80 years later, Marine remembers Guadalcanal - ”When we were on Samoa, we would hear stories from the ships stopping at Guadalcanal, and of what was happening there. So we were fully prepared for what faced us. When we got aboard ship, we knew where we were going, and we were prepared for it. I was part of a very important time in the Marine Corps. It makes me very proud. The Marine Corps taught me everything I know. Taught me to be a good man." Mr. Richard Russell celebrated his 20th birthday in the company of his comrades with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, in the Samoan Islands. Russell is preparing to celebrate his 100th birthday and simultaneously commemorate the 80th anniversary of the battle that shaped his young life. To read the full story, head over to our website and click on the news section! (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Destiny Dempsey)

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hike up a hill during the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 23, 2019. 5th Marines conducted a regimental-sized MCCRE for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, as well as the Regimental Headquarters to increase the combat proficiency and readiness of the regiment. The MCCRE took place over a 10 day period and served as proof of concept for future regimental-sized MCCREs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez) - U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hike up a hill during the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 23, 2019. 5th Marines conducted a regimental-sized MCCRE for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, as well as the Regimental Headquarters to increase the combat proficiency and readiness of the regiment. The MCCRE took place over a 10 day period and served as proof of concept for future regimental-sized MCCREs. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Maj. Misty Posey the Plans Officer with the Manpower Integration Office, Headquarters Marine Corps, educates an audience about the integration of female Marines into previously closed combat arms occupations and units at the Unit Event Center June 8, 2016. The goal of integration education training is to ensure commanders and staffs are sufficiently educated and prepared to receive Marines of either gender by October 31, 2016 (active) and January 31, 2017 (reserve). “I hope we get to the point where people look at female Marines as Marines first and as women second,” Posey said. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall/ Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Maj. Misty Posey the Plans Officer with the Manpower Integration Office, Headquarters Marine Corps, educates an audience about the integration of female Marines into previously closed combat arms occupations and units at the Unit Event Center June 8, 2016. The goal of integration education training is to ensure commanders and staffs are sufficiently educated and prepared to receive Marines of either gender by October 31, 2016 (active) and January 31, 2017 (reserve). “I hope we get to the point where people look at female Marines as Marines first and as women second,” Posey said. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Shellie Hall/ Released)

Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation. - Marines and Sailors assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, celebrate the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday aboard Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., Nov. 10, 2015. The Marines and Sailors celebrated the birthday as a culminating event to the 18-day field operation.

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment. - Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, practice handling a simulated enraged enemy during the culminating event of 1st Marine Division Schools’ Urban Leaders Course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 12, 2015. The course is a 15-day period of instruction that includes classwork, combat marksmanship and physical training in a simulated urban combat environment.

Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014. - Sergeant Thomas Z. Spitzer, professionally instructed gunman, Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, poses for a photo shortly after arriving in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 20, 2014. Spitzer, a 23-year-old native of New Braunfels, Texas, was killed while conducting combat operations, June 25, 2014.

Staff Sgt. John R. Purcell, administrative course instructor and manpower operations chief at 1st MarDiv (Fwd), gives a class on absence-without-leave reporting procedures during an administration course July 16, 2012. Nineteen members of the ANSF completed a two-week administration course that taught the students the basic functions of a military administration and personnel section. - Staff Sgt. John R. Purcell, administrative course instructor and manpower operations chief at 1st MarDiv (Fwd), gives a class on absence-without-leave reporting procedures during an administration course July 16, 2012. Nineteen members of the ANSF completed a two-week administration course that taught the students the basic functions of a military administration and personnel section.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Austin Aliferis, a fire team leader with the Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisor Team working in support of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, applies a bandage to an Afghan child's foot during a clearing operation here March 1, 2012. Aliferis and his team passed out food, water and candy to the group of children before moving to support Afghan police clearing the area of suspected insurgent activity. In addition to advising Afghan forces in the blocks of Marjah, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines conducted partnered counternarcotics missions with the Afghan National Interdiction Unit in the Bari Desert during Operation Psarlay Taba. The partnered force captured around 26,000 pounds of assorted opium products over the course of the four-month operation. Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz - U.S. Marine Cpl. Austin Aliferis, a fire team leader with the Regimental Combat Team 5 Police Advisor Team working in support of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, applies a bandage to an Afghan child's foot during a clearing operation here March 1, 2012. Aliferis and his team passed out food, water and candy to the group of children before moving to support Afghan police clearing the area of suspected insurgent activity. In addition to advising Afghan forces in the blocks of Marjah, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines conducted partnered counternarcotics missions with the Afghan National Interdiction Unit in the Bari Desert during Operation Psarlay Taba. The partnered force captured around 26,000 pounds of assorted opium products over the course of the four-month operation. Lance Cpl. Tyler Reiriz

U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer Regimental Combat Team 5, shakes hands and gives the floor to Col. John R. Shafer, the commanding officer of RCT-6, after speaking during a transfer of authority ceremony here, July 5, 2012. 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. In December 2011, Regimental Combat Team 6 arrived in northern Helmand province to support Operation Enduring Freedom, joining RCT-5 on the same battlefield for the first time in 94 years. This historic partnership is now coming to a close. Turner and Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-5, cased the colors of ‚Fighting Fifth‚ and transferred authority of their area of operations to Shafer and Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets, the sergeant major of RCT-6 here, July 5. - U.S. Marine Col. Roger B. Turner Jr., the commanding officer Regimental Combat Team 5, shakes hands and gives the floor to Col. John R. Shafer, the commanding officer of RCT-6, after speaking during a transfer of authority ceremony here, July 5, 2012. 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. In December 2011, Regimental Combat Team 6 arrived in northern Helmand province to support Operation Enduring Freedom, joining RCT-5 on the same battlefield for the first time in 94 years. This historic partnership is now coming to a close. Turner and Ruiz, the commanding officer and sergeant major of RCT-5, cased the colors of ‚Fighting Fifth‚ and transferred authority of their area of operations to Shafer and Sgt. Maj. Jamie Deets, the sergeant major of RCT-6 here, July 5.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Yudin, a machinegunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, looks through the sights of his M240 machinegun, May 30, 2012. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Yudin, a machinegunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, looks through the sights of his M240 machinegun, May 30, 2012.