Stories

An AH-1W Super Cobra with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) stays close to his wingman, a UH-1N Huey also from HMM-261 (Rein.) during a recent mission near Hit, Iraq. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit SOC (Special Operations Capable) which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq?s Al Anbar province. - An AH-1W Super Cobra with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) stays close to his wingman, a UH-1N Huey also from HMM-261 (Rein.) during a recent mission near Hit, Iraq. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit SOC (Special Operations Capable) which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq?s Al Anbar province.

Lance Cpl. Darren H. McAllister (top of aircraft) begins a post-flight aircraft inspection on one of Sea Knights or ?Phrogs? of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) Feb. 1, 2006 aboard Al Asad Airfield, Iraq. McAllister and the rest of HMM-261 (Rein.) are the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province. - Lance Cpl. Darren H. McAllister (top of aircraft) begins a post-flight aircraft inspection on one of Sea Knights or ?Phrogs? of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) Feb. 1, 2006 aboard Al Asad Airfield, Iraq. McAllister and the rest of HMM-261 (Rein.) are the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province.

During Operation Smokewagon, Marines with Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, conduct squad rushes with Iraqi soldiers during a firefight Feb. 3, 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. - During Operation Smokewagon, Marines with Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, conduct squad rushes with Iraqi soldiers during a firefight Feb. 3, 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.

Marines from Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, work alongside Iraqi soldiers in a search for weapons caches and insurgents during Operation Koa Canyon along the Euphrates River Jan. 16, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar province with an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. - Marines from Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, work alongside Iraqi soldiers in a search for weapons caches and insurgents during Operation Koa Canyon along the Euphrates River Jan. 16, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Al Anbar province with an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.

AL ANBAR, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Andrew L. Cave, of Cherokee Village, Ark., an artillery forward observer with A Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), carefully sorts mortars discovered in a weapons cache near the Euphrates River during Operation Koa Canyon Jan. 22. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in the Al Anbar province alongside an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. - AL ANBAR, Iraq - Lance Cpl. Andrew L. Cave, of Cherokee Village, Ark., an artillery forward observer with A Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), carefully sorts mortars discovered in a weapons cache near the Euphrates River during Operation Koa Canyon Jan. 22. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is conducting counterinsurgency operations in the Al Anbar province alongside an Iraqi infantry battalion, collectively under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.

HIT, Iraq - Pvt. Fernando Tejada, an infantryman with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), reaches out to shake the hand of an Iraqi girl during a patrol through Jan. 26. Tejada, a New York native, is one of approximately 2,300 Marines with the 22nd MEU (SOC) which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with an Iraqi Army battalion under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. - HIT, Iraq - Pvt. Fernando Tejada, an infantryman with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), reaches out to shake the hand of an Iraqi girl during a patrol through Jan. 26. Tejada, a New York native, is one of approximately 2,300 Marines with the 22nd MEU (SOC) which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with an Iraqi Army battalion under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.

Cpl. Omar Montanez, a food-service technician and Passaic, N.J., native with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, stares intently in the direction of Hit, Iraq, as he mans an M-240G machine gun atop a seven-ton truck during a convoy, Jan 22. Montanez and BLT 1/2 are deployed with the 22nd MEU (SOC) which is currently in Iraq's Al Anbar province conducting counterinsurgency operations with an Iraqi Army battalion under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. - Cpl. Omar Montanez, a food-service technician and Passaic, N.J., native with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, stares intently in the direction of Hit, Iraq, as he mans an M-240G machine gun atop a seven-ton truck during a convoy, Jan 22. Montanez and BLT 1/2 are deployed with the 22nd MEU (SOC) which is currently in Iraq's Al Anbar province conducting counterinsurgency operations with an Iraqi Army battalion under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division.

As Marines in a Humvee from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines provide security, Cpl. Vernon Place, of Yakima, Wash., a combat engineer with MEU Service Support Group 22, sweeps through an Iraqi field looking for improvised explosive device-making materials and weapons caches, Jan. 10, 2006. BLT 1/2 and MSSG-22 are both assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province with the 2nd Marine Division. - As Marines in a Humvee from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines provide security, Cpl. Vernon Place, of Yakima, Wash., a combat engineer with MEU Service Support Group 22, sweeps through an Iraqi field looking for improvised explosive device-making materials and weapons caches, Jan. 10, 2006. BLT 1/2 and MSSG-22 are both assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province with the 2nd Marine Division.

Corporal Michael A. Kelly, of Jacksonville, Fla., a squad leader, points to a delay setting on an 81mm mortar round, Jan. 1, 2006. Kelly is a member of the 81mm mortar platoon of Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is in Iraq's Al Anbar province conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division. - Corporal Michael A. Kelly, of Jacksonville, Fla., a squad leader, points to a delay setting on an 81mm mortar round, Jan. 1, 2006. Kelly is a member of the 81mm mortar platoon of Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is in Iraq's Al Anbar province conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division.

Corporal Matthew G. Coleman, of San Juan, New Mexico, a combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, carefully scoops dirt away from a stack of mortar shells hidden in a rocky hillside by insurgents near Hit, Iraq, Jan. 7, 2006. The cache was one of several discovered by BLT 1/2 during Operation Hedgehog, the most recent counterinsurgency undertaken by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in Iraq. - Corporal Matthew G. Coleman, of San Juan, New Mexico, a combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, carefully scoops dirt away from a stack of mortar shells hidden in a rocky hillside by insurgents near Hit, Iraq, Jan. 7, 2006. The cache was one of several discovered by BLT 1/2 during Operation Hedgehog, the most recent counterinsurgency undertaken by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in Iraq.