mission of the Global War on Terror and operations in Iraq.

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December 22, 2008

Chairman of Joint Chiefs Visits Marines, Sailors in Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen visited Marines and Sailors deployed to Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21.

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Leadership course shapes 3/9 Marines for deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, recently conducted a small unit leaders’ course here as part of their annual predeployment training.

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December 17, 2008

Marine Unit Leading Afghan Troop Boost

It's a tough neighborhood for coalition forces in southern Afghanistan. While moving through the historical home of the Taliban and its putative leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, American and NATO troops have been increasingly bruised by fighters from the resurgent movement who attack, run and lay ambushes nearly at will.

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December 11, 2008

Marines Shift Focus to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - As the need for Marines in Iraq winds down, their top general says he would like to shift his troops to Afghanistan, perhaps in numbers small enough to allow a less punishing pace of combat tours.

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December 9, 2008

R. Lee Ermey visits Marines, sailors of the 26th MEU

USS IWO JIMA, Arabian Gulf - "I at Gunnery Sergeant Ermey, I am your senior drill instructor," announces the actor and Marine Corps icon. "From now on you will speak only when spoken to. The first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be ‘Sir!' Do you maggots understand that?"

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November 27, 2008

Marines take training to the range

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marine security guards are responsible for the security of American Embassies all over the world and go through rigorous training to ensure they are up to the task.

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November 25, 2008

Corpsman earns "combat V"

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 25, 2008) — A hospital corpsman with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group’s 2nd Medical Battalion was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a combat distinguishing device in an awards ceremony here, Nov. 19th.

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November 23, 2008

EOD explodes the unexploded

MIDDLE EAST — While looking into the vast expanse of the desert, it’s hard to fathom anyone spending more than a few minutes out there, let alone working with unexploded ordnance (UXO) for hours, if not days, on end.

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November 22, 2008

Marines to be awarded Navy Cross posthumously

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 22, 2008 7:46:45 EST

Two Marines who died in Iraq stopping a small water tanker filled with explosives will be posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second-highest combat honor, a Marine spokeswoman said.

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November 11, 2008

Marines celebrate birthday alongside Iraqi counterparts

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 11, 2008) — Founded in a small Philadelphia tavern on Nov. 10, 1775, by order of the Second Continental Congress, the Marine Corps’ history books were opened, and today, in Ramadi, Iraq, 2008, the pages are still being written.

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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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October 31, 2008

3/9 Marines pack to fight in ‘every clime and place’

MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Calif. — Usually Halloween is a time to pretend to be something your not and take a break from the everyday routine, but on Oct. 31, Marines from 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, didn’t take a day off; they kept training.

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October 29, 2008

26th MEU gasses up FARP

MIDDLE EAST — Fuel runs moderns armies. It is that simple. Without fuel the war machine grinds to a halt, as surely today as it did during the Battle of the Bulge, when Hitler’s attacking tanks and vehicles lay abandoned roadside for lack of gas.

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October 20, 2008

Exploiting Opportunities

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait — In preparation for a mechanized sustainment training exercise, Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit offloaded track and assault vehicles at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, Oct. 12.

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Reserve MP spices up life for Marines at remote outpost

COMBAT OUTPOST TREBIL, Iraq — When you step into the mess hall here, the first thing you notice is the smell of gourmet coffee. Next, you notice an orderly array of shelf-stable meals displayed in cubbies along the plywood walls, available to the post’s Marines 24-hours a day.

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October 19, 2008

Platoon puts wraps on security role

RAWAH, Iraq — Six months of security posts and sector patrols have come to an end here for Marines with 1st Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battlalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5, who left their posts at Traffic Control Points 3 and 4 Oct. 12 when Provisional Rifle Platoon 3, RCT-5 assumed the watch.

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October 18, 2008

24th MEU returns from the forgotten battlefield; completes Afghanistan combat tour

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. — It’s over for 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines. No more mid-day patrols in 150 degree heat or endless gusts of powder-like sand. No more sleeping on humvee hoods or in some Afghan villager’s bombed out compound. Marines began returning home following an eight-month deployment to southern Afghanistan today.

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October 14, 2008

American Gladiators tour Iraq

RAWAH, Iraq — Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq -- Atop the flatbed of a seven-ton truck and behind wooden pallets stacked as a barrier, gladiators took cover from incoming fire. They popped up to return suppressive fire, and the soccer ball onslaught continued for nearly an hour.

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October 10, 2008

Care Packages Reach 3/10 Marines!

Last June, the South Central Nebraska Marine Parents support group was contacted by Peggy and Bennett Chamness (owners of Texas T-Bone in Grand Island) needing names of deployed Marines in order to fulfill their care package project.

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October 5, 2008

Legendary Marine battalion completes Iraq deployment

RAMADI, IRAQ — RAMADI, IRAQ (October 5, 2008) – Just over seven months ago, service members with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, packed their bags and traveled halfway across the world to Iraq, marking the unit’s first battalion-sized deployment since its reactivation in late 2005.

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October 4, 2008

‘Trading Spaces’; Camp Lejeune units pass torch in Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq — RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 4, 2008) – With the dust settling on their seven-month deployment, Marines of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team, 1 are handing over their area of operations in Ramadi, Iraq, to 2nd Bn., 9th Marines.

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October 2, 2008

2/9 deploys in support of OIF

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, deployed to Al Anbar province from Camp Lejeune, N.C., in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Sept. 23, 2008.

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October 1, 2008

Calif. Marines train at mock Afghan village

By Chelsea J. Carter - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 1, 2008 13:06:22 EDT

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marine Capt. Mike Hoffman sat on the floor of a shack with an Afghan mullah and village elders and accepted a meager meal as he sought their help in the fight against the Taliban.

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September 29, 2008

Call it ‘Camp Luh-jern’

Group wants everyone to say it exactly the way the general did

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 29, 2008 8:31:14 EDT

Lt. Gen. John Archer Lejeune is one of the Corps’ all-time heroes, a legendary leatherneck who became the first Marine to lead an Army division, and who later ushered in a new era of amphibious warfare.

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September 26, 2008

3/8 strike new Afghanistan-specific Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, a Camp Lejeune, N.C., -based battalion, are in the final stages of the month long pre-deployment training exercise known as Mojave Viper, which is usually intended for units deploying to Iraq, but has been modified to prepare the battalion for their upcoming tour in Afghanistan.

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3/8 attacks MOUT town during Afghan preparation

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. —
More than 200 Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines’ Company K, set out from Camp Wilson to Range 215 here Sept. 18 to conduct a week’s worth of urban warfare training.

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September 24, 2008

Capt. awarded third-highest medal for valor

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — It was just another day in Iraq for Capt. John Roussos and the men of Company B, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.

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September 16, 2008

3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Prepares for Combat at Mojave Viper

TWENTY NINE PALMS, CA — Marines dash across the Mojave Desert as the sun beats down on the range. Squad leaders shout instructions as Marines move through the course, assaulting a defended position, and then listening intently as range instructors provide feedback and give instruction. This is 3d Battalion, 8th Marines – recently arrived at Twenty Nine Palms, California from their home at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for the Mojave Viper training package.

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DoD announces new Afghanistan rotation

By Bryan Mitchell - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 16, 2008 9:57:26 EDT

Up to 2,000 Marines will deploy to Afghanistan in November to replace the 3,400 leathernecks scheduled to return home in the coming months, the Defense Department announced Monday.

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September 15, 2008

Marines deliver smiles with mobile Post Exchange

HADITHA, Iraq — — HADITHA, Iraq – Marines from the Haditha Dam Forward Logistics Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 1st Marine Logistics Group delivered a Mobile Post Exchange to the Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Sept. 15 during their stops at Combat Outpost Haqlaniyah.

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September 14, 2008

Let's roll: Motor-T keeps vehicles rolling in Anbar

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Seven Marines have become the foundation of vehicle maintenance for a battalion and other units in western al-Anbar province.

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Light armored recon trains with mortars in Anbar

AL-ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — The sound of thunder echoed through the desert as mortars impacted the ground here Sept. 14.

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‘Wiener dog’ helps Iraq War veteran adjust

Scott MacKenzie is sleeping better these days.

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September 12, 2008

22nd MEU steps off as one team

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit grew in numbers and capabilities Friday as the Aviation Combat Element, Ground Combat Element and Logistics Combat Element were officially attached to the unit. Marines and sailors celebrated the day with an immense formation run consisting of more than 1,200 Marines and sailors from the MEU.

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September 9, 2008

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

Marines turn Afghan town over to British, Afghans

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines who took back a key town in southern Afghanistan from Taliban militants in an operation earlier this year turned over responsibility for the area to British and Afghan forces on Monday.

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September 7, 2008

Marines witnesses change

ANAH, Iraq — A steady change has been happening throughout western al-Anbar province, Iraq. According to Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, it has been a noticeable and welcome change in there area of operations.

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September 5, 2008

3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Prepares for Combat at Mojave Viper

TWENTY NINE PALMS, CA — Marines dash across the Mojave Desert as the sun beats down on the range. Squad leaders shout instructions as Marines move through the course, assaulting a defended position, and then listening intently as range instructors provide feedback and give instruction. This is 3d Battalion, 8th Marines – recently arrived at Twenty Nine Palms, California from their home at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for the Mojave Viper training package.

Continue reading "3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Prepares for Combat at Mojave Viper" »

August 22, 2008

Underway: 26th MEU deploys

CAMP LEJUENE, N.C. — After an arduous six-month training cycle, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit boards the ships of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group the last week of August for their scheduled deployment.

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August 21, 2008

Admin to Grunt: Battalion Commander’s eyes and ears

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq – A Marine underwent an immense transition from monitoring pay to becoming the eyes and ears of the battalion commander.

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August 20, 2008

Changing of the guard; BLT 1/6 trains their replacements for success

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan —
As one of the countless patrols passes through the Garmsir city district, three children stare. They have spotted something unfamiliar in the passersby. Among the Marines are men in different uniforms, different and yet not foreign.

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August 18, 2008

Iraqi sheikh prepares Lejeune Marines for upcoming deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
In the years since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime, ordinary Iraqi citizens have stepped forward and taken an active role in charting their country’s future.

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II MEF likely to get better Anbar welcome

By Bryan Mitchell - [email protected]
Posted : August 18, 2008

For the third time in six years, II Marine Expeditionary Force will deploy to Iraq sometime in early 2009, but it will be a much different tour than the unit’s 2007 mission.

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August 17, 2008

Garmsir's resurrection; with the district center secure, focus shifts to improving infrastructure

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan —
With Garmsir’s streets clear of insurgents the next steps in the counterinsurgency campaign, reconstruction and renovation, can begin with the district governor’s priorities including repairs to the irrigation system, and refurbishment of the hospital and schools.

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August 16, 2008

Marines inch closer to a formal transfer of security control to Iraqis in Anbar

RAMADI, IRAQ -- As Iraqi officials and the U.S. military haggle over when to let Anbar province take control of its own security, a row of broken-down Ford pickups in a Ramadi schoolyard offers a sobering picture of the readiness of the region's security forces.

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Mashpee Marine killed in Iraq

MASHPEE — A prayer book lies open on the McGuires' coffee table. The oversized American flag outside the Katian Way house is at half-staff.

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HMM-365 (REIN) aces Afghanistan test

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — A CH-53E Sea Stallion flies low over the vastness that is Afghanistan’s red desert. The tail-gunner squats over a machine gun, scanning the horizon as the helicopter pitches and sways. Below, trails of varying size appear with no discernible origin and a lone camel casts a shadow on a sand dune.

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August 14, 2008

Jump Platoon explores roads less traveled

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq – The Warlords of Jump Platoon have the responsibility of escorting the battalion commander anywhere he needs to go around the Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 area of operations.

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August 13, 2008

US Marines turn to social, detective work after assault

Garmsir, Afghanistan - "We are going to get bombarded when we reach that compound," a US Marine sergeant warns the patrol. Seeing the puzzled look on a reporter's face - the fighting is supposed to have finished - another explains: "Not by the Taliban, by compensation claimants."We don't even reach the compound before they start to appear, emerging from the cornfields with claim papers in hand, speeding towards the patrol from all sides like hungry velociraptors closing in on Sam Neill's group of explorers in Jurassic Park.

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August 11, 2008

Engineers, LAR’s plans may put H2O back in Rio Lobo

COMBAT OUTPOST RIO LOBO, Iraq – The most important natural resource for Coalition Forces in Iraq is water.

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Rockin’ at Korean Village

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — A quiet base in the western Al Anbar province was filled with sounds of electric guitars and the crash of cymbals July 10.

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August 10, 2008

Knowledge, skill, will: 1/2 Marines hit ground running

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq — CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (August 10, 2008) – Since June 28, 2004, when the Coalition Provisional Authority officially transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government, Marines have done their part to assist the Iraqi people in building a unified Iraq with the political and economic stability needed to govern itself.

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July 31, 2008

26th MEU completes its training

Deployment this fall; destination undeclared

After six months of training, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is ready to deploy.

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July 26, 2008

Marine thanks the Corps with service

COMBAT OUTPOST AKASHAT, Iraq —
During the Korean War, U.S. Marines fought to defend the citizens of South Korea against communist North Korea.

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July 24, 2008

U.S. Marines Take On the Taliban in Afghanistan

GARMSIR, AFGHANISTAN—At this spartan combat outpost in the heart of Helmand province, U.S. marines are preparing for what may be their toughest fight yet. Under the cover of darkness, they will push out to take up positions for a battle that they hope will break up a key Taliban stronghold in what is currently one of the most dangerous regions in the country.

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July 21, 2008

Operation Azada Wosa: Recounting the 24th MEU's progress in Garmsir

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Soon after changing deployment plans in mid-January and arriving in Afghanistan mid-March, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit began planning for counterinsurgency operations in southern Afghanistan, specifically focusing on the Garmsir District of Helmand Province.

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Officer with 24th MEU dies in Afghanistan

WOODLYN, N.J. — When 1st Lt. Jason Mann joined the Marines 11 years ago, his mom, Alfina, was nervous.

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July 15, 2008

3/6 sentries — all guards, no glory

FALLUJAH, Iraq — On the outer perimeter of Camp Baharia there are vigilant eyes and ears that never rest — Marine sentries manning guard towers alertly in their desolate surroundings with miles of open desert and roadways in the distance.

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July 13, 2008

Garmsir bazaar back in business

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The sound of children playing and merchants price haggling fills the bustling Garmsir district bazaar, a stark contrast from what was here two months ago.

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July 12, 2008

Scarcity of linguists makes it hard to wage war

Can U.S. be a skillful interventionist with scant supply of foreign speakers?

WASHINGTON - The United States military has a strategic shortfall — not of bullets or ballistic missiles, but of soldiers and Marines fluent in Dari, Pashto, Uzbek, and Turkmen — the languages spoken in Afghanistan.

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Afghan border police on patrol with U.S. Marines

GARMSIR, Afghanistan, July 12 (Reuters) - "Do you know who these men are?" a U.S. Marine asks residents, gesturing to Afghan border police near the recently captured town of Garmsir. But the answer is always "no", no one has ever seen the force before.

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July 9, 2008

Marine ends prisoner's escape

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (July 9, 2008) — A North Carolina based Marine was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal here July 9 for his actions in apprehending a prisoner who escaped from an Ozark County, Mo., courthouse June 10.

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July 7, 2008

Afghanistan tour extended for 24th MEU

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 7, 2008 10:29:29 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s deployment in Afghanistan has been extended an additional 30 days, despite repeated claims by Pentagon officials that the deployment would not extend beyond seven months.

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July 5, 2008

Marines act as paymasters to Afghans

In the wake of their offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province, the U.S. troops reimburse civilians for property damage.

GARMSER, AFGHANISTAN -- Gola Akar, a black-bearded farmer, did not seem certain whether a monthlong Marine assault here had improved or retarded his business prospects.

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July 4, 2008

24th MEU tour extended a month

Mother of Lejeune corporal is disappointed by the news

As word spread throughout the community and country that the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's stay in Afghanistan will be extended, families of those deployed dealt with the heartache of not seeing their loved ones as soon as they'd hoped.

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July 3, 2008

Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time.

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U.S. Grants NATO Request to Extend Marine Unit’s Afghanistan Tour

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force request that the 2,200 Marines of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit remain in Afghanistan a month longer than planned.

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July 1, 2008

Fire destroys post, Marines persevere

FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 1, 2008) – Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat team 1 and Iraqi firemen with the Fallujah Fire Department teamed up to battle a fire that destroyed structures at Entry Control Point-5 (ECP-5) June 25.

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June 26, 2008

After Long Exile, Afghan Returns to Aid U.S. Marines

June 26, 2008 · At 53, Abdul Torabi is a soft-spoken man with gray hair, a short gray beard and a quiet chuckle. He was born in Afghanistan, but has lived most of his life in exile in America.

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In the Province of Poppies and R.P.G.s

(6/26/2008) Every marine prepares for battle in his own way. These were the Marines of Alpha Company, Third Platoon, First Battalion of the Sixth Marines. They were preparing for a fight.

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June 25, 2008

Marines in Afghanistan Weigh In on a Life at War

All Things Considered, June 25, 2008 · When compared to Iraq, the conflict in Afghanistan is often described as the forgotten war.

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Machine gunner lands new job

RAWAH, Iraq —
Marines, or “Warlords” as they are nicknamed, with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 have recently been conducting proficiency-firing ranges at forward operating bases all over western al-Anbar province, Iraq. The cracks of rifles, the thumps of mortars and the clatter of machine-gun fire echoes through the camps some days.

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Marines Try to Improve Image in Taliban Stronghold

It has been a month and a half since a force of some 1,500 U.S. Marines attacked the Taliban stronghold of Garmsir district in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan.

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June 24, 2008

Marines to assist town of Nukhayb

NUKHAYB — Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 visited the town here June 24 after assuming operations from Team Mustang, 2nd LAR.

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Marines to assist town of Nukhayb

NUKHAYB — Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 visited the town here June 24 after assuming operations from Team Mustang, 2nd LAR.

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Marines make headway in southern Afghan town

By Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 24, 2008 8:46:23 EDT

GARMSER, Afghanistan — Marines are trading gunfire and artillery shells with Taliban militants in the volatile southern province of Helmand, the world’s largest poppy growing region.

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June 17, 2008

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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Afghanistan Readies for Battle?

Afghan Army on High Alert After Increased Activity by Taliban Militants

Afghanistan's army chief, Gen. Bismillah Khan, is in Kandahar preparing his men for a potentially major battle with the Taliban.

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Afghanistan Readies for Battle?

Afghan Army on High Alert After Increased Activity by Taliban Militants

Afghanistan's army chief, Gen. Bismillah Khan, is in Kandahar preparing his men for a potentially major battle with the Taliban.

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June 16, 2008

From nothing to success

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — “I started from nothing to making something of my life,” said Cpl. Andrew E. Nelson, a personnel clerk with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5. “I was broke then, and now I have goals, my credit cards are paid and I can go to school again.”

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June 15, 2008

Marines leave their box, get into their ‘lanes’

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Butlerville, Ind. — Stalingrad, Berlin, Hue City, Baghdad, Fallujah. To most people, these are just places on a map, some of them nice places to vacation. But for students of history and war, these places evoke a far different meaning.
These cities played host to some of the fiercest fighting ever seen in battle. With the birth of large cities came also a new form of combat: urban warfare.

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June 14, 2008

Mission: Connecting Marines with families

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — A shorter wait for phones and internet is at hand for service members and civilian contractors here.

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June 13, 2008

Corpsmen and surgeons lend a healing hand

NATHARA, Iraq (June 13, 2008) -- A good deed was provided to residents of a small village outside of Rutbah, Iraq, June 12.

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June 12, 2008

Trip Illuminates Life on Bases Across Afghan Desert

In Afghanistan, tens of thousands of NATO-led U.S. and foreign troops are battling a Taliban insurgency across eastern and southern Afghanistan. NPR's Ivan Watson and David Gilkey spent the past four days traveling across the network of NATO bases in southern Afghanistan and sent this postcard about the journey.

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June 11, 2008

Guardian Angels: Security Platoon protects rebuilding of Rutbah

RUTBAH, Iraq — Over the course of two years, the city of Rutbah has encountered change towards its people and government. With Coalition forces support, the town has been able to rebuild its structure and remain safe from insurgency.

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June 6, 2008

Cheerleaders give LAR a glimpse of home

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Unexpected visitors greeted an infantry battalion of Marines, sailors and other residents here June 6.

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June 3, 2008

U.S. Reports Gains Against Taliban Fighters

KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan are fleeing to the Pakistani border after being routed in recent operations by the United States Marines, the American commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan said on Monday.

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June 1, 2008

U.S. offensive in Helmand taking pressure off the Canadians in Kandahar

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. marines clawed their way south along the Helmand River valley over the weekend in an ongoing push that the commander of the battle-hardened assault force hopes is easing the pressure on the Canadians in neighbouring Kandahar.

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Fighting the 'forgotten war'

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — The highest-ranking U.S. Marine in Afghanistan is worried he's losing the battle when it comes to getting Americans interested in the war.

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Supply runs the show

RAMADI, Iraq (1 June 2008) - Warehouse clerks with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, support the scouts and crewman of the battalion with the supplies and equipment they need to stay in the fight.
“Without supply, there wouldn’t be any operations,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph M. McDonough, a warehouse clerk with H&S; Company. “We are the logistic backbone of every company in the battalion.”

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May 31, 2008

Gates Seeks More Afghanistan Support at Asia Security Summit

SINGAPORE, May 31, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates continued his quest to get more Asian countries to step forward and help in Afghanistan during a series of bilateral meetings here today at the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Asia Security Summit.
Talks about operations in Afghanistan as well as Iraq played prominently in most of Gates’ six formal and informal “pull-aside” sessions today, a senior defense official told reporters. The same issues are expected to arise again during three additional bilateral meetings.

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May 27, 2008

Optimism Grows as Marines Push Against Taliban

GARMSER, Afghanistan — For two years British troops staked out a presence in this small district center in southern Afghanistan and fended off attacks from the Taliban. The constant firefights left it a ghost town, its bazaar broken and empty but for one baker, its houses and orchards reduced to rubble and weeds.

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May 26, 2008

3/9 Marines: ‘Geared to go’

By Trista Talton
Posted : May 26, 2008

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Only time will tell where the men of the final battalion of 9th Marines to reactivate will deploy next year.

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In southern Afghanistan, the marines clear a little space for optimism

GARMSER, Afghanistan: For two years British troops staked out a presence in this small district center in southern Afghanistan and fended off attacks from the Taliban. The constant firefights left it a ghost town, its bazaar broken and empty but for one baker, its houses and orchards reduced to rubble and weeds.

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Marine recovering after being shot in head

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 26, 2008 9:39:03 EDT

Lance Cpl. Sam Hansen was on a Mother’s Day vehicle patrol in Taliban-heavy Garmser, Afghanistan, when insurgents opened fire.

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May 24, 2008

Marines become big brothers to local kids

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (May 24, 2008) – It was a special day for Marines with 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, who delivered tables to a school outside of Rutbah, Iraq, May 23 with assistance from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-17.

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May 23, 2008

The hardest job in the Corps: wives spend day in husbands’ boots

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — When the warriors of the Marine Corps deploy to foreign lands, they often leave behind family members. While they may not be on the front lines, these loved ones are no less important than the Marines who serve.

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May 22, 2008

Marine is more than meets the eye

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (May 22, 2008) – In the middle of the Iraqi desert, there is a Marine who helped create a device that would affect approximately 40 million people worldwide.

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May 21, 2008

Outlaws back SEALS

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Sneaking through the shadows of the cool desert night, Navy SEALS have a mission to find and capture a suspected insurgent in western Al Anbar province. Without hesitation, the special operations team grabs the suspect, knowing they have a powerful and mobile infantry platoon to back them up at a moment’s notice.

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‘Outlaw’ serves people of Iraq

ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — The Iraqi civilians that reside in the deserts of western Al Anbar province range from traders to farmers. The Marines with Delta Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 ensure those people receive proper care.

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May 20, 2008

Fallen Marine heroic, selfless

Eupora High graduate, 22, shot to death Sunday during combat in Afghanistan

On Sunday, Marine Cpl. Justin Cooper of Eupora was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

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From 'Ambush Alley' to peaceful alley

RAMADI, Iraq —
RAMADI, Iraq — Step after step, combat boots hit the pavement. It’s been a few hours for the Marine squad walking the Ramadi streets. Fatigued yet steady, the young men push forward on their routine foot patrol despite the mid-day desert heat; each squad member maintaining a constant alertness with eyes scanning the environment in every direction. The squad leader passes by a familiar face; a local vender who he sees almost every day. Instantly, the look of exhaustion washes away, and a smile is brought to his face. Lifting his hand, he warmly greets the vender with, “Al salaam a’alaykum.”

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Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack

RAMADI, Iraq —
RAMADI, Iraq — It was a typical quiet morning on April 22, with the temperature intensifying as a bright orange sun emerged high from the horizon.

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May 14, 2008

Marines stay in Afghan town after Taliban influx

GARMSER, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Marines who once planned to be in this southern Afghan town for just a few days are extending their mission by several weeks after facing an influx of Taliban fighters.

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May 7, 2008

‘Warlords’ gets acquainted with Anbar province, Iraq

AL QA'IM, Iraq — The “Warlords” of Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 began a seven-month deployment to Al Qa’im, Iraq, in mid-April.

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British troops help US Marines tackle the Taliban in Garmsir

UK troops working as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in southern Afghanistan have been taking part in a joint operation with US Marines aimed at disrupting Taliban activity in the volatile Garmsir area of Helmand province.

Troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade joined the Marines, from the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as they pushed south of Garmsir where currently, but for a few border security police, neither ISAF nor the Afghan Security Forces have a presence. The purpose of the operation was to extend security authority further south towards the Pakistan border.

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May 6, 2008

Marines ignore Taliban cash crop to not upset Afghan locals

GARMSER, Afghanistan (AP) — The Marines of Bravo Company's 1st Platoon sleep beside a grove of poppies. Troops in the 2nd Platoon playfully swat at the heavy opium bulbs while walking through the fields. Afghan laborers scraping the plant's gooey resin smile and wave.

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May 5, 2008

In ghost town where Afghan war begins, UK fights losing battle

There is only silence in Garmser, a ghost town on the edge of the desert in southern Afghanistan. The bazaar is a lonely line of abandoned shops and debris-strewn streets. There is just one trader - a baker - whose sole customers are British soldiers and Afghan police.

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May 3, 2008

Doc loves being ‘green’

KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — When a Navy hospital corpsman becomes “green,” he is placed on the front lines with the trust of the Marine Corps infantryman. He runs through the trenches, engaging the enemy, all while putting his own life on the line providing medical care for the wounded.

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May 2, 2008

Sandwiched between Taliban and poppies, Marines face day of fire in southern Afghanistan

GARMSER, Afghanistan: Gunfire rang out at Sgt. Dan Linas' patrol, pinning his squad down against a dirt berm. The Marines looked across the field on their left, at three mud huts and a grove of trees, in search of the muzzle flash.

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May 1, 2008

Marine colonel from Beverly leads strike against Taliban

BEVERLY — A U.S. Marine Corps colonel who grew up in Beverly is leading the first major military operation in years in a dangerous section of southern Afghanistan populated by Taliban fighters.

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Marines muscle in on Taliban

GARMSER, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines contended with 110-degree heat, rugged terrain and an increasingly savvy and war-hardened enemy as they pressed deeper into a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan on Thursday.

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Marines' new enemy: thirst

Heat, heavy loads, lack of water slow attack on Taliban

GARMSIR, Afghanistan - For the Marines fighting in southern Afghanistan, a shortage of drinking water turned out to be nearly as big a concern as Taliban insurgents.

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April 29, 2008

Heroic last stand, Marines thwart enemy attack

RAMADI, IRAQ (April 29, 2008) – It was a typical quiet morning on April 22, with the temperature intensifying as a bright orange sun emerged high from the horizon.

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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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Canadians enlisted in new American-style Afghan war

Bush has come to shove in southern Afghanistan. The U.S. commander-in-chief has sent in the marines.

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US Marines move into Taliban-held area of Afghanistan

OUTSIDE GARMSER, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Marines exchanged gunfire with militants Tuesday after pouring into a Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan in the first major American operation in the region in years.

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Marines seize insurgent command center in southern Afghanistan

In first operations, U.S. forces also aim to intersect weapons and drug routes

GARMSIR, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines assaulted into this Taliban stronghold early today in a series of pre-dawn strikes, seizing a major insurgent command center and killing a number of insurgents.

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US Marines to ‘stir things up’ in Helmand

The first US Marines of a new expeditionary force were deployed in Afghanistan’s troubled Helmand province yesterday, promising new and more aggressive tactics in an implicit criticism of the British operation there.

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April 28, 2008

Marines launch massive assault in Afghanistan

Hundreds of U.S. forces backed by airpower enter Taliban-controlled South

OUTSIDE GARMSER, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines in helicopters and Humvees flooded into a Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan's most violent province early Tuesday in the first major American operation in the region in years.

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April 26, 2008

Marines Returning to Southern Afghanistan to Back Up NATO Coalition

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — U.S. Marines are crossing the sands of southern Afghanistan for the first time in years, providing a boost to a NATO coalition that is growing in size but still short on manpower.

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IRAQ: Without hesitation

Two young Marines killed in the explosion of a suicide vehicle are being praised for saving the lives of dozens of Marines and Iraqi police by preventing the vehicle from penetrating a police compound in Ramadi.

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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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'All-access Pass’: Fallujah bridge demilitarized

FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 24, 2008) – Coalition and Iraqi Security forces are diligently working together to aid Iraq in its pursuit of becoming an independent state. Progress is being made daily with keeping al Qaeda in Iraq at bay and transferring security responsibilities to the Iraqi people, allowing Coalition forces to focus more on demilitarizing positions and transitioning out of Iraq.

