Marines

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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: May, 2004

Marines break ground on new mosque and school improvements

The civil affairs team with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment recently completed the initial stages of a project that will improve a mosque, school and medical clinic in the city. The event was celebrated by a groundbreaking ceremony on the property May 19. "Today was a big day for us," said Sgt. Daniel P. Carreon, an assistant team leader for

Marines describe survival in the blast zone

Lance Cpl. Christian A. Holloway knows what it's like to survive the blast of an improvised explosive device. "The boom hits and everything becomes silent," said Holloway, an infantryman from Round Rock, Texas. "Your body is in motion, but you can't hear a thing. It's like that scene from 'Saving Private Ryan.'" Holloway, assigned to Company L,

Sniper team's wary eyes keep Marines alive

The combat engineers of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Iraq have a special sort of guardian angel. But this one carries an M-40A3 sniper rifle The battalion's Scout-Sniper Platoon joined the engineers, providing overwatch while the engineers uncovered weapons cache sites around what's known as 'Hill 55',

Young Marines shoulder huge responsibility on Iraqi waters

Lance Cpl. William J. Horton, with Small Craft Company, calls being a boat captain "a pretty big responsibility." But that might be an understatement. "A boat captain is in charge of everything that happens on his boat," said the 24-year-old of Knoxville, Tenn. "You're responsible for the lives of the crew, the weapons systems and the boat itself."

Small Craft Company fills niche on Iraq's rivers

Their mission is anything but a "small craft." Marines of Small Craft Company, a Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based unit, are here providing boat support to the 1st Marine Division. "Small Craft has only been around for 12 or 13 years, so this is the first time in the unit's history that it's been deployed for riverine combat operations," said Maj. Bennett

Marines pass out donated school supplies in Kharma

Marines arrived in Kharma to a sea of smiles and waving hands from Iraqi schoolchildren May 22. It was a sign of the distinct difference Marines of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment are making here. Marines visited a school in Kharma to pass out school supplies, toys and other items in an effort to further cement their relationship with the

Marine sniper-turned-Navy corpsman heals Lejeune Marines

With an easy smile and laid back manner, six-foot-one-inch tall Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeff L. Pursley has the look many might believe is more along the lines of gentle giant than a battle-hardened grunt. But that's what he is - both at once. The towering Sailor from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., carries more than a medical bag in the battlefield.

Marine, Iraqi leaders ready to push ahead toward Iraq's future

Leaders of the 1st Marine Division, the Fallujah Brigade and Fallujah's mayor said Thursday that the city is ready for rebuilding. "I've got my plan and by God, come hell or high water, I'm just going to execute that plan no matter what," said Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division. "Our end state was all along, if you ask

Small Craft Company prepares for coming missions

Sgt. Joseph E. Wright stood at the helm of his boat, drenched from the rare rains that sprinkle the western deserts of Iraq and the spray from the river. His boat skimmed and darted across the surface of the water, churning the water. His mission this day was a drill. Tomorrow, it could be a combat raid. Either way, he's part of new and

Boat mechanics keep mission afloat for Small Craft Company

Small Craft Company is keeping their boats afloat with a little bit of ingenuity, a steady amount a sweat and healthy dose of determination. The Small Craft Company detachment here, from Camp Lejeune, N.C., is operating its boats on the hard work and creativity of its Marines. It's no small task for the Marines maintaining and operating Zodiac

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