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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: August, 2004

Cannoncockers build miniature version of Fenway Park in Iraq

Captain Stephen Pritchard has the ultimate offer to the Boston Red Sox CEO, John Henry, and Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "If the Spring Training venue in Sarasota, Fla., ever proves to be untenable, then you are more than welcome to hold Spring Training here in Ar Ramadi, Iraq," said Pritchard, a logistics officer with 3rd Battalion, 11th

Marines work behind the scenes to aid the infantry

Backing ever rifleman in Iraq is an elite team of junior Marines hunched over maps and computers making sure they have what they need, when they need it. The grunts of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, from Camp Lejeune, N.C., rely on the Leathernecks behind the scenes in the command operations center to keep them at the top of their game. "I

Iraqis fortify Syrian border with help of Marines

They patrol 890 kilometers of land in Iraq between Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria, looking for smuggled weapons and foreign fighters. They are the Iraqi Border Police, and they are expanding their ability to control the border with the help of Marines here. Along the Syrian border, forts are now being constructed to replace those that were

Iraqi National Guard, Marines work together

As the sun sets over the Euphrates, a combat patrol of Marines and Iraqis set off through small towns along the riverbank. This particular patrol marks a turning point in Iraqi security. Marines from Headquarters Platoon, Company B, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division joined with members of the Iraqi National Guard to conduct a

Thundering Third conducts 'Clean Sweep' near Fallujah

The battalion known as the Thundering Third came down hard on enemy safehavens around Fallujah in their to-date largest operation alongside Iraqi forces recently. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, alongside Iraqi Specialized Special Forces, conducted Operation Clean Sweep Aug. 23-24 in areas east of Fallujah. The operation was designed to hinder

Marines sweep for enemy mortarmen in Kharma

Enemy mortarmen in the rural areas around Fallujah may soon find themselves face-to-face with the business end of a Marine's M-16. Bristling with rifles and ammunition, and the sun on their backs, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, has gone on the hunt for enemy mortarmen here recently. "One of our duties is mortar mitigation,"

Move over McGruff, here comes 'Farid the Crime-Fighting Falcon'

The crime-fighting character named McGruff coined the famous phrase "take a bite out of crime" to help educate children across America. In Iraq, the principle will hopefully soon be reproduced with 'Farid the Crime-Fighting Falcon.' Marines with Military Police Company C here came up with the idea for a crime-fighting mascot to pass along to the

Camp Lejeune Marine rembered by friends

Patrols and watches ceased for a brief time here Wednesday so Camp Lejeune Marines from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, could honor one of their fallen warriors. Corporal Christopher W. Belchik was a squad leader with the company when shrapnel from a roadside bomb ended his life Aug. 22. He was 30 years old. "There were three

Lejeune Marines hone marksmanship skills in Iraq

When Marines hear volleys of rifle fire at the west side of the camp here they don't get anxious - they feel more confident. Marines here from the Camp Lejeune-based 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment are making sure they can shoot straight when it counts by doing just that - shooting. "There are a lot of good reasons to use the range in a combat

Marines pay last respects to fallen comrades in Ramadi

As the sun set Friday, casting a golden light upon a rifle with two sets of dangling dog tags, Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, gathered to Camp Snake Pit to say goodbye to two of their fallen brothers. Lance Corporals Jonathon W. Collins and Caleb J. Powers were each killed by a single shot from an enemy sniper while

1st Marine Division