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Sag Harbor Marine killed in Iraq

On Monday, JoAnn Lyles received a letter from her only child, who wrote her about what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

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April 23, 2008

8th Comm. Bn. deploys to Germany

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — U.S. military forces are noted for working side-by-side with foreign forces across the globe. Eighth Communications Battalion will have the chance to experience world-wide camaraderie as they deploy to Lager Aulenbach, Germany, April 25 to May 19, in support of Exercise Combined Endeavor 2008.

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Deployments can affect even the littlest patriots

About 1,000 2/2 Marines going to Iraq

As a light rain fell on a Camp Lejeune parking lot Wednesday afternoon, Lance Cpl. Jacob Ballard stood under a striped canopy, holding a 15-month-old girl in a camouflage dress with pale pink trim.

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April 20, 2008

Task Force Mustang supports their own

ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Living out in the midst of the desert, resources are numbered. The Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, don’t have that problem thanks to Task Force Mustang.

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April 18, 2008

Learning to Bridge the Cultural Gap

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Gone are the simplistic battlefields of previous Marine generations where as the classic "Rifleman's Creed" boldly states, "what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count."

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April 14, 2008

24th MEU sharpens sights in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan —
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit tested the new Target Location, Designation, Hand-off System, called the StrikeLink, outside friendly lines here, April 12.

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April 13, 2008

In the crosshairs: New weapons system more efficient for 2nd LAR Marines

ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq —
ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Imagine a weapons sight so powerful that you could read a service members’ name tape from over a kilometer away.

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April 12, 2008

2nd LAR welcomes Raven

ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq —
ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq — Flying through the sky like a ghost in the wind, a new tool is available to assist infantry Marines gather surveillance without being in danger.

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April 11, 2008

Marines immobile in Afghan red tape

Multinational force has multiple leaders

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Disagreements and coordination problems high within the international military command are delaying combat operations for 2,500 Marines who arrived here last month to help root out Taliban forces, according to military officers here.

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April 9, 2008

What a difference 31 years makes

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — During the past 31 years, the role of females in the Marine Corps has changed drastically. One female Marine has experienced those changes firsthand.

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2nd Intel returns to Lejeune

4/9/2008 By Lance Cpl. Meg Varvil , II MEF

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Dark storm clouds didn’t discourage the crowd of family and friends gathered here to welcome home Marines and sailors of 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, April 4.

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April 5, 2008

Marines set up camp at HAFB

Werewolves have come to the Tularosa Basin and plan to stay for another two weeks.

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April 2, 2008

Lejeune unit ships off for Iraq

Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Apr 2, 2008 16:15:49 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — About 300 Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines are heading to Iraq on Thursday to begin a seven-month deployment.

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March 31, 2008

2nd LAR assumes control of western Anbar

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, took the reigns from 3rd LAR Battalion here March 31 to continue the mission of making a safer and better Iraq.

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‘Outlaws’ comb the desert for threats

KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq — Marines with Delta Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, are conducting vehicle route reconnaissance missions throughout the western Anbar province of Iraq in pursuit of insurgent activity that may be harmful towards Coalition forces, the local Iraqis and the Iraqi Security Forces.

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March 30, 2008

24th MEU gets eyes in Afghan skies

Harrier jets arrive at base

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of an ongoing series of reports from Afghanistan by The Daily News writer Jennifer Hlad, who is embedded with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit there.

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The dust, fine as powdered sugar, cast a fog in the air as Harriers cut through the sky. As the jets taxied to their spots on a newly built mat, each plane kicked up a small storm of sand in its wake.

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March 29, 2008

Iraq: Like father like son

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq Service members from all over the United States deploy to locations around the world leaving their family behind to fight for their country. For one Marine, deploying to Iraq actually meant reuniting with his father.

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March 27, 2008

U.S. starts breakdown of outposts in Ramadi

By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, March 27, 2008

Marines in Ramadi have begun dismantling some of the combat outposts credited with helping calm what was once among the most violent cities in Iraq.

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March 21, 2008

Redefining a MEU field mess

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan(Mar. 21, 2008) -- After toiling in the harsh sun and sand all morning, Marines surprisingly found themselves eating a hot, full course meal in a make-shift motor pool on a remote desert patch of Afghanistan.

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A Sacrifice, And A Gift To The Troops

One Mother Of A Fallen Soldier Showed His Platoon Her True Support

(CBS) Maureen O'Haire of Rockland, Mass., supports the troops, and not in the patronizing, bumper-sticker sort of way. She really supports the troops.

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March 20, 2008

The St. Patrick’s Day Games

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March. 20, 2008) -- Marines from 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, held a St. Patrick’s Day Field Meet, here, March 18.

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24th MEU begins setting up in Afghanistan

Staff report
Posted : Thursday Mar 20, 2008 10:03:20 EDT

A majority of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has arrived in Afghanistan and begun setting up its base in Kandahar province, Marine Corps officials said.

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March 18, 2008

2nd LAR embarks to Anbar province of Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE, N.C. (March 18, 2008) -- Family members and friends bade farewell to Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion March 18.

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1/2 scout snipers hone stalking, killing skills

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 18, 2008) -- Scout snipers with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, successfully completed a three-day field event here, March 17 through 19.

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March 15, 2008

Marines return to Afghanistan

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Mar. 15, 2008) -- Marines and sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit began arriving in Afghanistan this week.

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March 13, 2008

A flying look into women's history

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 13, 2008) -- From Amelia Earhart’s solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1932 to Marine Capt. Sarah Deal’s achievement as the first-ever female Marine Corps pilot in 1995, the spectrum of women’s aviation history continues to expand.

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March 11, 2008

Fox 2/4 Ride with Kormar in Indonesia

KARENTEKOK, Republic of Indonesia (NNS) -- Marines from Fox Company Battalion Landing Team 2, 4th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conducted bilateral Combat Rubber Raiding Craft beach landing exercises with Indonesian marines at Benungan Beach, March 10.

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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 14, 2008

Dedicated role-players help “Deadwalkers” train for deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Feb.14, 2008) -- Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, trained with Iraqi police role-players at a Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility here, Jan. 30.

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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 6, 2008

Culinary school adds a pinch of Ooh-rah!

By Michael Hill - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 6, 2008 15:27:20 EST

HYDE PARK, N.Y. — The Marines were at their stations by 0900 hours, knives in hand, ready for a tough new mission. Before the morning was out, they would slice, braise and deglaze like never before.

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February 5, 2008

24th MEU gears up for deployment

PORT OF WILMINGTON, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2008) -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed loading hundreds of vehicles, weapons and containers aboard the USNS Algol, February 1.

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January 25, 2008

22nd MEU (SOC) completes final deployment hurdle

USNS ROTA, Spain (Jan. 25, 2008) -- With the final agricultural inspections of the USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) and Ponce (LPD-15) over and done, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) Marines and sailors aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) recently completed the final wash down and inspection of the unit’s assets in Rota, Spain, Jan. 18. They filled the wash-racks here to complete the operation and in doing so, the unit marked its final hurdle before beginning the trans-Atlantic voyage home.

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January 16, 2008

22nd MEU (SOC), USS KEARSARGE support President’s visit in Israel

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, at sea -- (Jan. 16, 2008) -- Elements of the Aviation Combat Element from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) completed support to the President of the United States’ visit to Israel Jan. 11, 2008.

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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

Weapons 2/8 improves community relation

RAMADI, Iraq (Jan. 13, 2008) -- Marines from Company W, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently stationed in East Ramadi, along with Iraqi police, recently conducted a dismounted patrol with the intentions to better understand their neighbors.

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January 11, 2008

Don't call it a comeback: Marine goes from wounded warrior to silent warrior

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2008) -- The greatest leaders, it seems, don’t think of themselves as great.

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January 9, 2008

Echo 2/8 confirms versatility of infantry in Anbar

RAMADI, Iraq(Jan. 9, 2008) -- It’s not their normal everyday mission. It’s not even what the Marine Corps infantry has historically trained to do. But the job Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is doing in the Anbar province is important nonetheless.

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December 27, 2007

Colin Smith a beacon of strength and hope for all who face adversity

Strength. Strength to survive. Strength to overcome long odds. Strength to cope with overwhelming adversity. Strength to hope for a better future. And strength to work hard at making that future happen.

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December 25, 2007

Always smiling

Colin Smith always has a smile on his face. His sincerity and charm shine through it, making it impossible to not smile back. His smile radiates energy that can be felt by those around him.

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December 22, 2007

Brothers transition from football field to battle field

RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 22, 2007) -- Some Marines in the infantry claim those who they work the closest with as their family; even further their brothers. Two assault men with Fox Company in Ramadi have not only the birth certificates, but also the DNA to prove in fact they are brothers.

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December 20, 2007

Individual actions key to MOUT success

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 20, 2007) -- A Marine patrol moved cautiously down the street, eyes scanning, with their hands on their weapons, ready for anything. Their mission was to contact the local sheik and establish a friendly relationship. As they moved down the crowded street a silhouette appeared on a nearby rooftop. A primal scream rang out followed by the bang of a rocket-propelled grenade.

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December 18, 2007

Weapons Company makes name in recently tamed East Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 18, 2007) -- As the Anbar Province continues to make strides in the direction of progress, Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment, are doing their part in the final region of Anbar to join the Awakening.

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December 15, 2007

American people help spruce up Marines’ Christmas

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (Dec. 15, 2007) -- Instead of seeing the brightly colored decorations and twinkling lights found on America’s streets during the holiday season, troops often have to settle for a monochromatic view of the desert.

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December 12, 2007

2nd MLG Sailors spread Chirstmas cheer

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 12, 2007) -- The holiday season is a time of giving for 2nd Medical Battalion, who kicked their season off spreading Christmas cheer.

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December 10, 2007

24th MEU perfects amphibious operations during COMPTUEX

ABOARD USS NASSAU (Dec.10, 2007) -- As the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s pre-deployment training schedule approaches completion, the MEU’s air, sea, and ground components conducted their first collective ship-to-shore exercises during the 2-week Composite Unit Training Exercise beginning November 28.

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December 7, 2007

Lieutenant carries on Lejeune legacy

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE, N.C. (Dec. 7, 2007) -- The legacy of Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune, a man often referred to as the “Marine’s Marine” and “The greatest of all Leathernecks,” still continues more than 78 years after retiring from the Marine Corps.

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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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November 28, 2007

United States Marines Visit Cambodia

According to the U.S. Marines, there was a planned port visit to Cambodia for members of the U.S. Navy and Marines. Members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Command Amphibious Squadron 11 and USS Essex arrived in port recently. Cambodia is located next to Thailand and Viet Nam, and due to its location near the equator, is actually in the tropics.

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November 24, 2007

22nd MEU (SOC) kicks off Bangladesh humanitarian relief efforts

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (Nov. 24, 2007) -- On Nov. 15, Tropical Cyclone Sidr ripped across the coast of Bangladesh, killed over 3,000 people, left several hundred thousand people homeless, and ravaged the local crops and infrastructure. In response to the government of Bangladesh’s request for assistance, elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked aboard USS Kearsarge traveled approximately 3,500 statute miles from the Sea of Bengal and is now providing disaster relief to the region.

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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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Marines Deliver Water to Cyclone-Stricken Bangladesh

A pair of Marine helicopters lifted from the USS Kearsarge flight deck today with loads of bottled water, marking the first delivery of U.S. military aid to the storm-battered nation of Bangladesh.

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November 20, 2007

U.S. Troops Stand Ready for Bangladesh Cyclone Relief

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2007 – If asked, American troops stand ready to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, Pentagon officials said today.

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“Docs” going stride for stride with the “Walking Dead”

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Nov. 20) -- They conduct room-clearings, sleep and eat in the field alongside their Marine brethren, conduct patrols and fight next to their “green” counterparts. However, they carry a huge responsibility essential to fighting a successful war against terrorism.

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November 7, 2007

3rd Bn., 2nd Marines hits ground running

AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 7, 2007) -- Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”

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November 6, 2007

Iraqis work with Marines for security in Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 6, 2007) -- Marines are finding new allies in the Global War on Terror as Operation Iraqi Freedom continues into its’ fifth year. Marines in the capital of Al Anbar are finding they can turn to the Iraqi Police for assistance.

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October 5, 2007

Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 Marines support Al Qaim airfield operation

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 5, 2007) -- Behind every Marine Corps unit there are support Marines ready to provide their fellow service members with anything they need. Anything from supply to administration, there are Marines behind the scenes supporting their brothers on the frontlines. In Al Qaim, there is a group of Marines dedicated to running the Forward Arming and Refueling Point.

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October 4, 2007

1st Battalion, 9th Marines gets a lesson in culture

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 4, 2007) -- The Marines of 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, took initial steps toward becoming familiar with Iraqi culture at the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility here Sept. 18-28.

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September 28, 2007

Columbine was 'defining moment' for Navy medic who died a hero; School massacre 'defining moment' for 1999 graduate

Charles Luke Milam may have been inspired to follow a hero's path because of a day he never talked about, a terrible April day in 1999 when he was a student at Columbine High School.

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September 19, 2007

Air Traffic Controllers Manage Flights; Marines keep skies above Al Qaim running smoothly

AL QAIM, Iraq, Sept. 19, 2007 — Just like a guide dog helps a blind person or a ground guide assists a heavy equipment operator, air traffic controllers are on the ground to help pilots. Wherever there are Marine Corps aircraft flying, there are air traffic controllers ensuring that the pilots know when they can take off or land, how to approach the airfield, or what is in the airspace.

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Ospreys head to Iraq for combat deployment

By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Sep 19, 2007 18:07:34 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — The first MV-22 Ospreys to make a combat deployment are on an amphibious assault ship heading for Iraq, according to a Marine Corps headquarters spokesman.

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September 12, 2007

2/10 Marines return home after deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C (Sept. 12, 2007) -- They served their country honorably, and now they are back.

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Racing team “adopts” 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 12, 2007) -- More than 350 Marines and their families attended a family day sponsored by the Joe Gibbs Racing Team at Onslow Beach Sept. 8.

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September 10, 2007

Combat engineers put skills to test on Al Asad’s runways

AL ASAD (Sept. 10, 2007) -- Whether it is building or renovating, combat engineers are always working hard to ensure that service members have what they need to make work or life a little better. Recently, the Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 took on a mission that has an affect on service members throughout Iraq.

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22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) comes ashore in Kuwait

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Sept. 10, 2007) -- Elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) came ashore in Kuwait this week after more than a month aboard the ships of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group.

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September 3, 2007

WHAT EXIT? FALLUJAH! JERSEY MARINES DO U.S. PROUD 'MAKING A DIFFERENCE':

September 3, 2007 -- FALLUJAH - Jersey rules. The Marines of 1st Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines aren't living large, but they're making a huge difference. Bunking in a police precinct headquarters in Fallujah, they're at the forward edge of our current successes in Iraq.

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September 2, 2007

Marines train Iraqis to keep judges safe

BAGHDAD — It’s not news to read that politicians, famous athletes and even entertainers have bodyguards protecting them from dangerous people, but in Iraq, judges need protection from the same people they sentence.

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August 27, 2007

HOW MARINES PULLED FALLUJAH OUT OF HELL

FALLUJAH, Iraq - Fallujah and the Marines have some history. In 2004, one savage battle ended when the Marines were pulled out for political reasons. Later that year, they had to finish the job.

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August 25, 2007

To war and back: Injured soldiers find healing in the wilderness

LINCOLN CREEK VALLEY -- When Bryon Chambers stopped on a ledge halfway through the climb to catch his breath and plan his next move, everyone watching was unsure if he would continue.

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August 19, 2007

Falluja’s Calm Is Seen as Fragile if U.S. Leaves

FALLUJA, Iraq — Falluja’s police chief, Col. Faisal Ismail Hussein, waved aloft a picture of a severed head in a bucket as a reminder of the brutality of the fundamentalist Sunni militias that once controlled this city. But he also described an uncertain future without “my only supporters,” the United States Marine Corps.

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August 16, 2007

An Extra-Special Homecoming for One Marine

From fighting just west of Fallujah to “home, sweet home,” about 170 Marines and sailors returned to Camp Lejeune from Iraq Thursday morning.

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August 13, 2007

The cycle begins, 24th MEU activated

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 13, 2007) -- The countdown has begun.

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August 6, 2007

2D ANGLICO Jane Wayne Day

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Pretty pink T-shirts augmented the customary desert regulation uniform, as 26 wives from 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, rolled up in seven-ton vehicles to spend the day filling their husbands’ shoes during Jane Wayne Day here, Aug. 6.

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August 3, 2007

First sergeant inspires Marines, awarded Bronze Star

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 3, 2007) -- First Sgt. Paul T. Archie’s Marines were put to the test during a series of heavy and sustained attacks, Oct. 19, 2006. His forward operating base faced a mass of insurgent fire power ranging from small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades to a suicide dump truck intent on disaster.

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July 26, 2007

Mom Gets Helping Hand After Losing Son To War; Pat Quinn, Teamsters Help Mother To Fix Up Her House

DWIGHT, Ill. -- Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and the Chicago teamsters are combining forces to help a woman who lost her son last March to the war.

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July 18, 2007

New vehicles support Marine mission in Anbar

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 18, 2007) -- Marines with Regimental Combat Team 6 recently got their hands on the Marine Corps’ newest counter to attacks by terrorist forces in Anbar Province.

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July 13, 2007

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines back in the fight

After just three years in existence, the Anti-Terrorism Battalion was deactivated Friday morning to make way for growth in the Marine Corps.

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July 7, 2007

RCT-6 continues Operation Alljah in Fallujah

FALLUJAH, Iraq (July 7, 2007) -- Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, recently completed another phase of Operation Alljah here June 30. The Marines, working with Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi Police, worked attentively to fortify an abandoned Iraqi home that later became one of many Iraqi Police precincts in the city.

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July 1, 2007

Soldiers, Marines pour their hearts into helping local Iraqi boys

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 1, 2007) -- In the United States things can be relatively simple. If someone is ill, he goes to the doctor. If a person is very ill, then they go to the hospital.

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June 28, 2007

Marine leads with experience

RUTBAH, Iraq (June 28, 2007) -- The rank of corporal has great meaning for a Marine. They proudly brandish the traditional blood stripe, and must take on the great responsibility that comes with the stripe to lead junior Marines.

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June 26, 2007

Marines make their presence known in Rutbah

RUTBAH, Iraq (June 26, 2007) -- Marines from Company B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Task Force Tarawa, are leaving their mark in the hearts and minds of the citizens here.

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June 25, 2007

Bride's brother, from Iraq with love; A world away with the Marine Corps but there for his sister's wedding

Devin Klein and Heidi Mauch, native Charlotteans both, married on Saturday.

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June 24, 2007

Fallujah Patrol Finds Bombs on Ice Make Case for Exit (Update1)

June 21 (Bloomberg) -- The three U.S. Marines in Lance Corporal Justin Moyer's Humvee shook their heads at the news on their radio phone.

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June 21, 2007

2/6 Spartans maintain steady pace during Operation Alljah

FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 21, 2007) -- “Shukran,” an Iraqi soldier said after a Marine handed him a sandbag. “You’re welcome,” the Marine responded. Even though the two can’t completely understand each other, their comments are genuine. Taking little notice to the language barrier, their work remains steady because they are, after all, working side-by-side in 110 degree heat.

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26th MEU cleans up to come home

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (June 21, 2007) -- After spending six months abroad as the landing force for U.S. Naval Forces Fifth Fleet and Sixth Fleet, Marines and sailors of the 26th MEU completed their deployment with a wash down in Rota, Spain, from June 14-20.

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June 18, 2007

Reflections on service and sacrifice

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (June 18, 2007) -- Friends, families, fellow Marines and sailors gathered to honor the service, commitment and friendship of fallen brothers of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, May 25, who were killed in action while conducting combat operations in Iraq.

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June 12, 2007

Marines move out in support of Iraqi Police

RUTBAH, Iraq (June 12, 2007) -- Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Task Force Tarawa, have decided to move out.

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2/6 kicks off Operation Alljah

FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 12, 2007) -- Marines and Sailors with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, and Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, both with Multi-National Forces-West, recently completed the first phase of “Operation Alljah” in the city of Fallujah

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June 9, 2007

CLB-6 participates in Operation Alljah

AL FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 9, 2007) -- Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are working alongside Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 on Operation Alljah in the city of Fallujah.

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June 8, 2007

Illinois native keeps battalion firing despite hardships

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 8, 2007) -- Being a small arms repair technician or armorer consists of working in a building that houses thousands of dollars worth of weaponry that has to be accounted for to ensure the safety of fellow coalition forces.

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June 7, 2007

Purple Heart winner: 'We are in awe of him'

Marine Lance Cpl. Scott MacKenzie of Cherokee County wanted to make his mother proud after receiving a Purple Heart for injuries in Iraq.

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June 5, 2007

ANGLICO Marines tackle tower

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (June 5, 2007) -- Marines from 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, took on the rappel tower here June 5 in preparation for a deployment to Iraq.

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June 4, 2007

Hard work, dedication keys to success for Hitchens, Ky., Marine

ALBU HAWA, Iraq (June 4, 2007) -- The language differences between Arabic and English often impede Marines when they try and interact with the Iraqi people. Interpreters who speak both languages are often in short supply, leaving Marines with no way of holding a proper conversation. Luckily both sides make the effort to breach that communication barrier. Most Iraqis have learned broken English and nearly every Marine knows a few words of Arabic. Iraqis are often able to converse with Marines in the “pointy talky” fashion using a mix of Arabic and English and gesturing at what they want. However, these one or two word conversations are limited.

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June 2, 2007

Marines, Middle Easterners mount combined assault during desert exercise

MIDDLE EAST (June 2, 2007) -- Marines and sailors from Companies E and G, Battalion Landing Team 2/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, wrapped up seven days of bilateral training, here, May 28.

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May 30, 2007

MLG Marines at Gannon support efforts to stabilize Iraq

CAMP GANNON, Iraq (May 30, 2007) -- Marines from 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are working all throughout Al Anbar Province. Some serve with battalions under the group, some with detachments under the battalions and some stand detached from their detachments at smaller posts.

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May 29, 2007

Task Force Commander uses MAP to get around

RUTBAH, IRAQ (May 29, 2007) -- The sun slowly glides down the desert horizon. Darkness has set. Time for some much needed rest after a day filled with patrols of this isolated last stop before the Iraqi and Syrian border.

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May 24, 2007

Al Asad A/DACG keeps Marines, supplies moving

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) -- AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) – Need a lift? Chances are, the Marines at Al Asad’s Arrival/Departure Air Control Group can get you where you need to be.

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Al Asad A/DACG keeps Marines, supplies moving

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) -- AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) – Need a lift? Chances are, the Marines at Al Asad’s Arrival/Departure Air Control Group can get you where you need to be.

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Al Asad A/DACG keeps Marines, supplies moving

AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) -- AL ASAD, Iraq (May 24, 2007) – Need a lift? Chances are, the Marines at Al Asad’s Arrival/Departure Air Control Group can get you where you need to be.

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KV Marines serve western Al Anbar

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (May 24, 2007) -- The Marines of Detachment 1, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) provide the necessities for operations in the western reaches of Al Anbar Province.

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May 21, 2007

Combat team's Route Clearance Platoon - The ultimate road trippers

DULAB, Iraq - (May 21, 2007) -- Officially, the season doesn’t start until June 21, but for the Marines and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 2, the “not so” lazy days of summer are already here. Calendar aside, it’s hard to argue with triple-digit temperatures.

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Walden sailor back from Iraq; A joyous welcome home for Navy hospital Corpsman

Jacksonville, N.C. — The chain-link fence on either side of Route 24 is lined with 'welcome home' banners. Hundreds of them.

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May 20, 2007

Marine battalion comes home, lost 12 members in Iraq

About 300 Marines have returned home from nine months in Iraq's Anbar province, where a commander says 12 lives were lost as the Marines dealt with violence from insurgents in the city of Ramadi.

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Marines, Iraqi Police spread goodwill, soccer balls to Iraqi school

FALLUJAH, Iraq(May 20, 2007) -- Children crowded the doorways to their classrooms May 16, eager to catch a glimpse of Marines and Iraqi Police, their latest visitors during a visit to their school.

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May 19, 2007

Lion of Fallujah is laid to rest

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 19, 2007) -- The Lion of Fallujah is at rest.

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May 18, 2007

Sweathogs bring it home: MWSS-273’s Communications Platoon receives C4 Award

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C.(May 18, 2007) -- During their time at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, and while in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2007, the Communications Platoon with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 supported thousands of users involved in direct combat missions through the maintenance of the largest data and phone network in Marine Corps history.

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May 17, 2007

Golf Co. 2/6 sweeps Fallujah during census patrols

FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 17, 2007) -- An ominous silence swallows the streets of Fallujah once the sun sets. The city is dead asleep, most lights are off, and residents are inside their homes. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, however, are out on the streets knocking on doors and collecting census information from the locals.

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May 16, 2007

Iraqis eager, willing to protect their community

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 5, 2007) -- The Iraqi nationals of the Andaloos district of Fallujah have undertaken a process of community transformation in conjunction with the targeting of the district for the most recent phase of Operation Alljah here July 30.

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Marine Corps crew team completes first season

FAIRFAX, Va.(May 16, 2007) -- The Henderson Hall Marine Corps crew team surged through the Occoquan Reservoir Nov. 4 and completed their first season at the Head of the Occoquan Regatta.

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May 15, 2007

N. Topsail drowning victim identified

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH - The body of a Marine who drowned Saturday after being caught in a riptide off North Topsail Beach was found in the same general area where he went missing, authorities said.

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Cruising Fallujah, the marines stick to main street

The last time Corporal Dan Zimpfer was in Fallujah, he and his fellow US marines were in and out of every alleyway and side street in what was Iraq's most famous insurgent stronghold.

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - This time around, however, he and his colleagues in "Weapons" company, 2nd Battalion 6th Regiment, stick to the main road and leave the rest of the city to the Iraqi army and police.

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May 11, 2007

Motor transportation mechanics keep MLG rolling

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (May 11, 2007) -- The Marines of 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) send hundreds of vehicles out on Iraq’s roadways to provide logistical support to all the units in Al Anbar Province. However, for every turning wheel there is a turning wrench responsible for keeping it going.

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Order up: Marines air deliver supplies to COP Timberwolf

Al ASAD, Iraq (May 11, 2007) -- Just like a football team’s defense and offense work together to win a game, different parts of the Marine Air Ground Task Force come together to provide support for Marines on the ground.

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April 25, 2007

Kyle Price Memorial Ride set to roll Saturday

MT. VERNON — Marine Kyle Price, who died serving his country in Iraq in January 2006, was known for helping others, whether through kind acts or as a member of the Boy Scouts.

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April 23, 2007

Catcher defends home… of brave, family

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 23, 2007) -- Having played baseball since age 5, Virginia all-state catcher Benjamin Harrelson was recognized as a potential, professional-level athlete on the verge of achieving a dream shared by many sports fans – a shot at the “Big League.”

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April 22, 2007

Metal Shop works to protect brothers

FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 22, 2007) -- Sparks fly as the flame from a blow torch slices through the material with ease. It’s not obvious yet, but this sheet of metal will soon be used to stop bullets and shrapnel from injuring or killing coalition forces.

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April 12, 2007

Security Co. protects others in face of danger

FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 12, 2007) -- Marines with Security Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), provide a safe route for combat logistics patrols in the area around Fallujah every day.

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TS Company supports construction of future Iraqi forces station

AL ASAD, Iraq (April 12, 2007) -- As legend goes, the Roman Empire began with a simple claim of its existence and a basic outline of its boundaries. The only difference between the fabled founding of Rome and Controlled Observation Post Timberwolf, is that Romulus and Remus, the twins who founded Rome, didn’t plan to surrender control of their territory.

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April 11, 2007

Postal delivers to Fallujah servicemembers

FALLUJAH, Iraq (April 11, 2007) -- Marines are often willing to make many sacrifices to ensure the mission is accomplished. Comfort items such as receiving hot chow and a hot shower are often overlooked. No matter how many deployments, and regardless of the location or the situation Marines are placed in, one thing they can count on is there is a mounted effort to maintain morale by ensuring that mail is delivered in frequency and on time.

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2nd LAAD Marines recognized for capturing known terrorist

AL ASAD, Iraq (Apr. 11, 2007) -- Two Marines from Battery B, 2nd Low Altitude Aircraft Defense Battalion, were recently recognized for their efforts on a patrol that occurred Feb. 23.

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MASS-1 Marines dedicate command post to fallen comrade

AL ASAD, Iraq (Apr. 11, 2007) -- The “Chieftains” of Marine Air Support Squadron 1 recently dedicated their command post at Camp Fallujah to a fallen brother.

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April 10, 2007

Marines keep Rutbah trouble free

RUTBAH, Iraq – When dawn broke over the desert, the parked silhouettes of armored personnel carriers were visible in the distance, vehicles that had not been there the night before. With that first light, the sound of fists knocking on doors echoed through the community Coalition Forces had dubbed, “Germantown.”

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Piketon, Ohio, Marine awarded Purple Heart for wounds received in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (April 10, 2007) -- The Purple Heart medal has been awarded to service members and civilians since 1932 for wounds received in action against enemies of the United States and its allies.

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April 3, 2007

Back from Iraq at last

Cpl. Noe Aguirre has never been on the other side of the bus.
He's always been the one arriving to be greeted with hugs from friends and family at homecomings for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. But Monday, Aguirre was the one welcoming about 270 Marines and sailors home from Iraq.

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April 2, 2007

Warrior gets his wish

Despite life-changing injuries and some 40 surgeries, nothing was going to keep 2nd Lt. Andrew Kinard from greeting his fellow Marines who return home today after seven months in Iraq.

