Corporal Genadiy Moskalenko, motor transportation operator, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, wears his newly presented French Fourragere on his left shoulder after a ceremony aboard the Camp San Mateo parade deck, Aug. 1, 2013. The regiment is one of two Marine Corps regiments authorized to wear the fourragere for heroic actions during World War I. The ceremony emphasized the Marines' commitment to upholding the rich history of the Fighting Fifth. - Corporal Genadiy Moskalenko, motor transportation operator, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, wears his newly presented French Fourragere on his left shoulder after a ceremony aboard the Camp San Mateo parade deck, Aug. 1, 2013. The regiment is one of two Marine Corps regiments authorized to wear the fourragere for heroic actions during World War I. The ceremony emphasized the Marines' commitment to upholding the rich history of the Fighting Fifth.
Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others. - Major Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, congratulates Sgt. Matthew T. Woodall, former squad leader, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, after awarding him the Silver Star Medal during an award ceremony at the Camp San Mateo parade deck here, Aug. 2, 2013. Woodall, a native of Paducah, Ky., earned the nation's third highest military award for valor for his actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A platoon-sized enemy force attacked Woodall and his Marines from several fortified positions during a security patrol mission in the Sangin district of Helmand, July 10 through 11, 2011. His daring actions ultimately defeated the enemy attack, killing four insurgents and wounding many others.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device. - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matthew Carpenter, the infantry weapons officer with Regimental Combat Team 7, has deployed 12 times including five to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. The Perry County, Penn., native has been promoted nine times in his 24 years in the Marine Corps and has received three medals with a combat valor distinguishing device.
SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Cpl. Matthew T. Woodall, a squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, moves between the elements of his squad during Operation Zapoonki Guzaroona in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, May 23. Woodall was made the squad leader of 3rd squad when his squad leader was injured the first day of the operation. This forced Woodall to assume the role of squad leader and make critical decisions that directly affected and ensured his Marines safety. Woodall, 26, is from Paducah, Ky., and a 2003 graduate of Heath High School. - SANGIN DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Cpl. Matthew T. Woodall, a squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, moves between the elements of his squad during Operation Zapoonki Guzaroona in the Upper Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, May 23. Woodall was made the squad leader of 3rd squad when his squad leader was injured the first day of the operation. This forced Woodall to assume the role of squad leader and make critical decisions that directly affected and ensured his Marines safety. Woodall, 26, is from Paducah, Ky., and a 2003 graduate of Heath High School.
Col. A. E. "Sparky" Renforth, Regimental Combat Team 7 commanding officer, talks to Marines and coalition forces during the casing of the colors ceremony here, July 31, 2013. "I say all the time, 'It's amazing what you can do when you don't care who gets the credit,'" Renforth said. "That's what our Marines have lived by, and they all know that they made a difference." - Col. A. E. "Sparky" Renforth, Regimental Combat Team 7 commanding officer, talks to Marines and coalition forces during the casing of the colors ceremony here, July 31, 2013. "I say all the time, 'It's amazing what you can do when you don't care who gets the credit,'" Renforth said. "That's what our Marines have lived by, and they all know that they made a difference."
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Lance Cpl. Keon Maluia, rifleman, 1st Combined Anti-Armor Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and native of Inglewood, Calif., patrols around his team’s vehicle during a simulated convoy in the Combat Convoy Simulator here, July 25, 2013. The CCS provides an immersive training environment for both convoy operations training and command and control procedures for vehicle and convoy commanders in tactical scenarios. The CCS places Marines in a realistic environment and allows for repetition, review and critique while saving time, maintenance, ammunition, weapons and range facilities. - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Lance Cpl. Keon Maluia, rifleman, 1st Combined Anti-Armor Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and native of Inglewood, Calif., patrols around his team’s vehicle during a simulated convoy in the Combat Convoy Simulator here, July 25, 2013. The CCS provides an immersive training environment for both convoy operations training and command and control procedures for vehicle and convoy commanders in tactical scenarios. The CCS places Marines in a realistic environment and allows for repetition, review and critique while saving time, maintenance, ammunition, weapons and range facilities.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ismael E. Ortega, combat photographer, Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, bounds over a log at the obstacle course at Camp Margarita here, July 26, 2013. Ortega, a native of El Paso, Texas, deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Marines with Headquarters Battalion often attach to combat arms units for deployments to Afghanistan, so they must maintain a high state of physical readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Lance Cpl. Ismael E. Ortega, combat photographer, Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, bounds over a log at the obstacle course at Camp Margarita here, July 26, 2013. Ortega, a native of El Paso, Texas, deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Marines with Headquarters Battalion often attach to combat arms units for deployments to Afghanistan, so they must maintain a high state of physical readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer)