Stories

Private First Class Lantz W. Atkins, a Greenville, SC, native lays motionless as a "casualty" while his fellow Marines rush to provide him aid within a Casualty Collection Point during a raid training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, Mar. 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of Co. I will serve as the helicopter-borne assault company of BLT 3/8 and are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - Private First Class Lantz W. Atkins, a Greenville, SC, native lays motionless as a "casualty" while his fellow Marines rush to provide him aid within a Casualty Collection Point during a raid training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, Mar. 6, 2007. The Marines and sailors of Co. I will serve as the helicopter-borne assault company of BLT 3/8 and are scheduled to deploy as the Ground Combat Element for the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

Lance Cpl. Michael A. Thomas, a CH-46E Sea Knight crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261, and an Orange County, Calif., native, works into the evening to secure his aircraft aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 8, 2007. The Marines and sailors of HMM-261 are currently training as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled to deploy later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller) - Lance Cpl. Michael A. Thomas, a CH-46E Sea Knight crew chief with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261, and an Orange County, Calif., native, works into the evening to secure his aircraft aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 8, 2007. The Marines and sailors of HMM-261 are currently training as the Aviation Combat Element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled to deploy later this year. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller)

Col. Douglas Stilwell receives the unit colors from Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie, symbolizing the passing of command during the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's change of command ceremony held in Goettge Memorial Field House June 2, 2006. - Col. Douglas Stilwell receives the unit colors from Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie, symbolizing the passing of command during the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit's change of command ceremony held in Goettge Memorial Field House June 2, 2006.

Twenty Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines stand after receiving their Purple Heart Medals at a unit formation May 11, 2006 at Camp Lejeune,N.C. The wounded were deployed to Iraq with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) earlier this year. - Twenty Marines and sailors with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines stand after receiving their Purple Heart Medals at a unit formation May 11, 2006 at Camp Lejeune,N.C. The wounded were deployed to Iraq with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) earlier this year.

Cpl. Phillip Ramirez (center), a squad leader with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, introduces his section leader, Staff Sgt. Jason Modrak, to his father, Leonardo Ramirez, during Leonardo?s surprise visit aboard the USS Nassau April 22, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently deployed as part of the Expeditionary Strike Group 8. - Cpl. Phillip Ramirez (center), a squad leader with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, introduces his section leader, Staff Sgt. Jason Modrak, to his father, Leonardo Ramirez, during Leonardo?s surprise visit aboard the USS Nassau April 22, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently deployed as part of the Expeditionary Strike Group 8.

Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable) stand in formation as former 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones, currently Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM), gives a brief speech during his visit to the USS Nassau, April 15, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Palma de Mallorca for liberty and is in preparations for it?s homecoming in early May. - Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable) stand in formation as former 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James L. Jones, currently Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM), gives a brief speech during his visit to the USS Nassau, April 15, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Palma de Mallorca for liberty and is in preparations for it?s homecoming in early May.

Sgt. Bryan Swiger, of Clarksburg, W. Va., of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), uses a pressure washer to clean the rear rotor of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during wash down on the flight deck of the USS Nassau March 8, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) completed combat operations in Iraq in February, and is now aboard ships of the Nassau Strike Group. - Sgt. Bryan Swiger, of Clarksburg, W. Va., of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), uses a pressure washer to clean the rear rotor of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during wash down on the flight deck of the USS Nassau March 8, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) completed combat operations in Iraq in February, and is now aboard ships of the Nassau Strike Group.

Lance Cpl. Andreas J. Owens an assaultman with Weapons Plt., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, improvises an incline pushup aboard the USS Carter-Hall, March 16, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) completed combat operations in Iraq last month and are now aboard ships of the Nassau Strike Group. - Lance Cpl. Andreas J. Owens an assaultman with Weapons Plt., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, improvises an incline pushup aboard the USS Carter-Hall, March 16, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) completed combat operations in Iraq last month and are now aboard ships of the Nassau Strike Group.

Lance Cpl. Paul Varone, of New City, N.Y. and a basic electrician with the 22nd MEU (SOC), repairs a "turtle" breaker box in FOB Hit, Iraq Jan 12, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar province alongside an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. - Lance Cpl. Paul Varone, of New City, N.Y. and a basic electrician with the 22nd MEU (SOC), repairs a "turtle" breaker box in FOB Hit, Iraq Jan 12, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar province alongside an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.

A Marine from Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), honors three of his fallen comrades during a memorial service held at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Feb. 18, 2006. Cpl. Orville Gerena, Lance Cpl. David Parr, and PFC Jacob Spann of Charlie Company were killed conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - A Marine from Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), honors three of his fallen comrades during a memorial service held at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Feb. 18, 2006. Cpl. Orville Gerena, Lance Cpl. David Parr, and PFC Jacob Spann of Charlie Company were killed conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province.