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April 1, 2007

Marines building amid bombings. Humor helps engineers keep their wits about them as they work on outpost near Fallujah

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, April 1, 2007

KARMAH, Iraq — Their humor is crass, but it sustains their sanity in the combat sandbox that is Iraq. “Look alive boys, we’re about ready to go in the devil’s butt hole,” Gunnery Sgt. Richard Thomas barked late Thursday night as his convoy of combat engineers and transportation support company Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 6 prepared to enter the volatile city of Karmah, on the outskirts of Fallujah.

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March 31, 2007

Recovery team responds with haste when called

FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 31, 2007) -- When your unit’s mission involves recovering vehicles damaged on Iraq’s dangerous roads, slow business is generally good business. But no matter what your job, personnel in uniform here invariably have days which may seem never-ending; and those are the ones they train for.

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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

Logistics company keeps troops moving

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, March 27, 2007

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — “Brilliance is in the details,” Capt. Tom Warren told his Transportation Support Company Marines after they successfully completed a two-day resupply convoy between Al Asad Air Base and Camp al Qa’im, near the Syrian border.

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March 26, 2007

Warriors, Gunrunners form one-two punch at Al Asad

AL ASAD, Iraq (Mar. 26, 2007) -- “We live here. You just visit.”
That is what is written below the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 logo painted outside Al Asad’s Tactical Air Control Center as a testament to their status here.

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Engineers make Iraq roadways safe for all

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (March 26, 2007) -- The scars of insurgent attacks can easily be seen on the roadways here, reflected by the large craters where improvised explosive devices were previously detonated. These craters also serve as an opportune location for insurgents to place more explosives.

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March 23, 2007

Engineers fortify Iraqi Police Station

AL FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 23, 2007) -- In an attempt to protect those serving the local community, Marines from Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) fortified an Iraqi Police Station in southwest Fallujah March 23.

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VMM-266 third ‘Osprey’ squadron to stand-up

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (March 23, 2007) -- Decommissioned Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 will officially stand-up as the newest addition to the Corps' "Osprey" arsenal, March 23, during a ceremony at the squadron's hangar.

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March 22, 2007

FMTU employs foreign role-players to assist with training

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 22, 2007) – (March 22, 2007) -- Two teams with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, Foreign Military Training Unit, successfully completed an Operational Readiness Evaluation at Camp Blanding, Fla., Feb. 22 through March 1.

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March 21, 2007

Supply unit is ‘Wal-Mart of western Iraq’

By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 21, 2007

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq — Most of the logistics Marines don’t lament the fact that their combat comrades, who are outside the wire hunting down the bad guy, get more attention.

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Fallen Maine Soldier Remembered

Friends, family and fellow marines gathered at the Sacred Heart Church in Portland Wednesday for the funeral of Angel Rosa, a marine from South Portland who was killed in Iraq last week. He was 21 years old.

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1/6 Marines let Iraqi Security Forces take the lead in central Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 21, 2007) -- Since arriving to the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, in September of 2006, the Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, have had a three part mission for their task in supporting the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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March 20, 2007

TS Company delivers greater security to Saqlawiyah police

FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 20, 2007) -- Prior to departing for their March 19 mission, the Marines of Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), took a hard look at the task before them.

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2nd ANGLICO takes firepower to Germany

For the Marines of 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, immersing themselves in a foreign military culture is the best training to prepare for their unique specialty - providing support for foreign militaries around the world.

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ASP keeps Marines locked, loaded

AL ASAD, Iraq (March 20, 2007) -- A Marine starts receiving enemy fire while on a patrol and, in response, pulls back the charging handle of his rifle. He slowly squeezes the trigger to fire, but nothing happens. He removes the magazine to find there is no ammunition inside.

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CLB-6 assumes logistics mission

FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 20, 2007) -- The Marines and sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), assumed control, March 15, of logistics operations for Regimental Combat Team 6, 2nd Marine Division.

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Team Tank works together to keep Hit insurgent-free

HIT, Iraq - (March 20, 2007) -- Thirteen Marines and one Navy corpsman stand shoulder-to-shoulder. Upon receiving the command, they spread out on-line and push forward into the palm grove. A police call, one of the Marine Corps’ oldest traditions, is underway.

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March 17, 2007

2 Marines, 40 Iraqis stabilize Hamadiyah

HAMADIYAH, Iraq – (March 17, 2007) -- More than 40 Iraqi soldiers make a bombed-out hospital, missing large sections of walls, their home. Sunlight pours through missing pieces of the ceiling. Large portions of concrete lie in piles throughout the compound. Electricity is scarce, relying on fuel trucks to make the treacherous trip to refill one generator. Three committed U.S. servicemen are no different than the Iraqis living here.

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March 16, 2007

Marines deliver fuel to Iraqi hospital

FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 16, 2007) -- Marines with Regimental Combat Team 6 delivered much-needed fuel to an Iraqi-run hospital in Fallujah, Iraq, March 16.

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Greeted with open arms: Alpha Battery returns from fight

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 16, 2007) -- As the sun set on Camp Lejeune, families and friends of approximately 120 Marines with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, waited in anticipation of their loved ones’ return from a seven-month deployment to Iraq.

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March 15, 2007

Friends, Family Remember Fallen Maine Soldier

Private First Class Angel Rosa was killed Monday while conducting combat operations in the Anbar province of Iraq. Those who knew him said he was a born leader, a great athlete, and an exceptional young man.

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Squadrons return to Fightertown after 6 month deployment to Japan

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. (March 15, 2007) -- Approximately 141 Marines and sailors from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 have returned to the Air Station and approximately 22 Marines and 11 F/A-18C Hornets are slated to return today following a six-month deployment to Iwakuni, Japan.

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March 13, 2007

Delta Marine injured in Iraq makes progress

DELTA — Marine Lance Cpl. Bryan Chambers is making steady progress after being seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, said his father, Craig Chambers, who is with his son at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

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March 12, 2007

'Black Knights' provide lofty support during Edged Mallet

ABOARD USS BATAAN (March 12, 2007) -- As the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted Exercise Edged Mallet '07 ashore in Kenya March 4-11, the unit received a variety of aviation support from its air combat element, the 'Black Knights' of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-264 (Reinforced).

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Purple Heart bittersweet for four Marines

Reactions were mixed among four Marines who received purple hearts at the Wounded Warrior Barracks recently.

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March 8, 2007

CLB-2 TOA

On 8 March 2007, Combat Logistics Battalion 1 (CLB 1) and Combat Logistics Battalion 2 (CLB 2) held their Transfer of Authority (TOA) at Camp Al Asad, Iraq.

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March 7, 2007

Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines lend helping hand to locals in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province

RAWAH, Iraq (March 7, 2007) -- In a town set on the Euphrates River, 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, two Marines stood calmly as a group of local Iraqi men surrounded them.

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Motor-T provides critical link for Marines in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province

RAWAH, Iraq (March 7, 2007) -- Far up the beaten dirt road, the front of the ten-vehicle motor transport convoy was barely visible through the fog-like sand hanging in the air

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March 6, 2007

Copter crashes during Kenya training exercise; 6 rescued

Six American service members were rescued and evacuated to the Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship Bataan after their UH-1N Huey helicopter crashed near Manda Bay, Kenya, during a scheduled training exercise with Kenyan armed forces.

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Six are Rescued in Marine Chopper Crash in Kenya

(03/06/07 -- CAMP LEJEUNE) - Six members of the military were rescued and two were treated for minor injuries after a Marine helicopter based in North Carolina crashed in Kenya.

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Marine receives Bronze Star posthumously

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. A Marine private first class who continued to shoot at the enemy from his burning Humvee has been awared the Bronze Star posthumously.

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His son was the motivation, the Corps was the way

AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 6, 2007) -- Hit with the news that he was about to be father, Johan S. Arenas knew he had to make a change and make it fast.

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Combat survival accredited to body armor

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq(March 3, 2007) -- It isn't suggested that Marines wear personal protective equipment when leaving the protection of forward operating bases. It is required. But why?

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Helicopter support. Despite extreme danger. Marines on team say they love their job

Jacksonville | The Marines of the Helicopter Support Team have a dangerous job.
Consider what they did on a recent day at work: Each member of the eight-Marine team repeatedly ran beneath a hovering CH-53E helicopter in an effort to attach a nearly 8,000-pound steel I-beam to a swinging hook - while facing wind gusts of up to 175 mph. Oh yeah, and the helicopter itself is generating about 175,000 volts of electricity.

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Camp Lejeune Troops To Deploy

Military officials say two Marine battalions will begin leaving Camp Lejeune this week for duty in
Iraq.

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March 5, 2007

3/2 Marines return, end 7-month deployment in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 5, 2007) -- Hundreds of women and children screamed with joy as the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, stepped off charter buses and into to their loved ones’ embrace here, Feb.

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March 4, 2007

Blown up in Iraq

Jason Bingham, like many 22-year-olds, isn't sure what he wants to do with his life.

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March 1, 2007

Maple Lake marine killed in Iraq

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A 25-year-old Marine from Maple Lake was killed in Al Anbar province, Iraq, when a bomb exploded during combat operations, the Department of Defense and his family said Thursday.

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February 27, 2007

Area native's efforts in Iraq earn him the Bronze Star

Lessons learned and properly applied have earned a local Marine the Bronze Star for developing successful security measures during the Iraqi elections in December 2005.

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February 26, 2007

U.S. Marines "Invade" Homefront Diner. Marine Unit Trains In North Carolina Towns To Prepare For Civil Affairs Duty In Iraq

After a frigid night camped under pine trees at an airfield, the convoy of 20 U.S. Marines rolled into this sleepy town just as businesses were opening. The rumble of their Humvees unnerved some local residents. Even more jarring was the sight of the soldiers leaping from their vehicles with weapons.

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February 25, 2007

Lives Entwined by War Enter a Long, Arduous Chapter: Recovery

Petty Officer Third Class Dustin E. Kirby, a Navy corpsman whose efforts to save a wounded marine in Iraq and his own wounding by a sniper on Christmas were covered by The New York Times, has returned home to Georgia and expects a nearly full recovery, he and his family said.

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'Our hero' gets warm welcome in Vero Beach

VERO BEACH — The love and pride native son Regan Jones has earned in his relatively young life was evident by the hugs and smiles that greeted him at every turn Sunday afternoon. "We're proud of him. He's our hero," said Ace Cappelen, whose grandchildren grew up with Jones in the McAnsh Park area.

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Winning the war one trained Iraqi soldier at a time

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 25, 2007) -- A crucial aspect to the future and success of a free, sovereign Iraq is the skilled Iraqi soldier. Another facet in the fight is bridging the cultural misconceptions and prove the common goal is to defeat the insurgency and bring an end to sectarian violence. Marines and sailors at the Multi-National Force-West Training Center are building that bridge, one trained Iraqi soldier at a time.

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February 21, 2007

300 Camp Lejeune Marines come home from Iraq

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. | About 300 Marines returned to their North Carolina base Sunday from duty in Iraq's Anbar province and another 900 are expected to follow this week as the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment comes home.

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Training, experienced leadership keys to success in Iraq

HABBANIYAH, Iraq(Feb. 19, 2007) -- War in a foreign place has once again given birth to innovative, confident and adaptable Marine leadership. Veterans of this conflict, like many previous campaigns throughout our seasoned history, have learned to make decisions in chaotic conditions. However, in this situation, adaptative techniques include executing both traditional combat and civil affairs missions simultaneously.

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February 20, 2007

U.S. Marines, Sailors Clean Up Local School. Servicemembers give students a better place to learn.

DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti, Feb. 20, 2007 — Focused on making a difference for the 1,000 school children at Ecole du Stade Primary school near the Balballa area, U.S. Marine Capt. Christopher Roberson, in cooperation with Combat Logistics Battalion 26 and Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, worked intensely over two days to transform this local school into a positive environment for students.

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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.

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N.C. workers keep copters flying for Marines. Havelock heroes modernize aging aircraft, resurrect derelicts from 'boneyard'

With two wars chewing up the Marine Corps' fleet of big helicopters, about the only thing keeping it aloft is the ingenuity of the workers at a huge maintenance shop in Havelock.

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February 19, 2007

Marines Search 'Smugglers Town'

While the rest of the battalion is miles away, Marines from Company C are working a "smugglers town" in western Iraq.

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And now, the rest of the story

Julie Beagle knows what it's like to worry about her husband, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mike Beagle, who is currently on his third tour in Iraq.

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February 17, 2007

Smithsburg Marine recovering

SMITHSBURG - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Dane Fonte was injured Wednesday afternoon in Iraq after a grenade exploded during an engagement in Anbar province, his parents said Saturday.

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Marines fight silent enemy

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF.(Feb. 17, 2007) -- Pfc. Nicholas J. Cook slowly makes his way toward the city’s edge. He winds his way out of the forward operating base, past the concertina wire toward the bleachers outside the empty town. He passes several plywood signs with warnings to intruders on one side and helpful reminders to troops on the other.

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Wandering musician finds his way in the Corps

AR RAMADI, Iraq(Feb. 17, 2007) -- From college student to wandering musician to United States Marine, Lance Cpl. Jeff S. Bailey walked a long, twisting road into military service.

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February 16, 2007

Sifting through the sands of the hour glass; a look back at the prestigious history of the Moonlighters

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, BEAUFORT, S.C. (Feb. 16, 2007) -- After 64 years of building a proud history and unrivaled legacy, the Moonlighters of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 will be deactivated on April 1 and transitioned to cadre status – meaning the squadron is intended to return with the onset of the Joint Strike Fighter.

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February 15, 2007

Marines remove vehicle, leave behind trust

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq -- Marines in Habbaniyah recently displayed both their aggressive stance toward insurgents as well as an earnest willingness to work together with the Iraqi people.

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February 12, 2007

Many changes under way at Lejeune's Naval Hospital

A visit to Camp Lejeune's Naval Hospital reveals construction workers, wet paint signs and building materials - all visible signs of changes in the making.

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February 10, 2007

3/6 Marines get acquainted with new neighbors

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Feb. 10, 2007) -- The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, who recently arrived on the ground in Iraq, are going through a process faced by any new homeowner. They are newcomers in a foreign neighborhood surrounded by strangers, including some who would rather not see them there.

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February 9, 2007

Troops Shared Firm Belief in Iraq Service

Navy Medic, Marine Pleaded to Return; Other Marine Followed Brother's Path

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February 7, 2007

Beaufort Marines Deploy, Find Comfort in Technology

Thirteen Beaufort-based marines are on their way for a seven-month deployment to Iraq. They'll provide air traffic control for squadrons who are training Iraqi security forces

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3 new infantry battalions, Budget details plan to add 4,000 Marines to new units

By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 7, 2007 13:47:19 EST

Defense planners want to stand up three new Marine infantry battalions and pay for them with emergency wartime dollars, according to the Pentagon’s new spending wish list.

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Local Marine dies in Iraq grenade attack

A 20-year-old Lynn Township man who was motivated to join the Marines by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was killed by a grenade in Iraq on Monday just 20 days after arriving there for his first tour of duty

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February 6, 2007

Iraqi Army and Marine mission nets 77 detainees

Blackanthem Military News, CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq - Iraqi Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines wrapped up an intelligence driven mission which resulted in 77 detainees near Habbaniyah Friday. The mission to detain members of murder and intimidation cells was a joint operation with Iraqi Forces and Marines of Regimental Combat Team 6, supported by local Iraqis focused on ridding their towns of insurgents.

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February 5, 2007

Wounded Soldiers Treated To Super Bowl XLI

(CBS4) MIAMI Several injured marines are part of the thousands of fans at Dolphin Stadium watching Super Bowl XLI thanks to the generosity of an NFL team owner.

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February 4, 2007

Camp Lejeune Marines develop strong bonds as they 'get the job done' in Al Anbar

RAWAH, Iraq (Feb. 4, 2007) -- Marines here work together, eat together, live together, and have essentially become brothers.

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February 3, 2007

Marines train to be foreign military advisors

Bonded by the title Marine, they fight side-by-side. Bonded by the same mission, they fight with trust in the Marines to the left and right of them. As these Marines on the front line fight, the Marines of the Military Training Team train

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February 2, 2007

Zeus vs. machine-gunners: the real thunder god

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2007) -- It is hard to imagine what it would feel like to be standing next to a lightning strike, to feel the energy flow through your body, and then suffer through the deafening roar of the thunder as it ripped through the air. Hard to imagine for most people, but not a heavy machine-gunner, like Pvt. Sam A. Miller, who is used to having the firepower of a M2 .50-caliber machine gun in his hands.

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Gulf strike force on the way

A US Navy strike group, led by amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, is on its way to the Gulf to strengthen forces in the region.

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More Marines head out for Al Anbar duty in Iraq

Carly Heneise grabbed her Marine for one last kiss Thursday afternoon.

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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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February 1, 2007

Marines sweep roadways clear of insurgents, IEDs

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq -- The roads in Iraq are among the most dangerous in the world. Around every bend or twist can be an improvised explosive device or ambush posing a danger to Marines and civilians alike.

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Flatbread and football unites Marines, Iraqi soldiers

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq – A sense of camaraderie and trust is essential to any team. These traits are even more vital in a military team, as the members must trust each other with their lives. The bonds of brotherhood must be forged long before the bullets start flying. They are made suffering through training together, eating together and enjoying simple things together.

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January 31, 2007

2nd Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy to Iraq

(AP) - Personnel assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force command element are deploying to Iraq tomorrow.

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January 29, 2007

Marines invading Jones County

The ongoing training for one Camp Lejeune civil affairs unit is about to get more realistic.

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January 28, 2007

Marine honored for valor in Iraq

'He feared his God, but that's about it,' commander says

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Marine honored for valor in Iraq

'He feared his God, but that's about it,' commander says

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Assault is a simulation, but ammo is very real

TWENTYNINE PALMS - Marine Capt. Andy Watson used the hood of the Humvee as a planning table, surrounded by about a dozen other officers and sergeants, as he laid out an assault across a rocky expanse at the base of a craggy ridge line.

The deep thump of explosions sent the Marines through the concertina wire and down into a wash for cover, as the "coyotes," or instructors, watched every move.

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Marines on a mission

Troops train in desert for Iraq deployment
TWENTYNINE PALMS - As a squad of Marines rushed toward the house at the end of an alley in a place called Wadi al Sahara, 53-year-old retired Marine William Klyn of Joshua Tree lay on the floor of the second story, bellowing: "I'm a Marine. Medic! I need help! I've been shot!"

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January 26, 2007

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

Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marine learns Arabic working in detention facility

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, IRAQ - (Jan. 25, 2007) -- After working the constantly-changing shifts in the detainee handling facility here, Lance Cpl. Michael Otero finds himself in a different place than most Marines – the interpreters tent, asking questions.

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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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HML/A-167 Marines return from six-month dployment to Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2007) -- An advance party of approximately 60 Marines from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 returned home after completing a six-month deployment at Al Asad and Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Jan. 24.

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January 20, 2007

Engineers help Marines get over the wire

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF. - (Jan. 20, 2007) -- Lance Cpl. Keith Shaffer watches nervously as the valley around him turns into orchestrated chaos. He kneels, alert, behind a bush as his squad screams at each other and gives cover fire. Shaffer sees the signal and dashes forward ahead of all the others in the deep trench, twirling a grappling hook over his head. Finally he dives, head-first, releasing the hook, sending it sailing over the rock bed in front of him. The short figure slowly begins reeling the rope back while still lying face down in the dirt. Shaffer, a combat engineer with Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, clears a mock minefield and gives the signal that all is clear. The platoon quickly proceeds toward their objective.

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January 19, 2007

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 16, 2007

Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines work with Iraqi police, help develop Euphrates River city

ANAH, Iraq - A new year isn"t the only beginning local Iraqis here in Anah have to look forward to.

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January 14, 2007

'War Eagles' deploy to Al Asad, Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Jan. 14, 2007) -- Marine Aircraft Group 29 command element Marines deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jan. 14, as the first of two main echelons heading to the frontlines of the Global War on Terrorism.

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January 13, 2007

Air station units next on road to Iraq

There they go again.

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God is with Marines amid 'death blossoms'

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue," is the way Adm. Chester Nimitz described the heroism of World War II Marines at Iwo Jima.

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January 12, 2007

1/8 Marine awarded Silver Star

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 12, 2007) -- Acting boldly in the face of adversity is something all Marines are taught. Against an enemy loath to engage Americans directly, few Marines get to test their mettle in combat and fewer still distinguish themselves so heroically that their gallantry merits special recognition.

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January 11, 2007

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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January 10, 2007

Marine's family learns kinship of war

EDITOR'S NOTE: The war in Iraq hit home in Lorain County last fall with headlines about a local Marine, Lance Corporal Colin Smith, 19, being seriously wounded by an Iraqi sniper near the town of Fallujah. Smith, a 2005 graduate of Avon Lake High School, was shot in the head.

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January 8, 2007

II MEF troops’ families getting free computers

By Trista Talton
Staff writer
January 08, 2007

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — More than 200 families of leathernecks with II Marine Expeditionary Force heading to Iraq this month are receiving free computers

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January 7, 2007

'Certain Force' unfazed by uncertain world as MEU gets underway

ABOARD USS BATAAN (Jan. 7, 2007) -- When a Marine unit deploys, it usually has a clear idea of where it is going and what it will be doing when it gets there.

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'Certain Force' unfazed by uncertain world as MEU gets underway

ABOARD USS BATAAN (Jan. 7, 2007) -- When a Marine unit deploys, it usually has a clear idea of where it is going and what it will be doing when it gets there.

Continue reading "'Certain Force' unfazed by uncertain world as MEU gets underway" »

January 6, 2007

CAMP LEJEUNE II MEF force in process of leaving

The first of more than 4,000 Marines and sailors headed for Iraq are ready to begin deploying, according to press release from Camp Lejeune.

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January 5, 2007

Sailing to port unknown, Thousands of sailors and Marines got under way Thursday, likely bound for the Middle East

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK -- Tour bus upon tour bus pulled onto Naval Station Norfolk's Pier 5 early Thursday afternoon.

Continue reading "Sailing to port unknown, Thousands of sailors and Marines got under way Thursday, likely bound for the Middle East" »

Lejeune Combat Team to Head to Iraq

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A Camp Lejeune-based combat team with about 4,500 Marines and sailors will deploy to Iraq by the end of next week as a part of a scheduled troop rotation, officials said.

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January 4, 2007

Marine found dead while on leave from Iraq

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- A North Carolina-based Marine on break from fighting in Iraq was found dead in his sleep, leaving family members puzzled as they mourned.

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January 3, 2007

Special Marine unit deploys Jan. 5 to Middle East

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- A force of 2,200 Marines and sailors plans to deploy this week from their North Carolina base aboard three ships bound for the Middle East.

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Bataan ESG, 26th MEU to deploy this week

By William H. McMichael
Staff writer
January 03, 2007

NORFOLK NAVAL STATION, Va. — The Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group is slated to deploy late this week to conduct maritime security operations “in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces,” the Navy’s 2nd Fleet announced.

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Locally based ships to join Marines in security operations

NORFOLK - Nearly 3,000 sailors aboard seven ships in the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group will deploy overseas Thursday and Friday, along with about 2,200 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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January 2, 2007

A new meaning for home front

MAYSVILLE - Camp Lejeune 1st Lt. Steven Aguilera and his Marines jumped out of humvees in a five-vehicle convoy to establish security at an old building.

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Bagpiping Marine headed to Iraq

Jesse Short said he always wanted to be different, and he wanted to be the best at whatever he did.

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January 1, 2007

Civil Affairs Marines fight crucial battle in Al Anbar Province

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq - Mothers of Marines here have another reason to be proud of their sons - their boys are trying to solve problems with words, instead of violence.

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December 31, 2006

Local troops head to Iraq

As Col. H. Stacy Clardy III boarded the buses with his 300 Marines and sailors Saturday at Camp Lejeune, special mementos were tucked safely in his bag.

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December 30, 2006

Healer who never fell back laid to rest

ARLINGTON, Va. - The sergeant with no legs sat inside the cemetery, thinking about how this homecoming was supposed to happen.

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Increased security measures keep bad guys out, citizens safe in Euphrates River city, Marines say

HAQLANIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 30, 2006) - U.S. Marines here say they"ve seen a "nearly 90-percent decrease" of insurgent attacks against Coalition Forces, thanks to a newly constructed 8-foot high dirt berm around several Euphrates River cities in Iraq"s western Al Anbar Province.

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December 28, 2006

Gearing up on rail-ways

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 28, 2006) -- Marines rush over top, around and beside a mammoth-looking line of railcars, as Lance Cpl. Brent G. Vines and his fellow Marines finish preparing and loading various combat gear to be sent to Fort Polk, La. for Cajun Viper.

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Road to recovery

Andrew Kinard came back from Iraq more than seven weeks ago, but in many ways, he’s spent the time here fighting harder than ever.

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December 22, 2006

Euphrates River city’s local leaders meet with U.S. Marines, Iraqi police in Anbar Province — a step toward progress, U.S. military says

RAWAH, Iraq — For the first time in recent months, local Iraqi leaders and officials here met with U.S. Marines and Iraqi Police, showing a dramatic increase in locals’ willingness to work openly with Coalition Forces.

Continue reading "Euphrates River city’s local leaders meet with U.S. Marines, Iraqi police in Anbar Province — a step toward progress, U.S. military says" »

December 15, 2006

Battlefield's 'Doc' now in a nation's care, Brought home by his best friend, lost medic unites perfect strangers

The skinny sailor sat in the Philadelphia airport terminal in his deep-blue dress uniform, cracking his knuckles, shifting in his seat, waiting for his best friend.

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December 14, 2006

Injured Marine showing progress, Colin Smith smiling, playing tic-tac-toe

Injured Marine Lance Cpl. Colin Smith of Avon Lake, who was initially thought to be brain-dead, recognizes his family, has regained some use of one arm and even plays tic-tac-toe with his father, according to his mother.

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10th Marines battle for unit pride

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 14, 2006) -- From the moment they don the uniform, Marines are strictly business. Their day isn’t over until the job’s done. But, as the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Even Marines, dedicated as they are, need to let loose every once in a while.

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Marine doesn’t give up on Corps

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Staff Sgt. James M. Sturla knows what it means to get back up after being knocked down.

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December 12, 2006

Tankers Make Necessary Adjustment

Changing out a main gun tube on a tank takes a few more moving parts than say a machine gun. Still, Marines from1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Tank Battalion saved an otherwise unserviceable tank Dec. 7.

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Alabama Marine dies after becoming sick in Iraq

ANNISTON, Ala. Cody Watson, a 21-year-old Anniston man who joined the Marines last year, fell ill and died while serving in Iraq.

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Marines in western Iraq see progress

RAWAH, Iraq -- Almost none has heard of the Iraq Study Group, and though a few know that Donald Rumsfeld is out as Defense Secretary, the name Robert Gates draws blank stares.

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December 11, 2006

U.S. Marines Work To Befriend Iraqis

AP) HALABASA, Iraq U.S. Marines roll through this Euphrates River town handing out chocolates, backpacks, coloring books and sometimes even AK-47s, hoping to glean goodwill and tips from residents.

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Two more Maine soldiers die in Iraq

CASTLE HILL - When family members talk about Cpl. Dustin J. Libby, they talk about the man he became.

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December 10, 2006

It’s another holiday away from home

Fourty-one Marines will soon dream of a hot and sandy Christmas.

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December 9, 2006

Marine from Aroostook is killed in Iraq firefight

A Marine from Aroostook County who died in Iraq this week was killed in a firefight, his brother said on Friday night.

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Reverence, heartache for Marine

As wind whipped an American flag flying at half-staff, hundreds of mourners from Carlstadt and beyond gathered Friday to bid farewell to the community's second resident recently killed in military combat, Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Schwarz.

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December 8, 2006

Navy seaman recalled as 'natural leader'

LONGMONT - Navy Seaman Christopher Anderson wanted all his life to make a difference in the world - and in his short 24 years he did, for his nation and to his family, his father, Rick, said Thursday.

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Tankers Lead Team in Sweep of Rct-5's Barren Northern Desert

Tankers from Regimental Combat Team 5 made tracks in the barren deserts north of Fallujah in search of weapons caches and insurgent activity.

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PSP Marines return from the Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 8, 2006) -- Marines with the Provisional Security Platoon, Service Company, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2d Marine Logistics Group (Forward), returned from Mojave Viper training early morning Dec. 4.

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December 6, 2006

Family, friends welcome home wounded Iraq war veteran

FREDERICK -- After 55 days of hospital food, surgeries and physical therapy, a Frederick Marine who has been back in the United States for two months is finally, truly, back home.

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December 5, 2006

Ramadi Marines on the front line against Al-Qaeda in Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) - From the vantage point of the 17th Street security station, the grim vista of downtown Ramadi stretched out before Marine Corporal Anthony Bell in an apocalyptic expanse of bullet-riddled buildings.

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December 4, 2006

Home for the holidays

Four-year-old Hayleigh Velgersdyk squealed as she ran to jump into her father’s arms Sunday outside the Area 1 Gym at Camp Lejeune.

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24th MEU returning to Lejeune

December 04, 2006
By Estes Thompson
The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Helping evacuate Americans from Beirut when fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah earlier this year felt like “I was a part of history,” said a North Carolina-based Marine who will be returning home this weekend.

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December 1, 2006

26th MEU, Bataan Strike Group cruise into CERTEX

ABOARD USS BATAAN(Dec. 1, 2006) -- After nearly six-months of rigorous pre-deployment training stretching back to June, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit has reached the final test before its scheduled early 2007 deployment.

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Marine brothers reunite in Iraq

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2006) -- The holiday season is more than feast and football. It’s a time to reunite with family.

