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1st Marine Division

I Marine Expeditionary Force

Archive: July, 2006

RCT-5 commander welcomes ‘Betio Bastards’ to the fight

The “Betio Bastards,” who just touched down in Iraq, received a warm welcome and guidance from their new leader. Col. Larry D. Nicholson, commanding officer for Regimental Combat Team 5, addressed the Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment here July 19. He traveled from Camp Fallujah to welcome the unit that relieved 3rd

‘Bastards’ beautify inherited British barracks

It’s a dirty job but these ‘Bastards’ are willing to do it. The ‘Betio Bastards’ of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment are doing a little home improvement. And it needs it. The buildings they’re moving into are nearly a century old and it seems like no one’s tended to them in about the same length of time. “Basically we're going by our motto,

Marines repel attack; eliminate, detain insurgents in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province

Staff Sgt. Andrew Messuri says gunfire from an AK-47 sounds like firecrackers popping off. He should know – the 29-year-old and his Marines were recently attacked by insurgents brandishing AK-47s. Messuri and nine other Marines from the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion were guarding an observation point in this region of

All in a night’s work; Marines, special forces capture 21 insurgents

Coalition Forces struck a blow to the insurgency recently, capturing 21 insurgents during a counter-insurgency operation in southwestern Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The July 18 operation, a combined effort between U.S. Navy SEALs and Marines between the cities of Ramadi and Rutbah in Al Anbar Province, led to the most detainees netted by U.S. forces

Darkhorse Trains keep rolling in Habbaniyah

Some trains don’t need tracks. Marines of Combat Transportation Platoon, known as the “Combat Trains” of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, have traveled nearly 10,000 miles of road over the course of the battalion’s third deployment to Iraq. That’s more than three times the distance from New York to Los Angeles, driving a convoy of humvees and

Combat team receives rules of road for thinking-man’s war

Marines in Iraq know their duty here means a fight with no front lines, no clear enemy and one great tool to exercise judgment – the Marines’ mind. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment received these rules of engagement from members of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at the Habbaniyah chapel here July 16. Marines from the outgoing

Iraqis graduate advanced marksmanship course

A graduation ceremony and encouraging words from Lt. Col. David J. Furness marked the completion of an advanced marksmanship course for six Iraqi soldiers here July 15. Marines of 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment held the ceremony to recognize the graduates from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division as they head out to fight

A sneak peek of home brightens a few Marines’ days

Even pulling an all-nighter in the communications shop couldn’t stop Marines like Cpl. Paul R. Beaulieu from the chance to see his wife. “After not getting to see my wife for the past six months now, it was a nice surprise that I was able to do this,” said the 26-year-old information systems specialist from Webster, N.Y. Thirteen Marines from the

‘Betio Bastards’ arrive in Iraq, take in surroundings

Some ‘Bastards’ thought they were seeing a mirage when they arrived at their new desert camp. Marines and sailors from the Camp Lejeune-based 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, known as the “Betio Bastards,” deployed here July 15 to replace Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. “Before we came out here, I thought we would come out

Lejeune battalion says goodbye, deploys to Regimental Combat Team 5

Marines and sailors with the “Betio Bastards” of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment here embraced their families one last time before deploying to Iraq. The battalion is set for Habbaniyah, Iraq to relieve the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. “Saying goodbye is hard,” said Cpl. Kristopher L. Chard, a

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