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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: 2006

Marine goes grunt for higher calling

Most Marines are called to the Corps by a recruiter, but one Marine here believes he was called by God. Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Potts said he believed God would take his experiences as an infantryman and use them to prepare him for service as a Navy Chaplain in the future. “I did it to gain more respect for ‘the infantry world,’” said Potts, a

‘Bastards’ search for insurgents high, low

It doesn’t matter if insurgents want to hide high or low. Marines assigned to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment are still searching everywhere The company recently conducted an insurgent search east of Fallujah Sept. 5. 2nd Lt. Jonathan E. McConnell, a platoon commander for L Company, said his Marines went inside every home, every

Marines pause to honor fallen leader

The eyes of many were shut and the heads of others were bowed as bagpipes played “Amazing Grace” in honor of a friend and combat leader. Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, recently gathered to honor Cpl. Jordan C. Pierson. Pierson was killed in action Aug. 25 while conducting combat operations in Fallujah,

Fallen Marine awarded for heroism

Cpl. Jordan C. Pierson didn’t lead Marines into combat because he wanted to be recognized or gather fame. He did it for the ones he stood next to – his fellow Marines. Pierson, a 21-year old infantryman from Milford, Conn., was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device Sept. 4. Pierson was

Iraqi Army takes over Abu Ghraib prison

As the American flag descended, the Iraqi sun rose. Friday morning soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division assumed control of the Abu Ghraib prison from U.S. Army Task Force 134. Iraqi soldiers will provide security for the facility until the Iraqi Ministry of Justice dispatches its own security detail. “Returning the

‘America’s Battalion’ honors fallen Marine

Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment paused operations to honor a Marine who gave his life for freedom. A memorial service was held here Sept. 2 to honor Lance Cpl. James D. Hirlston, a 21-year-old from Murfreesboro, Tenn., who was killed in action Aug. 23. He was assigned to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine

Military working dogs share ‘Bastard’ burden

The “Betio Bastards” are taking a bite out of insurgents with the help of some four-legged friends. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment aren’t patrolling alone; they’re taking along man’s best friend, military-working dogs, to assist in combat operations. The canines are running, crawling and even braving insurgent fire right alongside

'America's Battalion' dedicates make-shift gym to fallen warrior in Iraq

Marines who knew Staff Sgt. Jason C. Ramseyer will tell you that he loved three things – his family, his Marines and going to the gym. Ramseyer, 28, died April 21, 2006, in the western Al Anbar Province of Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near him. To honor the fallen warrior, Marines from Ramseyer’s unit, the Hawaii-based 3rd Battalion, 3rd

Iraqi Army recruits 293 Iraqis in Habbaniyah, Fallujah

Soldiers from the 1st Iraqi Army Division enlisted 293 Iraqi males from greater Fallujah and Habbaniyah as part of an al Anbar province-wide recruiting drive Tuesday and Wednesday. “They looked enthusiastic about doing this, and that’s a good sign,” said Maj. William Gerst, a Regimental Combat Team 5 assistant operations officer who assisted the

U.S. Army battalion, Marines honor fallen soldier, medic killed in Iraq

U.S. Army Sgt. David J. Almazan was a loving husband, a superb leader, a true soldier, and a caring person. That’s the person fellow U.S. soldiers remembered during a memorial service for the 26-year-old Army medic Aug. 31. Almazan was killed in action Aug. 27 while on a combat patrol in this city of 30,000 in Iraq’s Al Anbar province. His

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