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Food Service Company wins best field mess in Marine Corps

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Dec. 1, 2006) -- In light of their Oct. 4 first place finish in the Marine Corps-wide Maj. Gen. W. P. T. Hill Memorial Award for Food Service competition, Food Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, celebrates the well-earned victory and prepares for next year’s event.

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November 30, 2006

Expanded list of II MEF deployments

November 30, 2006
By Trista Talton, Staff writer

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — More than 28,000 Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen under the command of Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based II Marine Expeditionary Force will deploy to Iraq early next year, according to the deployment list released Thursday.

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November 28, 2006

Marines dig ‘Talons’ into insurgency

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 28, 2006) -- Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment swooped down on unknowing insurgents recently. Marines netted 13 suspected insurgents and rescued two Iraqis held hostage by insurgents.

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Tanks bring the thunder to Camp Fallujah

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 28, 2006) -- "Adrenaline rush" doesn't describe what it's like to stand next to a tank as it fires. It's as if Thor, Norse god of thunder, got his Viking shorts in a bunch because someone makes a noise louder than him, so he grabs hold of the adrenal glands and squeezes for all he's worth.

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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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2nd MAW announces 2007 deployment

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2006) – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing(Forward) is scheduled to depart in January on its second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in order to provide aviation support to Coalition Forces in the Al Anbar province.

This information was found on the following website under Press Releases.

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2d MLG TO DEPART FOR IRAQ

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.- The 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd), headquartered here, will be deploying to Iraq in early 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Note: This information was found on the following website under Press Releases.

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Regimental Combat Team-2 Prepares to Deploy in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Regimental Combat Team-2 (RCT-2) prepares for its third scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, replacing a unit currently conducting operations in Al Anbar province.

Note: This information was found on the following website under Press Releases.

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II MEF Press Release for upcoming deployment in 2007

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), headquartered here, will soon begin a phased deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of a scheduled rotation with the Camp Pendleton, Calif., based I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Note: This information found on the following website under Press Releases.

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November 27, 2006

Thanksgiving Away, An American holiday in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province.

Like their fellow servicemen back home, U.S. troops in Iraq enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, and in most cases the meal was served by officers and senior non-commissioned officers.

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November 25, 2006

‘Outlaws’ vs. insurgents is familiar face-off in Rawah

RAWAH, Anbar Province, Iraq — Nov. 25

The Outlaws are actually decent guys.

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November 24, 2006

Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines work with Iraqi soldiers and locals to stop fire in northwestern Al Anbar Province

CAMP KASAM, Iraq (Nov. 24, 2006) - When an electrical fire burned through the chow hall on this Iraqi camp, U.S. Marines from the adjacent combat outpost rushed to help Iraqi soldiers and local Iraqi firefighters contain the blaze.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines work with Iraqi soldiers and locals to stop fire in northwestern Al Anbar Province" »

Navy secretary’s visit marks Thanksgiving for sailors, Marines

November 24, 2006
By Andrew Scutro
Staff writer

COMBAT OUTPOST RAWAH, Iraq — You would not have known it was Thanksgiving in western Iraq. It was just another day. But Marines and sailors at the sprawling Al Asad Air Base might have had a clue when they entered the chow hall.

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November 23, 2006

Marines stop insurgents with hasty checkpoints

MUDIQ, Iraq - Iraqis now drive on safe roads thanks to the Marines who set up vehicle checkpoints here on a daily basis.

That credit goes to Marines of Jump Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

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November 20, 2006

'King of Battle' conquers New River

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 20, 2006) -- The “King of Battle” recently conquered a section of the New River, proving their abilities to adapt and overcome even forces of nature to complete their mission.

The “Saipan Battalion,” 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, with the assistance of Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, exceeded both units’ expectations conducting a river crossing from Rhoades Point in the Verona Loop Training Area, to Weil Point, on the east side of the river.

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November 18, 2006

*Squadrons return from USS Enterprise

Two F/A-18 Hornet squadrons returned to their hangars Friday at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort after a seven-month deployment.

The jets were piloted by 12 officers with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, the Thunderbolts, and 10 officers with Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 86, the Sidewinders.

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November 10, 2006

*Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines celebrate 231st Marine Corps birthday in Iraq

COMBAT OUT POST RAWAH, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2006) - It"s a date that"s drilled into Marines" heads during recruit training and celebrated as though it was every individual Marine"s birthday - Nov. 10. On this day in 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps became America"s "first to fight."

Note: photo links are available by clicking on the lnk to the original article

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At Dusty Outpost in Iraq, Cake Is Cut for Marines Young and Not So Young

OUTPOST VIKING, Iraq, Nov. 10 — Capt. James W. Mingus faced another platoon of his marines. They stood in their fire-retardant uniforms, wearied and hungry, weapons slung across their chests and backs.

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November 9, 2006

Marines’ Reaction to the News: ‘Who’s Rumsfeld?’

ZAGARIT, Iraq, Nov. 9 — Hashim al-Menti smiled wanly at the marine sergeant beside him on his couch. The sergeant had appeared in the darkness on Wednesday night, knocking on the door of Mr. Menti’s home.

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Lejeune-based Marines take aim at close-quarters combat training

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan (Nov. 9, 2006) -- Artillery Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, are typically tasked with providing long-range fire support. But as the Global War on Terrorism continues to be waged room-to-room, the Marines are preparing for anything.

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November 7, 2006

Shot Marine back in U.S., is in ‘serious’ condition; Lance Cpl. Smith moved to medical center in Maryland

Injured Marine Lance Cpl. Colin Smith has been moved to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and his condition Monday was listed as serious, according to a spokesman for the hospital.

Continue reading "Shot Marine back in U.S., is in ‘serious’ condition; Lance Cpl. Smith moved to medical center in Maryland" »

CLB-26 supplies 26th MEU for combat

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2006) -- One of the most important considerations when running any military operation is logistical support.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Combat Logistics Battalion-26 is responsible for the logistical needs of the MEU and also carries out a series of highly specialized support operations for scenarios such as humanitarian assistance missions, mass casualty evacuations and non-combatant evacuation operations.

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One step away from deployment, 26th MEU wraps up COMPTUEX

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2006) -- The six-month, predeployment training cycle a Marine Expeditionary Unit must endure before it loads onto a Navy strike group for deployment requires a MEU commander to form four, separate elements into one cohesive unit.

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November 3, 2006

Waiting for the ghost's next move

The bullet passed through Lance Corporal Juan Valdez- Castillo as his patrol moved down a muddy urban lane. It was a single shot. The marine fell against a wall, tried to stand and fell again. His squad leader, Sergeant Jesse Leach, faced where the shot had come from, raised his rifle and grenade launcher and quickly stepped between the sniper and the bloodied marine. He walked backward, scanning, ready to fire.

Note: There is an award-winning (although very graphic) photojournalist's slide show that is available within the original article

Continue reading "Waiting for the ghost's next move" »

A sliver of life is a war medic's solace; A Marine takes sniper bullet to head, but hope lives in his breathing

KARMAH, Iraq – Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin E. Kirby clutched the injured Marine's empty helmet. His hands were coated in blood. Sweat ran down his face, which he was trying to keep straight but which kept twisting into a snarl.

Continue reading "A sliver of life is a war medic's solace; A Marine takes sniper bullet to head, but hope lives in his breathing" »

Local Marine injured in Iraq explosion, 23-year-old officer listed as ‘critical’

Bettye Kinard, of Greenwood, had a few words of loving precaution for her grandson, Marine 2nd Lt. Andrew Kinard, of Spartanburg, before he began his tour of duty in Iraq.

Continue reading "Local Marine injured in Iraq explosion, 23-year-old officer listed as ‘critical’" »

A clash of wills at 'Firecracker'

ON July 4, a squad of Marines was ordered to an intersection nicknamed "Firecracker," the most dangerous in this city. The group's mission was to set up a position to watch for people placing bombs and to fight insurgents.

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Sniper Attacks Adding to Peril of U.S. Troops

KARMA, Iraq, Nov. 3 — The bullet passed through Lance Cpl. Juan Valdez-Castillo as his Marine patrol moved down a muddy urban lane. It was a single shot. The lance corporal fell against a wall, tried to stand and fell again. Note: There is a very graphic photojournalist's slide show that is available with the original article. The narrated slide show depicts a Marine being wounded by a sniper. Please use your discretion for viewing the multimedia slide show.

Continue reading "Sniper Attacks Adding to Peril of U.S. Troops" »

November 2, 2006

Embedded Reporter Recounts Wounding Of Avon Lake Marine; Marine Injured In Iraq When Bullet Pierced Helmet

CLEVELAND -- New details have emerged about a northeast Ohio Marine injured in Iraq

Continue reading "Embedded Reporter Recounts Wounding Of Avon Lake Marine; Marine Injured In Iraq When Bullet Pierced Helmet" »

Injured Marine from Ohio put on life support

AVON LAKE, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio Marine was shot in the head while on patrol with his unit in Iraq and was flown to a hospital in Germany, where he has been placed on life support, family members said.

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November 1, 2006

Chuck Norris visits Marines in Iraq

November 01, 2006
By Beth Zimmerman
Staff writer

“Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.” The lengthy list of “facts” about Chuck Norris circulating the Web — there’s even a Chuck Norris Facts Web site — has made the action-movie actor and television star of “Walker, Texas Ranger” an icon.

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October 29, 2006

A new breed of Marines rises (MARSOC)

SPECIAL OPERATIONS, SPECIAL PURPOSE

(CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.) An enemy soldier points his rifle from a third-story window, searching the shadows to pick off anyone heading this way.

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A new breed of Marines rises (MARSOC)

SPECIAL OPERATIONS, SPECIAL PURPOSE

(CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.) An enemy soldier points his rifle from a third-story window, searching the shadows to pick off anyone heading this way.

Continue reading "A new breed of Marines rises (MARSOC)" »

Virginians see new mission as part of tradition

Marines from Richmond, Hopewell, Northern Virginia and Blacksburg have volunteered for the Corps' new special-operations units.

*Note: This article is referring to the new MARSOC unit.

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October 28, 2006

24th MEU Bridges Gap with Iraqi Marines

UMM QASR, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2006) -- When cultures collide, the first casualty is often basic understanding. People who are separated by miles and manners aren’t kept apart by customs or courtesies; they’re usually stuck behind a frustrating barrage of wild hand gestures and pidgin English. In colonial Africa, early British troops would -- after not being understood by natives the first time around -- yell louder and with increased insistence. It was their misguided hope that the locals’ confusion was due to widespread, abject ignorance and hearing loss. Today, in Iraq, the stakes are too high for misunderstandings to occur. For coalition forces training their Iraqi counterparts, failure to bridge the cultural gap is not an option – but it is a challenge.

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October 27, 2006

With the Marines in Ramadi

From “Hurricane Point” -- Despite the sobering loss of three Marines from Charlie Co., 1/6 killed here two nights ago, the missions into town continue on a 24/7 basis.

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If families aren't ready; Marines aren't ready

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2006) -- Marine spouses with the Key Volunteer Network and the Marines who make up the majority of the Family Readiness Program of the 2nd Marine Division and sub unit commands gathered together at the Terry Ball Center here for a quarterly meeting, Oct. 25.

Continue reading "If families aren't ready; Marines aren't ready" »

Marines attend urban simulation training, prepare for Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2006) -- While walking down a road within the confines of a deserted town, Marines hold their M-16 A2 rifles at the ready and remain alert as they pass through a dangerous area with a high probability of an enemy ambush.

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October 26, 2006

2nd Maintenance Battalion gear up for Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2006) -- Preparing for a deployment to Iraq takes much time and training, forcing Marines to endure several periods of instruction and training evolutions both here and in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and while the training may seem redundant to the Marines, it could potentially save their lives.

Continue reading "2nd Maintenance Battalion gear up for Mojave Viper" »

October 20, 2006

Camp Lejeune-based Marines, Iraqi soldiers dig up weapons caches along Euphrates River

Editor"s Note: This article was originally written in October, however, its publication was postponed due to operational security reasons.

RAWAH, Iraq (Oct. 10, 2006) - During a weeklong counterinsurgency operation in Iraq"s western Al Anbar province, U.S. Marines and Iraqi soldiers discovered a vast amount of weapons caches and captured two suspected insurgents.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune-based Marines, Iraqi soldiers dig up weapons caches along Euphrates River" »

October 17, 2006

Marines help recruit Iraqi security forces in Iraq’s Northwestern Al Anbar province

ANAH, Iraq (Oct. 17, 2006) – Marines and Iraqi security forces here stepped up their efforts to help stabilize the region during patrols on Oct. 16, as they handed out fliers and actively engaged the local people in conversation to aid in the recruitment of Iraqi soldiers and police.

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Camp Lejeune-based Marines, Iraqi soldiers take census to help locals in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province

Editor"s Note: This article was originally written in October, however, its publication was postponed due to operational security reasons.

ANAH, Iraq (Oct. 17, 2006) - Over the course of the past several days, Marines and Iraqi security forces went house-to-house to gather basic information about Iraqi civilians and spent time talking to the people of the area here in order to establish a census.

Continue reading "Camp Lejeune-based Marines, Iraqi soldiers take census to help locals in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province" »

October 16, 2006

Commandant, Marine Corps sergeant major visit Thunderbolts at Al Asad

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 16, 2006) -- The morning began just as any other day for the Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, until they were surprised by an unexpected visit.

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October 13, 2006

With Charlie Company in Ramadi

HURRICANE POINT, Iraq —Three Marines were killed Monday. They died in a massive explosion that destroyed their Humvee. They were Charlie Company 1/6 and all outbound phone and e-mail communications are restricted until their families are notified back home.

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October 6, 2006

*24th MEU hones combat skills in Kuwait

KUWAIT (Oct. 6, 2006) -- Hundreds of Marines and sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in Kuwait Sunday, the initial wave in an amphibious landing that will bring the entire unit ashore for several weeks of desert training.

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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.

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October 3, 2006

*Battalion back from Ramadi

The sizeable crowd — families and friends of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines — let out a burst of cheers and applause as a convoy of military trucks pulled up to a parking lot at Camp Lejeune Monday.

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October 2, 2006

*Military spouses honored with cruise

BEAUFORT -- Diamond rings glinted in the sun as a crowd of women waited to board a 73-foot passenger yacht at the Downtown Marina in Beaufort.

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October 1, 2006

Marine squadron’s mascot awaits their return home

Hello, friends and neighbors. It is good to see you here.

Bob the Savannah monitor, a very large dragon lizard, laid peacefully in his cage Wednesday at Pet Warehouse on Western Boulevard in Jacksonville. Like so many family members in Onslow County, Bob is waiting for his family to return from duty in Iraq.

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September 28, 2006

*Military Police Battalion deactivates after five years of dedicated service

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 28, 2006) -- Second Marine Logistics Group’s Military Police Battalion officially deactivated during a ceremony at Geottge Field House Sept 25.

Continue reading "*Military Police Battalion deactivates after five years of dedicated service" »

September 27, 2006

Military Intelligence — Counting the months

For families of the 120 Marines who bused out of Frederick early Monday to deploy to Iraq in October, it's not yet time to plan a May return party.

Continue reading "Military Intelligence — Counting the months" »

September 26, 2006

*Marines practice for combat in Iraq

An Iraqi gestures and shouts out the window of his black pickup, the truck creeping up the road toward a squad of Marines hunkered behind a ruined car. An Iraqi soldier working with the Marines attempts to translate.

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September 25, 2006

24TH MEU HARRIERS COMPLETE COMBAT RUNS IN AFGHANISTAN

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA – The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s AV-8B Harriers flew the last of 136 combat missions over Afghanistan Sept. 21, ending a short but productive stint in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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*‘Mountaineer’ prepared for demanding trek

COMBAT OUT POST RAWAH, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2006) -- Marines from the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (2nd LAR) officially began their months-long deployment in western Al Anbar, Iraq.

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'Mountaineer' Prepared for Demanding Trek

Combat Outpost Rawah, Iraq - Marines from the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (2nd LAR) officially began their months-long deployment in western Al Anbar, Iraq.

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September 23, 2006

*Combat cooks serve it up to Marines at outposts

OBSERVATION POST FALCONS, Iraq (Sept. 22, 2006) -- If the Marines can’t come to the mess hall, then the mess hall will have to go to the Marines.

Food service specialists assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment set up a field-food facility so Marines can have a daily hot meal here.

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*Marines become big brothers to Iraqi children

HUSAYBA, Iraq (Sept. 23, 2006) -- Marines with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment paused a combat patrol through a neighborhood here to spend time with local Iraqi children Sept. 22.

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September 20, 2006

*1/6 mortarman ‘content taking care of Marines’

RAMADI, Iraq(Sept. 20, 2006) -- Whether it’s providing timely, indirect fire to support the Marines on the streets or bringing cold water to his Marines on post in Ar Ramadi, Lance Cpl. Mark R. Britton is content to be “taking care of Marines.”

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September 19, 2006

‘America’s Battalion’ makes midnight run to aid seven-year-old Iraqi girl

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 9, 2006) -- “America’s Battalion” Marines made a midnight run to rush to the aid of a seven-year-old Iraqi girl after she fell from a three-story building Sept. 9.

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September 18, 2006

Friends, families celebrate 2nd ANGLICO homecoming

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 18, 2006) -- Families and friends of 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, celebrated the Sept. 18 homecoming of approximately 150 Marines and sailors returning from a seven-month deployment in Iraq.

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September 16, 2006

*Passing the torch in Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 16, 2006) -- In the complex and dangerous city of Ar Ramadi, local knowledge and first-hand experience are valuable tools, and the Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment are looking to gain those tools early.

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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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*Hard-headed Marine walks away from headshot

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 15, 2006) -- Cpl. Daniel M. Greenwald knows that being hard headed isn’t always a bad thing.

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*2nd MLG activates forward element

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 15, 2006) -- Hundreds of them came, but they represented more than 3,800 Marines and Sailors. Under a bright North Carolina sky, they took the first major step in forging a new identity for themselves, an identity that will be refined and tested with intense training and a deployment to Iraq.

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September 13, 2006

*'Moon Dogs' implement new fueling process

AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 13, 2006) -- The Marines at Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, Marine Central Command, have implemented a new refueling process to support the aviation mission in Iraq. This process is designed to get their EA-6B Prowlers back into the air with minimal delay.

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2nd Recon Battalion Marines keep insurgents on the run during Operation Matador

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 13, 2006) -- Recon Marines stepped out onto the streets of Fallujah with the keys to the city – bolt cutters and sledge hammers.

Continue reading "2nd Recon Battalion Marines keep insurgents on the run during Operation Matador" »

September 11, 2006

Beaufort Marines begin deployment to Japan

The first group of Marines from Fighter Attack Squadron 122 have departed for a six-month deployment to Japan, a Marine spokeswoman said Monday.

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From sea to land, Thunderbolts transition to Al Asad

AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 11, 2006) -- From the flight deck of the USS Enterprise, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, a carrier based squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. took to the sands of Al Asad, Iraq, Aug. 29 for a shore based detachment.

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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

The reality hits home for a family

In their nearly 14 years of marriage, Marine Maj. Joseph Atherall and Tina Atherall have been through four deployments.

The fifth begins today.

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MARSOC Marines to recieve pay increase

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Sept. 7, 2006) -- The Marine Corps has authorized Special Duty Assignment pay for Marine corporals through gunnery sergeants assigned to the Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

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September 7, 2006

Hampton Marine killed in N.C. crash, Marty Banks, 19, was on his way to visit family just days before a scheduled deployment to Iraq.

HAMPTON -- Nineteen-year-old Marty Banks spent three years preparing for a chance to fight terrorism.

Continue reading "Hampton Marine killed in N.C. crash, Marty Banks, 19, was on his way to visit family just days before a scheduled deployment to Iraq." »

*900 Marines head to Iraq

Marine Corps Cpl. Jeremy Collins is going to have a hard slog through his deployment to Iraq, but his wife Elizabeth may have a more critical assignment.

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September 6, 2006

Marine Corps 2-year-old UAV provides stealthy combat surveillance


AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Sept. 6, 2006) -- There isn't a whole lot of jobs that can go unmanned in the battlefield, but one of the more significant jobs for the Marine Corps is completed by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Continue reading "Marine Corps 2-year-old UAV provides stealthy combat surveillance" »

Squadron returns from Iraq

Joyous occasion: Capt. Samuel Dabney, left, and Capt. Ben Beach reunite with their families — Tiara Dabney and 2-year-old Malia and Jamie Beach and 10-week-old Kendall — upon HMLA-269’s return from a seven-month deployment to Iraq.
THE DAILY NEWS/RANDY DAVEY


Deployments don’t freeze time. Kids get bigger. Sometimes they get born

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*Guard force uses residence for combat simulation

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 6, 2006) -- Pink, purple and yellow grenades exploded upon the guard posts as Marines scrambled for cover from the enemy attack, a different war was upon them.

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September 5, 2006

Marine goes grunt for higher calling


OBSERVATION POST BEARS, Iraq (Sept. 5, 2006) -- Most Marines are called to the Corps by a recruiter, but one Marine here believes he was called by God.

Continue reading "Marine goes grunt for higher calling" »

September 2, 2006

Combat train hauls and protects Iraqi recruits

Cpl. Daniel M. Dresch closes the ladder to a seven-ton truck behind Iraqi recruits. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment's Combat Train One transported recruits from the Iraqi Police Station in Saqlawiyah to a processing center in Fallujah. The mission was completed with only minor problems.
NewsBlaze, Daily News


"America's Battalion" Marines recently conducted a mission that had them transporting an unusual cargo in unfamiliar terrain.

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September 1, 2006

Battalion of Marines prepares for third deployment

More Marines from North Carolina are being sent to deadly Anbar province in Iraq, where three Marines have been killed so far this week, as part of a routine troop rotation.

The Marine Corps said the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune will leave Wednesday.

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Military working dogs share ‘Bastard’ burden

Military-working dog handlers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment train their dogs on attack techniques at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 1. The group works side-by-side with Marines to take a bite out of insurgency during various combat operations. All Marines are currently serving a seven-month deployment in the Habbaniyah area under Regimental Combat Team 5. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Sept. 1, 2006) -- The “Betio Bastards” are taking a bite out of insurgents with the help of some four-legged friends.

Continue reading "Military working dogs share ‘Bastard’ burden" »

August 31, 2006

Marines Establish 2nd Osprey Squadron Bound For Deployment

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. -- The Marine Corps activated its second non-training squadron flying the MV-22 Osprey, the tiltrotor aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and fly like a plane.

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August 29, 2006

Marine from Irmo dies in Iraq, Roadside bomb kills David Weimortz, 28, who attended Dutch Fork, USC

A photograph of Weimortz exchanging a handshake with an Iraqi child was featured in a magazine.


Cpl. David G. Weimortz was killed in Iraq on Saturday, just days short of his 29th birthday, when a roadside bomb went off while he traveled in his Humvee.

Continue reading "Marine from Irmo dies in Iraq, Roadside bomb kills David Weimortz, 28, who attended Dutch Fork, USC" »

'Thunderbolts' prepare to strike in Iraq


VMFA-251 to deploy.

Continue reading "'Thunderbolts' prepare to strike in Iraq" »

2nd Recon Battalion Marines stir the hornet’s nest in Operation Rubicon

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 29, 2006) -- Marines from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion kicked over the hornet’s nest during Operation Rubicon in Mushin, Iraq, west of Habbaniyah. What they found underneath was a lot deadlier than a stinger.

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August 28, 2006

Prowler squadron sets flight-hour milestone in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Aug. 28, 2006) -- More than 30 years have passed since the first EA-6 Prowler flew into combat during the Vietnam War. Today, it continues to provide lifesaving electronic warfare support to U.S. service members during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Continue reading "Prowler squadron sets flight-hour milestone in Iraq" »

24th MEU Marines find ‘Dead Zone’


DIJIBOUTI, Africa (Aug. 28, 2006) -- At the top of the world, cloaked in ice and blinding snow, rest more than 100 permanent residents of Mt. Everest’s “Dead Zone.” They wait there at 26,000 feet like castle guard, their stunned silence an unspoken warning to passing travelers concerning the thin air that lays claim to new residents each climbing season -- including 11 souls this year. Those lucky enough to pass through their frozen neighborhood, unscathed en route to the summit, generally have three common characteristics: safety, stamina and Sherpas, or guides.

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August 27, 2006

S. Dade Marine injured in Iraq

Patrick Howard was determined to become a Marine as a teenager in South Miami-Dade. After being seriously injured in Iraq last month, he hasn't lost his will to fight.

Patrick Howard heard his blood dripping onto the floor. He was on a mesh stretcher, a doctor leaning over him. His right arm was motionless, and he struggled to speak. Only a year out of high school, the 20-year-old Marine from South Miami-Dade faced his mortality last month on the battlefield in Iraq.

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‘Gators’ prowl highways near Fallujah

'Team Gator' Marines manuever their amphibious assault vehicle around a corner as the start of a patrol down the highways surrounding Fallujah, Iraq. Team Gator, built around D Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, patrols the highways to keep them clear of improvised explosive devices and insurgent attackers. The roads are vital to move forces and supplies throughout the area of operations.


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 26, 2006) -- Forget murky swamps or backyard swimming pools. Regimental Combat Team 5 has “Gators” stalking the six-lane highways surrounding Fallujah.

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Scouts roll up mother-lode in cache find

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 26, 2006) -- Cpl. Joshua D. Milligan’s first words when he uncovered his largest weapons cache can’t be printed.

He used the word “holy,” but there was nothing religious about the second word.

Continue reading "Scouts roll up mother-lode in cache find" »

August 25, 2006

24th MEU arrives in Africa for training

Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to board a CH-46 helicopter on their way to the East African nation of Djibouti Thursday to begin their first training exercise since returning to the Central Command area of operations. The Marines, members of Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 24th MEU, will spend the next several days firing an array of weapons aboard desert training ranges.

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (Aug. 25, 2006) -- Nearly 1,000 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fresh from duty in Lebanon, arrived in the East African nation of Djibouti Thursday to begin their first training exercise since returning to the Central Command area of operations.

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‘America’s Battalion’ helps turn Abu Ghraib Prison to Iraqi Army


Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Anderson, of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, is the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Iraqi Army Training Cadre responsible for preparing Iraqi soldiers to take over security of Abu Ghraib Prison. Behind him is one of the notorious prison cells used to house Iraqi criminals under Sadaam Hussein and later to house insurgents under Coalition Forces control. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment are assisting the Iraqi's 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division in setting up a permanent presence in the prison to use it as a forward operating base.


ABU GHRAIB, Iraq (Aug. 25, 2006) -- Editor’s note: Maj. Riordan is the executive officer for 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

Continue reading "‘America’s Battalion’ helps turn Abu Ghraib Prison to Iraqi Army" »

26th MEU adjusts to ship life during ESGINT

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2006) -- The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed its Expeditionary Strike Group Integration Training here, August 24. The training, part of the 26th MEU's six month pre-deployment training cycle, was the first time the elements of the MEU loaded their equipment and personnel aboard the ships that will make up the Bataan ESG.

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Marines' night river cruises in Iraq are no joy rides

By Monte Morin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, August 25, 2006

RAMADI, Iraq — It was well after dark and the musty waters of the Euphrates River had taken on the color of greased gunmetal as they skirted the city.

Continue reading "Marines' night river cruises in Iraq are no joy rides" »

August 24, 2006

Some Beaufort Marines to return as others prepare to leave for Iraq

(Beaufort-AP) August 24, 2006 - About 165 Marines from the Beaufort air station are to come home Thursday as another 450 Marines get ready for a similar deployment to western Iraq.

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On to Iraq; Richmond mother shares pride, anxiety about 19-year-old son's deployment

RICHMOND — For Karen Seigars, the mo-ment would have been ironic if it wasn't so scary.

On Tuesday, the day that the Mid-coast region buried one 19-year-old soldier who died fighting overseas — Army Pfc. Andrew Small of Wiscasset — another 19-year-old soldier — Seigars' son, Mat — arrived in Iraq to start a tour of duty.

Continue reading "On to Iraq; Richmond mother shares pride, anxiety about 19-year-old son's deployment" »

Bikers say 'thanks' to Marine


Motorcycle club donates $1,300 to aid in recovery from his injuries in Iraq
A Picatinny Arsenal worker's stepson, who suffered life-threatening shrapnel injuries to his head while serving as a Marine in Iraq, got a boost recently when he visited the Rockaway Township Army base.

The Tri-County Motorcycle Club presented a $1,300 donation on Aug. 2 to Sgt. Jacob Knospler of East Stroudsburg, Pa., Picatinny officials said in a statement released on Wednesday. The arsenal employs his stepfather, Jacob Wood.

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Hard work pays off for motivated corporal


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (August 24, 2006) -- Marines go through recruit training and specialty school before entering the Fleet Marine Force and while some Marines may lose their motivation, the majority of them find their own way to overcome that.

This Marine is one of them…

Continue reading "Hard work pays off for motivated corporal" »

August 23, 2006

24th MEU trains for ‘high-noon showdown’

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s (Special Operations Capable), Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, lock, load and conduct a live-fire exercise aboard the USS Iwo Jima. The purpose of the live fire exercise is to hone Marines’ shooting skills, making their technique second nature.


ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (Aug. 23, 2006) -- In the old American West, heeled gunslingers sought the morbid truth in black cordite smoke, often finding it lodged in the small, deadly spaces separating the quick from the dead.

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Every Marine pitching in for duties in ‘America’s Battalion’

Pvt. Cryspin P. Nystrom stands his post behind an M-240G machine gun. Nystrom is a field wireman serving in the guard force. He is attached to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, G Company to keep an observation post secure.


SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2006) -- No one gets a free ride in 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.

