Stories

Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take a short security halt during a patrol down Route Giants in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30. Marines patrolled southward to establish a new patrol base to more easily conduct patrols and operations in the more southern portion of their area of operations. \ - Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, take a short security halt during a patrol down Route Giants in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 30. Marines patrolled southward to establish a new patrol base to more easily conduct patrols and operations in the more southern portion of their area of operations. \

Marines go about digging trenches and enforcing walls at Forward Operating Base Marjah, March 30. The construction of the base began in early March and serves as a key center of operations within the city of Marjah, Afghanistan. - Marines go about digging trenches and enforcing walls at Forward Operating Base Marjah, March 30. The construction of the base began in early March and serves as a key center of operations within the city of Marjah, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Erick A. Monterrosa, background, a radio operator with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Justin K. Schwartz, foreground, look through their rear sight optics on their M-4 Carbine rifles while patrolling in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 31. With Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians in support, the Marines used mine detectors to check a bridge and tree lines for improvised explosive devices that sat no more than 50 meters away from the patrol base. - Cpl. Erick A. Monterrosa, background, a radio operator with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and Lance Cpl. Justin K. Schwartz, foreground, look through their rear sight optics on their M-4 Carbine rifles while patrolling in Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 31. With Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians in support, the Marines used mine detectors to check a bridge and tree lines for improvised explosive devices that sat no more than 50 meters away from the patrol base.

The Marines with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, come together April 29 to prove their resolve and to show support for one another. Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter were killed in action April 22, by a suicide bomber inside a dump truck with approximately 1,000 pounds of high explosives. "I was on post the morning off the attack," said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tupaj, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, with a hurtful tone in his voice. "I heard the (squad automatic weapon) go off at a cyclic rate and then the detonation along with a flash. It blew me at least 3 meters from where I was standing onto the ground. Then I heard a Marine start yelling 'we got hit, we got hit.' It was hectic." - The Marines with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, come together April 29 to prove their resolve and to show support for one another. Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter were killed in action April 22, by a suicide bomber inside a dump truck with approximately 1,000 pounds of high explosives. "I was on post the morning off the attack," said Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tupaj, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Police Transition Team 3, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, with a hurtful tone in his voice. "I heard the (squad automatic weapon) go off at a cyclic rate and then the detonation along with a flash. It blew me at least 3 meters from where I was standing onto the ground. Then I heard a Marine start yelling 'we got hit, we got hit.' It was hectic."

Lance Cpl. Adam J. Desso, a team leader with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, supports and mentors an Iraqi Policeman during a routine vehicle search at an Enemy Control Point. While, the battalion’s leaders have stressed the importance of creating a great relationship with the policemen, they also put emphasis on monitoring the Iraqi police as they grow to a high-level that can eventually become an independent force, a feat several stations have already accomplished. - Lance Cpl. Adam J. Desso, a team leader with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, supports and mentors an Iraqi Policeman during a routine vehicle search at an Enemy Control Point. While, the battalion’s leaders have stressed the importance of creating a great relationship with the policemen, they also put emphasis on monitoring the Iraqi police as they grow to a high-level that can eventually become an independent force, a feat several stations have already accomplished.