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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: July, 2006

‘Betio Bastards’ get bounce from basketball in Habbaniyah

Shaquille O’Neal would love to be in the “heat” here. That’s because the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment have their own fully functional basketball court within the confines of the camp. They never imagined such hoop dreams when 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment passed the camp over to them July 24. “When I got here, I really didn’t

Iraqi soldiers’ progress steady despite logistical challenges

Iraqi Army officers serving alongside Marines on this U.S. military air base in Al Anbar province are learning how to plan their own missions – a critical step to independent operations for Iraqi Security Forces, according to Marine officials here. Iraqi leadership within the 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division – one of two Iraqi brigades based

Marines rescue three hostages, uncover weapons caches in Operation Spotlight

Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, rescued three hostages and uncovered a large weapons cache, including a fully-assembled vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, during Operation Spotlight. The intelligence-driven operation was conducted alongside Iraqi Army soldiers from 2nd and 4th Brigades, 1st Iraqi Army Division. The three

Coalition Forces build bridge to boost local Iraqi economy

Thousands of Iraqis from Euphrates River villages near the Iraq-Syria border now have access to the cities of Husaybah and Karabilah, thanks to a new – albeit temporary – bridge constructed by Coalition Forces recently. The bridge will serve to bolster the economy in cities along the border as well as improve security in the region, according to

Marines in Habbaniyah give frontline accounts to hometown media

Sgt. Jeff Bell is Denver’s latest hometown celebrity. He was one of several Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment who took the opportunity to talk to the hometown media by satellite from Iraq here July 21. The Marines are just days away from finishing their seven-month tour with Regimental Combat Team 5. The interviews were taped and

Marines in Haditha 'Triad' continue work with Iraqi soldiers, quell insurgency

Marines here say the amount of insurgent attacks against Coalition and Iraqi military forces have drastically decreased since three Marines eliminated two insurgents in a counterattack in front of the forward operating base here last month. Marines assigned to the Hawaii-based Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment said the outcome of the

Operations continue at new observation post

Patrolling operations continued as the battlefield changed for Marines serving near Fallujah. The new operating area is bringing new challenges for Marines serving in A Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. They are on duty in Iraq with Regimental Combat Team 5. “We have a lot less interaction with the people in this area,” said Navy Seaman

First sergeant celebrates third consecutive birthday in Iraq

1st Sgt. Lance V. Chwan’s humvee driver cracked a smile as Marines from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment set out on a re-supply mission July 20. “Today is my birthday – so today we don’t hit any IEDs,” explained the 39-year-old company first sergeant from Little Falls, N.J. Since March 2004, Chwan, the senior enlisted Marine for A Company, has

Along Iraqi-Syrian border, Marines’ progress notable despite recent insurgent suicide bombings

Thanks to the protection from his body armor Lance Cpl. Christopher G. West survived a car bomb attack in this Iraqi-Syrian border city of about 30,000. The protective plate insert inside the 40-pound body armor vest was strong enough to stop a sharp, foot-long piece of metal from wounding West, after a suicide bomber detonated prematurely just

Cheerleaders perform for Marines in Iraq

Marines aren’t patient for much, but a squad of professional cheerleaders had them lined up here. The National Football League’s Denver Bronco cheerleaders dropped in on Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, recently. “Sometimes people back home forget that there are real people out here fighting for us,” said

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