Continue reading "Every Marine pitching in for duties in ‘America’s Battalion’" »

August 22, 2006

Battalion commander keeps promise, delivers soccer gear to Iraqi kids


MUDIQ, Iraq (Aug. 22, 2006) -- “Betio Bastards’” top officer stuck to his word.

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2 Station squadrons receive CNO awards


Major Gen. Kenneth J. Glueck Jr. (Front row, left) kneels beside the most junior enlisted Marine as Marines from HMM-266 pose with the safety placard the general presented them moments before. Photo by: Pfc. Rebekka S. Kramp

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August 21, 2006

Family, friends give troops extra protection

These Marine moms are on a mission.

That assignment? To raise money to pay for helmet liners for Marines.

So far this year, they have held an ice cream social and spaghetti dinner. Through those fundraisers and other efforts, their support group of about a half dozen mothers, fiancees and family members of Marines, known as Operation Enduring Deployment, has raised about $9,500 for helmet liners.

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Evacuation efforts complete, 24th MEU ends Lebanon mission

By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, August 21, 2006

Marines and sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have left the waters off Lebanon and returned to the Red Sea after helping evacuate Americans from Lebanon, said 24th MEU spokesman Capt. David Nevers.

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24th MEU sails on from mission in Lebanon


Lance Cpl. Corey Chiappazzi, a native of Erie, Penn., scans the horizon over the sights of his M240G Medium Machine Gun on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima as it sails through the Suez Canal on its way to the Central Command area of operations Aug. 20. Chiappazzi is a member of Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 8th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.


ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (Aug. 21, 2006) -- After assisting in the departure of nearly 15,000 U.S. citizens from Lebanon, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned today to the Central Command area of operations.

Forces assigned to the U.S. European Command have moved in to replace the MEU and are now providing support to the U.S. embassy in Lebanon.

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August 18, 2006

2nd MLG Supply gears Marines for deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEGEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 18, 2006) -- A crucial piece of the deployment puzzle lies in the ordering and distribution of gear for Marines preparing to head to Iraq.

That responsibility is placed on the Marines of 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

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2nd MLG Supply gears Marines for deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEGEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 18, 2006) -- A crucial piece of the deployment puzzle lies in the ordering and distribution of gear for Marines preparing to head to Iraq.

That responsibility is placed on the Marines of 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

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August 17, 2006

An Ocean apart, a birthday together


Juan Castellanoz and son Sergio, interact with mother Tristeza Castellanoz, who’s in Iraq, via a video conference, Aug. 10. The family was able to celebrate Sergio's first birthday.


MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Aug. 16, 2006) -- During a deployment, Marines often miss out on memorable moments, priceless memories and occasions, such as holidays, weddings and birthdays, that many people take for granted

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OP Phoenix rises again


Marine from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Headquarters and Service Company pick up torn sand bags. They picked up useless sand bags and and debris left from a suicide bomber attack. They picked up the trash as part of an effort to start to demilitarize recently renamed Observation Post Phoenix.

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Car searches bring safety to Iraqi villages


Lance Cpl. Dirck H. Moize, a 21-year-old rifleman from Berton, S.C., and Pfc. Timothy R. Hitzman, a 19-year-old rifleman from Midlothia, Va., check an Iraqi man's car at a vehicle checkpoint in Sadiquiyah, Iraq, Aug. 17. Moize, Hitzman and other members assigned to I Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment set up VCPs to deter insurgents from transporting weapons in vehicles. Moize is a team leader. The Marines are currently serving a seven-month deployment in the Habbaniyah area under Regimental Combat Team 5. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

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August 16, 2006

Tankers honor a fallen comrade

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 14, 2006) -- Marines from A Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 paused their operations to honor one of their fallen, Aug. 14.

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August 15, 2006

Marines give insurgents no time for rest

GHARMAH, Iraq (Aug. 11, 2006) -- Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, are demonstrating to insurgents there is no safe passage through their area of operations.

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Marine keeps convoys secure

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Cpl. Daniel M. Dresch is a man with his head on a swivel.

Dresch, a 21-year-old security force commander from Colombia, S.C., is the man making the call for his Marines when it comes to shoot or don’t shoot. It’s a role that demands complete awareness, quick decisions and nerves of steel. It’s also a job that he knows keeps his Marines safe on Iraq’s roads.

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August 14, 2006

2nd MSOB Activates, Force Recon Evolves

MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C. - Another moment in military history was written Friday as the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion activated and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company deactivated during a ceremony at Ellis Field here.

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August 13, 2006

Lejeune Marines bid farewell to a comrade in arms

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Aug. 13, 2006) -- The Camp Lejeune, N.C., based Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment gathered at Hurricane Point to honor Cpl. Joseph A. Tomci, one of their fallen heroes, in a memorial service Aug. 5.

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August 12, 2006

CBIRF firefighting Marines test their skills in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (August 8, 2006) -- Imagine being high up in a burning building; exits are blocked and the heat is intense. You know there is no way out. Then you hear a voice through the smoke say, “It’s going to be OK. I’ll get you down. You just have to trust me.”

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Marines open ‘House of Pain’ on Camp Habbaniyah

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 12, 2006) -- Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment are calling, tough guy. Step into their “House of Pain.”

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August 11, 2006

‘Bastards’ encounter enemy fire during community assistance mission

MUDIQ, Iraq (Aug. 11, 2006) -- A recent mission to hand out soccer balls turned into one of trading gunfire for Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

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Osprey gets ready for combat

Despite its long and troubled history, the V-22 could be sent to Iraq in fall 2007

JACKSONVILLE - The V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor could be ready for combat in a matter of months.
The job of making the Osprey ordinary -- as ordinary as an aircraft can be that trails a notorious past and can rotate its engines to fly like a helicopter or an airplane -- has fallen to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, the first "operational" Osprey unit.

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August 8, 2006

Tankers roll out 68 tons of reassurance to entry control points

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 8, 2006) -- Tankers with Regimental Combat Team 5 know how to send a message. They simply show up.

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Tankers feel the heat in Iraq’s dog days of summer

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 8, 2006) -- There’s just no denying it. It’s hot here. But hot takes on a whole new meaning deep in the turret of an M-1A1 Main Battle Tank.

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'America's Battalion' scopes out new area of operations

Regimental Combat Team 5's newest battalion got a good look at the new neighborhood, thanks to the veteran battalion they're replacing.

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August 7, 2006

U.S. troops endure 125 degrees in Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq - After a long day searching homes in suffocating Iraqi heat, Lance Cpl. Mike Young saw a most surprising source of relief — a sprawling Wal-Mart had appeared in the distance.

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August 6, 2006

Mourners gather for funeral of Marine killed in Iraq

CINCINNATI (AP) - About a thousand mourners gathered in a Cincinnati-area cemetery to pay their respects to a 21-year-old Marine who died last month in Iraq without ever seeing his now three-week-old daughter.

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Families of Golf Company gather for annual picnic

Unit has 37 soldiers thatvolunteered to serve in Iraq after being recalled in 2003.

ROCKAWAY TWP. -- Pat and Ray Hollenstein's son, Eric, was deployed to Iraq on March 29 and is currently stationed outside of Fallujah. The Hollensteins do not watch the news for fear of what they may see.

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In Ramadi, the Battle Is Ever Changing

Marines alter their tactics as attackers become increasingly sophisticated in the Iraqi city, a Sunni insurgent stronghold.

RAMADI, Iraq — The orange-red glow of the tracer rounds burns bright in the dusk, forming a perfect cone over the heads of the Marines and Iraqi soldiers patrolling a dusty walled street.

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Slain Austin Marine remembered as a proud father

Family members of an Austin Marine say their hearts are broken after learning he was killed in Iraq. Sgt. George M. Ulloa Jr., 23, died Thursday after his tank was hit by a roadside bomb. He was a tank gunner who was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

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August 1, 2006

'Tipping Point' Just another day in Ramadi: Another IED, an ambush, one dead Marine and a couple of lucky ones. A report from the epicenter of the insurgency.

August 7, 2006 issue - Lance Cpl. Dustin Gross lay on a Ramadi street beside his wrecked Humvee, conscious but too badly injured to get up. The crew's gunner, momentarily knocked cold, slumped in the turret above him. Huge pieces of shrapnel and broken bits of pavement rained through a haze of dust and debris. A massive blast from an improvised explosive device had just ripped into the Humvee's engine block, tossing the five-ton vehicle into the air and flinging the driver-side door, torn from its hinges, across the street. The rest of the patrol quickly checked themselves for injuries, each shouting "I'm OK!" as they raced to help Gross. They dragged him to the Humvee's sheltered side, and I followed. (A NEWSWEEK photographer and I were embedded with the unit.) "Cover that corner!" ordered Staff Sgt. Chris Winship, scanning the street for any hint of an ambush. He had a Marine down, a disabled vehicle and no time for bad guesses.

Continue reading "'Tipping Point' Just another day in Ramadi: Another IED, an ambush, one dead Marine and a couple of lucky ones. A report from the epicenter of the insurgency." »

26th MEU kicks off pre-deployment training with a bang at A.P. Hill

Corporal Brian D. Viegla of Tank Platoon, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Bn., 2nd Marine Regiment, 26th MEU, looks on from the turret of an M1A1 Main Battle Tank during a simulated amphibious assault live-fire exercise, July 20, 2006, at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

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Past teaches Marines about present

1st Lt. Joshua S. Edwards, platoon commander with 2nd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, teaches his platoon about the guns aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina during a “battlefield study.” The trip to Wilmington, N.C., taught the Marines about the battleship and the five other Naval vessels named after the state.

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Marines learn from Vietnam’s CAP

Enemies that fade into civilian crowds, using hospitals and schools as hideouts and watching every move you make from the shadows. How do American troops prevail against them?

By learning to tell apart the good guys from the bad. By winning the good guys to your side.

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24th MEU Marines workin’ at the ‘car wash’

LIMASSOL, Cyprus (August 1, 2006) -- To Americans, cars are like a religion. Masses of furrowed brows brave unrelenting summer heat and molten blacktop surfaces in the almighty pursuit of a spotless, functioning vehicle. They’ll fall to their knees to clean a hard-to-reach area or change a tire as they pray to the car gods to spare them a trip to the local mechanic for a costly exorcism.

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Marines to deploy to Iraq, some for second or third time

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT -- Even with only the first few rays of dawn and the unnatural glow of lights from a hangar early Monday, it was clear April Tripepi, pregnant with her second child, was fighting back tears. Her husband, Staff Sgt. Matthew Tripepi, held their 5-month-old son in his arms for the last time for six months. She could only manage to nod when asked whether she was proud of him.

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July 30, 2006

Marines Prop Up Ailing Local Gov't in Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq -- Peering over piles of sandbags in this ravaged city, U.S. Marines sometimes see more gunmen on the streets than municipal employees going to work.

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July 29, 2006

Two decades after barracks bombing, 1/8 Marines help civilians flee Lebanon

Two decades after barracks bombing, 1/8 Marines help civilians flee Lebanon

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July 28, 2006

Designated marksman on target every time

AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 28, 2006) -- An explosion ignites a fierce firefight at Marine Combat Outpost Horea. In the chaos, Marines grab their weapons and begin neutralizing the advancing enemy. Suddenly, an insurgent is on a distant rooftop aiming a rocket-propelled grenade launcher at them.

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2nd MLG Marines complete urban simulation training, prepare for Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (July 28, 2006) – While walking down a road within the confines of a deserted town, Marines hold their M-16 A2 rifles at the ready and remain alert as they pass through a dangerous area with a high probability of an enemy ambush.

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July 27, 2006

NFL lends handy support to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 27, 2006) -- Infantry Marines here just received the longest pass in NFL history – about 6,000 miles.

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July 26, 2006

Marine sniper metes out swift death in Iraq's most dangerous neighborhood

RAMADI, Iraq, July 26 — He was 5 when he first fired an M-16, his father holding him to brace against the recoil. At 17 he enlisted in the Marine Corps, spurred by the memory of 9/11.

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July 24, 2006

‘Betio Bastards’ get bounce from basketball in Habbaniyah

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 24, 2006) -- Shaquille O’Neal would love to be in the “heat” here.

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July 23, 2006

Iraqi police aid U.S. forces in raids of Ramadi mosques, Americans find new way to search for suspected insurgents in religious sites once considered off-limits

RAMADI, Iraq - As U.S. troops mount a concentrated effort to clear insurgents from Ramadi this summer, they have joined with Iraqi forces in a delicate campaign to flush fighters from a culturally sensitive haven: the city's mosques.

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July 21, 2006

Lejeune Marines To Deploy To Iraq

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- About 1,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune are scheduled to leave next week for Iraq, where another Lejeune-based battalion now is deployed, the 2nd Marine Division said Friday.

The Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment are expected to begin flights out of the United States on Monday. The deployment was scheduled to replace units in Anbar province.

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July 20, 2006

Ramadi plus Marines equals progress


RAMADI, Iraq (July 19, 2006) -- Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Musser is just one of many Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment patrolling the streets of one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq while wearing 50 plus pounds of armor under a scorching sun.

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July 18, 2006

Norfolk-based USS Gonzales participates in Lebanon evacuation

(AP) A commercial ship escorted by a U.S. destroyer will start evacuating some Americans from war-torn Lebanon on Tuesday and more military helicopters will be used to fly others direct to Cyprus, a U.S. official said Monday. Israel appeared to be allowing evacuation ships through its blockade of the country.

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Marines aid evacuation of Americans in Lebanon

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Marines helped evacuate United States citizens from Lebanon as tensions between that country and Israel escalated.

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July 17, 2006

Marines fight to retake Ramadi

Still considered one of Iraq’s most dangerous places, Ramadi has seen a surge in violence over the last several months despite continuing pressure on insurgents by Iraqi army forces, Marines and soldiers.

A “murder and intimidation campaign” against provincial government officials, near-daily roadside bomb ambushes and attacks on Marine outposts have forced leathernecks from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, based in the city, to take Ramadi back “section by section,” restricting civilian traffic into and out of the city and setting up more combat outposts with Army and Iraqi security force presence.

“This is pushing insurgents into a box,” said coalition spokesman Maj. Chris Perrine.

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July 14, 2006

MACS-2 Marines to deploy

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (July 14, 2006) -- Approximately 30 Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron 2, Detachment A here are preparing for a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom later this month.

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26th MEU learns to maneuver on digital bridge

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. (July 14, 2006) -- Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit learned about a valuable addition to MEU communications, today, during a field training exercise here.

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BLT Marines from 26th MEU train for urban battle

Lance Cpl. Abraham M. Blocker, a rifleman with 2nd Platoon, Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Bn., 2nd Marine Regiment, peers around a corner while Pfc. Andrew P. Cooper, also a rifleman with 2nd Plt., provides cover during a Millitary Operations in Urban Terrain training exercise at the combat town aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., July 13. The Marines are preparing for a deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in early 2007.

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July 12, 2006

Marines Try Lighter Touch in Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq — This is the anti-Fallouja strategy.

Here, in the capital of Al Anbar province, the U.S. military is attempting to clear and pacify an insurgent stronghold without leveling the city in the process.

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July 10, 2006

Town memorializes hero

Jamie Bryner never had a conversation with Lance Cpl. Steven W. Szwydek before an improvised explosive device killed the 20-year-old Marine last October.

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July 9, 2006

Love, patriotism forge memorial to fallen Marine in Pennsylvania

WARFORDSBURG, Pa. (July 9, 2006) -- More than 700 people gathered for a memorial service and dedication here, June 9, to remember the sacrifice by Lance Cpl. Steven W. Szwydek, a Warfordsburg native.

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July 8, 2006

Ramadi Marines provide logistics for increased 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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2nd LAR Marines storm bunkers, Range 410A

After a short night of sleep on the rocky terrain at Range 410A here, Marines from A, C and D Companies, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, awoke early June 22 and took the Squad Hasty Attack Course head-on as part of their Mojave Viper pre-deployment training.x

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‘Outlaws' take on DAC at Mojave Viper

The temperature was breaking 110 degrees easily on June 30. With Independence Day right around the corner and the majority of the Marine Corps on holiday, the Marines of D Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, nicknamed the Outlaws, were doing their Mojave Viper pre-deployment training in preparation for their turn to serve America overseas.

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July 7, 2006

Lejeune Marines Team with Iraqi Security Force to Secure Ramadi Hospital

AR RAMADI, Iraq (July 7, 2006) (July 7, 2006) -- Lance Corporal Leigh W. Buckhout wished he was spending the 4th of July partying with his friends back home.

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You call, they haul, that’s all

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (July 7, 2006) -- Millions of Americans depend on luxury vehicles to move about in their daily lives. In the Marine Corps, thousands of Marines depend on massive 5,000 lb. vehicles driven by Sgt. Emilio A. Nepomuceno, a Chicago native, and other motor vehicle operators to accomplish their daily missions while deployed to Iraq.

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July 6, 2006

Marines nest at Combat Outpost Hawk

COMBAT OUTPOST HAWK, Iraq (July 6, 2006) -- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment sleep at Combat Outpost Hawk, which is being constructed July 6 with help from Combat Logistics Detachment 115.

The detachment has been transporting Iraqi Army and Iraqi police throughout the city of Ramadi and has also been working to build combat outposts in an effort to establish an Iraqi Army and police presence in the city.

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July 5, 2006

Marines gain control of Iraq hospital

RAMADI, Iraq - Hundreds of U.S. Marines stormed through dimly lit hallways of the largest hospital in western Iraq on Wednesday, taking control of a facility allegedly used by insurgents — and encountering a regional health infrastructure in serious decay.

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July 4, 2006

24th MEU clears ‘The Ditch,’ awaits mission

ABOARD THE USS IWO JIMA (July 4, 2006) -- As the home front celebrated Independence Day, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit drew a transcontinental step closer to possible combat operations, officially entering the Central Command theater and assuming duties as the force of choice in a regional crisis.

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Troops celebrate low-key 4th in Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq - It was a far cry from the Fourth of July parties a world away, but five U.S. Marines in one of Iraq's most dangerous cities celebrated with what they had: a hookah, relaxing exhales of strawberry-scented smoke and thoughts of home.

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In Ramadi, Fetid Quarters and Unrelenting Battles

RAMADI, Iraq, July 4 — The Government Center in the middle of this devastated town resembles a fortress on the wild edge of some frontier: it is sandbagged, barricaded, full of men ready to shoot, surrounded by rubble and enemies eager to get inside.

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July 2, 2006

On western edge of Iraq's most violent city, a new approach and cautious words of hope

RAMADI, Iraq – U.S. troops are switching tactics in the fight against insurgents in parts of this rebellious city, replacing confrontation with courtesy in hopes of winning public trust and undercutting support for the militants.
It's too early to assess the change, which is largely confined to the more affluent western areas of Ramadi, a city of 400,000 people that is considered the most violent in Iraq's restive Anbar province.

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July 1, 2006

Mechanics keep 2nd Tanks rolling in Habbaniyah

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq (July 1, 2006) -- Few sights are as comforting for a Marine in Iraq as an M-1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank rolling down the street.

Marines of A Company, 2nd Tank Battalion are supporting the grunts of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment by maintaining a constant presence along the main highways here to deter improvised explosive device placement and provide back-up with their imposing 120 mm main guns if needed.

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June 30, 2006

Sandbox on horizon for Sweat Hogs of MWSS-273

YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZ. (June 30, 2006) -- The Marines of Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, preparing to deploy to Iraq later this summer, conducted training exercises here, as part of their pre-deployment training cycle for the past three weeks.

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June 29, 2006

Marine zeroes in for success

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (July 29, 2006) -- As the hidden lead scout locates the enemy bunker through his binoculars in the brush, he radios their position back to Marines awaiting coordinates. The Marines hastily compute the position to artillerymen standing ready next to 16,000 lb. cannons. After an explosion in the distance, the scout takes another look through his binoculars and sees the blazing rubble of where the enemy bunker used to be.

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Marine trains for next deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (June 29, 2006) -- The Marine takes a final breath before he kicks in the door and enters the old, beaten down house full of insurgents. He points his rifle to the right and glances to the left to see an enemy insurgent lifting his gun to attack. The Marine turns to fire on the insurgent and simultaneously feels a sharp pain in his lower left side. He’d been hit, and he’s going down.

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Live-fire a must for infantry Marines

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, move through the cover of smoke during a live-fire exercise on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. Supported by machine gun teams, the Marines attacked multiple bunkers during the mock assault. Participating in the month-long Mojave Viper training, the battalion conducted platoon, company and battalion sized live-fire operations.

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June 26, 2006

2nd MarDiv gets new commander

When Maj. Gen. Richard Huck handed the reins of the 2nd Marine Division to Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin at a Camp Lejeune, N.C., ceremony June 16, he was entrusting the unit to a Marine he’d known for decades.

Gaskin was his executive officer when Huck commanded Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, in 1974.

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MAG-31 aims in, locks on target

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (June 23, 2006) -- It’s at least 98 degrees on a hot and dry Wednesday afternoon in Beaufort. The mission is to successfully load a live AIM-7 missile onto an F/A-18, so that the aircrew can successfully fire upon a designated target. The sweat drips off the four ordnance Marines as they carefully muscle the missile onto the jet; the success of the overall mission literally rests on their shoulders.

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June 16, 2006

Fighting Griffins learning to fly with new wings

The Fighting Griffins of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 are no more — at least until the New River squadron, with its mythological beast of a mascot, learns to fly with new wings.

The kind that rotate.

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June 14, 2006

‘There was just no way I was leaving my boys’

Shot to the leg couldn’t get Marine out of the fight

By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Stars and Stripes
Heroes, Wednesday, June 14, 2006

With the typical stone-faced grit of a Marine, Staff Sgt. Anthony Viggiani is modest about how he came to be awarded the Navy Cross, the service’s highest award.

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June 13, 2006

Teen Veteran Learning to Deal With War Injuries

Marine Lance Corporal Rex McKnight is just a teenager. He served in Iraq for only one month, but the experience has scarred him for life.

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June 12, 2006

Most dangerous block on earth

RAMADI, Iraq –- Smoke is always drifting up the stairwell deep inside the government center compound in downtown Ramadi.

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June 11, 2006

'Rocket Man' rocks Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq (June 11, 2006) -- The crack of insurgents firing rounds overhead sends him into action to find his target and neutralize it - fast. The Marine assesses multiple enemy targets approximately 400 meters away. He sights in. His finger steadily squeezes the trigger as a single shot jets from his rocket launcher. The explosion rocks the earth as the perfect hit is rewarded by the now silenced enemy – courtesy of the "Rocket man."

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June 8, 2006

Reorganization creates new line-up for Bridge Company

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (June 8, 2006) -- In wake of the recent re-organization and restructuring of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 8th Engineer Support Battalion’s Bridge Company has created three new platoons – one of which is the first of its kind outside of division commands.

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24th MEU begins deployment

The ships loomed over the horizon while the Marines lingered at Onslow Beach, their last chance to enjoy American soil — in this case sand — for months.

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24th MEU charges into breech once more

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (June 8, 2006) -- Approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) set sail this week for the European and Central Command theaters of operation, marking the MEU’s return to the front lines of the Global War on Terrorism.

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June 6, 2006

Marine unit deploys this week

A ship-borne unit of 2,200 Marines and sailors is preparing to leave its North Carolina base this week for a fourth deployment of the war on terrorism.

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NMHA to Honor 'Marlboro Man' Blake Miller

Iraq War Veteran Shares Personal Experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) will honor Iraq War veteran Blake Miller -- widely known as the new 'Marlboro Man' -- for his willingness to speak about combat-related post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). NMHA will present Miller with a forWARDS(tm) award Thursday, June 8, at its Annual Meeting. NMHA developed the forWARDS(tm) to pay tribute to the people, actions and events that move the cause of mental health forward each year.

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June 2, 2006

USS Cole, Iwo Jima group deploy to Mideast next week

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK- -- For the first time since being attacked in Yemen nearly six years ago, the USS Cole is returning to the Middle East in support of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terrorism, Navy officials announced today.

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A deadly day: Marines under fire leave no man behind

RAMADI, Iraq — Marine Capt. Andrew Del Gaudio walked down the battered staircase, past the dusty American flag strung in the hall, past the windows crammed with sandbags.

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May 30, 2006

Music Star's Son Back from Iraq

New York, N.Y. - It’s not everyday the son of an American country music star finds himself in combat, but it happens.

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May 29, 2006

In Honor of the Fallen: Marine Cpl. Todd J. Godwin

ZANESVILLE - Every day is Memorial Day for Kathy Godwin.

Every day Kathy mourns the death of her son, Marine Cpl. Todd Godwin, 21, who died from injuries received during enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on July 20, 2004.

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May 28, 2006

Hell's waiting room

RAMADI, Iraq -– There are two battles here in Ramadi, separated by scant more than a mile.

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May 26, 2006

Embattled in the desert: Live-fire exercises provide 1/6 Marines with realistic combat environment

Pinned down in a covered position with enemy gunfire impacting overhead and the explosions of enemy mortars moving ever closer, Marines in combat have one thing to rely on each other.

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Marines wounded in Iraq heal together

CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina (CNN) -- At a first-of-its-kind barracks at Camp Lejeune, Marines wounded in Iraq share their recoveries with the one group of people who understand -- each other.
(at the time of posting, there was an accompanying video clip of Lt. Col. Maxwell)

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May 25, 2006

'Moto' mail keeps Marines connected with family

CAMP AL QA'IM, Iraq (May 25, 2006) -- On his second deployment to Iraq, Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Lamb admits that communicating with friends and family back home is easier thanks to a relatively new program: Moto Mail.

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3/8 Marines clean mean streets of Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq (May 25, 2006) -- An average sport utility vehicle may get the job done on roads in the United States, but in Ramadi, it takes a company of machinegun-toting Marines in humvees to operate on these mean streets.

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May 22, 2006

Knocking off the ‘Rust', 1/6 Marines cover the basics during Mojave Viper training

The training exercise known as Mojave Viper provides realistic combat situations and advanced knowledge of enemy tactics to the Marines who participate; but before Marines can tackle this rigorous training schedule, it's back to the basics.

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The war's deadliest day for U.S. women

There was a loud bang and the flash of a fireball—and in just minutes an Iraqi suicide bomb killed three American military women and horribly wounded 11 more. It happened one year ago this month and was one of the worst disasters ever to hit U.S. women in uniform. But out of that dreadful attack came a true band of sisters—tied together by friendship, honor and raw courage.

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May 21, 2006

The Most Dangerous Place, On a harrowing trip inside Iraq's toughest city, TIME gets an up-close view of the U.S.'s daily battles against the insurgents. An eyewitness account reveals why the war remains as deadly as ever

It's another sweltering afternoon in the most dangerous place in Iraq, and the men of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, are looking to pick a fight. First Lieut. Grier Jones splits his 30-odd-man platoon into two squads and sets them loose on the streets of Ramadi. They run block to block, covering one another as they sprint across intersections. Insurgents bob their heads out of homes to catch a glimpse of the Marines--"turkey peeking," as the troops call it--a sign that they are preparing to attack."We come out here every day, and we get shot at," Jones tells an Iraqi woman who speaks American-accented English. "Where are the bad guys?" She falls silent. Outside, a blue sedan peels away. "Watch that car," a Marine yells, sensing a possible ambush.

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May 20, 2006

Marines survive large enemy attack, suicide bomber

AR RAMADI, Iraq (May 20, 2006) -- Lance Cpl. William A. Staley is lucky to be alive.

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Perry County Marine's story featured in Glamour magazine

BRANCHVILLE - A Marine from Perry County wounded in a suicide attack in Iraq last summer has been featured in a second major publication.

Then a corporal, Sally Saalman was returning from checkpoint duty in Falluja June 23, 2005 when a car bomb veered into the truck carrying her and other female Marines to nearby Camp Falluja.

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May 19, 2006

Recon Marine Was On 2nd Tour

Marine Cpl. Stephen R. Bixler didn't mind serving a second tour in Iraq. He only wished that he could have been with fellow Marines in Ramadi, instead of Fallujah, because he thought he could help them weather the tough assignment.

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Comrades Gather to Mourn Fallen Marine

AR RAMADI, Iraq (May 19, 2006) -- Private First Class Jon M. Turner remembers blasting Led Zeppelin, joking, and knocking back a few cold ones with his buddy.

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Iconic Marine Is at Home but Not at Ease

Blake Miller's weary gaze hinted at the psychological pain to come

JONANCY, Ky. — Growing up in Jonancy Bottom, where coal trucks grind their gears as they rumble down from the ragged green hills, Blake Miller always believed there were only two paths for him: the coal mines or the Marine Corps. He chose the Marines, enlisting right out of high school.

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May 18, 2006

2nd TSB deactivates, tears off red patches

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 18, 2006) -- A ceremony was held here May 18, to officially recognize the deactivation of 2nd Transportation Battalion.

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May 16, 2006

Soldier's Mom Views Son's Last Hours in HBO's 'Baghdad ER'

War Documentary Chronicles Iraq Heroism in Painful Detail

ARLINGTON, Va., May 16, 2006 — - Paula Zwillinger knew something awful had happened when she saw two military officers waiting in her driveway as she came home from work on June 6, 2005. The officers told her that her son had been hit by a roadside bomb in Fallujah and had died 17 hours later.

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May 15, 2006

Army Issues Warning About Iraq Documentary

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army is warning soldiers and their families that a new film about an Iraq war medical unit may trigger mental health problems for some who view it.

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May 14, 2006

Combat Center hosts Corps' senior leaders

The Commandant of the Marine Corps and most of the Corps' senior generals met here this week to discuss issues we will face in the future and see Marine units conduct Mojave Viper training.

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May 12, 2006

Danger In Iraq: Up Close And Personal

Marines Face Attacks Daily In Ramadi, The Heart Of The Insurgency

(CBS) In downtown Ramadi, the fight with the Iraqi insurgency is up close – and, as CBS News Chief Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan reports, for one company of U.S. Marines, it's very personal.

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May 11, 2006

Where The Danger Is, Marines In Ramadi Try To Keep Control In Iraq's Most Dangerous Region

(CBS) The most dangerous part of Iraq is still the region west of Baghdad, especially the city of Ramadi. That's where CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan joined U.S. Marines for her series, On The Front Line.

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Marines fill sandbags to fill bellies

AR RAMADI, Iraq (May 11, 2006) -- Marines with 3rd Battlion, 8th Marine Regiment participate in the “sandbag program.” The note on the chair reads “One meal = One sandbag.”

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May 6, 2006

First Coast Marine Honored by His Platoon

BRUNSWICK, GA -- A marine platoon comes together to honor and remember one of their own. Corporal John Stalvey was killed when a roadside bomb struck his humvee a few months ago.

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May 4, 2006

'No better feeling in the world’

Lt. Col. William Lucas waved at the family he hadn’t seen in months, then snapped to attention.

Lucas stood with the rest of his fellow Marines in the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s command element, after stepping off the bus at Camp Lejeune Wednesday for the first time since returning from deployment to Iraq and beyond.

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April 29, 2006

12-foot oak honors Marine son, `hero, neighbor, friend'

DAVIE · The oak trees at The Ridge of Nob Hill community remained standing after Hurricane Wilma, unlike other landscaping throughout the town.

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April 26, 2006

Lejeune Marines Conduct Operation, Prevent Insurgent Movement

AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 26, 2006) -- Marines from Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, carried out a 28-hour operation April 26, setting up observation posts and conducting combat patrols in an area of the city not heavily traveled by Coalition Forces.

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Attacks arrive as if on schedule

RAMADI, IRAQ - As U.S. and Iraqi troops marched through alleyways and families retreated indoors, Army Capt. Joe Claburn glanced at his watch and predicted how long it would take for insurgents to attack.

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April 25, 2006

Marines fire on mosque to repel attacks, 18 bodies with signs of torture found around Baghdad

RAMADI, Iraq (CNN) -- A coordinated attack from three directions on the governor's compound in Ramadi Monday left an unknown number of insurgents dead after an hourlong fight with U.S. Marines.

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Embedded With Marines in Iraq By The AP

I first met Lance Cpl. Justin Sims the day I arrived at the Marine base here called Hurricane Point. He was sitting in front of the battalion headquarters on the top of his Humvee, ballistic sunglasses over his eyes, hand resting on his gun turret. He was a machine-gunner. It was a bright, clear morning, good light, good photo. I took a picture.

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Best laid plans of insurgents spoiled by Lejeune Marines in Ramadi

AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 25, 2006) -- Cpl. Erick L. Calkins was leading his fire team during a stormy day in Ramadi when he heard the blast.

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April 23, 2006

'If you stand still, you WILL get shot at', Speed is the rule for Marines in violent Iraqi city of Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) -- Weapons locked, loaded and ready, a U.S. Marine platoon runs through this troubled Iraqi city's war-wrecked streets, hurling yellow, gray and violet smoke grenades to shroud their path.

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In War-Wrecked Ramadi, Marines Keep Moving

RAMADI, Iraq - Weapons locked, loaded and ready, a U.S. Marine platoon runs through this troubled Iraqi city's war-wrecked streets, hurling yellow, gray and violet smoke grenades to shroud their path.

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April 22, 2006

U.S., Iraqi Forces Fight Ramadi Insurgents

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. and Iraqi forces fought an hour-long gunbattle with insurgents Saturday in this city west of the Iraqi capital, firing automatic weapons from rooftops at small guerrilla teams maneuvering around them in alleyways and an abandoned fairground.

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April 21, 2006

Pride marked gunner’s final days

RAMADI, Iraq — Eyes hidden behind sunglasses designed to protect against flying shrapnel, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sims sat proudly atop the gun turret of his Humvee as the sun rose on morning over a dusty Marine base called Hurricane Point.

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April 18, 2006

U.S. Marines repel insurgent assault in Ramadi, Political process stalls over Sunni, Kurdish objections to Shiite candidate

RAMADI, Iraq - U.S. troops repelled an attack Monday by Sunni Arab insurgents who used suicide car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons in a coordinated assault against this city’s main government building and two U.S. observation posts.

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April 17, 2006

On The Front Line In Iraq

(CBS) For an hour and a half on Monday, Sunni rebels went at an Iraqi government headquarters and two U.S. military outposts in the town of Ramadi. They used everything they had — suicide car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons.

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April 13, 2006

3/2 supply Marines look out for their own

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 13, 2006) -- When Marines are ‘beaten,’ ‘broken’ and trudging in from a long day of training for deployment, there’s one group of Marines they can count on.

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3/2 Marines attack Mojave Viper

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (April 13, 2006) -- After a seven-month deployment to Iraq last year, the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment are going back to Iraq, but not without embarking in some of the best training the Marine Corps has to offer.

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April 11, 2006

CAMP LEJEUNE--2/6 Marines, sailors return Wednesday

Approximately 900 Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, will return to Camp Lejeune Wednesday from a seven-month deployment to Iraq.

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April 10, 2006

Iraqi Troops Start Rolling Out in Ramadi

RAMADI, Iraq - The troops didn't go far, the mission didn't last long and the neighborhood wasn't the most dangerous in town. But when Iraqi army troops moved out on a recent patrol in central Ramadi, they took a crucial step forward, rolling out in their own armored Humvees for the first time.

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April 9, 2006

Marine serenades Ramadi with ‘Marines’ Hymn’

AR RAMADI, Iraq (April 9, 2006) -- Cpl. Matthew E. Bucceri has something to pipe about. He’s played his bagpipes for the entire city of Ramadi.

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April 7, 2006

Marines Attempt to Stabilize Syrian Border

QAIM, Iraq - U.S. Marines along the volatile Syrian border have largely abandoned big bases to fan out over a dozen smaller outposts within cities — part of a resurrected Vietnam-era strategy to live among civilians and mentor local soldiers.

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April 6, 2006

AP Blog From Ramadi, Iraq By The Associated Press

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Four Camp Lejeune Marines killed in combat

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Three Marines based at Camp Lejeune were killed the same day when an improvised bomb detonated as their Humvee, the last in a convoy, drove by, authorities said.

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April 4, 2006

Iraqis show little surprise as U.S. Marines take cover in their villas

RAMADI, Iraq -- Darting through the shadows of this insurgent-plagued city, U.S. Marines zigzagged down the street, past ornate columned villas and palm trees silhouetted against the night sky.

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In Ramadi, an Up-Close View of Skirmishes

RAMADI, Iraq -- Darting through the shadows of this insurgent-plagued city, U.S. Marines zigzagged down the street, past ornate columned villas and palm trees silhouetted against the night sky.

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April 1, 2006

Local Marine recovering from gunshot wound

The local Marine, 21, from Leroy Township, continues to recover from a gunshot wound to his right leg, in his shin bone, that he sustained while serving in Iraq. He was shot by a sniper in February.

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Deployment makes for family reunion

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (April 1, 2006) -- The Torrey brothers didn’t exactly choose the same exotic, foreign location to catch up on old times. The Marine Corps took care of all that when the two Springfield, Mass., brothers met up here.

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March 27, 2006

Tank-infantry team denies insurgency near Fallujah

DRA DIGLA, Iraq (March 27, 2006) -- Insurgents no longer have free reign in the rural farmlands north of Fallujah.

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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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At long last, Marines wrap up final mission

DRA DIGLA, Iraq (March 27, 2006) -- Cpl. Jeffrey M. Roberts scratched his stubbly chin with a dirty, crusted dry hand. He couldn’t help but smile. He just finished his last operation before he heads home to Camp Lejeune.

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March 24, 2006

Marines trade everyday jobs for guard force

AR RAMADI, Iraq (March 24, 2006) -- At Hurricane Point, the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment work around the clock planning, executing, and refining operations in western Ramadi.

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Marines sharpen skills with Carolina K-Bar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (March 24, 2006) -- The lead vehicle in a convoy has just been severely damaged by an improvised explosive device during combat operations and all the experienced Marines are unable to repel further enemy assault.

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'Raging Bulls' depart Iraq, head back to sea

USS NASSAU, At Sea (March 24, 2006) -- The flight line at Al Asad Air Base was a flurry of rotor blades and wrench-toting men and women while Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) was in Iraq.

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‘It’s been a long seven months’

“I just know they’re coming soon,” said Amber Sawyer, a bunch of balloons clutched tightly in her hand. “My heart is starting to beat fast, and my chest is hurting.”

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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.

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March 20, 2006

To Iraq and back for Marine soccer player

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 20, 2006) -- American football great, Vince Lombardi, once said, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” For Cpl. Gibran H. Rodriguez, 22, assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II MEF, the desire to win and be the best soccer player he could possibly be was his life’s pursuit and passion. So much, the Aurora, Ill., resident, made his way into a foreign soccer league shortly after leaving high school.

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Matthew Palacios: Picking Up the Little Pieces, He saved lives by intercepting a live grenade, and took shrapnel for his trouble. Recovery has been bumpy, but this Marine is ready for action.

March 20, 2006 issue - Cpl. Matthew Palacios, the wounded Marine who saved his comrades by hurling away a live grenade, is still pulling out the pieces of shrapnel. Usually an eighth of an inch in diameter, the grenade fragments are easier to leave in his body than remove. But over time, the shards eject themselves, pushing their way up through his skin. Palacios can feel them surfacing, usually on his right side, where he took the brunt of the blast. One was working its way out of his calf as he spoke to NEWSWEEK, more than a year after the battle. "I can kind of squeeze it out," he says.

Continue reading "Matthew Palacios: Picking Up the Little Pieces, He saved lives by intercepting a live grenade, and took shrapnel for his trouble. Recovery has been bumpy, but this Marine is ready for action." »

March 18, 2006

For Amtrac Marines, finding weapons caches is well worth the effort

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 17, 2006) -- Searching for weapons caches in Iraq requires hard work, patience and an eye for details.

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March 17, 2006

For Amtrac Marines, finding weapons caches is well worth the effort

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (March 17, 2006) -- Searching for weapons caches in Iraq requires hard work, patience and an eye for details.

Marines from 1st Platoon, Company A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion proved they have all of the above, plus a little extra.

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March 13, 2006

To serve, to become

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (March 13, 2006) -- A Twenty-nine Palms Marine participated in a United States naturalization ceremony, along with 33 other people from 20 different countries, more than 60 students here in Fort Collins and political representatives from the national, state and local levels.

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Camp Lejeune Marine awarded Silver Star for valor

CAMP LEJEUNE — Last May, the members of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, fought a hard battle in the name of Iraqi freedom — and under the name of Operation Matador.

To seize a key bridge in Iraq, the platoon led by 1st Lt. Brian Stann endured rocket-propelled grenades, machine gun fire, improvised explosive devices and suicide vehicles from the enemy.

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March 11, 2006

II MHG sounds mail call

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.--(March 10, 2006) -- More than 65 percent of the approximate 27,000 Marines who deployed with II Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of the Global War on Terrorism, have completed the redeployment process. As Marines return to their families and loved ones, so does their mail. Care packages intended for use in the Iraqi deserts have been routed back to the rear in anticipation of the recipient’s relocation.

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Tenacity wins Marine a medal

It was 5 a.m. when 2nd Lt. Brian M. Stann got the word.

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March 9, 2006

II MEF FROs break down the numbers for force preservation and family readiness

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.--(March 9, 2006) -- Family Readiness Officers from II Marine Expeditionary Force gathered at Marston Pavilion March 9, to put a new emphasis on old policies. With 65 percent of II MEF back from combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the rest slated to return shortly, “family readiness” has taken a new tone to address stateside issues.

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Marines Bring War to VA


NORFOLK -- "Bam, bam, bam," barked the Jordanian sniper's AK-47 from a second-floor window.

Twenty yards away, a squad of Marines ducked behind mud-colored huts in the Iraqi village. Eyes and M-16 rifles scanned nearby windows and doorways.

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March 8, 2006

3/8 Marine ready for 3rd deployment

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 8, 2006) -- Families and friends gathered with their Marines, helping them with their packs and giving them that one last hug for the seven months they’ll be apart. Hugs and kisses from families to Marines seemed synchronized as if there was a cue card letting them know when to do it.

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March 7, 2006

VMM-263 ready to write next chapter in Osprey program

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (March 7, 2006) -- The future of Marine Corps aviation took a large step forward as hundreds of Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and family members gathered to watch a ceremony in which the first operational MV-22 Osprey squadron was activated here March 3.

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3/8 saddles up once again for fight

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 7, 2006) -- The bags were being loaded and the emotions ran high as the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment were getting ready to ride back into Iraq to continue the fight on the Global War on Terrorism as they left here March 6.

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NEW RIVER AIR STATION HMM-266 troops set to return today

More than 180 Marines and sailors with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-266 are returning today from a seven month deployment to Iraq.

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March 6, 2006

Action! 24th MEU goes ‘Hollywood’

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (March 6, 2006) -- Marines and Sailors with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, were “Hollywood Marines” for a day during their participation in cultural and combat immersion training here March 5.

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26 MEU readies for road ahead

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 6, 2006) -- It’s been about six months since the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit last returned from abroad and a quick glance at the headquarters at Building H-23 might lead the casual observer to believe that not much is going on in the unit.

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March 4, 2006

Families unite behind Arlington trio in Iraq

Three military men, all from Upper Arlington, graduated from the same middle school. They traveled to Iraq on the same Navy ship, in the same unit. Now, they’re preparing to come back to the United States on that same ship. Although Navy Lt. Tim Burkhart, Marine 1 st Lt. Antonio Agnone and Marine Pfc. Bob Lane are all members of the 22 nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, they have never been together. But their families have. This week, their brothers, fathers, mothers and sisters gathered at Da Vinci Ristorante at Henderson and Reed roads and talked for hours.

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March 3, 2006

Sweat Hogs rotate in, out of Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (March 3, 2006) -- Units throughout the Marine Corps are continuously rotating into Iraq and Afghanistan, with one group of Marines replacing another so they can take a break from the high operational tempo. But, the Marines of one Fightertown squadron have taken very few breaks in between their deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

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News Scarce for isolated Marines in Iraq

HUSAYBAH, Iraq - News travels slowly to American troops deployed in the desert plains of Iraq. Days after the bombing of a Shiite shrine convulsed the country in religious violence, word hadn't reached U.S. Marines some 160 miles away. (3/6)

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March 2, 2006

All back safe and sound

Drink a cold beer. Eat dinner at Chili’s. Hug friends and family.

As a to-do list goes, it looked pretty sweet to many of the Marines who returned to New River Air Station on Wednesday. Most said they plan to spend their first night back stateside after seven months in Iraq.

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March 1, 2006

Family welcomes their Marine captain home

INDIAN LAND - U.S. Marine Capt. Greg Lusk is getting to know his daughter, Ashley, all over again

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24 MEU sharpens helo raid skills

Naval Station Norfolk, Va. (March 1, 2006) -- Marine Expeditionary Units are the Marine Corps’ quick-reaction force, capable of rapid insertion and extraction all while conducting specialized, precision missions. These missions are generally called raids. Marines of Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 8th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit executed a helicopter raid mission at the Virginia Beach Police Department training facility in Creeds, Va., on March 1, 2006. This is one of many missions the 24th MEU will be conducting while participating in its Training in an Urban Environment Exercise in the Hampton Roads area.

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ACE deploys Corps’ deadliest weapon

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Va. (March 1, 2006) -- “One minute!” squawks across the internal communication system of a CH-46E Sea Knight as Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 (Reinforced) crew chief Sgt. Jared E. Daly, snaps a single finger in the air, indicating exactly how much longer terrorists have left to exist before a fleet of helicopters deploy its deadliest weapon – a Marine and his rifle.

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February 28, 2006

2nd Marine Division returns home

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE (Feb. 28, 2006) -- The Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen of the 2nd Marine Division returned home today after completing a successful year-long deployment in western Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

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Marine training aims to prepare for Iraqi warfare


NORFOLK - A group of about a dozen Marines wound through a makeshift village Monday afternoon, fighting cold wind and verbal lashings, delivered in Arabic.

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A Father's Return

Bikes with training wheels decked out in stars and stripes, and little red wagons adorned with miniature American flags and patriotic balloons circled the parking lot of the Island Lutheran Preschool.

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Marines come home

It may have been just another Tuesday for many of us but for eighty marines and their loved ones, it may be one of the most memorable days of their lives.

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HMM-365 (Reinforced) perfects night vision capabilities

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Va. (Feb. 28, 2006) -- They exercise the ultimate advantage of being both invisible and seeing the unseen. Skimming across rooftops while scanning for danger, these superheroes are on call 24 hours day and ready to fight terrorism wherever it may lurk. (24th MEU)

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Marines lend helping hand in Virginia Beach

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Feb. 28, 2006) -- Every night in the Command Logistics Operations Center, the Marines of Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 24 plan for the next day’s operations. Most involve moving Marines and gear around the city. But one mission request came in to help the local community. It is a relatively simple mission, so a reconnaissance team is sent to assess the situation and recommend a course of action to the MSSG-24 commander.

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Marines lend helping hand in Virginia Beach

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Feb. 28, 2006) -- Every night in the Command Logistics Operations Center, the Marines of Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 24 plan for the next day’s operations. Most involve moving Marines and gear around the city. But one mission request came in to help the local community. It is a relatively simple mission, so a reconnaissance team is sent to assess the situation and recommend a course of action to the MSSG-24 commander.

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Marines lend helping hand in Virginia Beach

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Feb. 28, 2006) -- Every night in the Command Logistics Operations Center, the Marines of Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 24 plan for the next day’s operations. Most involve moving Marines and gear around the city. But one mission request came in to help the local community. It is a relatively simple mission, so a reconnaissance team is sent to assess the situation and recommend a course of action to the MSSG-24 commander.

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HMM-365 (Reinforced) perfects night vision capabilities

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, Va. (Feb. 28, 2006) -- They exercise the ultimate advantage of being both invisible and seeing the unseen. Skimming across rooftops while scanning for danger, these superheroes are on call 24 hours day and ready to fight terrorism wherever it may lurk.

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February 22, 2006

4th MEB shuts down, Anti-terrorism units to disperse throughout fleet

The Marine Corps has decided to shutter its anti-terrorism brigade late this week, a move that will help the service jump start its entry into the special operations world.

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February 18, 2006

Injured Daphne Marine 'anxious to get back', Lance Cpl. Benjamin Lyles injured in Iraq on Nov. 1

Although he suffered extensive shrapnel wounds when a grenade exploded in front of him while his Marine Corps squad was on a foot patrol in Iraq, Lance Cpl. Benjamin Lyles of Daphne said he intends to return to his unit.

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Lejeune unit strikes Mojave Viper, prepares for Iraq

Johnson, a squad leader for Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and about 1,000 others from his battalion based in North Carolina have completed their month long pre-deployment capstone training exercise. The exercise, known as Mojave Viper, consists of conventional combined-arms training and stability and support operations training.

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February 17, 2006

Snipers keep eye on Operation Industrial Revolution

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Feb. 17, 2006) -- Cpl. Justin V. Novi summed up the mission with a simple statement.

“It’s a huge building to clear.”

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February 16, 2006

2/6, Company F remember lost comrade

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 16, 2006) -- “We are here today to honor Corporal Albert P. Gettings,” said Capt. William H. Grube, the commanding officer for Company F, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

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February 14, 2006

Moonlighters, Stingers return from Iraq

Though shivering in her new sleek, black skirt suit, Jessica Schuffert refused to take shelter from the cold and wind gusting through the hangar Monday at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
"I don't want to miss anything," said Schuffert, who was waiting for her husband of almost three years, Staff Sgt. James Schuffert, to return from a seven-month deployment in Al Asad, Iraq, along with about 110 fellow Marines from All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 and 50 from Marine Aviation Logistics 31.

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February 12, 2006

Troops coming and going

Trenton VanBoening — perhaps a future lieutenant in the making — was ready for his dad to come home from Iraq.

The 19-month-old boy was decked out in his own pair of desert cammies, the same kind his father — 1st. Lt. Simon VanBoening — wears when he’s in the field with his unit, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.

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February 10, 2006

Ticket golden for military families

Katlyn Painter won the only golden ticket. Unlike Charlie from the children’s story, however, her ticket wasn’t actually golden, and it didn’t award the 5-year-old her own chocolate factory.

It gave her something better: Her dad, Naval officer Aaron Painter, was coming home — and she would get to see him first.

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February 9, 2006

Infantry Marines prep for convoy ops

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2006) -- A simple road trip is not so simple in the Marine Corps.

Instead of worrying about gas prices, Marines encounter an array of improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, land mines and small-arms fire.

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February 8, 2006

HMM-161 flies 50,000th safe hour in Iraq

AL TAQADDUM, Iraq(Feb. 8, 2006) -- The emphasis on operational safety keeps growing in the modern Marine aviation community, but even in such a safety-conscious environment, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 stands out as it recently celebrated its 50,000th class ‘A’ mishap-free hour.

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First 'Raptor' Osprey crew chiefs graduate

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Feb. 8, 2006) -- Two years ago, six men made the decision to become United States Marines. The future Marines had little in common; several were still in high school planning for spring break and their school prom while others worked odd jobs. Most of them did not know what an MV-22 Osprey was.

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February 5, 2006

8th ESB Marine shares running, Marine Corps experiences

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq(Feb. 5, 2006) -- Staying determined throughout a deployment can often challenge service members. Maintaining a sense of normalcy in the face of continuous stress and days of repetitiveness while separated from family and friends can sometimes make a goal seem unachievable.

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February 3, 2006

Marines, IA conduct operation to disrupt insurgency

KARMAH, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- The Dec. 15 elections were fast approaching for the Iraqi people and the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conducted operations to disrupt insurgents that might try to hinder the election process.

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Ironton, Ohio, native manages units interpreters

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- Being able to communicate with the local populous is an important part of every mission the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conduct in their area of operations. In order to do this, the unit works with local Iraqi interpreters.

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Houston native manages detainees in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJA, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- The Marines in 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment bring in suspected insurgents as detainees from their area of operation in order to keep local Iraqi citizens safe. Having one location for all of the detainees to be processed helps expedite the process.

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Iraqi Police, Marines secure polling sites

KARMAH, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- Iraq’s national election was a milestone towards making it an independent and free nation. The polling sites in 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment’s area of operations had to be protected from any insurgent activity.

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Rockford, Ill., native searches for weapons caches during Operation Trifecta

ZAIDON, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- The sun was rising on the second day of Operation Trifecta and it was time for Sgt. Chad T. Johnson, a combat engineer attached to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and his engineers to impair insurgent operations in the Zaidon area.

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Iraqi Battalion takes responsibility for sector, after more

KARMAH, Iraq (Feb. 3, 2006) -- The Iraqi Army’s 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 1st Brigade assumed the battle space in and around the city of Nasser Wa Salaam which is in Regimental Combat Team – 8’s area of responsibility. Now the unit wants to extend its area of operations by assuming more of the area east of the city of Fallujah to include Karmah.

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February 1, 2006

CLR-25 Winds Down with Field Meet

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq - More than 300 Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment–25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), participated in a field meet at the Lakeside Sports Arena here Jan. 29.

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ANGLICO provides lightning from the sky

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Feb. 1, 2006) -- Hours before the first rays of light fell upon Camp Lejeune, 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, in combination with 1st platoon, 5th ANGLICO, based out of Okinawa, Japan, stood in gortex and beanies. Fog shrouded the Marines as they assemble into teams, loaded into humvees and headed out for a full day of combat exercises, in what seemed like enough mud to cover every square inch of Camp Lejeune’s sandy soil.

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January 31, 2006

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael McGraw Marine’s Actions Help Save Platoon

There they were, moving into an area known to be a hot spot for insurgent activity when it happened Oct. 2, 2005. Gunfire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades began flying around them as they took cover and started their assault on the enemy’s position in Karmah, Iraq.

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January 30, 2006

The call of duty ~~Marine squadrons deploy to Iraq

Members of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, the Hawks, and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 made the long walk to a transport plane Sunday as they prepared for the long trip to Iraq.

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2/6 Marine recognized for superior leadership

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 30, 2006) -- First Lt. Martin B. Keogh from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment was awarded the 2nd Marine Division Association’s Tarawa Award.

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January 29, 2006

Cherry Point unit returns from Iraq deployment

CHERRY POINT — There were balloons, banners and a brass band, but the warmest welcome the 115 or so returning Marines received on Saturday came in the form of hugs from family members.

The VMAQ-1 “Banshees” Tactical Electronic Warfare squadron returned to Cherry Point following a 6 1/2-month stretch in Iraq.

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NCO recognized for outstanding leadership

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 29, 2006) -- A Marine from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment was awarded the 2nd Marine Division Association’s Lt. Gen. Julian C. Smith Award for his leadership excellence while serving as squad leader for 1st Squad, 4th Platoon.

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January 27, 2006

Artillery Marines return to firing

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 27, 2006) -- As the week began Jan. 23, Marines were rolling out to start Exercise Firestorm.

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Beaufort Marines heading to Iraq

(Marine Corps Airs Station Beaufort-AP) January 27, 2006 - About 110 Marines from the Air Station in Beaufort are heading to Iraq this weekend.
The squadron - known as the Hawks - will be heading to western Iraq. They will be joined by members of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31.

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Future leaders show initiative

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 27, 2006) -- More than 25 Marines from different sections within 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) received their Corporals Course certificates here Jan. 25.

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January 25, 2006

Staying Marine in Iraq


CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 25, 2006) -- Reenlisting or separating from the Marine Corps is a decision each enlisted Marine reaches at some point in their career.

Gunnery Sgt. Antonio M. Hardy, the 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) career retention specialist is on hand here to assist Marines considering “re-uping” while forward deployed.

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January 24, 2006

Buckeye Marine participates in 24 MEU work-ups.


Fort A.P. Hill Va. (Jan. 24, 2006) -- Eleven months ago if you asked Pfc. Michael Parnell, a native of Canton, Ohio, where he’d be in a year, he probably wouldn’t have told you, Fort A.P. Hill, Va., wrapping up the Mechanized Raid Course. Yet, almost exactly eleven months after he enlisted in the Marine Corps, Pfc. Parnell found himself here in the middle of winter conducting training with Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 8th Marines as a part of their pre-deployment training package with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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‘Untouchables’ fuel, arm ‘Gunrunners’ at TLZ Bluebird

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Jan. 24, 2006) -- The distinct heartbeat of rotors echo in the distant sky, catching the attention of waiting Marines. Tall brush surrounds them for half a mile in every direction and seems the only friend to the “Untouchables” who keep their eyes trained on the horizon – frozen in anticipation for their “birds” to break the unbroken tree line of evergreens.
(2nd MAW)

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Nashville admin-warrior tells how the other half lives

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 24, 2006) -- In cosmopolitan metro areas across the world, people come in contact with myriad ethnicities, faiths and lifestyles. Often times, their preconceived notions about one group or another quickly crumble upon realizing that stereotypes are anything but a “one size fits all” idea. (1/6 Marine)

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Euless, Texas, brothers work together in Iraq

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq(Jan. 23, 2006) -- A Marine is never alone because around them at all times are fellow Marines taking care of them, watching their back and making sure they get home. Every Marine is a brother or sister to another Marine. (14th Marine Reg attached to 3/6)

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Experience pays off for Destin, Fla., native

FALLUJAH, Iraq(Jan. 24, 2006) -- “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror; I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do,” Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote. (2/6 E. 4th Plt)

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January 23, 2006

Beaufort Marines Return

More than 30 Beaufort Marines with the All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 332 advance party are back home with their families and friends tonight. On Sunday, their families have waited a long ime to welcome home their Marines after a seven month deployment in Iraq. (2nd MAW)

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2nd Supply Battalion trains its Marines for the inevitable

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 23, 2006) -- If you entered or exited the base via the Piney Green gate between the hours of 7 a.m. and noon Jan. 19, the sounds of dozens of gunshots might have shaken your vehicle as you drove passed Range F11A. (2nd Supply 2nd MLG)

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January 19, 2006

Sniffing out Danger: Barstow military working dog team deployed to Iraq

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. (January 19, 2006) -- "We were looking for weapons caches, improvised explosive devices and mines. That was our primary job," said Sgt. Neil Fucci, MCLB Barstow dog handler. Fucci and his Belgian Malinois, Rambo spent the majority of last year deployed to Iraq. While most Marines would try to avoid IEDs and mines, Fucci and Rambo, were searching specifically for them.

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Sniffing out Danger: Barstow military working dog team deployed to Iraq

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. (January 19, 2006) -- "We were looking for weapons caches, improvised explosive devices and mines. That was our primary job," said Sgt. Neil Fucci, MCLB Barstow dog handler. Fucci and his Belgian Malinois, Rambo spent the majority of last year deployed to Iraq. While most Marines would try to avoid IEDs and mines, Fucci and Rambo, were searching specifically for them.

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Cherry Point Marines moonlight as firefighters

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.(Jan. 19, 2006) -- It’s 3:30 p.m., Monday, and Gunnery Sgt. Joe Kelly, a Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 weather forecaster, is right at home. Inside the cavernous garage of the Havelock Fire Department, he’s walking between the fire trucks, inspecting the equipment and wearing an expression of a man quietly mulling over a detailed mental list. Kelly, who stands several inches taller than six feet, is imposing from a distance, but up close, the trajectory of his gaze seems to level with the person he’s addressing. His handshake is firm, his eyes are steady, and his disposition – though softened slightly by a degree of warmth and fatherliness – is serious.

