Marines

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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: 2006

Navy chaplain makes waves with coffee shop in Iraq

Navy Lt. John G. Anderson is giving the fancy big-name coffee chains a run for their money. Anderson, the battalion chaplain for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, opened a free coffee shop for Marines and sailors deployed here. “I wanted a place where they can come for a good cup of coffee and relax,” said Anderson, 38, of Anoka, Minn. He called

Marine brings southern-style cooking to the Middle East

Cpl. Melvin D. Carson Jr., isn’t one of those fancy television cooks. He’s just your regular Marine food service specialist, with a little kick. Carson uses his childhood cooking experiences to spice up food he serves to Marines in the field food facility here. “I like coming up with different ways to make food taste better,” said Carson, a

Combat cooks serve it up to Marines at outposts

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. “If Marines don’t get a good meal, they don’t have the energy to complete their tasks,” said Cpl. Melvin D.

‘America’s Battalion’ looks to help locals

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, are making the effort to help the Iraqi community. Weapons Company Marines conducted a census in their area of operations to find out how Marines could help the people in the area. “We go out and talk to the people and see how their living conditions are,” said Cpl. Giancarlo J. Albelice, a

Ameriyah's Iraqi Police setting the pace for independent security operations

Sgt. Amir bounced around his sparsely decorated Iraqi Police station headquarters here. He’s a busy man and today was even busier. His station was attacked by mortars again this morning. His police withstood the attack without a Marine or soldier in sight. Amir’s station might just be the example of the hope for Iraq. He’s got a strong police

Deployed 'doc' mends bodies and minds in Iraq

Navy Seaman Samuel L. Blanco is a healer. The hospital corpsman geared up in layers of body armor has a bag of tricks he carries that’s not just healing the bumps and bruises, scrapes and cuts, but also relations and trust between Americans and local Iraqis. Blanco provided health care for dozens of Iraqis during a combat patrol with 3rd Battalion,

‘America’s Battalion’ disrupts insurgent activity one vehicle at a time

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment are clamping down on insurgents moving in their area. Marines from Weapons Company conducted vehicle checkpoints in Gharmah to deter insurgent activity. The goal was to catch insurgents transporting weapons or materials used to make improvised explosive devices. “Checkpoints disrupt terrorists’

Mounted Marines rid roads of bombs

Just like street sweepers, Marines here are cleansing Iraq’s roads of unwanted materials. Marines of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment conduct daily vehicle patrols to rid roads of improvised explosive devices and insurgents. “We’re keeping the roads safe for fellow Americans and Iraqis,” said Pfc. Brandon S. Kyle, a 21-year-old

Body armor has Marine’s back

Gunnery Sgt. Shawn M. Dempsey is a man who will be looking over his shoulder more often. Dempsey, a 33-year-old platoon commander from Jersey City, N.J., assigned to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, was hit in the back with an insurgent’s 7.62 mm bullet while in a cordon around a city council building in the Al Anbar province.

Marines pause to remember three of their own

Marines and sailors recently paused to remember three fellow service members at a memorial service held here. Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas, Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher G. Walsh, were killed in action Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province. The three service members were assigned to

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