Stories

Pfc. Steven L. Blizzard, a driver with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 22, 2010. Jump Platoon’s primary mission is to provide security for the battalion commander and transport him throughout 3/3’s battle space, but the platoon performs a variety of tasks from providing supplementary security and running vehicle checkpoints, to masonry and gardening. Blizzard is from Clare, Mich. - Pfc. Steven L. Blizzard, a driver with Jump Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while escorting media through the Nawa Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 22, 2010. Jump Platoon’s primary mission is to provide security for the battalion commander and transport him throughout 3/3’s battle space, but the platoon performs a variety of tasks from providing supplementary security and running vehicle checkpoints, to masonry and gardening. Blizzard is from Clare, Mich.

Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines salute a memorial display honoring Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, during a memorial at Marine Corps Combat Outpost Coutu, Nov. 11. Huse gave the ultimate sacrifice, Nov. 9, while conducting combat operations in Northern Marjah. - Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines salute a memorial display honoring Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse, a rifleman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, during a memorial at Marine Corps Combat Outpost Coutu, Nov. 11. Huse gave the ultimate sacrifice, Nov. 9, while conducting combat operations in Northern Marjah.

Local Afghan boys sprint across a bridge in Nawa, Afghanistan, to receive gifts for the Muslim Holiday of Id al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, Nov. 17, 2010. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provided security while Afghan National Army Soldiers and U.S. Army personnel gave out supplies as a goodwill gesture during the second day of Id al-Adha. Within 15 minutes more than 300 gifts were given out. Marines and Afghan forces held three similar events across the Helmand province. - Local Afghan boys sprint across a bridge in Nawa, Afghanistan, to receive gifts for the Muslim Holiday of Id al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, Nov. 17, 2010. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provided security while Afghan National Army Soldiers and U.S. Army personnel gave out supplies as a goodwill gesture during the second day of Id al-Adha. Within 15 minutes more than 300 gifts were given out. Marines and Afghan forces held three similar events across the Helmand province.

Senator John McCain explores Nawa, Nov. 11, with an entourage of Marines throughout Regional Command Southwest, including Col. David Furness, the commanding officer or Regimental Combat Team 1, who appears behind and to the right of McCain. - Senator John McCain explores Nawa, Nov. 11, with an entourage of Marines throughout Regional Command Southwest, including Col. David Furness, the commanding officer or Regimental Combat Team 1, who appears behind and to the right of McCain.

Cpl. Amos T. Benjamin, an infantry-man with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands at attention with a folded American Flag during evening colors at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 8. Benjamin’s brother, Master Sgt. Adam F. Benjamin, was killed in Helmand Province last year and has used the deployment to honor his brother’s sacrifice. - Cpl. Amos T. Benjamin, an infantry-man with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands at attention with a folded American Flag during evening colors at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 8. Benjamin’s brother, Master Sgt. Adam F. Benjamin, was killed in Helmand Province last year and has used the deployment to honor his brother’s sacrifice.

Local Afghans clap and cheer after listening to Al Haj Haji Merdel, an Islamic religious scholar and respected holy man, during shura at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, denouncing the Taliban’s use of Jihad as a justification for years of war and fighting in Afghanistan. Helmand Province government officials, along with local holy men, said the Taliban was using Jihad as a false pretext to fight foreign nations in Afghanistan. - Local Afghans clap and cheer after listening to Al Haj Haji Merdel, an Islamic religious scholar and respected holy man, during shura at Marine Corps Forward Operating Base Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, denouncing the Taliban’s use of Jihad as a justification for years of war and fighting in Afghanistan. Helmand Province government officials, along with local holy men, said the Taliban was using Jihad as a false pretext to fight foreign nations in Afghanistan.

Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment kneel before a memorial display in honor of Staff Sgt. Jordan Emrick, an explosive ordnance disposal technician attached to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 12. - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment kneel before a memorial display in honor of Staff Sgt. Jordan Emrick, an explosive ordnance disposal technician attached to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 12.

Sgt. Maj. Bryan Zickefoose, the sergeant major of Regimental Combat Team 1, pays respects to 1st Lt. James Zimmerman, formerly the commander of 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during Zimmerman's memorial service at Patrol Base Shanfield, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 11. Zimmerman was from Aroostock, Maine. - Sgt. Maj. Bryan Zickefoose, the sergeant major of Regimental Combat Team 1, pays respects to 1st Lt. James Zimmerman, formerly the commander of 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, during Zimmerman's memorial service at Patrol Base Shanfield, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 11. Zimmerman was from Aroostock, Maine.

A strong breeze blows through a battlefield cross display honoring Lance Cpl. Terry E. Honeycutt Jr., a machine-gunner with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, during a memorial service at a Marine Corps Base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 11. Honeycutt gave the ultimate sacrifice, Oct. 27, while conducting combat operations in Northern Marjah. - A strong breeze blows through a battlefield cross display honoring Lance Cpl. Terry E. Honeycutt Jr., a machine-gunner with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, during a memorial service at a Marine Corps Base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 11. Honeycutt gave the ultimate sacrifice, Oct. 27, while conducting combat operations in Northern Marjah.

Lt. Col. James R. Fullwood, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, hands toys out to local Afghan children outside a shura during a during a clear, hold, and build operation, Oct. 21, in Northern Marjah, Afghanistan. The main purpose of the operation was established security for the construction of a new patrol base while conducting searches of local’s compounds in the area. Locals were invited to a centralized location where key Marine leaders were present to answer any questions or concerns they had about the operation. - Lt. Col. James R. Fullwood, commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, hands toys out to local Afghan children outside a shura during a during a clear, hold, and build operation, Oct. 21, in Northern Marjah, Afghanistan. The main purpose of the operation was established security for the construction of a new patrol base while conducting searches of local’s compounds in the area. Locals were invited to a centralized location where key Marine leaders were present to answer any questions or concerns they had about the operation.