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Hard as nails, Fighting Griffin competes for meritorious staff sergeant

AL ASAD, Iraq(Jan. 19, 2006) -- Since December 1997, he has flown off the coast of Macedonia and over the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq, during four deployments. He has progressed from a lance corporal to a sergeant who holds all the flight qualifications and designations of the CH-46 Sea Knight. He is trusted as the most dependable crew chief instructor by his squadron’s commanding officer.

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Injured military dogs back on duty, but without handler

Sgt. Adam L. Cann was killed in attack on Ramadi police station

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, January 19, 2006

BAGHDAD — The three military working dogs injured in this month’s deadly suicide attack on a Ramadi police recruiting event have been treated and returned to duty, medical officials told Stars and Stripes this week.

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8th ESB hosts mess night

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 19, 2006) -- The commanding officer of 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), gives an order to one of his Marines to dance. Without hesitation the Marine starts “busting a move” to the hip-hop music that blares through the speakers.

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U.S. And Iraqi Forces Go On The Offensive Against Terror

Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - U.S. Marines are working with Iraqi soldiers to conduct counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Anbar province. (22nd MEU)

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24th MEU brings out the big guns at A.P. Hill

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. (Jan. 19, 2006) --
With a deployment on the horizon for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 8th Marines, is making the most of a three-week field exercise at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

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January 18, 2006

Operation Trifecta takes weapons, insurgents off streets

ZAIDON, Iraq (Jan. 18, 2006) -- During Operation Trifecta the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, with support from surrounding units, performed house-to-house searches and wide spread cache sweeps here, Nov. 14 through the 18.

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2nd MLG Marines are first to train Iraqi Logistics Regiment

AL ASAD, Iraq(Jan. 18, 2006) -- More than nine Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward)are members of the first Marine unit to begin training one of the two first Iraqi logistics regiments in the new Iraqi Army.

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New Iraq Operation Launched

Baghdad, Jan. 18 (Prensa Latina) About 1,000 US troops, backed by Iraqi soldiers, have launched an operation in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar, said US sources. (22nd MEU)

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Civil affairs continues making positive difference


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Jan. 18, 2006) -- Marines assigned to the 6th Civil Affairs Group, 2nd Marine Division, prove there is another side of the story to tell as they continue to carry out their missions to provide guidance within Al Anbar province, the largest province in Iraq.

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January 15, 2006

24 MEU and Iwo Jima ESG commanders visit Marines at A.P. Hill

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. (Jan. 15, 2006) -- This month Marines and sailors of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group have been training in preparation for the ESG’s upcoming deployment.

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January 14, 2006

Operation Hedgehog unearths insurgent explosive caches

HIT, Iraq (Jan. 14, 2006) -- For four long, backbreaking days, Marine combat engineers and infantrymen unearthed cache after cache of insurgent ordnance and weaponry in and around Hit, Iraq during Operation Hedgehog. (22nd MEU)

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Fiber optic needs met by former ball player

CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ (Jan. 14, 2006) -- The tall, soft spoken Texan joined the Marine Corps at the late age of 27. The married father of three children was looking for job stability to support his family, but he also wanted to somehow serve his country after it went to war. (8th COMM)

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Tiny reminders

Baby's smile, special blanket and last letter home keep spirit of war widow's husband alive

Katherine Cathey holds her son, James Jr., during a recent doctor's visit. Katherine's husband, 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey, was killed Aug. 21 in Iraq. Katherine, 24, is trying to save as many things as possible to show her son. "I hope he asks a lot about his dad," she said of "Jimmy," who was born Dec. 22. "I'm sure he will."

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January 13, 2006

Search for weapons near Hit yields a big haul

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, January 13, 2006

U.S. Marines and Iraqi soldiers have completed a three-day sweep near the Euphrates River Valley city of Hit, rounding up “hundreds” of mortar and artillery rounds, rockets and other weapons, officials said Thursday (22nd MEU, BLT 1/2)

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Radio operator knows no barriers


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Jan. 13, 2006) -- Cincinnati native, Cpl. Tasha M. Monz is on her third deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, proving the war in Iraq has become yet another major milestone for women in the military. (CLB8 MLG)

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Protective gear keeps Marines safe


CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 13, 2006) -- When someone jumps from an aircraft thousands of feet above the ground, you never see them without a parachute strapped tightly against their backs. Wearing the proper gear to ensure a safe landing is paramount for skydivers. The same rule applies to service members in Iraq. (8th ESB 2nd MLG)

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News distribution system makes its MEU debut


FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq (Jan. 13, 2006) -- Perched high atop one of the buildings that is currently home to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), a small satellite transmitter dish is the first step in a process used to keep the American public informed of the unit’s role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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10th Marines honor tradition of patron saint

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 12, 2006) -- Artillerymen from the 10th Marine Regiment held a banquet Jan 12 honoring St. Barbara, the patron saint of field artillery.

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Tampa Bay, Fla., native helps protect Marines in Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Jan. 13, 2006) -- Lance Cpl. Alex Fox volunteered to deploy here in hopes of to make a contribution vice caught up in working parties at Lejeune. When Fox returned from his six-month tour in Iraq conducting security operations in the Walleed area along the Iraq-Syria border in March 2005, he decided he wanted to return. (3/10)

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January 12, 2006

Like father, like son for 2nd AAB Marine


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Jan. 12, 2006) -- As a young boy, Chris P. Holman II looked up to his Marine father, an amphibious assault vehicle mechanic. He went to work with his father occasionally and was around AAVs most of his childhood.

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Boone, N.C. native lives childhood dream, follows in family footsteps

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (Jan. 12, 2006) -- The right to wear the eagle, globe and anchor and be considered among the world’s finest is a privilege that is hard earned. (2/6)

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Marines share hometown roots

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 12, 2006) -- For two Marines from 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, the pain of being away from home is eased by the memories they can share of growing up in the same area.

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January 11, 2006

2nd Marine Division admin-warriors keep war-fighting machine well oiled


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2006) -- From automotive plants to assembly line manufacturers, corporations worldwide rely on behind-the-scenes personnel administration support to keep their people paid and their company functioning.

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24 MEU Marines train for night ops

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. (Jan. 11, 2006) -- On a cold foggy morning in the back woods of Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Marines of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines arrive at their training site here. Their mission is to sharpen their skills in nighttime fire and movement operations. This is only one of many training courses Alpha Co., will be conducting during their month-long stay here.

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Chicago native keeps Marines, computers talking


CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Jan. 11, 2006) -- It can be said communications is one of the central ingredients of modern combat operations in Iraq. Marines must be able to communicate with one another through the use of secure technology in order to plan, coordinate and execute missions vital to the success of the overall mission here. (3/6)

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Mail brightens Marines' dreariest days


AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Jan. 11, 2006) -- Few things are as important to deployed Marines and sailors in Iraq as knowing there is a world outside the dust and danger they face day in and day out. (22nd MEU)

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January 10, 2006

Many tried to deter teen from war's shadow

Kyle Brown, the Newport News man killed in Iraq, had concerns about this deployment.

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January 9, 2006

Corpsman risks life, saves lives of two Marines

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq(Jan. 9, 2006) -- Retired Marine Maj. Gene Duncan once defined Navy hospital corpsmen as, “Usually a young, long haired, bearded, Marine-hatin' Sailor with certain medical skills, who will go through the very gates of Hell to get to a wounded Marine.” (RCT-2)

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SOTG teaches 24 MEU tools of the raid

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. (Jan. 9, 2006) -- Marines of Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines started the 9-day Mechanized Raid Course, Jan 9, 2006. This course will enable the Marines to conduct a successful raid operation with mechanized assets. Some common mechanized units the Marines use are the Assault Amphibian Vehicle and the M1A1 Main Battle Tank.

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January 8, 2006

Assistant Commandant and Medal of Honor recipient visit 22nd MEU (SOC) in IRAQ


FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq(Jan. 8, 2006) -- As part of their tour of Marine forces in Iraq, a small delegation from Washington, D.C. recently visited the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) at Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq.

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January 7, 2006

24th MEU begins predeployment training cycle

ABOARD THE USS IWO JIMA (Jan. 7, 2006) -- After savoring its first Christmas at home in two years, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit wasted little time in resuming preparations for its upcoming deployment.

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Waging war, and peace, on the front lines in Iraq

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NEW MARKET, Iraq (Jan. 7, 2006) -- Seemingly alone in the vast Iraqi desert, a small group of Marines, sailors, and Iraqi soldiers are keeping a remote area of Iraq free of insurgent activity for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

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January 6, 2006

Motor-T Marines brave Iraq's roads


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Jan. 6, 2006) -- Corporal Eric J. Bell poked his head down from the gunner’s turret and spoke in a monotone voice to the Marines inside the humvee, “Well, Happy New Year guys.”

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BLT 1/2 patrols through Hit, Iraq

HIT, Iraq (Jan. 6, 2006) -- Pushing out from their combat outposts, Marines from Battalion Landing Team, 1st Bn., 2nd Marine Regiment, recently began conducting foot and motorized patrols in the city of Hit, Iraq. (1/2 BLT, 22nd MEU, and MMHS 261)

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January 5, 2006

Commander’s Cup vied for in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Jan. 5, 2006) -- Between work schedules, Marines and Sailors with 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (FWD), completed more than two months of intramural style competition in Iraq with the presentation of the Commander’s Cup Jan. 2.

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December 20, 2005

Fatally Exposed-- A Mission That Ended in Inferno for 3 Women

The 120-degree June heat and rising tension in Falluja had already frayed the nerves of the Marine women when the cargo truck they were riding in pulled onto the main road and turned toward camp. It was only a 15-minute trip. But the blast took mere seconds to incinerate lives.

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December 14, 2005

Marines in Fallujah take back seat for election security

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, December 14, 2005

After nearly two years of persistent clashes between U.S. forces and insurgents in the Fallujah area, some local Iraqi leaders hope this week’s election can succeed where violence has failed. (2/2)

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December 12, 2005

Some Marine posts have just the bare necessities

Hot meals, showers in short supply at smaller Iraq bases

KARMAH, Iraq — Lance Cpl. Aaron Snell was eagerly devouring his Thursday morning breakfast, the only hot meal served each week at this small outpost, known here only as “O-P Three,” just a few miles east of Fallujah. (2/2 Golf)

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II MAW Marines Leave for Desert Talon

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Aircraft and Marines from among three squadrons here left within the past three weeks to participate in a semi-annual Marine aviation training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

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Christmas surprise

STAUNTON — It's 76 degrees in Baghdad today. There's not a snowflake in sight. And there's certainly no such thing as a silent night.

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December 10, 2005

N.C. Marine Barracks Helps Wounded Troops

From the first day of boot camp, a Marine is part of a team, rarely serving or fighting alone. That ends when a Marine is severely injured in combat and rushed from the field for medical care. Those without family to care for them at home can find themselves alone with no place to go.

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December 9, 2005

Ops Chief, RP recount days in recruit training

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Dec. 9, 2005) -- On Nov. 10, 1992, two young men found themselves standing on the yellow footprints together aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. Now, more than 13 years later they reunited in Iraq for the first time since graduating recruit training. (5/14 & 8th Comm Marines)

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Manassas native keeps Marines connected in Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 9, 2005) -- Corporal Justin A. Dagostin keeps the 2nd Marine Division connected. The 23-year-old Manassas, Va., native maintains the communications equipment that allows Marines here in western Iraq to coordinate the complex military operations needed to bring stability to the province. (2nd Mar HQ BN- Comm Co)

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CLB-2 Marines clear path to safety

AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 9, 2005) -- Many service members in Iraq have stories to explain their proudest moments.
For Chief Warrant Officer 4 Alan J. Clyne, commanding officer of maintenance detachment, and Master Sgt. Scott E. Witmer, maintenance detachment operations chief, both with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), their moment was one to remember.

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December 8, 2005

'It was like "boom!"'

Few Marines rattled, none injured in IED attack (2/2 Golf)

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, December 9, 2005

KARMAH, Iraq — Walking back from a routine foot patrol, Lance Cpl. Matt Boggs was just outside the gate of his camp when a deafening explosion sent a plume of black smoke hundreds of feet in the air and knocked him flat.

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December 7, 2005

Iraqi soldiers making strides in training

Battalion in Anbar province ready to begin independent patrols

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, December 7, 2005

AL KARMAH, Iraq — Cpl. Ricky Gray was leading a patrol of Iraqi army soldiers a few miles east of Fallujah when a large flatbed truck rumbled along a back road toward the troops.

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December 6, 2005

Looking on the Bright Side

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A Baton Rouge, La. native was presented the Purple Heart Medal here Nov. 30 for injuries he suffered while deployed to Iraq in September. (2/2 Marine)

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Communications battalion transforms into combat team for convoy operations

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Dec. 6, 2005) -- Marines from Force Protection Platoon, 8th Communications Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (FWD), prove on a daily basis they are not just communication savvy.

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December 5, 2005

Marines trying to establish viable police force in Karmah

Police officers were killed by insurgents in previous effort

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, December 5, 2005

KARMAH, Iraq — Even the police are scared in this mostly Sunni city just a few miles east of Fallujah.

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December 4, 2005

U.S. Forces Try New Approach: Raid and Dig In

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 4 - Marines staked their claim to the abandoned youth center in Husayba last month with a Hellfire missile and two tank rounds that destroyed a corner of the building and part of the roof. (3/6)

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December 2, 2005

Finding hidden caches can be an art form

AL AMIRIYAH, Iraq -- U.S. soldiers steeled themselves to the hot desert wind that stung their eyes, parched their throats and added grit to their sweat-drenched bodies. (2nd AAB)

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The Math of II MEF Motor T


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- (Dec. 2, 2005) -- When the II Marine Expeditionary Force left for Iraq, the majority of the Marines from the motor transport shop went along. However, their vehicles stayed here under the charge of a select few mechanics. For these Marines, maintaining a fleet of approximately 140 vehicles with a minimum number of people is a manageable task.

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December 1, 2005

Once More Into the Breach

Bob Newman to be embedded reporter with 2nd Marine Division in the first week of January

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New Campaign Vs. Iraq Insurgents Begins

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi troops launched an operation in western Iraq to clear insurgents from a suspected safe area used to make car and roadside bombs, the military said Wednesday. (13th MEU)

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EOD, Engineers stay ‘Untouchable’ in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2005) -- In the air Wing, combat engineers don’t normally work a great deal with explosives. But, in Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, a detachment of combat engineers is working with the Untouchables’ explosive ordnance disposal Marines to change that.

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24th MEU on move again

The Marines and sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit face the prospect of going anywhere when they deploy - no corner of the globe, no snow-capped peak, sprawling city or dust-blown desert is off limits (1/8)

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Tensions High in Ramadi

BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 -- Tensions were high Thursday in the heavily insurgent western city of Ramadi, after officials and residents said about 250 armed fighters had held the streets for several hours after daylight. The U.S. military adamantly denied the reports.

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Desert Dental fights tooth decay


CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Dec. 1, 2005) -- There are a small group of warriors here whose weapons aren’t your typical M-16A2 service rifle, but tools that protect just as well. Their enemy is a small one. (2nd MLG)

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November 29, 2005

Marines willing to go extra mile

If there's one thing the Marine Corps does without hesitation, it is looking after its own.Marines go to great lengths on the battlefield to bring back their dead and wounded. Off the battlefield, they are the first to come to the aid of their fallen comrades' families. (1/8)

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November 28, 2005

22nd MEU (SOC) passes through the 'gateway to combat'

ABOARD THE USS NASSAU (Nov. 28, 2005) -- In the early morning hours of November 26, long before most of their embarked Marines and sailors were awake, the ships of Expeditionary Strike Group 8 (ESG-8) began their 18-hour passage through the Suez Canal.

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November 27, 2005

Marines come to aid of Katrina victim mom who lost her son in Iraq

After Hurricane Katrina ripped through Kathleen Faircloth's home, the single woman in Mobile, Ala., desperately needed help.

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November 26, 2005

Soldier Dies in Roadside Bomb Explosion

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2005 – A soldier assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in an improvised explosive device attack while conducting combat operations against the enemy in Hit, Iraq, Nov. 25, military officials reported today

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Thank you so much

It's one thing to be away from home on Thanksgiving; it's quite another to be in another country. (3/2)

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Marine's Thanksgiving first with family in three years

Sgt. Ronnie Shertel is home for the holidays after missing three Christmases and two Thanksgivings while serving in the Marine Corps. (1/6 Marine)

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November 25, 2005

Knox Marine worries about sick wife

'Duty' made Gaskin join Corps, but he didn't count on cancer (2/6 family)

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November 24, 2005

Mixture of Taqaddum Marines make up QRF

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq(Nov 24, 2005) -- There is a small group of Marines here that epitomizes the idea that “every Marine is a rifleman.” They come from a mixture of jobs, but complete a patchwork that makes Taqaddum’s reaction team. (CLR 25)

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Marines still living and dying in Iraq's most unforgiving province

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq - During the month of November, members of the U.S. Marine Corps are celebrating their 230th birthday. And regardless of where they are at the moment, this is how they celebrate: with a cake. The first slice is eaten by the commanding officer, the second by the oldest in the unit, the third by the youngest. (2/6)

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November 23, 2005

Monotony rules the day in Iraq


The days run together for Cpl. Justin Miller. Monotony is the word of the day for this 20-year-old Marine from Lino Lakes who is stationed at Al Asad Airfield in northern Iraq.

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Marines look ahead to routing insurgents out of region

AR RAMADI, Iraq(Nov. 23, 2005) -- Construction of bases for the Iraqi Army and U.S. military’s long-term security presence is steadily progressing in Husaybah, Karabilah and Ubaydi

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Marines' Thanksgiving wish: 'Hot chow'

KARABILAH, IRAQ – There's a rumor circulating among the marines of the 2/6 that "hot chow" is coming.

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November 22, 2005

22nd MEU (SOC) corpsmen provide the warrior's unseen armor

ABOARD THE USS NASSAU (Nov. 22, 2005) -- In addition to their Kevlar helmets, ballistic goggles, and ceramic plate-filled interceptor vests, the Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) are sailing into harm’s way with still another, yet unseen, layer of protection.

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Staff sergeant keeps safety briefs fun, interesting

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 22, 2005) -- Every fiscal year a battalion safety manager wins the II Marine Expeditionary Force Safety Award for improved excellence in their safety program. This year Staff Sgt. Rickey L. Blankenship of Martinsville, Ind., took it home. (2nd MLG)

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November 21, 2005

Marines Persuade Militia to Disarm

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — The U.S. Marines keep saying the same thing to a local militia leader known as Abu Ali: Stop carrying your weapons. (3/6)

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Trackers receive awards

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 21, 2005) -- Every Marine and sailor takes pride in knowing they impact the lives of Americans, whether its fighting for freedom or just providing a presence of reassurance and safety in our country. (2nd AAB)

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Marines entangled in disarming situation in Husaybah

U.S. troops trying to persuade tribal militia to put down its weapons

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 21, 2005

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — The U.S. Marines keep saying the same thing to a local militia leader known as Abu Ali: Stop carrying your weapons.

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November 20, 2005

Sweden native leads Marines in combat

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- Clearing out compounds and buildings that might potentially harbor insurgents is a hair-raising and sometimes deadly activity. It takes men of a certain quality to handle the unknown of what’s behind the closed doors and around shadowed corners.

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Paintsville, Ky., native fires light rocket at insurgents

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- During Operation Steel Curtain, the fight to clear Husaybah and Karabilah in western Iraq, Paintsville, Ky., native Lance Cpl. Scotty R. Price was designated by his leaders to carry a light antitank weapon, known as the LAW. (3/6 Marine)

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Nashua, N.H., native leads team in combat

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- The infantry fire team is the lowest smallest unit and at the bottom of the infantry hierarchy… and maybe the most important. (3/6 MArine)

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Bakersfield, Calif., native provides beans, bullets, bandages

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- The Marine Corps’ three B’s, beans, bullets and bandages, are said to be the only equipment a Marine needs to accomplish the mission while in Iraq. (RCT 2 Marine)

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Antitank assaultmen face more than tanks

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- Picture this scenario: A Marine rifle squad advances on a walled compound in western Iraq. When the point man reaches the gate, automatic weapons fire from inside riddles the wall and metal gate, missing the Marine by mere inches. (3/6 pics at ext link)

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Marines drop ‘Steel Curtain’ on Iraq-Syria border towns

HUSAYBAH, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2005) -- The Marines of 3rd Platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, recently pushed through buildings, streets and the constant threat of improvised explosive devices and enemy attacks to bring stability and security to two Iraq border towns in western Al Anbar province

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November 18, 2005

Language skills add another tool to warriors' kitbags

ABOARD USS NASSAU (Nov. 18, 2005) -- With so many ongoing operations taking place in areas where Arabic is the prominent language, it is imperative that those on the front lines of the war on terror have at least a rudimentary understanding of the language. (22nd MEU)

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November 15, 2005

One year later: Fallujah mending, but still volatile

FALLUJAH, IRAQ – Mixed emotions are written on Iraqi faces, as Sgt. Mindo Estrella leads a dusty foot patrol of US Marines in Fallujah. Smiles and furtive waves - even handshakes and shouts of "Good! Good!" - blend with angry, sullen stares.

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November 14, 2005

Marines trying to keep Iraqi town secure after assault

U.S. Marines patrol the city of Husaybah for the first time in more than a year.

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 14, 2005

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Driving through the marketplace, Sgt. Scott Wood saw many signs of daily life returning to the city center: children playing in the streets, men squatting near shops — and al-Qaida in Iraq propaganda hanging on a wall.


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U.S. presses offensive on border with Syria

Two U.S. marines were killed and at least nine were wounded in ambushes and fierce street battles on Monday as thousands of American and Iraqi troops stormed Ubaydi, a riverside town near the Syrian border that the Americans contend has become a haven for foreign jihadists (3/6)

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Marine postal chief takes reigns as chaplain

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 14, 2005) -- As the postal chief for the camp post office, he supervises Marines and helps bridge the gap between service members and their families. On Sundays, he leads the gospel service held at the camp chapel. (2nd MLG marine)

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November 11, 2005

Marines uphold birthday traditions at sea

ABOARD THE USS NASSAU (Nov. 11, 2005) -- Because they wore combat uniforms instead of dress blues and swayed not to music, but the rocking of a ship plowing through the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the 230th birthday of the Corps held special meaning to the Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). (22nd MEU)

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Marines of TQ celebrate their birthday

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) -- The Marines birthday celebration something respected in every clime in place the Marine Corps goes and today was no exception as the Marines of Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) gathered here to celebrated the 230th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

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November 10, 2005

Dog handler, Rex bring bite to bark in Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) -- Some Marines stationed in Iraq have had the unique experience of deploying or crossing paths with a relative or other loved one while here. For one Marine serving with 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), she had the opportunity to deploy with her best friend.

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2nd Marine Division follows birthday tradition while conducting combat operations in Iraq

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) -- The Marines, Sailors and Soldiers of 2nd Marine Division broke away from manning the helm of the division’s battle stations to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 230th birthday and to reflect upon the faithful service of Marines today and throughout history.

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Corpsmen do whatever it takes

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) -- While sitting down for lunch in the chow hall here Nov. 3, corpsmen assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 8 Base Aid Station recognized Marines they treated in past combat situations. One corpsman pointed out an everyday Marine in line for chow who he had treated. (CLB 8- 2nd MLB)

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2nd MAW celebrates 230th in Iraq

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 10, 2005) -- Marines, Sailors and Soldiers serving at Al Asad, Iraq, took a few moments to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 230th birthday, Nov. 8 through 10, proving that even in war, the history and traditions of the Corps aren’t forgotten.

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Marine Updates Iraqis as Troops Perform Missions

While many Marines use the cover of darkness to secretly infiltrate and secure cities and towns across Iraq, Lance Cpl. Pedro L. Rangel is doing his best to be seen and heard. (RCT 2)

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Marines set up shop along insurgents' route from Syria into Iraq

By Andrew Tilghman, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, November 10, 2005

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Thousands of U.S. Marines swept across the eastern half of this desolate border city Wednesday night, finding limited resistance in a key area long considered an insurgent stronghold and passageway on the route from Syria. (3/6)

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2nd FSSG gets a new name

It takes more than a name-change ceremony to bring a general back from Iraq.

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Hopes fade of trapping many insurgents in western Iraq

Curtain is beginning to fall on joint U.S.-Iraqi operation near Syrian border

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November 9, 2005

All hands on the well deck

MOOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2005) -- Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

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Goodbyes don't come easy

There are some firsts and a last for the Nassau Strike Group, which heads to the Persian Gulf for the first time in the war. (22nd MEU)

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November 8, 2005

Akron, Ohio, native deployed to Iraq sees birth of child via internet

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2005) -- While deployed to Iraq, many Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, will unfortunately miss important family events that happen only once a year or perhaps once in a lifetime. (2/2 RCT 8)

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Merrillville, Ind., native passes word to Iraqis

AL KHAFFAJIYAH, Iraq (Nov. 8, 2005) -- While many Marines use the cover of darkness to secretly infiltrate and secure cities and towns across Iraq, Lance Cpl. Pedro L. Rangel is doing his best to be seen and heard. (RCT 2)

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10th Marines changes command, get back to basics


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 07, 2005) -- A change of command is more than a time-honored tradition in the Marine Corps, it’s also a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one Marine to another. Commanders have the chance to look back and reflect on the blood, sweat and sacrifices they have committed to the Marines they led.

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Looking Out on Hostile Territory

The members of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, are creeping through the mean streets of Iraq's meanest town when their mission comes in.

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Steel Curtain drops on terrorists near Syrian border

November 08, 2005 - AR RAMADI, Iraq, Nov. 8, 2005 -- Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers are fighting alongside Marines near the Iraq-Syria border in Operation Steel Curtain, which began over the weekend.

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November 7, 2005

Miami native tanker awarded Bronze Star

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 07, 2005) -- When Marines encounter tough situations, they can fall back on training, but basic preparation sometimes isn’t enough. A Marine’s survival instinct combined with combat training could make a Marine an effective force in any situation. (2nd Tanks)

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In Iraq's wild west

Even Saddam didn't enjoy full control over the far-western tribal belt, so what can the Americans hope to achieve - and what will happen when they leave? Lindsey Hilsum is travelling with the US marines (3/6 embedded reporter)

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Pataskala, Ohio, native has electric touch

RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 6, 2005) -- For the most part, the work of Sergeant Derrick L. Hicks is hidden. What he contributes to the 2nd Marine Division would go completely unnoticed as long as he kept doing his job. (2nd Mar Div. HQ Comm Co)

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Gunfighters save sniper’s life in midst of battle

Camp Al Qaim, Iraq (Nov. 6, 2005) -- While conducting combat operations in northwest Iraq, scout snipers from 3rd Battaltion, 6th Marine Regiment found themselves in a firefight with insurgents.

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Offensive on western Iraq city nears end

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — U.S. forces nearly completed their operation to clear this Syrian border city on Monday, encountering little resistance. (3/6)

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November 6, 2005

U.S. and Iraqi troops besiege insurgents

HUSAYBA, Iraq Insurgents armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenades battled about 3,500 U.S. and Iraqi troops Sunday in the gritty streets of Husayba in the second day of an offensive to rout Al Qaeda from its stronghold along the Syrian border. (3/6)

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U.S.-Led Forces Attack al-Qaida in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq Nov 6, 2005 — About 3,500 U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by jets launched a major attack Saturday against an insurgent-held town near the Syrian border, seeking to dislodge al-Qaida and its allies and seal off a main route for foreign fighters entering the country.

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Yonkers Marines welcomed home

Cpl. Christopher Torres had a dangerous job in Iraq — he was a driver for the Marines in Fallujah (1/6)

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U.S. and Iraqi troops storm town

BAGHDAD, Iraq — About 3,500 U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by warplanes dropping 500-pound bombs assaulted a town near the Syrian border Saturday reputed to be a crossing point for foreign fighters. House-to-house searches were planned to root out all resistance and hamper the guerrilla network operating in the Euphrates Valley.

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Syria border operation takes toll on Sunni town

In a crucial test, multiple battalions of the Iraqi Army also are deployed (3/6)

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22nd MEU is deploying this weekend

As the Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit load the ships and prepare to leave this weekend, they can look forward to one certainty.

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U.S., Iraqi troops storm town near Syria; 1 Marine killed

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. and Iraqi troops battled insurgents house-to-house on Monday, the third day of a major offensive against al-Qaeda insurgents in a town near the Syrian border, and the U.S. command reported the first American death in the operation.

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November 5, 2005

Indelible Memories For Veterans of Iraq

Post-Battle Tattooing Ritual 'as Old as War Itself' (1/8)

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Major Offensive Hits Insurgents on Iraqi Border

HUSAYBA, Iraq, Nov. 5 - Thousands of American and Iraqi troops laid siege on Saturday to this town near the Syrian border in one of the largest military assaults since American-led forces stormed the guerrilla stronghold of Falluja last year, Marine Corps officials said.

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U.S. and Iraqi troops launch major offensive in western Iraq

HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Explosions rocked this insurgent stronghold on the Syrian border throughout the day and into the evening Saturday as U.S. forces launched what could become the largest military operation in Iraq since the battle of Fallujah a year ago. (3/6)

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Operation Steel Curtain Moves Into Husaybah

DOD Press Article
American Forces Press Service

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November 4, 2005

T-bolts strike Enterprise

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (Nov. 4, 2005) -- Marines and sailors from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 departed the Air Station to embark upon the USS Enterprise for a one-month training mission Oct. 27.

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Wiles of Iraq are war, more for Tom Wilberg

Anoka High School 1996 graduate Tom Wilberg knows the wiles of Iraq well. (3/6)

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3/2 Marines, families honor fallen brothers

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 3, 2005) -- The sun was setting in the distance and the glistening water flowing was the only thing they could hear as the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division stood in silence to pay their respects to their fallen brothers during a ceremony here.

