A light armored vehicle carrying Marines serving with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion unloaded out of a landing craft air cushion during a strategic mobility exercise here, April 29, 2013. Landing craft air cushions are capable of carrying up to 65 tons over 70 miles between land and sea. The Marines learned the basics of loading and unloading from the hovercraft to prepare for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Robert J. Reeves/Released) - A light armored vehicle carrying Marines serving with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion unloaded out of a landing craft air cushion during a strategic mobility exercise here, April 29, 2013. Landing craft air cushions are capable of carrying up to 65 tons over 70 miles between land and sea. The Marines learned the basics of loading and unloading from the hovercraft to prepare for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Robert J. Reeves/Released)
U.S. Marine Capt. Benjamin M. Middendorf, the former commander of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was selected by Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, to receive the 2012 Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich Jr. Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. Leftwich, a Navy Cross recipient, died in 1970 when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam, where he was commanding the Marines and sailors of 1st Reconnaissance Bn. Middendorf, a native of Rochester, Minn., is currently the commander of Headquarters and Service Co., 5th Marines. - U.S. Marine Capt. Benjamin M. Middendorf, the former commander of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was selected by Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, to receive the 2012 Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich Jr. Trophy for Outstanding Leadership. Leftwich, a Navy Cross recipient, died in 1970 when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam, where he was commanding the Marines and sailors of 1st Reconnaissance Bn. Middendorf, a native of Rochester, Minn., is currently the commander of Headquarters and Service Co., 5th Marines.