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Lessons learned, prior experience guide 24 MEU work-ups

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Nov. 4, 2005) -- From Operation Iraqi Freedom to a special purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force in the Gulf Coast, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit continues to validate the Marine Corps expeditionary warfighting doctrine. (24th MEU / pics at ext link)

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2nd Radio takes a plunge

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.-- (Nov. 4, 2005) -- Marines with 2nd Radio Battalion, “B” Company, in combination with 2nd Air Delivery Platoon, took part in their first jump in more than a year at drop zone Condor here Nov. 1.

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November 3, 2005

Company E remembers loss of fellow Marine

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- He had many good qualities that he shared with his fellow Marines, one of the most important was he always made time for the ones he loved.

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Memorial gym helps service members relieve combat stress

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- After a long day’s work here, Marines need a way to relieve stress and relax from the rigors of being in a combat zone. Nothing serves better than a good workout. (RCT-2 / 3/25 K & L Co)

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Athol, Mass., native keeps it cool in Ramadi

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- What Cpl. Jeffery R. Lyskawa does here is not flashy or sexy. He doesn’t fly planes or stalk the enemy through the night. (2nd MAR Comm Co.)

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Combat Doc supports Marines in Ar Ramadi

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- Marlon D. Rendon immigrated to the United States from Ecuador when he was 17 years old to live with his father and start a new life in Queens, NY. (QRF 2nd MAR)

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This one goes out to Chesty…


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.--(Nov. 2, 2005) -- - Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller is, hands down, the Marine’s Marine. He looked out for morale, stood up for what was right, stayed combat-ready, and when the time came to send rounds downrange, his rounds hit their mark. (2nd Tanks / pics at ext link)

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Deployment of 6,000 sailors and Marines begins Friday

NORFOLK -- About 6,000 sailors and Marines aboard six Norfolk-based ships that form the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group will leave for an overseas deployment beginning Friday when two of the ships get underway. (22 MEU / 1/2 / MMHS 261)

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November 2, 2005

RCT-2 Awards Section ensures troops receive 'their just rewards'

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- As the ongoing mission continues here, Marines and Sailors often find themselves in dangerous situations where they respond selflessly and heroically. (RCT 2 pics at ext link)

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Marine shown importance of gear, hard way.

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- The 3rd Mobile Assault Platoon took sniper fire all day as they conducted a relief in place with 1st Mobile Assault Platoon. (3/6 Weapons / RCT 2) / pics at ext link)

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Election Support Teams help ensure Iraqi vote

AR RAMADI, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- Over 200,000 Iraqi people in Al Anbar Province recently made their way to polling sites for Iraq’s Constitutional Referendum. The voters safely made their voices heard without even seeing the forces that were instrumental in making it possible.

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ISF making strides in Al Anbar

Camp Blue Diamond, Ar Ramadi, Iraq (Nov. 2, 2005) -- The 2nd Marine Division is progressively receiving the additional combat power that its commanders have requested to conduct the counter-insurgency operations in the Al Anbar province.

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Officer and enlisted team up, just for kicks

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C (Nov. 2, 2005) -- The teamwork formed when enlisted Marines work side-by-side with commissioned officers is one of the Marine Corps most successful aspects. This bond becomes a powerful tool used to facilitate the everyday mission of the Marine Corps.

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Columbus, Ga., native aids in fight, one package at a time

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 3, 2005) -- The mission of postal Marines in Iraq is vital to the morale of troops serving in operations, and one Marine here is helping in the fight, one package at a time. (PD 6 Service Co. H&S; 2nd FSSG)

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Touches added to Veterans Day parade

Saturday's Veterans Day Parade in Jacksonville will honor all branches of the military - but the Navy will lead the way. (10th Marines and 3/2 to march in parade)

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November 1, 2005

Marine returns home to support from family

Iraq - thousands of miles away from the U.S. and in another time zone - is nowhere like home. (1/6 Marine)

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October 30, 2005

Camp Lejeune Marine featured in Cosmo's 50 sexiest bachelors

Iraq has always been warm. Now it's hot.

That's because Pvt. Jake Lybrook, a 21-year-old Camp Lejeune Marine who is currently deployed there with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, is featured in the current issue of Cosmopolitan magazine as one of America's 50 sexiest bachelors. (3/6)

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October 29, 2005

LI Marine Killed in Iraq

At Hauppauge home of his mom, Pentagon tells her that her son and a fellow Marine died in an explosion

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Evesham Marine receives warm send-off

EVESHAM
"I'm confident in my unit," said Macready, 20. "My platoon knows how do the job. I've lost close friends in Iraq, friends I went to infantry school with. That doesn't make me afraid. It just makes me want to make sure their deaths were not in vain." (1/2 / pic at ext link)

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October 28, 2005

Division football team confident, ready

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- When a few Marines with Headquarters Battalion and 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division get off work they don’t put on civilian clothes and go out into town, they dawn a helmet and pads and head off to the gridiron to represent their unit. (2/8 / pics at ext link)

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“Doc Bibi” recognized as Sailor of the Quarter

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Side by side on the battlefield, in a desert camouflage utility uniform, Marines know they can count on the person on their left or right to protect them, provide moral support and look over them. This person is courageous, dependable and competent in his or her duties, especially when that person is a corpsman. You can look to your corpsman in times of need as a Marine’s personal guardian angel.

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AIRSpeed program helps MALS-29 conduct business

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2005) -- The Marines of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-29 are getting a series of in-depth courses to help reduce the cost of repairing aircraft components while increasing throughput in their production process. The net effect will be increased readiness. (2nd MAW)

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Dedham Marine mourned: Cause of death still undetermined.

DEDHAM -- Military investigators are still trying to determine what caused the sudden death of a Dedham Marine whose body was found earlier this week at a North Carolina military base.
Family and friends will say their final farewells to William D. Guiod during a burial ceremony Monday morning, 25 years to the day after his parents adopted him and welcomed him into their lives. (2/8)

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Iraqis assuming bigger security role as Fallujah continues progress

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- In a city once wracked by insurgent turmoil, hundreds of native troops with the Iraq Intervention Force conduct daily security and stability patrols in the neighborhoods and marketplaces here today. (2/6 detachment)

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‘Devil Doc’ celebrates 28th birthday in Iraq

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- For many people a birthday means a day off. It’s a time to celebrate the successful passage of another year of life and to look forward to the year that lies ahead. It’s a time of celebration with family and friends, relaxation and gifts. (2/6 Fox)

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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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Supply keeps Teufelhunden Marines aimed in right direction

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Oct. 28, 2005) -- Someone once wrote that an army lives off its stomach. This axiom holds true even today, with all the current technological accoutrements of modern war. (3/6 H & S)

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October 27, 2005

N.C. Marines, sailor killed in Iraq bombing

A Marine Corps officer who lived locally and a North Carolina sailor attached to a Camp Lejeune-based Marine unit were killed last week in Iraq, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

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Fellow Marines fondly remember comrade who no longer answers the call

Fellow Marines fondly remember comrade who no longer answers the call

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October 26, 2005

Military Working Dog Takes Away Bomb's Bang.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif., Oct. 26, 2005 — From the deserts of Iraq to the grassy slopes of Afghanistan, there has always been an impending threat of disaster. However, with the help of one of man’s best friends, Kwinto, this threat has been slightly reduced. (24th MEU / pic at ext. link)

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‘Snipe hunts’ prove to be a hit or miss affair

SADAH, Iraq — It was, Cpl. Jereme Roodhouse agreed, just like a snipe hunt. As a church camp counselor in his younger days back home in Michigan, Roodhouse had led campers on nighttime hunts for the mythical animal. The joke, of course, was that there is no such thing as a snipe. (3/6)

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Constant training helps keep up with the high operational tempo

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.(Oct. 26, 2005) -- Second Marine Expeditionary Force has been at a very high operational tempo since the war in Iraq began March 2003. Next to safety, training Marines and Sailors to perform on the battlefield has become the number one priority here. (8th ESB / 2nd FSSG / pics at ext link)

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Marines bring smiles to front-line troops

AR RAMADI, Iraq(Oct. 26, 2005) -- Some service members walk away with a snack, maybe a can of soda or a pack of cigarettes, but one thing that everyone walks away with is a smile on their face. (2nd FSSG / pics at ext link)

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Erie, Penn., native leads seasoned squad of Marines

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 26, 2005) -- The sound of magazines being slapped into weapons and bolts chambering rounds cuts through the dust-filled air. The men adjust their flak jackets and Kevlar helmets to ensure the maximum amount of comfort over the next two hours. Once these final preparations are made, they all look at their leader. Every man is in his place and knows his role in the mission. They won’t move however, unless they receive the order to do so. (2/6 F Co / pics at ext. link)

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October 24, 2005

Kokomo, Ind., native rides again, on fourth deployment to Middle East

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 24, 2005) -- The current operational tempo of the Global War on Terrorism means many Marines are deploying to combat zones on a yearly basis. Back-to-back combat tours can cause headaches for Marines and heartaches for their families, but for Sgt. C. Alexander Wolf, it’s just another day at the office. (2nd MAW)

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Marines, Iraqi citizens work toward a better future

SAQALAWIYAH, Iraq (Oct. 24, 2005) -- The room is small and furnished with only a desk, two small sofas and a few file cabinets, but this doesn’t stop the police chief here from conducting daily business. (6th CAG)

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October 23, 2005

Green Dragons’ repelled insurgents, explosives

AL AMARIYAH, IRAQ (Oct. 23. 2005) -- The convoy of assault amphibian vehicles came up on a cluster of houses here during an operation late last summer. After cordoning off the area with the tracked vehicles, infantrymen dismounted from the armored vehicles, providing another level of security for the ‘cordon and knock’ operation. (2nd AAB & 2/7 / photos at ext. link)

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Service members give back to the Community


CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Oct. 23, 2005) -- Whether running a convoy or patrolling nearby towns for insurgents, no mission in Iraq is without some element of danger. However, 18 service members here had a welcome break from the daily routine to bring smiles to the local children of Iraq. (2nd FSSG / pic at ext. link )

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October 22, 2005

Easy Company turns tide of enemy attack

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- October 2 began as another hot and dusty day in Iraq. By day’s end, however, the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines defeated local insurgents in a decisive small-arms battle. (2/2 Easy photos in external link)

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‘Tracks’ backbone for summer ops

AMARIYAH, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- Marines and Iraqi soldiers moved through the town of Amariyah and the settlement known as Ferris Town during the early morning hours of Aug. 25 and 26. (2nd AABn- photos included in external link)

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October 21, 2005

Corpsmen with 2/2 stand by their Marines

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 21, 2005) -- “Corpsman up!” is the first thing that comes to a Marine’s mind when one of his buddies is wounded.

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Conowingo, Md. native manages transportation web

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 22, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. Jason M. Crawford tracks the numerous convoys moving through the Al Anbar province.

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Vet shows Iraq story at Day Hall

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(Oct. 21, 2005) -- The winner of the Department of Defense 2004 Thomas Jefferson award for photojournalism was present at the command museum Oct. 14 and 15 for an exhibit of photographs he took in Fallujah, Iraq, last November. (1/8)

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Sgt. Maj. Estrada visits returning warriors


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 21, 2005) -- Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada made a stop in Camp Lejeune today to visit with the 2nd Marine Division leathernecks of 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Tank Battalion, and 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion to mark their return home from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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October 20, 2005

Division Operations Officer receives Legion of Merit

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 20, 2005) -- Leaders of 2nd Marine Division gathered for an award ceremony here today.

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Duty called and he answered

Lance Cpl. James McMahon enlisted in the Marines before he graduated from Portsmouth High School in 2003.

James McMahon enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17, months before his class was to graduate from Portsmouth High School. (1/10 Marine)

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Operation Liberty Express helps deliver successful referendum

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Oct. 20, 2005) -- Dawn broke over Iraq to empty, silent streets Oct. 15. A lone bus cruised down an empty street. As it dragged to a halt the door opened and a handful of Iraqi citizens boarded. Their destination: one of the many polling sites across the country where the Iraqi people would vote on the draft Iraqi Constitution.

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Chilean Marines come to train with American counterparts

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 19, 2005) -- While Iraq, Afghanistan and the other theatres in the Global War on Terrorism dominate headlines, the world does not stop in terms of other conflicts and peacekeeping missions that require support from the United States Marine Corps and its allies around the world.

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October 19, 2005

Ambulance driver aids service members, extends tour

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005) -- One country boy from Hilmar, Calif., ensures service members receive medical attention here, while on his third deployment since joining the Corps three years ago.

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October 18, 2005

Marine family gives helping hand to Islamic services

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 18, 2005) -- Islamic religious services here received a boost in support recently when a Marine family donated funds to facilitate the purchase of carpeting, Islamic holy books and pamphlets used in community outreach.

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October 16, 2005

Successful referendum in western Al Anbar Province

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 15, 2005) -- The Marines, soldiers, and sailors of Regimental Combat Team-2, along with their partnered Iraqi Security Forces, have helped pave the way for thousands of Iraqi citizens throughout the western Al Anbar province to take to the streets today and vote on the Iraqi Constitutional Referendum.

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October 15, 2005

Fallujah ISF essential to referendum day success

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 15, 2005) -- The coordinated and combined efforts of all Iraqi Security Forces contributed to a peaceful and a successful referendum here Saturday, not only in the city of Fallujah but throughout Regimental Combat Team 8’s areas of operations. (2/6)

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Tankers receive awards for excellence

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 15, 2005) -- It was a gloomy morning at the SR-10 range here today, however the Marines of 2nd Tank Battalion who received the Tankers of the Year Award from the Marine Corps Tankers Association overshadowed the weather.

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October 14, 2005

Helo ditching is no SWET for Marines

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2005) -- Loaded in the back of a helicopter, Marines have their minds on many things. Many probably wonder what they would do if the aircraft they were in had to ditch, or crash, into the ocean.

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Adger, Ala., native awarded Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2005) -- In an award ceremony here today, Gunnery Sgt. Jerome H. Murkerson, licensing chief, Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, received the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for actions performed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

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October 13, 2005

Hundreds of Marines return to Camp Lejeune

CAMP LEJEUNE - His leg broken and his arm torn up, Sgt. Daniel Kachmar sat and waited Wednesday in a wheel chair.

But when the buses arrived, Kachmar stood. His Marines were home from Iraq.

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October 12, 2005

Puerto Rico, native changes life, experiences combat in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2005) -- When Raphael P. Ramos was growing up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he had no father figure and no real direction, according to him. (3/2)

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Mission accomplished for 1/6 ‘HARD’ warriors

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2005) -- Final elements of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment arrived here Oct. 12 after completing a seven-month-long tour of duty in western Iraq’s turbulent Al Anbar province.

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October 9, 2005

Celebrations turn to grief for families of N.C. Marines

The Pentagon on Saturday identified six U.S. Marines from North Carolina bases who were killed by two roadside bombs last week in Iraq.

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October 8, 2005

Marine who inspired sister to enlist dies

Lance Cpl. Patrick Kenny looked and acted like he belonged on a Marine Corps recruiting poster. So able and enthusiastic was Cpl. Kenny that he inspired his younger sister, Katy, to follow his example and join the Marines.

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October 7, 2005

Mississippi man makes home in Marines

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 7, 2005) -- He grew up in the Deep South, in small-town Mississippi playing baseball for his high school in the spring and hunting in the fall.

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October 6, 2005

Marines, sailors traveling to West Africa for training mission

By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, October 6, 2005

A Marine rifle platoon from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and sailors from Naples, Italy, set sail Wednesday for a six-week training mission in western Africa. (1/8)

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October 5, 2005

A delicate mission -- busting into mosque

Sada, Iraq -- Moving almost soundlessly, the Marines sprinted up to the sandstone wall surrounding the flat, yellow mosque, then hunkered down -- backs against the wall, their heads turned to look over it, M-16s at the ready

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October 4, 2005

Financial responsibility rests on Marines shoulders

BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq (Oct. 4, 2005) -- A Marine turns the dial and presses the lever of the safe opening it to reveal its contents - enough money to purchase more than 40 homes in some places. The safe not only encloses more money than the Marine has ever held in his life, it also represents the responsibility and trust that the Marine Corps has endowed into him.

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October 3, 2005

Trinidad Marine tells his story

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 1, 2005) -- It is said that experience is the best teacher, the common denominator that unites people of different backgrounds who have lived under similar conditions and tackled similar challenges. (RCT 8)

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Foreign fighters in western town stymie Marine bid to sweep out area

Karabila, Iraq -- The U.S. Marines' broad sweep of insurgent strongholds in western Iraq met stiff resistance Sunday in this ancient smuggling town, a key crossroad for militants believed to be infiltrating from Syria. (3/6)

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Dominican Marine helps “Beastmasters” send rounds down range

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Oct. 3, 2005) -- Born and raised in the Dominican Republic until the age of 10, Lance Cpl. Elio Ortega and his family moved to the United States in 1995 to begin a life in the land of opportunity. (1/11)

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October 2, 2005

‘Four more for the Corps’ offers 1/6 warriors career-enhancing opportunities

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (Oct. 2, 2005) -- Forty-five personnel with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment reaffirmed their commitment to the Corps during a mass reenlistment ceremony here Oct. 2.

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Marine brings work ethic to Corps

AL ASAD, Iraq(Oct. 2, 2005) -- For one native of Phoenix, N.Y., here, the work ethic his parents instilled in him at an early age, he carried on in the Corps and continues to find an inner satisfaction of accomplishment in completing the mission. (2nd Marine Division 2nd Combat Logisitcs Group FWD)

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Marines scour a ghost town

Sada, Iraq -- The door of the old, white deep-freezer was wide open. Inside lay a rusty propane tank. Wires ran from it to a large battery, which, in turn, was connected to a round black switch.

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October 1, 2005

Little sleep for Marines as mortar fire comes close

Outside Sada, Iraq -- The mortar rounds hit in the early morning. The first one, a harbinger of the assault to come, whooshed up from the sleepy border town of Sada at around 5:30 a.m. Friday, landing in a burst of sparks several hundred yards short of the sandstone cliffs where U.S. Marines were camped out.

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MUX Marines adapt, overcome harsh Iraqi environment

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Oct. 1, 2005) -- With summer temperatures topping out near 120 degrees Fahrenheit and the slightest breeze potentially kicking up storms of fine sand and dust, Iraq can be an extremely harsh environment for most electronic equipment, even ruggedized military equipment. (2nd FSSG- H&SBn; Comm Co. 8th ESB)

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Platoon sergeant trades Caribbean for Corps

Fallujah, Iraq (Oct. 1, 2005) -- One native of the Virgin Islands here joined the Marine Corps after moving to Florida in search of a better life. (RCT 8)

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September 30, 2005

On lookout for insurgents, Marines yearn for home

Outside Sada, Iraq -- As the crimson sun rolled behind the Taraq an-Naja Mountains, a group of U.S. Marines scraped their shovels across the infertile, rocky soil of western Iraq, trying to set their mortar launchers deeper into the dust. (3/6 Wpns Co)

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September 29, 2005

Anthrax vaccine offered to service members

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Sept. 28, 2005) -- Starting in October, Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen here will have the option of beginning the anthrax vaccination program.

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“Black Three” rides again

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 29, 2005) -- One team of Marines operating with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, bound together after facing the effects of a deadly improvised explosive device here.

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September 28, 2005

Return to Fallujah2

FALLUJAH, Iraq—When a rocket-propelled grenade was fired near their fortified house in the Jolan district of Fallujah, the Marine advisory team and their Iraqi soldiers went to investigate. Finding that the shooter had fled and that the dust-caked residential area was quiet, Lt. Col. Jim MacVarish, the senior adviser on Mobile Training Team 7, returned to his house to plan the next day's operations. (1/6 Marines)

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Third IED attack doesn’t faze TOW sergeant


CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Sept. 28, 2005) -- Most Marines in Iraq consider themselves lucky when they walk away from one improvised explosive device attack, but two, or even three? (2nd Tanks)

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U.S. patrols draw fire as border towns empty

Outside Al-Ubaydi, Iraq -- From a short distance, the town of al-Ubaydi looked peaceful, even serene. Poplar trees and date palms threw shade on cookie-cutter concrete houses nestled in the silt-rich valley of the Euphrates River. The turquoise onion dome of a sandstone mosque presided over the town's southern frontier, just 300 yards north of the dusty hillock where Marine Sgt. James Sawyer's armored humvee stood. (3/6 Marines)

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'It is still pretty dangerous out there'

Navy doctor reflects on service in Iraq. (served with 3/8)

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September 27, 2005

Friends reunite overseas after three years

Hunter spent much of their first two years at Ole Miss side-by-side.

The friends lived in the same dorm their freshman and sophomore years and passed the time by attending a lot of backpacking and road trips together with friends from the Ole Miss ROTC.

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Remembering the lost, honoring their lives

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Sept. 27, 2005) -- MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The memorial ceremony started with everyone taking their seats as music played and pictures of the fallen Marines were displayed.

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Al Qaeda to residents: 'Leave or die'

(CNN) -- U.S. Marines took down a sign warning Iraqi citizens not to cooperate with the Americans. The blue sign with yellow writing bears the signature of al Qaeda in Iraq, the terrorist group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It stood along Iraq's desert highway leading into Qaim, near the Syrian border. (RCT-2)

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Insurgents seize 5 towns near Syria

Camp al Qaim, Iraq -- A senior U.S. Marine commander said Monday that insurgents loyal to militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had taken over at least five key western Iraqi towns on the border with Syria and were forcing local residents to flee. (3/6)

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September 26, 2005

A Night of Chaos: Marine Mobile Assault Platoon stirs up enemy

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 26, 2005) -- While cooking up a meal, ready to eat field ration on the evening of Sept. 21, Seminole, Fla., native Cpl. Sean D. Thompson, 23, anti-tank assaultman and hummer driver, heard a hollow thump in the distance. (3/6) (RCT-2)

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Reserve Marine keeps recon rolling


AL AMARIYAH, Iraq(Sept. 26, 2005) -- After graduating high school in 1992, and attending community college for one year, Gerald Garcia transitioned into the civilian work force. (2nd Marine Division, 3rd RECON Echo Co. Iraqi Security Force Plt.)

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September 25, 2005

Portland, Ore., native keeps night watch going

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- When the majority of people aboard the camp are preparing for bed, there are Marines scattered throughout walking their post. These protectors stand watch in the stillness of the night with their weapons loaded, providing security against those who might do harm to the members of the camp. (II MEF HQ)

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Ward, Ark. native doubles up in Iraq

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- After re-enlisting into a new job field in the Marine Corps, Cpl. Ebern H. Wiley deployed to Iraq where he found himself not only working as a mechanic but also filling a billet from his old field.

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Dearborn Marine's team engineers new ways to help Iraq

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. That's a philosophy Marines like Cpl. Mike Goebel take to heart.

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ISF soldiers get Rules of Engagement training at Camp Ripper

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- The reconnaissance company of the 7th Iraqi Battalion recently received a rules of engagement class from Maj. Michael E. Sayegh in the effort to provide security and stability to their country. (RCT 2)

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22nd MEU underway for final predeployment exercise

ABOARD THE USS NASSAU (Sept. 25, 2005) -- The Marines and Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) recently boarded the amphibious assault ships of the Nassau Strike Group for their Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

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Alpha 1/6 HQ Marines keep the line ready to fight

SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- In post-war Iraq, prolonged firefights and urban house-to-house conflict are uncommon. The country's roadways, however, remain perilous as insurgents continue lacing them with homemade roadside bombs to target passing U.S. and Iraqi military convoys.

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A Dog Day Afternoon in Al Qa’im.

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- One of the common aspects of operations in the Al Qa’im area of responsibility is the routine discovery of hidden weapons caches, mines, explosives and even insurgents.

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San Francisco native keeps Marines talking


CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Corporal Jessica L. Curtis knows the roads here like the back of her hand.

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Team “Ghost Rider” storms through Fallujah to provide security

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Breakups can be painful. For Cpl. Joseph Mahoney, however, he claimed to have found something bigger and better after the final farewells were said.

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Company L patrol Hit to disrupt insurgency

HIT, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- Corporal Andrew C. Britten and other Marines with 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment participating in Operation Sword conducted presence patrols near the newly constructed forward operating base in Hit.

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Springfield, Mass., police officer serves in Iraq

CAMP RIPPER, AL ASAD, Iraq (Sept. 25, 2005) -- The police motto, ‘To Protect and to Serve,’ is often lettered across police vehicles in many towns and cities in the United States. As Marines with Regimental Combat Team-2 begin to police this area of Iraq for insurgents, one sergeant knows this routine all too well.

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Back home, safe and sound

Col. Thomas F. Qualls stepped off the CH-46 Sea Knight, dropped to his knees and spread his arms.

His family ran into them.

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September 24, 2005

Big-city Marine learns value of small pleasures in Corps

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 24, 2005) -- Years ago in “The Big Apple,” Justin Henshaw lived a life many might envy and few would consider trading.

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Dallas, Ga., native serves to follow dad’s footsteps

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 24, 2005) -- Dallas, Ga., native Cpl. Richard E. Scarlett III spent his entire life around the Marine Corps, traveling to the various Marine posts around the globe, long before he could even vote, drive, pay taxes, or even wear the uniform of a United States Marine.

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Newport native puts welding skills to work

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 24, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. Anthony S. Loftin has all the hallmarks of a working man. His blackened fingernails, grease-covered hands and dirt-smudged face are tell-tale signs of the work he does as a mechanic. Few know, however, of the contributions he has made toward keeping the Marines and sailors living and working here in the Al Anbar Province safe.

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St. Charles native helps keep 2nd Marine Division running

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 24, 2005) -- The treacherous desert environment takes it’s toll on the hundreds of vehicles and thousands of weapons and communications equipment used to conduct daily military operations in the western region of Iraq.

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Motor-T Marine presses on after stumbling block

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq(Sept. 24, 2005) -- He is known for being a high spirited Marine who could have been a class clown in high school, however the Cuba native knows what it takes to get the job done under difficult circumstances here.

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September 23, 2005

Marines Overcome Obsticles

Marines from the east are still on the move in Louisiana and Mississippi helping those along the gulf coast. They are there to support those who have to rebuild their lives. From the moment crates of water and food are loaded into the belly of helicopters, hundreds of marines are ready to move supplies to those who need it, but there are challenges. (1/8 Marines)

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September 22, 2005

MEUs prepare to trade places

The 26th and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Units will pass each other like ships in the night.

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September 20, 2005

A Daily Dance With Death

'Do they think we're fighting a war?' On patrol with the U.S. Marines near Fallujah

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3/2 Ends Deployment in Al Qa'im, Returns to U.S.

A look back on 3/2's deployment.

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Florida State Trooper trades in badge for Marine Corps cammies, serves in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Staff Sgt. Charles E. Sexton, a Florida state trooper, is thousands of miles away from the humidity and the long stretches of highway in the Sunshine State.

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TOWs ‘Supergrunts’ take on insurgents

AMARIYAH, Iraq (Sept. 20, 2005) -- The Marine convoy was moving fast down the dusty, black road toward Amariyah one recent afternoon when it came up on civilian vehicles speeding toward the group of humvees.

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September 19, 2005

2/6 Deploy to Iraq Sept 18, 2005

200 Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment left Camp Lejeune on Sunday. They are being sent to Iraq's Al Anbar province, according to 2nd Lt. Shawn Mercer, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division.

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September 16, 2005

Marines diverted to Beaufort

About 600 Marines and sailors returning from Iraq early Thursday were diverted to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort after conditions at North Carolina's Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point were deemed too treacherous because of Hurricane Ophelia.

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3/2 Returns After Sustained Combat in Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Following seven months of sustained combat operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment returned to Camp Lejeune, greeted by the cheers of friends and families and the sight of flags and signs waving in the air.

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September 12, 2005

ISF learn techniques to find weapons caches

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Sept. 12, 2005) -- Iraqi Army soldiers are learning new ways to stop the insurgents from being effective with the help of the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

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September 10, 2005

Former Marine, golf professional reenlists in the Marines, deploys to Iraq.

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 10, 2005) -- On July 15, 2005, Orlando, Fla., native Sgt. David S. Bateman, assistant radio chief, communications platoon, Headquarters & Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division enlisted in the Marine Corps… six weeks later, he found himself serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Teufelhunden Battalion takes reins from the Betio Bastards

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (Sept. 10, 2005) -- The Camp Lejeune-based 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division took control of the Al Qa’im area of operations in Western Iraq during a turnover ceremony here Sept. 10, 2005.

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September 2, 2005

Iraqi Army Platoon kicks off Operation Southern Fire, prepares for referendum

AL AMIRIYAH, Iraq (Sept. 2, 2005) -- In preparation for the upcoming elections in Iraq, Iraqi Army Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, along with the rest of 3rd Recon, kicked off Operation Southern Fire in Al Anbar province August 25. (2nd AAB & 2nd Tanks / pics at ext. link)

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June 19, 2005

Proactive Marines place posters, attempt to get community involved

CAMP DELTA, Iraq (June 19, 2005) -- Lance Cpl. Toben Medeiros and Marines of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment passed out leaflets to citizens and posted them on trees and light poles, encouraging them to alert coalition and Iraqi forces of insurgent activity in their city.

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May 26, 2005

2nd ANGLICO long arm of allied air power

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 26, 2005) -- In the Global War on Terrorism, America is not alone. Allies from nations in virtually every corner of the globe have thrown in their lot with the United States to combat Anti-Coalition Forces. This level of cooperation demands of the Marine Corps an ability to make liaison with foreign air, ground and naval assets to achieve superiority on the battlefield. The Marines of 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, specialize in making such coordination.

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January 5, 2005

Get them while their hot! New items in Marineparents.com store...

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